A truly unfamiliar and strange day has passed.
Kallian wondered if, upon opening his eyes, he might find himself back in Secretia or perhaps in the afterlife.
However, at the soft jingle of the attendant's bell, dismissed any expectations Kallian had, and nothing had changed.
"Did you have a pleasant dream, Your Highness?"
Kallian sat up on the bed and enjoyed the morning tea offered by Yan, then handed the empty cup back to him. After a tidy wash and brushing his teeth, Kallian spoke softly,
"I want to cut my hair."
Yan blinked, seemingly questioning whether he had heard Kallian correctly or not. Seeing the puzzled look on Yan's face, Kallian repeated the statement.
"I'm going to cut my hair."
Kallian gestured cutting his bangs in half with two fingers.
Yan, now certain he didn't mishear Kallian's words, promptly responded,
"..Yes, Your Highness. I'll prepare it right away."
Not long after, the Royal Hairdresser arrived at Kallian's room. Carefully holding scissors in hand, he asked Kallian in a cautious tone,
"..Are you really sure about this, Your Highness?"
Kallian's eyebrows furrowed. Like most knights, he disliked having to repeat things twice. So, he wasn't pleased with the situation of having to say that he wanted to cut his hair, three times.
In response to the Royal Hairdresser's question, Kallian simply pointed to the scissors and said,
"Are you going to cut it or not? If you won't do it then I'll do it myself."
"No, Your Highness. I apologize."
Only then did the haircut begin. After a few snips, the stifling black hair covering half of Kallian's face could finally be brushed away.
Kallian raised his eyes and stared at his face in the mirror. It was only then that he had finally taken a proper look at his own face.
'Oh.'
A small smile formed on Kallian's lips. The statement that he resembled Frieya, whose beauty was referred to as the goddess's reincarnation, was definitely not an exaggeration.
'Isn't this face a truly splendid legacy left by Frieya?'
Kallian nodded contentedly.
"It suits you really well, Your Highness."
In response, Yan also complimented him, although his voice gradually distorted due to the uneasiness growing within him.
"However, I'm not sure how Prince Franz will react.."
"Just locking eyes with him was enough to get him riled up, so I doubt he'll let it pass quietly."
"That's what worries me, how he'll react during today's morning meal.."
"You said that it suited me well, it should be fine then."
Kallian grinned as he stood up.
"I can't keep living foolishly just because he doesn't like it."
Surprised by Kallian's unexpected change in demeanor and words, Yan wore a bewildered look.
At that moment, what was visible on Kallian's face was a confidence Yan had never seen before.
Yan felt uneasy about this sudden change in Kallian's demeanor. While it was undoubtedly a welcome development, it was still..
"Nevertheless, I'm worried about youー"
"Don't worry."
On their way to the dining hall, Kallian assured Yan as if to put his concerns to rest,
"I'll handle it."
As they arrived at the dining hall and Kallian sat down in his seat, it didn't take long for Franz to enter.
With his characteristic hazy eyes, Franz scanned the dining hall, and his gaze landed on Randell's empty seat before turning to Kallian's face.
Franz' slender emerald eyes scrutinized Kallian's crimson irises. Kallian didn't avert his gaze, facing Franz with an expression that no longer had anything to lose.
A distinct sneer and a mocking scoff escaped from Franz, then he averted his gaze away from Kallian's face.
Yan quickly erased the surprised expression that had made its way to his face subconsciously.
'Is it over? Was that really the end of it?'
Incredibly, Franz sat back down without uttering a single word. He didn't even look at Kallian anymore.
Kallian's eyebrows slightly furrowed. He shared the same thoughts as Yan. That insane prince somehow, calmly took his seat again.
'What the hell is this?'
Amidst the silence that seemed ready to explode with tension, Randell entered. As always, he took a seat pretending to have only seen Kallian's face.
The morning meal was soon served, and the three of them focused on their respective foods. Just when Yan was beginning to feel relieved, thinking that breakfast might end without any incidentー
"..Hey."
Finally, the inevitable happened.
The only person Franz could have addressed in such a way was present in this very dining hall. However, this person simple continued his meal with perfect etiquette, as if he hadn't heard Franz.
When Kallian didn't look at him, Franz' lips twitched. It was the explosive temper that always surfaced just before boiling over.
Yan could feel his heart dropping to his stomach with a 'thud.'
However, Kallian's expression, as the person involved, was serene, as if this wasn't his business at all.
"Hey, bloody eyes."
Franz spoke again, this time almost spitting out his words.
Kallian, who was contemplating whether to ignore him again, finally gazed at Franz a little bit later. Just as Franz was about to say something to him, Kallian spoke first.
"Kallian."
Kallian uttered his own name as he speared a piece of the bread he had cut with a fork and spoke in the same calm tone as before.
"..Huh."
The reaction actually came from Randell. Both of his hands that were moving quietly, abruptly stopped. Randell raised his head and looked at Kallian, whose demeanor had changed suddenly overnight.
However, that was it. It was not in Randell's nature to interfere or say any more. Randell soon resumed moving his hands, continuing his meal quietly.
"Ah."
Franz' lips twisted upwards slightly. He slowly closed and opened his eyes, contemplating how to respond to the unexpected response. Gazing at the knife in his right hand, he spoke in a hushed tone.
"Yes, I should address you by your name."
"Absolutely."
Kallian's response came immediately.
Soon after Kallian started drinking water, there was a sharp sound as the tip of Franz' knife touched the table.
And Yan's face lost its color.
'Is this what you meant by 'you'll handle it yourself,' Your Highness?! Did you really think everything through to the end?!'
Franz laughed once again, a childish yet eerie laughter that lingered in the air.
Then, Franz threw the knife he was holding in his right hand directly towards Kallian.
ーSwish!
Franz expressed frustration towards Kallian, but redirected the knife towards Kallian's attendant instead.
In an instant, Yan's arm, that was initially rising to block his face, came to a halt. He thought that if he had blocked, the next wave of anger might be directed at Kallian. So, instead of covering his face, Yan just closed his eyes.
At the same time, Kallian's arm instinctively moved.
ーThud.
Quickly setting down the glass in his hand, Kallian extended his arm and caught the flying knife, even faster than Yan could close his eyes. Franz's gaze momentarily lingered on the glass on the table.
Despite the glass being set down hastily, the water remained completely still.
ーDrip, drip, drip.
Crimson, blood droplets began to fall from the hand that was gripping the dull knife tightly. Seeing this, Franz remarked mockingly,
"Oh my,"
Yan's eyes traced back and forth between Kallian's retreating figure, Kallian's hand, the knife in that hand, the blood flowing down from the knife, and Franz smirking face, like the hands of a clock when it was ticking.
It felt like a dizzying sensation, not because of the flying knife, but because the current situation seemed to be uncontrollably escalating.
Kallian stood up, placing the blood-stained knife quietly in front of Franz. He then offered a gentle smile, carrying very subtle meaning within his words,
"It's alright."
The significance of those words lingered, leaving room for interpretationー was it an assurance not to worry about Kallian's injured hand? Was it a form of acceptance or forgiveness for Franz' rudeness? Or perhaps a combination of both?
A few droplets of blood fell onto Franz' clothing as Kallian soon exited the dining hall.
* * *
That afternoon continued with a seventeen year old attendant crying uncontrollably, distressed about the injury on the Prince's hand. Kallian was occupied comforting Yan, leaving his spirit quite drained.
Then finally came the time for Kallian to attend his calvary lesson, Yan deeply opposed this because attending, would mean that Kallian would encounter Franz. Of course, Kallian didn't listen.
To his surprise, a horse was already waiting for him. However, the horse itself was of mediocre quality and is definitely a common breedー not meant for royals. The round, innocent eyes of the common horse, gazing at Kallian, irritated him deeply, and he furrowed his eyebrows. Kallian didn't need to put in much thought to guess who was behind this.
Actually, Kallian hadn't spoken much since the morning incident as he was haunted by the memory of the previous Kallian who had been terrified of speaking up. As that recollection surfaced, Kallian couldn't help but cover his face with his hand in embarrassment.
"Does riding that horse hurt your pride that much, dear brother?"
Franz.
Kallian looked toward the direction of Franz voice.
Franz, seated on a silver-white horse that clearly indicated a noble lineage, was gazing down at Kallian.
Kallian simple stayed quiet, his expression composed.
Franz' eyes subtly glanced at the bandage wrapped around Kallian's right hand. Then, he chuckled again. Kallian's eyebrows twitched, but to avoid escalating the provocation from Franz, he simply averted his gaze.
Then, an eye-catching horse came into view from behind Franz. Franz had brought out a second horse. Kallian naturally examined the horse's appearance and was greatly impressed.
'What an excellent horse.'
It was a black stallion with only white fur around its front right ankle. It had a well-groomed mane and tail, revealing meticulously defined muscles and an agile physique. The horse seemed to boast qualities even superior to the one Franz was currently riding.
"I intended to entrust this stubborn one to the trainer for discipline, but.."
The horse had been so wild that nobody had managed to tame it properly until now. However, Kallian's gaze remained fixated on the horse. Franz' mouth twisted up again as he spoke to Kallian.
"If you can ride it, it's yours. But if you can't, Kallian, you have to apologize to me for this morning's incident."
In response, Yan took a step forward, perhaps out of concern for the possibility of Kallian getting hurt. Franz' eyes sparked an annoyed look at the sight.
Because it was extremely irritating. Yan who had tried to block his knife from earlier this morning and the current situation at handー Yan standing protectively in front of Kallian, right in front of him.
It was as if Yan was Kallian's guardian, subjected to his every command. It was annoying.
Kallian, sensing this, subtly stepped in front of Yan, diverting Franz' attention back to him. Then, he calmly responded,
"Alright."
Soon, Kallian walked slowly towards the horse.
Kallian approached the horse deliberately. Whether it had suffered from Franz' temperament or not, there was a hint of irritation in its eyes. A firm determination with unyielding resolve was evident. Seeing such an fine creature, a deep laughter escaped from Kallian's lips.
Kallian's once gentle eyes quickly changed into something some sinister,
A blood-stained knight.
Kallian's glare held the vitality and intimidation of someone who had taken numerous lives, making it too much for the sheltered and well-raised three year old horse to endure.
The once arrogant gaze of the horse wavered significantly.
Soon, its eyes transformed into a round and docile expressionー resembling the common breed from a few moments ago.
The horse couldn't resist or dared to move even as Kallian mounted its saddle.
Franz, who knew about the horse's temperament, somehow managed to conceal his disbelief at the sight.
Yan, well aware that Kallian had never practiced horse riding and was always afraid of horses, was filled with joy, thinking,
'Our prince has learned how to ride a horse through the novel!'
Yan, maintaining the belief that Kallian learned horseback riding from knight novels, seemed somewhat clueless.
Kallian gently stroked the horse's neck and said,
"Raven. That's your name from now on."
Black, like a large raven.
Whether Raven understood the meaning of its name or not, it cooed at its new owner's words. Kallian, who smiled at this, turned to glance at Franz.
"Thank you,"
In a way, there was sincerity in his words. No matter the circumstances, receiving such a good companion put Kallian in a good mood. Concluding with an intentional remark, Kallian said,
"Elder brother Franz."
This deliberate remark left Franz speechless as his expression hardened.