The Arrow of Destiny Cuts Through the Night

#69

Ernis Claude and his attendants, having finished all they had to say, rose from the table where Jersian and Kain were seated. It was obvious that the 5th Prince intended to avoid wasting time, as he had confirmed all he wanted to know and would meet them again soon at the hunting competition anyway.

As for us, we’re grateful if they leave quickly. Just as the 5th Prince was leaving, Jersian, resting his chin on his hand, was fiddling with his teacup when one of the rest area staff approached politely and stood beside the table, saying:

“Mr. Jersian Gerold. I’ve been informed that the carriage is ready to depart again.”

“…I see. Tell them I’ll be down soon.”

“Yes. Please come down at your leisure. We wish you a pleasant journey.”

Jersian nodded lightly in acknowledgment, then turned to look at Kain, who was sitting with a blank expression staring at him. His face was rigid.

“Why that expression?”

“…Jersian, why are all the humans around you like that? It’s hard to find a normal human.”

For someone who had been mostly indifferent until now, saying it didn’t matter either way, this was quite a scathing assessment coming from Kain’s mouth. Jersian chuckled and said, meeting Kain’s eyes:

“It’s because I’m so capable.”

It was a half self-deprecating joke. Kain reacted by openly frowning.

“…You know this isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

Kain’s green eyes twisted slightly. Normally, it would have been concerning, but the fact that his anger was due to worrying about him pleased Jersian. Jersian looked at Kain with a grin.

“I know, of course I do.”

“…”

Why is he smiling? Kain tilted his head, frowning as he looked at Jersian, who was now smiling even more, eyes crinkling, after being told not to take it lightly.

However, Jersian didn’t continue speaking. He gestured lightly and stood up.

“Get up. Let’s set off again.”

“…Alright.”

Kain reluctantly rose at Jersian’s urging.

* * *

It would take a full two days of carriage travel from the Gerold Marquis’s residence to the Whinicer Forest where the hunting competition was to be held. If it weren’t for the carriage and Kain ran on his own two legs, he could have arrived in just a few hours.

The horses pulling the carriage needed to stop and rest or drink water at least once every three to four hours. This meant they would need to stop at places like the rest area they had just visited several more times before reaching Whinicer Forest. It felt like all their energy was drained even before reaching the actual competition venue.

“…”

Kain Starchis was looking out the window of the slowly moving carriage when Jersian observed him from the corner of his eye. Because Kain had turned his head towards the window, Jersian could see the tips of Kain’s pointed ears. The ears were the most unbelievable part of Kain’s surreal appearance. Having touched them before, Jersian knew they were softer than they looked.

Although Kain seemed to dislike it quite a bit, the fact that he willingly lowered his head to allow only Jersian to touch his ears, albeit with a deeply furrowed brow, was somehow very gratifying. Perhaps it was because he knew that he was the only person in this world who had been granted permission to do so.

Anyway, Kain Starchis was resting his chin on his hand, looking out the window with a serious expression. His melancholic appearance, as if bearing all the sadness in the world, was quite eye-catching.

“What are you thinking about now?”

So Jersian couldn’t help but wonder what Kain was thinking with such an expression.

At Jersian’s question, Kain slowly turned his head.

“…”

His light green eyes, reminiscent of the greenery filling the carriage window, met Jersian’s gaze in mid-air. His face was as indifferent as always.

“Now? What I’m thinking now is… that at this speed, it will take much longer than expected to reach Whinicer Forest.”

“…”

“Why suddenly? I don’t understand the meaning of that expression.”

“Just because.”

As expected, this elf always surpasses my expectations. Jersian was silent for a moment, then finally spoke with an incredulous expression.

“To think you were having such thoughts with such a serious face, the content is unexpected.”

I thought you might have some other important concern. Jersian added, chuckling briefly.

In any case, it was very like him to be thinking about such trivial matters as how long it would take to reach Whinicer Forest with such a stern face.

Looking at Kain made all the complicated events surrounding the empire seem insignificant. If they really could abandon everything and leave the Gerold Marquis’s household to live somewhere with just the two of them, as he had suggested, wouldn’t they be able to live without any worries?

Jersian looked at Kain with his chin resting on his hand. His red eyes held a different, heavier shadow than usual.

“What are you thinking about now?”

Kain asked in return.

“What?”

“Your expression doesn’t look good.”

Ah, Jersian rubbed his mouth with his palm, letting out a laugh similar to a sigh. He had been lost in thought for just a moment, but he didn’t realize it had shown on his face so quickly.

It seemed that he hadn’t been managing his expressions as well as usual in front of Kain Starchis for some time now. Was it because he knew it was okay to be honest with him? It felt like he had become a child openly throwing tantrums to someone he felt comfortable with.

Ironically, these were tantrums he had never thrown, not even to his mother when he was young, let alone now. Jersian furrowed his brows and immediately shared his inner thoughts.

“The 5th Prince’s attitude keeps bothering me.”

It was just a gut feeling, without any evidence or logic. If someone else had said this to Jersian, he probably wouldn’t have listened properly.

However, Kain Starchis, as always, asked in a serious manner as if Jersian’s words were more important than anything else in the world.

“The 5th Prince… You mean Ernis Claude, whom we just met?”

“Yes. It’s suspicious that the 5th Prince, who has been quiet until now, is suddenly acting like this. And the fact that he seems to be trying to check our Gerold Marquis family.”

There was an edge to Jersian’s voice. He looked out the window for a moment before speaking again.

“This time feels different. For someone who couldn’t even open his mouth until now to come out so openly like this…”

Jersian’s words trailed off.

It was a well-known fact that Marchioness Elmerila supported the 1st Prince. The Marchioness had openly shown this at the engagement ceremony as well.

Until now, the 5th Prince had shown a friendly attitude towards the Marchioness and the 1st Prince. He had been quiet everywhere, as if emphasizing that he had no interest in the throne.

But now that the 5th Prince had started to move, it clearly meant that there had been some change within the imperial family. It was unclear whether Marchioness Elmerila had noticed this change, but she had suddenly sponsored much more money than usual just before the hunting competition.

It feels like I’m missing something, but I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is.

A deep furrow formed between Jersian’s brows.

“…This hunting competition is different. We need to be especially careful. I have a dangerous feeling.”

Jersian muttered with a hardened expression. Although the sentences were vague, they seemed to have been sufficiently conveyed to Kain.

Kain Starchis nodded with a serious face and said:

“Jersian. When we reach Whinicer Forest, try to keep me by your side as much as possible. I’m sensitive to lies and presence, so I’ll be able to notice faster than anyone if something strange starts to happen.”

Jersian knew how to use a sword and was strong enough to participate directly in missions. Kain acknowledged this.

But the undeniable truth was that Jersian’s body was smaller and weaker compared to Kain’s. The enemy would target Jersian’s weakness of being young and having few allies.

Kain, who knew well that even a momentary mistake could cost Jersian his life, watched as Jersian slowly nodded, agreeing to his suggestion.

“…Alright.”

Fortunately, Jersian accepted Kain’s proposal without being stubborn. Kain gave a slight smile to the gloomy-faced Jersian, as if pleased with his good choice.

As they spoke, the carriage carrying them continued to rush towards Whinicer Forest. It was three days before the hunting competition would begin there.