Chapter 98: Older Brother (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Older Brother (5)
After a long silence, Alan finally spoke.
“Very well. I suppose you can decide now, Your Highness.”
Knowing that silence was the best response in these situations, Calian quietly waited for Alan to continue.
“Please decide in advance who you will reveal your secret to next. Since there aren’t many people left who don’t know, it shouldn’t be too difficult to establish an order.”
Alan had rushed through his work and returned out of worry for Calian, only to learn that he had now shared his secret with Franz.
Of course, Calian hadn’t actually told Franz all that much. He had only mentioned that time had turned back and revealed his relationship with Chase. The rest, Franz had pieced together himself based on Calian’s past behavior and flimsy excuses.
…Even so.
No, this was really too much. At this rate, it would be easier on Alan’s peace of mind to just sit back and see how many more times Calian would get caught.
Alan’s face flushed with anger. He wanted to lash out, but knowing how much Calian had suffered today because of Chase, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.
Seizing the opportunity, Calian quickly offered him the alcohol Franz had left behind. He made a firm mental note to never, ever mention that he had almost been caught by the Owner of Rotten Forge—or rather, that he might have already been caught.
“There really won’t be anyone else now.”
Even that wasn’t a definitive promise.
Dumbfounded, Alan let out a short sigh. At that, Calian beamed, realizing his master’s anger had dissipated.
However, just because his anger had cooled didn’t mean his troubled mind was at ease. Alan poured himself a glass of the alcohol Calian had offered. His eyes widened in surprise.
“Has your brother been drinking this sort of thing all this time?”
Since Franz had obtained the alcohol not to drink but to splash on someone, it was incredibly strong.
Calian simply refilled Alan’s empty glass without a proper answer. While he was terrible at keeping his own secrets, he was excellent at keeping others’.
“Won’t you have a glass? Since everything’s out in the open anyway.”
“I’ve quit drinking, Master.”
At Alan’s words, which still carried a hint of resentment, Calian just smiled and shook his head.
* * *
The next day, following a truly chaotic day for many, the Kairis King’s Birthday Festival began. The celebration was for Lemain, the very cause of all that chaos.
In truth, his birthday wasn’t particularly different for Lemain. His routine was the same as ever: drinking red pomegranate juice upon waking and starting his breakfast with foods of a deep red hue. The only difference between his birthday and Calian’s was that he did not receive Lafrania flowers equal to his age.
While Merlin had taken care of that for Calian, no one did so for Lemain. Thus, Lemain looked utterly disgusted as he stared at Alan, who had arrived early in the morning with a sour expression, and Raul, the Chamberlain, who stood beside him holding thirty-nine Lafrania flowers.
“What is that?”
At Lemain’s question, Raul replied in a slow but polite tone.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Count Manasil…”
“Throw it away,” Lemain said, cutting him off.
The command made Alan’s face pucker as if he’d just bitten into an unripe pear, while Raul wore an extremely awkward expression. Alan could easily guess what Lemain was misunderstanding, which only made him feel more wronged.
“Do not misunderstand.”
There was only one person in the world Alan bought flowers for: his precious granddaughter, Veronica, whom he adored more than anything. Why on earth would he prepare flowers for a man like Lemain, who had secretly summoned Chase?
Naturally, the flowers were not from him.
“I only accompanied him for another reason.”
Alan placed the report he was holding—the actual reason he had entered Lemain’s chambers—onto the desk. Then, with a highly displeased look, he said, “The flowers are a gift my lovely disciple asked me to deliver, so there is no need to throw them away. You may accept them.”
Hearing this, Lemain’s gaze shifted back to Raul. Permitted to speak again, Raul continued, his tone a little faster and more polite.
“Yes. Count Manasil was simply delivering the flowers sent by Prince Calian.”
Though Alan’s name had been unnecessarily dragged into it, the conclusion was that Calian had prepared them and sent them via Alan. To be more precise, Calian had agreed to Yan’s suggestion (who had heard it from Merlin), had Merlin prepare the flowers, and then had them delivered to Lemain through Alan and Raul. Calian himself wasn’t attentive enough to think of such things on his own.
He would be coming to greet Lemain later that morning anyway, but since his other brothers would be there, it would have been awkward for Calian to show up holding flowers alone. Thus, he had sent them ahead.
Only then did Lemain nod. Raul carefully placed the flowers on the desk before excusing himself. As Lemain stared blankly at the red blossoms, Alan asked about the root cause of the whole situation.
“Do you have no intention of remarrying?”
An indescribable emotion crossed Lemain’s face. It was part frustration, part anger.
“Stop that talk.”
At his response, Alan smiled and nodded. He figured Lemain must be quite pestered about it. And with good reason, as Lemain had recently been bombarded with demands to take a new queen. With three princes already, and Randel soon reaching a marriageable age, the pressure must have been irritating.
Knock, knock.
Just then, Chamberlain Raul entered again. He announced that the three princes had arrived to offer their birthday greetings, and Alan stepped outside. While the events celebrating Lemain’s birthday were underway, Alan planned to have a chat with Chase. Although Chase had supposedly come to meet him, he had been busy with other matters all day yesterday, preventing them from meeting privately.
* * *
First the Renieri, and now roses.
At this rate, I might end up loathing every flower in the world, Calian thought with a short sigh, his gaze falling upon the rose garden, which was filled with budding blossoms. He had merely glanced out the window, but his mood plummeted instantly.
Seeing the roses reminded him of the one person he could not avoid today: Randel.
As if sensing Calian’s foul mood, the cat in his arms let out a strange cry.
“Mweong!”
‘I am Prince Calian’s cat.’
The cat, currently cradled in Calian’s arms, still didn’t have a name. While Calian had named Raven in an instant, he hadn’t been able to come up with a name for the cat, and no one else dared to name the prince’s pet on their own.
In any case, Hina had left the creature—known only as “Prince Calian’s cat”—with Calian before heading out to assist with work in the square. Taking the cat back, Yan spoke.
“It is time to go, Your Highness. Please brush off the cat hair.”
“Right.”
His eyes still fixed on the garden, Calian nodded. He used magic to clean the white fur from his formal attire, then stepped outside. Accompanied by Yan and Kyrie as always, he headed to Arpia Palace. Since Lemain was already there, it had been decided that he would receive the princes’ greetings there again this year.
“Please have your conversation and come back out.”
Leaving Calian with those words, Yan and Kyrie stood quietly outside Lemain’s office alongside the other attendants. As Yan noticed cat hair on his own clothes and began brushing it off, the sound of steady footsteps echoed from afar.
Since Lemain and all the princes were already inside, and the attendants and maids made no sound when they walked, Yan looked up to see who it was. His eyes widened.
With long, silver-blue hair that made his identity obvious at a glance, it was Chase.
Chase, who had come to visit Alan’s office directly opposite Lemain’s, paused. His eyes scanned the bowing attendants before landing on Kyrie.
“Ah, you are the one I saw yesterday,” he said, recognizing him. “Prince Calian’s attendant.”
It was an unexpected situation, but thanks to what Yan had taught him, Kyrie did not panic and replied politely.
“I greet the Crown Prince of Secritia. I am Prince Calian’s attendant.”
At that, Chase spoke again in a gentle tone. “I heard your swordsmanship is quite exceptional. I also heard about what happened at that tavern. The birds of Secritia are very diligent, you see.”
“Your Highness.”
Realizing Chase was implying he had heard about the gambling den through Secritia’s spies, the startled knight, Sir Teilan, quickly cut in.
Kyrie smiled inwardly. It seemed Calian’s habit of letting secrets slip was inherited from Chase. In fact, Chase was casually mentioning Secritia’s state secrets rather than his own, so Calian was actually the better of the two.
Giving a slight smile at Teilan’s intervention, Chase looked back at Kyrie and asked, “Since our paths have crossed, I would like to know your name.”
Kyrie hesitated for a moment.
Yan shot him a quick glance. One must never hesitate when royalty asks for their name. The etiquette was no different in Secritia.
Fortunately, Chase simply waited for Kyrie’s response.
“It is Kyrie.”
He deliberately omitted his last name, hoping it would be fine. He had heard that even commoners without last names worked in the royal palace of Secritia. However, Chase tilted his head and asked again.
“Do you not have a last name?”
Bowing his head, Kyrie squeezed his eyes shut.
“My last name is… Bern.”
A flash of surprise crossed Chase’s eyes for a split second. But just as quickly, his smile returned, and he nodded.
“Kyrie Bern. So that is your name.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Although Kyrie desperately wanted to escape, Chase did not let him go. Yan figured Chase was interested because Kyrie was a highly capable fighter kept close by Calian, a Sword Master.
“How curious. The name you possess is a very ancient word passed down in the royal family of Secritia. Did you know that?”
Calian had never told him what the name Bern meant. He had only said it had a good meaning, without giving any details.
“I am not familiar with the words passed down in the Secritian royal family.”
The ancient language of the continent, said to have been used long before the War of the Two Gods, was preserved only in Secritia. There was no way Kyrie of Kairis would know it.
Chase hadn’t expected him to, and he explained, “Bern. It is a word that means ‘unforgotten hero.’ It suits you quite well. Even if it holds no meaning in Kairis, it is a good name, so keep it in mind.”
“I will. Thank you.”
I am not thankful at all.
An unforgotten hero.
If that is truly what it means, then those words are completely wrong.
* * *
Alan had been unable to interrupt the conversation between Chase and Kyrie. He had left them alone, thinking it would be fine, but he regretted it the moment he realized the name Bern had come up.
Finally, as Kyrie finished expressing his gratitude, Alan opened his office door and quickly called out to Chase.
“The atmosphere out here is so warm and friendly that I felt quite lonely listening all by myself. Please, come in.”
Turning his head, Chase gave Kyrie a brief nod of farewell and followed Alan inside, leaving all his attendants, including Teilan, outside.
Once the door closed and Chase sat opposite him, Alan offered a belated reply.
“I was so pleased to hear that word here that I lost track of time. My apologies for being late.”
“Yes. I was listening.”
Alan picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and set it down. Perhaps due to the alcohol he had consumed the previous day, a burning sensation lingered in his chest.
“Your love for coffee remains unchanged, Sir Manasil.”
Since Alan was a baron in Secritia and a count in Kairis, Chase seemed to have settled on a more neutral title.
“I have so much work that I feel anxious without it now.”
“I understand. The anxiety of not having what was always there.”
Nodding, Chase stared at Alan’s coffee cup for a moment. After the steam had risen and vanished a few times, he spoke again.
“But I find it is also anxiety-inducing when something that was never there suddenly appears.”
Finding it difficult to gauge the meaning behind those words, Alan looked at Chase.
“I had forgotten something that should never have been forgotten,” Chase said, his gaze meeting Alan’s. “I…”