Chapter 61

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter his mother had given him.

Minji leaned against the window, gazing at the distant mountains while deeply reflecting on yesterday's events.

In the midst of the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Rudia deliberately handled the situation loosely, seemingly flawlessly, to lure her and Altears. It was risky, but Rudia didn't care. A moment of danger came when Lirika drew her magic gun and returned fire.

But it was only for a moment; once Altears appeared, everything was over. With a single wave of his hand, everyone fell to their knees. When they were enemies, he seemed monstrous and despicable, but now that they were on the same side, he couldn't be more impressive and reliable. Not a single person managed to escape and was subdued.

Didn't she deliberately stay far away from Lirika, going deep in the opposite direction?

Even if she poured all her strength into Rudia, she never thought he would take action against Lirika too.

Was it a mistake to have believed that Laub would handle it?

She should have given up her own arm instead.

Even so, a part of her mind was constantly calculating the gains and losses from this incident.

She found it exhausting, but what could she do about her naturally calculating mind?

'By this, I've eliminated one of the pillars that could connect with Barat.'

She couldn't find any connection to Barat. The key players all took their own lives upon failure, and the remaining ones were just lackeys.

Moreover, the problem was the badge.

She had no idea how the power of the badge was nullified. All she knew was that it was bought from the black market.

'This is why I wanted to keep the information guild in check.'

It frustrates her that they are so unhelpful.

'That scoundrel.'

Thinking of the guild master, whose face she knew all too well, made her teeth grind.

Fai Sandar's sudden actions also annoyed her. The Duke of Sandar bowed his head, claiming he knew nothing.

Even as he carried out his unconscious son, his relief was evident.

Because he was alive.

And wasn't his daughter also unharmed?

Thinking of this made her anger rise again. Even now, her frustration over Lirika hadn't subsided.

But what if Fai hadn't taken Lirika and fled from there?

'She would have died.'

If it had just been Lirika and Laub, she would have been captured or killed. Or, if her luck had been worse, torn apart by the rampaging Laub. The moment a rampage begins is the most dangerous.

She couldn't tell if it was good luck or bad.

If Lirika hadn't been in danger, the outcome would have been excellent.

'Sandar's betrayal is completely erased. Because of Laub's rampage, Tan Wolf will likely abandon his position and retire to the countryside.'

Rudia looked at Lirika's face. In terms of achievements, Lirika had also made a significant contribution.

'But Lirika is more precious than that.'

Rudia bit her lip. Altears squatted into the small folding chair beside her and said,

"Go and rest."

"No."

"I'll watch over her."

"No."

"Rudia."

"She's my daughter, my daughter. She's my daughter."

"She's mine too."

Rudia raised her reddened eyes to look at Altears. She scrutinized every corner of his face as if examining it.

Can she trust him?

How much?

The one who tried to hide from her that Lirika was a mage.

Altears spoke slowly,

"I'll say it again, I never intended to deceive you. Mages are extremely rare beings..."

"In other words, you didn't trust me."

"Yes, it was a very shallow and foolish judgment."

"No."

Rudia's lips curled up.

"It was a very wise judgment."

The lamp cast a deep expression.

"Sometimes I don't know what to do either. I, certainly."

A coward.

If she had known, she would have scolded Lirika harshly, telling her never to use magic again and hiding her tightly away.

She would have trembled in fear that Lirika's secret as a mage would be exposed. Wondering how to protect her daughter.

The only way she knew to protect was to hide, conceal, and lock away.

"Even now, all I think about is how to shield Lirika from the world."

Altears didn't smile.

"You won't do that."

"I want to."

"There's a big gap between what you want and what you actually do."

Altears leaned closer to her.

"I might be weak in emotional matters, but I'm confident in other areas. I'm better than you."

Rudia narrowed her eyes.

'Yeah, you're smart and capable.'

"Of course, you've lived several times longer than I have."

A hint of difficulty flashed across Altears' expression.

"I wasn't boasting."

His tone was soothing. Rudia looked at him silently. There was no hint of a smile or expression that suggested he was treating her like a child.

He was treating her as an equal.

Rudia apologized.

"I'm sensitive about this part."

Altears looked puzzled and said,

"You are wise and elegant."

"Out of the blue?"

She asked, bewildered, and he replied,

"Because it's a sensitive part. Don't people usually become sensitive about their weaknesses? You are as noble as Barat and as wise as Sandar."

Rudia's cheeks turned red. It was just knowledge she had because she had returned. She turned her head and said,

"Still, I can't help Lirika."

"You are helping her enough."

He shook his head.

"Our conversation is jumping around. Anyway, Lirika is also my daughter. You don't have to bear everything alone."

His blue eyes, with pupils that danced with a red light, were serious.

"A dragon's oath is heavy."

That's why Rudia deliberately made him swear. The oath she received was much heavier than she expected...

Rudia reached out and firmly grabbed his cheek.

"What does this mean?"

Altears asked, and Rudia smiled.

"Right. During the contract period, you are my husband and Lirika's father."

"I've told you that many times."

"It didn't feel real."

She let go of his cheek.

A dragon's oath can be trusted. That means this person can be trusted.

Trusting someone is a difficult task, but once you trust, there's nothing more comforting.

Just trust and rely.

Moreover, what can I say?

You're doing well.

You're still great.

She liked hearing such words. Each time, she felt something in her heart being filled.

When she felt that no matter how hard she tried, things weren't going well, such words were a help.

With a relieved expression, Rudia said,

"Thank you. But I want to be by Lirika's side when she wakes up."

Altears understood that this was a changed answer to his request for her to go and rest.

He turned his gaze to the sleeping Lirika, his expression darkening.

"I have concerns."

"About what?"

"I feel that fate is driving her."

"What do you mean?"

"Both Laub and Feri. These were situations that couldn't be resolved without a mage. Lirika got involved and resolved them."

Rudia's eyes narrowed. Her eyes, which resembled Lirika's, emitted a cold, fluorescent light unlike her daughter's.

"Do you mean Lirika is being drawn into situations that require magic? That can't be, because—"

Because in her previous life, such things never happened.

Lirika never opened her eyes as a mage or used magic.

In her previous life.

'Then what about this time?'

(Perhaps) Lirika used magic to send her back in time.

'And everything changed.'

If Altears and she hadn't married, Lirika wouldn't have had the opportunity to systematically learn magic.

Altears wouldn't have noticed that she was a mage.

'Lirika just used magic to send me back? Huh, maybe she's paying a price for it?'

She wondered if Lirika was completing the mage's mission to pay the price for sending her back in time.

"That's ridiculous, such a thing—"

"Rudia."

Altears took her hand. Rudia flinched and looked at him.

"Do you have any guesses?"

After hesitating several times, Rudia spoke.

"I think Lirika used a spell to change fate..."

It was a concise statement, but Altears understood to some extent.

"So, fate is demanding a price from Lirika?"

"Isn't that the case?"

"Well, if that's true, there's at least one not-so-bad point."

"What is it?"

"If that's the case, Lirika won't die until she completes everything fate wants."

"That's not comforting at all."

Muttering, Rudia sighed. Still, after talking, her mind felt clearer. Whether it was fate or something else, it didn't matter.

Her task was clear.

She got up from the chair and plopped down on Altears' lap. He looked surprised as he looked down at her.

"I'm going to rely on you as you want and also seek comfort."

Altears chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Finally acknowledging it after two years?"

"Seems so."

Muttering, Rudia leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I just want Lirika to be happy."

"Lirika also seems to want you to be happy."

Hearing this, she felt like crying but ended up laughing sadly.

* * *

Bryne thought that his recent life was a series of 'memorable events.'

Such events should happen sporadically, but they were coming one after another, both good and bad.

"Hey."

Bryne looked at Laub, who was squatting inside the makeshift wooden prison he had created.

"Are you okay?"

Since the wooden bars could be broken even by Bryne's strength, it was more of a symbolic prison.

"No, why would I insist on staying in here alone? I told you to go into the tent."

"..."

Bryne narrowed his eyes.

"Are you trying to evoke the princess's sympathy with this act? If that's your plan, give it up and come out. Are you crying?"

Suddenly, tears started to fall from Laub's expressionless eyes. Bryne was taken aback.

Was he really that tough and unyielding?

"Hold on, ugh!"

Bryne removed a wooden bar and entered the prison, squatting beside Laub and placing the lamp on the ground.

"Well, you almost went berserk, but you're fine now, right? In a situation where you couldn't distinguish friend from foe, I think it was a good judgment to run and hide."

"..."

Drip, drip.

Seeing Laub still crying, Bryne said, "Ah, this is frustrating." and turned him around by the shoulders. Laub blinked in surprise.

"If I was going to abandon you, I wouldn't have taken you as a bodyguard in the first place. I wouldn't have made you swear. Don't you know the princess?"

Laub was surprised by this treatment. Looking into his sharp purple eyes, he turned his gaze away, and Bryne pressed him.

"Stop it. Speak, speak."

"Speak."

"..."

"Do you want to die?"

Bryne's voice turned cold, and Laub spoke softly.

"Since you saw..."

"Saw what?"

"I... changed..."

"Oh, is that it?"

Bryne's voice was too light, and Laub looked at him in surprise. Bryne said,

"You're fine now, aren't you?"

"..."

"Maybe the princess used an artifact? If she was going to abandon you, she would have done it there. The queen's shooting skills are also excellent."

His tone was cold but somehow comforting. Laub glanced at Bryne.

Bryne let go of his shoulders, picked up the lamp, and stood up.

"Go back to the tent quickly. Or continue doing this pointless act here."

She turned and left the prison. Laub hesitated but followed her.

* * *

Rumble.

As soon as Lirika opened her eyes, she felt hungry.

Amid the warm welcome from her entire family, Lirika was served a meal. Although her wounds were bandaged, the ointment she had made was so effective that they had already healed.

There was some muscle soreness, but it wasn't severe.

The doctor declared her fully recovered, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Lirika also felt her spirits lift as food filled her stomach.

Seeing everyone's worried faces, Lirika smiled bravely.

"I'm really fine. I'm in top condition!"

Rudia smiled.

"That's a relief."

Lirika quickly followed up with questions.

"What exactly happened? What about Fai and Laub? What about Feri? And who shot the arrow?"

Altears and Rudia exchanged glances. Altears shrugged and gestured for Rudia to explain.

"The person who shot the arrow was from the Southern Alliance. They were all captured. Laub is under house arrest, and Fai and Feri are also being detained separately."

"Detained?"

"Yes."

Attil spoke sharply.

"What exactly happened? I've heard both sides' stories, but I need to hear yours too."

Attil's words made Lirika recount the events truthfully and in detail.