Early morning with the sun shining.
â Ttogak ttogak.
The sound of small shoes echoed through the wide window-filled hallway. Louise, wearing a light blue dress with purple decorations, continued walking without saying a word.
Louiseâs feet stopped shaking as she walked steadily to the end of the hallway. The guard who was blocking the door in front lowered his head.
âI was told not to let anyone in today.â
âI know this is the way to go, so tell me first.â
âsorry.â
Louise pointed to the door handle.
âDo I really need to open it with my own hands?â
âAs I told you, todayâ¦â
At that time, a sound was heard from inside the door.
âIt is done. Please take care of it.â
It was Devlan.
Devlan always showed deep sincerity and consideration only towards Louise and the deceased Deanna. Until the recent incident, Chase didnât show any major flaws. Of course, that means it was that way on the outside. Because only Devlan himself can know what he was feeling on the inside.
Anyway, since Devlanâs permission was given, the driver opened the door without blocking it any longer.
Devlan, who walked over to the sofa and sat down, greeted Louise before she could even bow.
âLong time no see.â
â⦠Yes, Your Highness.â
It was difficult to say that it was a greeting between husband and wife, but it is also true that it has been quite a long time since they have seen each other. Therefore, Louise, who only gave a short answer, sat across from Devlan.
Before long, the Chamberlain came in, put down two cups of tea, and left. Louiseâs silent eyes fell on the teacup.
âYeah. You wouldnât have come looking for me to talk to Saddam. Whatâs going on?â
âIâm here to tell you to stop.â
Louise raised her head and answered quietly.
Devlan, who had been looking at Louise for a while, shook his head with a smile and answered.
âI donât know what you mean to stop.â
âPlease stop everything your highness is doing right now.â
âI still value you, I still care about my son, and Iâm still committed to running my country. What could stop me from doing that?â
âI know that Your Highness is planning to falsely accuse the crown prince. I also know what he is trying to gain by making up various lies. His Highnessâ¦â âI donât think itâs a good
thing to hear. âI wish we were a little more cautious.â
âI watched all the people who died because of your greed. I saw how everyone, including the Queen and my family, died and how they were hidden. How many soldiers died last night. I also heard about that.â
âLouise.â
Devlan stared at Louise.
But Louise did not stop and continued talking.
âThe person who was dethroned from the position of Queen Kairis and executed was also the State Secretary of Rivern, but the person who was executed did not shed as much blood as your Highness. Your Highness is a clear criminal. So stop now.â
âstop.â
Devlan raised his hand to stop Louise.
Devlan, who was looking at Louise with a gentle face that showed no signs of anger, opened his mouth.
âI damaged my health by not suspecting that poisonous sleeping scent. If you look at it that way, it is my fault. However, that is all, so it would be better for me to stop being so forceful and go on my way. I do not want to turn my back on you or the crown prince just yet.â
âYou have already turned your back on me from the beginning. The way you chose was wrong. You have lived your life only taking ways that you should not have chosen.â
âWhat if the choice is wrong? That too is a way to live.â
Devlan laughed softly before answering.
Louise, seeing her attitude as usual, quietly reached out and picked up the teacup. And after touching the end for a moment, he said:
âIt is right to say that it was not just a way to live, but a struggle to live as a king. Your Majesty has lived a cowardly life in fear of losing your current position. Rather, please punish me properly and let Your Majesty go. âThis is my first and last request.â
âLouise. I said everything I had to say.â
Devlan, who said this, smiled a smile he had never shown to anyone other than Louise and Deanna.
ââ¦â¦ All right.â
Louise took a sip of the tea in her hand.
â Sweet.
And after putting it down, instead of getting up and leaving, he said something else with a calm face.
âThere is a detailed record of Your Majestyâs mistakes. You may have said that you hid it well, but there are records of the Queen and I who watched Your Majesty. We also wrote about Your Majestyâs condition and detailed what we are currently doing to cure it. Thatâs it. These nobles will no longer be afraid of you.â
âI know. There is no perfect secret in the world, so I always think that if we look for it, we will find evidence. However, even if they know it, the nobles cannot hold the crown princeâs hand. They do not trust whose side the crown prince will be on, so they borrow the power of the wrong people. Arenât they foolish?â
Devlan paused, thought for a moment, and then opened his mouth again.
âOtherwise, I would have to make someone new who is not of my blood as king. I wonder if those greedy people can really decide who they want to make king. They canât move like that.â
âItâs okay. From now on, you will trust the Crown Prince, not Your Highness.â
âDo you think so?â
âI also added that I would never, even if possible, take my own life. I also wrote that if something like that were to happen, it would never be my will.â
Louise looked at Devlan.
Devlan didnât speak and Louise didnât stop talking.
âIt is a fact known to everyone in the world that the Crown Prince cares about me and follows me more than anyone else. So, if I fulfill my orders here and now, the Crown Prince and His Highness will be completely separated. At that time, the nobles can also feel free to follow the Crown Prince. We will be able to join hands. Even the nobles whom you say are so foolish are people who know how to think and act. What happens when those people do not ignore your sins, but find out about your condition and decide to trust the crown prince? âIâm sure your Majesty wonât know whether it will happen or not.â
ââ¦â¦Louise.â
âmajesty.â
Louiseâs voice cracked slightly.
âYour Majesty is not the only one who can set traps. I am the same. I know how to set mine to take your life. I learned it from you.â
Devlanâs expression hardened.
Louiseâs eyes did not waver.
â⦠Just like your other son did.â
Whoops.
Something red filled up.
The dress that contained the looks in Louise and Chaseâs eyes was dyed red.
* * *
There is Zeon in Secretia.
Thanks to Zeonâs intervention, the two princes of Kairis were saved from death. It was a situation where it was impossible to know who would attack again and when. I wasnât even sure if I could survive and return to Kairis. So Calian came to the villa instead of the Secretia palace.
â Master. I would like you to come here for a moment.
â yes. Thatâs right.
And I called Alan. As always, Alan accepted Calianâs words without asking.
Of course, for Alan to come, he must not hold the position of corps commander in Balkan. He simply had to come to Allan Manasil, Prince Calianâs mentor, Marquis of Kyris and also Baron of Secretia.
It was okay up to that point. Since we didnât know that they were blind to each other anyway, I was planning to just relieve them of their positions like Arsene. That was Calianâs thoughts. It was like that until then.
â Please return to Kairis right now. His Majesty the Crown Prince earnestly requested this.
However, I received a call from Teilan.
You canât read the expression by looking at the face, but the emotions are clearly conveyed. Teilan was agitated.
â There are materials that Lady Lin brought with her. Please hide it in the villa for a moment. Please go to Kairis with the lady. Please protect us.
Something happened.
Calian looked up and saw that the Silent Membrane was still there, and then relayed Teylanâs words.
âThis is Lord Castrin. I am telling you to return to Kairis. While protecting Arianne.â
âWhatâs going on?â
Instead of answering, Calian shook his head and asked Teylan a question.
-Where is Brother Chase?
â You are here with me, but you are not in a position to talk to Prince Calian right now, so I will speak for you.
â I have trouble moving now. Please explain exactly what is happening.
â They said that there seemed to be some among the noble forces who attacked Prince Calian, so they were investigating using birds. He was also in constant contact with the Wizardsâ Associationâ¦
which was quite expected.
Chase would have fully understood the circumstances even if Calian did not tell him the exact details.
â The concubine had a private reading with Her Majesty.
The movement of my fingertips stopped. Red eyes closed.
It was short, but I understood what it meant. I understood why Louise did what she did. I wanted to curse my brain for immediately finding the reason, but Calianâs head moved steadily regardless.
Who would have reminded me of the method of intentionally drinking poison to push the other person away? Even that.
-â¦â¦ How is your condition?
â Not good. They said two to three days at most, so I donât think youâll be able to last that long. If the worst happens, you wonât be looking around anymore. I am also awaiting your orders, so I think it would be best for you, Prince, to leave Secreta as soon as possible. If youâre not careful, you could get caught up in it.
â for a moment. Lord Castrin.
I clenched and unclenched my fists.
â Iâll get back to you. Please wait.
â All right.
And I clenched my fist again.
Seeing the hand shaking, Plantzâs eyes narrowed, and Calianâs eyes quietly turned towards Plantz.
âHina⦠I need it, brother.â
With those words, Kalian, who had delivered the message, stood up.
Plantz blocked Kalian.
âYou probably donât know that if you go to the Secretia palace in this situation, neither Devlan nor Zeon will leave you alone.â
âI can stop it. I will. Besides, Master will come too, so nothing bigger than this will happen.â
âAfter I fix it. After that.â
He called Hina over and asked what he would do next after treating Louise. I wonder if I can properly protect Hina when my body is in such a state that I canât even protect myself. And with Hina nearby, Devlan, who can no longer remain calm, and Zeon, who still doesnât know where he is, by his side.
âWe havenât forgotten about Secretiaâs situation. We will take this into consideration before making any moves, so you donât have to worry.â
âIsnât Marquis Manasil going to come dressed up like a blue-haired crazy wizard?â
âyouâre right.â
âI donât know how much consideration these two nothing princes are willing to give to dragging a series of nobody wizards. âIâm saying donât take it into account and prepare.â
It meant that it was a situation that required more than just strength.
Staying safe under Alanâs protection, finding out about the attackers, helping Chase ascend to the throne, and then returning, and even Alan being in a situation where his life was in immediate danger. It was a completely different matter to mobilize and fight and then return.
âIsnât it your brother who taught me that the power of a position of responsibility is as important as the responsibility that comes with a position?â â
â¦â¦ Master . Donât you know what happens if you come here with the title of corps commander?â
Plantz had said something similar before visiting the Elven City. Of course, he had learned it from Calian, so it was not something Calian did not know. However, the problem is that the higher your position, the more responsibility you can take. The scope of action increases, but the impact of oneâs actions also increases. Thatâs why Arseneâs position has been raised and lowered as he pleases. âIt would be like that if the Marquis of Manasil, instead of me, were given the title of corps commander
. Shouldnât I be in a position to be useful as a corps commander?â
âBrother.â
Calian, who had recovered from his brief daze, looked at Plantz. Now he understood what Plantz was talking about.
To help the threatened prince. This means that the person who is threatened should have a high position, not the third party who came. If the powerless prince who came to visit for sightseeing becomes the crown prince, and the situation with Kalian is reversed overnight, no one will be able to do anything. âNo matter how much
, You say you have a bad relationship with Brother Randel, but arenât you too forgetful?â
With the two princes gone, both the Balkan corps commander and deputy corps commander are vacant. Siona will check the safety of the palace for a while, but at best she can protect Lemaineâs life. There is no other meaning other than that.
So, if the situation of Calian and Plantz, who went to the Secretia royal palace, changes even if just by chance, would Randel, who took advantage of it, stay still? To be precise, this refers to the Marquis of Gray Briesen or Tensil, who are in close contact with Randel. It was a voice.
âThatâs up to you, Your Majesty.â All
that LeMaine can do is act like a father, which he has been unable to do for a long time, and care and think. It shouldnât be difficult, right? â
Anyway, Iâm thinking of looking into Tensilâs scheme. âI thought.â
âIt wasnât like this. The Crown Princeâs position is not a position that can be raised and lowered carelessly, like changing a Balkan uniform and a princeâs uniform.â âItâs
not impossible to lower it.â
âStop talking nonsense. If youâre not careful, your brother will die. Whyâ¦â
âItâs not that Iâm going to die, it
âs that Iâm going to live.â Planz cut off Calianâs words and continued.
âDidnât my brother tell you that guarding cats is a way to live? â
ââ¦â¦ That cat wasnât that cat.â
I thought Plantz only resembled a Sispanian, but he must have had Hatsuaraâs blood mixed in with him. I can tell from the fact that he has no reason to think
about Louise . A long sigh flowed from Calianâs mouth as he tried to deal with his worries and the growing workload.
âBrother, even if you donât have to do what you wanted to avoid, you can find a way.â âI
said I wonât cause a war. this time. Then, isnât that enough?â
Plantz responded like this, stretched out his arm, and snatched the bracelet from Calianâs wrist. Plantz frowned at Calian, who couldnât respond properly to even one thing, and then took the bracelet connected to Allen. He said while infusing magical energy into it.
âI wish you, my brother who canât lie, would stop barking and just stay still
.â Looking at Calian, who had a look on his face as if he didnât know who was barking right now, Plantz raised one of his lips.
âCamilon, go get a dog. Iâll take care of your life and save you.â
Calian held his head.
* * *
Plantz took a step back.
He stood at a very small distance from Allen.
The small distance created between Calian and Allen. In between them, Alan He bowed slightly to show respect and then said,
âYour Majesty has made a decision regarding the Crown Prince. From todayâ¦â
âI know.â
Planz looked at Calian for a moment.
Calian, who was looking at Plantz with an uneasy expression, slightly lowered his head. He didnât say anything else.
Soon, Alan He walked up to Calianâs side , ostentatiously
opened his cloak, and spoke
to him
. âAre you out on a cold day like this?
â Although this was done to make it visible, the concern was sincere. Calian, who knew this, smiled and nodded. âItâs a bit hard to stand.
â
Surprisingly, it was not Alan who moved after hearing this, but Flan. It was Tsu. Planz turned his head towards the knights.
âI heard my brother is having a hard time standing. Are you planning to keep it standing?â
âNo matter how different the countries are, what kind of attitude is this towards the crown prince and prince of your country? âI wonder if weâve been treated like this this whole time.â
Alan added.
A red-robed wizard appeared in front of the palace.
Unlike when he first found Kairis, it wasnât dark now. Because of that, his unusual hair color was very visible. Anyone can tell that it is Alan Manasil.
The knight, who had been reprimanded by the suddenly appearing archmage, answered calmly. â
So I said I would take you insideâ¦â
âNot where.â
Plantz cut off the conversation. â
Itâs an annex, Prince Planz. As I said, Iâm at the palace right now.â
âNo.â
Planz, who had stopped talking again, looked around at the knights and said slowly.
âIâm thinking too briefly. My frail brother will have a hard time moving to the annex, so I think he needs another place to rest.â
Sispanian.
The power of blessing should have been a little less thoughtful. I think Iâll die of injustice, not pain.
ââ¦. .. Be patient, brother. âIâm fine.â
As Plantz, who had adapted well to his new position, spoke, Calian, who barely added a hand, leaned slightly toward Alan, who was standing next to him. His acting was partly due to the fact that he had difficulty standing up. Alan clicked his tongue slightly.
âAnd since I am visiting this palace again as the crown prince, I must say hello to His Majesty the King of Secretia. Right now.â
He said he didnât want to go to Camilon.
There was no fish out of water.
While Plantz, who had become very arrogant, continued to argue with the driver, he tried to contact Chase once again.
-â¦â¦ Calian.
And then I finally heard the answer.
Chaseâs voice finally came through.
â Iâm worried about how your body is doing.
â Itâs nothing to worry about. How is your mother?
Chase was starting to bring up his worries about Calian. Instead of saying that he was glad to see it. Calian lifted his head and said,
â Itâs not getting any worse yet. I donât know.
â Youâll be fine. So donât think about anything else, just wait a moment.
Chase didnât answer.
Calianâs head moved a little to the side. Calian, who had his eyes set on the knights of Kairis who had come with him, said as if to soothe Chase:
â I am here, with Hina.