Chapter 282: Himolica is Delicious (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 282: Himolica is Delicious (5)
"Mwaaaaaoooow!"
That was the sound she made.
She really did cry like that.
The moment Franz returned to Chermil Palace, Lucy darted under the sofa with Anne right behind her. Then, from beneath the furniture, Lucy let out a truly, truly sorrowful wail.
He hadn't even had a chance to see how Lucy was doing or how much Anne had grown.
"...I didn't forget about you."
"Meeeooww!"
"I even told you I'd be gone for a long time. Why are you acting like this?"
"Meow!"
"Nee-aong!"
Forgetting all about the relaxing bath he’d been looking forward to, he spent a long while crouched in front of the sofa, calling out to Lucy and Anne. But the only response he got was a series of mournful cries.
Franz had rushed back here, not even stopping to see his own father after a brief meeting with Calian's. Now, staring at the furry backsides of two cats, he wasn't sure who had more right to feel aggrieved—him or them.
"Lucy. Anne."
"Meeow!"
No matter how many times he called, they had no intention of coming out.
After a long session of calling and meowing back and forth, Franz finally offered them some treats made of minced beef. Only then did the two cats poke their heads out, bringing a faint smile to his face.
Anne had grown a lot.
She had grown so much in such a short time. Her gray tail, now so fluffy it resembled a feather duster, immediately caught his eye.
Even though she had grown, Anne was still so small. And Lucy, whose presence alone brought him warmth… He would have to leave the royal palace again soon. What was he supposed to do?
"You cannot take them with you, my prince."
Relic, already aware that Franz would soon be departing on an even longer journey, spoke up. He seemed to have grown more perceptive, easily guessing what was on the prince's mind as he gazed at the two cats.
"I know."
"Instead, I will take very good care of them. Do not worry."
Franz nodded silently.
In fact, he had been told as much before he even left to meet the elves. Cats were not to be taken on long journeys.
The pitch-black cat from downstairs followed its master everywhere, meowing constantly, but Lucy and Anne weren't like that. All he could do during his brief stay was hold Lucy close and commit Anne's image to memory.
"I have prepared your bath, so please rest well. I believe you have no other appointments until tomorrow."
Gently stroking the cats, who had finally approached to rub against his legs, Franz unfastened his cloak, handed it to Relic, and replied, "Alright."
After sending Relic out, he soaked himself in a spacious bathtub made of pale jade, taking a long bath. For the first time in ages, he let his mind go empty, losing all track of time.
When he finished and went to get dressed, he noticed Relic holding a formal jacket instead of a cardigan. Staring blankly at the navy-blue jacket embroidered with gold thread, Franz spoke.
"You told me to rest."
"Well, that is…"
Hadn't he just told him to rest?
Then why was he holding a jacket?
"His Majesty has arrived. He said he would wait and asked me not to inform you."
Franz furrowed his brow.
He hadn't been summoned; the king had come to him. He hadn't even been told to hurry, just that the king was waiting.
"When did he arrive?"
Did you really take his words that literally?
He considered saying it aloud but decided against it and simply asked the question. Relic, fastening a shirt ornament in place of a tie, replied as he helped Franz into his jacket.
"It has been about thirty minutes."
"What is wrong with you?"
Even so, thirty minutes was far too long.
In the end, he couldn't stop himself from scolding the attendant.
Wearing his jacket and an additional sky-blue, fur-trimmed coat, Franz went out to the rear garden. He saw Lemain sitting in the exact spot where Hina had once served them strawberry ice cream.
Approaching with quick steps, Franz bowed and apologized for keeping him waiting. Without a word, Lemain simply gestured to the seat beside him.
Lemain gazed at his son for a moment before speaking.
"You took your time bringing Calian back."
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
He had to apologize once again for his flimsy excuse—that he was just stepping out to catch Calian, who was supposedly trying to run away.
White puffs of breath drifted into the air.
Before his trip, the garden had smelled of grass and early fallen leaves.
During the ten or so days he had been away, the weather in Kairisis had moved past merely chilly and into true cold. A wind was blowing that made staying outside for long uncomfortable. Chermil Palace had a perfectly good reception room, and if not there, Lemain could have come to his chambers. Yet, he had insisted on sitting out here.
"It must have been very uncomfortable, traveling such a long way without a carriage," Lemain said.
"It was not uncomfortable."
"Did the Grand Elder happen to treat you rudely?"
"...Rather than him, Calian was…"
"...I see."
Franz recalled Calian, who had behaved as if table manners were the only form of etiquette he'd ever learned. If Franz could have described that scene, Lemain certainly wouldn't have let it slide with a simple "I see."
Of course, had Lemain also witnessed Franz going a step further right beside Calian, he might have agonized over whether to immediately pen a letter of condolence to Grand Elder Narzan. However, Franz did not mention his own actions as the Vice-Commander of Valkan.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Lemain, who only knew what was necessary, asked, "I heard you intend to go to Secritia. Is that true?"
"Yes. That is correct."
Going to see the elves was enough to make one's heart stop; now he was saying he would go to a foreign country.
"Although we once had friendly relations, the atmosphere with the King of Secritia has not been good lately. I have even banned exchanges with them. I do not know what business you have there, but I would prefer it if you stayed here."
Normally, this was a conversation Calian, the one actually going to Secritia, should have had with Lemain himself.
However, Calian found dealing with Lemain difficult, and Franz was naturally better at making up excuses. They had decided beforehand that Franz would persuade the king.
But Lemain had shown up too suddenly.
Franz still hadn't decided what reason to give.
"I wish to spend the winter somewhere other than Kairis, if only for this year."
So, instead of a carefully crafted excuse, Franz gave that answer.
A year ago.
Hadn't he spent an exceptionally cold winter after joining hands with Calian?
The memory of that remarkably long and frigid winter, spent all alone before Heisia Palace collapsed, was still vivid. It wasn't because he was particularly smart; he had simply lived through a time that would remain an unforgettable memory for anyone, and the season that brought it all back had returned for the first time.
"It is not that I haven't moved on, but I feel a sense of unfamiliarity. That is why."
And so, he replied that he wanted to spend at least this one winter somewhere other than Kairis.
"...Is that how you felt?"
Whether it was an excuse chosen because he knew Lemain could never refuse it, or whether it was his true feelings, remained unknown.
* * *
White puffs of breath drifted into the air.
The scent of a clear breeze, unique to the cold air of the forest, hung in the night.
The sea had been hot, and the land of elephants had been cool, but winter had arrived in the northern forest.
"I wasn't even gone for long, yet winter is already here."
"Yes. The days felt long, yet time passed quickly. Before we knew it, winter had come."
After twenty-six short years, he had lived one more long year. And now, the second winter had arrived.
"Are you not cold?"
Calian smiled sheepishly and shook his head, captivated by the warm light in the silver-gray eyes that followed the puffs of his breath.
"I'm not cold at all. Everything around me is warm."
Calian, who would only feel the chill but never truly suffer from it even if the entire forest froze solid, pointed to the muffler wrapped tightly around his neck. It was the item Yan had spent the most time and effort on, after spending a long time checking if he was hurt, another long time scolding him for leaving without a word, and an even longer time welcoming him back safely.
"I see. I am glad you are not cold."
Sitting on a thin cloth spread over the dry grass, Alan nodded and smiled.
Calian pulled two large liquor bottles, four cups, and a small basket of dried fruits and sausages from Raven's saddle. With practiced movements, he began arranging them on the cloth.
"I was wondering whether to buy Himolica or Sizlinu, but I realized I didn't know what kind of alcohol you liked. So, I prepared both."
There were two wine glasses and two small Himolica cups that fit perfectly in one's hand.
Staring at the four cups, Calian picked up the bottle of deep purple wine and continued, "But it seems there was something else I didn't know."
His hand moved quietly, setting the two wine glasses aside.
He pushed back the bottle of Sizlinu as well, then poured a cup of Himolica—notorious for its strength—for both Alan and himself.
With his eyes quietly settled on Alan's face, Calian spoke.
"I wonder what is troubling my father."
Upon hearing this, the sharp lines around Alan's eyes softened into a gentle curve.
"It seems you not only brought back a real older brother but also learned his keen observation skills."
"Ah, did my brother say something similar to you?"
"Yes. He left after expressing his concern for me."
He's grown up quite a bit, that brother of yours. Worrying about other people and all.
Calian let out a silent laugh and spoke again.
"Have you not been able to sleep?"
"I have been busy with many matters, so it has turned out that way."
Calian nodded.
He reached out, picked up a piece of dried banana instead of his cup, and popped it into his mouth. Chewing thoughtfully, he looked up at the star-filled sky.
"Having died once and lived twice, many strange things have happened. Though, dying once and living twice is strange enough on its own."
While some might find scentless or sweet-smelling flowers strange, Calian spoke of things that were far stranger to him.
"It was strange to gain a father I had to constantly remind myself was my father, a father I'm still not used to calling 'father', and a father who needs no such qualifiers at all. It was also strange that I had a mother who was always sick and passed away early, a mother who tried to protect me with all her might in her stead, and a mother whom I had no memory of, only to find out much later that she was an elf."
White breath drifted quietly into the starry night.
Alan listened to Calian's story in silence.
"I only recently learned that the mother I have no memory of drank poison, and the mother I do remember, whom I thought had died from illness, actually withered away from poison. But now, it seems the one remaining living mother has also been tainted by poison. I don't know what to call this feeling. It is certainly not 'strange'."
Alan, who had been staring at Calian, let out a soft sigh.
He already knew from Calian that Louise had been poisoned by the sleep incense she carried.
"Should I call it a relief? I suppose that would be the right word."
The sweet taste of banana spread in his mouth.
Perhaps because it was a fruit he always sought when he was sick, it tasted exceptionally sweet today.
"Queen Diena… my biological mother, was in poor health from the start. That is why Devlan took in Royal Concubine Louise, and my brother Chase was born first. Then, somehow, I was born. I always believed that my mother died because she fell ill on my account. My brother's mother always told me I had to believe that."
"They both must have been good mothers."
Nodding, Calian continued.
"Because showing signs of illness would arouse suspicion, she didn't even receive proper treatment for her addiction to the sleep incense. Since she was already in poor health, holding it in must have made her suffer even more. It was probably the same for my other mother. She never showed that she was in pain. She suffered so much she could barely breathe, right up until the day I closed my eyes. Now that I think about it, she must have been poisoned by the sleep incense as well."
Saying this, Calian lowered his head.
Then, looking at Alan, he spoke.
"I didn't know back then. But fortunately, I found out this time. I can tell her not to use the sleep incense anymore. I couldn't do anything back then, but this time is different. It is truly a relief."
In the timeless forest, it felt as if one could hear the ticking of a second hand. After a long silence, Calian's voice drifted out in fragments.
"It is a terrible thing, to be unable to do anything. By the time you open your eyes, it is already too late. It was like that with my mother's illness, and on that day…"
Calian's fingertips brushed the rim of his glass.
"...it was like that with the soldiers."
Recalling the soldiers of Kairis who had appeared before him all too quickly, without any warning, Calian let out a self-deprecating chuckle and quietly closed his eyes.
"Had you guessed?"
Alan's low voice drifted over. Calian nodded.
"How could they move so many people in an instant? The birds hadn't turned their backs. I always wondered about it. I thought, 'It's almost like magic,' and then it hit me. 'Ah, it must have been magic.' That's how I figured it out."
To lead the pure white demons from the royal palace of Kairis and appear before the border of Secritia in an instant. It was something the current Alan could not do, but something Alan Manasil, the 8th Circle Archmage, could.
"In the end, even I became a dagger to you, Prince. What am I to do?"
"What do you mean, what are you to do?"
After speaking, Alan cast his eyes to the ground.
Calian smiled and looked at him.
"Do not worry. You may cross that wall. Is that not something to be celebrated?"
Calian understood. The mage had guessed what his future self had done, and that knowledge had stopped him right before the wall of the 8th Circle—a wall he had reached much earlier than in the previous timeline—leaving him unable to sleep.
Addressing this foolishly stubborn mage, Calian let out a long breath.
"You have given me so much, just because I grabbed your sleeve once and begged you to save me. I spent a long time worrying about how I could ever repay it all, so isn't this for the best? I don't have to repay you. I can just live with you for a long, long time and show you my filial piety. It is truly such a relief."
He took a breath that was slightly longer than a sigh.
"You must live with me for a very long time. Sleep well, and stay healthy. Father."
A smile played on Alan's lips once more.
The words—to live together without worrying about repayment—were so deeply appreciated, yet they made him feel so apologetic.
"Yes. We shall live together for a very long time. With my child, for a long, long time."
"Yes, Father."
Nodding as if to tell him not to worry, Calian reached out and clinked his cup against Alan's. A clear, resonant ring lingered in the forest for a moment before fading away.
Calian downed the Himolica he had been looking forward to, then stared at his empty cup and Alan's.
"Wow…"
How long had it been since he'd last tasted that fragrant aroma sliding down his throat?
The sensation, as refreshing as finally resolving the long-overdue issue with Alan, was incredibly welcome.
"Himolica is delicious, Father."
Forgetting to even disperse the alcohol with his Aura, Calian smiled beautifully. And then—
Thud!
He fell fast asleep.