The Count stood with his arms folded, nodding his chin, urging Gerald to continue, but Gerald couldn't open his mouth. What on earth was he going to say?
He tried to put her to sleep with sleeping pills, but she noticed and switched glasses, so he fell asleep. Was that why he was so annoyed?
Saying this could mean not only being grounded or losing money, but also being kicked out of the house with no money.
“...Why did you stop talking?”
“She doesn’t even know the topic, and she's being so arrogant!”
As Gerald spoke, his voice cracking, the Count clutched his head. His skull ached.
'I call this guy my son!'
The Count shook his head and left the room.
And as he left the room, he met a servant who brought Gerald food, and another stomach-churning experience awaited him, thinking, 'Can he even eat in this situation?'
“I brought all the magic tools... and the clothes... well, they’re not that important since I can just buy new ones if I leave them behind.”
The night before she was due to leave the dukedom, Candice sat cross-legged on a few of her huge suitcases, wondering if she had left anything behind.
“Yes, I guess there’s nothing in particular I forgot to pack.”
Deciding she had everything packed, she patted her suitcase with a satisfied expression. Then, with a forlorn expression, she looked around the room.
It seemed like he had grown quite attached to this place after spending nearly a year here.
The places she had touched kept coming to mind, so she wandered around the room aimlessly, sweeping the palms of her hands here and there.
It was at that time.
“Candice, are you okay?”
There was a knock on the door, and Ophelia peeked her face through the gap.
“Oh, no, not yet. What’s going on?”
This was Ophelia's first visit at this hour, and she greeted her friend with a puzzled expression. Ophelia was clutching a thick folder of documents.
“I have something to give you.”
She handed the documents she was holding to Candice, and they were heavier than she had expected, so Candice stumbled once under the weight.
“Wow, you carried this heavy thing all by yourself? Call me!”
“It’s okay, Noah is heavier.”
Ophelia playfully retorted, showing off her biceps. It was only half a joke, but it was true that newborn Noah, growing by the day, was much heavier than this pile of paperwork.
“But, what is this?”
Candice asked, skimming through the documents. Ophelia had hand-written magical formulas on each page, suggesting she had been researching something.
“...The magical research materials I've been studying for the past ten years. Now... they're meaningless to me. I thought you might need them more than I do.”
“What kind of magic is this...”
Candice was about to ask what kind of magic it was that had been studied for ten years, but after turning a few pages, she realized it herself and closed her mouth.
“...This is.”
"I was researching time-turning magic. I wanted to turn back time to the day I lost Aila."
Ophelia answered with a forced smile.
For the past ten years, after finally finding stability, this was what she had been devoted to.
If only she could use magic to turn back time, to the day she lost Ayla. Then, she wouldn't have lost her.
“Ophelia...”
Candice looked through her friend's well-worn research notebook, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words. Even just skimming a few pages revealed the meticulous care with which it had been organized.
Looking at the last page, it seemed like it wasn't even close to being finished.
In this situation, Ophelia suddenly lost her magic, and her research was halted. Just imagining how much pain she must have endured broke her heart.
“It’s a shame to just throw it away. I’d like you to finish it.”
“...Yeah, that’s right.”
Not only was she a friend of Ophelia's, but she was also a very desirable subject as a magician.
Many wizards have studied time travel, but none have presented a theory as specific and clear as Ophelia's.
“I will definitely finish it.”
Candice hugged the documents tightly as if making a promise, then unpacked her luggage and put the documents away.
Then, she went over to Ophelia, who was sitting on the bed watching her, and sat down next to her.
"If, you know, I ever perfect the magic that turns back time... what will you do then? Will you turn back time? To that day?"
The worst day of Ophelia's life, when she lost Aila.
Candice asked cautiously, thinking that since so much had changed now, the answer might have been different, too.
"...Well."
And Ophelia couldn't easily give an answer. Even a year ago, the answer would have been a resounding "yes."
If only she could hold Aila in her arms again, then she would risk everything to go back to the past.
But now it was different.
"I don't know. Aila promised she'd 'really come back'... and Candice, you said you'd go find that kid. And then there's Noah. What if I go back in time and never see him?"
Now, she had two children, not just one, Aila. If she went back in time to before Noah was born, and something went wrong and Noah wasn't born... what would she do then?
Ophelia would have to live her entire life missing Noah, who had never seen the light of day due to her own choices, and suffering from the guilt of that.
"...Yes."
Candice nodded silently. Having never had a child, it felt like a delusion to claim she understood everything.
She just gave Ophelia a warm hug.
“...I will definitely find your daughter.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Even though it was a much smaller country than the Peles Empire, searching the entire Inselkov Kingdom for traces of Aila would be a daunting task.
And there was also the possibility that Aila had already left the Inselkov Kingdom.
Both Ophelia and Candice knew this fact very well.
But how much comfort even just words can provide.
Ophelia wiped away the tears that had flowed from her eyes with her finger and got up from her seat.
"I should probably get going now. You're leaving early tomorrow morning, so you should get some early rest, too."
She hurried out of the room, saying she had been holding her friend too long, who was leaving on a long journey the next day.
And the next morning.
Since all the guests staying were leaving, the Duke of Weishaffen was busy preparing to see them off from the morning.
Among those guests, two sisters were so noisy that it felt like they were one against a hundred.
"Oh, really. I can't live because of my sister. What the hell, you suddenly made the return trip complicated..."
“My younger sister is a ship owner, so I can get a little help, but what’s the big deal? It’s so lethal!”
Austin opened his mouth with a tired expression as he watched Candice and Natalia bicker childishly in good spirits since morning.
"Let's just relax and go before we even set off. Yes? It's a long way to go."
Austin shook his head, saying that his wife and sister-in-law were always fighting at every opportunity, and that it was making his ears ache.
The landlords, Ophelia and Roderick, were just laughing heartily as they watched them bickering while getting into the carriage.
“Bye, Natalia! Next time, bring Cheryl along.”
"You promised? If I say I'm going to do something, I'll definitely do it. Are you ready?"
At Ophelia's words, Natalia stuck her head out the carriage window and shouted:
“I, too, will look forward to the day we meet again.”
“Are you really coming? Then let’s go.”
When Roderick chuckled at the sight and said this, Natalia once again firmly received a promise and set off in the carriage.
Just as the couple was about to go inside after such a noisy send-off, the sound of rough horse hooves was heard, and urgent news was delivered.
“A messenger has come to Your Excellency, the Duke!”
The knight, who had roughly pulled the reins and brought his horse to a halt, leaped down and ran towards Roderick. It seemed as if every second counted, leaving no time for courtesy.
Roderick's face darkened in an instant as he unwrapped the scroll the messenger had urgently handed him.
“What’s wrong, Roderick?”
“...They say the Sekim tribe invaded the northwest.”
The Sekim were a tribe of demons who lived in the mountain ranges in the northwestern part of the Peles Empire.
A very rough and savage race that resembles humans in appearance but is two or three times taller and is covered in white fur all over its body, so they are also called Yeti.
They occasionally raided and pillaged villages in small groups, and once or twice a century, they invaded in large numbers and started wars.
The last war with the Sekim tribe had been about a hundred years ago, so it wouldn't have been strange for them to invade again.
“Should you go and see for yourself?”
“...I think that’s probably the case.”
Even though the Empire's regular army was hastily deployed, it seemed that it would not be easy to deal with the enemy because they were so numerous and strong.
He knew that this was the moment for the Knights of Weishaffen to step forward, but... Roderick’s feet wouldn’t move.
News of her lost daughter had arrived, and her son had just been born. The thought of leaving Ophelia alone at such a time weighed heavily on her mind.
“Don’t worry about Noah and me, just be safe.”
As if she had read her husband's mind, she took his hand and smiled brightly.
It was a smile that was soft, yet seemed stronger than anything else.
He tried to put her to sleep with sleeping pills, but she noticed and switched glasses, so he fell asleep. Was that why he was so annoyed?
Saying this could mean not only being grounded or losing money, but also being kicked out of the house with no money.
“...Why did you stop talking?”
“She doesn’t even know the topic, and she's being so arrogant!”
As Gerald spoke, his voice cracking, the Count clutched his head. His skull ached.
'I call this guy my son!'
The Count shook his head and left the room.
And as he left the room, he met a servant who brought Gerald food, and another stomach-churning experience awaited him, thinking, 'Can he even eat in this situation?'
***
“I brought all the magic tools... and the clothes... well, they’re not that important since I can just buy new ones if I leave them behind.”
The night before she was due to leave the dukedom, Candice sat cross-legged on a few of her huge suitcases, wondering if she had left anything behind.
“Yes, I guess there’s nothing in particular I forgot to pack.”
Deciding she had everything packed, she patted her suitcase with a satisfied expression. Then, with a forlorn expression, she looked around the room.
It seemed like he had grown quite attached to this place after spending nearly a year here.
The places she had touched kept coming to mind, so she wandered around the room aimlessly, sweeping the palms of her hands here and there.
It was at that time.
“Candice, are you okay?”
There was a knock on the door, and Ophelia peeked her face through the gap.
“Oh, no, not yet. What’s going on?”
This was Ophelia's first visit at this hour, and she greeted her friend with a puzzled expression. Ophelia was clutching a thick folder of documents.
“I have something to give you.”
She handed the documents she was holding to Candice, and they were heavier than she had expected, so Candice stumbled once under the weight.
“Wow, you carried this heavy thing all by yourself? Call me!”
“It’s okay, Noah is heavier.”
Ophelia playfully retorted, showing off her biceps. It was only half a joke, but it was true that newborn Noah, growing by the day, was much heavier than this pile of paperwork.
“But, what is this?”
Candice asked, skimming through the documents. Ophelia had hand-written magical formulas on each page, suggesting she had been researching something.
“...The magical research materials I've been studying for the past ten years. Now... they're meaningless to me. I thought you might need them more than I do.”
“What kind of magic is this...”
Candice was about to ask what kind of magic it was that had been studied for ten years, but after turning a few pages, she realized it herself and closed her mouth.
“...This is.”
"I was researching time-turning magic. I wanted to turn back time to the day I lost Aila."
Ophelia answered with a forced smile.
For the past ten years, after finally finding stability, this was what she had been devoted to.
If only she could use magic to turn back time, to the day she lost Ayla. Then, she wouldn't have lost her.
“Ophelia...”
Candice looked through her friend's well-worn research notebook, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words. Even just skimming a few pages revealed the meticulous care with which it had been organized.
Looking at the last page, it seemed like it wasn't even close to being finished.
In this situation, Ophelia suddenly lost her magic, and her research was halted. Just imagining how much pain she must have endured broke her heart.
“It’s a shame to just throw it away. I’d like you to finish it.”
“...Yeah, that’s right.”
Not only was she a friend of Ophelia's, but she was also a very desirable subject as a magician.
Many wizards have studied time travel, but none have presented a theory as specific and clear as Ophelia's.
“I will definitely finish it.”
Candice hugged the documents tightly as if making a promise, then unpacked her luggage and put the documents away.
Then, she went over to Ophelia, who was sitting on the bed watching her, and sat down next to her.
"If, you know, I ever perfect the magic that turns back time... what will you do then? Will you turn back time? To that day?"
The worst day of Ophelia's life, when she lost Aila.
Candice asked cautiously, thinking that since so much had changed now, the answer might have been different, too.
"...Well."
And Ophelia couldn't easily give an answer. Even a year ago, the answer would have been a resounding "yes."
If only she could hold Aila in her arms again, then she would risk everything to go back to the past.
But now it was different.
"I don't know. Aila promised she'd 'really come back'... and Candice, you said you'd go find that kid. And then there's Noah. What if I go back in time and never see him?"
Now, she had two children, not just one, Aila. If she went back in time to before Noah was born, and something went wrong and Noah wasn't born... what would she do then?
Ophelia would have to live her entire life missing Noah, who had never seen the light of day due to her own choices, and suffering from the guilt of that.
"...Yes."
Candice nodded silently. Having never had a child, it felt like a delusion to claim she understood everything.
She just gave Ophelia a warm hug.
“...I will definitely find your daughter.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Even though it was a much smaller country than the Peles Empire, searching the entire Inselkov Kingdom for traces of Aila would be a daunting task.
And there was also the possibility that Aila had already left the Inselkov Kingdom.
Both Ophelia and Candice knew this fact very well.
But how much comfort even just words can provide.
Ophelia wiped away the tears that had flowed from her eyes with her finger and got up from her seat.
"I should probably get going now. You're leaving early tomorrow morning, so you should get some early rest, too."
She hurried out of the room, saying she had been holding her friend too long, who was leaving on a long journey the next day.
And the next morning.
Since all the guests staying were leaving, the Duke of Weishaffen was busy preparing to see them off from the morning.
Among those guests, two sisters were so noisy that it felt like they were one against a hundred.
"Oh, really. I can't live because of my sister. What the hell, you suddenly made the return trip complicated..."
“My younger sister is a ship owner, so I can get a little help, but what’s the big deal? It’s so lethal!”
Austin opened his mouth with a tired expression as he watched Candice and Natalia bicker childishly in good spirits since morning.
"Let's just relax and go before we even set off. Yes? It's a long way to go."
Austin shook his head, saying that his wife and sister-in-law were always fighting at every opportunity, and that it was making his ears ache.
The landlords, Ophelia and Roderick, were just laughing heartily as they watched them bickering while getting into the carriage.
“Bye, Natalia! Next time, bring Cheryl along.”
"You promised? If I say I'm going to do something, I'll definitely do it. Are you ready?"
At Ophelia's words, Natalia stuck her head out the carriage window and shouted:
“I, too, will look forward to the day we meet again.”
“Are you really coming? Then let’s go.”
When Roderick chuckled at the sight and said this, Natalia once again firmly received a promise and set off in the carriage.
Just as the couple was about to go inside after such a noisy send-off, the sound of rough horse hooves was heard, and urgent news was delivered.
“A messenger has come to Your Excellency, the Duke!”
The knight, who had roughly pulled the reins and brought his horse to a halt, leaped down and ran towards Roderick. It seemed as if every second counted, leaving no time for courtesy.
Roderick's face darkened in an instant as he unwrapped the scroll the messenger had urgently handed him.
“What’s wrong, Roderick?”
“...They say the Sekim tribe invaded the northwest.”
The Sekim were a tribe of demons who lived in the mountain ranges in the northwestern part of the Peles Empire.
A very rough and savage race that resembles humans in appearance but is two or three times taller and is covered in white fur all over its body, so they are also called Yeti.
They occasionally raided and pillaged villages in small groups, and once or twice a century, they invaded in large numbers and started wars.
The last war with the Sekim tribe had been about a hundred years ago, so it wouldn't have been strange for them to invade again.
“Should you go and see for yourself?”
“...I think that’s probably the case.”
Even though the Empire's regular army was hastily deployed, it seemed that it would not be easy to deal with the enemy because they were so numerous and strong.
He knew that this was the moment for the Knights of Weishaffen to step forward, but... Roderick’s feet wouldn’t move.
News of her lost daughter had arrived, and her son had just been born. The thought of leaving Ophelia alone at such a time weighed heavily on her mind.
“Don’t worry about Noah and me, just be safe.”
As if she had read her husband's mind, she took his hand and smiled brightly.
It was a smile that was soft, yet seemed stronger than anything else.
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