Chapter 70
As soon as Melfir replies with ‘Horse and Diamonds’, he is sure that the young prince will immediately stand up and go back to the palace. Seeing his personality as well, he would even pay for the tea he drank before leaving, too. That way there wouldn’t be any complications in the future.
Melfir’s head spun quickly trying to find the right answer.
Calian once again enjoyed the scent of the tea. Just as he took another sip, Melfir answered with a careful tone.
“There is nothing that we deal in as yet, your highness,”
Calian laughed lightly.
It meant that while the Pollun Merchantry was trading in horses and diamonds, Melfir Pollun himself was not actually cooperating with anyone else in particular.
It was the answer that Calian was waiting for, and the expression that Calian hoped he would make.
“Yet, you say.”
Clink.
Calian set down the teacup and gazed at Melfir.
“Would I be able to speak with Baron Pollun?”
He meant he wanted to speak not to the merchant Melfir Pollun, but the capable Baron Melfir Pollun instead.
The reason Calian came to Melfir was not to acquire goods or commodities. As Bern was just a knight, he did not know much about merchandising anyways. He also did not want to make money by foreseeing frivolous events that will happen in the future. Therefore, he didn’t need to speak with the merchant Melfir.
Melfir once again swallowed back his anxiety.
“Hooo…”
Melfir wasn’t able to stop his habit of sighing deeply and stared at Calian without answering. Calian tilted his head slightly and sipped his tea again.
Clink.
The teacup made the small sound once again and Melfir’s mouth opened.
“I’ve been here since the beginning, your highness.”
A satisfied expression came over Calian’s face.
While thinking that it was good that he saved Melfir’s life, Calian slowly spoke.
“It’s good that I didn’t need to wait for him.”
Melfir adjusted his sitting position. Calian continued to speak. However, the content wasn’t definite, but a more vague question instead.
“I was wondering if you, the Baron, can manage something other than a Merchantry?”
With Allan, Calian wouldn’t hide his intentions when asking for something from him, as Allan was always willing to cooperate with Calian, but since his relations.h.i.+p with Melfir wasn’t up to that point, Calian first wanted to see how Melfir would react to his request.
Melfir thought for a moment then replied.
“If there are people as well as money, then nothing is too difficult.”
“There are people and money as well.”
After saying the words Calian stopped himself for a bit, then continued speaking.
“But the problem is that Brissen will also be there.”
Just as Allan predicted, Calian was currently thinking of creating a magic school. Of course, creating the magic school isn’t as dangerous a venture as making the magic division like Allan is currently doing. However, making the magic school may mean the Brissens may be involved and things may get messy.
Hearing about Brissen, Melfir shut his mouth firm for a moment then decided to speak.
“Doesn’t that mean that you are also involved as well, your highness?”
Calian answered with a small laugh.
“It seems I asked a foolish question. That’s right. I will be involved as well.”
“If there are people, money, and yourself in front of the Brissens, then it will certainly not be difficult for me to manage.”
Calian nodded.
As he felt that he would no longer need to dodge around asking the real question he came here for, Calian asked the question he meant to ask.
“I was wondering if I should set up a magic school in Kyris?”
The money that would cost to build a magic school was nothing compared to how much money Calian had in his coffers. For the people who would do the teaching, there was plenty he could use, such as Allan or mages from the Union. However, managing the school was the problem.
There was no way that mages who are known to have relaxed att.i.tudes would be able to run a school properly after all.
That’s why he remembered this talented merchant from his memory and how Melfir still owed his life to him. This was why Calian came to meet Melfir like this.
After realising Calian’s request for him to manage the proposed magic school, Melfir lowered his head and began to think. It was not just managing the magic school. Baron Melfir Pollun would publicly be allied with the third prince from now on.
Calian knew that Melfir would have much to think about, so he calmly waited without a trace of impatience.
Melfir lifted his head and opened his mouth as if he made a decision. However, instead of an answer to Calian’s suggestion, a different topic was brought up.
“Is this the payment for saving my life?”
Whether he is going to be doing this in return for saving his life. Therefore whether he would need to do what Calian is asking him to do no matter if he was willing to or not. That was the question he was asking.
A smile formed on Calian’s face.
“I’ve already received your payment for saving your life.”
Clink.
Calian answered as such after emptying the last of the tea in the cup and putting the cup down.
Melfir’s gaze stayed locked on the empty teacup for a moment. Soon after, a peal of refres.h.i.+ng laughter filled up the reception room.
Melfir felt relieved after having the worries in the corner of his mind completely vanish after festering for three months.
“I shall do it.”
Melfir once again bowed his head.
—
Two Days Later – Morning
Inside the dining hall of the Chermil palace, there was baked bread red with colour, a pie completely filled with cherries, and various fruits and veggies that were coloured red were prepared.
The pa.s.sage surrounding the Chermil palace was decorated with red thread. Around the artificial pond a number of red Rafflenia flowers were placed. The petals danced around the pond carried by the wind.
The people of Kyris did not separate the celebration of a person’s birth and the grief of a person’s death. Just like how they would put a red flower in front of people who have pa.s.sed away, they would also give red flowers to those who are celebrating their birthday.
For them, the colour red symbolized death and birth.
Calian thought that it was a very lackl.u.s.tre tradition. To give the same colour to both the dead and the living.
In any case, he would not be able to change the whole tradition of the kingdom just because he alone didn’t quite like it.
Therefore Calian would wake up in the morning and immediately suck down pomegranate juice, then take the fifteen Rafflenia flowers that Marilyn handed to him, and thank her.
Today was Calian’s birthday.
A deeply moving date where the third prince Calian, who talked too much and often got into trouble, had finally become an adult. .
“Congratulations on your fifteenth birthday, your highness,”
He heard that exact phrase over and over from many people all morning. Just receiving gifts and greetings from n.o.bles that gathered at the Senyu Pavilion took over two hours for Calian.
Afterward, he got together with those that will travel with him to Roselita for a luncheon, received short celebration greetings as well as toasts from them. It took a long time for everyone to finish the meal and have tea together.
Without having any breaks in between, Calian quickly changed to a formal suit fitting for a dinner banquet and journeyed to the Siegfried building.
His black cape, adorned beautifully with red threads, shared a resemblance with Calian. He was sure that Marilyn had chosen those colours on purpose. The black jacket and pants did not have fancy tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs, but the black cape was eye-catching enough that the jacket or the pants did not quite matter as much.
The only problem Bern had with Calian’s body was how thin he was, but that it wasn’t a problem anymore as he had gained some weight, so he didn’t look too thin. It was also making n.o.bles double-take trying to make sure it was the same prince as before.
The point was, Calian was everyone’s main focus today.
“It’s good to see you,” Calian greeted the n.o.bles.
When a group of n.o.bles were deeply confused by Calian greeting them with ‘it’s good to see you,’ even though it was the first time they met the prince, the Prince ended up having to say ‘it’s good to see you,’ to everyone to make sure that he didn’t accidentally show any meaning or favour by greeting people differently.
It ended up becoming his habit to give only that particular greeting.
While receiving praises and looks of admiration from n.o.bles all around him, Calian elegantly walked towards his seat like he always did.
– Step
Then, for just a fraction of a moment, his foot stopped moving.
Franz, who had not shown his face for three months, was out in the banquet hall.