Chapter 240: Whose Son I Am (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240: Whose Son I Am (5)
A red-eyed black cat.
“You mentioned raising a cat when you met His Highness, didn't you?”
“Yes, I did. I said I would raise a red-eyed cat and see him crowned.”
“A cat. I like it. The idea hasn't held much meaning until now, so I think I’ll make use of it.”
At first, that was the only reason.
He had asked Satin to craft a cat-shaped ornament because he needed a symbol that would represent him—Calian—entirely, without evoking Sispanian. Even then, he had no intention of handing it over to Franz.
But a more useful purpose had presented itself.
So, he crushed the emerald.
Though it was the smallest thing he had crushed so far, its significance was greater than that of Heisia Palace. Once again, he had shattered something precious without a shred of hesitation.
It was to turn Marquis Evan Brissen’s stomach inside out, to remind the nobles of Freya, and to send a clear warning: The Second Prince is in my hands. If you don’t want to be crushed alongside Brissen, you had better choose your side carefully.
And above all, it was to replace the terms of the contract bound to the heart of that fellow—that unripe coffee bean—with something of actual substance.
As the saying goes, when orchestrating a grand scheme, one must reap at least two rewards.
—A loophole where the Seals of Oath do not clash.
Hadn’t Alan said as much?
To look for a loophole where the Seals of Oath would not conflict with each other, yet could carry opposing meanings.
“Master, is it true that once a Seal of Oath is made, it cannot be undone?”
“Not until one party dies. That is why I can only stand by and watch as Your Highness bides your time to draw your sword against Evan.”
“So even if the situation changes after the fact, the Seal of Oath remains valid.”
“According to what is known, yes.”
So, he had simply thought it through.
The one thing Sispanian could never comprehend: contradiction. And a simple way to make that contradiction a reality.
If a Seal of Oath could not be formed under contradictory circumstances, then one only had to create a contradictory situation after the Seal of Oath was already established.
“I am glad it seems to suit you.”
You might as well tell me bell peppers taste good.
Franz’s eyes practically screamed, Do you really think this ridiculous cat brooch suits me? Have your eyes gone completely mad? And by the way, why are you so strong? Despite all my warnings that you’d stop growing, you’ve been stuffing your face and catching up to my height. Did you turn all that meat you ate into aura? Yet his voice was low and quiet as he uttered a simple remark.
Of course, Calian was the only one who perfectly understood the colorful array of curses packed into that single gaze. Most of the nobles in the silent Siegfried Hall only heard Franz’s polite words.
However, contrary to his spoken words and the silent curses in his eyes, Franz did not seem particularly surprised. The moment Calian had asked if the ornament was precious, Franz, though not knowing exactly what would happen, had already steeled himself.
And Calian had gone and crushed it.
Then, he had handed this over.
‘A red-eyed black cat.’
By evening, everyone would associate the symbol with Calian. It didn’t take long for something ordinary to become a symbol of immense weight, nor did it require as much effort as one might think. Just like the black butterfly, or the griffin.
Franz also correctly recognized the other meaning Calian had intended.
The pledge, inscribed with the Seal of Oath, had been written almost like a promise to buy cat food if Franz ever went to the Brissen Marquisate and raised a cat like Lucy.
‘I didn’t realize that cat meant this cat.’
Who could have guessed it meant using Brissen’s power to help Calian ascend the throne, and that Calian would do his utmost to live up to Franz’s expectations in return?
This was why one should never take a mage’s words at face value. He had also learned a valuable lesson about never rashly entering into a contract with a mage.
‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’
A contract already made couldn’t be undone.
What else could he do? A promise was a promise.
……Even if it went against the wishes of ‘that family.’
“Still, I expect an apology later.”
One corner of Franz’s mouth curled up slightly.
To others, it might sound like he wanted an apology for the recklessly crushed emerald, but Franz couldn’t care less about such trivialities. His intentions differed from Evan’s, so he wasn’t angry, but Calian had still used him as a canvas to paint this grand picture. He meant he would receive an apology for that.
A faint, barely perceptible smile touched Calian’s lips as well.
“Yes.”
His eyes seemed to say, You really never listen to a word I say, do you?
Franz’s face showed no particular emotion, even though he must have grasped the true intent behind the new Seal of Oath.
“If Prince Franz helps you, and it goes against his contract with Marquis Brissen, the Seals of Oath will conflict. The outcome is uncertain. We do not know if the two forces will cancel each other out or send the shockwave of the clash straight to his heart.”
“Yes, I’m keeping that in mind. Still, in the worst-case scenario, having even a sliver of a chance is better than having his heart inevitably constricted. It might not be a perfect safety measure against the original Seal of Oath, but it’s something.”
“If that is what you think, then give it a try.”
And so, he had caused this incident to imprint a meaningful symbol of himself upon the nobles while simultaneously preparing a countermeasure for that pea-sized heart.
Yet Franz still wore an expression that laid his thoughts bare, making it glaringly obvious he was thinking, My capable little brother will figure out a way to keep me alive. How could Calian not burn with frustration?
“Thank you for understanding, Brother,” Calian replied quietly, his mouth smiling while his eyes remained cold.
He paid no attention to Evan, who had fully grasped the meaning behind his actions and was now seething with rage. He ignored the gazes of the nobles, who had momentarily set aside understanding the situation to focus on their conversation. He disregarded Demirea’s expression as she once again witnessed her fiancé’s characteristically bold political maneuvering, and he overlooked Randel, who looked entirely uninterested in the heartwarming display of brotherly affection.
* * *
Chaos amidst silence.
While all kinds of chaos swirled like the biting midwinter wind over the Senyu River, the suffocating silence in Siegfried Hall continued.
Meanwhile, in the ever-peaceful Wilhelm Pavilion, Arsen—who had decided to stop fighting his dark circles and simply accept them—sat across from Hina, a girl who brought peace wherever she went. He was sipping tea brewed with blueberry syrup and lemon.
—Blueberries and lemons are said to be good for fatigue. Please drink it all. I can’t cure exhaustion, after all.
While Hina happily ate a fluffy pastry filled with soft custard cream, the blue-haired mage—who preferred salty foods over sweet or sour ones but would never disobey Hina—nodded and looked at the item she had just handed him.
“I was wondering when I’d get to see it. It happened sooner than I thought.”
—They said weapons and magic tools aren’t allowed in the banquet hall. But since my brother is the Prince’s knight, he was allowed to bring his sword.
Kyrie, who had entered Siegfried Hall to guard Calian, had temporarily left his bracelet with Hina. Since many outsiders were present today, Hina had come to Arsen’s office for her safety.
Arsen nodded and examined the bracelet for a moment.
It was a treasure that could hardly be called a simple gift.
Its mana would never run dry, even if she spoke every single day for the rest of her life. As a mage, Arsen could scarcely estimate the value of such a high-grade mana stone, but he kept that thought to himself.
Both Hina and Kyrie were already deeply grateful; there was no need to burden them further.
“Even if the Prince gifted it for self-defense, I’m sure Sir Bern was very pleased.”
Once Arsen finished examining the mana stone and slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, Hina’s voice naturally reached him.
—My brother didn’t really show it. Prince Calian also treated it as a matter of course and didn’t seem overly thrilled either.
Feeling a brief wave of warmth at the sound of Hina’s voice in his head, Arsen smiled unconsciously.
“That’s surprising. I thought Sir Bern would be absolutely thrilled to hear you speak.”
—He probably didn’t show it because he was worried I’d feel bad. If he showed too much joy at hearing me speak, it would mean he had pitied me all this time for not being able to. Knowing I would dislike that, he probably acted nonchalant. That’s just the kind of person my brother is. But I’m sure he was happier about it than even I was. And maybe Prince Calian was, too.
Whether Calian hadn’t shown much joy for the reason Hina suggested, or for the same reason as Kyrie, was something only Calian himself—who had been agonizingly restraining himself from storming up to the fourth floor—would know.
“Ah… I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
—No, it’s fine. I know it’s only natural to think that way, Vice-Commander. My brother and Prince Calian are just unusually sensitive. You have nothing to apologize for.
Surprisingly, Hina’s replies were quite long.
Arsen wondered how frustrating it must have been for her all this time, then quickly nodded, fearing she might catch his thoughts. He had just apologized, only to make the same mistake again.
—And with this, I think I can feel a bit more at ease if we really do end up going to Secritia. I might need to speak properly, and it would be inconvenient for everyone if I had to write everything down.
“Secritia? I thought the Prince said he would look into other options.”
—Just in case. But since my brother, you, and hopefully the Seiren Association President said you would go with me, I’m trying not to worry.
“Yes. I’m glad you’re not worrying.”
As Arsen replied, his face suddenly went blank.
A very important name had just come up, and he felt as though he had forgotten something crucial, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“Whether we go or not, it’s a good thing you have something useful now. Still, we must ensure it never has to be used for what we fear, so never go out alone when you leave the Wilhelm Pavilion or Chermil Palace.”
—I know. I know I’m bothering both my brother and you, Vice-Commander, but I won’t wander around alone.
She remembered when Lucy had first come to Chermil Palace and she had nearly been caught in danger after entering the Rose Garden alone to find the missing cat. Hina smiled, briefly recalling the sight of Franz’s back, which she had seen up close for the first time then.
—But while it’s useful and wonderful, I actually felt a bit guilty. They said it’s a mana stone from a fossilized harpy egg, but harpies are extinct now. It must be incredibly rare, yet they gave it to me just like that…
“There’s no need to feel that way. The Prince and Commander Manasil are the kinds of people who would go out and catch a Sea Dragon this instant if you needed one. And while a harpy egg is rare… rare… indeed… Ah!”
Egg!
Right. The egg.
He had forgotten about the egg!
Arsen’s face turned a pale shade of blue.
—What’s wrong? Are you sick?
“No. I’m not sick.”
Arsen forced a calm smile and opened his mouth to explain. But since there was no good way to tell young Hina that it wasn’t his body but his very life that was in jeopardy, he gave up, closed his mouth, and asked a moment later, “Lady Bern. Do you happen to know if there’s a decent grocery shop outside the palace? I need to go out and buy some eggs once your guard duty is over.”
—Eggs? I’ve never cooked, and I rarely go outside, but Veronica probably knows. She said she likes looking around the market and cooking.
Hina gave him a look that seemed to ask what kind of bizarre mage-talk this was, but she answered nonetheless. Arsen offered a weak smile, looking like a man who had just been handed his death sentence.
He would have to buy both eggs and alcohol. That was, of course, assuming the great Grim Reaper of Midday didn’t fry the brat who had forgotten his promise first.
“Please ask her to let me know if there’s a place that sells good eggs.”
Really good eggs.
The kind of eggs that were second only to the ones in the Kairis Royal Palace.
* * *
Perhaps because Calian had sown so many seeds before the event even began, the Memorial Ceremony proceeded without a hitch immediately after Lemain’s entrance.
Beside Lemain’s crown, a queen’s crown for Freya was placed, and a declaration was made bestowing upon her the title of Queen. After several rituals, the ceremony concluded with the brand-new, never-worn crown being placed in the treasury where the belongings of the deceased royal family were kept.
Afterward, everyone returned to Siegfried Hall for a grand banquet to commemorate the day.
Randel, who had no further obligation to remain, and the Pea, who must have found the black cat brooch utterly irritating, both departed not long after the banquet began.
—Queen Freya.
A place to remember her.
And a place for her son, Calian.
Overwhelmed by an endless stream of greetings and formal conversations, Calian could not leave until the banquet drew to a close. Consequently, he couldn’t even properly greet Lemain, who was conversing with Alan in the distance, or Alan himself, who must have spent the entire day worrying about him.
While the nobles could not easily approach the King, the Prince was a different story, and a surprising number of them wished to make a strong impression on Calian.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, Kyrie.”
Finally, as the banquet ended, Lemain approached to thank Calian for his hard work before departing. As Calian watched the nobles leave the hall one by one, Kyrie approached him.
“How is it?”
“Everyone seems cautious with their words. However, there were a few notable individuals.”
Regrettably, what Calian needed today were Kyrie’s ears rather than his sword. But Kyrie, who was happy to use either for his prince, quietly relayed the names of a few nobles—a list of those suspected to be on Brissen’s side.
Calian nodded silently and turned his gaze. The person he had been monitoring all day, tracking his every move, had finally approached.
“Do you have something to say to me, Marquis?”
Calian gestured for Kyrie to step back and addressed Evan. He considered speaking informally as he had last time but decided against it for now. The man was still a Marquis, after all.
“I realized I had not offered my congratulations, so I came to pay my respects.”
“What good are congratulations without sincerity?”
“How can you say such hurtful things?”
Calian stared at the feigning man for a moment, then tilted his head slightly.
“I don’t think we are on terms to exchange pointless pleasantries. Besides, I am tired.”
“Anyone else might say that, but how can you say such a thing to me? Especially as one who walks the Path of the Sword.”
“Ah.”
Calian offered a gentle smile.
“Because looking at you always tires me.”
Evan’s mouth clamped shut for a moment.
As if recalling the day’s events, his eyes—which still felt like an insult to compare to Franz’s—shifted quietly.
“Do not continue to behave without knowing your place, Third Prince.”
Evan wore a smile similar to Calian’s.
“Then again, since this glory may not last forever, perhaps it is not so bad for you to enjoy it while you can. Though I worry your end may not be pleasant if you do.”
Calian opened his palm and gestured slightly behind his back. Regardless of what Evan worried about, Calian’s only concern right now was whether Kyrie might leap forward.
“Is there truly such a thing as a pleasant end? Even the elegant Silike withered away from the same poison that took my mother. Why should the head of the Brissen family, skilled with a sword or not, be any different?”
A poison that was exceptionally long and painful.
He now understood why Lemain had given that poison to Silike.
Calian took a step closer to Evan, hoping the blood-red cloak of Freya would awaken old memories.
Calian, who had proven with his entire being today that he was Freya’s son, spoke.
“By the way, I thought I gave you a warning today. Is your head so dull that you couldn’t even understand it? It seems my brother did not inherit your intellect, so for that at least, I must thank Serenti.”
Calian dropped his formal tone and let out a pitying sigh.
Don’t think too deeply. Don’t try to save yourself. Please, just charge ahead recklessly as you always do.
He concluded his words, intending for Evan to fall into the splendid trap he would construct with his own hands.
“I warned you not to forget whose son I am. I warned you, personally.”
Evan’s lips trembled as he glared at Calian for a long moment. Forcing a tight smile onto his face, he replied.
“How could I possibly fail to understand that?”
A suffocating killing intent, which no one else would notice, emanated from Evan, directed solely at Calian.
Just as Calian let out a welcoming smile at the long-lost chilling sensation, Evan spoke, his aura threatening to crush him completely.
“I will not forget a single detail, so wait for me. We shall meet again soon.”
Spitting out those words, Evan turned and walked out without waiting for a reply. Once again, he had skipped the courtesy of a farewell.
Watching his retreating back, Calian spoke quietly.
“Indeed… Evan.”
The one who carried Devlan’s meticulousness, inherited Lemain’s bloodline, learned Alan’s wisdom, and never forgot Freya’s grudge.
At that moment, the red lips of Calian, who was the son of them all, curved into a wide arc.
Yes.
That’s how you should have reacted from the start.