Chapter 351: A Wish (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 351: A Wish (1)
There is a clock in the King's Audience Chamber.
There is no clock in the King's Reception Room.
The Audience Chamber is, after all, a place for meetings with a king whose time is too precious to be wasted. The clock is a reminder to speak only of what is necessary and then promptly take one’s leave. This is especially true when the chamber doors open to a long line of nobles and foreign envoys, all waiting their turn. One could not fatigue the king with useless chatter, nor exhaust those waiting behind them.
The Reception Room was different. It was a world apart from the Audience Chamber, where one had to crane their neck just to glimpse the king's chin. The Reception Room lacked the high, vaulted ceiling designed to make the king's majestic voice echo in all directions. There was no long blue carpet to underscore the vast distance to the throne. There were no fully armed knights to make a person shrink with intimidation, nor were there scribes to make one conscious of every single breath. And there was no clock.
It was a place to sit face-to-face and converse at eye level.
A place where the dignified king met with someone he felt reasonably comfortable with. While not as private as the king's study or office, it was incomparably more personal than the Audience Chamber. In a setting meant for genuine conversation with the king, how could there be a clock? Guests who visited this place were meant to focus solely on their discussion, unbothered by anything else.
"I apologize for the delay; an unexpected and precious guest arrived at the palace. Have I kept you waiting long?"
"Not at all, Your Highness."
Because of this, Serjein had no idea how much time had passed since she arrived. She had simply been sitting quietly, nursing a cup of bitter tea that had been prepared to help her relax before Chase’s arrival. If she were to answer truthfully, she would have to admit she didn't even know if she had waited long or not.
Soon, a servant entered, cleared away Serjein's old cup, and set down two fresh cups of tea before departing. A refreshing scent of mint, somewhat unusual for this hour, wafted up.
"Please, drink. The tea smells exceptionally good today."
Not the palace annex, but the Main Palace.
Chase let out a silent sigh, thinking of the precious guest he had just accommodated in a peaceful suite with the best view of the palace garden—the very same guest who had practically caused an earthquake across all of Secritia after being sent out on a hunting bet. His words were also a gesture of permission, allowing a visitor who could not otherwise touch their teacup without the king's consent to drink.
Wiping the smile from his face, Chase glanced out the window before speaking.
"It seems the sun set long ago. Do you have another reason for seeking me out?"
His tone was cool.
Just as Chase said, it was night—the dead of night, in fact. It was an hour when most people, far from entering the palace, would have long since retired to their beds.
And Chase had clearly told her to finish her deliberations and come to him before sunset.
Because she had failed to keep that promise, he was asking if there was "another reason." His question implied that the deal regarding the Holy Knights was already off the table, and he had no intention of reconsidering it.
"My deliberations took longer than I expected, and I lost track of time. I apologize."
This meant she had now broken her promise to Chase twice.
Serjein, who wouldn't have even been allowed into the palace at this hour if Chase hadn't left word beforehand, continued.
"I will leave the fate of the Holy Knights to Your Highness's judgment. Since we have violated the basic etiquette that should be maintained between our nations, I will not ask for any further favors. I only came to express my gratitude for the consideration Your Highness has shown my country's situation."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Chase's gaze settled on Serjein.
Unlike her visit earlier that day, Serjein now appeared as the Crown Prince. She was dressed in the formal attire of the Crown Prince of Tensil: a red jacket, a white shirt, beige trousers, and a matching cloak.
Looking around the Reception Room, where no one else was present—this time, not even Sir Teilan had accompanied her—Serjein spoke again.
"Whether to change the Tensil royal family's surname from 'Arielli' or to keep it was not a decision I could make in half a day. I could only conclude that this is not a matter to be decided as easily as choosing between a walk in the Rose Garden or a trip to the training grounds."
"If you had more time, you would have made a decision."
"Perhaps. But I do not think my reason for seeking Your Highness would have changed."
"Are you saying you still would have only come to offer your gratitude?"
"Yes."
Chase nodded quietly.
Then, a voice as calm as a windless sea on a clear day echoed softly in the Reception Room.
"May I ask why?"
"Because it is Tensil's affair. Even if the nobles discover the truth about the Holy Knights and the royal family comes under threat, I realized it is a burden Tensil must bear on its own. I must not make decisions based on the advice of the King of Secritia. I should never have asked for that favor in the first place."
Serjein, who hadn't taken a single sip during the day, lifted her cup and drank the mint tea. Setting it down silently, she continued.
"This is not simply a matter between someone who can help and someone who needs it, or between the powerful and the powerless. We are the King of one nation and the Crown Prince of another. I cannot carelessly ask Your Highness for help."
Chase stared at her quietly as her voice filled the room once more.
"Whether I meet with Prince Randel to secure my future or forge my own path, I will be the one to judge and decide. Thank you for helping me realize this. Sincerely."
If you ascend the throne yourself, I will help save the lives of the King of Tensil and the real Crown Prince. Make your decision and come to me before sunset today.
That was what Chase had said.
She was the Crown Prince's closest confidant. For nearly ten years, she had stood behind him every single day without fail. She had watched and learned his every move, copied his tone, and reached a point where her every gesture was indistinguishable from his. Yet, her deepest thoughts had never truly become those of royalty. When Arianne told her to ask for help if she needed it, she had only considered what kind of help would be wisest to ask for, never questioning the act of asking itself.
She had realized this too late. And after deciding to defy Chase's offer, she had come here only to express her gratitude. Even if it meant forgoing his help, she knew this was the right path.
"I understand."
At the collapse of a meeting that could have determined the future of his relations with Tensil, Chase simply gave a plain nod. Whether he felt regret or had expected this outcome, his face revealed nothing, maintaining his usual gentle smile.
"I will need time to recover the dead and settle the situation. If you would permit it, I would like to stay for three more days before returning to my country. I apologize once again for causing so much trouble."
"If I may offer one more piece of unsolicited advice… it is best to keep words of gratitude and apology to a minimum. Especially when dealing with a foreigner whose thoughts are as unreadable as mine."
"This is not Crown Prince Serjein speaking… but an expression of gratitude and apology offered in the name of Brenda Elnur, the knight who received Your Highness's consideration."
The corners of Chase's mouth curved up slightly.
"Is it wise to reveal your name? I don't recall ever saying I would turn a blind eye to your identity."
"Consider it a return for your great consideration."
Chase's smile grew more noticeable.
After watching Serjein's face in silence for a moment, he spoke in a quiet voice.
"Today."
A voice like the fluttering wings of a great bird drifted down to her—the woman who had made a request to a foreign king in the guise of a knight, and who now expressed gratitude and apology in the guise of a crown prince.
"Before the sun rises, four nameless knights will exit through the west gate of the palace."
Serjein stared at him.
The deal was clearly off. All Chase had to do now was demand an explanation from Tensil for the Holy Knights' secret infiltration and lodge a formal protest. He could easily secure an advantageous position in trade or some other diplomatic transaction.
Yet, he was saying he would let them go. He was simply handing them over, to be captured and used as her own political leverage or to be killed.
"I have nothing to trade with Your Highness at present."
"I have no intention of trading with you any longer."
Chase raised his hand and drank the fragrant mint tea.
Closing his eyes for a moment as if savoring the finest scent in the world, Chase opened them and said, "It is a favor."
The one who heard this—who was both Crown Prince Serjein Arielli and the knight Brenda Elnur—bowed her head slightly. That would be a sufficient return for his favor.
* * *
He was banned from eating bananas.
By Hina.
"But I'm hungry."
Calian's face wore an expression of worldly sorrow, but Hina shook her head firmly.
– No bananas, tangerines, strawberries, tea, or milk. None of it is allowed. From tonight, only water… please drink.
Hearing those words, Calian's eyes momentarily sparkled. But Hina wasn't finished.
– Meat. Of course… absolutely not.
"Hina… you said a few days have passed. A person needs to eat to live, don't they?"
– It's fine to starve… for a few days. Our kind Prince… is strong. You won't die… from just this.
Her words were full of thorns.
Calian wondered why their small and precious Hina, who was usually like a little bird resting on the spruce tree outside the window, had become so harsh. Realizing it was all his fault, he let out a deep sigh. Because he insisted on keeping a stubborn person alive, Hina had no choice but to become harsh herself.
Everyone knew that the people of Secritia were stubborn.
But there was one fact that most did not know: there was exactly one person even more stubborn than the Secritians, and that was the Third Prince of Kairis.
– You coughed up blood… for a whole day. And for four days… you slept without ever regaining consciousness.
In his attempt to cut a single tree root, he had nearly torn out his own insides first.
If Danu hadn't backed down at the very end, his intestines or his heart would have been severed, yet he had endured it. And after all that, he had walked, laughed, and talked. He hadn't even let on about the blood he'd coughed up after meeting Franz. He was a human so stubborn he had broken the will of the Mother Tree, which had stood in one place for an immeasurable amount of time. What more needed to be said?
– Not just the Vice-Commander… even the good Crown Prince… was pale as a sheet.
Because he was such a stubborn bastard, Franz hadn't known.
With no visible wounds, Franz had assumed it was an internal issue. Since Calian himself had said he was badly hurt, Franz figured his insides were damaged, but he hadn't realized the severity.
It was only when Arsen, following Raven, came into view in the distance that Calian had quietly stopped in his tracks. Then, still standing, he had closed his eyes. Only then did Franz truly grasp Calian's condition.
Only after Arsen arrived and carried the stubborn bastard—who had lost consciousness while standing perfectly upright—on his back did Franz realize that the body of the man who claimed to feel neither heat nor cold was trembling. Only then did he realize how much blood Calian had lost. Only then did he realize that Calian, knowing who Franz would think of if he saw him cough up blood, had been meticulously concealing it, as if sweeping away fallen petals.
They had come straight to the palace.
They had stopped by the Margrave's territory, but since Arianne wasn't there, Arsen immediately delivered the news to Chase and sent a carrier pigeon to the villa. Then, they galloped to the Secritian palace. The villa was too far to justify bypassing the palace, so they had summoned Hina there instead. It was the fastest and safest way.
– So don't talk… about bananas. If you secretly eat a bunch behind my back like last time… I don't care how kind a Prince you are… I won't treat you.
She apparently still hadn't forgotten how he had secretly eaten bananas after Evan had put a hole in his stomach.
Suppressing the urge to point out that the slightly-less-youthful older brother currently playing with cats under the spruce tree was the one who had given them to him, Calian just nodded.
"Alright, I won't."
– Liar.
Hina's delicate eyebrows furrowed.
Waving his hand to show he wasn't lying, Calian took Hina's hand as she reached up to check his forehead for a fever and held it tightly.
How on earth did she treat him so skillfully with such small hands? As the thought crossed his mind, he spoke softly.
"Thank you. For saving me. I wouldn't have survived without you, Hina."
Whether it was a wounded body or a wounded heart.
With her hand caught and her words stolen, Hina let out a deep sigh and simply nodded. Calian held her warm hand for a while longer before letting go.
Confirming that his fever had broken and his complexion was finally returning, Hina spoke again.
– Please stop… getting hurt. You know very well… that everyone worries.
"I know. I know, but this time, it couldn't be helped."
– People always have… things that can't be helped. Are you going to get hurt like this… every single time? Just because it can't be helped… are you going to get hurt and make everyone worry?
"If that's the only way… what am I supposed to do?"
– Find… another way.
Clear and simple.
Could there be a clearer answer?
Calian burst into laughter. He laughed softly, as if he had been worrying over nothing. Then, looking into Hina's dark eyes, he spoke.
"Hina."
Hina nodded.
"Do you still want to go to Bridget Forest?"
– I am curious… because it's the place my mother said she wanted to go.
Hina gave the answer Calian had expected.
However, there was truly nothing left there now. Hadn't he ruined all of it? Just as Calian was about to say something, Hina continued.
– But… if I had been really curious, I would have already gone.
It wasn't a place she could only go if Calian took her or gave his permission. Hina knew that well.
"Are you saying it's fine if you don't go?"
– Is there something there… that I shouldn't see?
This time, Hina asked a question Calian hadn't anticipated.
As Calian struggled to find an answer, her words continued.
– I didn't go… on purpose. I didn't even ask to go with you… when you went, Prince.
"...Hina."
– I know, too… about my mother.
Saying this, Hina nodded once more.
Her face wore an expression that even Calian, who was usually so adept at reading people, could not decipher.