Chapter 1, What A Foolish Life (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The maids’ hands moved busily.

 

As the thick curtains opened up, the dimly brightening dawn sky illuminated the bedroom. Soon, the Prince’s personal attendant entered and stood beside the bed, where a young boy with a still tender face slept.

 

One must not touch royalty to wake them.

 

One must not make loud noises either.

 

Thus, the attendant spoke in a careful voice.

 

“Your Highness, it’s time to wake up.”

 

The boy would usually sit up startled at the sound of the door opening. However, today, for some reason, he showed no signs of wanting to wake up.

 

[Is he tired?] With this thought, the attendant received a small bell from the maid standing behind him. Soon, the soft bell sound announcing early morning rang out.

 

*Ding, ding*

 

Only then did the boy’s eyes open slightly.

 

The boy blinked for a moment as if gathering his senses, then suddenly sat up. Startled by the sudden movement, the attendant slightly bowed and greeted him.

 

“Pleasant dreams, Your Highness? It’s time for you to wake up.” He offered the morning tea he had prepared to the boy. This was because the boy always woke his mind first with the strong aroma of tea before washing his face.

 

[Since when did I drink morning tea?] Bern thought this, but still unconsciously reached out to take the teacup. He soon noticed the appearance of his hand was strikingly unfamiliar.

 

White hands with long, slender fingers. It was devoid of the scars and calluses that had once covered them. The sense of dissonance brought by that sight made Bern unwittingly turn his head to look at his left arm.

 

There was not even a single scar on this skinny forearm.

 

No, that was not the issue. The fact that he could see his left arm was the problem.

 

“But my arm was severed…” Bern hurriedly closed his mouth as he muttered these words. The voice that escaped was too young to be his own.

 

“What terrible things are you saying? Did you perhaps have a nightmare?”

 

[Nightmare? The fall of Secritia. Could there be a worse nightmare than that!?]

 

There was no time to respond to the attendant’s words.

 

Why his severed arm was reattached was a matter for later. Right now, he needed to confirm the life or death of his brother Chase, the King.

 

“Where is my brother?”

 

Seeing Bern’s urgent expression, the attendant showed a slightly strange expression and answered.

 

“Both of them are still in their rooms.”

 

“… Both?”

 

This time, Bern’s face showed the same expression as the attendant. He only had one brother. Only Chase.

 

“Prince Randel should have already dressed. Prince Plants should have done the same.”

 

Randel, and Plants.

 

Names unfamiliar yet so well known to him.

 

Especially one of those names belonged to someone he hated to the bone.

 

[Cyries. The King of Cyries, Plants!]

 

Bern’s eyes narrowed upon hearing the name of someone he wanted to kill more than anything.

 

Watching Bern, the attendant spoke again.

 

“Your Highness, we must start preparing now.”

 

Thinking he still had not fully awakened, the attendant called for the maid holding the washing water behind him. Watching this, Bern muttered as if talking to himself.

 

“… Ian.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

When his name was called, the attendant turned his head and answered.

 

A regrown arm and an unfamiliar attendant.

 

And Cyries.

 

Bern spoke no more. He started thinking with his mouth closed.

 

Today was the first time he had seen this attendant.

 

He swore by the name of the God Serenty that he had never seen this face before. But he knew the other party’s name.

 

But that was not all.

 

Bern even ‘knew’ all the names of the maids currently with him.

 

Unaware that Bern was confused by this impossible situation, the attendant set down the washing water with fluid movements.

 

[It’s a nightmare…] Recalling the attendant Ian’s words, Bern reached for the basin. The only explanation he could think of for this situation so far was, ridiculously, that he was dreaming.

 

Bern brought his face to the gleaming silver basin. No matter how terrible reality had been, escaping into such an absurd imagination was unlike him.

 

But seeing his reflection in the water, Bern had to stop his hand again.

 

The red eyes reflected in the water were not Bern’s.

 

Bern spoke in a low voice. “A mirror.”

 

“A mirror?”

 

Bern did not answer.

 

Ian, who had unconsciously made the mistake of asking again due to the unusual behavior, quickly apologized.

 

“I apologize. I’ll bring one right away.”

 

Then he gestured behind his back toward the maids, indicating them to bring a mirror.

 

There was no mirror in the Prince’s room.

 

Therefore, one of the maids standing behind Ian quickly ran outside and brought back a mirror.

 

Ian received it and reflected Bern’s face, and before Bern could say thank you, he came face to face with himself in the mirror.

 

“……”

 

In the mirror was a young boy with black hair. Between the long bangs, two ruby-colored eyes glared back at Bern.

 

Bern raised his head.

 

The emblem embroidered on the attendant’s clothes was clearly that of Cyries. Only after seeing this did he recall that the attendant had been calling that guy Prince rather than King.

 

His lips felt parched.

 

“Prince Kalian.” Ian called out to Bern, who was sitting silently looking at the mirror.

 

[No. I am Prince Bern.] Bern repeated his name as if trying not to lose himself. As if in rebellion against this, memories like someone whispering rose in his mind.

 

[No. My name is…]

 

And then a long name he had not memorized flowed out of his mouth unconsciously.

 

“Kalian Rain Cyries.”

 

[The Third Prince of Cyries, Kalian. Not Bern. That is my name…] Bern furrowed his brow. Then, with his face still scrunched up, he asked Ian.

 

“What did you say my name was?”

 

Thinking Bern was joking, Ian answered with a slight smile.

 

“You are Prince Kalian. And for your reference, I am Ian, Your Highness’s attendant who needs to escort you to breakfast right now.”

 

As if waiting for Ian’s answer, unfamiliar memories flooded into his mind like a wave.

 

The Palace of Cyries, etiquette, weather, schedules, horseback riding, the garden, magic, the Queen, the King. And his two brothers.

 

Ian was right. He could not be late for breakfast.

 

His memories were screaming this. Get up right now. Don’t be later than the other two Princes.

 

He, who had now become Kalian, quietly asked.

 

“What’s today’s date?”

 

“April 28th. The weather is quite nice, Your Highness.”

 

Hearing this, Kalian briefly looked around. Nowhere did it seem like they were at war with Secritia. Therefore, Kalian asked again.

 

“The year.”

 

“It’s 522.”

 

Kalian’s eyes shook greatly.

 

If it was 522 in the Cyries Calendar, then it was 525 in the Secritia Calendar. It was not the day when he had to finally close his eyes for the final time.

 

[This is 10 years ago…]

 

[10 years ago. And I’m the Third Prince of Cyries…]

 

Memories of the other two different Princes kept emerging, as if urging him to quickly prepare and leave.

 

When Kalian remained lost in thought without moving, Ian, unable to wait any longer, reached out his arm. He intended to grab the sleeve to help him up.

 

*Smack!*

 

Reflexively, Kalian’s hand struck Ian’s arm away. The arm hit by the thin palm turned red. Kalian’s arm, which had never been used in such a way before, also throbbed with pain.

 

Ian said with a sullen face.

 

“Why are you making things difficult?”

 

“Ah. My apologies. I made a mistake without thinking.”

 

Ian was too surprised to notice how drastically Kalian’s way of speaking had changed, and quickly replied.

 

“Not at all, Your Highness. More importantly, you must get up now. Otherwise, I…!”

 

Kalian rose abruptly from his seat without listening to the end of Ian’s words, shaking his head.

 

He decided to move for now because of the memories ringing in his head about not being late for those ‘brothers’. He also felt he needed to get away from that attendant Ian and have some time to think.

 

Soon Kalian finished washing his face, practically dunking his head in the water. After slapping both cheeks to clear his mind, Kalian said.

 

“I shall prepare.”

 

[This way of speaking is strange. I don’t normally speak like that.]

 

As if saying and thinking this, memories flooded in once again. So, Kalian took a breath, as if recalling his memories, and spoke again.

 

“No. I’ll get ready. Sorry.”

 

“You keep apologizing when you never do… First, let me prepare your clothes.”

 

Saying this, Ian moved his hand toward two other maids. Soon maids carrying armfuls of clothes came and dressed Kalian. After that, another maid approached and began combing his hair.

 

He could see the jet-black hair hanging down, covering both eyes.

 

Originally, he preferred to tie back his blue-silver long hair, so the black hair covering his eyes felt stifling. When he showed his dislike for the hair, the reason emerged from his memories.

 

[It is because brother Plants dislikes it.]

 

His two brothers were the other Princes.

 

Among them, Plants pathologically hated these red eyes. That was why Kalian covered his eyes with his hair like this.

 

He had covered his eyes because he was afraid of his own brother.

 

Kalian clicked his tongue without realizing it.

 

[I’d heard about this. I’ve really been living like a fool.]

 

He chuckled unconsciously as he thought of that same ‘brother’.

 

[To think that someone like Plants would hate these eyes.]

 

His greatest of enemies. The Mad King Plants.

 

He was the King of Cyries. No, since it was 10 years ago, he would be a Prince now. He was the man who had caused the invasion of Secritia.

 

[Plants… I even find the fact that you’re breathing disgusting.]

 

Though he thought this, he obviously could not say these hate-filled words out loud.

 

This was the Royal Palace of Cyries, Cyries Palace.

 

Though it still felt like wandering in a dream, he was now Kalian, the Third Prince of Cyries. Therefore, Kalian kept repeating the same words in his mind dozens of times.

 

[Even if I see him, I can’t immediately kill him. I must endure. I must endure…]

 

If this was not a dream, though it seemed impossible, if he had really returned to the past, he could not let Kalian’s head fall because of his rash actions.

 

The maids, unaware that Kalian was having such thoughts, were fixing his clothes and making final adjustments. It was such thorough attention that it seemed excessive for someone just going to eat breakfast.

 

It made Kalian wonder how much he must have suffered over his appearance to warrant such careful preparation.

 

Soon all preparations were complete.

 

Kalian took a small breath at the door before stepping outside. Then, he headed down the unfamiliarly familiar central staircase toward the dining room located at the far right.

 

On the way there, no matter how hard he tried to recall his age, the memory would not surface. [Had I lived without even counting my own age?]

 

Finally, Kalian decided to get help from Ian.

 

“Ian.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“How old am I?”

 

It was an unexpected question for Ian. Thinking that the Third Prince had been asking strange questions since this morning, Ian answered.

 

“You are 14 years old. Still four months until you come of age.”

 

“Ah. That’s right.”

 

[No wonder he seemed so young.] Kalian nodded.

 

Ian spoke with a worried voice toward Kalian.

 

“Your Highness. Did you perhaps read a novel about Knights last night?”

 

He said this because Kalian’s way of speaking was very different from usual.

 

The original Kalian was afraid of mounting horses.

 

But tomorrow, there was a horseback riding lesson. Therefore, Ian asked, thinking that the Third Prince might be trying to imitate Knights from novels out of worry about not being able to keep up with tomorrow’s lesson.

 

Kalian shook his head and answered.

 

“No. I’ll keep it in mind. I mean, I’ll be mindful.”

 

Having said this, Kalian soon entered the dining room.

 

Inside, there were only attendants and no figures that appeared to be Princes. Kalian’s gaze briefly fell on Ian. [You made such a fuss as if those two were about to leave right away.]

 

It must have been a lie told to ensure Kalian would not be late for breakfast.

 

A large round dining table placed by the huge window was visible. It was where the three Princes had breakfast together every day at King Rmain’s suggestion. It was also the place the old Kalian dreaded the most.

 

One of the dining room attendants could be seen pulling out a chair at one of the seats.

 

Realizing that was his seat, Kalian sat down. Then he looked at the unfamiliar scenery outside the window. [It really is impressive, just as I’d heard.]

 

The Royal Palace of Cyries, Cyries Palace. Cyries, which had the largest territory among the Four Kingdoms of the Continent of Shisterra, was also famous for its Royal Palace of enormous size. It was different from the Secritia Palace, which consisted of one large building and two annexes.

 

There were as many as six buildings also called ‘Palace’ where royalty resided. All the buildings were used for other purposes, with numerous gardens, artificial lakes, and more. These were all within the grounds of the Royal Palace of Cyries.

 

The Cermil Palace where Kalian was now, where the Princes reside. It was among the smaller Palaces. Nevertheless, the artificial lake in front of the Palace and the garden stretching behind it were quite extensive.

 

Sunlight reflected on the water came through the window.

 

After waiting about 10 minutes lost in thoughts while watching this scene, the First Prince Randel arrived, and after about 30 minutes, the Second Prince Plants arrived.

 

Kalian’s eyes widened as he saw Plants, who walked in with heavy steps and plopped down in his seat without a word.

 

[What in the world is… What in the world is that appearance!?]

 

Kalian’s brow furrowed deeply upon seeing an appearance he could never have imagined.