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Chapter 17
The Second Funeral (2)
“Prince Kaiden?”
“Long time no see.”
A black robe stretched from the hood pulled over his head down to his knees. Underneath, a simple black shirt and pants, with short black boots completing the outfit.
Berenice’s eyes widened at the sight of Kaiden dressed in a manner that reminded her of when he had snuck into Bledin’s room.
It wasn’t an unusual outfit—there weren’t many choices if one wanted to hide their identity—but for some reason, Kaiden’s eyes, sparkling as if expecting something while looking at her, made her feel uneasy.
“So you really came.”
“Did you think I was just saying it?”
“Because you haven’t fully recovered, I guess.”
“You’re talking about Seth, right? The marquis’s physician is quite skilled.”
“I’ll be sure to pass on your praise to him, Your Highness.”
“Do as you please.”
Berenice watched Kaiden’s indifferent reply for a moment, then glanced in the direction she assumed he had come from.
He didn’t come alone, did he?
No matter what, he was royalty… surely not alone…
“My aide is somewhere over there.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You wouldn’t come all the way here by yourself?”
“…I suppose not.”
Berenice, slightly irritated by his tone, raised her eyebrows unconsciously and stared at Kaiden.
Was he doing this on purpose? Or was this just his natural way of speaking?
Either way, it was clear this man had a rather unpleasant personality.
Unaware of what Berenice was thinking, Kaiden’s gaze lingered on her eyes as he recalled the report Asga had given him the previous night.
[That night, you said what you took was a notebook?]
[Yes. I couldn’t get close enough to see its contents, but it was a thick notebook marked with fingerprints. Judging by circumstances, its owner was probably…]
[Bledin Wiltierra, right?]
[Yes.]
What on earth could have been written inside?
Kaiden thought it might contain the answers to the questions he had been seeking. He looked at Berenice, still staring up at him, and spoke.
“Have you fallen for me?”
“Pardon?”
“Because you’re staring at my face as if you’ve forgotten to breathe.”
“…I am breathing.”
A mistake.
Berenice quickly looked away, turning her head back toward her family, leaving the fully open door between them.
Kaiden stared intently at her while her family alternated glances between her and him. Despite having done nothing wrong, a cold sweat ran down Berenice’s back.
“Ahem. Have you arrived?”
“Thanks to the young marquis giving clear directions.”
“You flatter me.”
Confirming that the conversation between Berenice and Kaiden had ended, the marquis’s family approached and greeted him.
Though technically an outsider intruding on a moment meant for the family, he was there as a guest to pay respects to their son. Perhaps because of this, the marquis and his wife looked on Kaiden with warmth and goodwill.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“What were you talking about?”
“Nothing much.”
“But you were staring at His Highness’s face like that?”
“…It just happened.”
“If someone saw, they’d think you’ve fallen for him.”
…Do men always think like this? Or is it just her twin and this prince?
Just looking at someone’s face and the immediate response is “Have you fallen for him?” Berenice glared at her twin in disdain.
But Lowell simply accepted her gaze with familiarity and continued speaking.
“You packed your sword well, right?”
“Yes.”
“Did you scratch it or anything…?”
“Am I you?”
“If you were me, you never would’ve, but you’re Berenice.”
…Should I kill him?
For some reason, her emotions always flared like this whenever she started talking with Lowell. Perhaps it was something only twins could trigger.
“Why are you glaring at me like you want to kill me?”
“I’m seriously considering it, so be quiet.”
“…Don’t say that while holding a sword.”
Lowell instinctively stepped back, realizing he had pushed his younger twin sister, who had always been far more athletic than him, too far. Though she wouldn’t swing the sword, he recognized he had overstimulated her.
“That’s enough. It’s time to send Bledin off.”
The marquis skillfully intervened, calming the twins. While being overly sorrowful and harming oneself was bad, keeping up normal behavior—even with guests present—was acceptable.
Berenice, soon to debut in society, or Lowell, about to act as the young marquis, should not show weakness in front of royalty.
The second prince didn’t seem to care much, but a father must handle what he can.
“Are we moving the sarcophagus?”
“Yes. A platform is prepared inside.”
The calm exchange regarding a sarcophagus too heavy for one person to move was natural.
“Father, should we move it?”
“Yes.”
Lowell took out a magical tool, Kyung (輕), from his pocket. Though it had limited usage time and weight restrictions, it could make heavy objects light enough to lift with one hand.
Skillfully attaching the device to the front and back of the sarcophagus, Lowell lifted it, and the heavy coffin floated like a cloud.
“All set.”
“…Good.”
Confirming the tool worked, the marquis nodded lightly at Kaiden and approached the sarcophagus containing his son.
“Let’s go…”
Leading the way with the sarcophagus, the family followed, with the only difference being Kaiden trailing behind the Wiltierra family.
As they entered the dark interior, magical tools responded to their presence, glowing as they moved.
After walking some distance, a circular space with the Wiltierra emblem appeared.
The marquis placed the sarcophagus on the platform of packed earth and opened the lid.
Inside, Bledin lay peacefully, the magical tools preventing decay releasing a faint white smoke.
After briefly touching his son’s cheek, the marquis stepped back, while the marquis’s wife kissed Bledin’s forehead, saying her final farewell.
Lowell approached, grasped Bledin’s cold hand, and murmured something—likely “don’t worry” or “leave it to me.”
Then it was Berenice’s turn.
She gently placed her treasured sword on Bledin, adjusting his hands so he could grip the hilt, and whispered softly:
“I’m sorry, brother. But don’t worry. I’ll see this through.”
Recalling the diary she had hidden in her room, she finished her brief farewell and stepped back. All the words she needed to say had been said; anything longer would disturb his rest.
Kaiden, quietly observing their farewells with his composed crimson eyes, was able to stand before Bledin’s coffin once the Wiltierra family withdrew.
His gaze, impossible to read, fell on Bledin’s face and the white bandages around his neck. Then his eyes rested on the sword.
Unlike when he first saw it, he noticed a small jewel missing from its beautiful sheath. But Berenice, standing behind him, could not tell that Kaiden had noticed the empty spot.
“My brother called you the sword he trusted most.”
A low voice, but with a heavy weight, echoed in the space watched over by a white wolf.
“Bledin Wiltierra. I trust that you died honorably for my brother.”
At Kaiden’s words, the marquis’s wife broke down in tears.
Berenice clenched her skirt tightly, listening to her mother’s sobs.
Kaiden, who had said things even Bledin’s closest knights hadn’t, spoke words only someone who truly understood him could.
“Rest with my brother…”
Berenice, standing tall, listened to Kaiden’s eulogy. She had no reason to bow her head—Bledin had been an honorable knight to the very end.
“The most loyal sword of Lucadin Manus, Bledin Wiltierra. Rest in peace.”
In that space filled with the marquis’s wife’s sobs, Berenice never lowered her head, witnessing her beloved eldest brother’s final moments.
