Kalian felt miserable.
I realized later that the knife had stopped in front of Calianâs neck and that it was an attack that did not need to be blocked. I didnât know that I would resent the knife in my hand so much.
The knife that flew into the wall a moment ago was pulled out on its own and fell into Alanâs hand. A deep sword mark remained on the blade.
âYouâre really fast. With a body like that.â
Alan, who opened his mouth like that, did not look that surprised. It was his attitude that he fully expected Calian to block the knife. Alan spoke in a calm voice while looking at Calian who could not open his mouth.
âIâm sorry for surprising you.â
Calian shook his head. Still didnât speak. To open his mouth, Alan started talking instead.
âThe day I first saw you. I knew the prince had been waiting for me for a long time. I was curious, but I thought it was a coincidence. I knew the prince was already in a dangerous situation to ask about that, and I was too busy thinking about other things.â
This means that it was discovered from the very beginning.
A sigh escaped Calianâs mouth.
Nevertheless, how funny it is to talk about faith in a person who helped Kalyan without question.
âBut strange things started to increase. Lemain said that the prince was afraid of horses, and the nobles were amazed that the prince had become a completely different person. The wizard who went to the concert said that the prince prevented an accident.â
Calianâs hands grew stronger.
They were surprised that Alan knew what was going on at the concert hall.
âStill, I thought I would just move on from here. But there was something else strange.â
A hollow smile lingered on Calianâs lips. There is another one. In this case, it was necessary to wonder why Jan did not suspect Calian.
âWhen I told you that you were addicted, I saw the murder in the princeâs eyes. But it was quickly erased. Those eyes did not belong to a prince who had never killed a butterfly. I had seen a lot of blood on my hands, or something like that. âItâs about knowing how to reap what you want. I was thinking about it all night because the threads that were so tangled one by one couldnât be resolved. But.â
Alan, who had said that, slightly lifted the knife in his hand.
âIt was made by Sispanian. I put it on the display for hidden weapons, and the flower pot turned into a knife. It means the prince has a knife, and the prince is a man who knows how to show his deadly skills. I handed it to him just in case.â
Calian smiled involuntarily and responded.
âYou handed it to me with the intention of piercing my uvula.â
Alan bowed his head and apologized again and then spoke.
âI trusted the prince and entrusted him with one aspect of my life. I felt like I would be suspicious if I didnât know that the so-called first disciple I made was hiding it and not releasing it. So please stop explaining now. I will listen.â
Calian nodded.
Since he was already sure that he was not the real Kalyan, there was nothing more to hide.
âIâll tell you.â
Calian did not worry about where to start or where to say something. I decided to take everything out. So, I quietly closed my eyes and began to speak slowly.
âItâs Bern. Itâs my original name. Bern Secretia.â
Secretia.
Alanâs shoulders flinched. The name that popped up at this point reminded me of something.
Chase andâ¦
Calian didnât stop talking. Because I had my eyes closed, I didnât notice that Alanâs reaction upon hearing his name was unusual. Therefore, Calianâs continued words felt like he wanted the truth to Alan, so he should listen to everything and deal with it together.
âThe current crown prince was the younger brother of Chase Dullahan Secretia, who was the king at the time I was there. He was a knight. So, he knows how to ride a horse, handle life, and use a sword.â
A calm voice continued.
Bern, who was the prince of Secretia, became a knight to avoid being crowned crown prince, and Chase ascended to the throne. And the war with Kairis followed.
The last week was like a massacre surrounding the capital, Secreta.
It was a desperate situation in which even the royal guards, who were supposed to protect the king, had to leave the castle and leave the king behind. Everyone died, and even Bern, who was guarding the castle gate alone, ended up dying. All the stories that became the past for Kalian were revealed.
And Calian took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
âBut. There was something special about Secretia. It was an item that became the cause of the war.â
â Rattling.
Alan put the knife down on the table. I thought I would drop it when I heard the next words.
âIt may be difficult for you to believe, Master, but it is the axis of time.â
This time Alan closed his eyes.
When I put down the knife, I felt like my heart dropped. A confusion that had never been seen before appeared on Alanâs face.
â⦠They said it would turn back time.â
Calian couldnât believe his ears when he heard Alanâs words.
It took me a while to understand what the sound I had just heard meant. Alan, who had been looking at Calian for a while, asked.
âWhen did you come back?â
A sound of intake of breath was heard from Calianâs mouth.
Isnât this as if you know everything?
I wanted to hear an explanation right away. But Alanâs face demanded an answer. Calian, barely able to hold on to his trembling fingertips, answered in a dry voice.
âA month⦠It was a month ago. When I opened my eyes, my servant Jan was waking me up. Ten years had passed.â
Alan leaned back on the sofa. Then, without saying a word, he raised his hand and massaged his temple.
Why didnât I remember that?
Even after thinking about it all night.
It looked like he needed time to think, so Calian calmed his impatience and waited.
When Alan finally opened his mouth, it was around the time when sunlight began to shine through the window.
âHe must have already been poisoned. He must have known how the original Prince Calian would die. That is why he waited as if he knew I would come.â
Calian answered with a sad look on his face.
âThatâs right. What happened on the day I met Master⦠was not a coincidence.â
I was like a cat that had lost its mother and had lost all the energy from the first day. Alan, who was staring at Calian, said.
âAnyway, the prince was looking for me to help him on his journey, so it doesnât matter whether he knew in advance and waited for me or not. I wonât be disappointed by something like that, so donât worry about it.â
After saying that, Alan fell silent for a moment. Before I told him how I knew about the axis of time, I had something to tell Calian.
âBut there is something you need to know first, Prince.â
Calianâs head moved up and down.
I was ready to listen to everything Alan said.
âCurrently, there is only Crown Prince Chase in Secretia. Chase was originally an only son, and the queen had no children. You probably donât know that.â
Calian looked into Alanâs eyes without saying a word.
There was no emotional disturbance as Alan had feared.
âI had a vague feeling that since I was here, there would never be another Vern. I didnât know if it would be an early death or something, so I was worried about how he might have disappeared. It seems he was never born.â
âYes. I think thatâs what happened.â
It was difficult to imagine what it would feel like to have oneâs life erased. Therefore, instead of giving modest consolation, Alan only said that and Calian answered calmly.
âItâs rather fortunate.â
What can I do? Thatâs all Calian thought.
Didnât Bern already take someone elseâs life?
âSo, the original Prince Calian is dead?â
Alan asked, as if he had read who Calian had in mind. This is because the old Kalyan was still alive at this moment.
Calian shook his head.
He then answered by drawing his own head and pointing to his heart.
âI didnât know about it at first, but itâs still there. Although I think Iâll leave when the scheduled day comes.â
Memories that come to mind like answers to Kalianâs words.
I suddenly realized that it was not just a memory. The reason why I always had to ask a question to remember it was because that was the old Calianâs answer.
âItâs not that we can talk to each other, but itâs clear that we exist. However, it doesnât tell us what happened that brought me here. Old Calian may not even know.â
Alan nodded his understanding. Kalian asked, tapping his knee with his finger.
âThe axis of time. How do you know?â
âItâs not that big of a deal.â
Alan responded with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
âI visited Secretia last year. Chase called me secretly. He said that something called the axis of time had been discovered and asked for advice on it. I returned after only meeting Chase, so even if the same thing had happened in the previous time, the prince would not have known about it. I will.â
Calian opened his mouth in a dry voice.
âI see you were looking into it separately.â
âIâd like to tell you in advance in case youâre expecting anything. Unfortunately, I havenât found out anything else about him.â
âNo. I thought so. If Master had found out, I should have known.â
Alan nodded and spoke again.
âThe thing called the Axis of Time didnât seem to have been made by man, so we exchanged opinions about whether it might be a new item from Serenti.â
âArenât divine objects used by priests? They are a means of replacing divine power, and as far as I know, the sacred objects themselves have never had any other abilities.â
Due to the war between the two gods, the evil god was sealed and the god Serenti fell asleep.
Since then, the priests have not been able to display their divine powers. Therefore, the remaining divine power in Serentiâs sacred item was consumed to exercise its healing power.
âThatâs right. So in the end, only questions remain. And now I canât confirm it.â
After saying that, Alanâs hand turned towards Calian.
âA month ago, I received word that the axis of time had disappeared. It seems that they brought in a cat like this. Anyway, Chase and the prince are looking for me because of this, so brothers should be called brothers.â
Hearing that, Calian laughed a little painfully.
Alan pretended not to see it. Instead, he looked at the knife on the table and asked.
âThe day you first saw me, the prince said that what you wanted was not the throne. If so, may I ask you again what you want?â
There was no reason not to answer. Calian answered readily.
âWe were trying to prevent war.â
âThe axis of time, which was the cause of the war, has now disappeared. In that case, it would be okay to assume that war does not occur.â
Calian answered.
âWe donât know the cause. We still donât know why Plantz wanted to have the axis of time. If the cause remains, the problem will only repeat itself, so we want to find out and confirm it.â
âIs it for Chase?â
Calian looked at Alan. It was difficult to understand the intent of the question. Alan noticed this and added an explanation.
âAfter meeting Chase, I was very impressed. His personality, knowledge, and ability were all lacking. Even if all three Princes of Kairis were put together, just one Chase would not be able to do it.â
It was true a hundred times a thousand times. No matter how I explain it, I canât fully praise Chase.
âyouâre right. My brother has become an even more excellent monarch.
â âSo the 3rd prince of Kairis, whose life is on the line, will not have to worry about the great crown prince of Secretia.â â
⦠What you are saying is not to live trapped in the past . .â
Calian nodded with a calm expression.
âI gave up my desire to live in Bern the first day I came here.â
Alan sat up and pointed to the knife on the table.
âI want to ask you something . There is someone worthy. He knows more than me, and although he wonât meet me or Chase, he will meet the prince soon.â Calian, whon/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
followed Alanâs hand with his gaze, raised his head again and looked at Alan. It didnât take long for him to answer.
â âRoselita.â
Alan nodded.
A name that was now so familiar came to mind.
âThere is Cispanian.â
Prince Rosellita Kyrisâs coming-of-age ceremony.
It was a ceremony to visit Cispanianâs empty nest and announce that she had become a true royal. . And the prince who went to Rosellita said that he met the will of Sispanian.
âSo please resolve the poisonous tea problem as soon as possible. âSiegfriedâs territory, the land of the elephants, is quite far away. You need to prepare.â
Calian nodded slowly.