Chapter 355: Wish (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 355: Wish (5)
It no longer chirped, “Peep, peep.”
—Quack, quack!
It was now a fully grown duck.
Its beak had grown larger, its feet bigger, and it could even fly a respectable distance.
Though its duckling days were long gone, Coco still followed its mom and dad devotedly. It also happily followed a few other familiar faces, including Hina. And as if it had forgotten how it used to scurry away at the sight of the curious Lucy and Anne, now that it was fully grown, it had somehow become quite close with them.
Instead of the cozy pool its dad had made—which boasted the perfect temperature regardless of the season—today they had come to the Water Garden, the most beautiful garden in the Secritia Royal Palace. The blue-haired mom, who used to bring Coco to the palace gardens without a care even when Devlan was around, had come along as well.
Watching Coco with an expression that suggested he had accomplished his life’s great work, raised his child well, and had no more desires left in this world, Arsen, Coco’s self-proclaimed mother, spoke.
“Once I return, I’ll have a salary again, Association President.”
Sitting beside him in the Water Garden under the midday sun, Coco’s father, Euria, glanced at Arsen.
“How much?”
“Shouldn’t you congratulate me first before asking about the amount?”
“Sure. But the period you went without a salary was too long for me to just blindly congratulate you.”
As if he had never expected such a response from the Euria he trusted so much, Arsen put on a deeply disappointed face.
“It’s enough to buy Coco’s feed. And I’ll still be receiving my allowance, too.”
“How much?”
“Association President, when a person is living their life doing what they love, money isn’t that important. Besides, since the Prince’s allowance I was originally receiving won’t be reduced, my pockets will ultimately be heavier. That’s what’s important.”
“I guess your salary is a mere pittance.”
“Association President, did you even hear what I just said?”
“I’m answering because I heard you. Would I answer without listening? So, how much? Is it back to one florin?”
“One florin? That’s harsh. Is that really all I’m worth to you, Association President?”
“Yeah. You look like you’re worth exactly that much.”
“You’re being too much. Even Sir Bern isn’t this stern when he scolds our Prince.”
“He deserves to be scolded. I heard he ate beef jerky when he was told to drink water.”
“Well, you only told him to drink water. Isn’t that why he ate beef jerky?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Hina, having woken up in a great mood after a deep rest, had gone to see Calian. There, she found him with a complexion that had noticeably improved in just a single day. But Hina had been through too much to simply rejoice at the sight. She immediately grabbed Calian’s wrist to examine his condition and instantly realized that his stomach, which was supposed to be completely empty, was quite full.
With a bright smile, Hina had walked out.
And then, she returned with pieces of paper. One read, ‘I am the 3rd Prince who ate beef jerky behind the healer’s back.’ Of course, there was also one that read, ‘I am the Crown Prince who gave beef jerky to his younger brother behind the healer’s back,’ and another that read, ‘I am the knight who delivered that beef jerky.’ Since they were more disobedient than Lucy and Anne, it was Hina’s special gift, her grand plan to treat them like the two cats who often had to wear long signs of self-introduction around their necks.
Alan had a terribly hard time placating her when she demanded they hold those signs and stand in the middle of the Secritia palace garden for an hour.
“The Prince was in the wrong for not listening to his healer. So, how much is your salary?”
Arsen had been recognized for his contributions, such as successfully rescuing Calian right before his death in Secritia and providing various other forms of assistance. Thus, his nonexistent salary was reinstated. To be precise, he was forgiven for the trouble he had caused after being trampled by Alan in front of the Wilhelm Pavilion.
He had brought it up simply because he was happy to be receiving a salary again, but as the conversation fixated on the exact amount, the discussion was costing him more than it was worth. All his attempts to change the subject had gone completely down the drain.
“Kid, wasn’t your salary cut because you blew up Heisia Palace?”
“That’s right, Association President. I am indeed that very mage who blew up Heisia Palace.”
“What a thing to be proud of.”
“Of course I’m proud. It’s a line item that won’t appear in the career of any other mage on the continent.”
“It’s not that they can’t do it; they choose not to.”
“Well, aren’t they just lacking the spirit of a true mage?”
“Sure. Think whatever you want. Anyway, didn’t they say your salary is docked until Heisia Palace is rebuilt? That’s still a long way from being finished.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Heisia Palace had begun construction next to Arpia Palace.
Lemain and Alan had decided to withhold Arsen’s salary until the palace’s reconstruction was complete, and there was still a very long way to go. There were even whispers that the future queen who succeeded Lemain’s generation might not have a place to stay. At this rate, with the completion of even the Brissen Mansion uncertain by the time Franz left the royal palace, Heisia Palace was in an even worse state.
Therefore, when Arsen’s salary would be fully restored was something not even Danu could give a definitive answer to.
“But isn’t the fact that I’m receiving it at all what’s important, Association President?”
“So you really are getting one florin.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then?”
“Because of everything I did in Secritia, I now receive three florins.”
“……What a thing to be proud of.”
It was a pittance—a tiny fraction of what the healer received. Franz, who was also a Vice-Commander, received a substantial sum, though of course not as much as Hina. Even without comparing it to her salary, Arsen was speaking with immense pride about an amount that was undoubtedly less than the cost of caring for Lucy, Anne, or Raven. Euria’s reaction could only be cold.
“But I’m still getting my allowance, right?”
“Then why did you even bring up your salary in the first place?”
A smile played on the face of the blue-haired, crazy mage, who had gone from receiving only the 3rd Prince’s allowance to having his salary reinstated. Grinning at Euria, Arsen spoke in a rather dashing voice.
“The amount doesn’t matter, does it? In any case, I am now a mage who works for a salary, Association President.”
“So, what of it?”
“It means that after setting aside money for Coco’s feed, I also earn enough to buy you unconventional flowers.”
“Those unconventional flowers weren’t bought; you made them yourself, kid.”
“There are plenty of unconventional flowers besides ice flowers. No matter what kind, I can find a way to get them and buy them all for you.”
Having a decent grasp of what the young man was getting at, Euria let out a chuckle.
“But in return, you freeze my french fries.”
“I won’t freeze them anymore.”
“And only up to three glasses of beer.”
Euria stared for a long moment at Arsen, who held up three fingers as if making a solemn vow, and then, most regrettably, shook her head.
“No.”
The look of contentment on his face vanished, replaced by one of utter devastation. A deeply depressed voice slipped out.
“Why not?”
“I’m busy.”
“What makes you so busy?”
“I’m going to catch up to Adelia. That’s why I’m busy.”
She had to serve as the Mage Association President, the principal of the magic academy, and, until she returned and handed the intelligence organization over to Eila, the boss of that organization as well. On top of all that, if she wanted to raise her circle by one or two more to catch up to Adelia, she had no time to be receiving flowers from a blue-haired kid.
Having said this, Euria looked at Arsen.
She stared for a long moment at his face, which looked as though he would be happier than her even if the world were to end this very instant, and then said, “So, tell me again when you can drink four glasses of beer without freezing the french fries. Don’t even think about buying flowers until then.”
“Uh… Uh… Association President.”
As Arsen processed Euria’s words, a bright smile bloomed across his face.
“Can I tell you then?”
“Yes.”
“Really, Association President?”
“I said really.”
His expression shifted back to that of a man who had just saved a dying world. He nodded, then, wearing the face of someone about to set off to defeat the Demon King tomorrow, he said, “Then I will tell you again after I increase my circles.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“You can’t change your mind once I come back after increasing them.”
“I said I got it.”
“You promised, Association President.”
“Yes.”
Putting aside a slight worry that he might actually show up tomorrow with an extra circle, Euria burst into laughter.
—Quack, quack!
Before they knew it, spring had arrived.
“Because I won’t be accepting any other cliché flowers until then.”
Like the bright yellow beak of Coco, who was happily splashing in the Water Garden, a truly beautiful spring had arrived.
*
Even if you try to run, it catches up before you know it.
The more you try to shake it off, the more persistently it follows.
That is how time usually is. The more you try to run from it, the faster it flows, ultimately bound to overtake you.
I gazed at a sea so steeped in salt that the scent was no longer noticeable, faced Sinasta, and welcomed Serenti’s Time. I had experienced so many things, and through them, I had grown once more. In the meantime, autumn had faded, winter had passed, and spring had arrived. Fallen leaves had scattered, cold winds had blown, and then flowers bloomed.
Time flowed.
I entered a nightmare and woke from it.
I met Arnayzel and I met Danu.
Time flowed.
In the brief moments while being scolded by Hina, while sitting face-to-face with Alan, while teaching Yan the harmonica, and while crossing swords with Kyrie once again—in that short span of time.
Five days, so precious they felt as fleeting as a single moment, slipped away.
Step, step.
Tread, tread.
On the way to Secritia’s small banquet hall.
Two distinct sets of footsteps echoed in unison down the corridor.
They were the footsteps of the 3rd Prince of Kairis, who navigated the palace of a foreign nation exceptionally well even without a guide, and the Crown Prince of Kairis, who had become more accustomed to following his younger brother than any guide.
“You’re leaving today.”
“Yes. Today.”
Before departing for Kairis, they had finished breakfast with Chase, Arianne, and Louise. Afterward, Chase had headed to his office to handle urgent matters, while Arianne and Hina followed Louise. Although the poison treatment was complete, they wanted to check one last time for any other lingering ailments.
Left to themselves, the two brothers were making their way back to their rooms when Franz brought up their Kairis schedule. Otherwise, Calian looked like he might not say another word until they were back in Kairis.
“Are you saying you’re going to the Duke’s mansion as soon as we return?”
“Well, if my engagement hasn’t been broken off yet, they should let me in.”
“I don’t think His Majesty will let you leave. Not for a while.”
“You know I’m not the type to stay put just because he won’t let me.”
Seeing his younger brother already planning his escape the moment they arrived, Franz let out a soft chuckle.
“Why the Duke’s mansion?”
“I have something to ask Siona. It’s nothing urgent, just… because. I just want to go.”
Calian answered with a nonchalant expression, but Franz knew well enough that he wasn’t actually fine. However, he didn’t needlessly pry into what Calian was trying to hide, nor did he offer excessive worry. Calian wasn’t the type to want that anyway.
“You’ll be busy once we return, brother. You’ll have to go straight to the Wilhelm Pavilion.”
“No.”
Franz fell silent for a moment, then came up with a rather excellent response. It was an answer that cleverly shifted the focus from the brother he was about to part with to the one he would soon have to face.
“The fifth floor. I’m going there.”
“Ah.”
“Since he must be sick.”
“…Ah.”
“A sick visit.”
“Right.”
“Definitely.”
“Yes, definitely. Have a good visit.”
“I will.”
As planned, he hadn’t stepped down from the position of Crown Prince.
Therefore, it was absolutely certain that Randel would not be among those welcoming the Kairis delegation. Whether he had caught a cold, suffered indigestion, or gotten a headache from too much sunlight, Randel was bound to be sick. Thus, Franz meant he would pay him a visit under the guise of a sick call. The Crown Prince of a nation, visiting another Prince of the same nation.
To receive his greetings.
Whether he was being serious or just trying to make him laugh, it must have been an excellent response, because Calian let out a small laugh. He thought to himself that while Franz had seemed like Renieri, he wasn’t entirely like Renieri after all.
“What are you planning to ask the chicken-eating elf?”
“There’s something Kyrie asked me to look into, and I have some personal curiosities as well.”
Slowing his pace slightly, Franz looked at Calian. If it was something to be confirmed with Siona, then Brissen was involved, and he had no intention of ignoring that fact.
“I don’t know if it’s connected to Brissen, but I’m curious why my mother entered the royal palace.”
“Do you think it was because of Brissen?”
“Yes. I’ll have to meet Siona to know for sure, but… I suspect it was because of Brissen. The timing of her entry into the palace makes me think so.”
“Since she entered right after.”
“Yes. Whether it was to find out why Whitrin disappeared, or… for revenge. I feel like she entered with some kind of purpose.”
In fact, Freya had entered the royal palace not long after Queen Aisha’s death.
“…I heard His Majesty favored her. But perhaps it wasn’t mutual on Queen Freya’s part.”
“I feel terribly sorry to His Majesty for saying this, but if my mother had set her mind to it, it wouldn’t have been difficult at all, would it?”
To speak further of her beauty would be a waste of breath. Her beauty was one thing, but hadn’t Siona said that her personality resembled Calian’s? If that were the case…
“Honestly, if I set my mind to it, I feel like there’s no one whose heart I couldn’t win.”
“The Young Duchess.”
“Ah.”
Right. Indeed.
“Except for my fiancée.”
Franz let out a chuckle.
Whether Freya had deceived Lemain or not was none of his business. After all, the state marriages of royalty were built on a foundation of mutual desires anyway.
“Anyway, if she entered the palace with a different purpose, I thought my mother might have revealed something to Siona. That’s what I’m thinking.”
“I see.”
Their footsteps echoed down the long corridor once more.
After walking in silence beside Calian for a while, Franz spoke.
“When are you going to the Duke’s mansion?”
“His Majesty will probably want to have an evening banquet, so I plan to go after that. Before that, I think I’ll have to stop by the Wilhelm Pavilion as well.”
“Let’s go together.”
“Where to this time?”
“The Duke’s mansion.”
He was tagging along again.
The pea, who had rolled along and followed him everywhere during their entire stay in Secritia, was refusing to go to the Wilhelm Pavilion where he was supposed to and was instead insisting on following him to the Duke’s mansion.
“Demirea and Siona aren’t the only ones there, you know.”
“I’m going precisely because I know that.”
“I don’t think you’ll be comfortable, brother.”
“I’m…”
…going anyway.
It was obvious that was what he was going to say, so Calian quickly nodded. He felt it every time, but he really didn’t want to get used to Franz looking down at him.
“They said we look alike. I’m curious.”
The child who was said to resemble him in both face and intelligence.
A child who resembled Franz so much, yet would now grow up in an environment vastly different from his. He said he wanted to go because he was curious about that child.
After staring at Franz in silence for a moment, Calian replied, “Well. Let’s run away together, then.”
It was obvious Lemain wouldn’t let him go anywhere for the time being. Since they were running away anyway, why not take the pea, who was curious about his own bloodline, and escape with him?
“Alright.”
Franz, who had become quite adept at running away with his younger brother, nodded.
They pondered what they would do upon their return, when would be the best time to give Eila the hairpin they had bought, and when they should arrange for Kyrie and Siona to meet. They also talked about the Crown Prince of Tensil, and discussed Danu and the elves.
And so, time flowed once more.
*
There was an abundance of ripe tangerines.
Heeding Hina’s warning about eating too many sour tangerines, Chase had replaced them all with sweet, bright yellow ones. Calian had also stopped him from packing a mountain of fresh cod and raw oysters. Instead, he promised to come and eat them in person next time. Since those words were far sweeter to hear, Chase set aside the excessively large pile of gifts.
“Safe travels.”
He shook hands and exchanged farewells with Arianne, who readily offered her hand with a smile. He had expected her to tell him to bring his fiancée next time, but she didn’t. Instead, she said, “You have to take good care of me when I visit. I’ll be lonely going all by myself.”
She said she would come in person.
“Why are you coming?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“No, it’s not that you’re not allowed…”
“I have to offer my congratulations. I heard it’s my new friend’s father’s birthday.”
She said she would come as Secritia’s representative for Lemain’s birthday festival.
Of course, the “new friend” did not refer to Calian. She meant Franz. Having grown very close to Hina, she had also become friends with Franz. Whether Franz shared the sentiment was something they would have to ask him, but that was how it was.
Calian knew that her excuse of celebrating Lemain’s birthday was a cover for her desire to visit Euria, Rachel, and Eila, with whom she had become incredibly close, but he replied with a cheerful face.
“Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
Releasing Arianne’s hand as she nodded, he took another step to the side. Louise, who no longer coughed, held out both arms with a smile. Letting out a small laugh, Calian did not refuse and stepped into her embrace.
“Please stay healthy and well.”
“Yes. I will.”
Louise held Calian close. As if trying to convey a warmth that would never be forgotten, she gently stroked his back for a long time.
“It might be difficult, but still… still, please visit often. Anytime is fine.”
“Yes. I will come often.”
Burying his face in Louise’s shoulder, Calian nodded.
“Anytime… Mother.”
Louise’s hand paused for a moment, then began to stroke her son’s back once more, as much as she worried, and as much as she wished for his future peace.
“Yes. Anytime.”
He quietly stepped out of Louise’s embrace.
He took a step back.
He waved to Arianne.
He bowed his head to Teilan.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to look at Chase.
For a long, silent moment, he couldn't turn his gaze, couldn't utter a single word. Just as Chase remained quiet, so did Calian.
Because one couldn't say, "Come back safely," and the other couldn't say, "Farewell."
Because one couldn't promise, "I'll be back," and the other couldn't bear to say, "Goodbye."
"…Yes."
"Yes."
They exchanged only a single, weightless word.
All the countless things left unsaid could wait. They could be shared later—anytime, anywhere. For now, no other farewell was needed.
After a long moment, Calian bowed his head with a faint smile and took another step back. Then, he stepped into the warm light, which felt like a comforting embrace from Alan.
– Snap!
A final spell bloomed from Alan's fingertips.
Light poured forth. As it enveloped him, Calian closed his eyes.
Returning.
To the place where spring is coming.
To my Kairis, now.