Chapter 456

You know, Demirea.

I have something to tell you…

But before I say it, I have to warn you.

First of all, Demirea.

After listening to everything I say, you need to take a deep breath.

no. You have to put the knife in first and take a deep breath. After that, sit back down. You should also drink a glass of water. At that point, you will stand up again and pull out the knife, so put it away once more, sit back down, and think calmly first. Unlike me, you are a cautious person, so I like you. So don’t forget and think first.

really. Master, are you still with me?

Then, ask your teacher to let you put the sword back even if you pull it out three times. I think that would be great. I don’t think you can bear it alone.

Why make such a guarantee?

He said he tried to stab Jan, who was sleeping, because he didn’t give you a birthday present. If you’re that angry about that, I think you’ll come here with a knife after you hear what I say.

Are you saying you tried to stab me on your birthday?

huh. I heard it from Jan.

It’s a misunderstanding… I don’t think so. Jan said he was really scared.

Oh no… yes.

I believe you. huh.

The knife was a mistake. Okay. I don’t know what kind of mistake it would be like to have a knife fall on a sleeping baby elephant, but… no. It must be a mistake. That’s a mistake. If you make a mistake, you could end up dropping a knife on your sleeping brother. I’m not the type of person to get angry just because you didn’t get a birthday present.

Right… Yes.

right. huh. Of course I believe it. huh. I am single. huh. Who would I trust if not my fiancé?

It’s not a lie. I told you I can’t lie. So you know very well that everyone gets caught. There are already only three people left. No… It’s not that I feel more comfortable after a while, it’s that I can’t lie. I believe you. huh.

But I haven’t said anything yet, so why am I scolded again?

no. Because it’s not my fault. I think I may be the culprit, but it’s not my fault. It’s not really true that the secret was discovered. Once you hear what I have to say, secrets won’t be a problem, so don’t worry about that.

Anyway, are you ready to listen? Can I talk?

Oh yeah. Bring water first.

i’ll wait. I am a person with a lot of time.

Did you bring water?

how is it.

Can I talk now?

okay. I’ll tell you. Rashid Brissen is targeting Yan.

– Pop.

Dmirea?

De… Mirea?

Are you listening? Are you thinking? Are you drinking water?

My fiancé.

Ahhh. I am engaged to be married. Can’t you hear me?

hmm.

“…… What do we do.”

“why.”

“I did my best.”

“The Little Duke is coming?”

“Hmm…”

What should I do?

* * *

Made with great care.

I couldn’t add color or voice like I always dreamed of. However, by applying the preservation magic I had learned for this purpose, I easily succeeded in making it so that it would never melt forever.

Making Freya wasn’t difficult.

In the first place, it was easy to make it because it looked a lot like Calian and I had seen it many times through portraits in the royal palace. The clothes worn in the portrait were also realized in one go.

But the problem is.

– Ururu!

After thinking about it, I shed tears and the crushed ice pieces were scattered on the table. It soon melted and disappeared in an instant as if vaporizing into the air.

Because of this, Freyja, who had been with someone on friendly terms, was left standing alone again. This is because Arsene removed the statue of ‘Calian’ that was nearby just moments ago, as if erasing it.

I don’t know how many times I’ve had to get rid of something I put a lot of effort into. After completing the palm-sized ice statue that looked exactly like Kalyan, I had already repeated the process of making it from scratch several times.

‘What on earth should it look like?’

Calian simply told him to create an image of himself with Freya. That was the problem. I wonder if the Calian standing with Freya should be the current Calian. If not.

It may have looked the same, but it might have been Kalian from a time when he was much younger, with slightly more hunched shoulders, no smile on his face, and long bangs. I was thinking about that.

Arsene, who had been unable to make a decision no matter how many times he tried again, gathered his magic power again.

– Palak!

The sound of the bookshelf being turned by Randel’s fingertips rings a little loudly. Arsene, who had a sad face, looked at Randel.

Then Randel opened his mouth.

Without even looking at Arsene, I kept my gaze as I read the book.

“Have you ever been criticized for having a superficial position? I understand without you having to prove it.”

Are you saying that you are doing such nonsense because you want to show off that you are overflowing with magic power? It also means that I can’t read the book because I’m distracted by you, wizard.

My mind was so confused that I couldn’t understand the true meaning, but I understood that it was an insult anyway. That’s why Arsene opened his mouth.

“I’ll be done soon.”

“They say the wizard’s faithfulness is so great, but now I understand. I see that even his actions follow the youngest.”

What he’s doing is exactly like Kalyan’s.

Since I was criticized by a member of the royal family, it would not be enough to immediately apologize and show self-respect, but isn’t it just telling me to wait a little longer without an apology or explanation? That’s probably why it was returned like this.

“Thank you for your kind words, Prince Randel.”

“Isn’t that a good thing to say?”

“I guess I’m just thanking you because I think you’re looking at me favorably.”

“The youngest definitely took care of one of his own.”

“I think it’s too much.”

The words exchanged are not pleasant.

Arsene, who arbitrarily disobeys Calian’s orders and argues with Plantz, who is much younger than me, several times a day, would he have anything to complain about against Randel?

“Was I that uncomfortable?”

“As I said before, we are being cautious.”

“why.”

“I am still not sure whether Prince Randel really sees our prince as a brother or whether he considers us the best move.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

It was natural for Arsene.

Wasn’t he the rational Landel who had never once acted without calculation and practicality? Was Randel’s sudden change of attitude really due to a sense of indebtedness to his old brother or his faith in his new brother? Or is it because they thought it would be best to simply take Calian’s side this time? I have that suspicion.

“Because my teacher taught me that people don’t change overnight.”

“You learned it well.”

“Yes. I learned it well.”

“Yes. There should be at least one smart person next to the youngest.”

“I think so too.”

Arsene is a wizard.

If I were to calculate it well, it would be counted within one hand of the continent of Cysterra.

Kalyan is different. Calian, who was a knight before he was a wizard and someone’s brother before he was a knight, even put Randel in the fence.

If it had been Kyrie, she would have trusted Randel equally as Calian trusted, and if it had been Aela, she would have trusted no one other than Calian, but not Arsene. As a wizard and a follower of Calian, I could not easily trust Randel.

– Palak!

Randel, who was still not taking his eyes off the book, turned the page again.

“I think my old self would be better next to him.”

“What do you mean by side?”

“I mean the statue.”

Arsene’s eyes hardened for a moment and then opened. I thought he was just stubbornly staring at the book, but he seems to have recognized what Arsene was doing.

“Are you saying that we should place a prince like his old self next to Queen Freya?”

“Did you think differently?”

There was no answer from Arsene.

As Randel said, Arsene also thought the same thing. Shouldn’t you give it to Freyre, not Calian? Therefore, I thought it would be appropriate for the old Calian to stand by Freya’s side. But the reason it couldn’t be made was.

“Were you worried that your youngest child would mind?”

This too was correctly pointed out by Randel again. Arsene was worried that the statue might be considered to refer to Calian as a foreigner.

“Yes. I am concerned.”

“Wouldn’t the youngest like it too?”

Randel raised his head and spoke in response to the honest answer given as if he didn’t care about the argument they had just had.

– Sweet.

He then took off his thin brown-rimmed glasses and placed them on the table as he spoke.

“It’s like seeing my childhood again.”

Arsene took a short breath.

He summoned Vern from the forest north of the palace and almost died at his hands, and worked so hard to get Calian to accept Vern properly. At the same time, I wasn’t thinking about the old Kalyan.

Calian had forgotten that he was not a person who could live with just Bern while possessing all of the old Calian’s body and memories, and that it was possible because the old Calian also fully accepted the fact that Calian did not hide Bern or draw a line between him and her.

“Do you think the prince will like it?”

“I thought there was a smart person next to the youngest. Was I mistaken?”

“… No. I think you’ll like it.”

He brings out all his memories of being drunk on Serenus as if they were a thing of the past, and regrets his childhood for not being able to come to a place with such good wind sooner. Kalian has now become that kind of person. Although I consider those events painful and regrettable, I have become a person who no longer feels guilty or strange. It was only now that I remembered that fact. I realized it again.

The day Kalian, who was traveling in Bern, called Randel. The day I showed that to Randel and told him to think of me as a stranger. Randel, who had come to know Calian’s true intentions as he looked at the light purple eyes staring directly at him, spoke in a calm voice.

“I hope you don’t forget that things can happen beyond your calculations.”

Is it just a story about Calian, or does it also tell us about Arsene’s view of Randel? Randel didn’t open his mouth anymore.

Instead, it clicks.

I closed the book, put it down, and got up.

Since the wind is nice, let’s go for a walk at night. While thinking like that.

* * *

– Hwieeee!

The wind gathered and pushed out the small window.

The stench that had filled the room was carried by the wind and dispersed outside.

I could have used Clean to remove the blood stains that caused the bad smell and burned away the dark red things that were scattered here and there, but for now, it just created a breeze.

“Are you stationed?”

“A little. It’s okay.”

“yes.”

Calian took a long breath after picking up the peas more carefully and frugally, as he had intended. It’s a little better because you’re standing in the opposite direction of the wind that’s blowing away the odor.

– Ja-bak, jap-a-bak.

Eila took a long step and entered inside.

It looks like he doesn’t care about the dark red stuff clinging to the toes of his calf-length leather boots and the thick heels that are about half a span wide.

“I don’t think the prince’s servant would have decorated a place like this, right?”

“It’s probably not the place Jan planned. I said I would raise a dog, but I didn’t say I would raise a monster.”

Just now.

Kalian, who found Rashid’s letter and contacted Demirea through Alan to warn her to be careful, came out of the study. After that, I slowly searched around the villa and ended up in a place created in the backyard of the villa.

As soon as Calian discovered something inside, he was the first to warn Plantz. I think it would be better for you not to come in.

Of course, Pea, who didn’t listen to his brother, went inside anyway.

“I think it was originally built to be used as my training hall. This is what Lord Siegfried’s training hall looked like.”

“It looks like the prince won’t break down no matter what he practices.”

“It’s also perfect for raising monsters.”

“Yes.”

So, this place was a harpy breeding room made with iron bars that would fit perfectly into a ‘strong training space where our flower-like prince can safely do whatever he does inside.’

The first thing I noticed was that pig bones and meat scraps that had not even been cleaned up were piled up in one place. The floor where Eila is now walking without hesitation is littered with the remains of things that probably aren’t pigs. I knew right away without anyone explaining what it was. They must have been some of those who opened the cage to take the harpy to the forest.

In a word, seeing peas eating meat means that they have been eating it for a while.

“He has a good appetite. I guess he likes all meat.”

“Are you talking about me?”

“About the harpy. The prince doesn’t eat people.”

“I’m not eating. I am.”

Are you stepping on the blood of the person in front of you or the blood of the person next to you? Are you even thinking about such issues?

Let alone my brother, what on earth has my brother’s new subordinate, who is only 22 years old, been doing for so long that he can use the tip of a dagger to look into things he doesn’t want to know? Is that what they meant when they said the people of Secretia were terrible?

By the way, is it characteristic of the Secretia people to have short tails? My younger brother’s ex-fiancé wasn’t like that, but looking at that, I wonder if my younger brother and my younger brother’s ex-fiancé are just very similar. So, if that person talks down to me, should I understand or not?

While the smart Planz is trying to continue the worries he created to divert his eyes from the unrealistically cruel scene.

“Have you seen that ice wizard following the prince?”

“Arsene Hertz. I told you to keep clear communication between the people you work with. Aila.”

“I did.”

“Okay. Good job.”

“He’s good at everything.”

Calian smiled and nodded before opening his mouth.

“Anyway, Lord Hertz said he saw traces of a ‘meal’ outside the forest, but there was nothing special.”

“There is something here. It’s something special.”

Then Aila said this.

After hearing this, Kalian immediately took a step forward. It was inevitable that I would step on blood, but I walked towards Eila, taking care not to step on other by-products. Rather than saying it was because I didn’t like stepping on it, it was because I knew that it was a plant that I would carefully remember the sound it made when I stepped on it.

It seems like he read Calian’s thoughts. Instead of waiting for Calian to come closer, Eila threw what she was holding in her hand as if handing it over.

– Bang!

Calian picked it up and used his magic power.

The messy blood stains disappear.

Calian’s brow furrowed as he examined what was in his hand.

“This… is unwelcome.”

A black shield emblem with a red border.

A pattern whose crafting method is unknown, with the dragon’s wings slightly visible like a shadow when tilted. Therefore, it was a piece of metal with a pattern that was difficult to counterfeit.

“Are you Siegfried?”

“huh.”

In short, it was a fragment of the sword carried by Siegfried’s knights.

– Ugh!

Calian’s hands grew stronger.

Then, cracks appear in the fragments that failed to overcome the aurors. It was a metal with a strength that could not contain or withstand aura.

It means that it is the sword of someone who was Siegfried’s knight, but was not a person of major status.

Calian, with narrowed eyes, quietly opened his mouth.

“……The other thing. Aila.”

“The clothes are ordinary and there is no armor. There are no other weapons like that. The face and body are unrecognizable. The hair is all plain brown.”

It was a month ago that the harpy’s prey began to disappear from this place. Since the harpy couldn’t have been exactly a month old, it would have meant that it had been caught somewhere or had been raised somewhere else and hidden here.

“I’ve been preparing to trap Siegfried for at least a month now. I don’t know if it’s because of me or just because of Siegfried. In any case, it’s clear that Rashid Briesen knew in advance that I would come here after the failed raid on the palace. “I lost.”

“Because I think the same way as the prince.”

“A harpy attacked the royal family, and if I were not careful, I would have killed all the elves because of it. Instead of doing that, I quietly came here and found that my villa is full of traces of harpies. Inside the villa is the sword of Knight Siegfried….. ..”

Calian’s movements were fully identified.

Rashid must have created a trap for Calian, so Calian knew in advance that he would come to Whitlin.

“I told everyone that I met a harpy. Now I can’t say anything else.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

At first, they did not inform Whitlin that they had been attacked by a harpy. Then, to find out who was behind those who sent the harpy, he showed the harpy’s feather in front of the nobles.

Calian proved that he was attacked by a harpy with his own hands. Then I came to this villa and it was full of harpy tracks. After pouring another drink, even a piece of Siegfried’s knight’s sword came out proudly.

– … Wow!

Calian’s hands glowed black.

– Crispy…!

The fragment engraved with Siegfried’s symbol, which could not withstand the auror, crumbled to pieces.

“Removing that one thing doesn’t mean the evidence here disappears. I think it would be better to burn it quickly before other people see it.”

That was correct.

No matter what evidence Rashid created here, dealing with it from this training ground is the priority. We couldn’t tie Siegfried and Whitlin together and lose them as traitors.

Kalian nodded and stood up.

The magical power gathered at the tips of Calian’s fingers spreads out in all directions.

Just as I was about to contain the power of fire at the end of that magic power.

– Bwaaaaah!

A sound that was never welcome was heard.

Calian stretched out his arms.

He grabbed Plantz’s shoulders and threw them behind his back.

– Taaat!

I kicked my feet.