Chapter 344

A little before Calian came to his senses.

“Niaong……”

The only place without flowers in a garden full of flower scent. A place where a large tree was planted instead of flowers everywhere.

I passed through a garden of red flowers whose names I still didn’t know, and sat on a bench under a large tree whose name I still didn’t know. I didn’t know how long I had been there, but before I knew it, two cats came to visit.

– A rattle.

He was holding in his mouth the bell that Calian had brought with him from the elf village.

When he took out the bell and the letter from Kalian’s pocket and looked at it, he hid the letter and took out the bell, but it seems he came out with it in his mouth. I don’t like loud things, but was the bell okay or was it surprising? Plantz called out to the approaching cat, spreading its tinkling sound everywhere.

“Lucy.”

Lucy walked quietly and placed the bell in her mouth on the floor. And then he responded with a hug. I was about to ask what would happen if I put the bell down there, but another guy whose name wasn’t called drew my attention by pressing himself at my feet. So I quietly stretched out my hand and hugged Anne. You can pick up the dropped drops a little later.

Anne, held in her arms, made a beautiful meow sound.

“I said you can’t come out here without permission.”

“Meow.”

As if she understood what he said, Anne blinked her big eyes a few times and then rolled her body. Lucy, who had completely forgotten about the bell she had just put down, jumped up onto the bench where Plantz was sitting. Then, it put its hands and feet under its body, lied down, and flicked its tail. Plantz put his free hand on Lucy’s back and quietly opened his mouth.

It was a sunny day and full of shade from the trees, so it wouldn’t be unusual to talk to the two cats.

“Lucy. The door was closed. How did you get out?”

“Meong.”

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to come out because I gained so much weight.”

“Aow!”

“My stomach is round. Whatever.”

“Aeowong!”

Is it Lucy, Anne, or both?

Also, it gives off a fragrant smell, as if you got something delicious from there. That somehow made me laugh.

“Don’t eat anything.”

“Aeowong.”

“Meow.”

Cats are surprisingly delicate creatures.

Normally, he will curl up arbitrarily on the documents he is looking at as if he doesn’t care about the people around him at all, or he will suddenly grab the pen and ruin the documents. It approaches when it is convenient, stays there making a loud noise, and then at some point, it quickly walks away as if it has no regrets.

But even so, on such a complicated day, how do you know and don’t even think about falling by his side? Just like I did when looking at Heisia Palace. And even now.

“Even if it’s frustrating, just stay for a little while.”

He stopped stroking Anne and clenched and unclenched his fist for a moment.

This is because, in addition to the two cats that don’t bark and are nice, there is a black cat that barks a lot and is not very nice.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Aeong……”

“Okay. When you wake up.”

That black cat has stronger claws than anyone else, but only knows how to use those great claws to gnaw away its own flesh.

Anyway, Kalian doesn’t talk nonsense.

He said he would just dig up Danu roots and meet Serenti, but it looks like he was really thinking about meeting her. I could tell what had happened and I didn’t know why. So there was no way to hold on to anyone and blame them.

– Jeopuk.

When I brought my hand, which had become as heavy as my frustrated heart, to Anne again, I heard the sound of footsteps. Anne, who was happily falling asleep, pricked her ears, and Lucy, who had been lying on her stomach, raised her head. When Plantz, who took his eyes off the back of his hand, turned his head, the long shadow of a tall person was suddenly drawn towards Plantz.

A person who would never come to visit Plants separately. A person who will never leave Kalian’s side, especially in times like now. It was Kirie.

“…… why.”

Plantz, who had lowered his head for a moment as if looking at Anne, looked at Kirie. Kirie, who came to Plantz with a small piece of paper in her hand, gave a simple bow and took a step closer.

“I have come to deliver a letter addressed to you, Crown Prince.”

Yan kicked out Kyrie, who had been by Calian’s side all this time.

He said it was time to get up soon, so I sent him away telling him to go and rest. When I came out of Calian’s room thanks to the forced rest, one of the palace servants called Kyrie. And Kairis delivered a letter addressed to Plantz through Jeon Seo-eung.

Alan is the only one who knows that the group is staying at a villa rather than the Secretia Palace. And Alan wouldn’t have bothered to tell that to anyone else. There was no benefit in letting people know that the crown prince and prince were staying in a villa that was less secure than the royal palace.

An unknown person staying at the villa sent a letter to the royal palace of Secretia, and Planz happened to be back at the royal palace at the time. It didn’t take much longer before I received the letter.

“It was sent from the King Kairis Palace. Relic was still at the villa, so I inspected it, but I did not look at the contents.”

“okay.”

Plantz nodded and reached out to take the letter.

Since she was not in a good position to swing a sword and, as Yan said, she needed to rest, Kyrie just bowed her head without saying anything else, such as offering to help her practice swordsmanship on Calian’s behalf. Then I turned around and took a step forward.

– A rattle.

The drop that Lucy brought with her mouth.

He put it down on the floor, saying he would answer Plantz. I couldn’t pick it up right away because Anne was begging me to hug it.

The bell hit Kirie’s foot lightly and made a sound.

Kyrie’s gaze turned to her feet.

Plantz’s eyes turned to Kyrie.

Kirie bent down and picked up the bell.

– A rattle.

The sound rang again.

The cats looked at Kyrie. Plantz looked down at the cat. Kyrie looked at Planz.

Light green eyes turned to Kyrie.

Once with black eyes, once with blue eyes, and once again with black eyes. I looked at the eyes of different colors in turn for a while.

“Kiri.”

I called Kirie over to tell her what I didn’t want to say until I confirmed it exactly.

What did Brisen do to Kirie and Hina’s parents? In fact, I was already convinced of it long ago. I just put it off with the meaningless excuse of wanting to check it one more time through Siona’s mouth.

– Jingle, jingle.

Kyrie took two steps closer.

The bell rang twice.

-Tap!

Kyrie put it down on the bench. Lucy, seeing something familiar, put her front paw towards it again, but Plantz’s hands were a little faster.

Plantz, who picked up the bell, blinked slowly once, twice, three times and then opened his mouth.

“This.”

“I do not know.”

Same time.

Calian did not see Kyrie visit Plantz. Without knowing that Hina, who was sitting next to Kalyan, was talking about ‘knowing’.

“I don’t know. Now.”

Kirie first answered that she didn’t know about the bell either.

* * *

‘Twinkle.’

The sunlight sparkled and the clothes were like flower petals.

‘Hina. ‘Is the sun shining?’

‘No people. It looks shiny and cheerful.’

One day when it was completely warm after a long winter, the view of the street outside the window was truly a spring day.

‘Is there blueberry ice cream too?’

‘There will also be blueberry ice cream.’

‘Then what color is it? curious.’

‘It’s probably light blue, hina. ‘Because blueberries are blue.’

‘I guess so. If you go to the palace, you can see something like that, right? Even if you can’t eat it. right.’

‘okay.’

It was a good day, a day when everyone looked down at the laundry that was hanging out. The day I was able to eat strawberry ice cream for the second time.

It was Hina’s first spring.

So we didn’t talk about it. I couldn’t talk about it because I didn’t want to ruin the sparkling spring.

After meeting Calian and entering the palace with Hina, Kirie was so excited by the news that Hina would do the right thing and that she would be able to learn how to use a sword, that even Kirie could not think deeply about it.

Whose son is Kalyan?

And whose brother is it?

Whose son is this bad guy who drinks alcohol? Which family lineage is it from? What did that family do? He did not mention that he realized the connection, which he himself had not immediately thought of, only after Calian returned.

So I decided not to talk forever.

‘I almost got into big trouble today while my brother and the gentle prince went hunting.’

‘why. ‘What happened?’

‘The cat entered the rose garden. ‘I didn’t want to lose it, so I went in to get the cat, but there was a scary prince there.’

‘Why did you go there? ‘I should have waited.’

‘I couldn’t help it. Even the determined maid was away.’

‘So what happened? ‘Aren’t you scolded?’

‘The second prince helped me.’

‘…… why?’

‘I don’t know. He appeared out of nowhere and helped me.’

‘okay.’

‘He’s not a bad person.’

‘Hina.’

‘The kind prince said that. He’s a bad person. No, bad person. ‘He’s a good person.’

I decided that I had to let them know that that couldn’t be possible. It’s not that I want to prevent them from building friendships, but I’m afraid that Hina might get hurt if I give her trust too hastily.

‘Hina. I have something to tell you.’

A letter left by Kirie’s mother.

And a letter containing words to say to Kirie, who has grown up a little more.

A letter given by an elf who had been asked to deliver a letter by someone who was very pretty. The stories written therein.

– A jingle…

The thing attached to the tip of the elf’s sword.

Kirie, who has bright ears, even hears the sound of bells that she will never forget.

I told everything to Hina.

‘I see.’

And Hina.

‘I guess that’s why he became such a good person.’

do.

I laughed.

* * *

Now I finally know why.

I found out why Kyrie was at that gambling house.

If you stay there, you’ll be able to meet Evan someday. If I hold on there, I’ll be able to stab Evan.

I also learned why he showed murderous intent towards Plantz, which is difficult to explain simply because he was doing it for Kalian. Kyrie also knew what Evan had done to Whitlin and what he had done to Whitlin’s husband.

“I didn’t know again. I.”

I didn’t know again.

I didn’t know that Kirie’s insides were being torn apart like the forest in the royal palace, and I didn’t realize it even though I was reflecting on it so much. I didn’t know that it was holding something bigger than that.

Kirie and Hina too.

– I didn’t want the kind prince and the good crown prince to know. Even if you know later. I wanted to know later when we were all a little more adults. So I didn’t talk about it. I told you so not to show it to your brother.

Calian nodded quietly.

Hina continued.

– I always lived my life to the best of my ability. But now, I don’t want to assume things I don’t know and conclude that the time I lived was more unfortunate and feel unfair and regretful. Of course, I might have lived happier if my parents were there. I may have experienced less hardship, cried less, grown taller, and maybe I haven’t forgotten how to speak up.

Hina was right.

If Evan had not happened, Hina would have lived a little differently. Maybe very much differently. I would have lived a very different life than I do now.

– I don’t know because I don’t know. Because it never happened. It is very unfortunate to arbitrarily assume that you will be more unhappy now based on something that never happened. I think I lived really hard and well. I just want to live like that from now on.

Hina was alive in and of herself.

It was Kalian’s life, light and reason, but even if you take that away, even if you take away the warmth that was conveyed, it’s already there.

– A caring prince is just a caring prince, a good crown prince is just a good crown prince, and I just treat myself as me and my brother as my oppa. I’ll just live my life thinking like that. I hope you two don’t force yourself to live in misery by bringing this up to this point.

Hina had already lived a full life.

“Our Hina is all grown up.”

So Kalyan said this without even realizing it.

Hina had already gotten used to being treated like an amazing child or grandchild, so she nodded without realizing it. Then he suddenly raised his head and furrowed his eyebrows. So Kalyan also made a sad face.

– It will be bigger.

ah.

I don’t think that’s the problem.

They don’t seem to have any problems with being treated like children or grandchildren. I guess I got so used to it that I just passed by.

Calian burst out laughing again as if it was fun, and after a while, he opened his mouth.

“Okay. Now go and rest. Eat something delicious, sleep, and get a good rest. You worked hard.”

Hina nodded and stood up. And I absolutely say no to bananas, tangerines, strawberries, milk, and especially meat. He grabbed not only Kalian but also Jan, who had just entered the room, and made a request once again. After that, he cruelly snatched a banana that Yan had hidden behind his back, scolded him, and then went out.

Calian sighed heavily and looked outside the window.

A person, two cats, and a tall man can be seen sitting under the spruce tree, which bears a striking resemblance to the one planted in front of the Senyu Pavilion in the King Kairis Palace. It seemed like they were having a conversation, so I looked at the scene silently, and then I heard Jan’s voice.

“It was taken away.”

Jan turned Calian’s gaze in a tone that said there was nothing to regret and walked towards the bed. And Kalian smoothed out the wrinkles in the blanket that was covering him.

“You didn’t have any intention of secretly bringing it back.”

I intentionally came in when Hina was there so I could come in after she left. Thanks to you, Kalian can no longer hide just one banana and ask you to bring it to him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

It’s blunt.

Normally, he would have cried and said that our prince got hurt again, that he found a banana as soon as he opened his eyes, but what should I do because I couldn’t give him that, and that he would go out again and hide it somehow, but this time was different.

Because I got hurt again.

Even though I told him to be careful and not get hurt.

“yarn.”

“why.”

I’m hungry, but I can’t even eat a banana, and as soon as I get scolded by Hina, I get scolded by Jan.

They told me to keep it a secret from their father, or else Danu’s roots would be uprooted. If Danu’s roots were uprooted, the whole Kairis farm would be ruined. If Plantz hadn’t kept his mouth shut like this, even Alan would have scolded him.

“Ah… what should I do?”

Calian, holding his forehead, made a groaning sound.

It’s true that I did something wrong, so I can’t even say that it’s unfair, and I only worry more about what to do about it.

“yarn.”

“yes.”

“Please take my pocket.”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

Jan answered calmly and went out of the room instead of opening Calian’s closet. And not long after, he returned carrying a black wizard’s pouch.

Calian, ignoring the thought that Planz might have taken it while he was asleep and checked it in his room, accepted the bag. And without being hasty, I searched through it a few times, took out something, and handed it to Jan.

“receive.”

“What is it?”

“gift.”

“What gift?”

It was something I bought while stopping by on my way to eat cod.

One hairpin for Aila and one gift for Jan.

It may not be as much as the one I gave to Randel, but I still planned to package it nicely and give it to Jan on the right date, but I felt like there was nothing I could do to make Jan feel better right now, so I took it out.

“It’s your birthday. Soon.”

Calian opened his mouth again towards Yan, who was looking down at the silver square in his hand.

“Do you know what it is?”

“Harmonica… yo.”

It was a harmonica.

Breathe in and breathe out.

An instrument that produces sounds and music simply by breathing. An instrument that gives melody to your breathing.

I learned it because I liked the fact that all you had to do was breathe without having to practice how to make sounds or learn how to move your hands. It was the only instrument that Bern knew how to play properly.

“I know. Do you even know how to handle it?”

“No. This is my first time catching one.”

“I’ll teach you. I’ll teach you until you learn everything and play well.”

Calian’s voice continued as he said this and pointed to the harmonica.

“I’m sorry for making you worry. I won’t go anywhere without you. I won’t go anywhere and I will teach you everything.”

Jan’s hand that was holding the harmonica dropped.

Tears welled up in my big eyes and fell. As much as I worried and as much as I put a lot of effort into it.

“… I will only learn one thing a day.”

“okay.”

“I will only learn how to play a song once a year. I will not learn it completely until I die.”

“Yes. Do that.”

Round teardrops fell on the harmonica that I hadn’t even touched yet. Calian laughed at that and patted Yan, who was older than me, on the back.

“I didn’t forget the bet on my height. I’ll stay until I grow taller than you.”

“I will grow forever.”

“Yes. Do that too.”

I don’t know how big a baby elephant will grow as it grows throughout its life. Anything is fine, so do whatever you want. I patted Yan’s back as many tears fell.

“But is this also mithril?”

“… No. I just bought it on my way to eat cod.”

“The prince, you are so kind. I built you a villa in Whitlin Estate for your birthday.”

“…… sorry.”

“I’m disappointed.”

“I’ll buy you something better when I get back.”

“Next year.”

“Okay. Next year.”

“And then something better.”

“huh.”

“And the next one.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

I was seriously worried that after about 80 years, he would become a king who bought a country for his chamberlain.