137 < Chapter 24. cornerstone of understanding (9) >

Dark brown or pale black.

Whatever it was, it tasted bitter in the coffee.

I was only able to enjoy the flavor later, but when I drank coffee for the first time as a child, I did not really like the aroma and its bitterness. If it smells sweet and bitter, it should taste bitter. What's the bitter taste with such a pungent aroma?

- You've done enough.

Ironically, Arsen said the same thing to Bern that day. I don't know if it meant the same thing, but I heard it from Chase again.

Because Chase's horse smells good on his nose and tastes like coffee on his mouth, Calian smiles quietly.

"· · · · · · Thank you."

It's not that you don't know what Chase is talking about. I answered confidently because I knew. Because I knew, I received Chase's will without saying anything else.

That's enough.

A thankful thing to hear with your ears.

A word that breaks your heart as soon as it fills your heart.

How can that be enough?

No matter how much I did or how much I did, I ended up with nothing but tragedy. It's a tragedy.

How can that be enough?

Callian swallowed another cup of coffee that had already been enjoyed by the forgotten. Then I turned my head and looked out the window. Calian opens his mouth, gazing up at the falling fountain without hesitation.

"Are you not hungry?"

Come to think of it, I didn't even eat breakfast.

Therefore, it is not because of the words I just heard, but because of the coffee I drank in an empty stomach. Short hair feels particularly empty because it's just empty inside.

Let's not pretend we're sentimental, we don't know when we'll see Chase again. Let's just eat. I thought so.

Chase smiles at the words that he still gives out of nowhere.

* * *

Remain nods favorably.

"Yes, I understand."

He suddenly came to me without sending the acolyte first, and headed towards Plants, where he had really confidently put his affairs in order.

As expected, Remain did not object to having my knights under Plants' control.

"But · · · · · · · · · ·."

Only one thing I wanted to check was Remain opened his mouth again like this. Earl Evan Brissen could not have freely given up the rule of the two knights. This is why.

- Knock, knock.

However, a knock on the door prevented Remain from speaking.

It was the Grand Chamberlain Raoul. Even though I know I'm talking to Plants, tapping the door means that it's important. That's why Remain gave Plants the attention he needed to wait a while before sending Raul in.

Raul has a note in his hand. That's why it was hard to deliver news in front of Plants.

Le Maine turns her head and looks at Plants as she sees Raul's message for a moment.

"Callian stepped into the Rubia coffin. It's not my day yet."

There was so much in his voice and expression.

Remain did his best to unravel it, but it turned into something more like "this little bastard ran away again" in Plants' eyes. One of Plants' mouths rises blindly.

I know that Khalian and Randall met as expected this morning. I also saw Kalyan standing alone in the garden and Randall coming out of the rose garden.

So if Callian had visited Chase like he was never going to see him again, there must be a reason.

"There seemed to be a blockage in the sword."

That's why Plants said:

I don't know why you're here, but it's better for Remain to think he has something to do with Calian and Chase.

I was thinking about what I would say if I were curious why I went to see him today, but Le Maine surprised me when I took a moment to look at Plants' words. He nodded with a face like that.

"Yes. Where did you hear I was leaving tomorrow?"

I've been watching Slayman for a long time, so I'm familiar with Remain's predisposition toward the sword catchers.

Slayman got pretty worked up after meeting Sherry and getting married. Nevertheless, he said he'd fight back and took a foreign knight to the training ground in Balkan. You have no idea how important the Balkans are.

That's why I have no doubt that Callian went to Tailan because he was blocked by the sword. Of course, it was worth it. I didn't think it was innocent.

"Why are you being so impulsive? This time I'm going to kick your ass."

"The prince of Cecritia has decided to return tomorrow."

Plants asked, pretending not to hear Remain. Remain nods, not realizing that he was trying to change his mind.

"Yes, that's what they told me yesterday."

Remain, however, was somewhat embarrassed. It was because Plants realized it was the first time he had asked questions.

Remain's awkward silence shifts for a moment in the Oval Office because Remain was unable to bring out the following words immediately. Remaining in a hurry to recall the original story, Le Maine opened her mouth with a worried face.

"Yes, what I was going to say before would not have been easy for the Earl of Brissen to give it up. I want to know how I got it."

The expression of surprise appeared on Plants' face for a moment and disappeared. Le Maine had not seen it, but it was certainly 'astonishing'. Le Maine, who thinks a lot but doesn't know a thing, has come up with something quite sharp.

Plants answered without a worry.

"The seal of the oath. It wasn't a contract you should be worried about."

I did not hide the truth.

It was meant to remind my father that he still has more to reflect on than why he should have nothing to hide from Remain. Though it already seemed to reflect on every day, it was still far away from Plants' eyes.

Le Maine's expression was cold in Plants' reply. I rolled my hands for a moment and exhaled for a long time.

Once an oath is made, it cannot be broken. That way, I couldn't blame my son who stabbed me in the heart. It's because I knew that Plants had made the same choice as he had risked my life to drink a single tea. where I have to risk my life to get something out of it.

"Yes, I would risk my life because all I have is my life." "

I was going to say I'm sorry, but I couldn't say it again. I couldn't apologize, not because of my pride.

After closing your eyes a little, Plants says small.

"You may do so. Apologize."

And Plants replied:

The voice is so bold that Remain has lost his words.

Plants just grew up. I've grown too much.

I remember Alan saying that his granddaughter who used to come to the waist dance would have grown more by now.

Le Maine was unable to apologize for her childhood experience with Plants.

"Thank you."

That's all I had to say.

Plants suddenly understood that it was an apple.

* * *

The chef used to heat up the food in Cecretia.

I didn't think it would happen here, but Kalian and Chase didn't feel bad about it. It was because the food was not all conversational enough, and it was not a lot to talk about.

Callian, who made fun of the fork and knife for a while, opens his mouth.

"Congratulations in advance, improvisation."

Chase's hands pause. Khalian speaks without a word about Devlan.

"It's hard for me to celebrate in person."

It was the throne of a country.

As a result, the royal family of other countries did not often visit with congratulations. But when Chase was immortal, the royal family did not come. It was because Ri Manmuh, who was the only prince in Tensyl, was going to Cecretia, and so was Libern.

And Cairys was two princes, but neither of them visited. There was no reason for anyone to take risks in an undefined situation.

It's natural.

It is rather strange that Chase came here to celebrate Remain's birthday, which he returns every year. It was curious how you convinced the Devil.

"I know. Thank you."

Chase replied briefly.

Then he stared at the food on the plate for a moment. Callian feels it, looking at Chase.

Chase's words came out a long time later.

"I know this place is changing a lot. Even more so from now on."

It was all happening at the end of Calian's hands.

Arsen was loyal to Plants and Kalian, who sat with his legs twisted and said only what he wanted to say. Le Maine, who started trying. And then he stood among the roses swaying in the wind and stared at himself.

Chase thought of them one by one.

"Am I going to get hurt to understand everyone? I'm worried about that."

One of the wizards from the Balkans burned down Cecretia. So even if it's not Plants, it's not Arsen.

After all, everyone here is a sword to Bern.

How much it will hurt to hold them all.

I don't know how long it lasted. I can't even fathom how much it hurts.

Callian looks at Chase, unable to follow behind with his calm, red eyes. After another while, I opened my mouth quietly.

"· · · · · · · Hina."

Hina.

I put that name on my mouth.

"Her sister's name is Hina. He's got long ears, he's cut off, he can't talk, but he yells at me with a harpoon, he likes birds, he likes dogs. He also takes good care of cats, and he writes very well, especially on the collar of cats. Eat ice cream well. And laugh well."

And then I started saying this without a fight.

Even so, Chase listens carefully to not miss a word.

"· · · · · · · is alive."

I found Kyrie, knowing she was reckless and dangerous as she was dying. Hina was with him.

He was alive.

That was the light for Callian. Salvation and hope. Healing.

"So it's okay."

I'm not sick. I'm fine.

Chase sighs shallow, seeing red eyes that are no longer bright and twisted.

I'm not saying it's okay because it's okay.

It's not really okay, it's just that it's holding on well to the light that it's guarded.

"Do me a favor, Prince Kalian."

Calian nods quietly.

"This time · · · · · · · · When there is nothing left to protect. I want you to protect yourself then. Is it too much to ask?"

I knew what Bern was like.

Since we've only done what we keep, we have nothing to do but keep things for the purpose of our lives. So if there is nothing left to protect, you will lose the place where your unstoppable feet are headed. I knew Bern was like that.

This time, the red eyes stared at the purple ones. Kalian opens his mouth with a face with a much smoother eye than that of Bern.

"I'm not sure the day will come when I have nothing to protect."

He said he wanted to live, so he decided to keep the grass eater alive with a face he didn't even want to live.

We need to know why he did what he did, and to do that, we need to keep the underdog staring at his father-in-law all the time. That way we can protect all brothers in the past and brothers in the present.

"Actually, there's one thing I haven't told Prince Chase."

"What is it?"

There's only one thing I haven't told you, though.

"Coffee, I hate it. It doesn't smell like roasted beans, it smells like Renee."

Callian smiled, his eyes tightening in his head, and said, "You never know when you'll see him again."

"Not Bern, who used to love coffee, but Kalian, who hates coffee, will walk well even if he has nothing left to protect."

You hear a stream of water splashing across the fountain.

Chase felt that one day it was grim, but now it's even cleaner. I realize that the sunlight caught in the gushing droplets floats the rainbow.

Chase smiles at Calian, not Bern, with a lighter face.

"I'll treat you to something else next time. What does Prince Kalian like?"

"Mint tea, so next time you see it, give me mint tea."

And don't forget,