Chapter 307: As If Bereft of Reason (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 307: As If Bereft of Reason (3)
Calian clutched his head once more.
It had not been long since he returned to his newly prepared room in the main palace.
"I drank it."
"'You drank it'? What do you mean by that?"
He had just learned that, despite being warned not to drink the tea, Franz had gulped it right down.
The royal palace was still silent about why Louise had collapsed. According to the reports from Chase's birds, rumors were gradually spreading among the nobles, but the whispers had yet to grow loud. If this were Kairis, the nobles would have already rushed to Senyu Hall or their voices would be echoing through Astrisha Street, but Secritia was different.
The nobles who possessed discernment, knew when to raise their voices, and held a grudge against Devlan were already dead. This was an era where only those who lacked discernment or had forgotten how to speak up survived. Thus, the thoughts and actions of the nobility were bound to be as faint and weak as a burnt-out candlewick.
In such a situation, Calian figured that Franz, who had gone to see Devlan, must have seemed like easy prey. If the nobles’ plan to kill Franz hadn’t changed, would what happened to Louise happen again? Or, if the nobles had leaned toward joining forces with Chase as Louise intended, would they try to help Chase in some way?
After all, when Franz had his private audience with Devlan, the news of his ascension to Crown Prince had not yet spread. Furthermore, if Franz collapsed from poison, Louise's situation would also come to light. Even if Franz wanted to retaliate, he wouldn't be able to join hands with Devlan against the nobles.
That was why Calian had told him to be careful.
And Franz had replied that he already knew.
"Why on earth did you dr—... why did you drink it?"
"On second thought, I didn't think they would have put anything in it."
"You drank it because you thought they wouldn't put poison in it, but what would you have done if they had?"
"But they didn't."
Calian’s expression screamed, Did you find out you won't die from most poisons and decide to start acting reckless, relying on your blessing? You elegant, venerable bastard of a brother, you're going to be the death of me. He quietly lowered his eyes.
If anyone wanted to test the absolute limits of their patience, they should try being the 3rd Prince of Kairis. He felt like begging someone to take his place for just an hour, let alone a day. In the meantime, he would gladly be the 2nd Prince of Secritia.
A moment later—whether from recovery or a spike in blood pressure—a soft, beautiful voice flowed from his delicate red lips, which had regained much of their color.
"......Hina."
He tattled on Franz, spilling every single detail about how he had warned him until his ears bled that someone would definitely try to poison the tea, so he should only pretend to drink it before setting it down. But that Crown Prince over there—who was as pale as the underside of a new maple leaf—had gone and gulped it all down.
Before long, Calian watched with satisfaction as Franz, staring at Hina's hands, let out an endless stream of "I get it"s. While Franz was being scolded, Calian finished his oatmeal banana soup. He felt like he could easily devour ten thick steaks, but Hina had forbidden it. Unlike the person still getting an earful, Calian intended to listen to Hina, so he patiently endured.
Afterward, he watched with a satisfied expression as the hardworking Hina ate her own delicious meal. Then, seeing the newly chastened Crown Prince begin to tuck into a steak grilled in olive oil and seasoned with black salt, Calian drank a full cup of water out of sheer envy.
"Kyrie."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After sending Hina off with strawberry cake and strawberry ice cream for a well-deserved rest, Calian spoke.
"It feels like Master is taking too long to return."
"The Association. The blue-haired crazy mage is late," Franz, who was eating strawberry cake as if to show it off, answered instead of Kyrie.
Currently, there were no bracelets or rings on Calian's wrists or hands. Franz, having taken Hina's instructions that Calian must rest without using even a moment of magic to heart, had confiscated them all before the meal.
"Did he not say anything else other than that he was going to look for Sir Hertz?"
"No."
"Liar."
"Watch your language."
"Do not lie to me, Your Royal Highness."
Franz furrowed his brow.
Calian, who had decided to take only half of what Franz said seriously from now on, spoke again.
"How can the Crown Prince of a nation tell lies in front of his supposedly fragile younger brother?"
Franz took a long, refreshing gulp of sparkling water filled with mint leaves. Naturally, it was a drink Calian was absolutely forbidden from having.
"I believe I heard that my oh-so-fragile younger brother needs to rest immediately."
Facing that pale face, which seemed to be trying to recall where Hina's room was, Calian scowled. He barely held back from asking, Have you perhaps forgotten whose fault it is that I ended up in this state? and said instead:
"I am only asking because I am worried."
"Who is worrying about whom?"
"I am worrying about Master, of course."
"Listen to you bark."
Ah.
Sispanian.
"......Then, could you meet the two knights we saw at the beach on my behalf?"
"Fine."
"Not right now. Together with Master, once he returns."
"Fine."
"Please also look over the documents Sir Hertz has. I couldn't examine them in detail because we were in a hurry, so we need to think about how to use them."
"Fine."
"Kyrie said no one has been in or out of where Marquis Lin is, but just in case, keep checking on that side as well—"
"Calian."
"Yes."
"Go."
The world wouldn't end if Calian was out of commission for a day or two.
With not only Alan but also Chase and Franz around, Calian did not need to throw himself into every immediate matter. He also knew that seeing him stumble around would only be a distraction to the others.
A slight delay in their work wouldn't cause a disaster, and there was no longer any worry of someone dying because of a failure to communicate in time. Because Alan was here.
"......Alright."
In the end, Calian nodded and stood up.
"Kyrie."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After his private audience with Devlan, Alan had told Franz it was fine to mention he was heading to the Mage Association, but had specifically requested that he not tell Calian there had been poison in the tea.
It was the opposite of what Calian had anticipated.
If Calian found out that someone had offered poison to Alan, not Franz, the last thread of reason in that pretty head of his would snap completely. He would undoubtedly set out immediately to hunt down and kill the fearless bastards who dared to poison the Archmage.
"I'm going to rest. Stay by my side for a bit."
"Understood."
"Wake me if anything happens. Promise."
"Yes."
Thanks to that, Calian—who could imagine someone playing tricks with Franz's teacup but never dreamed anyone would dare do such a thing to Alan—went into the bedroom without a second thought. And with Kyrie by his side, he fell back into a deep sleep.
Watching Calian stumble into the bedroom, lie down, and quickly drift off, Franz stood up.
Click.
He opened the door to Calian's room and stepped outside.
Thanks to the power of his blessing and Hina's healing, Franz's wounds were almost entirely gone. He felt about as sore as he would the day after a particularly long sparring session with Calian, or the morning after pulling an all-nighter sorting through documents with the crazy blue-haired mage.
So, he was about to find out.
Just who was the bastard with balls so big—beyond even Calian's estimation—that they dared put poison in the tea meant for the great Alan Manasil?
* * *
The baby duck pecking at the feed in her hand was cute.
"Poison in Baron Manasil's tea? Neither my mother nor His Highness is that thoughtless. If either of them were that stupid, this country would have been turned upside down long ago, yet it looks perfectly fine on the surface."
"We are not doubting Marquis Lin, but rather keeping an eye on her situation."
"Yes, I understand. I know my mother is the most likely person in this country capable of moving the nobles or secretly joining hands with a faction like Zeon. So, whether you're making her a hostage or trying to protect her, I don't care for now, but…"
Picking up the feed on the table one kernel at a time, Arianne piled a handful onto her palm and held it out to the duck as she continued.
"By the way, what's its name? It's so cute."
She had been told to stay at Louise's villa with Eila but had stubbornly tagged along. Now, as soon as she entered the Mage Association, she began stroking Coco and feeding it, speaking as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.
Arsen wasn't there, they had a long journey ahead, and they couldn't find anyone to watch Coco at the royal palace. Thus, Euria—who had been forced to stuff Coco's entire little house into her space pocket, head to the forest, and return after a fierce struggle—let out a long sigh.
Rachel and Eila watched Arianne in silence. Arsen, who had given her a few brief replies, parted his lips a couple of times before finally speaking up.
"We are very late. Please stop stalling and give us the documents."
"Ah. You caught me?"
"Since you didn't seem to trust me, my lady, I came with you to the Association without another word. I heard the mages here belong to Crown Prince Chase's faction. Since you should feel safe, please hand over the documents now. I will deliver them to Crown Prince Chase without any tricks."
The documents handed over by Royal Concubine Louise.
Arianne had briefly shown them to Calian at the villa, only to take them back. Since then, she had been reluctant to hand them over again.
"I heard the nobles here must see what is written inside to join hands with Crown Prince Chase. So…"
"It's not you that I don't trust."
Her mother, the Marquis, was confined in the royal palace, and she couldn't contact her fiancé, Chase. A marquis's daughter who couldn't fight or use magic well—yet Arianne stood in this place filled with Calian's people, staring at Arsen with an undaunted face.
"To Calian—"
No sooner had Arianne uttered his name than a chilling pressure emanated from the blue-haired mage standing before her, only to quickly subside.
"Ah, sorry. My mistake."
"Yes. I made a mistake as well."
Instead of explaining that she and Calian had agreed to call each other by name, Arianne offered a light apology and spoke again.
"I asked Prince Calian not to come here. Yet he brought the Prince Franz, the people who command Kairis's army, and the president of the Kairis Mage Association. Then he even brought along your supposedly incredible Archmage. As soon as they arrived, they got caught up in major incidents, causing the nobles who were slowly joining our cause to waver again. In the end, I heard the Royal Concubine almost died. And you expect me to trust Prince Calian and hand over her documents to you? In my right mind?"
Arsen, who was considerably crazy but not entirely bereft of reason, fell silent for a moment. He could not say her words and suspicions were unreasonable.
"I understand your point, my lady. If Devlan hadn't reached out to the Prince and Viscountess Bern, we wouldn't have come here either. However—"
"I will go back to the royal palace. I will deliver them to His Royal Highness myself. If not, just let me leave this place. I will move on my own."
"Lady Lin. We…"
Arsen, his face filled with embarrassment, opened his mouth to speak again. But at that moment, a dark shadow flashed past. And then—
Thwack!
The sound of a merciless strike echoed. Arianne lost consciousness and collapsed.
Thud!
While everyone was thrown into confusion, Eila quickly stepped forward, catching Arianne before she could hit her head on the floor and propping her up on the sofa. She then pulled out Arianne's bag and tossed it to Arsen.
"Take it."
Calian had said he needed the documents and that Arianne must not die. He had never said they couldn't knock her out and take them. So, this was fine, wasn't it? With this thought, Eila wore a truly serene expression.
She didn't seem to care in the slightest that Arsen was staring, shocked to see Calian's new lackey knock out the daughter of a foreign marquis right before his eyes.
"......Ah...... right. Th...... thank you."
They said people from Secritia were ruthless.
That must be true.
* * *
One was a familiar face.
The other was not.
"Is Arianne safe and well?"
Turning her gaze from the unfamiliar face she had been observing with curiosity, the middle-aged woman turned to Chase and asked.
"She is with Prince Calian's people."
"She is a stubborn child, so I am deeply worried."
"They are not dangerous people. They will get along well."
They were getting along so well that one had stubbornly refused to hand over the documents, and the other had chopped her on the neck. Of course, this was a story no one here knew.
Soon, Chase explained the current situation. Excluding any personal opinions, he simply related the events that had transpired so far in chronological order. The woman, who listened to everything while nodding, bowed her head toward Franz.
"Then you must be Prince Franz, the 2nd Prince of Kairis. Is that correct?"
Toward the middle-aged woman who offered a calm greeting to his unfamiliar face, Franz replied in a low voice.
"Crown Prince."
"Ah. Has your title changed in the meantime?"
Franz merely nodded without another word.
Chase had not bothered to mention Franz's ascension to Crown Prince. Franz had requested he keep it that way.
Marquis Legian Lin.
The woman, who had no white hair but a face with very faint wrinkles and eyes the exact same color as Arianne's, smiled and spoke.
"My congratulations. Though it may not be something I can congratulate you on for long. Enjoy it for the time being."
At her words, which acknowledged that he had taken the title with no intention of actually ruling Camillon, one corner of Franz's mouth curled up slightly.
"You know your politics."
"Just because I am confined, does that mean my eyes are blind to the world?"
Kyrie had said that no one had visited Marquis Lin from last night until now. Therefore, the Marquis had deduced why Franz had risen to that position solely from the title "Crown Prince," which she had just learned. She was clearly a woman capable of deep thought.
"I was not the one who offered poison to Baron Manasil. This place is not so uncomfortable that I would resort to such measures just to leave, Your Royal Highness."
Hearing this, Franz closed and opened his eyes.
And Chase let out a deep sigh.
Do you believe her?
It is not that I fully trust Marquis Lin, but rather that there is something else bothering me.
After staring at Chase and Marquis Lin in silence for a while, Franz turned his head toward Chase.
That hotshot knight of yours. I don't see him around.
Teilan Castrin.
Only now did Franz realize that the man who always followed Chase was nowhere to be seen.