Chapter 234: You Won't Be Able to Handle It (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: You Won't Be Able to Handle It (4)
Hina was angry again.
And this time, she was truly furious.
– Almost all... of the people... I treated... were hurt... by the kind Prince... before coming here.
Of course, the ones who had been hurt the most were Calian and Franz themselves, but those had been unavoidable situations, so she didn't count them.
The very same Calian who always worried his precious Hina would exhaust herself healing pointless injuries—the one who’d threatened to put anyone who got hurt on purpose to sleep forever so they couldn't even dream of being treated—was now the one leading the charge in creating patients.
So, of course she was angry.
– Whenever they... spar with... the kind Prince... everyone... comes back... with a hurt neck. The other mages... too... and the eccentric Vice-Commander... and especially... the good Prince.
Upset that perfectly healthy people were being injured for no reason, Hina spoke up, having just finished healing Demirea’s wounds completely.
– It's as if... he's doing it... on purpose. Because... my brother... who spars with him... the most... never gets hurt.
It was true. Calian was careful not to leave so much as a scratch on Kyrie, the very person who sparred with him the most.
"He is doing it on purpose," Demirea replied, nodding readily as she witnessed the gentle Hina angry for the very first time.
Had it been any different when Calian was in the Siegfried territory? Even back then, a steady stream of patients treated by Hina had emerged. Demirea was well aware of Calian's heavy hand.
"He's warning us. We are swords, after all. He's teaching us to always be on guard, showing us that letting our guard down will lead to far worse consequences."
– I... tried to... think that way... too.
Saying this, Hina pressed her lips into a thin line, a crease forming between her brows. She stared at Demirea with her large, dark eyes, then let out a deep sigh.
Sometimes, the kind Prince is just taking his anger out on them.
She knew he had a terrible habit of occasionally venting his frustrations under the guise of sparring. But knowing nothing good would come from saying it aloud, she kept the thought to herself.
– For someone... of your caliber, Young Duchess... there's no need... to teach you... by leaving wounds... like this. The next time... I see... the kind Prince... I am definitely... going to scold him.
"Some wounds must be remembered in order to improve, Dame Bern. Just like the calluses from last time."
The tea, infused with lemon-scented herbs and dried apple, was calming. It felt like a peaceful gift—the cup of tea she had forgotten to drink back at her estate.
"When I was in the Siegfried territory, I rarely had a reason to smile like this. But thanks to the trouble-prone Third Prince, I'm enjoying myself in many ways. He teaches me so much, and he is someone who more than lives up to his name, so I have no complaints. I don't mind a few scratches, so please don't scold him."
Thanks to the Prince taking such good care of her brother, the shadows in her heart had largely vanished. Moreover, whenever she met this thoughtful, same-aged friend she had made because of him, she felt, if only for a moment, like a normal girl her age.
Watching Demirea, Hina smiled brightly.
– You... teach me... many things... too, Young Duchess.
"Is that so?"
After all, she had learned to stop worrying about things once she understood them, rather than worrying simply out of ignorance.
– Still... bad is... bad. If he... ever hurts... someone else... for no reason... I will... really... scold him... then.
Having no reason to object, Demirea simply nodded.
"The scent of your tea is always so peaceful," she said, offering a reply that didn't quite match Hina's words as she let out a quiet laugh.
*
The rain had stopped, leaving behind a clear sky.
It was a peaceful day, just as Demirea had thought.
While Hina and Demirea discussed Calian's habit of venting his anger, Kyrie was demonstrating Calian's swordsmanship to Franz in slow motion, explaining it step by step.
Euria, home early for the first time in a while, smiled in satisfaction as she sipped Majurini and ate the purple cake Alan had sent over.
Satin, the designer, had just finished the outfit Calian specially ordered for Freya's Memorial Event. After meticulously checking the clothes and accessories for any flaws and finding none, she sank back onto her sofa with a sigh of relief.
And in the office shared by Franz and Arsen, Relic had quickly popped in to announce, "Our Prince won't be coming in today," before rushing out again. Now, Arsen and Needlen were left to debate whether the mountain of work piling up after their colleague's sudden day off was inspiring more exhaustion or pure rage.
Thus, everyone was having an incredibly peaceful day.
"How interesting."
Perhaps that was why Calian smiled as he took a sip of his cold, mint-scented tea. In his other hand, he held the results of Euria's investigation, which he had thoroughly reviewed.
"I came to ask for a favor, but you've shown me some unexpected information instead."
Tap, tap, tap.
As Calian tapped the glass in his hand, Alan spoke.
"To be honest, I wasn't planning on showing you those results just yet. I know you've had a lot on your mind lately. But since you mentioned you were going to visit the Elves' Mother Tree, I thought it best you look over the documents first."
"There's no need to shield me like that. It's better to know everything that's been confirmed so I can decide on my next move. Besides, I have someone very clever to dump all my headaches onto."
"I'm glad to hear it. It seems you've grown quite willing to share your burdens."
"Yes, well. Aside from the occasional maddening situation he causes, that clever person is indeed helpful."
Though whether it was truly only "occasional" remained to be seen.
Finding the clinking of the ice pleasant, Calian swirled his glass a few times, enjoying the sound before continuing.
"The investigation was supposed to be about the Crown Prince of Tensil, but I feel like it's answering my questions about the King of Secritia instead."
How could a man who died without ever knowing my full past now be pulling stunts that are so incredibly grating?
"The White Eagle, who likely knew I was the Red Swan, was a member of Zeon. The birds of Secritia must have seen me when I visited the Siegfried territory. They would have also witnessed Crown Prince Chase helping me. And many of those birds belong to Zeon."
"Indeed. Devlan must have realized that the dying Third Prince of Kairis had suddenly transformed into someone who used a swordsmanship similar to Sir Castrin's and knew the birds' secret codes."
"It's amusing. The King of Secritia knows the ins and outs of things that even His Highness didn't."
Though he said it with a laugh, Calian was in no mood to smile. Naturally, Alan's face remained grim.
Tap, tap, tap.
Setting down his glass, Calian placed his fingers on the documents and briefly lowered his eyes.
"This time, the King of Secritia won over the Elves and used that as a pretext to summon me. The Elves referred to me as 'Zeon, King of Humans,' a name written on the Axis of Time. The characters on the Axis of Time are also engraved on the pebbles held by the members of Zeon. And the scholar who seemed connected to those pebbles died long ago, leaving those same characters plastered on his wall... This means we must assume that the Axis of Time, Zeon, the Elves, and the King of Secritia are all somehow connected."
Alan merely nodded without a word.
"First, since the King of Secritia knew what the Axis of Time was, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to connect the news about me, transmitted through Zeon, with the Axis of Time."
"Indeed. It wouldn't have been hard for him to piece together a hypothesis by combining the disappearance of the Axis of Time with the news about the Third Prince of Kairis—someone Chase was so desperate to protect, and who was capable of being taught the swordsmanship of Sir Castrin, Devlan's former guard."
Whether you realized I was your son or mistook me for someone else close to you, you became certain of my secret.
Tap, tap, tap.
The fingers tapping on the documents paused.
"And... the Elves, who must be connected to Zeon, made contact with the King of Secritia. The Wolves of the Great Desert also belong to Zeon. And the Crown Prince of Tensil has joined hands with those wolves. With Zeon at the center, so many people are entangled."
Zeon, where everything connected.
Randel's heart, which must be connected to Zeon. The Crown Prince of Tensil, who must be connected to Randel.
And Euria's investigation results, which detailed his recent movements.
"This is different. It's completely different from what I knew, and from the 'past' actions Crown Prince Chase told me about. Whether Zeon is making the Crown Prince of Tensil move differently than in the past, or if the Crown Prince of Tensil is moving Zeon by acting differently, I don't know yet. But I know one thing for sure: we must place the Crown Prince of Tensil at the center of this mystery."
Tap, tap, tap.
Calian's hand, which had been tapping the paper, finally fell silent.
"Sir Teilan Castrin, Duke Suleiman Hon Siegfried, Marquis Evan Brissen, and myself."
Naming four of the five Sword Masters, excluding Gray Brissen, Calian raised his red eyes to look at Alan.
"Siona Hill. We need to find out where that woman is right now."
Suddenly bringing up the last Sword Master, whose whereabouts were unknown, Calian continued, his eyes sharp.
"I've been thinking. The warriors of the Great Desert become so much stronger when they possess those pebbles. What if I implanted one in my heart? Could I defeat you, Master? Could I point my sword at Sispanian? ...I feel like I could, easily. Then, what if Sir Castrin, or you, Master, were to possess one? How powerful would you become?"
Zeon is at the center of everything.
Especially since it seems to be connected to Devlan as well.
"If Zeon is truly pulling the strings of the Crown Prince of Tensil from behind, it means they are capable of far worse. For instance, turning a Sword Master into a monster."
"I would hate to imagine it, but yes, indeed."
Staring at the nodding Alan for a moment, Calian parted his lips a few times before speaking.
"Master. May I ask a difficult favor of you?"
"What request of yours could possibly be difficult, Prince?"
If Calian asked him to kill Devlan this instant, he would do it. If he asked for Evan's life, he would take it. If he declared his intent to ascend the throne this very moment, Alan would march straight into Lemain's office. He would even accept Sispanian's curse to tear out the young dragon Silestian's heart if Calian commanded it.
So how could any request from the prince be too difficult?
"I plan to check on Siona's whereabouts through Duke Siegfried or Sir Castrin first. However, I also need to know the exact whereabouts and activities of the other two Archmages."
The other two 7th Circle Archmages were staying in Libern. He wanted to find out if they were connected to Zeon as well. To do so, he would naturally have to go through Elinne.
For Alan, it would probably be easier to send Pier to Sispanian and make the dragon understand.
"I will look into it."
But Alan merely replied with a gentle smile.
*
His conversation with Alan had run long.
This was because he had to discuss the favor he originally intended to ask. Consequently, having kept Demirea waiting, Calian hurriedly headed to Chermil Palace in a small royal carriage.
As he entered Chermil Palace, he ran straight into the person from the upper floor—someone he thought he wouldn't need to see again today, since Kyrie would have already guided Demirea through her sparring session.
Calian greeted the man who resembled duckweed floating on an artificial pond.
"You finished earlier than I expected."
Calian knew the extent of Franz's memory better than anyone. He knew this 'pea' would have fully understood even if Kyrie had only explained the parts Franz hadn't seen for himself.
Thus, Franz merely gave a single nod to Calian, who didn't look particularly surprised.
Although he needed to relay what he had heard from Alan today, his promise to Demirea was his immediate priority. Calian bowed his head once more in greeting and tried to leave, but Franz stopped him.
"Why did you go to Arpia Palace?"
My privacy.
Where on earth did my privacy go?
Completely forgetting that he treated Franz's room as his own, Calian was about to ask how his brother knew where he'd been. But realizing the answer was obvious, he just chuckled.
He had no special schedule, and Franz—who had been at the training ground in Wilhelm Hall until now—would know Calian hadn't gone there. That left only Alan, a conclusion Franz must have easily reached.
"I'll tell you later. I'm busy right now."
With a look that clearly said, My fiancée is waiting, so I don't have time for idle chatter, Calian turned to leave, but then he paused.
He had remembered one thing he needed to confirm with Franz before meeting Demirea.
"Brother."
Glancing around briefly, Calian cast Silent. Although Franz couldn't feel the movement of mana, he knew what the translucent barrier was and stared straight at Calian. He seemed curious what Calian could possibly have to say that warranted casting Silent in the middle of the path to Chermil Palace.
"Do you really have no intention of going to Camillon?"
Franz, who had been staring at Calian, turned away. He had asked what was going on, only for this guy to waste mana just to bark some bizarre nonsense. Deciding there was no point in responding, he gave up on replying entirely.
"I'm not talking nonsense."
"...Have you grown tired of barking politely now?"
"I'm tired today. I don't have the energy to bark."
"Then what is it?"
"Human speech."
He was speaking informally again.
"The position needs to be decided, and it seems I'll be going outside the palace a lot. We don't even know Brother Randel's intentions, so we can't just hand it over to him. So, can't you take it, even if just for a little while?"
Ignoring the informal speech, Franz stared at Calian, who was spouting all sorts of nonsense, and wondered why he was suddenly trying to toss away the Crown Prince position. He spoke in a low voice.
"I have no intention of taking anything more from my younger brother."
"You wouldn't be taking something from me. You're the one who handed over what was originally your position in the first place. Besides, I..."
No matter what I think, the fact that my soul doesn't belong to this kingdom won't change.
Barely swallowing his next words, Calian let out a small sigh. Watching him, one corner of Franz's mouth curled upward. It was obvious he didn't find Calian's words worth entertaining.
"No."
His answer was more stubborn than ever, as if the idea wasn't even worth reconsidering. Franz turned and walked away.
In the end, having only reconfirmed Franz's stance and wasted precious time, Calian laughed.
He felt that his mortal enemy from his past life would be easier to talk to than Franz.