Alan, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth.
âOkay. You can decide now, Prince.â
In times like this, Calian knew that the answer was not to respond, so he calmly waited for Alanâs next words.
âPrince, please decide in advance who you will tell the secret to. Since there are not many people left who do not know, it will not be difficult to decide the order in which you will tell it.â
Worried about Calian, I hurried to finish the work and found out that he told Planz a secret this time.
Of course, Kalian didnât really say much to Plantz.
He just said that time went back and his relationship with Chase. The rest was figured out by Plantz, who had carefully pieced together Calianâs actions and previous words.
â¦â¦ Even if I say that.
No, I donât think itâs too much. Wouldnât it be easier to just wait and see how much longer youâll get caught?
Soon Alanâs face turned red and blue.
I should be angry, but I knew that Chase had a hard time today, so I couldnât say anything else.
Therefore, Calian quickly handed over the drink that Plantz had left behind a little while ago. I promised myself never to say anything about the fact that I almost got caught by the owner of the Lawton blacksmith shop, or maybe even got caught a little bit.
âThere really wonât be any more now.â
Even so, it is not a sure answer.
Alan was so shocked by those words that a short sigh finally came out of his mouth. With that, Calian smiled brightly. He noticed that his teacherâs anger had subsided.
In any case, just because he was relieved of his anger, it didnât mean that the tangle inside him was resolved, so Alan poured himself a drink that Calian had given him and drank it alone. Then, without knowing, I looked surprised and asked.
âThe princeâs older brother has been drinking something like this?â
It was not a drink to drink, but to sprinkle around, so I donât know, but it must have been quite strong.
Anyway, Calian didnât reply and just poured more alcohol into Alanâs empty glass. Even though Kalyan is bad at keeping his own secrets, he is good at keeping other peopleâs secrets.
âWouldnât you like to have a drink? Weâll all get caught anyway.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI quit drinking, Master.â
Calian smiled and shook his head at Alanâs words, which still had lingering resentment.
* * *
The day after many people had a truly upsetting day.
The celebration of King Kairisâs birthday has begun for Lemain, who brought about the cause.
In fact, Lemainâs birthday wasnât particularly different.
Drinking red pomegranate juice as soon as I opened my eyes was the same as starting my breakfast with food full of red. The only thing that was different from Calian was that he did not receive laprania flowers corresponding to his age.
Kalian was said to have been taken care of by Merlin, but not Lemain. Thatâs why Lemain made a disgusted face when he saw Alan, who had come to see him early in the morning with a distraught look on his face, and Raoul, the chamberlain, who was holding thirty-nine Laprania flowers next to him.
âWhat is it?â
Raoul answered Lemainâs question in a slow but polite tone.
âYour Highness, Count Manasilâ
âThrow it away.â
Lemain said this without even listening to Raoulâs words to the end.
Thanks to this, Alan looked like he was chewing an uncooked pear, and Raoul looked very embarrassed.
Alan well anticipated what Lemain would misunderstand. It was unfair because of that.
âDonât misunderstand.â
There is only one person in the world whom Alan buys flowers. There was only Veronica, my granddaughter, whom it would not hurt to look at. Why would Alan give flowers to a guy like LeMaine who secretly invites Chase?
So of course the flowers were not prepared by Alan.
âI followed this path for a different reason.â
Alan put the report in his hand on Lemainâs desk, which was the reason he came into Lemainâs room with the flowers. And he said it with a very scared face.
âThe flowers were asked to be given to me by my beautiful student, so there is no need to throw them away, just accept them.â
After hearing those words, Lemainâs eyes turned to Raoul again. Raoul, who had the right to speak once again, spoke a little faster and more politely.
âYes. Count Manasil brought me flowers sent by Prince Calian.â
Although Alanâs name was included, which was useless, the conclusion was that Calian had prepared it and delivered it to Alanâs side.
In fact, to be more precise, it would be correct to say that Calian, who accepted Janâs opinion after hearing Merlinâs words, prepared the flowers through Merlin and then delivered them to Lemain through the hands of Alan and Raoul. Calian wasnât meticulous enough to take care of such matters.
I was going to come say hello to Lemain anyway for the morning, but there were other brothers and it was difficult for Calian to bring flowers, so I just sent them in advance.
Only then did Lemain nod, and Raoul carefully placed the flowers on the desk and went out. Alan, who was staring at the red flower, asked about the fundamental cause of this situation.
âAre you planning on not getting married again?â
At those words, Lemain revealed an emotion that was difficult to describe on his face. In some ways, it seemed like he was frustrated, and in other ways, he seemed angry.
âStop talking about that.â
Therefore, Alan smiled and nodded in response to this answer. It was because I thought he was suffering quite a bit.
It was worth it, because Iâve been hearing so much talk about getting a new queen lately. There are already three princes, and Randel will soon be at an age where he will have to get married, so I canât help but be annoyed to hear such a thing.
â smart.
At that time, Chamberlain Raoul came back in with a knock.
It was said that the three princes would now come to congratulate him on his birthday, and Alan came out while listening to those words.
During the celebration of LeMaineâs birthday, Alan decided to have a chat with Chase. Chase, who said he came to see Alan, was busy with other schedules all day yesterday, so he couldnât meet Alan separately.
* * *
Now that Iâm out of Renieri, itâs a rose.
Calian, looking at the rose garden full of flower buds, let out a short sigh, feeling as if all the flowers in the world would be turned off if things continued like this.
I just looked out the window without thinking, and my mood suddenly sank.
When I saw the rose, an idea came to mind.
A person I cannot avoid meeting just today. It was Randel.
As if it sensed that Calian was not in a good mood, the cat in his arms let out a strange meowing sound.
âMeong!â
âI am Prince Calianâs cat.â
The cat was now in Calianâs arms.
right.
The cat still didnât have a name.
Ravenâs name was Calian, which she chose right away, but she couldnât name the cat, and the others didnât dare to give Calianâs cat a name of their own.
Anyway, Hina left the cat known only as Prince Kalianâs cat in Kalyanâs care and went out to support the work at the square. And Jan said as he accepted the cat back from Kalian.
âYou have to go now. Get your catâs hair off.â
âhuh.â
Calian, whose eyes were still focused on the garden, nodded. Afterwards, he used magic to brush off the white cat fur that had settled on the princeâs uniform and went outside. And as always, I went to Arpia Palace accompanied by Jan and Kyrie. This is because Lemain was already at Arpia Palace and decided to welcome the princes there again this year.
âLetâs talk and come out.â
With those words, Jan and Kirie, who had sent Calian to meet Lemain, stood quietly outside Lemainâs office along with the other servants.
Then, Jan saw that there was cat fur on my clothes, and as he was taking it off, he heard the sound of clattering footsteps from afar.
Lemain and the princes were all in the office, and the servants and maids did not make a sound. Therefore, Yan raised his head to find out whose footsteps were coming and his eyes widened.
It was Chase with long blue-silver hair, and you could tell who it was just by looking at him.
Across from Lemainâs office. So, Chase, who came to Alanâs office, stopped for a moment. He then walked towards Kirie, one of the servants who showed respect to him.
âThatâs the kid I saw yesterday. He was Prince Calianâs servant.â
And then he pretended to know.
It was an unexpected situation, but since he had learned something from Yan during that time, Kirie was not embarrassed and answered politely.
âGreetings to the Crown Prince of Secretia. I am Prince Calianâs servant.â
Then Chase spoke again in a soft tone.
âI heard that your swordsmanship is very good. I also heard about what happened at that bar. The birds of Secretia are very diligent.â
âLowering.â
The knight Teilan, who was surprised to hear the story of the gambling house through Secretiaâs messenger, stopped Chase.
Kirie laughed to herself for a moment.
Calian seems to be similar to Chase in that he is good at revealing secrets. Chase was even sharing Secretiaâs secret, not even his own, so Calian should be considered better.
Anyway, Chase, who smiled slightly at Tailanâs decision, looked at Kyrie again and asked.
âIt must be fate that I remember it like this. I want to know your name.â
For a moment, Kyrie hesitated.
Yan quickly looked at Kyrie. This is because you should not hesitate when a royal asks your name. The etiquette was no different from that of the Secretariat.
Fortunately, Chase waited for Kyrie to speak without saying anything.
âThis is Kirie.â
I didnât mention my last name on purpose.
In Secretia, it was said that even commoners without surnames worked in the palace, so I thought it would be okay to just say that. But Chase tilted his head and asked again.
âDo you have any last name?â
Kirie lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly.
âMy last name is⦠Bern.â
Chaseâs eyes lit up in surprise for just a moment. However, Chase soon smiled again, nodded and opened his mouth.
âKyrie Bern. Thatâs your name.â
âYes, it is.â
Even though he wanted to get away from Chase, Chase didnât let go of Kyrie. Yan thought that he seemed to be interested in this child since he was owned by Kalian, the sword master, and was said to have strong weapons.
âThatâs a strange thing. The last name you have is a very old one that has been passed down to the royal family of Secretia. Do you know that?â
Calian never told us what the name Bern meant. I just said that I meant it in a good way, but I didnât tell the exact story.
âI donât know the words that come down to the Secretia royal family.â
An ancient language from the continent that was used long before the Two Gods War broke out. The only place where it was passed down was Secretia. So there was no way Kyrie of Kairis would let anyone know about it.
Chase also opened his mouth to explain again, as if he didnât expect Kirie to know what he meant.
âBern. It means a hero who will not be forgotten. So it would suit you well. Although it may not have any meaning in Kairis, it has a good meaning, so letâs remember it.â
âI will. Thank you.â
Iâm not thankful at all.
Youâre a hero who wonât be forgotten.
If thatâs what you really mean, then youâre completely wrong.
* * *
Alan couldnât stop the conversation between Chase and Kyrie. He
thought it would be okay, so he left it at that, but Vern is. I regretted it later when I realized that my name was even mentioned.
In the end, as soon as Kyrieâs thank you speech was over, Alan opened the office door and hurriedly called Chase.
âThe atmosphere outside is so friendly, itâs a good place to listen alone. Please eat now.â
Chase turned his head at those words, looked at Kyrie, gave a brief greeting, and followed Allen in. He left all the attendants, including Teilan, outside. The door closed and
Chase, who was sitting across from Allen, answered belatedly. âI was late to talk because I was glad to hear that here.â
â
Yes. âI was listening.â
Soon, Alan picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and put it down.
Maybe it was because of the alcohol he drank the day before, but he felt sick
. âYou still like coffee, Lord Manasil.â
He is a Baron in Secretia and Kairis. Esau was Count Alan, so he seemed to have been wondering what to call him, but decided to just use the honorific title.
âI always have a lot of work to do, so I feel anxious without this.â
âI understand. âI feel anxious when I donât have something that has always been there.â
Chase nodded and looked at Alanâs coffee cup for a moment.
When the sight of the steam rising from the coffee dissipating was repeated three or four times, Chase opened his mouth again.
â But I was always anxious when something that wasnât there before appeared.â
Alan, who had a hard time guessing what those words meant, looked at Chase.
âI forgot something I shouldnât have forgotten. I.â
This was to say that a memory that had always been forgotten came to mind. Chase, who had come all the way to a foreign country, looked at Alan.