Chapter 275

Wooaeaeaeong!

He said.

I really cried like that.

Lucy, who saw Plants returning to the Chermil Palace, went under the sofa, and Anne followed Lucy. Then Lucy made a really, really sad crying sound.

There was no time to check whether Lucy was still the same or how much Anne had grown.

“… I haven’t forgotten.”

“Aeoooooo!”

“I said I would be gone for a long time, but why?”

“Aow!”

“Niaong!”

After returning to my room after a long time, I forgot to take a relaxing bath and called Lucy and Anne in front of the sofa for a while. But all that comes back is still sad cries.

After briefly meeting my younger brother’s father, he hurried back here without even thinking about seeing my father’s face. After seeing only the butts of the two cats, Plantz felt like he didn’t know whether it was you or me who was sad.

“Lucy. Anne.”

“Aeowong!”

No matter how much I call, he won’t come out.

After calling and meowing for a while and eventually receiving and handing over a round minced beef snack, Plantz smiled slightly when he saw the two cats sticking their heads out.

Anne has grown a lot.

It has grown a lot in a not very long period of time. The gray tail, which was so full that it reminded me of a duster, caught my eye.

Even though she has grown so much, she still has to leave the palace once again, leaving little Anne behind and Lucy, who gives her warmth just by being by her side. What should I do?

“You can’t take him with you, prince.”

Relic, who had been told that he would travel a longer distance later, spoke this first. It seems that he has become more perceptive and can at least read what Planz is thinking as he looks at the two cats.

“know.”

“Instead, I will do my best to take good care of you. Don’t worry.”

Plantz just nodded without saying a word.

Actually, I heard this story before I went to meet the elves. They said you shouldn’t take the cat out.

The pitch-black cat that lives downstairs follows me around and barks incessantly wherever I go, but Lucy and Anne don’t do that, so what can I do? All I could do was hug Lucy hard and keep Anne in my eyes for a while.

“I’ve prepared a bath for you, so get some rest first. I think you can stay without any other plans until tomorrow.”

Plantz, who had finally come and gently petted the cats snuggling at his feet, answered by untying his cloak and handing it to Reric.

“okay.”

After sending Relic out, I took a long bath as if I was submerged in a spacious bathtub made of pale jade. For the first time in a long time, I spent time without thinking about anything, forgetting how much time had passed.

After finishing the bath, I came out and put on my clothes again, but in Reric’s hand was a jacket, not a cardigan. Plantz, who was staring at the navy blue jacket embroidered with gold thread, opened his mouth.

“He told me to rest.”

“Well…”

Didn’t I tell you to rest?

But why are you holding the jacket?

“His Majesty has arrived. He asked me not to tell you because he will wait.”

Plantz frowned.

He didn’t even call me, he just came to see me. He didn’t even tell me to prepare quickly and just waited.

“When did you come?”

Did you hear what I said?

I thought about saying something like that, but I just put it aside and asked. Relic, who had only put on a shirt decoration instead of a tie, answered while helping me put on my jacket.

“It’s been about thirty minutes.”

“What about you?”

Anyway, it’s only 30 minutes.

In the end, we ended up saying one thing.

Plantz, wearing a jacket and another light blue coat with fur trim, went outside and went to the sponsor. One day, I saw Lemain sitting in the same spot where Hina had put down the strawberry ice cream.

When I approached him at a quick pace, bowed and apologized for keeping him waiting, Lemain pointed to the chair next to him without another word.

Lemain, who looked at Planz sitting next to him for a while, opened his mouth.

“It took a long time to catch Calian.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

I had to apologize once again for the excuse that I was going out briefly to catch Calian, who was trying to run away.

Pure white breath blows.

Before I arrived, it smelled like grass and early fallen leaves.

After leaving this place for about 10 days, Kairisis entered a season where it felt not only chilly but downright cold. The wind was blowing, which made it difficult to stay outside for a long time. Lemain, who was sitting outside, opened his mouth, saying that there was a drawing room in the Chermil Palace and that he could come to Planz’s room.

“There must have been a lot of inconveniences on the long road without a carriage.”

“It wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“Maybe the elder was rude?”

“…Rather, Calian.”

“…… okay.”

I thought of Kalyan, who acted as if the only thing he was taught about etiquette was table manners. If he could convey that image, Lemain would never have been able to get it over with just saying ‘yes’.

Of course, if he had seen Plantz drinking another drink next to him, he would have wondered whether he should write a letter of consolation to Grandmaster Narzan right away, but Plantz did not tell him what he did as the deputy commander of the Balkan army. .

Lemain asked, knowing only what he needed to know, fortunately or unfortunately.

“I heard you were thinking of going to Secretia. Is it true?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Visiting the elves was heartbreaking, but now I’m going to go to another country.

“It was a friendly relationship, but things are not going well with the king of Secretia. They have banned any interaction with Secretia. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I want you to be here as much as possible.”

Originally, this was a conversation that Calian, the subject going to Secretia, should have had with Lemaine directly.

However, Calian found it very difficult to deal with Lemain, and Plantz was better at making excuses in the first place. Therefore, it was decided that Plantz would take on the role of persuading Lemain.

But Lemain came too suddenly.

I still couldn’t decide why I should ask for permission to go there.

“I want to spend the winter somewhere other than Kairis, just this year.”

So instead of coming up with a suitable excuse that he had been thinking about all along, Plantz gave this answer.

A year ago.

Wasn’t it Plantz who had an unusually cold winter after joining hands with Calian?

I still vividly remember spending the unusually cold and long winter alone before the Heisia Palace collapsed. It’s not because I’m smart, but I spent a time that would remain as unforgettable memories for anyone, and the time to recall those days has come again for the first time.

“It’s not that I couldn’t escape, but I feel unfamiliar with it.”

So, I answered that I would like to spend time somewhere other than Kairis, at least this winter.

“…Did you think about that?”

Perhaps it was an excuse that Lemain chose because he knew it was a reason he could never refuse. Or maybe it’s sincere.

* * *

Pure white breath blows.

There was a clean wind smell, unique to the cold air that stayed in the forest.

The sea was hot and the land of the elephants was cool, but cold came to the northern forests.

“I haven’t been away for long and it’s winter.”

“Yes. Each day was long and each day was short, and before we knew it, it was winter.”

Twenty-six short years have passed, and one more long year has passed. And then the second winter came.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Calian was so happy to see the warm light in his silver-gray eyes that followed the white breath that he smiled brightly and shook his head.

“It’s not cold at all. It’s warm all around.”

Even in the middle of winter when the entire forest is completely frozen, Kalian, who only feels the cold but does not feel the cold, pointed to the muffler tightly wrapped around his neck. Jan, who spent a lot of time checking to see if Calian was injured, scolding him for leaving without saying a word, and spending even more time welcoming him back safely, was the one who took the longest to protect him.

“Okay. It’s okay to say it’s not cold.”

Alan, sitting down with a thin cloth spread out on the dry grass, nodded and smiled.

Soon Calian took out two large liquor bottles, four drinking glasses, and a small basket containing things like dried fruit and sausages from Raven’s saddle. Then, with a completely awkward hand movement, he started laying them out in front of Alan and himself.

“I was thinking about whether I should buy Himolica or Sizzlinu, but I realized that I don’t know what kind of alcohol you like. So, I prepared both first.”

Two wine glasses and two Himolica glasses that fit comfortably in one hand.

Calian, who was looking at the four glasses, held a bottle of dark purple wine in his hand and spoke.

“But I guess there’s something else I didn’t know.”

Calian’s hand moved quietly and removed two wine glasses.

He then took back the bottle of Sizlinu and poured a glass of Himolica, which is famous for its strong taste, in front of Alan and himself.

Calian, whose eyes were calm and sunken, looked at Alan’s face and opened his mouth.

“What is my father worried about?”

Hearing these words, Alan’s sharp eyes drew a soft curve.

“It looks like you’ve made yourself a real older brother and have even learned to be attentive.”

“Oh, did your brother say that too?”

“Yes. You were worried about me.”

You’ve grown up a lot, my brother.

Don’t worry about other people.

Calian, who laughed quietly, opened his mouth again.

“Did you not sleep well?”

“It happened because I was very busy.”

Calian’s head moved up and down.

Then, he reached out and took a dried banana instead of a glass of wine, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. After that, he quietly looked up at the star-filled sky and opened his mouth.

“There are many amazing things about dying once and living twice. Although dying once and living twice is also amazing.”

To some people, flowers without a scent are amazing, and flowers with a sweet scent are also amazing, but for Kalian, he started talking about things that were a little more amazing.

“It was amazing to have a father who had to never forget that he was a father, a father who still couldn’t get used to the fact that he was a father, and a father who didn’t need any modifiers. I had a mother who was always sick and left early, and she took my mother’s place and embraced me with her arms. “I had a mother who tried to protect me, and it was also amazing that I had a mother who found out later that I was an elf even though I didn’t even remember it.”

Pure white breath slowly spread under the starry night.

Alan listened quietly to Calian’s story.

“My mother, who I don’t remember, took poison, and the mother I remember, I thought she got sick and left, but now I know that she died from poison. But it seems like my mother, who is still alive, was also poisoned in the end. So, this “What should I say about how I feel? It’s definitely not amazing.”

Alan, who was looking at Calian in silence, sighed.

This was because Louise, who had held the sleeping scent in her hand, had already known from Calian that she was addicted to what was in it.

“I guess I should say it’s fortunate. I think it would be correct to say so.”

The fragrant banana scent spread in my mouth.

Maybe it’s because it’s a fruit I crave every time I’m sick, but it’s especially sweet today.

“Queen Deanna… My biological mother was always unwell. So Devlan welcomed concubine Louise, and brother Chase was born first. Then, somehow, I was born. I always thought that my mother wasn’t so hurt that she closed her eyes because of me. My brother’s mother always told me that I should think like that.”

“I guess they were both good mothers.”

Kalian nodded and continued.

“I wouldn’t even get proper treatment for my addiction to sleeping scent because if they found out I was sick, they would arouse suspicion. Because you didn’t. It seems that the person who was originally in so much pain suffered even more from enduring it. Probably not only my mother, but also my mother was no different. You didn’t show any signs of pain. You were in so much pain that I couldn’t breathe comfortably until the day I closed my eyes. Now I know that my mother was also addicted to the scent of sleep.”

Kalian lowered his head after saying this. He

then looked at Alan and opened his mouth.

“I didn’t know that. Fortunately, I found out this time. I am now able to advise you not to use sleeping scents anymore. I couldn’t help it then, but not this time. Thank goodness.”

I felt like I could hear the ticking of a clock in a forest without clocks. Calian’s voice, who had been silent for a long time, continued. “It’s true that there are times when you ca

n’t do anything about it. By the time I open my eyes, it’s already late. My mother’s illness was like that, and that day…”

Calian’s fingertips touched the top of the glass.

“Just like the soldiers did.”

Thinking of the soldiers of Kairis who had arrived right in front of me too quickly and without warning. . Calian, who laughed at what was funny or fascinating, quietly closed his eyes.

“Were you guessing?”

Alan’s voice fell, and Calian nodded.

“How did he move so many people in an instant? . The birds didn’t turn their backs. I’ve always wondered about that. I thought it was something magical. I thought it must be magic. I made a guess.”

Leading the pure white demons gathered in the palace of Kairis and standing in front of the border of Secretia in an instant. This is something that the current Alan cannot do, but Alan Manasil, the archmage of the 8th circle, can do. “No way, even I am a prince

. It became a dagger to me. What should I do?”

“What should I do?”

After finishing speaking, Alan’s eyes looked to the floor.

Calian smiled and looked at Allen.

“Don’t worry, you can get over that wall. Isn’t this something to celebrate?”

The wizard was unable to sleep as he stopped in front of the wall of the 8th circle, which he had reached much earlier than in the past, as he was thinking about what he would have done in the past. He said to the wizard who was not smart at all

. Calian, who had spoken, let out a long breath.

“There are so many things that you gave me just by grabbing my collar once to save my life. I always thought for a long time about how I should pay them all back, but isn’t it a good thing? I’m so glad that I don’t have to pay you back and just live with me for a long time and be filial.”

Rather than sighing, I took a long breath.

“You should live with me for a long time. Sleep well and stay healthy. “Father.”

A smile appeared on Alan’s lips once again.

I was truly grateful and sorry that we should live together instead of repaying each other.

“That’s right. We will live together for a long time. Stay with my baby for a long time.”

“Yes. “Father.”

Calian nodded as if telling him not to worry, reached out and clinked his glass against Alan’s. A clear and bright sound passed through the forest for a moment. He drank the Himolica he had been so eagerly looking forward to

. Calian looked at Alan, who had both emptied their glasses, and at his own empty glass.

“Wow…”

How long has it been since I felt this fragrant scent pass through my throat? I was finally able

to solve the homework I had to solve with Alan. I was so happy and glad to feel the coolness of it.

“Himolica is delicious, father.”

Calian, who had forgotten to drink away the alcohol with his aura, smiled so cutely. And then

– Boom!

He fell asleep.