Shadowless Night

“Interesting news: two weeks ago, a civil war broke out in the Kingdom of Lagos. I just got the news as the information was well concealed.”

Calyx quickly shook his head. Lagos was under the Illavenia Empire and it was the second-largest kingdom after Balta. The current ruler of Lagos, Baiferm Ploeto, was a woman rumored to be in a secret relationship with Prince Haqab of Balta.

[E/N: Ploeto is pronounced Pluto- like the god, the planet, or the dog (PLoo-Toe). Oh, and Lagos = Lay-Gus. Anyone with more knowledge about the “oe” sound can correct me 🥲.]

[T/N: Our dear Editor just likes Pluto better because "the woman already sounds like she's going to be a b*tch" is what she said 😊]

[E/N: Calling me out Wook…]

“I see many people want to remove Ploeto from office, but it'll be tough. Even if she falls in love and loses her mind, her power will never be weak.”

“…Baiferm of Lagos and Prince Haqab. Hmm… Are they truly…” Calyx trailed off.

‘In a special relationship?’ It was too vulgar for them to speak, but Ricardis politely nodded.

“Yeah, it’s like that. I can’t imagine how Haqab could twist such a story. I heard that Haqab is coming to Illavenia's Founding Festival this year. How irritating. I can only hope that the civil war will continue and Ploeto will not come as well.”

“Well… It seems that they’re trying to pressure Illavenia in that way. Illavenia’s side will be wary of Lagos, and there will be plenty of gained benefits just by completely immobilizing our troops.”

“We should hope the civil war turns in our favor.”

Ricardis wrote a few orders on the report, and then he moved on to the next page. There was a gleam in his eyes, and he seemed more interested than before. It must be something urgent or critical.

Calyx drank tea and waited. 

“Oho,” Ricardis hummed and nodded his head. “In Vista, Young Lord Calyx is famous for being cute, pretty, nice, and rich. Did you know that?”

Calyx barely swallowed the tea he almost spat out. ‘Those aren't urgent papers! No, why does he have such a useless thing in the pile right after an important issue like the civil war in the Kingdom of Lagos?!’

Calyx looked at him fiercely.

“Did you do a background check on me?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It's because the story is close to the rumors of Sir Rosaline. So, Lish's honey nectar is delicious? I don’t think you’ll be full if you eat one by one from the flowers like that. I'll give you some on your way out. Not a bouquet wrapped in paper, but nectar in a glass jar.”

“…”

Now he was joking around. The news of going around the market street biting flowers and sucking nectar with his sister seems to have reached the capital. Ricardis made Calyx even more pissed off by seriously going through the urgent papers and returning to the Radwiell news again.

After reading for a while longer, Ricardis exclaimed. 

“Ah. The news coming from the outskirts of the Helisago Kingdom says they believe that Young Lord Calyx’s sister is the embodiment of Crean Tidanion.”

‘Really…?’ Ricardis nodded at Calyx’s questioning expression.

“Fortunately, I don't think that's a bad thing. The farther away you get from Illavenia, the ‘softer' the evil inclinations of Crean Tidanion become. Maybe they think he's just a powerful god. Anyway, this rumor seems a bit dangerous… Hmm. Isserion, tell Chloe to silence this for now."

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Calyx has now witnessed Ricardis' method of sorting and disseminating information in real-time. Of course, this case will be taken seriously in the capital, especially by the Emperor. There was room for many interpretations, and such information was often twisted and turned in the wrong direction.

Calyx sighed in relief: he knew that the 2nd Prince was building a fence for his sister, but seeing it with his eyes made him feel odd. ‘Why are you working so hard for a single escort knight?’

A probing light appeared in Calyx’s eyes, and Ricardis's smile was full of sarcasm. As much as Rosaline was naive, Calyx was quick to understand.

“Look here, Young Lord.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Calyx's eyes were green, just like Rosaline’s. And the color was not the only thing they shared— the sharp glint in their eyes was just as unique.

“It’s okay to bite, but you have to do it right. Can you use a hound that can't tell if what's in front of it is an enemy or an ally?"

Calyx's expression wrinkled weirdly. The hunting dog of the Illavenia Imperial family… Due to the nature of the work of the Radwiells, who were like watchdogs, one would often hear people refer to them as ‘dogs' or ‘sons of bitches'. Although, of course, all of this only happened behind the scenes when the mentioned party was not present.

It was refreshing to hear it like this, but mostly, Calyx felt heat rise to his head. Ricardis looked at his expression and clicked his tongue. Tsk.

‘Did he just click his tongue?’

A look of dismay appeared on Calyx's face. Ricardis rubbed his temples in pain.

“Don’t get me wrong, Young Lord. I still have a habit of trying to say at least one bad word about the old coots on the 1st Prince's side. I understand that you can’t come to a decision even though your head knows how you came to this point after all our meandering, but I guess your heart hasn’t caught up yet. I see you want to keep fighting, but I suggest, and this would be better for you too, not to vaguely play on the line and decisively make up your mind.”

Ricardis was unusually bold from the moment he made fun of Calyx by saying he'll give him a jar of honey nectar. Calyx looked at him as if he was ridiculous.

“Even though you and I… Even if it was a situation where we had no choice but to have a bad relationship, isn't this a world where yesterday's enemies can become today's friends? Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you and I are friends.”

Every word is true… Seeing Calyx's sullen expression, Ricardis laughed out loud. He could see Rosaline in Calyx's face. They were a brother and sister with many similarities.

"You are very much like Sir Rosaline."

Although a laugh dangled on his lips, Ricardis' mood changed as his mouth softened. Calyx was surprised to see Ricardis staring at him. Was it really the 2nd Prince with that look in his eyes?

Calyx had a multi-layered barrier around his heart. Ricardis broke in one by one in a strange way, but the last layer was holding up well. This final wall was thicker and sturdier than the rest, so Calyx thought Ricardis wouldn’t be able to break it no matter what, but this too…

…Melted away. 

His smile made Calyx feel guilty about his own expression. But there was no other way to say it. Deep down in his heart, Calyx still couldn’t understand, but the single word ‘disbelief’, which formed his wall, had really melted and drifted away somewhere.

It wasn't just because he saw Ricardis working hard behind the scenes for his sister. It's hard to explain, but he just believed in Ricardis. He didn’t know if it was his calm tone, his keen and sometimes easygoing expression, or his friendly eyes pulling Calyx into them.

Ricardis had precisely addressed what had been stabbing at Calyx's heart: ‘You have to do it right.’ Calyx admitted he was being stupid. Who doesn't know what his Father will think? Has the Radwiell family even come into his hands yet? What of 1st Prince Elpidio? Or the Emperor, Elpidio's father? It's not like anyone is his sister's ally.

His sister was strong. However, that strength did not necessarily work in the aristocratic world. Many will reach out to grab and topple her one defense. Calyx was well aware that he alone was not enough. His strength alone cannot keep his sister safe.

Rosaline had always been alone on a precipice where no one reached out to her. Those wretched circumstances had eventually led to her death, and Calyx had no intention of repeating the same foolish mistake. At the very least, he and his sister should hold hands and fall together. He thought this was a more stupid action, but his heart had already decided.

Calyx jumped to his feet. The attention of the two quickly focused on him. Isserion and Ricardis were just discussing how much Calyx resembles Rosaline. Ricardis' eyebrows lifted as Calyx knelt on one knee.

“Calyx Esther Radwiell will swear a sincere oath before the Laurel of the Snowfield.”

[E/N: Should have mentioned this before, but nobles incorporate their land’s name into their formal name. So Esther, being a region controlled by the Radwiells, is the middle name for Rosaline, Calyx, and Fertan.]

“This crazy…”

It wasn't Ricardis speaking. It was Isserion, unwittingly revealing his inner thoughts, and Ricardis’ expression was also distorted. Calyx continued talking beneath their astonished gazes.

 “Calyx Radwiell will be the sword of Idelavhim that cuts through the black moon.”

“Wait a minute, Young Lord Calyx! Life is too short…!” Isserion tried to stop him with a stutter. 

Calyx opened his eyes wide and looked straight at Ricardis, unshaken.

“Calyx Radwiell will protect the weak and be loyal to the Empire.”

Ricardis must have come to his senses as he closed his eyes and opened them again.

“Young Lord Calyx, this is too sudden… No, surely I’m not the only one who feels that way… right?”

“Under the splendor of the glorified Idelavhim…”

“Aaagh! C- Crazy! I guess I’ve gone crazy! Young Lord Calyx, what does this mean…!”

The two people’s pupils only grew bigger and bigger. At this moment, no one was seated anymore. One was on his knee, and the two others stood up, showing their nervous energy.

“Let’s talk about it first, Young Lord!”

“…I swear to dedicate this life…”

“I will reach out to tell Count Radwiell!”

It was very messy.

“…to becoming a knight of the 2nd Laurel.”

It was a low but firm voice. At that point, a wake-up call rang through all their heads.