Chapter 246: That Heart (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 246: That Heart (6)
Self-loathing, guilt, anger.
The man, who had no right to indulge in any of these emotions, weakly lowered his raised arm.
He had been persuaded.
No, he had returned to reality.
Seeing this, the mage spoke quietly.
"You made the right decision."
As Lemain returned to his senses, the execution of the knight was postponed. The man’s tendons had been severed by something sharp before Kyrie subdued him, but Lemain, heeding Alan’s advice that they needed the knight alive for questioning, had regained his reason.
Alan spoke to the two mages who had brought the knight in.
"Take him out."
One of the mages glanced at the knight's crudely bandaged wound, then looked up at Alan.
"He's bleeding. What should we do?"
It was a wound Calian had inflicted.
Therefore, the knight would not die. Calian would never have dealt a fatal blow.
Alan replied curtly, as if the injury wasn't even worth a glance.
"No treatment is necessary."
A man who no longer needed treatment.
A man destined to stand upon the Lenisita leaves in the square.
Understanding his meaning, the mages bowed and dragged the knight outside.
After staring up at the ceiling for a moment, Lemain spoke.
"…Kaera."
A deep, heavy sigh followed, born from the realization that an incident had occurred in a place that should have been perfectly secure—even if it wasn't Arpia Palace or Camillon Palace.
And Chermil Palace was, indeed, safe enough.
At night, it fell under the protection of Sispanian. A powerful barrier was activated along the corridors surrounding the entirety of Chermil Palace, including its lake and rear garden. Infiltrating from the outside was impossible unless one possessed abilities on par with Alan's.
This was the very reason the princes hadn't been allowed personal guard knights until now. Yet Lemain had ignored this and sent knights of Kaera to guard Randel and Franz. And today, an incident had occurred involving one of those very guards.
"A guard of Kaera…"
Lowering his head, Lemain muttered softly as he stared at the small black pouch in his hand. Despite being warned not to touch it, he had ultimately opened it himself.
"He gave this to the Second Prince and told him to hide it in the First Prince's room."
That a member of the Brissen family had infiltrated the Royal Guard. That he, without knowing, had placed that man in his sons’ quarters.
Lemain knew it was all his fault.
"Evan."
He barely suppressed a bitter laugh. He had just realized that Evan, using this guard, had tried to manipulate Franz.
He gave my son poison, once again.
I failed to protect my son, once again.
"What is the situation?"
Closing his eyes, Lemain postponed his sighs and self-recriminations, turning to ask Needlen, who stood beside him.
With a calm expression, Needlen began his report in a clear, precise voice.
"All knights of Kaera have been disarmed, and the knights of Valkan have been instructed not to make any hasty movements. The entire Valkan Mage Corps is currently on guard duty in their place. The First Prince is staying in Chermil Palace and is safe. The Second Prince is being protected by Vice-Commander Hertz in Wilhelm Pavilion, with no change in his condition."
In times of emergency, the King could not be in the same place as the princes.
This meant Lemain could not immediately leave Arpia Palace to soothe Randel's anxiety or stand by the fallen Franz's side. If they were targeted together, they risked being wiped out all at once.
After Needlen finished his thorough report and stepped outside, Lemain, now alone with Alan, finally voiced the thoughts weighing on him.
"I have ruined things again."
"Save your breath for things that aren't obvious."
The mage, who had absolutely no intention of comforting him, spoke coldly.
Since the Royal Guard was directly under the King's command, it was an area even Alan could not touch. The problem lay within the knight order that Lemain alone ruled.
"You failed again. The most competent day of Your Highness's life would probably be one where you did absolutely nothing, so perhaps you should just go huddle in a corner. Would hearing that make you feel any better?"
His words were harsh.
"Do you think I came to this country to witness the absurd spectacle of a Royal Guard knight harming a prince? Do you think I have lived this long just to watch my precious disciple—who is nothing but cherished and pitiable—struggle to clean up the cesspool you dug, wearing himself to the bone? Do you think I keep that useless head on your shoulders because I find any part of you precious, when all you do is babble 'I'm sorry, I was wrong, I was thoughtless' day in and day out?"
In truth, Alan had never been gentle, but his words today were sharper than ever.
Knowing every last detail of the countless problems Lemain had caused, and well aware of where Calian had gone at this very hour and for what purpose, there was no way gentle words could escape his lips.
No, this was likely as gentle as he could be.
The mere fact that he was using his mouth instead of magic or his fists was, for Alan, a display of utmost restraint.
"A Royal Guard knight manipulated by an outsider. Sispanian would burst into laughter, calling it a truly amusing comedy. You claim to be buried in work every single day, yet I cannot for the life of me fathom what on earth you have actually been doing all this time."
It had been barely a year since Calian's arrival.
Knowing it was still too early for many things to change, Alan chose to speak rather than use his magic or fists. He was trying to salvage this man, who was utterly lacking as both a king and a father.
If he were to wash his hands of it all, this kingdom and the remaining two princes would be left in far too pitiful a state.
"I understand. I have seen who is being swallowed by the consequences of my actions."
Answering thus, Lemain closed his eyes with a low groan.
"Yes. I also understand that I must 'remain completely ignorant' of what the Marquis has done and what the Third Prince has gone out to do. Do not worry, I will not make any hasty moves against the Marquis's mansion. Instead…"
He opened his eyes again.
He could no longer afford to close them out of habit.
"The First Prince must be deeply concerned right now, even if he doesn't show it. I wish to go see him briefly, and then watch over the Second Prince. Would that be acceptable?"
When Alan merely stared without answering, Lemain continued.
"I know I shouldn't be in the same room as the princes at a time like this. But I suspect my head will remain firmly attached until you, Count, decide to sever it yourself."
My word.
It seemed that lazy, vegetable-like brat, who lay around trusting that Calian would surely keep him alive, was indeed the offspring of this stubborn bull.
"…Do as you wish."
With a short sigh and a wry chuckle, Alan, his complex emotions showing, nodded and stood up.
"I shall make sure that head of yours doesn't end up rolling away by anyone else's hand."
* * *
Wait here for a moment.
I'll be right back.
At the whispered words, Raven quietly raised his head. Sensing the need for silence, the horse chose the gesture instead of his usual snort.
In truth, Calian had considered bringing a different horse, but he had ridden Raven anyway, preparing for the journey back to the palace after his meeting with Evan.
—Clack, clack.
With the faint sound of hooves treading carefully on the ground, Raven melted into the darkness.
Calian, the hood of his black robe pulled low, took a deep breath.
It was a habit he had developed ever since inhaling the heavy, briny scent of the sea he had received as a birthday gift. He wanted to fill his lungs with the crisp night air before encountering the different kind of metallic stench that awaited him.
—Step.
His brief preparation finished, Calian's foot touched the ground.
A small step, a slightly larger step, then two long strides. Just as his stride seemed to gradually widen—
—Leap!
He sprang from the ground, the hem of his black robe dissolving into the shadows as he soared high. A dark red aura dripped behind him, staining the air for an instant before vanishing along with him.
The mansion of Marquis Evan Brissen.
A magic lamp illuminating the high outer wall, which resembled a small fortress, suddenly flickered out.
The moment a soldier watching from afar blinked, another light beside it went out. And then another. One by one, the lights began to extinguish, as if being swallowed by an incoming tide.
On that night, as a cool breeze swept through the royal capital.
Like a sandcastle being washed away by a silent, massive wave, the lights of Evan's fortress went out one by one, starting from the corner.
Not a single sound escaped.
* * *
`[Abundant]`
The blue-haired mage.
Does he always chant when he casts magic?
Or does he only chant for spells he rarely uses?
When I wake up, I should ask Calian…
`[Sleep]`
I should ask…
* * *
"Did your magic lessons go well?"
It was Relic's voice.
Franz, who had been staring at Relic from the sofa, closed his eyes.
On the soft cushion beside him, a kitten was sleeping. Lucy, cradled in his arms, made a lovely sound as always.
He had closed his eyes simply because he was too lazy to answer, but Relic spoke again.
"Your Highness, are you very tired?"
Something unfamiliar.
A voice filled with worry.
"I wish you wouldn't push yourself so hard to learn magic. We can clean up all the cat hair ourselves."
"I told you," Franz retorted with irritation, annoyed that Relic was thinking the exact same thing as the guy downstairs. "It's not because of that."
"Meow!"
"Nyah!"
Even the kitten, now awake, seemed to chime in on Franz's side.
At this rate, it was hard to tell if they were helping Relic believe him or just interfering so he wouldn't.
Franz slowly opened his eyes and let out a deep breath.
"I've prepared a bath for you, so please rest. Also, you have the equestrian performance tomorrow, so let me know if you aren't feeling well."
"Alright."
Answering curtly, Franz stood up. Watching him, Relic began chattering again.
"Would you like a cup of tea to drink while you bathe?"
"…Sure."
"Yes, I'll bring it right away."
In the room that fell silent after Relic left, Franz gently placed Lucy down next to the kitten. Then, he took off his jacket and draped it over the sofa.
—Knock, knock.
Just then, someone knocked.
Since Relic would be back shortly, he could have ignored it. However, having grown accustomed to managing without attendants, Franz opened the door without much thought.
A guard knight was standing there.
"What is it?"
"I have something urgent to tell you. Could you spare me a moment, Your Highness?"
Franz stared at the guard for a moment, then nodded.
As he stepped back, the guard entered and closed the door. Had he locked it, Franz might have grown suspicious, but he did not.
The guard handed Franz a small black pouch.
"You are to place this in the First Prince's room…"
Before Franz could fully register the object, the guard added, "This is a message from Marquis Brissen."
"…Ha."
A hollow laugh escaped Franz's lips.
The guard simply stared at him, clearly waiting for an answer.
Franz slowly closed and opened his eyes, concealing the thoughts racing through his mind at a terrifying speed.
The only methods Evan could devise were familiar ones. Since he had no choice but to copy the method Silike had used, what was in his hand had to be…
"Poison, I assume."
Thoughts he had kept suppressed for so long burst forth like a broken dam, completing a massive puzzle in his mind.
Calian had summoned Gray. Wary of Gray, Evan had brought out Lennon, and Calian had made it look as though Gray and Randel had formed a fake alliance. Anxious after the memorial ceremony and the alliance with the young Duke of Siegfried, Evan had—
—A contingency.
—created a variable.
"You're telling me to set a trap for my brothers with my own hands."
He would frame Randel for preparing poison to send to Calian. Then, Evan would kill Calian.
It would be made to look as though Randel, having prepared poison for Calian but realizing too late that Calian was immune, had summoned the Wolf of the Great Desert, a Holy Knight, or someone else to do the deed. The blame for Calian's murder would be pinned on Randel and Gray.
Naturally, the public and Lemain would suspect Evan, but that didn't matter. All they needed was a single piece of evidence in Randel's room proving that Randel and Gray had plotted to harm Calian.
"This alone would hardly serve as conclusive evidence," Franz questioned, his mind racing.
"Evidence is unnecessary. Brissen itself will be the evidence."
Since when had this man belonged to Brissen?
Had he been their man from the very beginning?
"As it has always been, Brissen is the evidence. Once Prince Calian is gone, things will return to how they were," the guard replied.
Franz laughed.
"When will you be able to do it?" the guard pressed.
Franz closed his eyes slightly. In the brief moment he took to feign consideration, his thoughts swirled once more.
Should I accept the poison and inform Calian? I would be breaking the Seal of Oath, but Calian and Randel would be safe. Should I do it? If the two seals clash and something happens to me… that bastard will surely go straight for Evan, and I would only need to hold out until then. Should I do that?
"…I suppose this doesn't count as betrayal."
Realizing his heart was perfectly fine even as he plotted Evan's death, Franz muttered to himself, drawing the guard's attention.
He bought himself a little more time.
What happens if Calian kills Evan? Knowing him, he must have prepared a way to do it without facing punishment. But if I accept the poison now and eliminate Evan first, all of his carefully laid plans will go to waste.
At worst, he'll become a criminal who murdered Evan for no reason. Even knowing that, he'll still strike Evan down. I know he's that kind of guy. I know it all too well.
I must not inform him directly.
There must be proof that I received this from Evan, through this guard. To do that…
I might as well. Right now.
Franz took a breath.
Staring at the guard, he inhaled deeply.
"Run."
Failing to understand, the guard furrowed his brow.
"I said run. My brother will be here soon, so jump out the window, not the hallway."
Jump out the window. So Calian can catch you easily.
"I… so that my brother…"
Can use what is in my hands to carve out a path to live. So that the bastard who will capture you, kill Evan, and keep me alive can also live.
"…can ascend the throne."
He unleashed his killing intent with all his might.
"Because I am going to live."
—Thump!