Chapter 19: This Is Too Blatant (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: This Is Too Blatant (2)
Arrogant.
There was no other word for it. That was Calian’s impression as he watched his horse, Raven.
Right now, Raven was striding with his head held high through the crowd, which parted before him like the sea. He even stomped his hooves louder wherever people gathered, clearly reveling in the attention.
‘I’ve seen plenty of horses in my time, but never one quite like this.’
Calian, who had been watching Raven’s black mane sway with every step, turned his head. It occurred to him that this was the first time he had properly seen the world outside the royal palace since waking up in Kairis. He had gone to the square to meet Alan, but that had been at night, and he’d been so focused on their meeting that he hadn’t had the chance to look around.
‘Kairisis is certainly well-organized. It’s also impressive that roads like this connect to cities all over the kingdom.’
The royal capital he was riding through now was magnificent enough to inspire awe. It was a display of sheer audacity, the kind befitting a powerful nation. You could feel their absolute confidence—they didn't even seem to worry about enemies using these very roads to invade.
‘They must have marched to Secritia along this very road.’
His final memories inevitably resurfaced.
Because of this, Calian’s gaze naturally drifted toward Franz. The other prince was sitting on his horse with his eyes closed.
‘…What a temper.’
Calian’s eyes fell on the cuts covering the back of Franz’s hand as it gripped the pommel of his saddle.
‘I thought he was just like his mother, but I didn’t know they were on bad terms.’
That morning, Calian had unintentionally overheard shouting coming from Franz’s room. The weather was pleasant, so the windows had been left open, and Franz’s room was directly above his own. Calian had been quite surprised to hear Yan’s quiet remark that Silike must have been visiting again. It was then that he realized, contrary to his expectations, that Franz and Silike did not get along.
“Your Highness, I believe we are almost there,” Yan’s quiet voice drifted over.
Pushing his thoughts aside, Calian turned his gaze away from Franz and looked around.
Though not as grand as the noble mansions on Einansha Street, the buildings lining the road were still quite luxurious. This was Astrisha Street, an area where high-end shops and cultural facilities for the nobility were clustered. Today’s destination was the theater owned by the Polun Trading Company, located at the end of this very street.
Calian’s eyes landed on a group of children watching the royal procession from a distance.
‘Judging by their clothes, they aren’t nobles… Did they come all this way just to watch?’
When he offered a slight smile to the group of what appeared to be commoner children, he saw them startle in surprise. Charmed by their innocent reaction, Calian spoke without thinking.
“The children are quite cute.”
“They look older than you, Your Highness.”
At Yan’s retort, which was accompanied by a look that clearly asked what kind of nonsense he was spouting, Calian laughed awkwardly. He still hadn’t fully internalized the fact that he was a child again.
However, there was another child standing slightly apart from the crowd, staring intently at the procession. The child’s shabby clothes stood in stark contrast even to the other commoners, but his gaze wasn’t on the royal family. Instead, it was fixed on the knights of Kaera in their full dress uniforms as they escorted King Lemain.
While everyone else stared at the royal couple and the princes, this child’s unusual focus drew Calian’s gaze in the same direction.
The smile vanished from Calian’s face.
“…Kyrie?”
Light blue hair that stood out even from a distance. Slightly tanned skin and a frame that was already tall for his age. He looked remarkably similar to the boy Calian had been searching for to take on as a guard, but the distance made it difficult to be certain. Just as the urge to get a closer look took hold, he heard Yan’s panicked voice beside him.
“Why is he suddenly—!”
Startled, Calian looked at Yan, who was holding Raven’s reins with a flustered expression. Raven, sensing Calian’s desire, had already started to turn toward the crowd. Calian quickly stroked the horse’s neck and whispered, “No, Raven. Not right now. You can’t go there.”
Only then did the stubborn horse face forward and resume walking. Yan, who had been startled by the sudden movement, let out a sigh of relief.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
“It’s my fault. It’s fine,” Calian replied, but when he glanced to the side again, the light-blue-haired child had already vanished. He scanned the crowd, his eyes searching for something he’d lost.
‘Kyrie.’
An orphan who had lost everything in Kairis and fled to Secritia. And a genius swordsman. Bern, recognizing Kyrie’s talent, had taken him in and personally taught him swordsmanship. In return, Kyrie had given his life. On Bern’s final day, he had shielded him from a rain of arrows with his own body.
‘Wait for me. I will find you, no matter what.’
Calian forced himself to calm his racing heart, postponing his reunion with Kyrie for another time.
“Your Highness. We have arrived.”
By the time Yan spoke again, the knights were moving busily to secure the perimeter.
The theater came into view. Its exterior walls were made of stone, and its black and white granite construction was reminiscent of Narsil Hall in the royal palace.
Soon, Calian dismounted. Yan handed Raven’s reins to a theater servant.
“This is a horse His Highness especially treasures, so please handle him with care. Absolutely. Very, very carefully.”
Yan, who knew Raven’s temperament all too well, didn’t forget to add the warning with a look that screamed, He throws an absolute fit when the prince isn’t around.
Turning his head, Calian noticed a red carpet, likely laid out for the royal family, stretching all the way to the theater’s main entrance.
“Welcome. It is a true honor to host you.”
Melfir Polun came into view.
* * *
Melfir Polun.
He was a man with short-cropped gray hair and a round, friendly face. The first impressions of Lennon Brissen, head of the Brissen Trading Company, and Melfir Polun, head of the Polun Trading Company, were starkly different. In the brief moment of greeting, Melfir made eye contact with every member of the royal family and smiled.
It was a deliberate action, meant to both observe the other party and leave a lasting impression. The weight of his presence was entirely different from Lennon, who tended to speak without thinking.
“I will guide you inside,” Melfir said, personally leading the way.
As he followed, Calian scanned the area, trying to pinpoint where the accident would happen. Before long, his eyes gleamed as he spotted it.
‘That’s it.’
Finding the potential hazard wasn’t difficult.
It was a large basket, seemingly filled with flower petals to decorate the performance’s finale. It was the only temporary structure tied up with ropes. The theater was an oval arena surrounded by eight tiers of spectator seats. In the center of the stands was the VIP box where the royal family would sit, and the basket was suspended high above it.
‘So that’s what falls. Does this mean the knights didn’t check it beforehand?’
There were certainly knights who had accompanied them. The knights of Kaera, the King’s Guard, were focused solely on escorting Lemain. The task of escorting the other royals and inspecting the surroundings fell to the knights of Pavel, the Royal Knights. Therefore, the ropes should have been inspected by Pavel.
‘If an accident occurs despite an inspection, it means Pavel either turned a blind eye or didn’t check it at all.’
And, of course, Pavel was a knight order firmly in the hands of the Brissens.
Calian grumbled silently.
‘There’s not a single trustworthy bastard in this world.’
As soon as the royal family stepped into the VIP box, the spectators who had already filled the seats stood up and applauded. Lemain raised a hand in response. Afterward, Melfir raised his arm and gestured toward the seats.
“This way, please.”
Lemain and Silike took their seats, while Randel and Franz moved to the chairs prepared behind them. As always, Calian went last.
He deliberately slowed his pace.
With an exceptionally slow step, he brushed past Melfir and spoke in a barely audible whisper.
“The area above looks unsafe. Check it.”
For a brief moment, Melfir’s gaze landed on Calian. But Calian, acting as if he had said nothing, walked to his seat with downcast eyes and sat down. Melfir showed no reaction either, simply straightening his slightly bowed back.
‘I’m not in a position to help openly, so I can’t explain any further. Still, if he’s a guild leader, he should be sharp enough to understand.’
If Melfir failed to grasp his meaning and the accident occurred, Calian planned to pull Randel out of the way himself. As long as it wasn’t revealed that Randel was the target, Melfir would also be able to save his own life.
Melfir’s gaze lingered on the seat prepared for him next to Lemain. It was a position where he could converse with the king throughout the performance without interference from other nobles. For a baron like Melfir, such a prolonged opportunity to sit beside Lemain was by no means easy to come by.
His hesitation did not last long.
Melfir turned around. His eyes fell on Calian, whose face was a mask of indifference. Melfir pressed his lips together once, then addressed the king.
“Your Majesty. I have been tasked with personally supervising the performance from below. Therefore, I must regretfully excuse myself. My apologies.”
“Very well. I understand.”
Calian smiled faintly.
‘Smart.’
At a single remark from him, Melfir had immediately discarded the opportunity to converse with Lemain. It meant he was a cautious man who valued potential risks over immediate gains.
Having received the king’s permission, Melfir left the box.
—It is an infinite honor to meet you.
Not long after, the host of the performance walked out into the center of the arena. Placing one hand over his stomach, he bowed toward the VIP box, then greeted the spectator seats once more.
—And to all the spectators gathered here today, welcome!
The crowd responded with loud applause. The host continued.
—The Astrisha Polun Theater where you are sitting is located in a very historic place. The very spot where I am standing is where the late King Hatsuara held back the horse of the late Queen Sispanian, who was trying to leave after the War of the Two Gods ended!
The crowd burst into laughter. Every equestrian theater in Kairis said the exact same thing.
Having captured the audience’s attention, the host heightened the atmosphere with a mock-serious face and playful banter.
—Now, so as not to keep you waiting any longer, let the performance begin!
After the host finished his greeting and departed, the performance began in earnest. Riders leading several horses performed various stunts, such as doing handstands on horseback and passing under the legs of running horses.
Calian watched the scene with slightly bored eyes. Most of it consisted of things he could easily do himself. Of course, the majority of the audience, who lacked such abilities, gasped and cheered in delight.
Silike was still holding her fan. Whenever a thrilling stunt was performed, she would cover her face with it, gesturing as if she couldn’t bear to watch. Since she was sitting diagonally in front of him and the performance was unfolding in that direction, Calian was forced to watch her antics in full view.
‘Where did the Silike who spoke of killing me so openly go?’
Finding it hard to tolerate her detestable behavior any longer, Calian turned his head. His eyes met Franz’s, who was glaring fiercely at him.
His feelings toward Franz had already been stirred up on the way here by the memory of Kyrie’s death. Thus, Calian didn't bother to hide his own hateful expression and glared right back.
At that moment, a rider on a running horse leaped from his saddle and landed perfectly on another horse running just behind it. The audience erupted in loud applause and cheers. Taking advantage of the noise, Franz opened his mouth.
A chillingly unpleasant and gloomy voice, quiet enough that only Calian could hear, drifted over.
“Unpleasant, insidious, and sly.”
He was speaking to Calian. Though Calian didn’t know what had displeased him this time, Franz continued his tirade.
“And you don’t know your place.”
Caught in this ridiculous situation, with Silike sending poison and Franz sending insults, Calian’s eyes turned fierce.
‘Is this crazy bastard out of his mind?’
For a split second, Calian almost lunged at him, but he barely managed to remember the many eyes watching them. There was no need to deal with him here.
Calian closed his eyes, then opened them.
The sharp, hateful gaze vanished as if it had never been, replaced by the expressionless face he usually showed Franz. Seeing this, Franz’s mouth twisted into a sneer.
“Disgusting. You make me want to throw up.”
Franz was different. He didn’t know how to suppress his anger for the sake of appearances. He spat out his next words.
“…That vulgar, filthy blood flowing through you.”
Randel’s head snapped up to look at Franz.
The gazes of the knights and attendants standing behind them were no different. Everyone looked at Franz.
And Lemain.
His sunken eyes also turned toward his son.
The first part of the performance had ended. The audience’s cheers had faded, leaving a sudden quiet that allowed Franz’s voice to ring out clearly enough for everyone in the VIP box to hear.
‘Franz.’
Silike’s eyes contorted in misery.
A silence so deep that not even a breath could be heard fell over them.
Lacking the confidence to hide his expression, Calian raised both hands and covered his face.
Hidden behind his white hands, Calian’s mouth curved into a wide arc.