Chapter 305: As If Bereft of Reason (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 305: As If Bereft of Reason (1)
The royal palace of Secritia was different from that of Kairis.
Fortunately, unlike the king of Hatsuara, the Great King of Secritia was a man of reason. He hadn't built a palace so sprawling that one needed a carriage just to get from one building to the next. The same was true for Libern and Tensil.
Strictly speaking, it was the Kairis royal palace that was the outlier. Most palaces consisted of a single, large Main Palace with its annexes, or perhaps three or four buildings that included separate administrative and residential wings.
Of course, that didn't mean the palace was small.
While the other two nations were likely similar, Secritia's royal palace was by no means small either. It was grand enough to display the full majesty of the royal family, all within the bounds of common sense.
'My little brother will have trouble getting all the way to the annex.'
So, when Franz—who had grown surprisingly arrogant overnight—spoke with feigned concern for his younger brother, his words weren't entirely baseless.
A massive, rectangular Main Palace surrounded the Water Garden at its center. Past the Main Palace, deep within the grounds, lay the first annex, and a bit further was the second. The Kairis delegation had been assigned quarters that far into the palace grounds.
'We'll need another place to stay.'
And so, Franz had made his demand.
It wasn't that Calian couldn't walk to the annex; it was that he didn't trust the security of a building buried deep within Secritia's royal palace.
– Grant his wish and prepare a place for them in the Main Palace. I don't know if he mistrusts us or his own brother, but so be it.
After all, they needed a more secure location—whether to guard against Secritia, who had just attacked them, or against Calian, who might resent Franz's sudden appointment as Crown Prince. Thus, Devlan readily granted Franz's request.
In truth, Devlan had intended to keep the delegation in the annex for easier surveillance, but he scrapped that plan upon hearing that ‘Alan Manasil, during a sudden visit to the palace, addressed Prince Franz as the Crown Prince.’
And so, they gained access to a familiar place.
But the footsteps beside him were not.
He saw walls of black marble overlaid with white marble panels, each carved with intricate patterns. The corridor, which looked as if white designs had been embossed onto a black background, was incomparably beautiful.
Though it possessed a beauty entirely different from the gold-and-platinum-carved walls of the Arpia Palace, Calian paid the decorations no mind. He was so familiar with this place that he had no reason to look around.
"Your Highness."
"Yes, Master."
Walking down this corridor with one of the continent's three archmages, however, was a highly unfamiliar experience for Calian.
"If it's too difficult, shall I offer you my back again today?"
The unfamiliar feeling was so comforting that Calian shook his head with a smile.
"I can walk. I'm fine."
"Tell me if it becomes too much. I will gladly offer my back again at any time."
"Yes. I will."
Being carried once after falling asleep from a single cup of Himolica was more than enough. He had no intention of being carried on the back of Alan—who wasn't even Kyrie—while injured.
Watching Calian decline and slowly take his steps, Alan clicked his tongue once more.
"In my fifty-plus years, I have never seen a mage who causes as much worry as you, Your Highness. You wander off and come back battered and bruised as if it's a daily routine. What on earth am I to do with you?"
"I'm sorry. I will be careful from now on."
"Of course you must be careful. Every time I let you out of my sight, you return covered in injuries. This old man can't get a moment's peace. Thousands of lives will be lost if anything happens to you, Your Highness. How can you constantly forget that?"
Alan clicked his tongue again.
Hearing the sound, the Secritian knights stiffened, feeling their own lifespans rapidly shortening.
The mage was clad in a bright red robe, its intricate decorations increasing with the number of magic circles he possessed—a garment that surely ranked among the top three most luxurious on the continent. And the words coming from him were truly terrifying.
"I won't forget, Master."
"From now on, I'm assigning two knights to you at all times. Do not leave their side. And if I have to travel far, I'm taking you with me. Remember that."
Despite his nagging tone, Calian simply found it delightful to hear a father’s worry-filled complaints in this familiar place. He replied with another weak smile.
"Yes. I will."
One way or another, the conclusion was the same.
Wherever Calian went within the Secritian palace, two Kairis knights and Alan would accompany him without exception.
It was a matter decided arbitrarily by Calian's master, who cherished him far more than anyone expected and acted solely out of concern for his safety. There would be no objections.
"That aside, must you really see the Crown Prince of Secritia in your condition?"
"The Royal Concubine suddenly collapsed. Brother Chase must be terribly worried, so I can't rest easy."
It was Devlan himself who had permitted the Kairis delegation to enter the Main Palace. As the only person who could have prevented Calian and Chase from meeting, Devlan was currently occupied with Franz.
Therefore, there was no way to stop Calian from immediately seeking out Chase upon entering the palace, nor could they prevent Alan and the Kairis knights from following him.
– The documents Arianne has are currently with Sir Hertz. As long as that's a secret, the people here won't know why Mother collapsed.
– What do you plan to do?
– I need you to make a move, Master. While I meet with Mother, my brother will finish his private audience with Devlan. Please meet with Devlan after him. There is much to discuss regarding the Mage Association.
Beneath the surface-level nagging and worry, a more serious conversation passed between their minds.
– Shall I buy time by requesting the release of Dame Rachel and Sir Seiren?
– Yes. In the meantime, Sir Hertz should be on his way back. While I meet with Mother and you meet with Devlan, my brother and Brother Chase will proceed with the next step.
– Understood.
"In any case, there's no beating your stubbornness, Your Highness. Once you've met the Crown Prince, I won't let you budge an inch until you're fully healed, so be prepared."
"Yes. I understand."
Calian, who had been offering placating responses to Alan's endless nagging, stopped in his tracks.
Standing before him was not the red-robed mage beside him, but his former master, clad in the dark gray formal uniform of a knight.
"Sir Castrin."
"His Royal Highness is in a difficult position to come outside. He wishes to meet you inside, so I shall escort you."
"I understand."
Calian took a step forward. Alan moved to follow, but Teilan blocked his path.
"Only Prince Calian. I will escort him alone."
"I'm afraid I'm currently acting as His Highness's escort. It is difficult for us to be separated."
"His Royal Highness is not the only one in that room. I ask for your understanding."
Even for Calian, a prince of a foreign nation, entering the room where Louise lay was not easily permitted. Calian was entering with Chase's permission, but that did not extend to anyone else.
Calian turned to Alan. "Don't worry about me. Please go and meet with His Majesty, the King of Secritia. I believe you need to discuss Sir Seiren and Dame Rachel."
Hearing Calian's words, Alan gave Teilan a displeased look, then pointed to the two female knights standing at the front of their retinue. "You must at least allow two knights to escort him. I cannot fully trust the people of this country."
After a moment of thought, Teilan nodded on Calian's behalf. "Very well."
Thus, Alan, who had been shielding Calian so fiercely, was forced to separate from him for a moment, while two knights would stand before Louise alongside Calian.
"I will see you later, Master."
"Always be careful."
"I will."
After bidding Alan farewell, Calian followed Teilan inside.
Having entrusted Calian to the man who had once taught him swordsmanship, Alan lingered at the door for a moment, sighed helplessly, and then departed with the other knights, leaving only Kyrie to stand guard.
While Calian did what he had to do, Alan had to meet with Devlan.
*
"There have been many surprises today. I was beginning to wonder if some mishap had befallen Kairis."
"Worry..."
Sensing a subtle shift in Devlan's tone, Franz nodded without any outward reaction. He paused as if choosing his words, then lifted his teacup. As if suddenly remembering something, he froze and set it back down.
"I am glad to see you have the leisure to worry."
"Is there any reason I shouldn't?"
"There was no reason for Your Majesty to worry about Kairis, either. His Majesty the King is well, and this isn't a crown I seized by the sword, so you needn't be concerned."
"Indeed. If the investiture proceeded without issue, then I can offer my congratulations with peace of mind."
"Before that, I would prefer you tell me if I can drink this tea with peace of mind."
This was happening while Louise, Crown Prince Chase's mother, was hovering between life and death.
Even though Franz had requested this private audience, Devlan's attitude was far too calm. Franz showed his wariness through his actions and guarded himself with his words, pointing out that Devlan ‘seemed to have leisure.’ In response, Devlan completely ignored any mention of Louise and merely probed Franz's situation.
"Ah... indeed. I neglected to mention that."
"You did not."
"I did not realize you were concerned about such a thing."
'Don't touch the tea. First, make him acknowledge Mother's situation. Don't let Devlan lead the conversation; you have to stay in control, Brother.'
"Has it not become a situation where I must be cautious in many ways?"
"Yes, I suppose so. I understand completely."
Nodding, Devlan gestured to the teacup in front of Franz and smiled.
"Rest assured, I have not tampered with the tea."
Devlan said nothing about Louise.
Therefore, Franz didn't even glance at the teacup. He slowly closed and opened his eyes.
"And what about other things?"
"Other things... well. Is there anything that could make one feel completely at ease, no matter the circumstances? However, since you are a precious guest and I know not when you might visit again, I will see to it that your stay is a comfortable one."
"It seems you have misdirected your attention."
Franz slightly raised his arm and pointed toward his waist.
"First, you must explain why you orchestrated such an attack."
"It sounds as though you believe my hand was involved in the sword directed at you last night."
'It doesn't matter if he knows you're injured. You can hold him responsible and show your displeasure.'
"Is there anything in Secritia that Your Majesty's hand does not reach?"
"Well, I don't reach out my hand to just anyone."
"That is precisely why I believe Your Majesty's hand reached me."
To the thinly veiled insult that he wasn't important enough for Devlan to target, Franz replied that he was, in fact, important enough to be targeted.
Devlan let out a dry, breathy laugh.
After laughing for a moment as if he'd heard a funny story, Devlan stared at Franz. Franz continued, "In truth, I was highly disappointed in Your Majesty."
"And what of mine could have disappointed you?"
"I saw your judgment, unable to handle even my younger brother. I saw you being used by unknown assailants. I even saw the petty cruelty of offering a poisoned teacup to a royal concubine. How could I not be disappointed?"
Devlan did not explain that Louise had poisoned her own tea. Instead, his expression remained unshaken as he spoke.
"I am not a perfect man. It cannot be helped. However, that you are so disappointed in me suggests you held me in very high regard to begin with... My prestige must have fallen quite a bit."
"It has."
"Those words are both welcome and regrettable. Welcome, to hear you held me in such high esteem, and regrettable, to hear you are disappointed because I did not lay a hand on you. It is a difficult feeling to describe. Perhaps it is because no one has regarded me so highly of late. Had I known your words would be so... affecting, I would have paid more attention. So, what is to be done..."
"What has been broken cannot be undone. I will remain disappointed in Your Majesty, and you may remain without expectations of me. I will only be staying for a short while. There is no need for you to concern yourself any further."
Devlan nodded readily, then fell into thought. With a small smile, he looked at Franz and posed a question.
"Since you came here alone, it seems only fitting that you return the same way. What do you think of me seeing to that?"
"Indeed."
One corner of Franz's mouth curled up.
He reached out, picked up the teacup he had set down earlier, and took a long sip.
"...I wonder if you will be able to."
Returning the cup to its saucer without a sound, Franz rose from his seat.
"I am weary. I shall take my leave."
The conversation ended there.
Once again, without asking for permission to withdraw, he gave a perfunctory nod, turned, and walked out with steady, heavy steps.
'I, too, know how to risk my own life to take yours, Your Majesty.'
'...Just as Your Majesty's other son did.'
Watching the office door slowly close, Devlan lowered his eyes. As he recalled Louise's words, a long, slow smile stretched across his face.
*
Louise's complexion was terrible.
She lay on the bed, her face pale, but the curtains that might have hidden her from view were not drawn.
Calian slowly approached and stood before her.
"I told you to go back, Calian."
Chase, who was sitting beside the bed holding her hand with his head bowed, spoke in a dry voice. Without replying, Calian looked down at Louise for a moment, then turned his head.
"Hina."
One of the two escort knights who had followed him inside nodded and stepped forward.
With one step, her height shrank by a handspan. With another, her long, dark brown hair turned to silver. With a third, her build grew smaller, and with the final step, her tanned skin turned white. In moments, Hina stood by Calian's side, back to her usual appearance with large, black eyes.
Looking at Louise from beside Calian, Hina reached out. Her hand, however, was directed not at Louise, but at Calian.
Hina quietly took his wrist.
Knowing exactly what she was doing, Calian didn't resist. Soon, Hina performed the same action on Louise, then withdrew her hand.
– The kind prince is in worse condition.
The words were incomprehensible to Chase and Teilan.
Calian raised his hands and slowly, clumsily, formed the signs.
– I am strong.
– I want to heal the kind prince first.
– I will get better if I rest.
– Is this person important? Your Highness's condition is much worse. How can you walk around injured like this?
He was being scolded.
After a moment of thought, Calian spoke aloud.
"Hina. It might be hard to understand right now, but she is... like a mother to me. So."
Hina stared at him.
She showed no surprise at the statement that a foreign royal concubine was like his mother. Her large eyes, filled with their own stubbornness, moved her hands again.
– You have someone like this, yet you came here injured? If she finds out she was healed instead of you, she will hurt even more.
He was being scolded even more harshly.
Hina reached out again, grabbed Calian, and sat him down in a chair Teilan had brought over.
– Just try to move.
Those words, he could understand.
– I'll really smack you.
And those, he still could not.
Without any further explanation, Hina placed one of her hands on Louise and the other on Calian.
Soon, the light of a spring sun gathered in her two small hands.