Is it quartz, glass or diamond?
It reminded me of the red cloak full of jewel dust that Calian had once worn, but in fact, many things were different.
A multi-layered grapefruit-colored dress fluttered lightly with each step. The glitter that decorated the dress from the lower back to the hem of the dress was filled with lights and continued to shine. A single line of silver thread was embroidered to create a dress that was modest but not simple at all.
To be honest, I didnât really like the fact that the dress was a grapefruit color, but since Louise recommended it and Hina chose it, how can I complain? I just look at them with a happy and proud face and nod my head.
âAs expected, there is nothing about our Hina that is not amazing.â
Kalian, who had been crying out with his boiling heart just now looking at Planz, was gone, and now he was looking at Hina with the same eyes as a father looking at his grown child.
âHeâs already amazing, but he also has great insight.â
And thatâs it.
Plantz, who heard the whole thing because he was quite close by, reminisced about a time when it was like a storm, and tried to turn his head away from my younger brother, who looked as if it would not be strange for him to throw away all his attachments to the world and start the second chapter of his leisurely life. . Then he bowed slightly towards Devlan and opened his mouth.
âI apologize for my rude language.â
An apology that doesnât even bow its head.
Devlanâs eyes narrowed slightly as he received an apology from someone who was not even remotely sorry. If anyone saw it, it would seem that he still had some resentment left in his heart because of Hinaâs incident.
Devlan looked at Planz and Calian for a moment, then his eyes fell on Chase.
âA small crown changes a person.â
âDo you think that Crown Prince Plants and I have planned something presumptuous?â
The place where the Secretia royal family was located was separated from others at some distance. A small conversation that could not be heard by others followed.
âI want to hear your opinion on whether I should accept that apple.â
âIf you are curious about my thoughts on who made the bigger mistake, Crown Prince Planz or His Highness, I think it would be better to exchange words of apology. Wouldnât that be better than not receiving an apology from Crown Prince Planz and not receiving an apology from Your Majesty? .â
âDo you think itâs true that I made a mistake too?â
âTo go beyond your relationship and level of command and show interest in the person who would become the other personâs spouse to the point of being a burden⦠shouldnât that be a mistake?â
This means that it must have been a mistake and not intentional.
Devlan nodded and looked at Chase again.
âIt had to be a mistake. Thatâs an interesting thing to say.â
âIf it wasnât a mistake, it would be a bigger problem.â
âThen the reason you came forward was to make my actions a simple mistake. It sounds like you told me about my illness to save me from getting caught up in something bad.â
âThatâs right.â
âThank you too.â
âI hope you donât think Iâm grateful. Itâs just my gratitude for raising you like this.â
Something I hadnât planned.
Hina. And Plantz entered with Hina.
This was beyond Devlanâs expectations. variable.
Calian and Chase got along better with Plants than expected.
The corners of Devlanâs mouth went up as he realized that he had been caught in a well-prepared trap.
âYeah. I donât think so.â
âYes, father.â
After a brief exchange of pretended good intentions, Devlan turned his head and looked at Plantz.
âShould we exchange words of apology at a gathering for celebration and progress? It would be good to resolve any misunderstandings that may have arisen between us.â
âI understand. Your Highness.â
Plantz answered quietly and sat down with Hina. And Devlan talked about putting good alcohol on each table again.
Even then, the banquet hall was still quiet.
* * *
Hina set down the footrest.
Planz took his place and Kalian caught the attention.
â Isnât that right? father.
And Chase brought the finale to a close.
This is a new play that started like that.
No one had decided in advance the role of the next person. Nevertheless, everything worked together like a well-organized gear wheel.
âFor some reason, His Majesty King Secretia seemed to be coughing unusually. I think it was because he was ill. Isnât that right, President?â
âOh. I guess so. Are you in a lot of pain?â
Cocoâs mother, who was in a good mood by increasing her favorite items, and Cocoâs father, who found what was happening right now really fun, encouraged audience participation.
The confusion of those who could not be surprised to their fullest extent finally came.
ââ¦Serenti.â
I finally accepted the fact that Devlan was sick. That one story became the beginning, and all subsequent stories also became true.
âBut no matter what, he is the king. Isnât it too much that even though the king is sick, it is impossible for him to receive treatment from a Tensil healer? Itâs not even right after the war.â
âAfter the war, we kind of forgot about each other, so I came back to being a healer, but that was suddenly banned about 20 years ago. Thatâs why my relationship with Tensil is so bad now. At that time, Tensil was some kind of devil-worshipping group. âBecause it drives me like that.â
âDid it? Who? Why?â
âThat⦠when the late king of this country was seriously injured in an accident, that person over there⦠that person.â
âYou blocked Tensil Healer with your own hands and tried to bring him back this time?â
âThatâs right.â
The sound of Kairisâ knights whispering under their breath did not spread far. However, it easily caught the ears of the nobles who were sitting with them.
âI heard there were a lot of Tensil healers who tried to come here these days and got kicked out. It looks like Tensil sent them over again. Is that being generous or being a brat?â
âTry to lower your voice. You must have given something while singing. Would you have just called?â
People who are accustomed to living believing that what is shown is the truth forget how to judge and decide for themselves. The moment you accept that one claim is true, everything you hear after that also becomes unmistakable truth.
âWhat did they give me?â
âHow do I know that? They must have done behind-the-scenes dealings, whether it be money or new goods. They say they stole a lot of things from nobles here.â
Whether itâs fact or speculation.
As new stories spread silently one after another, new drinks ordered by Devlan were brought to the table.
Instead of a wine glass, a crystal glass similar to a water cup was placed.
Instead of purple wine, it contained clear brown liquor.
ââ¦Serenus.â
Calian chanted the name with a happy face. I was so happy that I almost added, âItâs been a while since Iâve seen you.â
Serenus.
This, with its grand meaning of âa gift imbued with Serentiâs blessing,â was the name of the liquor brewed in Secretia. If Kairis has Himolica and Sizlinu, Secretia has Basilica and Serenus.
Serenus had a deep aroma, rich taste, and high alcohol content.
That means it was Bernâs favorite drink. However, Bern didnât enjoy it very much, but there were no particular reasons. This is because Bern thought of this precious liquor, which was difficult to find in most bars in the capital city of Secreta and was only sparingly consumed by nobles, as something to get drunk quickly. Since Chase himself was a huge lover, he had no choice but to take the precious Serenus from Bernâs hands so that it would not be wasted.
âThatâs fun.â
As for Devlan, who told him to bring it out, Calian took a sip without any doubt and spoke in a whisper.
Kyrie turned her head after hearing Calianâs very small voice. Calian answered with questioning eyes.
âSerenus on a day like this. I feel a little strange.â
âWhatâs strange?â
âIt was the drink I drank on an unforgettable day.â
Calian responded in a quieter voice and laughed. He then handed the bottle to Ayla, who was sitting across from him, and said.
âAila.â
âyes.â
âI like this.â
Still sometimes I canât get used to it.
Calian didnât say anything about himself, but everyone already knew about him. Ayla answered while trying to get used to seeing Calian like that again.
âyes I like it.â
Calianâs head moved up and down. And then he poured the drink directly into Ailaâs glass.
âIs it okay to drink like this? Itâs a new drink.â
âWhy? Are you afraid that I will give you alcohol that will burn you if you drink it?â
âBecause I donât trust anyone other than the prince.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Devlanâs new drink.
I wonder if there was poison in it or not. I wonder if I will get sick or not. Ayla was worried about that.
âItâs okay. I brought it out to see who would be suspicious and who would not.â
Could it be possible that poison was added?
Itâs just a drink I brought out to see which of the nobles attending this event might have changed their minds or have questions about Devlan in their minds.
âWe donât care, just drink it.â
âyes.â
Aila, who didnât leave any doubts about Calianâs words that it was okay, drank all of that good liquor in one go. And with a very satisfied face, he nodded, savoring the lingering scent of Serenus.
âItâs delicious. Itâs been a while.â
âI see. Itâs been a while.â
Calian laughed.
The day Devlan left the world. The drink I drank after hearing about Ailaâs death. I think itâs fun because Devlan prepared it himself this time.
As I was immersed in that fun lingering mood for a moment, the blue-haired wizard next to me intervened.
âPrince. Itâs been a while since I returned from the Seneu River at the hands of an assassin. Drinking alcohol⦠Itâs good. Drink as much as you want to soothe any remaining poison when you get tired of drinking.â
I guess I was overly worried about Kalian.
Arsene, who saw the ruby-like eyes of the person looking at him with the expression on his face as if the meat he was eating had been stolen, quickly smiled and changed what he was saying. To be precise, I extended my lifespan on my own.
Calian nodded and took a sip of Serenus with a relaxed look again. Of course, I didnât forget to get rid of the intoxication. Because you canât get drunk now.
â Devlan did not invite Arianne to this event. Whether he was planning to attack the Marquis of Lynn or raise questions about Arianne, he would have prepared a move that he couldnât stop. They probably tried to make him a weak crown prince who couldnât even protect his fiancéâs family. So, we should not even allow that number to be revealed at all.
â I think so too. I was prepared.
â Fortunately, the. Well done!
I praised Hina and had a nonsensical conversation with Arsene. As the leisurely moments I created on purpose continued to come and go, I continued to speak to Chase in my mind.
â Here we are talking about assassins and poison. Questions also emerged about the relationship between Devlan and Tensil. So, brother, you must not show any suspicion or concern about Devlan.
As Calianâs words were conveyed, Chase, who was sitting far away, raised his hand and swallowed a sip of Serenus just like Calian. With that, Chaseâs answer came.
â Can I just eat well and not worry?
â yes. Drink some alcohol and some water. Itâs a good idea to taste all the food at least once. And donât forget to smile. However, please do not talk any more to Devlan. You are not afraid or worried about Devlan, but you must appear to be constantly on guard, as if you are not friendly with him. Donât forget that everything you show me now is the noblesâ first impression.
â okay. Donât forget.
Chase has a good understanding of the situation, but his behavior does not. Isnât Devlan faster than anyone else here, followed by Kalian?
â Drurk!
Soon Kalyan stood up.
The slightly loud sound of the chair made other peopleâs eyes turn to Calian once again.
âI heard that while I was distracted, my brother, His Majesty, was very disappointed.â
My brother, my weak-hearted brother, must have been so disappointed that he committed suicide in the area where the nobles lived that night.
Plantz, who had put his idiotic personality to good use out of necessity, frowned. To others, it probably seemed like âthe crown princeâs irritation as he remembered the disappointment of that timeâ, but in Calianâs eyes, it looked a little different.
âWhy is my brother trying to sell me again?â
If you interpret it that way, it would be correct.
Either that or not. The still loud sound echoed through the hall again.
âThatâs why I take this opportunityâ¦â
Calian paused for a moment and poured a drink into his own glass.
A brilliant sound resonates throughout the hall, and the light from the magic lantern shines on the beautifully poured glass of wine.
âI would like to hand over congratulatory wine directly to my dear brother, Crown Prince Plants of Kairis. Would that be okay?â
Calian, holding a drink in his hand, looked around at everyone and smiled sweetly.
He created an appearance that made people forget that offering a toast before the king, Devlan, was another form of rudeness. A beautiful smile that could not help but attract anyoneâs attention was drawn on the lips, which had become as red as the blood of a pigeon upon contact with alcohol.
Devlanâs new drink was put in everyoneâs glass.
The nobles did not object and Devlan could not object.
As if he had completely forgotten about the broken knife, Kalyan began his congratulatory speech filled with only sincerity. As Calian, who briefly took on the role of the younger brother in âReally Good Brothersâ, continued, the nobles looked satisfied and Plantzâs face looked like he was chewing on coco shit. Of course, Calian didnât care.
By the time the long greetings were over, the worries about the poison that might have been in the new drink had completely disappeared from everyoneâs minds. So everyone raised their glasses.
âBrother, you too, please have a drink. Itâs a nice day.â
ââ¦â¦ okay.â
Everyone drank a new drink so that no one could tell which noble had different feelings due to the variables created by Plantz.
Calian, who had put his flowery beauty to good use for the first time in a long time, looked at Devlan.
âIsnât it a truly pleasant night, Your Highness?â
And smiled brightly.
Since ancient times, it has been said that the more beauty you have, the better.