Chapter 7, A Pleasure To Meet You (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The main gate of the Cyries Palace connected directly to the royal road that passed through Cyriesus.

 

In front of the Palace were two plazas arranged symmetrically on either side of the royal road. To the east was Harts-ara Plaza and to the west was Syspanian Plaza.

 

The fountain in Harts-ara Plaza featured a statue of a Syspanian in human form, while the fountain in Syspanian Plaza had a statue of Harts-ara. The two statues were positioned facing each other from a distance.

 

Originally, the statues were designed facing the Palace, but after Harts-ara’s death, the story goes that Syspanian returned in the form of a dragon and turned the statues to face each other before departing.

 

As a result, these two plazas were popular famous attractions in Cyries frequented by couples and tourists even on regular days.

 

But on this day, people flocked to the plazas from dawn, not sparing a glance at the two renowned fountains and instead competing for spots as close to the Palace as possible.

 

Today was the birthday of King Rmain.

 

Before dawn, an ornate stage for Rmain to stand on was erected atop the royal road behind the Palace main gate. For those unable to see the stage, large crystal panels were set up in front of the two fountains. It was a magical device that would project the Royal Family’s image onto the panels for better viewing from the rear.

 

The Cyriesus security forces stationed throughout the plaza prepared for any potential incidents. Palace staff also began busily emerging to clean the stage, stack commemorative gifts, and make other frantic preparations.

 

Of course, preparations for the festivities were also in full swing inside the Palace.

 

“Whew.”

 

Kalian let out a long sigh as if tense. The importance of this day was hitting him anew. There were no morning audiences during the festival period, signifying how busy everyone was with preparations.

 

After a quick shower, Satinn arrived right on time to greet Kalian. Since Kalian was not yet ready to receive outsiders, Ian closed the bedroom curtains before letting Satinn in.

 

Thanks to this, only Kalian could see Satinn, who looked much more haggard, as if he had stayed up all night reducing Kalian’s clothes. Kalian sent him off in the carriage again, conveying both gratitude and apology.

 

“While you prepare, I will review today’s schedule once more.”

 

After Satinn left, Ian lifted the curtains and spoke.

 

Kalian nodded with a smile, seeing Ian looking tense and stiff as a board.

 

“You will pay your respects to His Highness at 9 AM, then at 10 AM attend the event held in the plaza. From 12 PM is lunch with His Majesty and Her Majesty…”

 

“2 PM meeting with central nobles, 5 PM with regional nobles, 8 PM banquet, ends at 11 PM. I memorized it all.”

 

Kalian interjected, and Ian made an embarrassed face realizing how many times he must have repeated the schedule.

 

“In the afternoon, you also have meetings with envoys. It would be helpful to listen carefully to their conversations.”

 

The only thing Kalian looked forward to was after the banquet began. After all, it was said that Allan arrived only near the end of the banquet.

 

After all, Kalian did not place high hopes for the meeting with the envoys, specifically envoys from Secritia. Chase was definitely not going to be an envoy, and there was no Secritia noble Kalian was be eager to meet.

 

[Even if someone I know comes, I can’t really ask how Prince Chase is doing these days.]

 

In fact, at this point in time, Bern’s relationship with Secritia nobility was not very good.

 

They opposed Bern’s desire of ceding the Crown Prince position to Chase, who was the Son of a Consort. The sole reason being that it was only natural for Bern, the Queen’s Son, to become the Crown Prince. No argument could persuade them.

 

So, Bern chose to be Knighted by Chase.

 

[Their faces were a sight to behold when I pledged loyalty to my older brother.]

 

Reminiscing on old memories after a long time brought a wry smile to Kalian’s face, but Ian’s voice interrupted his reverie.

 

This time, it was a word of caution.

 

Of course, it was something he had heard ad nauseum already.

 

“When greeting the nobles, I will tell you their names from behind. Other than that, there should be no need for any further conversation. But, if you do have something to say to them…”

 

“If I forget their name, I look at you. The capable senior attendant, Ian, who will naturally tell me again. I can also initiate the greeting first, but I should not say my name directly. Because I am royalty.” Seeing Ian’s worried face, a mischievous smile appeared in Kalian’s eyes as he spoke.

 

“Your Highness. Please speak more humbly.” The startled Ian bowed his head and spoke.

 

“But who wouldn’t know my name? They all seem to uniquely call me, ‘that’ Kalian!”

 

Though said with a cheery, smiling face, his words obviously did not hold any good meaning to them. So, Ian looked at Kalian with a bitter expression, unable to find any words to say.

 

“Anyway, that will change after today passes. You don’t need to worry in this regard. I won’t make any mistakes.”

 

[After all, I had been a Prince for so long already.]

 

Not only that, be it as a Prince or as a Knight, Kalian had the utmost confidence in transforming into the perfect version of either in front of others.

 

[The assassin will come anyway. It’s better to thoroughly turn Sillike’s insides out in the meantime.]

 

Such thoughts naturally came to him while he waited for the festival.

 

Whether acting conspicuously or inconspicuously, Sillike was a woman who simply disliked Kalian’s very existence. So, he decided to be deliberately eye-catching. He would be completely annoying like a cat hair stuck in one’s eye.

 

Not knowing Kalian’s thoughts, Ian stared at him for a long time, shaking his head. Soon, Ian’s serious voice caught Kalian’s playful smile.

 

“Your Highness. The most important thing is your health. If it seems at all difficult to attend the full schedule today, you must not endure it and tell me immediately. You must.”

 

Those were words added out of concern for Kalian’s poor physical condition.

 

Kalian had wanted to tell Ian, ‘what difference would it make’, but it seemed like Ian would really do something about it if told.

 

“I understand. Don’t worry.”

 

Ian’s shoulders were tapped by Kalian, who then lowered his head for a moment to examine his attire.

 

His Prince’s uniform looked unfamiliar.

 

He wore a white shirt, black pants, and a tight-fitting black jacket with two rows of gold buttons that reached below the waist. The jacket had a neck collar that covered half the neck. On top of that was draped a red cape that reached the knees. The maids who fixed the cape to the jacket checked that the cape clasp with two gold cords and the tassels was not crooked.

 

Finally, after the maid Merlin inspected Kalian’s attire from head to toe, she opened her mouth with a satisfied expression.

 

“You are fully prepared, Your Highness. It suits you very well.”

 

Kalian lightly nodded his head.

 

Although being skinny was a bit of a flaw, as Merlin said, the Prince’s uniform suited him extremely well.

 

On the jacket was Cyries’ coat of arms, depicting a pentagram and Dragon embroidered in gold. In fact, this was his first time wearing clothes with this emblem, so he could not take his eyes off the mirror for a long time.

 

[The Cyries emblem doesn’t feel unfamiliar. Instead, would the Secritia emblem be the one that feels unfamiliar to me?]

 

While looking in the mirror with such thoughts, Kalian remained still, so worry filled Ian’s eyes. Just in case he broke the mirror again like before.

 

“Your Highness. Is there anything you are unsatisfied with?”

 

Only after being asked this careful question by Ian did Kalian’s eyes leave the mirror. Fortunately, Kalian was not in the depressed state Ian worried about. No, rather the opposite.

 

Kalian answered with a bright smile.

 

“I’m really too handsome.”

 

Ian’s expression changed in an interesting way.

 

Kalian left Ian behind and went outside. Ian, who had been in a daze at Kalian’s behavior, who kept showing new sides to him, quickly followed after the Prince.

 

…

 

A small carriage was parked in front of Cermil Palace.

 

Seeing only one carriage, it seemed Randel and Plants had already departed for some reason.

 

‘I can understand Randel, but even Plants?’

 

It was an unexpected situation, but still, Kalian was not late.

 

After confirming that Kalian and Ian had boarded, the coachman began moving the carriage at a slow speed. Perhaps because there were many guests visiting the Royal Palace, there were a great number of carriages coming and going inside the Palace grounds.

 

Soon the carriage arrived at Arpia Palace where Rmain was.

 

Originally, this schedule was supposed to take place not at Arpia Palace, the King’s office, but at Camilia Palace where the king resided. However, due to being too busy, all formalities were eliminated, and it was changed to a simple greeting in the King’s office.

 

Kalian loved this. After all, the schedule that seemed most difficult had become the simplest.

 

Unfortunately, that feeling did not last long.

 

“Shouldn’t my two Older Brothers already be here?”

 

Kalian asked Ian with a perplexed face.

 

Randel and Plants, who clearly should have already arrived, were not present. Ian’s eyes flickered uneasily. It clearly showed he was uncertain as well.

 

Kalian smiled.

 

“Right. You should have things you don’t know too.”

 

Ian was at a loss as to what to do, after realizing how much he had been repeating the schedule to Kalian.

 

At that moment, someone approached them. It was Yi, the Grand Chamberlain of King Rmain.

 

With white hair and a dignified impression, the Grand Chamberlain politely greeted Kalian.

 

“Greetings, Prince Kalian.”

 

“Where are my Brothers?”

 

When Kalian asked after nodding slightly in greeting, the Grand Chamberlain, who had been staring intently at Kalian, answered.

 

“They have already returned to Cermil Palace. His Majesty said he has urgent business to attend to today, so the schedule was briefly changed to a simple greeting. For the same reason, today’s luncheon has also been cancelled. I apologize for not informing you in advance.”

 

“Are you saying my Brothers separately met with His Majesty?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness. That’s correct.”

 

The sound of Ian inhaling could be heard from behind. Even without seeing his face, it was obvious what he was thinking, ‘Oh no, I didn’t tell you what to do when meeting His Majesty alone!’

 

A private audience with King Rmain – that was what he was concerned about. He was so nervous even though Kalian had been receiving etiquette lessons.

 

“Since there was not enough time to see you together, he decided to see you individually.”

 

It was an incomprehensible situation.

 

Anyone would think that seeing the three together at once would take less time.

 

The Grand Chamberlain did not answer, and Kalian nodded as if he understood. Whatever the reason, if the King was being capricious, he had to comply. What else could he do?

 

“I see.”

 

[A private audience, for the first time.’]

 

He was going to meet his ‘Father’ for the first time. He had never expected his first meeting with the King to be this difficult and sudden.

 

Right now, he never thought he would miss Randel and Plants.

 

The tension came rushing back all at once.

 

Walking towards the office, Kalian took deep breaths so it would not show.

 

Even the old Kalian had no memory of a private audience with Rmain.

 

Even as Bern, he did not have a good relationship with his Father, the King, and had never met with him alone. The only King he had private audiences with was his Older Brother, Chase. Furthermore, any private audiences with Chase were merely a meeting between Brothers. They never carried this tense atmosphere.

 

“Should I go in now?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness. Please enter right away.”

 

Although outwardly calm, his heart was pounding as if he had run five laps around Cermil Palace’s lake. Dozens of greetings flashed through his mind as he thought about what to say upon seeing Rmain.

 

It felt like becoming a swan swimming on the lake.

 

Kalian entered the office with a solemn expression.