Chapter 8: It's a Pleasure to Meet You (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: It's a Pleasure to Meet You (1)
The main gate of the Kairis Royal Palace opened onto the grand royal road that bisected the capital, Kairisis.
In front of the palace stood two symmetrical squares, one on each side of the road: Hatsuara Square to the east and Sispanian Square to the west.
The fountain in Hatsuara Square featured a statue of Sispanian in her human form, while the fountain in Sispanian Square depicted Hatsuara. The two statues were positioned to gaze at each other from across the distance.
Legend told that the statues were originally built facing the royal palace. However, after Hatsuara’s death, Sispanian had visited in her dragon form, turned the statues to face one another, and then departed without a word.
As a result, the two squares had become one of the most famous landmarks in Kairis, a popular destination for lovers and tourists alike.
Today, however, the crowds that had flocked to the squares since dawn weren’t sparing a single glance for the famous fountains. Instead, they were all jostling for a better position, trying to get as close to the royal palace as possible.
For today was King Lemain’s birthday.
Though it was still early, preparations were well underway.
A magnificent dais for the king had been erected on the royal road before the palace’s main gate. For those whose view would be obstructed, large, thin crystal plates had been set up in front of each fountain. These magical devices would project an image of the royal family, allowing even those at the very back to see clearly.
The capital guards, responsible for security in Kairisis, were posted throughout the squares, preparing for any potential incidents. Palace staff moved about frantically, cleaning the dais and piling up commemorative gifts for the citizens.
Of course, preparations were also in full swing inside the palace.
“Hahh…”
Calian let out a long, tense sigh.
The weight of the day’s importance settled on him once more. During the festival period, there was no formal breakfast; everyone was already busy with preparations for the celebration.
Just as he finished a light shower, Satin arrived right on time. As Calian was not yet ready to receive outside visitors, Yan drew the bedroom curtains before letting her in.
Thanks to this, only Calian could see that Satin looked utterly exhausted, having apparently pulled an all-nighter to alter the clothes. Calian had sent a carriage for her, and seeing her now, he was filled with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.
“While you get ready, I will go over today’s schedule one more time,” Yan said after Satin had departed and the curtains were drawn back.
Seeing Yan’s face, which looked as stiff as hardened clay from tension, Calian nodded with a faint smile.
“At nine a.m., you will offer your congratulations to His Majesty. At ten a.m., you will attend the ceremony in the square. From twelve p.m., there is a luncheon with His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, and—”
“Two p.m., a meeting with the central nobles. Five p.m., a meeting with the provincial nobles. Eight p.m., the banquet. Eleven p.m., it’s over. I’ve memorized it all.”
As Calian cut him off, Yan looked sheepish, realizing just how many times he must have repeated the schedule.
“Tomorrow, you also have meetings with the envoys, so it would be helpful to listen carefully to the nobles’ conversations.”
The only part of the day Calian looked forward to was the banquet. He remembered that Alan had only arrived as the festivities were drawing to a close.
As for the meetings with envoys from various nations, he held no great expectations—especially for the ones from Secritia. Chase was not part of the delegation, so there would be no one among the Secritian nobles he particularly wanted to see.
Even if someone I knew did come, it’s not like I could ask them how Prince Chase has been doing.
In his past life, Bern’s relationship with the Secritian nobles had been extremely poor.
They had all, without exception, opposed Bern’s decision to cede the position of crown prince to Chase, the son of a royal concubine. Their reason was simple: as the queen’s son, it was only natural for Bern to take the throne. No amount of reasoning could get through to them.
So, in the end, Bern had been knighted by Chase himself.
Their faces were a sight to see when I swore my oath of loyalty to my brother.
As Calian let out a dry laugh at the memory, Yan’s voice pulled him from his reverie.
This time, it was a list of precautions he had already heard to the point of exhaustion.
“When you greet the nobles, I will be behind you to state their names. Other than that, you will likely have no need to speak with them separately. Still, if you have something you wish to say to them—”
“If I forget their name, I look at Yan. My capable head attendant, Yan, will say it again. I may offer a greeting first, but I will not introduce myself. Because I am royalty.”
Calian’s mischievous smile returned as he looked at Yan’s worried face, pulling him from his dark memories.
“Your Highness. Please be serious.”
A startled Yan bowed his head.
“But is there anyone who doesn’t know my name? It seems everyone calls me by a rather special name. Ah, ‘that Calian!’ they say.”
He said it with a beaming smile, but the words were laced with bitterness. Unable to find a reply, Yan could only stare at Calian with a pained expression.
“In any case, that will all change after today, so you can stop worrying. I won’t make any mistakes.”
He had played the part of a prince for far too long to fail now.
And that wasn’t all. He had also lived as a royal brother and a knight. Calian was more confident than anyone in his ability to present himself as the perfect prince.
The assassins will come for me anyway, so I might as well use this opportunity to thoroughly turn Silike’s stomach inside out.
He’d come to this conclusion while waiting for the festival.
Whether he kept a low profile or drew attention to himself, it didn’t matter. Silike was a woman who hated his very existence. So he planned to be as conspicuous as possible. He was determined to become a complete nuisance, like a stray hair stuck in one’s eye.
Unaware of these thoughts, Yan simply nodded, his gaze lingering on Calian for a long moment. His serious voice, still etched with worry, cut through Calian’s playful smile.
“Your Highness. Your health is what is most important. If you feel it might be too difficult to attend all of today’s events, please do not endure it. You must tell me immediately. You must.”
It was an added warning, prompted by Calian’s frail constitution.
Calian wondered what Yan could possibly do, but he had a feeling the attendant was the type to find a way, no matter what.
“I know. Don’t worry.”
Calian patted Yan’s shoulder and glanced down at his attire.
The sight of himself in the Prince’s Formal Attire felt unfamiliar.
He wore a white shirt and black trousers under a tight-fitting black jacket adorned with two rows of gold buttons. The jacket had a high collar that partially covered his neck and extended to just below his waist.
Over it, he wore a red cape that fell to his knees. The maids who had fastened the cape to his jacket checked to ensure the clasp, which featured two golden cords and tassels, was perfectly straight.
Finally, Merlin, one of the maids, inspected Calian from head to toe and spoke with a satisfied expression.
“You are ready, Your Highness. It suits you wonderfully.”
Calian gave a slight nod.
Though his thinness was a minor flaw, Merlin’s words were true. The reflection in the mirror confirmed that the Prince’s Formal Attire suited him well.
The Kairis crest—a pentagram and a dragon, embroidered in gold—was emblazoned on the jacket’s chest. It was the first time he had ever worn clothing with this crest, and for a long moment, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
It’s strange. The Kairis crest no longer feels unfamiliar.
He wondered if the crest of Secritia would now begin to feel foreign instead.
As Calian stood motionless, lost in thought, a flicker of anxiety crossed Yan’s face. He worried that Calian might break the mirror again, though it hadn’t happened recently.
“Your Highness? Is there perhaps a part that you do not like?”
Yan’s cautious question finally broke Calian’s trance. Fortunately, he was not in the gloomy state Yan had feared. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Calian replied with a bright smile.
“It’s just that I’m already so handsome.”
Yan’s expression was a sight to behold.
Calian left his attendant to his reaction and walked out of the room. Yan, staring blankly at the prince’s ever-changing demeanor, quickly followed.
*
A small carriage was parked in front of Chermil Palace.
Seeing only one, it seemed that for once, both Randel and Franz had already departed.
Randel, I can understand. But Franz, too?
It was unexpected, but that didn’t mean Calian was late.
Once the coachman confirmed that Calian and Yan were aboard, he started the carriage at a slow pace. The palace grounds were bustling with carriages, likely filled with the many guests visiting for the celebration.
Soon, the carriage arrived at Arpia Palace, where Lemain conducted his work.
Originally, this part of the schedule was supposed to take place in Camellia Palace, the king’s official residence. However, due to the overwhelming amount of work, all formalities had been dispensed with; the princes were to simply offer a brief greeting in his office.
Calian was delighted.
What he had dreaded as the most difficult part of his schedule had suddenly become the simplest.
Unfortunately, that good mood did not last long.
“Shouldn’t my two older brothers already be here?” Calian asked Yan, his face troubled.
Randel and Franz, who should have been there, were nowhere to be seen. Yan’s eyes darted about nervously, confirming he didn’t know the reason.
Calian smiled faintly.
“Right. There has to be something you don’t know.”
Yan looked utterly flustered.
Just then, someone approached them. It was King Lemain’s chamberlain.
The chamberlain, a man with white hair and a dignified air, bowed politely to Calian.
“Greetings, Prince Calian.”
“Where are my brothers?” Calian asked, acknowledging the greeting with a slight nod. The chamberlain observed him for a moment before answering.
“They have already returned to Chermil Palace. His Majesty has urgent business to attend to, so the schedule was changed to a brief, simple greeting. For the same reason, today’s luncheon has also been canceled. I apologize for not being able to inform you beforehand.”
“Are you saying my brothers have already met His Majesty separately?”
“Yes, Your Highness. That is correct.”
Behind him, Calian heard Yan suck in a sharp breath.
He didn’t need to see his attendant’s face to know exactly what he was thinking.
I never instructed His Highness on the protocol for a private audience with His Majesty!
A private audience with King Lemain.
That must have been it. Even though Calian was receiving separate etiquette lessons, Yan still worried.
He wants to see us separately because he lacks the time to see us all at once?
It made no sense.
Anyone would think that seeing all three at once would be far more efficient.
The chamberlain did not reply, and Calian nodded as if he understood. Whatever the king’s reason, he had no choice but to follow.
“I understand.”
A private audience. This is a first.
His first meeting with the original Calian’s father.
He hadn’t expected it to be so difficult, or so sudden.
He never thought he’d live to see the day he actually missed Randel and Franz.
The tension he had let go of came rushing back all at once.
As he walked toward the office, Calian took a deep breath, careful not to let it show.
Even the old Calian had no memory of a private audience with Lemain.
What’s more, even as Bern, he had never been on good terms with his own father and had never met him alone. The only king he’d ever had a private audience with was his brother, Chase. And a meeting with Chase was just a conversation between brothers, nothing like this suffocating atmosphere.
“May I go in now?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please enter.”
Outwardly, he was calm, but inside, his heart was racing as if he had just run five laps around the lake at Chermil Palace. Dozens of potential greetings flashed through his mind and vanished.
He felt like a swan gliding across a lake—serene on the surface, but paddling furiously beneath the water.
With a solemn expression, Calian stepped into the office.