Chapter 54. Wildfire (3)


    I felt something had changed in his behavior.


    That’s what Chase thought as he watched Den, who had called him into the office, take a sip of tea with a nonchnt look on his face.


    “You’ve changed a lot.”


    But Den said this and looked at Chase.


    Today, Den didn’t leave Chase alone for a long time and even drank tea, which he had never used before, without hesitation. By showing such a different attitude, it seems like Chase has changed.


    “I think that’s what I have to say.”


    “Would I change anything?”


    “Aren’t you alone with me and not apanied by an escort?”


    “You are saying something strange. A father is meeting his son, but he is an escort driver.”


    Feeling like he had nothing to say in response, Chase just nodded and Den coughed a few times. After that, he continued talking as if nothing had happened.


    “Anyway. It looks like Lord Castrin has been very busy. He’s meeting nobles and interrogating the president of the association himself. I can’t help but feel that he’s changed since he’s doing things he wouldn’t have done if it were him before.”


    “It hasn’t changed.”


    “If not, are you greedy for the throne?”


    “… Since my father is on the throne, it could be seen as an eye for the throne. To be precise, rather than saying it is just the throne, it is more correct to say that it is a desire to put back all the wrong things that my father changed.”


    “What can I do if it looks wrong to you? It won’t look that bad to those who are used to what I changed.”


    Chase smiled softly.


    “Are you giving an answer to the rumors that are spreading outside the royal pce? No matter what you hear, I guess I can understand this as saying that in the end, others will not believe the rumors to be true.”


    “There were rumors going around. I didn’t know they were like that. No matter what the rumors are, won’t everyone eventually follow the truth?”


    “Are you talking about the truth as a created image that nobles have been ustomed to for over 20 years?”


    Like an ordinary father, Den has nothing to hide from his son. Nevertheless, his son Chase coveted his father’s throne. Den was acting like that right now.


    So it was as if Den was giving an answer to Chase’s actions.


    No matter how much we tell the nobles about who Den really is, there will be no change in the deep-rooted thoughts in their hearts. He is harsh when punishing, but steadfast when awarding rewards. That is Den’s ‘true appearance’ in the eyes of the nobles, so wouldn’t they think that the soldiers who died, the noble force’s affairs, Louise’s incident, and what Chase experienced all had a justifiable reason in the end?


    In a word, he is telling Chase not to waste his time since he will think that Den is only severely punishing him for greedy for his father’s position.


    “Isn’t that a contradiction? If you consider something full of lies to be the truth, then those lies be the truth.”


    “Even if something is made up of lies, if you believe it with confidence, what else is it but the truth?”


    “It’s not the truth, it’s a deception.”


    “Is there a difference? I don’t know.”


    “There is no evidence for deception, but there is evidence for truth.”


    Chase looked at Den for a moment. And like Den, he took a sip of tea, put it down, and opened his mouth again.


    “I know that my father moved a force named Zeon through the president of the association. The president of the association has all admitted it, and I also have evidence of it in my hands. Materials given to me by my mother What my mother experienced Assassination of the crown prince and prince of Kairis We also have all the evidence of what we were trying to do.”


    “It’s proof. You’ve gained a lot in that time.”


    “Yes. I gained a lot.”


    “Are you thinking that you can gain my position with just such things?”


    “I feel like I don’t have to endure it any longer.”


    Den let out augh.


    “You were patient. That’s an interesting thing to say. I never specifically taught you to be patient.”


    “Instead of teaching me, you tied me up with various things.”


    “I thought you were a weak and gentle child, so I just protected you.”


    “He just wanted to make her a soft and gentle person. He shook the lives of the queen, her mother, the Marquis de Lynn, Lord Arianne Castrine, nobles, and countless other people, and made everyone, including me, persevere.”


    “It seems like you think that’s wrong.”


    “It was wrong. Since I realized it toote, I n to move without further dy.”


    “It’s a shame. I never thought I’d hear those words from someone else’s mouth, but you.”


    “That’s not the sad part.”


    Chase quietly looked down at a cornflower floating on the teacup. Soon a calm voice followed.


    “Everyone except you is hoping for an end for you. I feel sad about that because I feel like that end will never be clean.”


    “The end. I don’t really like that.”


    “I know. I also know that my father will not like what I say until the end.”


    “That’s a good thing. I won’t be disappointed.”


    “I have already been disappointed too much. Since I have no more expectations, I will no longer have to disappoint my father.”


    After hearing Chase’s answer, Den nodded again and coughed again.


    “Okay. I don’t think there’s anything more to say, so please leave.”


    “Yes. I’ll see you at the celebration tonight.”


    Chase, who answered as if he had nothing to regret, stood up. And after showing a mild example, he went out.


    Den, seeing that Chase’s attitude had clearly changed, let out a longugh. After that, I sat back in front of the desk as if nothing had happened and picked up the document I was looking at a moment ago.


    – Pk.


    Den’s eyes stopped while he was skimming through the documents.


    There is news that a sudden cold wave has struck a region named Nedzen in the northwest of Secretia, causing all crops to be harvested the following spring to freeze. There was a request at the end asking for permission to postpone the taxes in the affected area for three months and pay them with interest instead.


    The generous King Den has always been generous with such matters, so it would be easy to allow it. However, Den picked up another document without signing that he would allow it.


    – Pk.


    – Tick tock tick tock.


    As I pursed my lips and turned over a new document, I heard the sound of paper fluttering. Suddenly, as I listened to the sound, I heard the sound of a clock ticking.


    Three months of spring tax following cold wave crops.


    I opened a new document, but my thoughts stopped. The sound of the second hand passes through my mind, one word at a time. A deep smile appears on Den’s lips as he quietly reflects on it.


    -Tap!


    In the end, Den turned over the stack of paper he was looking at and turned his gaze towards the clock. My brown eyesnded on the silver second hand that moved steadily, rather than the luxurious clock decorated with tinum and sapphires.


    The flow of thoughts is like a fire spreading on the wind blowing across a field, and its spread is difficult to change or stop. Even in Den’s head, thoughts that are difficult to change or stop continue to flow.


    ‘The coronation ceremony of the new King Secretia will be held in February next year.’


    yes.


    I heard that. I.


    Memories of what he had done when thete King of Secretia died came to mind.


    The king’s coronation ceremony is not held on the day of the previous king’s death or the day after. It takes time from immediately after the death of the previous king for an event called the coronation ceremony to be held, apart from naming the sessor of the previous king as the new ‘king’.


    The same goes for Den.


    Den also ascended to the throne immediately after the death of the previous king. Then, they informed the nobles and the royal families of each country that the owner of the throne had changed and prepared a coronation ceremony. It took just two months for the coronation ceremony to take ce after ascending to the throne.


    Two months.


    okay. It took two months.


    – Tick tock tick tock.


    Time passes.


    Den no longer falls asleep under the influence of poisonous scents. So, the rate of development of the disease will probably be slower than in the past. maybe.


    maybe.


    maybe.


    How long will it be dyed?


    Come to think of it, NedGen asked me to postpone taxes.


    ‘Everyone is hoping for the end of their father.’


    Am I the one receiving the taxes paid three monthster? or not.


    – Tick tock tick…….


    Is it Chase?


    * * *


    The strong and the weak.


    If someone asks Kalian, ‘Are you strong?’ Kalyan will of course answer yes.


    Calian would be said to be strong, not only with n and Ten, but also with many wizards including Arsene and several knights including Kyrie. but.


    “The knife used to cut meat is so weak… It must have been made by Tensil.”


    A high-quality knife made for cutting meat.


    However, he said that it was extremely weak.


    Calian raised his head with a rxed face and blinked. I did it because I was wondering if I was seeing something wrong again, but unfortunately, everything was true.


    “Prince.”


    Calian quietly lowered his eyes and thought, ignoring Kyrie’s voiceing from beside him. No matter what anyone says, Calian is a reasonably reasonable adult.


    That bastard, who is almost weaker than a knife, is like a foxtail stalk, no, he is not a scoundrel, he is not my brother, I can’t cut his plump waist in pieces, so let’s pretend that I have reced him with this, and I, a generous and rational person, should put up with it. Why should I put up with this now?


    “Prince Calian.”


    Our Hina, who should be with her mother, who is being escorted by Ten, dressed very nicely today. No, that’s not it. Why is our Hina over there?


    Even when the sun sets and the moon shatters, the whole world is bright as long as there is Hina, who is the brightest person in the world. But now, until this day, until this day, my brother, you bastard, you wait a minute.


    “Breathe, prince.”


    “I’m fine. I’m fine. Just wait a moment.”


    I made just one mistake.


    I’m going to make a mistake just once in the blink of an eye.


    As people live, they make some mistakes, and when they do, they end up screwing someone over, but I guess it’s okay because I have a lot of older brothers anyway.


    “Not now.”


    Of course, Kirie wasn’t doing this because she was feeling fine right now. It’s just that he had a little more sense than Calian, and Calian was stopping Kyrie because he didn’t give any other orders.


    Seeing this, Rachel was taken aback, Euria watched with interest, and A took a sip of the wine in front of her. And Arsene gently picked up the knife that had been sliced into smooth pieces and put it in the wizard’s pocket. I have a second favorite item.


    Anyway, that was it.


    Kirie stopped our Hina, who was shining brightly like a morning star next to the crown prince with foxtail-colored hair, and Kalian, who had not a drop of blood in his blood. Let me point out once again that he is Hina’s older brother.


    Anyway, the good news is that thanks to Arsene’s silence, which was quickly realized as soon as nts introduced Hina, Calian’s voice did not reach the ears of anyone other than the group present. Calian’s words and thoughts were by no means clean, but he still had a wless smile on his face. And one more thing.


    “There was more than one thing to celebrate.”


    Kalian was trying to find the broken knife, but couldn’t find it, and was trying to pick up the fork that was next to him, when a miraculous voice that brought him back to his senses, which he had left home alone, fell into his ears.


    “I’m a little surprised because I haven’t heard any news about him. I’m sorry I didn’t know about him beforehand.”


    “It’s okay. I would be grateful if you could congratte me.”


    Calian’s heart melted from sorrow. The noble crown prince, who knew but probably didn’t care as much as Coco poop, answered calmly.


    The nobles looked at nz with unfamiliar eyes in a calm atmosphere, wondering if the Crown Prince who had been causing such a fuss by asking why he didn’t wish me a happy birthday was right.


    “It is right to congratte you, so I should say hello. I sincerely congratte you. By the way, you are Viscount Bern…” As


    that name came out of Den’s mouth, Calian, who hadpletelye to his senses, took a breath once again. While enduring and enduring, Den’s words continued.


    “You don’t look familiar. It’s a face I’ve never seen before.”


    A deep smile appeared on Den’s lips.


    – I have a favor to ask you.


    – say.


    – Would it be difficult for you to pretend to be my fiancé just for a moment while you are in Secretia? I think His Majesty the King here will somehow summon me and ask for treatment.


    – Anyway, the crown prince and my brother will take care of it myself, so why?


    – There are not many people in the world who only act righteously. Even in other countries, it is not easy to refuse the king’s request on behalf of the person involved. Even if they are crown princes or princes.


    – so.


    – If you are in a position of great influence, you will experience a lot of things, but other people will not be able to mess with you. And since this happened because I followed my own will, I want to resolve it well.


    It wasn’t because of you that your identity was discovered, but even if it was your fault, I wanted to ask why you were using it when you said you would solve your problem. But surprisingly, the gentle crown prince just nodded instead of weighing the pros and cons.


    – okay. sun.


    – thank you. Instead, I will not receive any medical expenses during that time.


    I now know that, like Demirea’s bananas, debt was piling up for Hina’s treatment. To be precise, I thought it was being paid with the enormous sry of the Balkans.


    …… I guess not.


    The sry was a sry, and the treatment costs for the two brothers must have been separate expenses. I was about to ask why he was telling me that only now, but surprisingly, the really gentle crown prince just nodded his head again.


    – okay.


    If the cost of ntz’s treatment is worth the crown prince’s name, I think Calian will have to sell Kairis to pay off his debt. So now I’m wondering where I can raise a cat.


    Kalian didn’t know that by taking Hina and Kirie out of the gambling house, he was already paying for their lifelong medical treatment in advance.


    Anyway, Hina proposed and ntz epted.


    Kalian seeded in using a lifetime of patience.


    “Because he was a man of rare ability, he apanied me unnoticed.”


    “Is he a person whose abilities are precious?”


    “That’s right.”


    Kalian held back.


    While Den and nz were talking, I saw Hina’s strong face and vaguely understood that the current situation was the result of Hina’s efforts to ‘avoid harm’. So I didn’t make a mistake. This time too.


    “Now that you say that, I’m curious. Can I ask what kind of ability he had that allowed him to cross the border by hiding it so much?”


    “…… majesty.”


    Light green eyes turned to Den.


    “Why are you showing so much interest in the person who will be my wife? Isn’t that rude?”


    ntz couldn’t stand it.


    For a moment, silence filled the banquet hall once again. The crown prince’s answer, which seemed calmer than expected, was so rude that everyone was left speechless.


    At that time, Calian called out to ntz with a stiff expression on his face.


    “Brother… Your Majesty ntz.”


    The gazes of the nobles, Hina of the Kairis people, Chase of the nts, and Den all turned towards Calian. Calian spoke in a low voice just enough for everyone to hear.


    “Please be careful with your words and actions, even just here.”


    One corner of nz’s mouth rose.


    ntz, who looked like he had no idea who was talking about who was talking about who just saw his weak brother cut into pieces with a knife, opened his mouth.


    “My brother is trying to teach me again.”


    “Isn’t His Majesty the King here just showing interest in the healer of Kairis? Reacting too sensitively could actually be a great disrespect.”


    Den’s ruling style, which took root for over 20 years, brought the nobles’ thinking to a halt. I lived with such silence that it was difficult to easily reveal my suspicions about Den based on a single rumor. I was so scared that I couldn’t think of moving easily and believed that only what was shown was the truth. I built a wall in my heart.


    The more people like that, the more likely they are to break down in front of new things they have never seen before.


    “Is this my rudeness?”


    “Yes. Brother, your Majesty was rude.”


    “okay.”


    For example, a crown prince who casually mentions the rudeness of another country’s king, or the crown prince’s younger brother who does not hesitate to point out the crown prince’s rudeness.


    “I was wrong. I should reflect on it.”


    “Thank you for listening.”


    “You should listen carefully. My brother is always right.”


    And it’s like nodding your head to a subordinate’s admonition without saying anything.


    “Crown Prince nz. Your Majesty is seriously ill. I hope you do not misunderstand that I am only showing interest because of that. In the end, this is an event prepared for the amicable rtionship between the two countries, so it would be better for us to forget about each other and move on.”


    The words I heard when the wall that had filled my heart so tightly copsed.


    “Isn’t that right, father?”


    It bes truth.