Chapter 20, Aren’t They Being Too Obvious (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian scratched his cheek.

 

“Aren’t they being too obvious.” Next to Kalian were a few stacked gift boxes.

 

They were consolation gifts for the ‘distress’ Kalian must have felt when Rmain appeared at the ball with Plants yesterday, rather than punishing him. That was the pretext, at least.

 

Kalian playfully pointed at what could be either gifts or bribes with the fork he was holding.

 

“Are you seriously trying to have it both ways?”

 

Rumors that Plants had insulted Freya Hwiteurin spread immediately. After all, the servants, maids, and Knights were present, and they all had mouths to speak with.

 

However, Rmain announced his generous forgiveness of Plants by entering the ballroom together with him.

 

The issue lay in what happened right after, when Rmain called Melpir Pollun to commend him.

 

‘Today’s performance was impressive. As a reward, I grant Pollun Trader’s Guild the sole rights to supply all horses and equipment for the Royal Palace and Cyriesus Knights.’

 

Originally, Knights procure their own horses and weapons.

 

But this was not the case for the Knights of the Royal Palace and Cyriesus(the capital). The Royal Family provided all of these to standardize their combat capabilities.

 

Therefore, the proportion of horses in the Cyriesus forces, including the Royal Knight Order, Cyriesus Knights, outer fortress garrison, and capital security forces, was too vast to calculate at once. Naturally, the trade value was enormous.

 

Yet, Rmain had handed over such rights of trade to the Pollun Trader’s Guild.

 

Despite losing such an incredible privilege, Sillike and Lannen Beurisen showed no reaction.

 

This meant it had been discussed beforehand.

 

Only Melpir Pollun was shocked enough that his heart nearly stopped.

 

‘It is clear they made a deal due to Plants.’

 

The nobles were not foolish enough to miss this understanding. The fact that Beurisen, who had never intervened no matter what Plants did, accepted such damage clearly meant something.

 

‘Kalian’s power and influence has grown enough for Sillike to be wary.’

 

Some nobles who had been watching carefully distanced themselves slightly from Plants. Of course, the number was notably smaller than if Plants had not been forgiven. Still, this number could not be reduced to zero.

 

Such nobles were the ones who sent gifts to console Kalian. They wanted to play both sides, and reap the benefits if one side wins out.

 

“What should we do, Your Highness?”

 

“Except for two, return all the rest. But, do note down their names before returning.”

 

Kalian answered while enjoying his leisurely breakfast, having skipped both the ball and today’s morning meal for the same reason – his first relaxed breakfast since beginning his life as a Prince of Cyries.

 

Those whose names would be recorded would never again receive Kalian’s favor. He had no need for those who were fickle enough to change their minds after just three days of changes.

 

“Yes. In that case, which shall we keep?”

 

“The gifts from the Arcane Enclave and Melpir Pollun.”

 

Kalian answered immediately, even though he did not yet know who had sent gifts. His tone assumed those two would certainly have sent something, and Ian, who was checking the list, nodded with wide eyes.

 

The Arcane Enclave and Melpir Pollun, both were on the list.

 

Ian’s expression showed curiosity about how Kalian had known. However, Kalian was not done speaking.

 

“Just accept the gift from the Arcane Enclave. But, do let me see what Baron Pollun had sent.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

There was only one reason for accepting the Arcane Enclave’s gift – to widely announce the fact that he had joined hands with the Arcane Enclave through Allan Manasil.

 

Soon, the sorting of gift boxes began. Two boxes remained on the table after removing those to be returned. Ian picked up the wide, low box and opened the lid.

 

“This is Baron Pollun’s gift.”

 

Kalian’s elegant movements of slicing ham stopped abruptly. Ian’s eyes grew as large as saucers when he looked into the box that had made Kalian pause.

 

Kalian burst into loud laughter.

 

After laughing uncontrollably for a while, Kalian took a sip of water to calm his voice and said, “He definitely wasn’t told to do this. Ian, just what did you tell the Pollun Trader’s Guild yesterday?”

 

“Well… I mentioned that Your Highness especially cherishes Raven.”

 

Kalian laughed again.

 

It was a necklace with a very long chain. Too long for a person to wear. More precisely, just the right length to fit around a horse’s neck.

 

Ian had added that Raven was a horse specially cherished by Kalian, hoping that the people at the performance venue would not ruin Raven’s mood. This was actually to make sure Raven does not cause a ruckus. It seemed Melpir had heard about this.

 

“A horse necklace. I never imagined that my Raven would get a necklace before I do.”

 

A ruby pendant hung from the center of the thin platinum chain, that matched well with Raven’s black coat.

 

Kalian shook his head while suppressing his remaining chuckles.

 

“I naturally can’t even refuse this. It looks too good on Raven.” Kalian spoke while continuing to slice his ham.

 

“Calculate its value and send the sum to the Pollun Trader’s Guild. Tell them I like the item and wish to purchase it.”

 

“You’re not simply accepting it?”

 

“Nope. I’m not accepting it – I’m buying it.”

 

Of course, Melpir would not have sent just a horse necklace as the price for his life. He was likely trying to gauge Kalian’s intentions, wondering what he wanted in exchange for sparing him.

 

[How could I simply let it end with mere jewels!]

 

Kalian knew that if he accepted this gift, the ‘real gift’ worth Melpir’s life would follow.

 

[That’s why he sent a necklace for Raven and not me. It is a sign that he has a separate gift specifically for me.]

 

But what Kalian wanted was not material wealth. That was why he could not accept this gift.

 

“For now, the only gifts I’ll accept freely are those sent by the Arcane Enclave. Let me know separately about anything from the Pollun Trader’s Guild. As for gifts from the other nobles, return them all as you see fit.”

 

Though he felt sorry for Ian, he could not explain what had happened with Melpir. There was no way to explain how he had known to give the warning.

 

Fortunately, Ian did not question him further and just replied.

 

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll do so.”

 

Kalian looked at the necklace and laughed again. No matter how many times he saw it, it was too funny.

 

…

 

Allan was massaging his temples while sitting at his desk. When someone soon came looking for him, he slightly opened his eyes to look up before speaking.

 

“Put it here.”

 

A woman with dark circles under her eyes placed new documents in front of Allan. Euria staggered as she withdrew her arms and explained.

 

“This is yesterday’s information. There’s really nothing new, Lord Manasil. They say they’ve gotten everything.”

 

Euria Seiren.

 

She was the head of the Cyries’ Arcane Enclave and a capable Mage who had formed her Fifth Circle. She was also the Eldest Daughter of the Seiren Count Family, which had produced numerous Magic Engineers.

 

Euria held more faith in Allan Manasil and the ancient Dragon, Syspanian, more than the Main Goddess Serenty. To Euria, Allan Manasil was akin to an absolute existence. The pinnacle of Mages

 

So, one can imagine how overjoyed Euria must have been when she saw this nomadic Mage enter through the Enclave’s doors on the morning of the second day of the King’s birthday festival.

 

The first words Allan spoke to such an Euria were, ‘Do the Mages here think it’s fine for a lion cub with a sword to wear the crown?’

 

‘Of course not.’ Euria answered without a moment’s hesitation.

 

‘In that case, what needs to be done?’

 

And then, two days of true Hell unfolded. It was such a grueling two days that her almost fanatical faith in Allan Manasil had nearly wavered. Key word being nearly.

 

If the information they had to search all over Cyriesus for had not been related to Sillike’s schemes, the Mages who looked ready to drop dead would have gone back out of the building to find new information.

 

“This is a lot of information we’ve gathered.”

 

“I know. I now realised how adept Mages are at finding information.”

 

“Yes. It’s an unexpected talent. I was seriously considering starting an information guild because of it.”

 

Allan nodded and chuckled before pulling out the major notes to sort through.

 

“Four commoners suspected to have been poisoned or assassinated in the Royal Palace since Sillike arrived. Six Mages similarly suspected of being poisoned, thirteen nobles suspected of poisoned or assassinated… This is quite something. For Rmain to have just stayed still despite all of this…”

 

All these cases had only circumstantial evidence. However, all the deceased had connections to either Sillike or the Beurisen Marquis Family.

 

The only evidence gathered as concrete proof was a Mage’s testimony that Lannen had taken the Tacrimosa hidden in a secret place in his house to the Royal Palace, and that the Beurisen Trader’s Guild had imported large quantities of Crimosa to make it.

 

[I wonder what would have happened if we had gathered evidence for the suspicious cases of death from the very beginning?]

 

He felt regret. At this point, all evidence were merely circumstantial. Certainly, him pointing out the suspicious points would give credibility to them. However, they were far from enough to truly convict those responsible.

 

“Good work. Now go get some rest.”

 

“Yes. You should rest too, Lord Manasil.”

 

Euria bowed with a face that looked ready to leave this world at any moment and went out of the room. Meanwhile, Allan, who looked twenty years younger than Euria, clicked his tongue.

 

“Such poor stamina for a young one.”

 

Allan soon picked up the documents Euria had brought.

 

Excluding the cover, it was a brief one-page report.

 

<The Mystery Hidden Behind Plants’ Insulting Freya!>

 

Allan smirked at the very Mage-like report title.

 

In fact, all the report titles he had seen so far were like this. Reports must first be interesting and entertaining, one that seemed to make the readers ponder.

 

[Really, these Mages. You placed such a title, yet you’ve put a secrecy spell on it.]

 

Unlike the title, it seems to contain important content. There was a warning that the paper would automatically burn and disappear after reading all the content, so it should be read carefully.

 

Therefore, only the author and Allan could know the contents, and even Euria must have brought it without knowing what was written inside.

 

“Well then. Let’s see just how important it is.” Allan muttered lightly as he turned the cover page.

 

<By chance, I was invited to the equestrian competition with the King! With a fluttering heart, I visited Pollun’s theater, but what’s this? I discovered I was assigned the most corner seat on the 8th floor. Thanks to this, I couldn’t see the arena or hear the announcer’s voice. It was a truly unfortunate situation. However, I refused to surrender to reality and cast Eagle Eye and Magic Ear.>

 

“Magic that magnifies distant views and magic that makes distant conversations audible These two spells requires the Mage to constantly have them active, and this person did so simultaneously. Even if they’re low-level spells, this person did this just to watch a single competition. The author sure loves to waste their Mana on useless endeavors.”

 

Allan, who had playfully gifted Ian a water splash just a day before, shook his head with a slight laugh.

 

<Finally, the Royal Family entered and the major hot topic recently, Prince Kalian, appeared. While receiving Melpir Pollun’s greeting, Prince Kalian said this: ‘The space above seems unsafe. Please check it’. And moments later, I witnessed an even more surprising scene!>

 

Allan’s face, which had been reading with a somewhat uninterested expression, gradually became solemn.

 

The report ended by raising the question of whether Kalian had prevented a planned accident and if the perpetrator might have been the Beurisen Trader’s Guild.

 

The author, knowing the importance of what they had discovered, added that they would never reveal what they had seen and asked Allan to keep this a secret as well.

 

They seemed worried that if the truth became known, it might complicate Kalian’s position since he was involved.

 

Though Mages may love to play around, they were far from fools.

 

Soon, the letters in the report Allan held began to glow and disappeared one by one, as if burning away. The fire spread to the paper, though it did not produce any heat. Therefore, Allan did not let go of the report until it had completely burned away.

 

“Hmm.” He remembered the conversation he had when he first met Kalian.

 

[‘While riding nearby, I overheard your conversation with the Palace Guard.’]

 

Of course, that was not a lie. However, Allan knew that Kalian had moved from the moment he heard the name ‘Allan Manasil’. After all, Allan’s range of awareness of any nearby movements was wider than Kalian had anticipated.

 

“Both me and that accident… My dear Prince, how did you know all of this beforehand?”

 

Allan muttered again while massaging his temples.