Chapter 9, A Pleasure To Meet You (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

On stage, he waved at the people with a smile on his face.

 

The Prince’s role was only that, and Kalian had no intention of doing more.

 

Soon, Rmain delivered a long greeting expressing gratitude to those who came. There was a sequence of granting Knighthood to some commoner soldiers or the promotion of some noble and the granting of estates.

 

With that, the event in the plaza ended, and Kalian waved once more in greeting before returning to the Palace.

 

Of course, he knew that people were whispering and staring at him intently throughout the event. He had expected to stand out since he had deliberately set out to do so.

 

His black hair and red eyes were certainly attention catching.

 

What Kalian had not at all anticipated was how the people would find in his appearance so perfect that it awed them, and it would be a topic of conversations.

 

Kalian, who returned to his room, ate the lunch Ian brought without having anything left. He had promised Ian to do so and had not broken that promise even once. And he changed into new clothes as well.

 

Since it was an outfit prepared for teatime, not a banquet, he insisted on choosing an absolutely simple design. Also, following Merlin’s ‘strong’ opinion, they decided to add just one more decorative pin.

 

‘Just the smallest one.’

 

With those words, Kalian chose a pin with three thin chains connecting the shirt collars, with a pendant the size of a fingernail in the center of the shortest chain.

 

The other accessories were excessively flashy by Kalian’s standards, so it was decided that he would only wear that pin even when wearing other formal attire.

 

Kalian, who finished preparing on time, came out of Cermil Palace again and boarded the carriage. With a pale face, he said,

 

“I really have no energy left.”

 

“Indeed. This year seems unusually busy.”

 

Ian nodded his head with a face that had shrunk by half compared to usual.

 

It would have been a war-like day for Ian as well since he would still need to assist Kalian. Fortunately, the luncheon was cancelled.

 

The destination now was Senu Hall, where he had dined with Viscount Beurisen not long ago. He was scheduled to have teatime there with various people. Of course, the Princes’ role was to greet and sit still, so as long as they did not fall asleep, it was fine.

 

Thinking of the nobles he would soon meet, Kalian suddenly asked,

 

“Ian. You said your family is also in Cyriesus?”

 

Unlike Secritia, where most nobles resided in their estates, Cyries had a considerable number of nobles who left estate managers and spent most of the year in the capital, Cyriesus.

 

Ian’s family seemed to be the same.

 

He had once told Kalian that his family lived in Cyriesus. Ian’s eyes turned round at the sudden mention of family.

 

” Your Highness, you remembered. My Little Sister and Father live in our territory, while the rest of the family lives in Cyriesus.”

 

“Then will they come to the Palace today?”

 

It was the old Kalian who remembered bits and pieces of this, not himself. Kalian could only awkwardly smile as he asked, with Ian replying with an awkward smile.

 

“Yes… If they received an invitation, they will certainly come.”

 

It was an ambiguous answer.

 

He seemed reluctant to say more on the topic.

 

Attendants working in the Cyries Palace did not reveal their surnames. Some used childhood names or pseudonyms.

 

When first entering the Palace, Internal Affairs’ officials strictly verified their real names and carefully examined if they were truly trustworthy. Afterward, many did not use their real names. A significant portion of nobles working as attendants were Illegitimate Sons or Daughters or children of obscure noble families, so they often did not wish to mention their backgrounds.

 

Kalian, who thought Ian was also in such a circumstance, nodded his head and did not ask further.

 

Before long, the carriage entered in front of Senu Hall.

 

Kalian got off the carriage, adjusting his expression that had become comfortable while being with Ian.

 

Once again, he straightened his posture and walked toward the banquet hall, where the nobles would be. He slightly nodded to the Knight standing in front of the door.

 

The Knight showed his respects to Kalian and announced as he opened the banquet hall door:

 

“Presenting Prince Kalian Rain Cyries!”

 

The eyes of those who did not need to join the crowd at the plaza to see the King all focused on one place.

 

At the same time, the same thought rose in everyone’s minds.

 

“So those rumors are true…”

 

Central nobles.

 

They were all influential high-ranking nobles. That meant they were also quick to acquire information.

 

The two pieces of news they encountered were:

 

Plants came to the event drunk, and few people had noticed Plants in that state because everyone was staring at one person as if on cue.

 

He had Black hair, red eyes.

 

He was the Third Prince, who resembles Syspanian.

 

When this news was passed on after the event ended, the nobles laughed.

 

They thought it was simply something spread for fun by those who liked to make up stories based solely on hair and eye color – just because his hair was cut to reveal his eyes. They could not even imagine that Kalian had completely changed.

 

When Kalian walked in with the Knight’s announcement, looking impeccable, they were shocked as if the sky had turned upside down. Everyone began examining Kalian’s subtle movements with astonished eyes.

 

Despite not having shed his boyish appearance yet, his handsome face and brightly shining ruby red eyes were difficult to look away from. It naturally left a strong impression on others.

 

He was already wearing a smile that exuded the dignity of royalty. Each of his step was filled with grace such that involuntary gasps of admiration flowed out. They knew best that such bearing was not something that appeared just by practicing.

 

“When did he become like that…”

 

Kalian was perfectly proving that he was a royal of Cyries just by being himself right now. It was no wonder people thought of Syspanian, who had the same hair and eye color as him.

 

That was not all.

 

Kalian’s clothes were also strange.

 

He wore a tight-fitting, knee-length dark blue jacket with matching pants and a white shirt underneath. The long jacket had no decorations other than buttons. So, the small accessory that opened the shirt’s neck stood out a lot.

 

The pendant on the shirt pin.

 

It was a ruby that shone with the same light as the two eyes Kalian had been hiding until now, which Plants had mocked and called him ‘Blood-Eyes’. It was a color Kalian would never have originally chosen, as it had hit too close to home.

 

“It’s like he’s saying he won’t hide anymore.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

They misinterpreted the meaning of Kalian’s plain clothes and the ruby pendant. Chills ran down the nobles’ spines as they made solemn expressions. Then, realizing they had not yet paid their respects, they hurriedly greeted him. It was a clear change from before, when they simply nodded.

 

Regardless of the circumstances, Kalian, who had transformed into the perfect Prince without a single flaw, looked into the eyes of each noble who had paid their respects to him. Then, with a slight smile, he returned their greeting.

 

“Nice to meet you.”

 

Kalian delivered only that greeting before promptly taking his seat.

 

It was not elaborate for a greeting. Furthermore, a sense of composure emanated from his brief, simple words.

 

However, that single phrase, those short words, caused an issue.

 

[Nice to meet you? Isn’t that an expression for if this is the first time we met? Why the Third Prince say that? What is he implying?]

 

Soon, the nobles began communicating among themselves through silent glances, trying to uncover the hidden meaning behind Kalian’s greeting.

 

[Damn it.] Kalian privately chastised himself.

 

Although he had expected attention, under those overwhelming gazes, he had forgotten the fact that he was already acquainted with the nobles when he gave his greeting.

 

“It’s alright, Your Highness. Since it was just a casual greeting, they’ll likely let it pass!” From behind, Ian reassured Kalian in a small voice.

 

If either of them had properly grasped the situation, the laughably insane events of Cyries’ ruby prices skyrocketing and the frenzied increase in expeditions searching for Syspanian’s Lair, which had been empty for 500 years, would not have occurred.

 

Moreover, someone who was watching Kalian, would not have felt such urgency in their heart.

 

…

 

Siegfried’s Summer Night.

 

It was unanimously considered the masterpiece among the musical compositions left behind by Olive Wrench, the famous violinist and composer from the Kingdom of Liberen. It was also a piece that expressed the emotions Wrench felt upon seeing Siegfried Hall when he got invited to the Royal Palace of Cyries.

 

Known as the most beautiful building in the Royal Palace of Cyries, Siegfried Hall was a massive amber-shaped grand banquet hall made with platinum-plated pillars and crystal walls. Thus, when the magic lanterns were lit at night, the entire building gave off a fantastical impression as if it had transformed into a luminous jewel.

 

Many people would shed tears of joy and sorrow at the violin melody that captured both the ecstasy of facing the brilliantly shining Siegfried Hall on a summer night and the hidden loneliness of the palace.

 

‘If you pursue music, you must visit Siegfried Hall.’

 

Such words were commonly exchanged among musicians.

 

In fact, Siegfried Hall’s name originated from the Siegfried Ducal Family, which was known as one of the Two Knight Order Families of Cyries, along with the Beurisen Marquis Family. It was named after Duke Kythros Hone Siegfried, the first head of the Siegfried Family and one of the eight heroes of the War of the Two Gods.

 

However, because Kythros died on a midsummer night, it was said that the Siegfried Ducal Family cherished this piece even more than the Royal Palace of Cyries, according to later accounts.

 

And now.

 

That very famous piece was playing in that beautiful Siegfried Hall. The people gathered in the banquet hall began to reduce their conversation and started appreciating the music.

 

“To think this piece would be playing right now! How can one not love this!”

 

A man who had just arrived at the entrance of Siegfried Hall exclaimed with hearty laughter.

 

His voice was loud. Several nobles who recognized him approached with delight.

 

“Duke Siegfried, you’ve arrived.”

 

The remarkable man, who was both the head of the Siegfried family, Cyries’ only ducal house, and one of the continent’s five Sword Masters, hummed the melody while mimicking playing the violin.

 

The gathered people all burst into laughter.

 

“Seeing you make those gestures makes me more curious about your skills with the violin.”

 

“Come down sometime, perhaps for a vacation. I’ll gladly play for you.”

 

“I understand. I’ll go with high expectations for your violin skills.”

 

“Of course. They say there might be a Siegfried who can’t use a sword, but there’s no Siegfried who can’t play the violin!”

 

“Is that so? What an interesting saying.”

 

Because of this conversation taking place at the entrance, Kalian, who was heading toward Siegfried Hall on Raven’s back, could see and hear everything.

 

“What a cheerful person. His name is…”

 

Kalian, who had been laughing pleasantly, began to speak.

 

Ian, who had been looking at the same person with an expression of absolute distaste, searched his memory and answered Kalian.

 

“That is Duke Sleiman Hone Siegfried, head of the Siegfried Ducal Family, Your Highness.”

 

In the south of Cyries lay Syspanian’s empty lair, and the Siegfried territory owned an extremely vast region centered around that nest.

 

As the only ducal family, the Siegfried Family could have shown interest in the throne, but they spent over 500 years solely dedicated to protecting Syspanian’s territory.

 

When he was Bern, Kalian had heard of such stories from the Viscounts and had been deeply impressed by this steadfast ducal family.

 

“Ah yes. I see.”

 

He was exactly the type of person Kalian liked.

 

Of course, their actions could not be dismissed as mere loyalty to the King. But what drew Kalian’s heart was not their loyalty, but rather the conviction that had been maintained for such a long time.

 

“That violin, I’d like to hear it too.”

 

Kalian looked at the Duke with eyes full of admiration.