Chapter 315: Wildfire (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 315: Wildfire (5)
Hydrangea tea tasted the same, even when its color changed.
Arianne loved how the petals changed color depending on the soil and the sight of the abundant, fully bloomed flowers. But the main reason she adored hydrangea tea was its consistent sweetness, regardless of its hue.
That was why, whenever she met Chase, the air was almost always filled with a mix of sweet and refreshing aromas. Arianne drank hydrangea tea, while Chase drank mint tea.
"Ugh."
Arianne frowned as she set down her teacup. She had just taken a bite of kiwi and a sip of hydrangea tea, but despite being surrounded by her favorite things, she couldn't help but flinch. The back of her neck was still throbbing.
It was, of course, the spot injured by Eila's merciless hand.
"The bruise seems to have faded completely, but I guess it hasn't fully healed yet," Arianne muttered, massaging the sore area.
"Don't laugh," Legian chided gently. "I suffered so much while you were resting comfortably in there, Mother. How can you laugh?"
"Why shouldn't I laugh at you getting hurt over your useless stubbornness? Even if I were angry, there is no one here to direct that anger at."
"Even if everyone in the world blames me, you should take my side, Mother. You're being too harsh."
"Tell me that when you're reborn as someone other than a Marquis's daughter," Legian retorted, sipping her tea. "I, too, would love nothing more than to blindly declare that my daughter did everything right without weighing the consequences."
As a Marquis, Legian could not afford to indulge her daughter's whims, and she was exceptionally strict in these matters. Seeing her mother's resolve, Arianne, still massaging her neck, managed a faint smile.
"Besides," Legian added, "even if the whole world blames you, isn't there already someone who will take your side?"
"His Highness is too busy lately to take your daughter's side. Besides, if he finds out who hit me, he won't take my side this time. That's why I haven't told him."
Legian adjusted her glasses. "Did you say it was someone related to that prince?"
"Yes. His former fiancée."
Originally, Chase had never intended to reveal the stories of his past to Legian. It was for a similar reason that Calian maintained a close friendship with Sword Master Suleiman—Yan's father—while keeping his distance from Duke Siegfried. While there was no reason to keep secrets from Legian as Arianne's mother, it was difficult to fully trust Legian as the Marquis.
However, as their efforts to block Tensil's healers grew more aggressive, doubts began to form in Legian's mind. She wondered why they were going to such lengths, even at the cost of deepening the rift with Tensil. The excuses offered by Royal Concubine Louise and Chase were not enough to convince the wise Marquis. In the end, Louise met with Legian and revealed everything that had happened in the past.
"Right. I recall hearing about her once," Legian said. "He had a fiancée with quite a spirited personality."
"They say His Highness's younger brother had an even more spirited personality."
'I wonder if "spirited" is the right word for it…' Arianne thought, smiling as she remembered Chase uncharacteristically trailing off when he had said those very words.
To be honest, when Legian first heard the story, she had nearly broken off Chase and Arianne's engagement, thinking Louise and Chase had lost their minds. However, as the future events they spoke of began to unfold one by one, she eventually came to believe them.
She learned that the 'Axis of Time'—something she, not being of royal blood, had never even heard of—was real. That this kingdom had once fallen. That the previous king's fiancée had witnessed the tragic end of her kingdom, its last knight, and its last king with her own eyes. And that, standing before the Axis of Time and Chase's corpse, she had plunged a blade into her own throat, causing the entire world to crumble like a Black Sand Castle and turn back time.
"Anyway, they say they weren't as close as His Highness and I are. I always thought his engagement to her was purely a matter of duty. That's why he would probably take her side in this. Out of guilt."
"But didn't you say she herself doesn't know?"
"Even if she doesn't remember who she was. You know how foolishly stubborn our Prince can be."
"So, are you upset?"
"No. I'm saying I like it. Foolish people are cute."
Legian smiled and nodded. "Since you say you don't mind him not taking your side, I suppose I don't have to take your side either."
"Mother, you're so mean to your own daughter."
"Would you prefer I give you special treatment just because you are my daughter?"
"No. Not really."
"Good. Then that's settled."
If Legian had not lived her life viewing the world through the most neutral eyes, she might have found it difficult to face Franz—who had come to find her alongside Chase—with such composure. That, at least, was a great relief.
"This is why I love you, Mother."
"Of course you should, considering I haven't kicked you out despite all the trouble you cause. Why state the obvious?"
"Yes, yes. As if you ever would."
Letting go of her neck, Arianne burst into laughter and ate another slice of kiwi. A pleased expression spread across her face at the sweetness that followed the sourness.
Legian picked up the documents lying on the edge of the table and stood. They were Louise's papers, returned to her after her release.
Soon, Legian walked to the window and drew back the curtains.
Black figures filled the vast courtyard of the Marquis's mansion.
"Have many people gathered?" Arianne asked.
Private soldiers. They were the private soldiers of several nobles, gathered out of trust in Sir Teilan and Legian.
"Yes. Enough to open the floodgates, fortunately."
"But will it really be all right? According to His Highness, His Majesty…"
"Do not worry. Nothing will happen. To protect my daughter, I must remain safe myself. Isn't that right?"
Watching Legian state such obvious truths with such reassuring confidence, Arianne nodded.
* * *
With every step she took, it felt as if flower petals were fluttering through the air.
No, it was more like the first flutter of a small bird's or a butterfly's wings.
Would seeing those wings on a misty mountain at dawn bring this much joy? Would seeing them in a pitch-black dream bring this much delight? As Calian watched Hina take each step with the utmost care, his red eyes filled with an unmistakable, overflowing affection.
"Our Hina. When did she learn to dance?"
Since receiving her title, there were many things she had to learn. However, he didn't recall hiring a dance instructor. Perhaps Yan, or maybe Demirea, had taught her. Or perhaps it was Eila, or other members of the Valkan. Whoever it was, Hina had learned well.
Each of her clumsy yet carefully executed steps was so precious that he couldn't tear his eyes away.
Yes.
He simply couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Kyrie."
"Yes."
It hadn't been long since he had teased Devlan, calling it a truly pleasant night, yet his patience was already wearing thin. He had temporarily forgotten, but wasn't this a celebration for that precious pea's birthday? And the person that fellow had brought as his fiancée was Hina. The rest naturally followed.
Now that the congratulatory speeches and toasts were over, it was time for the next part of the evening. The part where he was watching his precious Hina dance for the first time in her life, yet he couldn't understand why that fellow standing before her—looking like a fresh spring oat sprout—kept blocking his view.
"Breathe. You too."
"...Yes, Prince."
The mint-colored long cloak kept brushing against the lovely grapefruit-colored dress. To make matters worse, that fellow's cloak was also embroidered with silver thread. He briefly considered telling Relic to make sure their Crown Prince's clothes were never embroidered with silver again, but since that fellow was the Crown Prince and he was just a Prince, he held back.
Franz wore a mint-colored shirt with a white suit. Consequently, Calian had to fight to suppress the image of a vibrant grapefruit tree that the two of them kept bringing to mind. Thanks to his efforts, a fork was ultimately snapped in half, and Arsen gained another item for his collection. Calian didn't notice Arsen subtly moving a spoon to a more conspicuous spot, thinking it would be better to collect them as a set.
It was a stroke of luck.
Otherwise, Arsen's waist might have been snapped in half instead of the spoon.
"...I feel a bit better if I only look at Hina."
"Understood."
In any case, while Calian called upon Serenti's name a hundred times in his head—or more accurately, endured by hurling a hundred different curses at Serenti—the dance of the party's hosts finally, at long last, came to an end.
As the party grew livelier, the nobles, relaxed with a drink, took their partners' hands and stepped into the center of the banquet hall. A cheerful Hina took Kyrie's hand for another dance, while Arsen, his face flushed from a mere fraction of a sip of strong Serenus, began a splendid dance with Euria. It was around the time that Franz, left alone in his seat, began openly avoiding the fierce glare of Calian, who had emptied nearly a whole bottle of Serenus by himself—
—that the chief chamberlain approached Devlan, who had been observing everything until now, and whispered a brief message. Calian did not miss the way Devlan's finger traced a long arc in the air.
—It seems they have started to move.
—Are you referring to Marquis Lin?
—Marquis Lin, and Father as well.
—Understood.
And Franz did not miss the look of anticipation that filled Calian's face.
"It seems it has begun," Franz said.
"You really are quick on the uptake, brother."
"You mentioned Marquis Lin was preparing private soldiers. Is she trying to start a civil war?"
"Yes. She will gather the private soldiers of the nobles who didn't attend tonight—those secretly allied with her—and march on the royal palace. In a way, you could call it a civil war."
"There's no way Devlan wouldn't know about such movements, yet she's actually moving."
"Yes. Devlan's troops have likely already headed to Marquis Lin's mansion. I suspect he plans to seize evidence of treason and use Marquis Lin and Arianne as hostages to pressure Brother Chase once again. That is what I would have done."
"But Marquis Lin knows that too."
To Franz's question about why Marquis Lin would prepare private soldiers and march, knowing it was Devlan's trap, Calian replied with a smile.
"Both Marquis Lin and Devlan know that as long as Brother Chase and the people of Kairis are safe, Master and I will not intervene. Therefore, neither side will factor us into their calculations. From that perspective, there is no better opportunity for Marquis Lin. With all the royalty and the nobles on Devlan's side gathered in one place, taking control of the royal court would be easy once they eliminate the Secritians here."
Calian was a prince of Kairis. Thus, he would not recklessly intervene in Secritia's civil war—provided, of course, that Chase remained safe. This meant that if Chase were to die, Calian would move, and Alan would follow. Therefore, Devlan would not dare touch Chase's life just yet. And Marquis Lin had no reason to kill Chase.
Thus, both sides calculated their clash of power and acted without worrying about Calian's immediate intervention. Marquis Lin sought to eliminate Devlan, enthrone Chase, and reclaim the rights of the nobility, while Devlan aimed to eliminate Marquis Lin and weaken Chase's standing to solidify his own power.
"So they are leaping in, knowing it is a trap."
"Yes. You know as well as I do what must be wagered to make a move on your opponent. We have done it many times ourselves. Even if they suspect the other has prepared a trap, they will push forward and accept the potential damage."
Just like Hina, who had revealed herself before Devlan's eyes to protect the one he was interested in. Just like Calian and Franz, who had already put their lives on the line multiple times just to survive.
"However, there is one thing Devlan does not know, which is why Marquis Lin and Arianne will be fine."
"What doesn't he know?"
"Devlan thinks Marquis Lin is coming for his head today, but she isn't. She will strike moderately, retreat, and go into hiding. That is Marquis Lin's task for today."
"And after that?"
"It will serve as the catalyst."
Franz's light green eyes turned toward Calian.
"The wind blows hard in Secritia, and the grass in the fields is dry, brother. It is so dry that even Raven, let alone Estina, would refuse to eat it, calling it tasteless."
Answering with a metaphor out of habit, Calian lifted the bottle of Serenus with an easygoing expression. A sloshing sound came from the nearly empty bottle.
"Once a spark lands on a field so thoroughly dried, no one can stop it. Even if mages endlessly summon and pour water, they cannot outrun the speed at which the fire spreads. The fire will spread to the forests, and the embers drifting from the trees will leap to other fields. It will burn down houses and swallow people whole. A fire that starts in a barren, dry field and ends up consuming lives—in times like these, when everyone is withered and dry, that is the most terrifying kind of fire."
The last of the amber liquor filled Calian's glass.
"That is a wildfire, brother. You have never seen one, have you?"
"I haven't."
"Today, you, I, and Brother Chase set the fire. The things learned in this place will ignite like sparks in the minds of the nobles, and Marquis Lin will become the wind that spreads those flames. Once they learn the truth and how to act, everyone will move on their own. That is a fire Devlan can never put out."
All Franz had ever seen in the royal palace was fire conjured at a mage's fingertips—fire controlled by humans. He had recently seen a campfire that felt somewhat sorrowful and lonely, but even that had turned pitch-black and vanished with a single gesture from a mage.
He had never seen a fire that could not be controlled by human hands.
"You must not look down on the power of those below us. You must not mock them just because they murmur, cower, and tuck their tails at a single word. Devlan ignores and mocks them, so before long, he will spend his days inside a palace where he cannot trust a single soul, doing nothing but calculating how many days he has left to live. I suppose you could call it the price of ignorance."
What Calian and Chase knew.
What Devlan did not.
"You will see the sparks in the field and the wind gather to become a wildfire. Watch closely and learn. Because you won't forget it. Not you, brother."
The last of the Serenus sloshed once more before disappearing into Calian's mouth.