Chapter 57. Please (1)


    came out of the King’s office.


    I went down the stairs and came out of the main pce. After looking at the begonia garden where red flowers were in full bloom for a while, I turned around. I didn’t pass by the begonia garden, nor did I pass by the beautiful fountain and neat maze of garden corridors. That ce belonged to the king, so anyone who was not permitted by the king to walk there could not go out of the pce through that road.


    The knights of the royal pce were standing here and there.


    As we approached him, all the knights turned their backs on Den. It was one of thews of the knights to let them know that when a new king came to power through a method other than death or abdication, they would no longer look upon the previous lord.


    I passed in front of the first annex behind the main pce.


    All the curtains in the annex were drawn. Den noticed that all the curtains were ck, and a long smile appeared on his lips.


    When I left the back gate of the pce in silence.


    “Your Majesty the King.”


    There was only one person approaching Den, who had everyone’s back turned. A person wearing a ck leather suit with sea-colored hair tied up. It was A.


    It wasn’t a name, but Den turned his head at the unfamiliar title. A looked at Den’s locked eyes for a moment, then walked slowly without even lowering her head. Ten did not stop A.


    “Were you nning to say hello to me even if it was something you couldn’t say?”


    “I n to hand over what I couldn’t return.”


    E said this and slowly moved her hands.


    A’s hand was gently lifted and touched her sea-colored hair. A, who was slowly running her hand through her long, tied up hair, ced her hand on the beautiful hairpin that held her hair in ce.


    Ten still did not stop the action and just watched silently as A, who had pulled out the hairpin, took a step in front of Den.


    E, who spoke calmly, walked in front of Den again and handed him the hairpin filled with deadly poison.


    “Is that what you couldn’t give me?”


    “That’s right.”


    “Your new owner will not feel at ease if he finds out that you came to me on your own and gave me something like this.”


    “You don’t have to worry. I told you toe back.”


    Den epted it without hesitation.


    After staring at it for a while, a sleepyugh came out of the mouth.


    “Your new master is truly thoughtful.”


    In the abyss, you cannot hurt yourself.


    You can’t strangle yourself or stab a blunt de made by scraping and grinding a stone wall into your heart. It is impossible to swallow the deadly poison inside the water droplet headdress.


    Either they refuse the food sent down to them and die from dryness, or they spend little by little and be worn out and die. That is the only ce allowed.


    “Calian.”


    So is this an opportunity you are giving?


    Or is it a terrible curse from you?


    Den couldn’t bear to stab it down his throat right here. I just looked down at the hairpin while holding it in my hand and put it in my jacket pocket.


    “It’s a curse.”


    A curse that tells me to look back on this moment until thest moment because the person who so easily broke other people’s lives regretted my own life so much. A curse that forces a person who has never regretted anything until now to close his eyes in this terrible contradiction, only regretting the fact that he did not end his life.


    It was a gift from Calian, who had emptied A’s hand when she had asked to say herst words to Den.


    A, who had given a gift that was neither an opportunity nor a curse, turned around as if she had no more regrets. I moved away from Den. To the ce where the real owner is who will give you a new hairpin that you can show to anyone else regardless.


    Den looked at it for a moment and then took a step again.


    Since the sinner could only walk on his own two feet, Den, who could not ride on a horse or a carriage, simply walked. Without thinking about why the knights turned their backs on him, why the curtains in the annex were ck, or why the nobles spat out his name as if they were spitting out his name.


    – Is it okay to be disheveled? It’s the day your world ends.


    Step by step, stopping a few times. I just walked, trying hard not to remember Calian’s words that all of this was a tomb created by Den’s own hands. The wind at the end of those steps was so strong that I was hit and hit by such a strong wind. The end of my steps be a little blurry.


    In front of the ce where the end of the disorder has been reached.


    Den stopped once more andughed. no. I didn’tugh. I couldn’tugh.


    I took a step.


    In the end, I left behind Ten, who didn’t say anything, and left behind an emptynd where no one would visit anymore.


    – …… p!


    Into the darkness that I can never escape from again.


    To hell.


    * * *


    He wore a pure white shirt.


    He wore a long navy blue jacket embroidered with white thread and ck pants. The thick white cloak, embroidered with ck thread and lined with ck, was worn without change. The ck cravat that reced the tie was fastened with tinum jewelry containing pale amethyst. Two light purple amethysts swayed at the end of the chain that fastened the cloak. I neatlybed my hair, which had grown a little longer in the past few months since I cut it.


    I left the deserted room with ck bedding and monotonous furniture. Then he stopped for a moment.


    “mother.”


    We never said anything different.


    Who did you think of? Louise, who was standing wearing a beautiful light purple dress, nodded slightly and said many words.


    Just like any other day, Chase held out one arm. Louise put her hand on his arm. And we walked together.


    I went down the stairs and came out of the main pce. After letting Louise ride in a small white carriage decorated with tinum, Chase got on a silver-gray horse that had followed Verne best in her memories, but no longer did.


    The knights of the royal pce were standing here and there.


    The knights lined up from the main pce to the main gate of the pce and stood facing the path Chase would walk. The knights who were standing on their heels all bowed down when Chase’s horse took a step. He ced one knee on the floor, ced his right hand over his heart, and raised a chivalrous salute to the King.


    passed between them.


    I passed through a begonia garden with sparsely blooming red flowers, a beautiful fountain, and a neat maze garden corridor.


    I left the main gate of the pce and headed to the square.


    I climb up onto the low tform and close my eyes for a moment.


    The sound of a g fluttering in the wind, the sound of a bird chirping, the sound of a tree branch gently moving to the side, the sound of a sneeze being suppressed, and the sound of thin armor ttering.


    Many people heard the sound of living breathing.


    “Good King. Den… Forget about it now.”


    I opened my eyes.


    I looked at everyone in this ce who gave me so many sounds. I captured this square in my head that I will never forget until the day I die.


    He said while looking at each and every face of those gathered.


    “I will leave it up to me to reflect on the past and be on guard. In this way, only I will remember and not forget.”


    I didn’t say anything big.


    I just made a promise.


    He said that he would punish those who had things they should not have, and that he would return them to those who had been taken from them. He said he would apologize on behalf of the criminals to those who could not turn back. They said that even if they raise the birds again, they will not be forced to make their choice.


    He said he would not treat anyone as if they were dead. He said he would not erase anyone.


    “Forget them all. Forget them all and live again. Just like any other day.”


    So now I told everyone to go back to their lives and live their normal lives.


    The sound of breathing bes louder.


    The mouth that was tightly closed opens.


    The sound of someone weing a new king resonates through the Secretariat.


    Until Chase went down the stage, in front of all those people, until he looked into the sunset-colored eyes of the person who ran without realizing it, until he quietly wrapped his small hand, which was turning pale from how much strength he was exerting.


    “Why were you so worried Arianne? You said you woulde back safely.”


    Until now, a small smile appears on the lips of the king who kept his promise.


    Cheers rang out.


    * * *


    That winter.


    The day the rain stopped and a cold wind blew.


    Chase Duhan Secretia was restored to the throne.


    Since it was only the current king’s responsibility to remember thete king, the others steadily erased all traces of Den. The remaining knights and servants of Den moved out of Secreta. The office, where all traces of Den had disappeared, was now filled with Chase’s.


    – Just leave the King’s bedroom empty. I will continue to use the original location for the time being.


    Calian never met Chase.


    It would be correct to say that we never met. Because it was not a particrly good time for the stranger from Kairis to stay in the royal pce of Secretia again. However, Calian allowed people other than n to continue to stay in Secretia. It was to prepare for possible problems.


    The nobles who had gathered in Secreta to pressure Den returned to their respective territories. Of course, on the way back after they hadpleted their duties, n also had a hard time. I thought maybe Adelia woulde back, but that wasn’t the case.


    The day Calian visited the Secretia pce, the garden where Den had kept Chase for a long time also changed. Although the garden was not destroyed, Chase had arge spruce tree nted in the middle of the garden. It was a tree that looked very simr to one that was nted somewhere in the Kairis Pce.


    After many things were put back in ce or vacated and reced with new ones, Chase announced to the royal families of each country that the owner of the throne had changed. And preparations for the coronation ceremony began.


    Time passed as so many things happened.


    One day, a few dayster, the thin moon filled up and then became thin again.


    – It hurts. your brother


    – It hurts. What do you mean suddenly?


    It’s been such a long day since I returned from the drizzling rain.


    He smiled and ate well, trained with Kirie, carefully checked to see if Hina was cold, and joked with Euria while trying to break Arsene’s hair when he asked her to break just one spoon. Now, when I look at Coco, who can swim well in the water, I think of Lucy and Anne. On an ordinary day when I had a normal conversation with A.


    – Because it rained that day.


    Kalyan suddenly caught a cold.


    I had a severe fever.


    Chase did not immediately respond to ntz’s words after taking Calian’s ring. Not because of ntz’s habit of speaking, who said he would not raise his voice yet since he is not officially the king until the coronation ceremony, but because of the words that were conveyed.


    – …… Is that so.


    – I think it would be a good idea to check.


    It took quite a while for an answer toe.


    The answer that came back was not very long.


    – All right.


    After a short conversation with Chase, ntz sighed.


    After standing in front of the door for a while, I heard Chase’s voice again.


    – Has confirmed.


    – What is it like?


    – Fix it… I told you.


    That damn little brother took everything he cared about and sold it. How did I know that the shadow that held me back had passed away? The fever rose. I was really sick.


    -Thank you for telling me. Crown Prince nz.


    – it’s not me.


    -Whoever it is. What I told you is true.


    – it’s okay.


    At least ntz knew how Chase and Calian were feeling right now. The two didn’t needfort right now. I know that the time to quietly empty my mind is just passing by.


    So ntz said no more to Chase. After cutting off the ring’s magic, he simply told no one to enter Calian’s room, where he was lying quietly with his eyes closed.


    “It’s better to just leave it alone.”


    To Hina too.


    After that, ntz spent the days waiting for Kalian’s visit. So that I can suffer with peace of mind, even just for a short time, when the remnants of the person who was taken out of the abyss from which I was told that I could note out even in life or death turn into sparks and disappear.


    Just like Kalian did when nz did it.


    – Tick tock tick tock.


    When you get used to the sound of the clock sounding louder at these times.


    “Why are you here? You’re not sleeping.”


    Kalian, who had been ill all night, opened his eyes.


    “It just so happened.”


    “You can stop worrying.”


    “I didn’t.”


    “yes.”


    He said to the pale crown prince who was standing nkly in front of the door that he was sick, and asked,


    “Could you please call A?”


    I asked for this.


    ntz just nodded his head and went out.


    Calian just looked at E, who came to visit not long after, for a long time. I didn’t say anything and just looked at him helplessly.


    “Thank goodness, A.”


    And then heughed again.


    * * *


    All the begonias in therge garden have died.


    Sometimes it rained and very rarely it snowed. The days continued as I spent idle time sitting in front of the firece.


    A long time has passed since the injured shoulder haspletely healed.


    A long time has passed since I emptied my stomach.


    “Aww.”


    “Miowong.”


    ntz, who had been forcibly banned from crossing his legs again for a long time, stroked the two cats with a familiar touch.


    – When Anne grows up, there will be a fight.


    Anne, who grew up to resemble Lucy’s personality, also liked sitting on ntz’sp.


    Since Anne was still smaller than Lucy, it was not difficult to ce them both on ntz’sp. However, Calian said that if it gets bigger, there will probably be a fight.


    Why would there be a fight?


    Just put them both up.


    – How much the cats love you. It would be really fun if people outside the royal pce knew about this.


    The guy who yed the biggest part in making me known as a proper bastard barked that day too. The smart mind never forgot what his younger brother barked, so while spending time peacefully with the cats, nz frowned for a moment when he remembered what Calian had said a little while ago.


    “… You bark so well. My brother.”


    The two cats, who had heard theints that were clearly muttering to themselves, looked at nts with wide eyes and thenid down again. ntz, who had left his knees to the cats’ body temperature, which was warmer than the firece, turned his head. Outside the window, countless stars were visible on the dark, distant sea.


    So, I was still in Secretia.


    Since the n was to stay in Secretia until the winter had passed and spring hade, n took the two cats, who would faint whenever they heard nz’s voice, and take them there. So nts watched Anne grow up safely throughout the winter.


    and.


    “Where has our prince gone again?”


    “Outside.”


    “Where outside?”


    “ocean.”


    “Did you go alone?”


    “Even those who will have a coronation ceremony tomorrow.”


    The baby elephant followed the cat.


    Because he forgot his duties as a servant whenever he left the pce, Jan had been using nz as a Calian location tracker these days.


    Yan, who looked at the crown prince, a fool who didn’t care whether that was the case or not, opened his mouth.


    “Everyone is outside right now. Would you like toe out?”


    “why.”


    “They said they were going to take a look. Everyone together.”


    At those words, ntz, who was looking out the window once again, was about to say, ‘I don’t like it because it’s cold,’ but then closed his mouth. And then he said something shorter.


    “okay.”


    Yan, who looked a little surprised at this answer for a moment, nodded.


    “Yes. Then I will prepare another cup of tea.”


    “okay.”


    Jan, who showed something that I couldn’t tell if it was a greeting or a neck movement, went out first, and then nz carefully picked up Anne. Now, Anne had not forgotten that her waist had begun to stretch, so she slightly supported her buttocks andid down next to the sofa. After that, Lucy was moved with the same touch.


    After that, he got up and put on the dark purple cloak that n had sent him.


    As I stand up, my eyes turn out the window without me realizing it.


    The white stars that filled the distant sea were shining brighter than any other day. After thinking about that for a while, I went outside.


    And another person who looked at the sky.


    – Shoot…


    Calian took a deep breath.


    “I wonder if it came sooner than I thought, and sometimes it came toote. That’s right.”


    Chase smiled softly and looked around at the salty-smelling voice.


    “It’s still the same.”


    “Yes. It’s still the same.”


    A ce full of pure white sand.


    There is a tree house that is a little bigger than what I remember. A ce where there is a small rock.


    I came to the sea. now.


    “Brother, shouldn’t you rest early today? You’ll be tired tomorrow.”


    “You’re still young.”


    Calianughed for a moment after hearing the light answer.


    “Master wanted toe tomorrow, but he said it would probably be busy, so I told him to just stay at Kairis. I was afraid he might be disappointed.”


    “They say so many people wille from Kairis. Is there anything to be disappointed about?”


    “Still.”


    “But it will be more crowded than before. That’s okay.”


    “Yes. I guess that’s true.”


    Chase’s coronation ceremony.


    I came here only a day before the coronation ceremony.


    It’s not that we don’t have time or that we can’t pay attention to each other, it’s just that. I had decided to visit this ce on this day, as if I had made a promise.


    Chase, who took out the watch in his pocket and checked the time, tilted his head.


    “That’s strange. Wasn’t it today?”


    “Well, me too. It’s such a rare day that I can’t remember.”


    “Even if it’s not today, let’s celebrate.”


    Calian nodded, still smiling.


    The conversation between the two brothers continued, telling various stories.


    – Sarah…….


    A blue light began to fall from the sky.


    Eventually, there was one more light, and then another.


    A blue light lighter than a feather fades away.


    It came down like snowkes.


    Calian, who was looking at it, raised his head towards the sky. I looked at the blue light pouring down like that and closed my eyes for a moment.


    “Happy Birthday.”


    A night with endless blue light.


    Serenity time.


    “…… My little brother.”


    Bern smiled as he watched his older brother congratting him with a title that would not change no matter what changed as he pondered what name to call him.


    “thank you.”


    Bern quietly opened his eyes and looked at Chase.


    “As I will tell you tomorrow, congrattions on your coronation ceremony, brother.”


    “okay.”


    Chase nodded.


    Such a chase, once again, the blue lighting down the undting sea. Bern, who was watching, stood facing Chase.


    I bowed my back.


    As if taking out something that was stored deep inside and showing it to you.


    “Please. May you remain a good king for a long time.”


    I repeated what I once said.


    On a night when blue light fell.


    Dear Chase, Verne.