Chapter 281: Himolica is Delicious (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 281: Himolica is Delicious (4)
Louise’s grip on Chase tightened.
He could see her pale, golden eyelashes trembling.
Anticipating her shock, Chase glanced around to scan their surroundings before gently patting the back of her hand.
“There are many eyes watching. Smile, Mother.”
Louise closed her eyes, let out a short sigh, and managed a strained smile. When she reached for her teacup, Chase squeezed her hand tighter.
“Leave the tea. Your hands are shaking.”
“Chase.”
A soft chuckle escaped Chase’s lips.
“It has been a long time since you’ve called me by my name. It’s quite pleasant to hear.”
“…How did the Crown Prince find out?”
Such a small, trivial thing.
Hearing Louise’s question, Chase recalled a conversation he’d had with Calian not long ago.
—Since I wasn’t there, I was worried Father might not act exactly as he did in the past. With that in mind, one particular detail caught my attention.
—Did something happen differently?
—What Mother said after returning from the villa was slightly different. I have no memory of Father telling her not to burn the sleep incense. So I looked into it, and it seems Mother…
Chase then explained what he had discovered.
He wasn’t the only one shocked to learn what Louise had done. Calian had shown a complex mix of emotions that went far beyond mere surprise before he spoke again.
—Unlike in the past, Devlan likely knew what Mother was giving him this time. That’s why he told her not to burn the incense.
—We have to assume he’s already noticed.
—How did he find out…? Could Mother and Marquis Lin be connected? Aside from my absence, the biggest difference from the past is how much Marquis Lin’s actions have deviated.
A healer.
In the past, Marquis Lin had not stepped forward to dismiss the healers.
—If Marquis Lin helped Mother, Devlan might have discovered her involvement when he investigated the Marquis. If so, he might have turned his attention to Mother.
—Yes. I will look into it.
After that conversation, Chase had moved quietly, and he discovered that Calian’s words were not wrong.
Marquis Lin, who was also Arianne’s mother, had helped Louise. She had prepared the poison to be mixed into the sleep incense delivered to Devlan.
Upon hearing what Chase had confirmed, Calian spoke again, his voice calm.
—Devlan has likely already searched the villa. If he arrested Marquis Lin, he would have searched her mansion as well, without Arianne even knowing. The fact that he went out of his way to mention the sleep incense means he probably hasn’t found any evidence yet.
Just as Calian had once done to Count Latran.
—He’s waiting for us to make the first move and create the evidence for him.
Just like back then, when they had waited for Count Latran to panic and create evidence of trying to send the sacred artifact to Lennon and Tensil, Devlan was now doing the same.
—Yes. I think so too. Even if he does have evidence, he won’t be able to do anything to Mother right away, since he considers her my only weakness. So there’s no need to be frightened by the fact that Father knows about the sleep incense.
—That’s correct.
—My only worry… is that this might draw his attention to you even more.
—By now, his thoughts have likely led him to me. Between Mother’s actions and everything else, if I were him, I would have deep suspicions about my identity.
He would need to gauge whether Calian could be used as another pawn like Louise.
Because if Devlan discovered the relationship between Calian and Chase, he would realize he had another weakness to hold over Chase. At that point, he would have no reason to keep Louise—the woman who had poisoned him—alive.
—So I wondered if I should try to prevent him from suspecting me further. But Brother Franz told me there was no need to care whether he knew or not. To be precise, he said, “What’s he going to do about it anyway?” He argued that a weakness is only a weakness if it’s someone you can capture and wring the neck of at any moment.
After all, the current Calian was no longer Devlan’s son, but the Third Prince of Kairis, who could point his sword at Secritia at any moment.
Even if Devlan found out who Calian was, Calian was in a position where he could not be easily touched.
—Even if he tries to reveal my identity to His Majesty to sever the bond between me and the Kairis royal family, he has no way to prove it. And I have no intention of ever admitting the truth to His Majesty, even if everyone else knows.
Even if the whole world suspected Calian, as long as Calian himself did not admit it, there was no way to prove the truth.
—So do not be shaken. If he suspects me, let him suspect.
After all, the only reason Calian had been caught so many times before was because he hadn’t bothered to hide it and had readily admitted the truth. Devlan would surely know at least that much.
—Yes. However, even with the risk, it would be best to find and destroy the evidence.
—I agree. But he will definitely be watching you, Brother…
—Do not worry. I will be careful and destroy it all.
The seaside.
That small cottage by the sea.
A place known to Marquis Lin and Louise, and to Chase and Arianne, but unknown to Devlan.
He had ordered a search of that place.
Moving in absolute secrecy, Arianne had found the evidence and destroyed it all.
Looking at Louise sitting across from him, Chase felt a self-deprecating smile touch his lips. It was a relief, he thought, that they had destroyed the evidence.
In the end, no one can remain pure white.
Bern had buried himself in the shadows to protect Chase.
Louise had stained her hands with poison to erase those shadows.
In the end, neither of them was pure.
It was truly laughable.
“I would prefer if you didn’t ask how I found out. Would that be too difficult?”
Louise stared at Chase for a moment before nodding in understanding. Chase then spoke, wearing his usual, unchanging smile.
“Sleep incense is merely sleep incense. No matter what else was mixed inside, we have made sure it will be treated as nothing more than that, so you have nothing to worry about.”
He did not speak quickly, nor was his voice tense.
Looking into Louise’s eyes as he always did, he spoke to her in a voice that seemed to carry both the gentle breeze and the warm sunlight.
“You don’t need to worry about anything, nor do you need to bear any burden. From now on, I will handle it.”
Chase spoke with his usual face and voice, yet everything was so vastly different.
“Crown Prince. I…”
“Mother, I…”
The same breeze continued to blow.
Brushing back a strand of Louise’s hair that had fallen across her face, Chase met her gaze directly.
“I understand. You don’t have to explain. I know what you were thinking, and I know what you did. So, it’s alright.”
Pushing down the thought that this was not the Chase she had always known, Louise spoke in a dry voice.
“I suspected His Majesty had noticed, but I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to find out as well. I was a bit startled.”
Forcing a faint smile, Louise continued, “Yes. Your assumption is correct, Crown Prince. It is poison.”
“You don’t need to force yourself to speak of it. Don’t worry…”
“I did it out of resentment. We have lost far too much because of His Majesty.”
We.
Feeling Chase’s hand on hers falter for a brief second, Louise nodded quietly.
“I was continuing what Queen Diena started. Slowly, bit by bit.”
This time, Chase’s grip on Louise tightened.
By the way, Brother. Do you… happen to remember when Mother first fell ill?
Having finished speaking, Louise let out a dry cough.
Chase’s eyes slowly closed.
*
Devlan had tried to summon a healer, but Chase had stopped him.
He had inquired about the elves’ healing magic but was rejected. He then demanded their magic in exchange for leaving the elves of Bridget Forest unharmed, but this too was rejected. Consequently, using the same threat, he demanded a treaty between Secritia and the elves, along with the migration of some of their people.
Afterward, Devlan sent a letter to Lemain, requesting that Hina and Calian accompany him to the treaty signing. However, Lemain rejected the request, citing the involvement of a Secritian spy in the death of the former Marquis, Evan.
Then, Calian had personally visited the elf city.
He offered to ensure that the elves of Bridget Forest would not be harmed by Devlan, successfully convincing them to call off the treaty with Secritia. He then had Grand Elder Narzan deliver a message: if Devlan wished to receive healing magic, he must personally visit the elf city where the Mother Tree resided.
Around the time news of Narzan’s message reached Devlan—along with reports that Calian, who had emerged from the elf city, was wielding an aura thick with red energy…
“Calian had some business with the young duchess.”
Franz had returned.
He was most curious and worried about whether Lucy was healthy and how much Anne had grown, but he went to Arpia Palace first.
Just as Calian, whom Alan would miss the most, had gone to the Siegfried Mansion first to send Siona to Demirea and entrust Franz’s two swords to the blacksmith there.
“His Majesty is still in a meeting and can’t come out yet. If you want to run away before you get scolded, you should leave now.”
Along with those words, a cup of lightly brewed strawberry tea was placed before him.
At the familiar scent, which felt like it had been ages since he last smelled it, Franz stared blankly at Alan’s face before his gaze drifted down to the teacup.
Alan had also been in the meeting with Lemain, but seeing his beloved disciple’s face was far more important. He had stormed out, only to find Franz sitting in the office instead of Calian.
“How was your journey?” Alan asked, not looking disappointed in the slightest as he welcomed Franz warmly.
“My little brother was catching chickens with his bare hands.”
“I heard he let them go again.”
“He was quite good at catching wild boars, too.”
“It seems he caught and ate two of them.”
One on the way there, and one on the way back.
Alan nodded as if this were nothing surprising. Staring blankly at him, Franz spoke quietly.
“……It was my first time seeing the sea.”
Alan smiled gently.
Franz turned his head.
His eyes fell upon a potted red flower sitting on the windowsill. Seeing this, Alan spoke softly.
“I intended to take it home and plant it, but I haven’t had the time, so it has remained here. If it makes you uncomfortable, please let me know. I will remove it.”
The pot had been left there on the off chance that Franz might be fine with it.
Just as Alan expected, Franz shook his head.
“Does that flower have no scent either?”
“Rather than having no scent, it’s a flower that gives off a sweet smell.”
A flower that smelled sweet rather than fragrant.
“There are many things in this world. There are flowers with scents, flowers without, and even flowers that smell sweet like that one. Isn’t it fascinating?”
“I thought I…” Franz began, still staring at the flower, but then he turned away.
Turning from the sweet-smelling flower, he took a sip of the strawberry-scented tea. He looked down at the warm cup again.
“I thought I knew a lot. But I didn’t.”
Outside the royal palace, everything was unfamiliar.
And even inside the royal palace, there were still so many things he hadn’t known.
“……It was fun.”
Because his little brother’s new father was an exceptionally good listener, Franz finally offered a belated answer to the question of how his trip had been.
“I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it.”
Alan’s face lit up with genuine happiness.
Staring at Alan in silence once more, Franz spoke quietly, changing the subject.
“You don’t look well, Mage.”
Alan’s face had grown somewhat haggard in just a few days. Those who saw him every day might not have noticed, but Franz had been away for a while, and his memory was exceptionally sharp.
Seeing Franz express concern for someone else, Alan smiled softly.
“Your Highness has an incredibly sharp eye. I have simply been unable to sleep well for the past few days due to a heavy workload. Please do not worry.”
Franz, who was about to nod at the reassuring reply, paused.
Why did I just leave it be back then?
Hearing Alan’s explanation for his weight loss suddenly brought the question to mind.
Not long after Calian had changed.
He hadn’t realized why Calian, who was drinking poisoned tea, was wasting away. He had been too focused on the fact that Calian had changed, vaguely assuming his weight loss was due to that transformation. By the time Calian’s health had severely deteriorated, Franz had stopped attending breakfast, so he hadn’t seen him at all.
But in the past, before Calian had changed…
Had there been some other reason he failed to notice? Or had he known Calian was drinking poison but ultimately failed to stop Silike?
Or perhaps…
Had he pretended not to know?
There was no way to know now.
If my memories return, will I find out then?
Pushing down the sudden rush of thoughts, Franz spoke again.
“I plan to head out again soon. Have you heard?”
“I have. I heard you intend to go to Secritia yourself.”
Franz nodded.
“So, there is something I would like you to do.”
He then made a request, speaking as if it were already a settled matter.
After listening, Alan pondered for a moment before replying, “It is not a difficult task, so I will see to it. When do you plan to depart?”
“As soon as the swords are finished. Right away.”
“Prince Calian said he would depart in a month. Have you moved up the schedule?”
“They say the King of Secritia thinks exactly like my little brother. That’s why I’m going immediately.”
“But your birthday is not far off, Your Highness. Wouldn’t it be better to depart after the celebration?”
Franz shook his head.
“I already received my present, so it’s fine.”
A celebration was unnecessary.
Calian would have prepared thoroughly and departed in a month or two. If Devlan anticipated Calian’s visit, he would expect that same timeline. That was why Franz intended to go immediately—to catch him off guard.
Watching him, Alan asked, “I have been curious as to why you are helping him so much. May I ask?”
Franz, who was about to refuse, looked at Alan for a moment.
“……Because he lives so fiercely, as if every single day might be his last.”
His gaze drifted from the coffee in front of Alan to the flower on the windowsill, and then out the window to the vast garden beyond.
—Even inside the royal palace, there are plenty of places where you can catch your breath.
Calian had said those words to reassure Franz not to feel too suffocated, even if he had to live inside the palace forever in his stead.
“I figured if I helped, my little brother wouldn’t have to live quite so fiercely,” Franz answered, recalling those words.
Seeing Alan’s expression shift into one that said, I knew my precious child had made a friend, but it seems he’s gained an older brother as well, Franz scowled before letting a smirk slip out.
“Mage. You should finish your work early today.”
“Yes, I shall.”
Having told him to wrap up quickly if he wanted to drink the alcohol Calian had bought, Franz stood up without lingering any longer.
He had to go see Lucy and Anne as soon as possible.