Chapter 304: Be Patient, Brother (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 304: Be Patient, Brother (7)
The early morning sun shone brightly.
—Tap, tap.
The soft sound of footsteps echoed down a long hallway lined with wide windows. Dressed in a light blue gown adorned with purple ornaments, Louise walked in silence.
Reaching the very end of the hall, she came to a halt. The royal guard blocking the door before her bowed his head.
"I was instructed not to let anyone in today."
"I am aware. Announce me."
"My apologies."
Louise gestured to the doorknob.
"Must I open it myself?"
"As I said, today—"
Just then, a voice echoed from inside the room.
"It's fine. Let her in."
It was Devlan.
Devlan had only ever shown deep sincerity and consideration to Louise and the late Diena. Until recently, he hadn't shown any major flaws to Chase, either—at least, not on the surface. Only Devlan himself knew what truly lay in his heart.
In any case, with Devlan's permission granted, the guard no longer blocked her path and opened the door.
Devlan, who had already seated himself on a sofa, offered a greeting before Louise could even step inside and offer a formal bow.
"It has been a while."
"…Yes, Your Majesty."
It was hardly a warm greeting for a married couple, but it was also true that they had not seen each other for some time. Louise offered only a brief reply and sat opposite him.
Before long, the chief chamberlain entered, set down two cups of tea, and withdrew. Louise’s silent gaze fell upon her teacup.
"Indeed. You wouldn't have sought me out for idle chatter. What is the matter?"
"I came to ask you to stop."
Louise raised her head and replied quietly.
Devlan stared at her for a moment, then shook his head with a smile.
"I'm not sure what you want me to stop."
"Everything you are doing right now, Your Majesty. Please, stop all of it."
"I still hold you dear and cherish my son. I am also doing my best to rule my country. Which of those should I stop?"
"I know you intend to frame the Crown Prince. I also know what you hope to gain by fabricating these lies. Because of your—"
"That is an unpleasant accusation. I suggest you choose your words more carefully."
"Because of your greed, I have watched everyone die. I saw how the Queen, my family, and so many others died and how it was all covered up. I also heard how many soldiers died last night."
"Louise."
Devlan stared intently at her.
But Louise did not stop.
"Neither the deposed Queen of Kairis who was executed, nor the Prince Consort of Libern who met the same fate, had as much blood on their hands as you. You are a criminal, Your Majesty. So please, stop now."
"Enough."
Devlan raised a hand, cutting her off.
His face was gentle, showing no trace of anger as he spoke.
"It's true I was careless. I never suspected the sleep incense was poisoned, and it ruined my health. If you must assign blame, then that alone is my fault. However, that is all. You should stop being so stubborn and return to your chambers. I do not wish to turn my back on you or the Crown Prince just yet."
"You turned your back on us from the very beginning. The path you chose was wrong. You have lived your life taking only the paths you should have never taken."
"And what if the choice was wrong? It is still a way of living one's life."
Devlan chuckled softly.
Watching his unchanging attitude, Louise quietly reached out and picked up her teacup. She caressed its rim for a moment before speaking.
"It would be more accurate to say it wasn't a way of living, but a desperate struggle to remain king. You have lived a coward's life, terrified of having your position stolen. Punish me properly and let this go. This is my first and last request."
"Louise. I have said all I have to say."
As he spoke, Devlan flashed a smile he had never shown to anyone but Louise and Diena.
"…I see."
Louise took a sip of her tea.
—Clink.
She set the cup down, but instead of standing to leave, she spoke again, her face serene.
"There are records detailing your wrongdoings in full. You might think you hid them well, but the records left by the Queen and myself, who watched you from the side, remain. I have also written about your illness and, in detail, what you are doing now to cure it. The nobles who see this will no longer fear you."
"I know. There are no perfect secrets in this world. I always assumed evidence would turn up if they searched. However, even if they know, the nobles cannot side with the Crown Prince. Are they not fools who would borrow the strength of the wrong people because they cannot trust whose side the Crown Prince will take?"
Devlan paused, then spoke again.
"Otherwise, they would have to make someone without my blood the new king. But could those greedy fools ever decide on a candidate? They cannot make such a move."
"That's fine. From now on, they will trust the Crown Prince, not you."
"Do you think so?"
"Just in case, I also added that I would absolutely never take my own life. I wrote that if such a thing were to happen, it would never be of my own free will."
Louise looked at Devlan.
He remained silent, but she did not stop.
"It is a fact known to everyone that the Crown Prince worries for me and follows my word more than anyone else's. Therefore, if my life ends by your hand in this place, you and the Crown Prince will be completely severed from one another. At that point, the nobles will be able to take his hand without hesitation. Even the nobles you call fools know how to think and act. When they no longer ignore your crimes, learn of your illness, and decide to trust the Crown Prince, I trust you know what will happen."
"…Louise."
"Your Majesty."
Louise's voice cracked slightly.
"You are not the only one who can set a trap. I can do the same. I, too, know how to stake my life to take yours. Because I learned it from you."
Devlan's expression hardened.
Louise's eyes did not waver.
"…Just as your other son did."
Gush.
Crimson liquid welled up from her lips.
The dress, the same color as her and Chase's eyes, was stained red.
* * *
Zeon was in Secritia.
Thanks to his intervention, the two princes of Kairis had narrowly escaped death. They had no way of knowing who would attack next, or when. They couldn't even be sure they would return to Kairis safely. For that reason, Calian had gone to the villa, not the Secritia Royal Palace.
—Master. I need you to come here.
—Yes, I will.
He had summoned Alan, who, as always, accepted without question.
Naturally, for Alan to come, he could not hold the position of Valkan Corps Commander. He had to come simply as Alan Manasil—Prince Calian's master, a Marquis of Kairis, and a Baron of Secritia.
That was fine. It wasn't as if they didn't know they were playing a game of pretend with each other, so Calian planned to temporarily relieve Alan of his post, just as he had with Arsen. At least, that had been his plan.
—Please return to Kairis immediately. The Crown Prince has earnestly requested it.
But then, a message arrived from Teilan.
Even without seeing his face, Calian could feel his emotions directly. Teilan was shaken.
—Lady Lin has taken certain documents with her. Please hide them in the villa, and for a moment… please go to Kairis with the young lady. I ask for your protection.
Something had happened.
Calian glanced up, confirmed the Silent barrier was still active, and relayed Teilan's words.
"That was Sir Castrin. He's telling us to return to Kairis while protecting Arianne."
"What's going on?"
Calian shook his head instead of answering and asked Teilan.
—Where is Brother Chase?
—He is here with me, but he is not in a position to speak with you, Prince Calian. I am speaking on his behalf.
—I can't move easily right now. Please explain exactly what is happening.
—He was investigating the noble factions, suspecting one of them had attacked you. He was also in contact with the Mage Association…
It was as he expected.
Even without the exact details, Chase would have fully understood the situation.
—The Royal Concubine has taken poison during a private audience with His Majesty.
His fingertips froze. His red eyes squeezed shut.
It was a short sentence, but he understood everything it meant. He understood why Louise had done it. He cursed his own mind for immediately grasping the reason, but his thoughts worked diligently regardless.
He even realized who she must have learned that method from—drinking poison to corner an opponent.
—…How is her condition?
—Not good. They say she has two or three days at most. It seems she won't last long. If the worst happens, His Royal Highness will no longer hold back. I am awaiting his orders, so it would be best for you to leave Secritia quickly, Prince. You could get caught up in the fallout.
—Wait a moment, Sir Castrin.
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
—I will contact you again. Please wait.
—Understood.
Once more, he clenched his fist.
Franz's eyes narrowed as he saw Calian's hand trembling. Calian's gaze quietly turned toward him.
"I need Hina, Brother."
After explaining the situation, Calian stood up.
Franz blocked him.
"You know that if you go to the Secritia Royal Palace now, neither Devlan nor Zeon will leave you alone."
"I can handle them. And Master will be here soon, so nothing worse will happen."
"And after you cure her? What then?"
Franz was asking what Calian would do after bringing Hina to treat Louise. Could Calian, who could barely look after himself, properly protect Hina? Especially with Devlan on edge and Zeon's whereabouts still unknown.
"I haven't forgotten the situation in Secritia. I will act accordingly, so you don't need to worry."
"Is Marquis Manasil also going to show up disguised as some blue-haired lunatic?"
"That's right."
"I don't know what two insignificant princes and their string of mages plan on 'keeping in mind,' but I'm telling you to do more than think—you need to prepare."
He meant they needed something more than just strength.
Staying safely under Alan's protection while investigating the attackers and helping Chase ascend the throne was completely different from mobilizing Alan for a massive, life-threatening battle.
"Weren't you the one who taught me that just as responsibility follows a position, so too does the power to take that responsibility?"
"…You know what will happen if Master comes here as the Valkan Corps Commander."
Franz had said something similar before they searched for the elf city. Of course, since he had learned it from Calian, Calian knew it well. The problem was that while a higher position increased one's scope of responsibility, the repercussions of one's actions also grew. Wasn't that why they had been playing so fast and loose with Arsen's rank until now?
"That would happen if Marquis Manasil held the title, not me. What if I rise to a position where I can make good use of the Corps Commander's title?"
"Brother."
Calian snapped out of his daze and stared at Franz. He finally understood what he was saying.
Instead of a third party coming to help a threatened prince, the prince himself should take a higher position. If the powerless prince who had just come to sightsee suddenly became the Crown Prince, reversing his situation with Calian overnight, no one would dare lay a hand on them.
"No matter how bad your relationship with Brother Randel is, are you forgetting everything else?"
Two princes disappear, and both the Valkan Corps Commander and Vice-Commander positions become vacant. Siona would ensure the palace's safety for a while, but that only meant protecting Lemain's life.
If the situation for Calian and Franz changed at the Secritia Royal Palace, would Randel—or more accurately, Marquis Gray Brissen and Tensil—stay quiet and not take advantage of the gap?
"His Majesty can handle that much on his own."
Lemain could do the work of struggling, paying attention, and using his brain to play the father he had failed to be all this time. It wasn't that hard, was it?
"Besides, I thought you were planning to look into Tensil's schemes anyway."
"Not like this. The position of Crown Prince isn't something you can just put on and take off like a Valkan uniform."
"It's not impossible to take it off, either."
"Take back those foolish words. You could die, Brother. Why…"
"I'm not saying I'm going to die. I'm saying I'm going to live."
Franz cut him off.
"Didn't my little brother tell me that protecting cats is also a way of living?"
"…That wasn't the kind of cat I meant."
Calian had thought Franz only resembled Sispanian, but it seemed the blood of Hatsuara ran in his veins after all. He could tell by his utter lack of reason.
A long sigh escaped Calian's lips, carrying his worry for Louise and his attempt to cope with the ever-escalating situation.
"You don't have to force yourself into a role you wanted to avoid. We can find another way."
"You said you wouldn't let a war break out this time. Isn't this enough, then?"
With that reply, Franz reached out and snatched the bracelet from Calian's wrist. He frowned, seeing Calian unable to even react properly, and injected mana into the bracelet connected to Alan.
"I'd prefer it if my little brother, who can't lie to save his life, would stop yapping and stay quiet."
Franz shot Calian a look, whose face clearly said he was the one doing all the yapping, and curled one side of his lips into a smirk.
"I'll make sure you survive to go to Camillon and raise dogs, so just leave it to me."
Calian clutched his head.
* * *
Franz took a single step back.
He stood a very small distance away from Alan.
A small gap now existed between Calian and Alan. In that gap, Alan bowed slightly and spoke.
"Your Highness has made a decision regarding the position of Crown Prince. From this day forward—"
"I know."
Franz glanced at Calian.
Calian, who had been glaring at Franz with a displeased expression, bowed his head slightly. He said nothing more.
Soon, Alan moved to Calian's side and, conspicuously adjusting his cloak, spoke to him.
"Why is someone whose body isn't even whole out in this cold?"
A division of power.
Power and position to Franz, Alan to Calian.
It was an act meant to make the situation clear to others, but the worry itself was genuine. Knowing this, Calian smiled faintly and nodded.
"It is a bit difficult to stand."
Hearing this, the one who moved was not Alan, but Franz. He turned his head toward the knights.
"My little brother says he finds it hard to stand. Do you intend to keep him on his feet?"
"No matter how different our nations are, what kind of attitude is this toward a Crown Prince and a Prince? Have you truly been treating them this way all this time?" Alan added.
A red-robed mage had appeared before the palace. Unlike their first visit to Kairis, it was now broad daylight, so his unique hair color was clearly visible. Anyone could see it was Alan Manasil.
Receiving a scolding from the suddenly appeared Archmage, the knight answered calmly.
"That is why we said we would escort them inside…"
"Inside where?" Franz cut him off.
"The annex, Prince Franz. As I said, currently in the palace—"
"No."
Cutting him off again, Franz looked around at the knights and said slowly, "How short-sighted. My delicate little brother will find it difficult to move all the way to the annex. It seems we'll need another place to rest."
Oh, Sispanian.
Your blessing should have been a little less considerate. At this rate, I'll die of injustice, not illness.
"…Patience, Brother. I am fine."
Calian barely managed to support Franz's act, which he had adapted to exceptionally well, and leaned slightly against Alan. Half of it was acting; the other half was because it was genuinely hard to stand, causing Alan to click his tongue softly.
"And since I have returned to this palace as the Crown Prince, I must pay my respects to His Majesty the King of Secritia. Right now."
And he said he didn't want to go to Camillon.
He was like a fish in water.
While the highly arrogant Franz continued to pick a fight with the knight, Calian tried to contact Chase once more.
—…Calian.
Finally, an answer came.
Chase's voice.
—I am worried about your condition.
—It's not worth worrying about. How is Mother?
Chase was worrying about him first. Instead of expressing his relief, Calian cut straight to the point.
—She is not getting any worse for now, but… I do not know.
—She will be fine. So don't think of anything else. Just wait.
Chase did not reply.
Calian's head turned slightly. Looking toward the Kairis knights who had accompanied him, he spoke as if to soothe Chase.
—I have arrived. With Hina.