A little while before a cat found its way into Marquis Gray Briesenâs bedroom.
A paste made of basil and mushrooms was spread on lean beef, then wrapped in pastry dough and baked, before being placed in front of the food. When I cut it open, juicy juice flowed out from the layers of pastry that made me feel full just by looking at it.
Kalyan put on a happy face as he cut the meat, paste, and pastry into one bite. This is because the fragrant and light taste was extremely satisfying.
âIt feels like itâs been a while since I ate it. Itâs delicious.â
After a while, Kalian, who had finished eating the food in front of him, spoke with a smile on his face. Grilled bacon with tomatoes was placed on a clean plate handed to me by an attendant nearby.
Dmirea, who had quenched her thirst with dark wine, looked at Calian and answered.
âYes. It tastes very good.â
âI guess you said you would just leave because you liked it so much?â
Calian laughed brightly at Plantzâs words that followed.
âArenât you a person who is always in a hurry?â
When I asked him to close Briseen together, his younger brother answered that he would get rid of Briseen, and Plantz caught him as he stood up on the spot and tried to run out.
Then I reminded him that I had dinner plans with Dmirea and that I had just told you to close Brisen âtogetherâ. He also kindly explained that when he said we should close together, he didnât mean that if you destroy everything on your own, Iâll applaud you from behind.
After that, they had just come to Rubia Pavilion while talking about how to close Brisen together. I wanted to send my younger brother, who said it would be unfair for him to go out of the palace without eating, to eat some food.
âAre you trying to forget your promise again?â
âNo, Demirea. I was going to quickly come back and eat. I donât think Iâll forget the promise I made to my fiancé.â
âYouâve forgotten a lot.â
âNo. Itâs not that I forgot, itâs that I couldnât keep it.â
âIs it different?â
âItâs different. Itâs a lot different.â
Demirea shook her head and opened her mouth to say something.
â Clap!
â Sigh!
But at that time, a loud sound that was difficult to hear at a dinner table was heard from next to Demirea. I was startled and turned my head to see that the juice glass hanging on Lyrieâs ample sleeves had fallen over as she stretched out her arms.
To be exact, the cup should have stopped in midair on the table. Because the gentle wind that filled the space between the cup and the table was holding the cup up.
âAhâ¦â
Lirie, with a surprised face, couldnât find anything to say and looked embarrassed.
Calian smiled slightly, although he was unable to stop the drink in the glass from spilling, but was able to hold it so it wouldnât break. And I quickly wiped off the juice stains that had gotten on Lirieâs yellow dress.
âare you okay.â
ââ¦Your Majesty.â
After that, it was Plantzâs job to sense what Lyrie was going to say and tell her that she didnât have to apologize, and it was Demirea who made sure she didnât get too nervous about the difficult meal.
Once while looking at Plants, once when looking at Dmirea, and again when looking at Calian. Riri quickly looked around and said hello.
That was the end of the small dinner. Yogurt with fig jam and light black tea were placed on the cleanly cleared table.
After the servants who brought the dessert left the restaurant, Lirie cautiously opened her mouth.
âUmâ¦â
Riri, who hesitated for a while, looked at Demirea. Planz, who was watching this, put down the tea he had taken a sip of and said.
âIâm thinking of going to see Lucy. Riri.â
âI want to go with you too.â
Nod.
Lirie quickly got up at the expression of permission and went to Plantzâs side. And after showing respect to Calian, he followed Plantz and went out.
â Sweet.
I heard the door closing.
Kalian, who was stirring the fig jam on top of the yogurt without even touching the tea, made a loud noise.
âAm I really uncomfortable? I did all kinds of tricks, held a juice glass for me and cleaned my clothes.â
âIt seems to me that the prince is uncomfortable.â
âAh⦠I guess so. I guess Riri felt that and left the place.â
I feel reluctant.
Itâs not that I donât like it, but it feels like something heavy is pressing on my heart. Calian couldnât help but think of the child he thought of when he first saw Lyrie. I know that the child is not dead now and is living well somewhere in Secretia, but nevertheless, it is something that cannot be helped.
â⦠After some time, it will be okay.â
Demirea, who did not ask why she was reluctant to take care of the young child, nodded. And he spoke in a quiet voice.
âLiri has something to ask you. She probably feels embarrassed in the presence of me and the prince.â
âIâm not uncomfortable?â
âYes. Itâs not that I feel uncomfortable with the prince.â
Calian asked with a happy expression on his face.
âAre you trying to consult your brother about your concerns?â
âIt might be similar.â
âIt wonât help much.â
âThe prince talks to you often, but you say itâs not helpful.â
âAh⦠Itâs not counseling, itâs just that. No matter what I say, you just listen quietly and carefully.â
âWouldnât that be helpful too? For Riri.â
Calian smiled slightly and nodded.
âThatâs right.â
âWhy donât you drink tea?â
âNot so much now. Iâll drink it later.â
Demirea quietly put down her teacup and looked at Calian.
Then he looked at Calianâs hands and face and asked.
âYou came back after getting hit. Are you fighting again?â
âHuh? I wasnât hit, Demirea.â
âIâm telling you this because I feel like instead of welcoming you, you made me cry.â
âWow⦠how did you know?â
âItâs noticeable.â
âWhere?â
âEverywhere you look.â
He had noticed Calianâs calm face after a long time on the day he cried, and he seemed to have noticed this time as well. To know that I cried when I saw a pea with a carefree face that hadnât changed in any way.
âAs expected, my fiancé. There is no place that is not great.â
âHas something bad happened at Senyu House?â
âRashid Briesen came.â
âYes. I heard that.â
âI havenât heard anything about it yet. I guess Rashid Brissen had some trouble with Silike. So I confronted my brother about it⦠and it blew up.â
âIs that why you even took out a knife?â
Calian looked at the bandage on his hand and laughed.
âWhen my patience runs out, Iâm just like someone who doesnât look back and forth. I stopped him. Then, after talking with my brother, thatâs what happened.â
Demirea nodded quietly.
âYes. Well done.â
âAre you praising me?â
âDo you like it?â
âGood. I havenât had much to hear compliments lately.â
ââ¦How old are you to get so excited about a compliment?â
âTwenty-six.â
Demirea chuckled at the words that came back with a smile.
âThanks to the prince, my brother is alive and well, and my parents and I have also recovered. Brissen is no longer acting out or acting like a human being. Your Majesty has set out on a trip, and Balkan has firmly established itself. âIâm holding on to it. Marquis Manasil also has a completely different face than when I saw him when I was young. Above all, Riri began to worry about my future, and you became someone who could listen to that.â
And he said this.
âYou use a sword well and you use magic well. I donât know if you feel happy when youâre around, but you donât get upset. You talk well and have a good temper. The prince is also a person who deserves a lot of praise.â
I gave a baptism of praise.
Of course, saying he had a good temper was a bit vague, but it was a clear compliment to Calian.
âItâs strange. My fiancé isnât this kind of person.â
âI donât know what happened with a child of Ririâs age, but the prince deserves a lot of praise, so donât get too caught up in what happened in the past.â
Ah.
Only then did Calian understand Dmireaâs words and let out a small sound.
âOn days when it is difficult to walk around the palace wearing clothes like that, you can come to the dukeâs residence. If you need someone other than my brother, who listens well to your story, I will listen to you. I will pay you for finding Lili.â
Demirea, who recognized Janâs clothes, said this.
Calian smiled softly.
âDmirea. My fiancé. You are always so dependable.â
âIs that so.â
âThank you.â
Demirea gave a small smile.
What I meant was to stop saying things that are obvious.
* * *
Soars.
But it falls off again. It rises a few more times, but eventually falls back to where it came from without being able to reach any higher point.
â Shootâ¦!
After the ceremony of feeding fish to the Seneu River, water flowed to Kairisâ royal palace. All waterways, except for artificial ponds and artificial lakes, are opened during the winter. In artificial streams and fountains.
How long has it been since I saw a fountain that stopped all winter and then started to gush again? Randel, who had never stopped outside Chermil Palace, thought about this for a moment. I never paid attention to things like whether the fountain was flowing again or whether winter had passed and spring had come.
âWater⦠This is something I always realize, Prince. Kairis is truly a great place to live.â
Rashid smiled as he watched the water from the fountain soar into the sky and eventually flow down again. And then he said this to Randel, who was standing next to him.
There is no way that Rashid would be allowed to enter the Chermil Palace, be it Lemain or Planz. Nonetheless, Rashid visited the palace. And Randel was called out of Chermil Palace.
To avoid the eyes of others, we did not meet at Senyu Pavilion. A fountain garden close to Chermil Palace where many people come and go. I waited for Randel there. And Randel came to Rashid without any further rejection.
Those who know Randel will probably be quite surprised to see this situation. There would have been no way to see Randel, neither Calian nor Planz, meeting an outsider in public like this.
âLast year, Tensil was overflowing with water, which was a problem, but this year it seems to be the opposite. There was no rain or snow, so the wheat grains dried up, the bottom of the lake was exposed⦠Even the fountains in the palace have stopped working. âItâs hard to gauge how serious it is.â
The wheat dries up and the bottom of the lake is exposed.
Rather, it seemed as if the bigger problem was that the palaceâs fountain was not spouting water.
Maybe itâs sarcasm, maybe itâs concern, maybe it has some other meaning. Despite Rashidâs words, which were difficult to understand, Randel just stood silently without any expression. My eyes were fixed on the ripples that constantly appeared and disappeared on the water surface of the fountain.
âSo, the more I think about how good this land is, the more I canât help but admire the first kingâs insight.â
Rashid, who seemed not to care much about Randelâs reaction, continued. Like a theater actor who recites his share of lines without being disappointed even when faced with a single, unappreciative audience.
âThere is no sea, but salt comes out of the rocks, rivers that never dry flow, and thanks to the mother treeâs gratitude, the granaries are never empty⦠When the grapes are ripe, even the pigs are fattened. Is there a country like this on this continent? Will there be more?â
âHe said he wanted to talk for a while, but he didnât say anything. Iâll just go back now.â
Randel gave a short answer to the long conversation.
Rashid smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.
âIâve told you all this time, but if you say you donât say anything, I donât know what answer I should give you.â
Randel didnât answer . . He didnât even listen to Rashidâs empty words. He just had the attitude that he was out for a walk alone. It was as if he was just trying to chase away the boredom that had come on a leisurely afternoon with the sound of water from the fountain. âArenât you curious
? Prince Randel.â
The voice, not at all intimidated by the loud sound of water from the fountain, which was like a monologue of an actor talking to himself, continued to turn to Randel.
âA country where those who grew up eating their fill live in a land where there is no lack. A country where there is no need to even count how long it has forgotten about earthquakes and droughts. This country is rooted in something other than Serenti, but seems to have been blessed with the miracle of Serenti. How will the story of the blessed people who lead such a country continue⦠and how will it end?â â
Itâs a meaningless task.â
As if he still wasnât interested. As if
he didnât like the sound of a voice that was a little louder than the sound of the fountain. Landel, who answered, turned around. This was because he thought there was no reason to continue a useless conversation other than the sound of water.
â
There was the sound of stepping on the floor made of polished marble.
Even though all of his long words had come to nothing, Rashid continued. He laughed. He didnât even look like he was holding back his anger or suppressing his anger. He just smiled with a face that said he really liked the stage alone. â Jump and drop. Randelâs feet kept moving. He took a step away from the fountain and walked
towards
Rashid
. I passed by. I took a step away from Rashid. Rashid, who was watching the action, silently opened his mouth.
âStop, prince.â
An order.
A clear command that was just a polite word.
â â¦â¦ Tak.
Randel took a step. stopped.
Rashid, with a smile on his face that Randel couldnât see, took a step forward. He then stood in front of Randel. âArenât you
really curious?â
âI know you answered.â
âI will give you what the prince wants. â
You speak as if you know me better than I do.â
âIs there anything I donât know about the prince?â
Rashid answered leisurely and looked down at Randel.
Randelâs blue eyes met Rashidâs green eyes. I looked at him.
Just as the deep sea swallows up a vast forest. As if I were trying to find out what might be hidden deep in the ground, covered with trees and not visible. âWhat is
Prince Randel thinking and what is he trying to achieve? I know.â
Randel raised his head.
He stared deeply at Rashid once again. But nothing changed.
âAscend to Tensilâs throne.â
The command remained the same.
Randelâs eyes escaped Rashidâs insides. With him. Rashid continued,
âArenât you really curious about the end of this kingdom?â
âYouâre talking as if Khairis will walk on horseback when I take that position.â â
What in the world can you guarantee? Thatâs how it looks to me.â
âAs if you know everything, as if everything is made in your hands, whoever and whatever you want. It looks like things are going that way.â
âAh⦠oh my. I thought I knew the prince well, but I guess I didnât. On the contrary, I should say that it is an honor that the prince knows me so well.â
âConsider it as you wish. âItâs not my job to get involved.â
âYes. I will take it as I wish. So, prince.â
âJust. If I had to mention one thing, it would be good if you learned more words from your mother and then come back.â â
Learn how to speak. What does that mean?â
Randel looked straight at Rashid. Then he raised his finger and pointed to the fountain.
âThat water is no different from you. Struggling to soar, you end up plummeting to the floor. No matter how special you think of yourself, you are just a drop of water that accidentally splashes a little higher, but you forget the obvious and act as if you will reach the sky. You are no different from a child who has not even learned to speak.â Rashid looked a little surprised
.
And He looked at Randel with a long smile.
ââ¦Prince. Have you forgotten how dry and soft the foothold you are stepping on is?â
âHow dry and harsh this royal palace in your memories is. You seem to have forgotten.â
The sound of small feet echoed again.
Randel completely turned his body and stood facing Rashid. With the hand that had been pointing to the fountain just a moment ago, he turned to Rashid and pointed to the floor.
âYou need to learn how to talk from your mother again . If you donât like it, repeat the same thing over and over again until you say the right thing⦠Iâll try that too. If you do that, will you realize your place?â
The voice continued without any emotion.
âIt wonât be difficult for me. I guess itâs different for you.â
The green eyes that followed the deep blue eyes narrowed.
He smiled like a habit.
âOh my. Did my mother tell that story to the prince?â
âRashid Arieli.â
â⦠Yes. âPrince.â
âYes. I used to use that last name.â
âItâs because my mother cherishes that last name so much.â
âIf you cherish it so much, why donât you try wearing that humble crown yourself?â â
Wouldnât it be fun then? What I need is not the crown of a small country where even the fountains have to be blocked just because it doesnât rain or snow. Thatâs not it. A marionette who will wear that crown and climb on a small throne holding an insignificant jewel in her hand.
Rashid,
who finished speaking
in a whisper, smiled. Randel, who nodded silently, asked a question.
âDid you think that role was right for me? â
âThatâs right, prince.â
Tensilâs crown.
Calian also suggested the same thing.
I canât give Kairisâ crown because itâs mine, and I donât want to send it to the tower, and itâs too shabby to give a small estate where roses can grow well, so Iâm handing it to him instead. Thatâs the kind of place. He told me to climb up.
Two people are given the same seat, but one place smells bad and the other place doesnât smell anything. Itâs funny. Randel closed his eyes for a moment and opened them. At least in that
place
. I thought to myself that if I sit down, I will be able to see Planzâs head bowed.
âThe reason I recommend this is because I want to be considerate of the prince. So, please do not treat me lightly when I meet the prince and talk to him. Then one day, my disappointment overflowed, and just in caseâ¦â
Rashidâs finger pointed at Randel.
It was pointed at the heart that must have been inside Randelâs chest.
âDo you dare to try to entangle the prince? Iâm scared.â
âI havenât felt at peace ever since spring returned. Itâs so nice to hear your words like this.â
A small smile appeared on Randelâs lips.
âIf you learn to speak again, Iâll think about it then. âAbout that crown.â
Randel answered in a calm voice and quietly turned around. Then
he walked
back and forth again towards Chermil Palace.
The smile could not be erased from Rashidâs face as he looked at Randelâs back as he walked away. Randel To get into the carriage, to have his servant close the carriage door and to start the carriage, so that the carriage, moving at a slow pace, would enter the corridors of the Chermil Palace and disappear. After that, he turned his head and looked at the fountain. âThat water is no different from
you
. âIsnât it?â
He kept repeating Randelâs words that he had just heard, and stayed still as if he were nailed to one spot until the sun had set, the moon rose, and the stars were shining. â Thatâs right. Someone approached Rashid. âBaron Briesen
is
right
. â
The two knights were Balkan knights guarding the palace.
Realizing that they had come to get rid of the Baron, who had been standing in the garden all night without leaving the palace, Rashid said,
âI wasted so much time admiring the beauty of this place. I didnât even know it was flowing. Iâll be leaving now.â
âYes, thank you.â
The drivers gave a simple greeting. But they did not leave. They were probably trying to stay by Rashidâs side until he left.
Rashid nodded and took a step forward .
There was no need to do this . There was no reason to stay there any longer, and it wouldnât do any good to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. But,
âLeave it alone. âI have a moment to share with the Baron.â
A voice was heard that the knights and even Rashid had not expected. Those who turned their heads to see who the voice was, quickly showed their example.
Black hair and red eyes.
A little different from what they had seen during the day. The prince was wearing a black jacket with endless red embroidery.
Calian was standing there.
âYes, prince. Then, letâs talk.â
After saying this, the knights left the place.
Kalyan, who had separated them with a light response, turned his head towards Rashid. He made an expression that he did not want to see his face again, and came to him sooner than expected. While saying this,
âI meet Prince Calian.â
Calian nodded and opened his mouth.
âI have something to worry about regarding the Baron and his father. Thatâs why I came to visit you in person⦠I hope I didnât interrupt the Baronâs time.â
âInterrupting. Is that possible?â
âYes. Iâm glad you think so.â
âYes, prince. âPlease tell me. I will listen to anything.â
Rashid smiled softly.
At the same time,
without thinking of the fact that another âKalyanâ wearing a black jacket full of white embroidery was sitting in front of Gray and smiling brightly. .