came out of the Kingâs office.
I went down the stairs and came out of the main palace. After looking at the begonia garden where red flowers were in full bloom for a while, I turned around. I didnât pass by the begonia garden, nor did I pass by the beautiful fountain and neat maze of garden corridors. That place belonged to the king, so anyone who was not permitted by the king to walk there could not go out of the palace through that road.
The knights of the royal palace were standing here and there.
As we approached him, all the knights turned their backs on Devlan. It was one of the laws of the knights to let them know that when a new king came to power through a method other than death or abdication, they would no longer look upon the previous lord.
I passed in front of the first annex behind the main palace.
All the curtains in the annex were drawn. Devlan noticed that all the curtains were black, and a long smile appeared on his lips.
When I left the back gate of the palace in silence.
âYour Majesty the King.â
There was only one person approaching Devlan, who had everyoneâs back turned. A person wearing a black leather suit with sea-colored hair tied up. It was Aila.
It wasnât a name, but Devlan turned his head at the unfamiliar title. Ayla looked at Devlanâs locked eyes for a moment, then walked slowly without even lowering her head. Teilan did not stop Aela.
âWere you planning to say hello to me even if it was something you couldnât say?â
âI plan to hand over what I couldnât return.â
Eila said this and slowly moved her hands.
Ailaâs hand was gently lifted and touched her sea-colored hair. Aila, who was slowly running her hand through her long, tied up hair, placed her hand on the beautiful hairpin that held her hair in place.
Teilan still did not stop the action and just watched silently as Aela, who had pulled out the hairpin, took a step in front of Devlan.
Eila, who spoke calmly, walked in front of Devlan again and handed him the hairpin filled with deadly poison.
âIs that what you couldnât give me?â
âThatâs right.â
âYour new owner will not feel at ease if he finds out that you came to me on your own and gave me something like this.â
âYou donât have to worry. I told you to come back.â
Devlan accepted it without hesitation.
After staring at it for a while, a sleepy laugh came out of the mouth.
âYour new master is truly thoughtful.â
In the abyss, you cannot hurt yourself.
You canât strangle yourself or stab a blunt blade made by scraping and grinding a stone wall into your heart. It is impossible to swallow the deadly poison inside the water droplet headdress.
Either they refuse the food sent down to them and die from dryness, or they spend little by little and become worn out and die. That is the only place allowed.
âCalian.â
So is this an opportunity you are giving?
Or is it a terrible curse from you?
Devlan couldnât bear to stab it down his throat right here. I just looked down at the hairpin while holding it in my hand and put it in my jacket pocket.
âItâs a curse.â
A curse that tells me to look back on this moment until the last moment because the person who so easily broke other peopleâs lives regretted my own life so much. A curse that forces a person who has never regretted anything until now to close his eyes in this terrible contradiction, only regretting the fact that he did not end his life.
It was a gift from Calian, who had emptied Aelaâs hand when she had asked to say her last words to Devlan.
Aila, who had given a gift that was neither an opportunity nor a curse, turned around as if she had no more regrets. I moved away from Devlan. To the place where the real owner is who will give you a new hairpin that you can show to anyone else regardless.
Devlan looked at it for a moment and then took a step again.
Since the sinner could only walk on his own two feet, Devlan, who could not ride on a horse or a carriage, simply walked. Without thinking about why the knights turned their backs on him, why the curtains in the annex were black, or why the nobles spat out his name as if they were spitting out his name.
â Is it okay to be disheveled? Itâs the day your world ends.
Step by step, stopping a few times. I just walked, trying hard not to remember Calianâs words that all of this was a tomb created by Devlanâs own hands. The wind at the end of those steps was so strong that I was hit and hit by such a strong wind. The end of my steps become a little blurry.
In front of the place where the end of the disorder has been reached.
Devlan stopped once more and laughed. no. I didnât laugh. I couldnât laugh.
I took a step.
In the end, I left behind Teilan, who didnât say anything, and left behind an empty land where no one would visit anymore.
â â¦â¦ Clap!
Into the darkness that I can never escape from again.
To hell.
* * *
He wore a pure white shirt.
He wore a long navy blue jacket embroidered with white thread and black pants. The thick white cloak, embroidered with black thread and lined with black, was worn without change. The black cravat that replaced the tie was fastened with platinum jewelry containing pale amethyst. Two light purple amethysts swayed at the end of the chain that fastened the cloak. I neatly combed my hair, which had grown a little longer in the past few months since I cut it.
I left the deserted room with black bedding and monotonous furniture. Then he stopped for a moment.
âmother.â
We never said anything different.
Who did you think of? Louise, who was standing wearing a beautiful light purple dress, nodded slightly and said many words.
Just like any other day, Chase held out one arm. Louise put her hand on his arm. And we walked together.
I went down the stairs and came out of the main palace. After letting Louise ride in a small white carriage decorated with platinum, Chase got on a silver-gray horse that had followed Verne best in her memories, but no longer did.
The knights of the royal palace were standing here and there.
The knights lined up from the main palace to the main gate of the palace and stood facing the path Chase would walk. The knights who were standing on their heels all bowed down when Chaseâs horse took a step. He placed one knee on the floor, placed his right hand over his heart, and raised a chivalrous salute to the King.
passed between them.
I passed through a begonia garden with sparsely blooming red flowers, a beautiful fountain, and a neat maze garden corridor.
I left the main gate of the palace and headed to the square.
I climb up onto the low platform and close my eyes for a moment.
The sound of a flag fluttering in the wind, the sound of a bird chirping, the sound of a tree branch gently moving to the side, the sound of a sneeze being suppressed, and the sound of thin armor clattering.
Many people heard the sound of living breathing.
âGood King. Devlan⦠Forget about it now.â
I opened my eyes.
I looked at everyone in this place who gave me so many sounds. I captured this square in my head that I will never forget until the day I die.
He said while looking at each and every face of those gathered.
âI will leave it up to me to reflect on the past and be on guard. In this way, only I will remember and not forget.â
I didnât say anything big.
I just made a promise.
He said that he would punish those who had things they should not have, and that he would return them to those who had been taken from them. He said he would apologize on behalf of the criminals to those who could not turn back. They said that even if they raise the birds again, they will not be forced to make their choice.
He said he would not treat anyone as if they were dead. He said he would not erase anyone.
âForget them all. Forget them all and live again. Just like any other day.â
So now I told everyone to go back to their lives and live their normal lives.
The sound of breathing becomes louder.
The mouth that was tightly closed opens.
The sound of someone welcoming a new king resonates through the Secretariat.
Until Chase went down the stage, in front of all those people, until he looked into the sunset-colored eyes of the person who ran without realizing it, until he quietly wrapped his small hand, which was turning pale from how much strength he was exerting.
âWhy were you so worried Arianne? You said you would come back safely.â
Until now, a small smile appears on the lips of the king who kept his promise.
Cheers rang out.
* * *
That winter.
The day the rain stopped and a cold wind blew.
Chase Dullahan Secretia was restored to the throne.
Since it was only the current kingâs responsibility to remember the late king, the others steadily erased all traces of Devlan. The remaining knights and servants of Devlan moved out of Secreta. The office, where all traces of Devlan had disappeared, was now filled with Chaseâs.
â Just leave the Kingâs bedroom empty. I will continue to use the original location for the time being.
Calian never met Chase.
It would be correct to say that we never met. Because it was not a particularly good time for the stranger from Kairis to stay in the royal palace of Secretia again. However, Calian allowed people other than Alan to continue to stay in Secretia. It was to prepare for possible problems.
The nobles who had gathered in Secreta to pressure Devlan returned to their respective territories. Of course, on the way back after they had completed their duties, Alan also had a hard time. I thought maybe Adelia would come back, but that wasnât the case.
The day Calian visited the Secretia palace, the garden where Devlan had kept Chase for a long time also changed. Although the garden was not destroyed, Chase had a large spruce tree planted in the middle of the garden. It was a tree that looked very similar to one that was planted somewhere in the Kairis Palace.
After many things were put back in place or vacated and replaced with new ones, Chase announced to the royal families of each country that the owner of the throne had changed. And preparations for the coronation ceremony began.
Time passed as so many things happened.
One day, a few days later, the thin moon filled up and then became thin again.
â It hurts. your brother
â It hurts. What do you mean suddenly?
Itâs been such a long day since I returned from the drizzling rain.
He smiled and ate well, trained with Kirie, carefully checked to see if Hina was cold, and joked with Euria while trying to break Arseneâs hair when he asked her to break just one spoon. Now, when I look at Coco, who can swim well in the water, I think of Lucy and Anne. On an ordinary day when I had a normal conversation with Aila.
â Because it rained that day.
Kalyan suddenly caught a cold.
I had a severe fever.
Chase did not immediately respond to Plantzâs words after taking Calianâs ring. Not because of Plantzâs habit of speaking, who said he would not raise his voice yet since he is not officially the king until the coronation ceremony, but because of the words that were conveyed.
â â¦â¦ Is that so.
â I think it would be a good idea to check.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
It took quite a while for an answer to come.
The answer that came back was not very long.
â All right.
After a short conversation with Chase, Plantz sighed.
After standing in front of the door for a while, I heard Chaseâs voice again.
â Has confirmed.
â What is it like?
â Fix it⦠I told you.
That damn little brother took everything he cared about and sold it. How did I know that the shadow that held me back had passed away? The fever rose. I was really sick.
-Thank you for telling me. Crown Prince Planz.
â itâs not me.
-Whoever it is. What I told you is true.
â itâs okay.
At least Plantz knew how Chase and Calian were feeling right now. The two didnât need comfort right now. I know that the time to quietly empty my mind is just passing by.
So Plantz said no more to Chase. After cutting off the ringâs magic, he simply told no one to enter Calianâs room, where he was lying quietly with his eyes closed.
âItâs better to just leave it alone.â
To Hina too.
After that, Plantz spent the days waiting for Kalianâs visit. So that I can suffer with peace of mind, even just for a short time, when the remnants of the person who was taken out of the abyss from which I was told that I could not come out even in life or death turn into sparks and disappear.
Just like Kalian did when Planz did it.
â Tick tock tick tock.
When you get used to the sound of the clock sounding louder at these times.
âWhy are you here? Youâre not sleeping.â
Kalian, who had been ill all night, opened his eyes.
âIt just so happened.â
âYou can stop worrying.â
âI didnât.â
âyes.â
He said to the pale crown prince who was standing blankly in front of the door that he was sick, and asked,
âCould you please call Aila?â
I asked for this.
Plantz just nodded his head and went out.
Calian just looked at Eila, who came to visit not long after, for a long time. I didnât say anything and just looked at him helplessly.
âThank goodness, Aila.â
And then he laughed again.
* * *
All the begonias in the large garden have died.
Sometimes it rained and very rarely it snowed. The days continued as I spent idle time sitting in front of the fireplace.
A long time has passed since the injured shoulder has completely healed.
A long time has passed since I emptied my stomach.
âAww.â
âMiowong.â
Plantz, who had been forcibly banned from crossing his legs again for a long time, stroked the two cats with a familiar touch.
â When Anne grows up, there will be a fight.
Anne, who grew up to resemble Lucyâs personality, also liked sitting on Plantzâs lap.
Since Anne was still smaller than Lucy, it was not difficult to place them both on Plantzâs lap. However, Calian said that if it gets bigger, there will probably be a fight.
Why would there be a fight?
Just put them both up.
â How much the cats love you. It would be really fun if people outside the royal palace knew about this.
The guy who played the biggest part in making me known as a proper bastard barked that day too. The smart mind never forgot what his younger brother barked, so while spending time peacefully with the cats, Planz frowned for a moment when he remembered what Calian had said a little while ago.
â⦠You bark so well. My brother.â
The two cats, who had heard the complaints that were clearly muttering to themselves, looked at Plants with wide eyes and then laid down again. Plantz, who had left his knees to the catsâ body temperature, which was warmer than the fireplace, turned his head. Outside the window, countless stars were visible on the dark, distant sea.
So, I was still in Secretia.
Since the plan was to stay in Secretia until the winter had passed and spring had come, Alan took the two cats, who would faint whenever they heard Planzâs voice, and take them there. So Plants watched Anne grow up safely throughout the winter.
and.
âWhere has our prince gone again?â
âOutside.â
âWhere outside?â
âocean.â
âDid you go alone?â
âEven those who will have a coronation ceremony tomorrow.â
The baby elephant followed the cat.
Because he forgot his duties as a servant whenever he left the palace, Jan had been using Planz as a Calian location tracker these days.
Yan, who looked at the crown prince, a fool who didnât care whether that was the case or not, opened his mouth.
âEveryone is outside right now. Would you like to come out?â
âwhy.â
âThey said they were going to take a look. Everyone together.â
At those words, Plantz, who was looking out the window once again, was about to say, âI donât like it because itâs cold,â but then closed his mouth. And then he said something shorter.
âokay.â
Yan, who looked a little surprised at this answer for a moment, nodded.
âYes. Then I will prepare another cup of tea.â
âokay.â
Jan, who showed something that I couldnât tell if it was a greeting or a neck movement, went out first, and then Planz carefully picked up Anne. Now, Anne had not forgotten that her waist had begun to stretch, so she slightly supported her buttocks and laid down next to the sofa. After that, Lucy was moved with the same touch.
After that, he got up and put on the dark purple cloak that Alan had sent him.
As I stand up, my eyes turn out the window without me realizing it.
The white stars that filled the distant sea were shining brighter than any other day. After thinking about that for a while, I went outside.
And another person who looked at the sky.
â Shootâ¦
Calian took a deep breath.
âI wonder if it came sooner than I thought, and sometimes it came too late. Thatâs right.â
Chase smiled softly and looked around at the salty-smelling voice.
âItâs still the same.â
âYes. Itâs still the same.â
A place full of pure white sand.
There is a tree house that is a little bigger than what I remember. A place where there is a small rock.
I came to the sea. now.
âBrother, shouldnât you rest early today? Youâll be tired tomorrow.â
âYouâre still young.â
Calian laughed for a moment after hearing the light answer.
âMaster wanted to come tomorrow, but he said it would probably be busy, so I told him to just stay at Kairis. I was afraid he might be disappointed.â
âThey say so many people will come from Kairis. Is there anything to be disappointed about?â
âStill.â
âBut it will be more crowded than before. Thatâs okay.â
âYes. I guess thatâs true.â
Chaseâs coronation ceremony.
I came here only a day before the coronation ceremony.
Itâs not that we donât have time or that we canât pay attention to each other, itâs just that. I had decided to visit this place on this day, as if I had made a promise.
Chase, who took out the watch in his pocket and checked the time, tilted his head.
âThatâs strange. Wasnât it today?â
âWell, me too. Itâs such a rare day that I canât remember.â
âEven if itâs not today, letâs celebrate.â
Calian nodded, still smiling.
The conversation between the two brothers continued, telling various stories.
â Sarahâ¦â¦.
A blue light began to fall from the sky.
Eventually, there was one more light, and then another.
A blue light lighter than a feather fades away.
It came down like snowflakes.
Calian, who was looking at it, raised his head towards the sky. I looked at the blue light pouring down like that and closed my eyes for a moment.
âHappy Birthday.â
A night with endless blue light.
Serenity time.
ââ¦â¦ My little brother.â
Bern smiled as he watched his older brother congratulating him with a title that would not change no matter what changed as he pondered what name to call him.
âthank you.â
Bern quietly opened his eyes and looked at Chase.
âAs I will tell you tomorrow, congratulations on your coronation ceremony, brother.â
âokay.â
Chase nodded.
Such a chase, once again, the blue light coming down the undulating sea. Bern, who was watching, stood facing Chase.
I bowed my back.
As if taking out something that was stored deep inside and showing it to you.
âPlease. May you remain a good king for a long time.â
I repeated what I once said.
On a night when blue light fell.
Dear Chase, Verne.