Chapter 36: It is a Pleasure to Meet You (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: It is a Pleasure to Meet You (2)
Lemain turned toward the Kaera knight standing outside the door, intending to order him to follow Calian. Alan shook his head.
"Leave him be. It would only put the prince in an awkward position."
"Better awkward than in danger," Lemain said, his face stern as he addressed the man who had caused this mess. A faint smile played on Alan's lips.
"Rest assured. There is no one in Kairis who would dare attack Alan Manasil's carriage."
It was true. In terms of safety, Alan Manasil's carriage was second only to the Arpia Palace itself.
However, since he couldn't reveal that Calian had little need for the carriage's protection in the first place, Alan simply said, "Besides, his hidden sword is following him, so there is no danger."
Lemain's eyebrows twitched. So, the prince was keeping a hidden guard.
However, asking for details would mean having to reprimand the prince for breaking the law. Lemain pretended not to hear and replied, "Very well. We shall wait for now."
Only after the matter was settled did Lemain gesture to the sofa opposite him. He had just realized he had kept Alan standing by the door this entire time. Alan, who had intended to sit even without an invitation, walked over and took a seat.
Lemain stared at Alan for a moment before speaking with a deep sigh.
"He is a child who has already been through a major ordeal. I can't help but worry."
How could a man so full of worry have been so indifferent until now?
Picking up an almond cookie, Alan chewed and swallowed it, along with the thought. Lemain watched Alan's mouth for a moment before asking, "Do you know why he left?"
Alan gave a vague nod. He had a rough idea.
"He fluttered off after asking about Libern's magic academy."
"A magic academy? Has he resolved to establish an academy as well?"
"He might have, or he might not have."
After giving this ambiguous answer, Alan pondered for a moment. Then, he posed a question, making no effort to hide its thorns.
"Even if he establishes a magic academy, it won't be of any immediate help to the prince. Talented individuals aren't made overnight. Could that be what concerns Your Highness?"
Lemain shook his head, his expression calm.
"It sounds as if you're asking whether I intend to keep Calian's growing influence in check. I already know he is not the type of child who would rashly covet my throne, so I have no reason to suppress him. My only worry is that there are already too many others who will bare their fangs at him, even without me. I'm simply glad you're by his side, so don't look at me like that."
Lemain was well aware of why Alan stood with him. Hadn't Alan made it clear from the day he arrived? He was only here to tidy up the household so Calian could ascend the throne safely.
"Which brings me to my next point. Wouldn't it be better for you to accompany him to Roselita this time?"
Though Silike was currently keeping quiet, Lemain worried that something might happen on the long journey to the Siegfried territory. Of course, Alan understood Lemain's concern perfectly.
Therefore, Alan smiled gently to reassure him.
"Your Highness's neck is in far greater jeopardy here than the prince's is out there. You can lay your useless worries to rest."
Lemain quietly massaged his temples.
He wished Calian would return quickly and take this guest off his hands.
*
Melfir had been running blindly, his only thought on Calian waiting for him. He suddenly regained his composure and asked, "Did the prince come alone?"
"Yes. He arrived with only two attendants."
Alone, and in Alan Manasil's carriage. This was clearly a secret visit.
Melfir spoke again, his face tense. "Have any of the servants seen the prince?"
"He asked us to clear the area beforehand, so we escorted him in without anyone watching."
"Good. Well done."
With that, Melfir dashed off again. The exhausted butler, unable to keep up, stopped to catch his breath before running after him once more.
Entering the mansion, Melfir quickly washed his hands, brushed the dust from his clothes, and headed for the reception room. He would have liked to change out of his comfortable indoor clothes and into something more formal, but he couldn't keep the prince waiting.
He saw Yan and Kyrie standing outside the reception room.
Seeing that the area had already been cleared, Melfir left his butler outside and entered the room alone. Calian, who was sitting with his back to the window and holding a teacup, looked up.
Their eyes met, and Melfir bowed deeply.
"Baron Melfir Polun greets the Third Prince."
"It has been a while," Calian replied with a smile, setting down his teacup.
Their first encounter had been nothing more than a whispered word in passing. Now, hearing Calian's voice for the first time, Melfir bowed even lower. Calian laughed silently, guessing the reason for this overly polite greeting.
The Polun Trading Company had recently begun trading diamonds with Tensil in earnest. Naturally, Melfir must be worried sick about what Calian would demand as payment for saving his life.
"I apologize for visiting without notice. It was difficult to make my presence known."
In truth, it mattered little to Calian whether he visited Melfir openly or summoned him to the palace. Who would dare interfere with a prince wishing to meet a baron?
"How could you apologize when I know you did this out of consideration for me? It is an infinite honor that you have sought me out."
Seeking Melfir out so inconspicuously was indeed for Melfir's sake, not Calian's. Calian had not aligned himself with any noble other than the Mage Association. Therefore, if it became known that he had met privately with Melfir, all eyes would inevitably fall upon the baron.
Calian nodded in response and gestured to the chair across from him.
"Please, sit. There is something I wish to discuss."
His face growing even more tense, Melfir shuffled over, sat down quietly, and waited for Calian to speak.
"I imagine you've had a lot on your mind lately."
When Melfir had gifted him Raven's necklace to test his intentions, Calian had sent back payment for it as if he had seen right through him. Since then, Calian had remained silent, leaving Melfir anxious and uncertain whether the prince was angry or planning to demand something even greater.
Melfir did not deny Calian's words.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'm a merchant by nature. I've never been on the receiving end of a favor without giving something back, so I was quite worried."
"I quite like your honesty."
Calian smiled, took a sip of his tea, and stared at Melfir for a moment. Just as Melfir swallowed hard under that gaze, Calian spoke.
"What does Polun trade?"
Melfir's shoulders stiffened.
The moment he answered 'horses and diamonds,' the young prince would surely rise from his seat and return to the palace. Knowing Calian's personality, he would probably even pay for the tea before leaving, just to ensure they would have no further entanglements.
With this thought, Melfir's mind began to spin rapidly.
Calian leisurely enjoyed the aroma of his tea once more. After taking another sip, Melfir answered in a cautious voice.
"We don't trade anything yet, Your Highness."
A smile played on Calian's face.
It meant that while the Polun Trading Company dealt in horses and diamonds, Melfir Polun himself had not yet aligned with anyone.
It was exactly the answer Calian had hoped for, and the attitude he had expected.
"Since you say 'not yet'..."
Clack.
Calian set down his teacup and stared intently at Melfir.
"May I speak with Baron Polun?"
Calian was asking to deal with the capable Baron Melfir Polun, not the shrewd merchant.
He had not sought out Melfir Polun to acquire wealth. As a former knight, Bern knew nothing of running a trading company anyway. Nor did he have any intention of making money by predicting trivial future events. Thus, there was no need to converse with Melfir the merchant.
Melfir swallowed hard once more.
"Ha..."
Sighing out of habit, Melfir stared at Calian without a word. Calian tilted his head slightly and took another sip of tea.
Clack.
The teacup made another soft sound as Melfir spoke.
"He has been here from the very beginning, Your Highness."
"That's wonderful. No need to wait, then."
A satisfied gleam appeared in Calian's eyes.
Thinking that saving Melfir's life had been the right call, Calian spoke slowly.
Melfir adjusted his posture, and Calian continued. However, he posed a somewhat vague question rather than a concrete proposal.
"I came because I was curious if you, Baron, could manage something besides a trading company."
Since Alan was already his man, Calian could command him without hiding his intentions. But Melfir was not yet his, so Calian sought to gauge his thoughts first.
Melfir pondered for a moment before replying.
"If there are people and money, nothing is difficult."
"I have both people and money."
Calian paused for a moment, then spoke again.
"However, Brissen will be involved."
Just as Alan had guessed, Calian was planning to establish a magic academy. While this wouldn't be as dangerous as forming a magic corps, it was bound to cause troublesome entanglements with Brissen.
Melfir pressed his lips together, then parted them to ask, "If Brissen is there, will you not be there as well, Your Highness?"
Calian let out a soft chuckle.
"A foolish question. You're right. I will be there as well."
"If there are people and money, and Your Highness stands before Brissen, then that too will not be difficult."
Calian nodded.
Feeling there was no longer any need to play riddles, Calian got straight to the point.
"I'm thinking of establishing a magic academy in Kairis. I already have more than enough funds, and as for educators, there are plenty of people to draw on, whether from the Mage Association or Alan himself. The problem is management."
There was no way those utterly carefree mages could run an academy properly.
While pondering this, he had thought of the shrewd merchant, and the unpaid debt of a life saved had crossed his mind. That was what had brought Calian to Melfir's doorstep.
Melfir silently lowered his head and began to contemplate. Knowing there was much to consider, Calian waited patiently. This wasn't merely about running an academy; it was about Baron Melfir Polun taking a side—specifically, the side of the Third Prince, Calian.
As if having reached a decision, Melfir raised his head. However, his first words were not an answer to Calian's proposal.
"Is this the price for my life, Your Highness?"
He was asking if this was a task demanded in exchange for his life—something he had to do regardless of his own will.
A smile graced Calian's face.
"I have already received the price for your life."
Clack.
Calian replied as he set down his empty teacup.
Melfir's gaze lingered on the empty cup for a long moment.
Soon, a hearty laugh filled the reception room. It was the sound of relief, of a burden that had weighed on his heart for three months finally being lifted.
"I will do it."
Melfir bowed once more.
*
Two days later, in the morning.
In the dining hall of Chermil Palace, servants prepared red-dyed bread, cherry-filled pies, and all manner of red fruits and vegetables.
The corridors surrounding Chermil Palace were decorated with red threads, and a profusion of red Lafrania flowers was placed around the artificial lake. Petals scattered by the wind drifted over the water.
The people of Kairis made no distinction between celebrating birth and mourning death. Just as they placed red flowers before the deceased, they also presented red flowers to those celebrating their birthdays.
To them, red was the color that encompassed both.
What an unimaginative custom, Calian thought. To offer the same color to both the living and the dead.
In any case, a tradition could not be changed simply because he disliked it. Thus, as soon as he woke up, Calian drank pomegranate juice and thanked Merlin as he accepted the fifteen Lafrania flowers she handed him.
In other words, today was Calian's birthday.
It was the momentous day the highly controversial Third Prince of Kairis finally came of age.
"Congratulations on your fifteenth birthday."
He heard those exact words, without a single syllable out of place, all morning. It took over two hours just to receive congratulations and birthday gifts from the nobles gathered at Senyu Hall. Then, at a luncheon with those who would accompany him on the journey to Roselita, he gave a toast that included a brief expression of gratitude, followed by a long meal and tea.
Without a moment's rest, he changed into his formal attire for the evening banquet and headed toward Siegfried Hall.
The black cloak, lavishly embroidered with red thread, was somehow reminiscent of Calian’s own appearance. Merlin had clearly chosen the colors on purpose. Although the black jacket and trousers had no special decorations, the cloak was so eye-catching that no one would notice them anyway.
Since his once-scrawny body—his only real flaw—had finally filled out, it was only natural that the nobles' eyes lingered on him once more. Besides, he was the guest of honor today.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Calian greeted them this way yet again.
After hearing that the nobles had agonized over his use of "It is a pleasure to meet you" during their first encounter, he had continued to greet them that way to show there was no hidden meaning behind it. Eventually, it had become a habit.
Basking in the admiring gazes of the nobles, Calian walked to his seat with his usual graceful stride.
He stopped in his tracks.
For a brief moment, he hesitated.
Franz, who had not shown his face for three months, was present.