Chapter 182

Chapter 31. Not yet (4)

I don’t know why I do this.

I don’t even know why he does it like that.

The more he thought about it, the more questions he had and the more irritated he became. It was the first time in his life that he had ever encountered a crazy guy, and he happened to be my younger brother. Because of this problem, Plants ended up feeling like he should just throw it all away and let things happen.

Well, if there were even one more guy like Calian, this world would either be truly peaceful or it would have already all been ruined. So, isn’t it truly sad and fortunate that this is the first time something like this has happened because there is only one person like him in the world?

“under.”

Plantz once again let out a sigh filled with all the things he didn’t know whether it was irritation, worry, regret, or frustration.

It was not that he did not know Kalian’s intention to end the brothers’ delicate conversation on a good note. So, Plantz, who had already lost his temper, tried to hit one of his feet in an appropriate manner.

“You’re laughing again.”

If only he didn’t laugh.

He thought about the need for a hawk instead of a pigeon, and even thought about what to do with the guy who runs away from the palace every day. If he hadn’t laughed again, Plantz would have finished the conversation well.

But that crazy guy laughed.

Calian said he knew what Chase’s condition was, and Plantz momentarily regretted saying something unnecessary and laughed like a crazy person. Calian said there was nothing to worry about, but Plantz felt that those words were somewhat uncomfortable and laughed like a crazy person.

That crazy guy couldn’t lie, Plantz was smart, and Calian was the one to laugh at. A little while ago he was laughing as if he didn’t want to live, but now he was laughing as if he was already dead.

– I was that person’s younger brother, and now I am your younger brother. I think so, but it’s not easy to act like that.

The day Chase stormed into Kairisis. He was the same guy who made the same face and smiled when he came back and barked at Chase for the first time.

So I could tell.

Something must have happened that Plantz shouldn’t know about. And Calian seems to have given up on Chase because he cared for the heart that Plantz put on the line.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to laugh with a face like that, as if it were a copy of Chase from the day he walked around the Senyu Pavilion promenade.

So Plantz realized that the bracelet was a rotten rope given to Chase, who put it down in place of Plantz’s heart, and that it was not taken out to live together, but was given to him to endure it well.

“Yeah. It won’t be easy.”

Plantz closed his eyes for a moment after saying something that not even Calian could understand. And he counted the numbers once.

When he handed over everything he had in his hands to Plantz. When I told him to blame me, he only cursed. And today.

Just thinking about the big things, he has already endured it three times.

......You crazy guy.

I don’t know if anyone will notice it because it’s been standing in the same place for a few turns, but if you look at it properly, it’s the biggest thing in the world that has turned around.

He’s a crazy guy who pretends he didn’t pay even though he knew he did.

Still, he was a real crazy person who cursed Plants as a crazy person.

– Because I’m not the kind of younger brother who is so gullible.

I guarantee you that even if you search all over the desert, you will find the only little brother who is so upset!

After making an extremely rational judgment and making a very objective impression, Plantz quietly opened his eyes.

Light green eyes scanned the table for a moment before landing on the teacup that Calian had pushed aside. Plantz, who had been silently observing this, laughed. He smiled brightly like a child.

Plantz, who was smiling a smile that made people so nervous, suddenly hardened his expression and spoke as if he was chewing.

“I know what my brother was thinking.”

Then he brought back the black tea that had been put aside and drank it without hesitation.

To bring a crazy person to his senses, you just have to be a little crazier than the crazy person. Didn’t Calian tell you about the day he grabbed the knife?

So Plantz drank every last drop of the fragrant tea, which was clearly poisonous to him. Although he was disgusted by the strong, strong scent, he was surprised at himself for a moment because it wasn’t as bad as he thought.

“What are you doing?”

Kalian asked this in response to Plantz’s sudden change in attitude. Planz, who was looking at Calian, curled one corner of his mouth and let out a drowsy voice.

“He’s like a rotten older brother.”

Plantz, who had put to good use what he had learned from Kalian, put down his teacup hard. Then he picked up the bracelet Kalian gave him and went outside.

– Boom!

So Kalyan was embarrassed.

I’m not sure what Planz knew.

I don’t even know how to deal with my teenage older brother who openly declares that he will upset his younger brother.

* * *

And Alan was also embarrassed.

This is because the second prince, like a green leaf, came out of nowhere and made an unprecedented request.

“I opened the window. I tried using a warming spell. So, I think I can do it. I’m a wizard.”

Plantz brought the bracelet that Calian took.

And then he made a request that seemed like a request. No, he made a fuss to ask for a request that felt like a request.

Alan asked, smiling slightly as he saw Planz for the first time in his life.

“What makes you say that?”

As Plantz said, Alan had once unlocked the window of Plantz’s room by breaking the Sispanian’s security spell. He had also cast various magic on Hina’s robe.

But what Plantz was saying now was more than that.

“You cannot use personal communication magic within the reach of Sispanian’s power. If you ask me to release it...”

“I.”

Plantz, who interrupted Alan, opened his mouth with a wry smile.

“I was so annoyed that no matter what I did, I would end up blocking his path, so I thought I would just sit there and do nothing.”

After saying that, Planz continued, pointing to the ruins of Heisia Palace visible from the window of Allen’s office.

“If he hadn’t done something like that in the first place, he would have lived as if he were dead. If you saved someone, you should let them live. What’s the point of letting them suffocate to death after keeping them alive?”

Alan’s eyes widened after hearing this.

He is smart, sensitive, has a picky taste, and has a fierce personality, but he listens well to Kalian. That’s because I understood very well the incoherent conversation of the second prince like Raven.

“It looks like Prince Calian has done something nasty again.”

Planz only furrowed the corners of his eyes without answering. Alan, who smiled slightly as he saw this, stood up and said.

“Please wait a moment. All I have is coffee and mint, so I’ll ask you to prepare another tea.”

I was saying this because I couldn’t even serve the car yet, thanks to Plantz, who started spewing out inappropriate words as soon as I arrived.

“...... Mint.”

Actually, coffee was better, but the rich, dark apple sweetness was still lingering in my mouth, so Plantz responded like this. Then, I frowned at Alan, who was showing the same expression he had towards the only friend who plays with my problem-prone child.

Alan smiled at Plantz and prepared tea in one corner of the office. The clear sunlight shining from the sunny window entered the sofa and landed on Plantz’s hair. The rattling sound wasn’t bad to hear.

“Devlan is like a snake.”

After some time, the silence was broken and this story was heard. It was a name that Devlan Flanz was also familiar with. He was always evaluated as a cool-headed, relentless, and challenging person who never made a mistake.

“I don’t know if you know, but as soon as he ascended to the throne of crown prince, he was the one who beheaded his brothers and sisters with his own hands.”

With a click, a cup of warm tea was placed in front of Planz. A very light mint scent passed by.

“There are many people in the world. There are some who do not even know what the purple flower represents, but there are also those who can relax only when the source of distrust is removed.”

Birds that constantly observe the movements of other countries. Endless doubts.

“All I know is how to protect someone by hurting myself, because all I do is protect my brother from my father, who protects himself by hurting someone. So don’t think that’s too mean.”

Plantz, who was watching Alan talking like that, answered quietly.

“No. I know.”

I don’t know what he grew up watching or what he did for a living, but I knew why he was like that. So how can you think of that as being mean? It’s frustrating and irritating.

“A bracelet. I’m sending it to the Crown Prince of Secretia.”

Alan looked a little surprised at those words. Plantz seemed to be swallowing the thought of whether that was really a good thing, so he opened his mouth again.

“Instead of a cat.”

If you understand what I mean by sending a bracelet to Chase instead of a cat, it’s Kalian. At least Alan had enough vocabulary to communicate normally.

Plantz, realizing that he did not understand what he said, added an explanation.

“Wizard. I want you to save your son. You have the power.”

Alan, who had never expected to hear the word “son” here, from Plantz’s mouth, looked surprised. And then he answered in a soft voice.

“That’s right.”

Looking at the light-emitting mint tea, Plantz frowned, thinking of a certain guy.

I thought that I would continue to do my job regardless of whether I blocked his path again or not, so you should take care of it regardless of whether it was a pain or not.

Because I won’t live by just receiving what is given to me.

Because it’s different from Chase.

* * *

After that, time passed as if nothing had happened.

Kalian and Planz still ate together occasionally and sat across from each other almost every day, looking through a stack of papers and racking their brains.

In the basement of Heisia Palace, I searched through the sculptures on the walls. Arsene, a wizard with a lot of work to do, came once or twice and stayed up all night.

There was no correspondence from Chase. Planz apparently sent the letter through Sejak, so he must have caught the hawk flying in the sky, or maybe Chase was taking a while to remember the axis of time.

The ring on Calian’s index finger shone.

On the third floor of the Chermil Palace, Planz, who was more curious about why Lucy kept pressing her thigh than the origin of the letters written on the paper, curled up one corner of his mouth. Then he got up and went outside without saying a word, holding Lucy in his arms.

– Prince Calian.

A time when the blue stars and silver moon in the sky shined like a dream.

A dreamy voice that I never thought I would hear so quickly in a place like this rang in my head.

Calian quietly got up and went out to the terrace.

It didn’t take long to understand who caused this situation, and it took a little longer to understand what he was doing this for.

-I received a letter from Prince Plants saying that Prince Calian had a question for me and asked me to speak to him directly. I was late to get help from Lord Castrin because I didn’t know how to use magic.

... Damn you.

I didn’t tell you that I needed to remember the axis of time.

What I’m saying is, if you need to, do it yourself.

I’m not going to do it, so you should do it yourself.

If you can do it even after hearing that voice, give it a try.

– ah.......

Kalian raised his hands and covered his face.

For a moment, I felt like I was dreaming.

– Prince Calian?

Without even preparing my mind, I heard the same voice I heard in my dream one day, and it felt like I was dreaming.

I forgot what I had to say, I forgot what I could say, and I covered my face like that.

When the silver moon shines under the black sky, Bern’s long hair, which shimmered like starlight, kept coming back to me and covering my face.

Do you think that if you close those memories, they will close?

I forgot what I was going to say because I felt like I could hear a crazy person asking that question.

– I am.

– Let’s talk. Anything. Because it’s okay.

Calian’s shoulders shook for just a moment as he answered without even knowing what he was going to say.

– Not yet.

Like the dawn when birds with folded wings were crying, Kalian held his breath once more.

The sea was not far from the grave of Bern’s mother, Queen Diana.

“The nobles must be talking a lot.”

Nobles talk a lot anyway.

A brother who gives the sea as a birthday present to her younger sister. Obviously, many more words were going to be said.

Chase shrugged her shoulders.

“It was Arianne’s property, so don’t worry. I secretly gave it to her like this so she wouldn’t notice.”

Arianne, a long-time friend of the two brothers and Chase’s fiancée. That she would keep her secret that she had sold this little beach of her own to her 1st prince. And she said that there would be no problem since she brought Verne this early in the morning to avoid the eyes of others.

In the end, Bern could no longer refuse and decided to accept this great gift. Even though it hadn’t been long since she lost her mother, she didn’t know that she was worried about Bern, who didn’t show much, and was taking care of him.

I really liked this gift, which was close to my mother and had the gentle sound of waves and a nice smell.

“No matter when you come, there will be no one there, so you can come whenever you want. Come anytime, rest, and play. Just do that.”

Running on a sandy beach was more difficult than on bare ground. Chase spoke quietly as he looked at Bern, who often thought about coming here to run or practice.

“It’s a good place even if you don’t have to do anything. Sometimes, no. It’s okay to do it often, so come anytime and have a comfortable time. I hope so.”

Now only fourteen years old.

The only younger brother who is overly mature.

It was a voice that expressed in every word the pity he felt for his younger brother.

Bern spent most of the day with his knight Teilan. He held the sword every day until the blisters burst and his blood leaked. Except for those few days when she lost her mother, he always held his sword.

Chase knew who he was doing it for.

She didn’t know how much blood was already on her hands, but she knew that much. She gifted the sea to her younger brother. I meant that it wouldn’t be good to take a breather and rest.

Bern just laughed.

He likes to listen to the sound of waves coming and going.

I like the fishy smell of the salty sea, not the fishy smell of blood.

“Bern.”

Chase, who was looking at Bern like that, quietly called out to him. Vern, who looked just like Chase, only with longer hair and lighter eye color, looked at Chase.

“...I guess I don’t want you to become a knight. Would that be difficult?”

“At one point, you said it was good because it was reliable.”

“I didn’t know that was serious.”

Bern smiled and responded.

“You know you can’t lie.”

“I didn’t even know that at the time. Did I know that you would really do it?”

“It’s already too late. What can I do with a good sword?”

In terms of stubbornness, Chase and Bern were the same. There was no difference as it wasn’t just their faces that resembled each other. So this time Chase sighed.

Dark sea.

All the blue light had faded, and now, even in the darkness, where only the moonlight and starlight were distant, she could see her brother’s hand very clearly. I was wondering if my hand was the only one full of wounds, but I couldn’t say anything more because I was particularly upset. The sound of the waves, as quiet as Chase’s voice, replaced the swallowed words.

“I will come often. I will receive your gift well, brother.”

She is a bright and thoughtful child.

She is my precious younger sister who I always feel sorry for.

“How did it come to this?”

Voices like a windy forest were scattered over the waves.

Chase’s short blue-silver hair swayed with the wind and then fell into place. Bern’s long blue-silver hair followed suit.

“That spot is yours.”

The day Bern turned fourteen.

When the sun comes up, Devlan said he would give the crown to Chase. I guess that bothered me again.

“It’s not my place.”

The seat where the owner of this land sits.

A place where the blood of the sacred sits and protects the sacred land.

The subject of terrible contradictions, where some people bleed to have that position and others bleed to not have that position.

“It doesn’t matter whose it is.”

A place that really doesn’t matter who it belongs to.

However, in order for both of them to live, this place must belong to Chase. So, for Bern, it is a position that is not coveted at all.

“I don’t want to have it.”

Bern said this and took a deep breath.

To capture even a little more of the fishy smell of the sea.

* * *

Where all the central nobles gathered, Devlan said only one word.

He said he would put Chase on top.

He gave no further explanation.

“Isn’t this the rebirth of a concubine?”

The nobles rebelled.

Despite Devlan’s power, he nevertheless rebelled.

Because Devlan wanted it.

Because everyone knew that even though he mentioned Chase, his eyes were on Bern.

“No matter how much you call him the 1st prince, how can you say such a thing about the 2nd prince, who is the queen’s son?”

The backlash was just fierce.

There was no other rational reason, but Devlan said nothing.

He just looked down at Bern quietly.

‘where. ‘Try to win this too.’

Bern’s eyes turned cold.

Devlan, who never spoke to Bern alone because he was reluctant to see Bern’s murderous behavior, turned his head to avoid his son’s eyes.

When Bern becomes crown prince, Chase dies. The nobles will try to completely break Chase’s huge wings that he has shown so far.

never.

As for.

This shouldn’t happen.

Because of that crown, because of that throne.

Losing Chase would be ridiculous.

Tap, tap, tap.

Bern’s fingertips tapped the table.

The nobles’ eyes focused on Bern as the sound continued again and again.

Devlan also looked at Bern. Bern also looked at Devlan.

Bern’s fingertips moved in a circular motion.

Bern’s mouth drew a long arc along the end.

‘Let’s try blocking this too.’

father.

– Grumble

The heavy chair was pushed back.

The gazes of the nobles followed.

A sharp edge appeared in Devlan’s eyes.

– Jeopuk

One step.

His high, long hair swayed with his steps, but that was it. Nothing else was shaken except that.

“Bern. Stop.”

I heard Devlan’s voice.

For the first and last time, I disobey Devlan.

– Jeopuk

Another step.

Straight and without stopping.

Only towards Chase.

I walked.

Chase smiled, already realizing what his brother was going to do. He knows very well why he cannot say no, because he does not know why he must do so.

He smiled so painfully that even if he died, I would never forget it.

“... Wake up.”

A low voice.

“Please listen to my pledge.”

Bern’s low voice.

It was a typhoon.

Chase quietly stood up and his purple eyes captured the image of his younger brother kneeling on one knee and bowing his head.

“I, Bern Secretia, in the name of Serenti, pledge allegiance to Prince Chase Secretia, my only master.”

The knight’s oath was protected by Serenti, so once it began, no one could stop it.

“My sword will be used for my master, my shield will block my master’s path, and my death will precede my master’s.”

Therefore, no one could stop Bern from speaking.

“Please allow me to die fighting for my master with the honor of a knight.”

The prince with the power of blood got down on his knees to save his brother, who lacked just that one thing.

Chase couldn’t beat Bern like that.

He never got over that stubbornness.

The sound of the waves of the black sea passed Chase’s ears.

“allow.......”

The salty, fishy smell of the sea filled Bern’s mind. As long as I didn’t forget it, I could endure the smell of blood as many times as I wanted.

“I will allow it.”

Thus, Bern became a knight.

He laid down his bid for the throne and became a Knight of the Chase.

As the king’s younger brother, the king’s subject, and the king’s knight. With all his might, he only wanted to protect Chase. Because he sincerely hoped to live and die like that.

* * *

Chase the pure white bird of prey.

As the name suggests, I hope that he will become a king who is not tainted by anything dirty and will remain as the sole light of this land.

all other darkness

I will gladly accept it as a portion just for me.