I feel sorry for leaving it behind, but at the same time, I am glad.
The pink soles of the white hind feet sticking out of the hammock and the gray tail gently moving under the cushion disappeared. Instead, two round faces were lifted up.
After that
â Uddadadatâ¦â¦!
Even though itâs not a puppy and you donât always show cuteness when youâre with it, it makes all kinds of fuss and runs to you. They come running and talk to each other, raising their voices. Meow, meow, with such a pretty sound.
As if he was really happy to see you.
As if I had waited for such a long time.
âLucy Anne.â
The first time he was away for a long time, he cried so sadly, but it seems he has gotten used to Plantzâs long outings. He didnât complain like that anymore. Instead, they welcomed me.
In this royal palace full of things that need to be hidden and hidden, without any calculation, they run with their whole body and raise their voices without getting tired, welcoming them. I was grateful to see them greeting me with all my might, so I stretched out my arms and picked them up. I held the two cats in my arms.
âLucy.â
âAow!â
âEven Anneâs stomach was round. What were she doing?â
âNiang!â
âThatâs right. Why?â
This becomes a natural thing, and before you know it, you forget everything you have to do and sit down for a while to get cozy in the color of the cat.
âI was curious. How were you?â
âAeowong!â
âOkay. I didnât forget. I didnât leave it behind.â
If I knew it, it might just be asking me to get some snacks out quickly, or it might be asking who you are and who came to my area again, but I understood it as I could and answered as I could. This kind of thing has already become a daily routine.
âNyaaa!â
âYes. Me too.â
âNyaaaâ¦!â
âYes. I missed you.â
I was also becoming accustomed to saying things I had never said before without even realizing it was awkward.
Plants chuckled as he looked at Lucyâs pink soles, who didnât seem to like being touched but just tolerated it, pretending not to notice, and Anneâs chubby belly, which was obviously a little plumper no matter how much she looked at it.
âYou have new clothes.â
âEung!â
âDid Hina give it to you?â
âNyan!â
White flowers embroidered on a light yellow background.
White flowers embroidered on a light pink background.
I heard it was a white flower that commonly blooms on the side of the road, but now that I think about it, I have never seen it with my own eyes. A flower that is very common, but cannot be seen unless you look for it. But for Plants, who cannot be forgotten, it is the only flower that is a flower but is not a flower. Laricium. The cats were wearing new clothes with several of those special flowers embroidered on them. He was wearing beautiful clothes that conveyed the warmth of someone with skillful hands.
âYou look good on me, Lucy.â
âAeung!â
Lucy, wearing a light yellow robe with a hood like a wizardâs, answered while lying down on the lap of Planz, who was sitting on the sofa for a moment.
âNiaang!â
Anne, who had lost the best seat to Lucy, tapped Plantzâs arm with her cotton-like front paw and spoke again.
âYes, Anne too.â
Anne and Lucy, who were wearing light pink shirts with red ribbons instead of hoods, felt so soft that it was hard to express them in words. There was a small, small laugh.
After relaxing with the cats for a while, I took a quick shower, got out, and got dressed. In Rericâs hand was a cardigan that was a mixture of white and dark gray, a color that wouldnât be noticeable even when Lucy and Anneâs fur got on it. Plantzâs mouth opened very briefly when he saw that.
ânot.â
Something other than a cardigan.
This could mean that you need more comfortable clothes because you plan to go to the training center, or that you need more formal clothes because you plan to go outside of Chermil Palace. Itâs one of two things.
After thinking quickly, Reric chose one of the two and asked.
âAre you going to the training center?â
âWilhelm Coffin.â
Wrong.
The only time Plantz doesnât mind talking at length is when heâs dealing with cats. I know how tiring it is to have long conversations with other people outside. I know that the reason I speak briefly to Calian is because he understands everything, and the reason I speak briefly to Reric is because he becomes more comfortable with Reric.
So itâs okay to be wrong. Just guess right next time.
âYes, sir. I will give you the jacket.â
Relic, who was in a good mood after Plantz returned, smiled brightly and nodded. Then, he handed the thin cardigan in his hand to another attendant and accepted a light purple jacket instead. Because it was late, I didnât want to hand him a separate tie, but since he was going to dress up, he hurriedly brought me a dark gray tie decorated with silver thread and tied it to me.
âWell then, how would you like to eat?â
âIn Wilhelm.â
âOkay. Iâll tell you to bring it as soon as itâs ready.â
âtwo.â
âIs Prince Calian also eating it? Then, a little moreâ¦â â
No, Vice Commander.â
âAh⦠Ah yes. Vice Commander Hertz. Yes, I understand.â
Arsene.
I canât believe Planz was taking care of Arseneâs meals together.
I have to see if the sun rises in the west tomorrow. No, you have to check first to see if the sun rises.
Reric quickly put aside his surprise and embarrassment and fixed the tie knot and attached accessories made of black pearls and a platinum chain. My Majesty stayed with the vice-corps commander for a few days, and he seemed to have returned with a much improved relationship, and I was very happy at the thought.
So that the crazy blue-haired wizard doesnât go out and not come back with the excuse of âIâm hungry, so Iâll come back after eating.â Stay up all night without thinking about going anywhere and finish your backlog of work well.
So, in order to prevent my brother, who doesnât know when he will go out again, using the pretext of interfering with the work in Balkan that is piled up on the way for me to follow him right away.
I didnât know that those calculation-filled thoughts were hidden in those green eyes.
âItâs done, sir. Are you going to leave right now?â
âokay.â
âOkay, Iâll call a carriage.â
âitâs okay.â
âAre you going to walk to the Wilhelm Pavilion again?â
Plantz nodded once and left the room. I knew it was a long way to the Wilhelm Pavilion, but I mostly walked.
I went down the stairs.
3rd Floor. Jan, who was standing in front of the wall facing the stairs, slightly lowered his head towards Planz.
I know that Janâs head was lowered a little more than he was nodding because there were many other people around Planz and Jan. I didnât care and after receiving a proper greeting, I went back down the stairs.
Second floor. One of Kalianâs subordinates walked over with two cups of tea and said hello. The scent of honey was so sweet that it was difficult to express it with just the word ârich.â One side of Planzâs lip rose slightly at the scent, which was as strong as the lemon in the teacup.
I donât know what kind of whim or reason it was, but it seemed like Randel had gone to Calianâs room. If you measure the length of the rear end of its body, isnât it the younger brother who can wrap around the body of the Sispanian a few times? Plantz, who knew full well that he was the type of person who would not pass up even the cup of grapefruit tea he was served, but would always return it, walked past Merlin.
First floor. I went out the front door of the building. I walked past the sound of fountain water and rustling leaves. I walked along a path filled with small, flat stones. I was given the courtesy of the knights guarding the entrance to Chermil Palace. I continued walking again without stopping.
â⦠Itâs been a very long time since I last saw you.â
Stand tall.
My feet stopped.
âCrown Prince Plants⦠Your Majesty.â
Turquoise hair, turquoise eyes, bright face and calm smile. But sharp eyes. Snow that was forged on a selected day.
Plantz raised his head.
I lowered my eyes.
I looked straight into the sharp eyes of this person who seemed to be taller than Alan or even Kirie, and therefore about two fists taller than Plantz.
âwho.â
And asked.
âYes, sir. I am Marquess Gray Briesen of the Briesen family. Not long ago, at a noble meeting, a noble did not greet you properly, and Prince Calian became angry. Do you remember?â
Rericâs answer, who completely understood Planzâs short words and their meaning this time, came from behind. It seems as if he is speaking quietly out of concern for Gray standing in front of him, but in a very appropriate low voice so that he cannot be heard.
âI am the Marquis from back then.â
âiced coffee.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Plantz nodded as if he had finally remembered something and looked at Gray again. As always, I looked down at Gray, who was taller than me.
âBrisen⦠I see.â
And then I moved the foot I had stopped on again.
An act of completely forgetting that it was the same Brisen.
The act of drawing the same line as one would treat any other noble.
That was Plantzâs answer to the question of how to deal with the remaining Briesen.
The pretty smile on Grayâs lips deepened.
If it had been Evan, he would have been so angry at being ignored that he would not have been able to say anything else. However, Gray was a little different. At least Gray knew how to swallow his anger and smile.
âYes. I am Gray Briesen, Marquis of the Briesen family. I didnât introduce myself because I thought you might have forgotten. Please forgive my rudeness.â
Plantzâs feet stopped again.
âCongratulations on your elevation to the crown. Last time I saw you, I wasnât able to congratulate you separately, so Iâm finally telling you now.â
Pretending not to recognize him, pretending that he was not Briesen, and pretending to have been born with only the noble blood of a dragon, he responded with congratulations to his nephew who was so dismissive of him.
Plantz turned his head towards Gray.
Should we ignore or laugh this time? As I was evaluating it for a moment, Grayâs mouth moved first. A small, whisper-like sound came from a mouth with a charming, pleasant smile.
âAt first glance, I envy you. You have a good younger brotherâ¦unlike me.â
Fragrant words.
Those words, which seem to be full of Renieriâs scent, are accompanied by the sound of Rericâs heel, which is always an inch higher, hitting the ground.
Will I come to my senses if I get hit again? I heard that Slayman is in the capital. I wonder if he would have to run away somewhere far away to hide his absence as an Auror.
I was thinking of asking that question.
âThanks to.â
There is no mistake in any of these words. So I answered as if it was no big deal. And then he moved his feet again.
I gave strength to the tips of my feet.
I walked without shaking.
* * *
I no longer drank tea.
If I had known this would happen, I would have prevented Jan from removing the car that was left in front of Kalian before he came, but it was already too late. That said, I couldnât even drink that sweet tea again, so I didnât touch it anymore.
âAs far as I know, I think this is the first time Brother Randel has come to visit me. Is that true?â
He said it was okay not to accept that the old Kalyan was gone and a new one had come in his place. That said, I didnât even try to bury that fact. Even if I lost to Plantz, who was growing up, I had no intention of losing to Randel, who was already fully grown.
âYeah. Thatâs right.â
âThen may I ask the reason now? Why did you come?â
Randel, who looked at Calian for a while, nodded. And then he took out a small letter from his pocket and put it down. Then Calian frowned slightly.
âI smell blood.â
The smell of blood, which has now almost disappeared and become very light, seems to have never been so thick to begin with. That was coming out of the letter.
âIs that so?â
âWhat is.â
âOpen it.â
Calian looked at the letter and Randel once, then reached out and picked up the letter. I had a vague feeling about where it was sent from and what it contained.
âDid you send it from Tensil?â
âIs there any other way?â
âI see.â
There was the sound of folded paper being unfolded.
â I met your younger brothers by chance in Secretia. As we talked, I felt a closeness to you. Since you and I can also be said to be brothers, I would like to meet together, build friendships, and share stories that have been long overdue.
Calian, who read the letter at high speed, looked at Randel.
âIt was my first time receiving a letter like this from someone saying they wanted to become friends with Brother Randel, so I was touched and wanted to keep it as a meaningful thing. Do you ever think that way?â
âBurn it.â
âyes.â
As soon as he answered, a fire broke out.
The smell of blood was slowly incinerated, masked by the smell of burning paper.
Soon Calianâs hand pointed to Randelâs heart.
âWhen you signed your oath, did you also promise to tell someone everything you learned, Brother Randel?â
âWould you have done that?â
âYou never know.â
âDid not do it.â
The good news is that even if Randel learns something, there is no need to tell the person who shared the oath.
Well, if thatâs the case, wouldnât it be necessary to tell the other person about Calianâs change? It is fortunate that it is not such a contract. If not, he would have died at the hands of the evil spirit, World Peace, Nabal, and Demirea. Also, without knowing what would happen if I died, I almost knew the answer once I died.
âIt seems like the contents of the contract are relatively specific. I see that you gave a definite answer.â
âThere was a lot written down. It would be difficult to compare since we didnât do it twice.â
âYou came with a ridiculous contract, but itâs better. Still, it seems like Brother Randel came with a smarter contract than you.â
âWas it a mockery?â
âThis is a reprimand.â
What on earth did everyone grow up watching to make them sell their hearts out like that at that age?
Calian added in a muttering tone, and opened his mouth as he remembered the letter that was burned without leaving a single ashes.
âIs the person who sent the letter to you, Crown Prince Sergein of Tensil?â
âokay.â
âSerjane. Dead.â
Sweet.
Randel, holding the teacup that he had not touched, slowly took a sip of tea and put it down. Calian watched the scene with calm eyes.
âIs that so?â
âThe Serjane I met in Secretia, the one who sent a letter to his brother. The Serjane who is trying hard in all directions to come here. They are all fakes disguised as crown princes. The real Serjane was seriously injured a long time ago. I âHe was alive until he stayed in Secretia.â
A white finger pointed to the spot where Randel had put down the letter a moment ago.
âHe died the day I sent this letter.â
A letter in which you say you want to meet, but leave out information about deciding when, where, and how to meet. Therefore, I burned the contents of the letter without even remembering it.
What âSerjaneâ wanted to convey was not the content, but the name and smell.
The smell of blood left on a clean letter with no blood stains.
The smell of blood that was obviously intentionally put on the pillow. The scent of blood was so weak that other knights would not notice it that Randel could not recognize it, but Calian could.
âHave you ever asked Brother Randel, paying close attention, to see if His Highness wouldnât mind if I brought Serzane to Kairis?â
âI havenât seen you in person since you returned from Secretia.â
Oh, kinda.
Please meet me.
Cornbeard, do you know if there is a rumor going around that you have a fiancé? First brother, donât you think you will respond in this way only after your Majesty meets you? Pea asked His Majesty a favor about Serzane, and His Highness came to answer what to do about it, but Pea got scolded by him and quickly apologized, completely forgetting why you were here and just leaving. I know youâve broken your heart to the point where I canât even bear the thought of hating you, but I wonder if itâs okay if we meet again.
There is no way you can say that.
Thereâs no way I could say something like that if I knew it was broken. Well, I canât take it out.
âyes.â
Iâm so frustrated that Iâm dying of old age.
Calian, who was trying to smooth out the wrinkles between his pretty eyebrows, gulped down some lemon tea to get rid of the bitter taste.
âAre you here to tell me that? You have nothing else to say.â
âIs there any?â
âYou probably donât have any.â
âokay.â
âI understand. Your Highness may ask if it would be okay to meet Sergeane later.â
âIt doesnât matter.â
âthank you.â
After saying this, Calian looked at Randel and asked in a low voice.
âBut isnât your heart heavy?â
Randel, who was about to get up, looked at Calian. I looked really deep. Calian pretended not to have seen that and opened his mouth again.
âThere is a stone in it, but Iâm asking if itâs not heavy.â
â⦠I donât know.â
I wasnât talking about a seal of oath.
The healing power of red light used by Randel. This was said because it was the same light used by members of Zeon.
âIf itâs too heavy or too much for you, please tell me.â
âYouâre talking as if youâll take it lightly.â
âI donât think itâs impossible.â
The answer came as if it was nothing special.
â You will be able to take the stone out of your heart. But it can be dangerous. So, please tell me when you are trying to fix a bad personâs heart, not a good personâs heart.
First brother, itâs not because heâs a bad guy. Iâm afraid it will be heavy. Because I put it on when I wasnât even a good person, Iâm afraid I wonât be able to return to being a good person and will continue to feel heavy.
âIf you risk your life, I will try.â
I told her the story I had heard from Hina, saying I could take it out.
âRemember that.â
âyes.â
Randel nodded. Then he quietly got up and went out. The sound of regular, low footsteps moved away and soon disappeared.
Calian, who had stood up and showed a courtesy to Randel, made sure the door was closed and then sat down again and looked around the room instead of taking a breath. Then, he looked down for a moment at Randelâs teacup, which had taken just two sips, and let out a shallow sigh.
âI guess I have too many things to worry about. I.â
I donât know if it was Serenti or an evil spirit, but I think the guy who brought Vern here after dying twice meant to tell me to do something about this family first, perhaps because of the axis of time. I canât die comfortably, and I donât think there are one or two things I need to worry about right now, but in any case, if I meet that guy later, I really wonât leave him alone.
Even after sighing and grumbling like this, I couldnât calm down, so I moved to the terrace for the first time in a while.
The spring wind blew.
I liked that wind.
Kalian, who was relaxing while enjoying the wind that brought spring, turned his head. And saw.
âThatâs strange.â
Gray entering Chermil and Plants leaving Chermil. I watched for a long time as the people who should come in and the people who should leave this evening seemed to have changed. I drew attention from Gray, who was supposed to be leaving but was coming in, and kept looking at the steps of the person who was supposed to be coming in but wasnât.
Although others may not know, it is a step that is very noticeable to Calianâs eyes. I watched it.
That step.
Unsteadily, unusually straight steps.
âWhy was it pickled like that?â
There was also a cat.
Why were the peas so pickled again?
ââ¦Iâm curious.â
Bright red eyes were focused on the turquoise hair of the person walking towards Chermil.