Curly hair of the same blonde color.
Blue-grey eyes within equally round eyes.
Their appearance made anyone think they were brother and sister, but no one could suspect that. One was the 3rd princeâs servant, and the other was a minor duke who would lead the only ducal family in Kairis.
Siroian, who was originally the second son of Duke Siegfried, but is now the eldest son, was so shocked by the death of Slaymanâs first son that he was known to not take a single step outside the mansion. Of course, it was true that Yan at one time really behaved like that, so it was difficult to say that the rumor was wrong.
However, it is not known that the same Shiroian is now following âour flower-like princeâ with a puppy-like face. So who could think that those two are brother and sister?
âItâs nice here.â
These were the words of Demirea as she walked on the pebbles that made a clattering sound.
After the sparring between Plants and Demirea, Calian suggested that the two, including Arsene, have dinner together. There was a story to be shared regarding the affairs of Vulcan and the Knights, and Calian, who was more temperamental than expected, was very hungry, which was a big reason why.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
However, the two princes and Arsene had something to talk about before dinner at the Senyu House, so the elephant siblings were just taking a walk for a while. This is the same path that Calian and Alan once visited, and Chase and Plantz once visited.
âThatâs right. Itâs a place the prince said he liked.â
âAre you saying itâs good because Prince Calian likes it?â
Jan answered with a look that did not even know why Dmirea had asked the question.
âItâs good if the prince likes it.â
It seems that Jan was truly born to serve Kalyan. Putting Kalyan first in everything.
Of course, Demirea did not think that Janâs way of thinking was wrong. Everyone has priorities in life. We know that it was the sword and family crest for Dmirea and Calian for Jan.
If Calian didnât know that, Demirea might be concerned, but Calian knew that fact better than anyone else. Therefore, Demirea nodded and opened her mouth without any further evaluation of Janâs words.
âThatâs right. The important thing is that you like it here.â
With that said, the conversation did not continue until we reached the halfway point of the trail. This was because there were a few people passing by, so it was difficult to talk freely.
âWould you like me to carry your jacket?â
Jan asked this only after no one was visible nearby.
Demirea, who came to the palace alone on horseback without a single servant or escort, was still holding her black jacket.
âYou donât have to do that to me, brother.â
Demirea answered with a quite straight face and shook her head.
The reason why the promenade was good was because he wanted Jan, who was a servant, to stop acting like a servant in front of him. Jan seemed to understand that and said with a smile.
âIâm not that low in rank. I only said that because it seemed uncomfortable.â
It was not the job of Jan, a senior servant, to carry the luggage of Kalianâs guests. Therefore, Jan had been treating Demirea as a younger sibling from the beginning.
âPlease listen then.â
Only then did Demirea smile slightly and nod. Then he handed the jacket in his hand to Yan. There was no need to worry about the inconvenience of wearing a jacket, but it seemed like he wanted to be like an older brother, so I matched his clothes accordingly.
â Suddenly.
As I raised my arm and handed over the jacket, a sound came from Demireaâs leg. Although he was not a knight, he was a minor duke of Siegfried, so he was allowed to bring it into the royal palace, so it was the sound that came from Dmireaâs sword, which could have been used to blow away Planzâs sword a little while ago.
If he hadnât refused his place, Jan would have had it by now.
For a moment, Janâs eyes rested on Demireaâs sword. Demirea, who was thinking about pretending not to see Jan like that, opened her mouth in a calm voice.
âNo matter what I do, Iâm better than you.â
It was Demirea who had deeper thoughts, was quicker at calculating, was more resolute in dealing with nobles, was better at playing the violin, and was better at using a sword.
âAnyway, it was something I was better at, something I wanted to do, and something I would ultimately do. So I hope youâll stop feeling sorry for me.â
Demirea was right.
Therefore, it would have originally been Demireaâs job to bear the weight of the shield that had been in use for 500 years.
â Wonât you be happy if I die?
Because Jan couldnât even bear the weight of a single word.
What was in Yanâs eyes as he looked at the sword was not envy or regret for missing out. He was sorry for running away without being able to get over a single word, and for passing on the heavy name of being the only duke family in the country to his younger brother.
However, as Dmirea said, the reason Dmirea received the title of minor duke was because she was better than Jan, not because she sacrificed herself for Jan. Therefore, it would have been nice for both of them to be in their respective positions, with Dmirea as Siegfriedâs household head and Jan as Calianâs servant.
âOur Leah is all grown up.â
So Jan said this with the same smile he made when he saw Kalyan grow taller. And Demirea responded with a pretty soft laugh.
By the way, I canât believe Iâm already all grown up.
Is this a compliment or an insult?
Anyway, I didnât bother to say the word âolder brother who thinks shorter than the doggy brotherâ.
* * *
Calian quietly cupped his forehead.
âI said I would follow the prince, but I didnât say I would follow your older brother, Prince Planz.â
This is because of the blue-haired wizard who sat quietly after saying this, and the star-eating brother who sat with his legs crossed without erasing his annoyed expression.
The starting point was to ensure that there is no internal conflict in Balkan, as knight forces will be brought in in the future. Plantz, who heard Kalianâs words, said, âAs long as he does well, itâs okayâ, and Arsene did not just ignore it. And so the argument between the two began again.
Plantz looked at Calian with calm eyes.
â Is it really true that I took him to war?
Those calm eyes seemed to contain exactly this question, so Calian just shrugged his shoulders. They are asking me if I know anything.
Anyway, looking at the two beggars who seemed to be getting along well, Calian let out a deep sigh. I think I need another cup of Janâs honey tea, but itâs a shame that Jan isnât there.
âunder.â
Wasnât Kalyan already depressed and angry due to various events today? Therefore, at the end of the sigh, there was a slight but obvious sense of murder. Knowing that, the two looked at Calian with a slightly surprised expression.
âAt the end of August.â
And Calian opened his mouth like this, with eyes that said, âIf you talk any more, Iâll kill you both.â
âAt the end of August, Balkan will become an army equipped with both wizards and knights, and before that, I plan to more than double the number of wizards. So, Deputy Commander Hertz should quickly clear away all the debris and consult with Count Manasil to bring in additional men. please.â
That sounds good. Itâs the end of August. Theyâre doubling the number of people in just three months. Arsene fell silent for a moment at the sudden notice. Calian said without hesitation.
âAnd next February. At that time, the number of wizards should be at least 300.â
When that time comes, Chase will ascend to the throne.
And as soon as Chase ascended the throne, he would create a powerful army of Secretiaâs own. Although the Secretariat is without Bern, their new king will still be strong and wise. The new army created by such a king may have a strength that even Calian did not expect.
âWe plan to continue to increase the number of wizards after that, so donât relax.â
Therefore, Kalyan also planned to do its best to develop Balkan.
âWhy suddenly?â
Plantz asked:
Calian responded with a silent smile.
âI didnât plan on suddenly growing in size like this, but if Kairis exceeds the power of a âweak countryâ, something that shouldnât happen would happen, right?â
Because Arsene was with him, he couldnât give a detailed explanation, but it was enough for Planz to understand.
They said it was because of Lemain and the nobles who were trying to keep Chaseâs powerful army in check. In order to keep Secretia off guard in Kairis, Vulcanâs power must be clearly superior.
For that purpose, Kalianâs idea was that the size of the Balkans should be increased as much as possible.
âBut when that number of wizards gather, there will be a lot of noise inside. There are people who think it will be difficult to keep the wizards in check with the Knights.â
If the number of wizards suddenly increases, Marquis Evan Briesen has no choice but to be on guard. You may have thought that the balance of power was evenly balanced until now, but with the explosion of Heisia Palace, you should have realized at least a little about the superiority of power.
In such a situation, if the number of wizards doubled in less than a year, Evan would naturally not like the increase in wizardsâ power.
Plantz, who had the same thoughts as Calian, nodded quietly. Calian, who was silent as he watched this, tapped his knee with his fingertips and reviewed in his mind what he had thought and decided.
After some time had passed, Calian continued speaking.
âI will send Count Eifrinâs knights to Balkan around that time.â
At those words, Planzâs eyes narrowed.
Aizen Aprinâs Knights were definitely the power that Calian was meant to have. Plantz knew well that Calian was planning to bring them to the capital soon and raise them himself. Because it was Plants who helped us do that.
However, Calian was now saying that he would not take them directly but would take them to the Balkans. It was no different from saying that he would hand over the knights to Plants, not himself.
âWhy again?â
âItâs not the same reason as last time. As the Wizards grow, the Knights need to grow as well so that you donât die.â
After saying that, Calianâs hand touched his chest.
âI think that your watching the increase in the number of magicians in Balkan may be an act of âbetraying Brisen.â Even if it is not for that reason, if I hold the knights while your base power is small, it will be a problem. Because of this, my brother could die.â
Planz quietly closed his eyes.
Calian, who saw this, opened his mouth, carefully hiding his intention to one day kill Marquis Evan Briesen without Plantz knowing.
âItâs more important not to cross the line of âbetrayalâ set by Marquis Briesen. The scope is vast, so we have to be careful about everything.â
âEven so, it goes around and around and ends up in the same place.â
Plantz was right. It goes around and around and eventually comes back to its original place.
It was Plantz who tried to obtain the royal knights Karen and Raon so that Calian could have Aizenâs knights. And for that, I shared an oath with Evan. However, Calian was saying that he would be careful about the seal of oath and that he would give the Knights of Aizen to Plantz. This decision was made out of concern that the increase in the size of the wizard group would affect the seal of the oath.
However, the reason to increase the size of the wizard group was to prevent Kairis from being wary of Secretiaâs new power. And isnât the reason why Secretiaâs power grows because Plantz told Chase to âget readyâ?
So in the end, Kalian was forced to put down what he was holding again due to Plantz.
âItâs okay because Iâm just getting where I need to be.â
Calian, who could not have known that, said this.
Itâs okay this time too.