Chapter 160: An Easy Task (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: An Easy Task (6)
The spring breeze was wonderful in its own right.
To use Hina’s expression, it felt as if “sunlight powder was carried on the wind.” Neither harsh like winter, suffocating like summer, nor lonely like autumn, the spring breeze was simply perfect as it was.
The scent of roses drifted onto the terrace.
—It feels as though my own words are being turned back on me.
Randel had said this, recalling how Calian had told him not to slip from his grasp. Although their intentions had been completely different, Calian had indeed warned him not to leave his sight, so he didn't deny it.
—I shall do so.
With that, Randel had taken the hand Calian offered.
Thanks to that conversation, the scent of roses, which had always weighed heavily on a corner of his heart, finally felt a little lighter. A satisfied smile touched Calian’s lips at the brief moment of leisure this change had brought.
“It smells nice,” Calian said. “The lime is good, and so is the rose.”
Even the tea Yan brought after Calian returned to his room smelled of roses. The fragrance rose from dried petals mixed with thin, round slices of pale green lime.
“You seemed very tired yesterday, Your Highness. As for the rose, Hina made tea from the one you gave me last time.”
Just a single blossom.
It was the rose Calian had cut in the garden to distract Randel. He had handed it to Yan right before leaving to see Chase, and it seemed Yan had used it to brew this tea. Calian appreciated the lime as well, added to soothe his fatigue.
Sitting on the terrace overlooking the blooming rose garden, drinking tea infused with lime and rose, breathing in the floral scent drifting on the breeze… Had he not just met with Randel, he wouldn’t have been able to properly enjoy this tart, fragrant tea. But now, his mind was clear and utterly at ease. It was likely only a fleeting moment of peace, but it was welcome nonetheless.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
Calian expressed his gratitude to Yan.
Though it was ambiguous whether he was thanking him for the rose, the lime, or for looking after him in general, Yan was simply delighted.
Knock, knock.
Just as he was finishing his cup in leisurely silence, a knock sounded at the door.
It was always a quiet sound.
As if hesitating, there would be one or two taps, barely audible, followed by a slightly firmer knock. That was always her way.
“Come in.”
Calian spoke without asking who it was, just as he did with Yan. He knew that even if he asked, there would be no spoken reply.
Soon, Hina stepped onto the terrace with soft footsteps. Turning his head toward her, Calian spoke.
“It suits you well.”
Hina was wearing a white robe.
It was adorned with decorative gold buttons, the crest of Kairis embroidered on the left breast, and a newly made purple healer’s emblem on the back, just for her. The gold embroidery grew denser and more lavish toward the hem and cuffs, while three gold chains of varying lengths fastened the robe, giving it a striking appearance.
It was the uniform of the Valkan.
—I think it still feels a bit awkward.
Hina replied in sign language.
It was the first proper robe she had worn since the day Calian had wrapped his own around her when he rescued her and Kyrie.
‘I am Prince Calian’s cat, who likes Prince Franz more.’
Next to her cat, the thing Hina treasured most was the black robe she had worn that day.
“Once you get there, it’ll sink in immediately. You’ll also realize just how many crazy people there are in Kairis. I’m worried you might be disappointed before you even settle in. It’s a gathering of nothing but weirdos.”
Lunatics.
Weren’t they the kind of bastards who seemed to have discarded whatever rational thought they had left on their way to the royal palace?
—I think they will all be good people.
Hina signed in response.
Calian smiled softly and nodded.
“They probably will be.”
Because if those bastards treat you badly, I’ll treat them even worse.
Unaware of the words Calian had swallowed, Hina responded with a pure, bright smile. Thanks to that smile and the fragrant cup of tea, Calian found the energy to end his rest and get moving. He rose from his seat.
Calian intended to go to the Wilhelm Pavilion with Hina. He figured his presence would make the others pay a bit more attention to her.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you there.”
Calian stepped forward with light strides.
After dropping her off, it would be time to find something new to fill his empty hands.
* * *
The crackle of a campfire is always peaceful.
Arsen recalled his master once asking how it was possible to call the sound of burning dead things peaceful. A quiet smile drifted across his face at the memory.
Seeing this, Euria asked, “Pretty nice, isn’t it?”
It had been exactly one day since they left the royal palace.
And they were already lost.
Somehow, they had managed to lose their way within a day of leaving the perfectly orderly royal capital. After taking a wrong turn at a fork in the road, the entire day had slipped away as they doubled back. Consequently, they failed to find a town with a warm meal and a bed, forcing them to camp out.
Since mages were used to sleeping just about anywhere, camping outdoors wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
Thus, Euria was excited, while Arsen didn’t think much of it. He simply accepted the situation for what it was.
Euria’s suggestion was to eat before sundown, get some sleep, and set off early. Arsen, having no strong feelings either way, merely nodded. Then, cheered on by Euria, he had gone and caught a wild chicken.
“It’s not bad,” Arsen replied casually to Euria, who was checking on the savory aroma of the roasting chicken.
Euria, who hadn’t camped in nearly ten years, had insisted on lighting a campfire for cooking that could have easily been done with magic. Her only reason was that a campfire was essential for the experience.
She didn’t worry in the slightest about the smell drifting through the forest or the fire drawing attention after dark. It was highly unlikely for bandits to lurk in a forest only a day’s journey from the capital, and even if they did, such a group would pose no real threat.
Rummaging through her space pocket, Euria pulled out some tea leaves, brewed two cups using water she conjured from thin air, and handed one to Arsen.
“Thank you.”
As Arsen accepted the cup, Euria’s gaze fell on his white robe and the royal crest embroidered on his chest.
“You’re not the type to serve under anyone. It was unexpected.”
“I found it even more unexpected that the Association President was acting as an informant.”
“Being an informant was more fun than I thought. When I have some free time later, I’m thinking of actually starting an intelligence organization.”
Euria chuckled. She was amused by the realization that they were both doing such uncharacteristic things for the exact same reason: Calian.
“What business takes you there, Association President?” Arsen asked after her laughter subsided.
“To inspect the teleportation magic circle.”
“I kept quiet because the Prince didn’t seem to know, but isn’t Dame Grace already there?”
To Arsen, “the Prince” always referred to Calian.
Euria gave a small nod. “Well, yes. But I have a few other things to look into nearby.”
Sensing her reluctance to elaborate, Arsen simply nodded. This time, Euria directed a question at him.
“Heisia. The Prince ordered it, didn’t he?”
She was asking about the mastermind behind the explosion at Heisia Palace. She already knew the answer but brought it up since there was little else to talk about. Arsen replied with a smile.
“Who else but him would do such a thing?”
“Count Manasil must have given him a piece of his mind.”
“He couldn’t. Count Manasil is incapable of saying a word against the Prince.”
Arsen was likely the one who best knew how Alan treated Calian. Recalling Alan’s boundless affection for his disciple, Euria let out a chuckle, murmuring, “I suppose that’s true.”
“Speaking of which, it seems that tavern incident blew over smoothly. Knowing the Prince’s personality, I expected a few bastards to end up bedridden.”
Arsen stared blankly at Euria.
Though it had caused quite a stir within the Valkan, very little news had leaked outside thanks to Calian’s “generous compensation.” Yet, Euria knew about an incident that even the gossip-loving nobles remained ignorant of.
“Is that a simple question, or are you gathering information?”
No matter how much Euria sided with Calian, Arsen did not trust people easily. Furthermore, since she had left the capital under the pretext of inspecting a magic circle, he couldn’t help but wonder if she harbored other intentions.
“...The kid’s all grown up.”
Faced with such a response to a question asked out of pure curiosity, Euria’s eyes crinkled into a beautiful smile.
“Putting on that uniform has made you quite fearless.”
Ah, he had forgotten.
Flinching at the sudden, swelling pressure of Euria’s power, Arsen quickly replied.
“I’ve found my fear, thank you.”
It wasn’t just the Valkan mages who were crazy; all mages were crazy. To think he had dared to harbor suspicion against the woman who had successfully led them for over five years. He must have truly lost his mind.
Yet, Euria’s intimidating presence did not dissipate.
Arsen, who was about to ask if she wasn’t overreacting to a simple slip of the tongue, quietly shut his mouth. Seeing the sharp glint in his eyes, Euria spoke again.
“You really have grown, kid.”
The movements of someone with clear hostile intent had entered Euria’s sensory range. Her words were a compliment to Arsen, who had noticed it as well, albeit a moment later.
Arsen took a sip of his tea, acting as if nothing was amiss.
“Is the matter you’re investigating dangerous? There are quite a lot of them.”
Untying the ribbon that loosely bound her purple hair, Euria tied it back more securely as she spoke.
“Yeah, a bit.”
Her tone, too, was entirely nonchalant.
Arsen grumbled, “Did you ask me to tag along knowing it would be dangerous?”
“Well, you at least know how to fight.”
Dismissing the Valkan’s Vice-Commander as merely a ‘kid who knows how to fight,’ Euria rose to her feet. Watching her, Arsen grinned and stood up as well.
It had been a long time.
A very long time since he had witnessed the magic of one of the few mages capable of treating him—a 5th Circle Master of the ice attribute—as a mere kid who knew how to fight.
Crackle, spark!
With her back to the setting sun and the sky beginning to flush red, faint purple sparks danced in her hands. Beneath her feet, a blue energy carrying the power of water began to ripple.
A dual-attribute mage, an achievement considered nearly impossible.
A 5th Circle Master who commanded both water and lightning.
That was Euria Seiren.
* * *
Arpia Palace was King Lemain’s workspace.
Although it was where the King spent most of his time, it was also a place frequently visited by outsiders. However, on the first floor of Arpia Palace, there was a space where no outsiders were permitted—a sanctuary only members of the royal family could enter.
It was the hall where the original portraits of all past royal family members were displayed.
The portraits of the kings hanging on the same floor as Lemain’s office were all copies of the ones kept here.
The Hall of Memories.
It was a place Calian knew existed but had always avoided. The original Calian had never once visited it either. Thus, this was the first time Calian had set foot in this space since his birth.
Before coming here, he had dropped Hina off at the Wilhelm Pavilion and left Yan with her. Since the others had not yet learned sign language well enough to communicate smoothly, he planned to keep Yan by her side for the time being. Having arranged that, he had come here alone. As it was a sacred place where only royalty could enter, his escort knights remained outside the door.
Since the hall occupied the entire first floor, calling it spacious didn’t do it justice. Its design seemed to demand that one witness its long history firsthand. However, having lived in Secritia—a dynasty with an even longer history—Calian was not particularly impressed by the sheer number of portraits.
Tap, tap.
Calian walked inside, his footsteps echoing quietly.
Naturally, the hall began with the portraits of Founding King Hatsuara and Sispanian. Sispanian looked exactly as she had when he met her in the Siegfried territory, and Hatsuara was as familiar as ever. There was also a portrait of their son, the second King of Kairis, from his days as Crown Prince. Calian walked past them, continuing deeper into the hall.
From the second king to the third, then the fourth.
Walking all the way to the end, Calian’s feet came to a stop before the very last portrait.
Lemain Lu Rune Kairis.
A portrait of Lemain, the current King and father of the three princes, from his younger days was displayed there. Since the position of Crown Prince had not yet been decided, there were no portraits of Randel, Franz, or Calian.
Below it, he saw the portrait of Randel’s mother, Aisha Arielli. The empty space next to it was likely reserved for Silike. And next to that…
There she was.
Staring ahead for a long moment, Calian quietly opened his mouth.
“…You look so much like me.”
Scarlet hair. Though the color was different, everything else closely resembled the face he saw in the mirror. The large, single-lidded eyes, the bridge of the nose, the shape of the mouth. They looked so much alike. She was a stranger, yet undeniably Calian’s mother.
Royal Concubine Freya Whitrin.
Although a replica of her portrait hung in the hallway outside Lemain’s office, he had never once looked at it. Thus, facing her countenance for the first time, Calian gazed at her in silence for a long while. Then, he bowed his head slightly.
It was a gesture of apology.
Click.
After some time had passed, the sound of a door opening echoed from afar. The one who had accepted the request to meet—not in his office, but in a place he was somewhat reluctant to visit—was, of course, Lemain.
Glancing toward the distant entrance, Calian turned back to look into Freya’s eyes. After another brief moment, Lemain walked up to stand beside him.
Turning toward the king, Calian offered his respects.
Lemain’s gaze shifted from Calian to Aisha, then to the empty space for Silike, and finally to the portrait of Freya.
“For what reason did you ask to meet in this place?” he asked.
Though he tried to hide it, he could not entirely conceal his discomfort. Aisha’s face, Freya’s face, and Silike’s empty spot—none of it could be comfortable for him. Knowing this, Calian spoke, explaining why he had brought the king here.
“There is a favor I would like to ask of you.”
“A favor, you say.”
The voice that repeated his words was remarkably gentle.
The youngest son who had been dying from neglect, and who, because of that, was the only one to hear Lemain call him “my son.” The troublemaker who had suddenly changed and now caused all sorts of incidents on his own.
Yet, wasn’t Calian the only son who ever asked Lemain for a “favor”?
“It may be an easy task, or it may be a difficult one.”
“Very well. Speak.”
Calian turned his head slightly.
Staring into the red eyes in the portrait—eyes that looked exactly like his own—he spoke.
“Please posthumously elevate my mother to the rank of Queen, Your Highness.”
Having set aside everything else, Calian had finally raised the matter of his legitimacy.