Chapter 56 : Lana’s Testimony of the Frost (5)

Fragments of Memory.

Human memory is not perfect. 

How many people can truly remember every single thing that has happened to them? 

That is what oblivion is. 

Oblivion is both the nemesis and predator of memory.

What stood before her now was not a delusion but a mere fragment of memory. 

If it had been some delusion mixed with reality, she could have somewhat understood. 

At least the girl who created the world of dreams knew one thing for sure.

The Wolfgang standing before her now was merely a fragment of memory. 

Her power did not even amount to half of the original. 

Nevertheless, she was utterly overwhelmed by her flames.

Blazing flames began to burn through the world of dreams. 

She resisted desperately, but in the end, all that remained was the searing flames. 

Eventually, the scorching heat of this hell engulfed her.

“Hot.”

“Scary.”

“Help me.”

“Jeanne, are you okay?”

“…!!!”

Jaiha, who had been closely observing Jeanne, noticed something unusual and shook her by the shoulders. 

Thanks to that, Jeanne barely escaped from the fiery hell she was trapped in.

The cold sweat dripping from her body testified to the severity of what she had faced there. 

Jaiha opened his mouth after confirming Jeanne’s pale complexion.

“You can’t go on like this. Go back and rest now.”

“But the nobles’ meeting is still…”

“Look at your current state. There’s no way you can proceed with the meeting normally.”

Jeanne couldn’t bring herself to refute Jaiha’s words. 

The avatar she created with her powers shared part of her senses. 

Of course, dangerous sensations like pain were exceptions.

Yet, even with dangerous sensations filtered out, Jeanne had felt an unimaginable threat from Wolfgang. 

Especially in that moment when she removed her eye patch.

After that, her memory became hazy, as if someone had forcibly torn it apart. 

But Jeanne knew the truth. 

It was a defense mechanism her mind had deployed because it couldn’t withstand it.

“In other words, my avatar judged that delivering this memory would break me.”

The avatars are equipped with numerous safety mechanisms. 

Manifesting someone’s dreams as a world is an incredibly difficult and dangerous task. 

A single mistake could lead to corruption under the influence of the dream.

But that was something that happened when she was inexperienced. 

Now, after swallowing more than half the kingdom in the past ten years, such a notion was absurd. 

At least, up until this moment.

Jeanne realized the gravity of the situation when her eyes met Wolfgang’s. 

Jeanne, who could read the desires of others, understood that the meeting of their gazes was purely accidental.

“What is this, exactly?”

But in that moment, when their eyes met, she was consumed by an indescribable, sticky emotion, like insects crawling up her legs. 

It was then that she understood that emotion.

Instinctively avoiding his gaze.

The urge to leave this place immediately.

Yes, that emotion was called “fear.”

Naturally, Jeanne was bewildered. 

“Me? Feeling fear? Against no one else but that Lana Frost? Ridiculous. What on earth happened there?”

“Sara,comeoutquickly!Whatonearthhappenedthere?!”“Sara, come out quickly! What on earth happened there?!”

To resolve the situation, Jeanne urgently called for Sara, another avatar who had been assigned to the Jakal mission. 

But Sara didn’t respond to her summons. 

Or rather, she couldn’t.

“Calmdown.She’stakensignificantdamage.”“Calm down. She’s taken significant damage.”

“That’sright.Letherrestfornow.”“That’s right. Let her rest for now.”

“Damnit…Whatthehellisgoingon…!!”“Damn it… What the hell is going on…!!”

“Asmuchasitstings,wehavenochoicebuttoretreat.Regroupingandfightingagainwon’tbetoolate.”

“As much as it stings, we have no choice but to retreat. Regrouping and fighting again won’t be too late.”

Another avatar clad in armor persuaded Jeanne. 

Reluctantly, Jeanne had no choice but to retreat, biting her lip in frustration. 

In her current state, she could achieve nothing.

“I’m sorry, Jaiha. Can I leave the rest to you?”

“Of course. You can count on me.”

“Thank you. Truly.”

Leaving those words, Jeanne exited the nobles’ meeting with several attendants. 

Many of the nobles, seeing her pale complexion, agreed to let her leave. 

Even the king had no choice but to dismiss her.

“What? She opens the meeting and suddenly leaves?”

Meanwhile, Wolfgang, who had been watching Jeanne’s retreating figure with a puzzled expression, tilted her head.

Without Jeanne, the nobles’ meeting turned into a free-for-all. 

The nobles aligned with Jeanne resisted fiercely, but Frost the Grand Duke and Crown Prince Jaiha were formidable opponents.

The king, Barclayon, also subtly sided with Jaiha. 

As a result, the ambitious nobles’ meeting ended in Wolfgang’s favor.

Still, Wolfgang wore a less-than-satisfied expression. 

Jeanne’s sudden departure weighed on his mind. 

“What is she up to this time?”

Although Wolfgang’s concerns piled up like a mountain, she shook her head to dispel them. 

No matter what, this was a moment to celebrate his victory, even if it was a small one.

“Commander! Commander!”

“Yes, Jakal. Did you find it boring?”

“Thanks to you, Commander, I was able to stay steady!”

“…? Did something happen?”

“Not really. I just wanted to say that.”

Jakal smiled and shook his head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further. 

Seeing this, Wolfgang nodded reluctantly with a faintly awkward expression. 

“Well, as long as it’s a good thing, I suppose.”

“Congratulations, Commander! You’ve achieved a victory against that despicable saint!”

“Though it’s just the beginning, a win is a win nonetheless.”

“Indeed. Celebrating victories, no matter how small, is what gives us the strength to move forward.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

No matter how small the triumph, celebrating it and rewarding her subordinates was key to maintaining morale. 

After all, even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

“Then how about we hold a modest little party today?”

“That sounds good. And let’s take a bath together too! What do you say?”

“Now that’s a suggestion I can get behind!”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Galina’s suggestion was enthusiastically met by Mirina, who responded with sparkling eyes. 

Their eager approach caused Wolfgang, for the first time in a long while, to feel a twinge of fear—not unlike the fear one might feel upon encountering a cockroach in the kitchen: a deeply unsettling, almost instinctive discomfort.

Looking around desperately for a distraction, Wolfgang soon found an appropriate subject nearby: Theodore, who had been watching the group from a distance.

“What are you doing over there by yourself?”

“I’m just… here.”

“That doesn’t look like you’re just standing around.”

“There’s still work to be done.”

“Indeed, Theodore. There’s much left for us to discuss.”

A familiar voice cut sharply between Wolfgang and Theodore. 

A young man with radiant golden hair—Crown Prince Jaiha—approached, his expression serious as he stared at Theodore.

“Your Highness, this matter is…”

“Wolfgang, for my sake, please let this go just this once.”

“Do not worry, Sir Leonhardt. What you fear will not come to pass.”

Wolfgang attempted to advocate for Theodore, but faced with both the unyielding Crown Prince and Theodore’s own silence, he could only quietly close his mouth.

“Theodore, while I understand your feelings, attacking Prince Jaiha and deserting your post without authorization is a grave offense. Do you understand?”

“I fully understood the consequences of my actions when I committed them. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit.”

There was no hint of regret in Theodore’s response. 

Though he hadn’t forgotten the grace shown to him ten years ago, he was unwilling to let it tie him down to a lifetime of regret.

“Very well. Then I will impose your punishment.”

“Please give your command. I will accept it.”

“From this moment on, you are to serve as my personal guard, protecting me with your sword against all threats.”

“…Pardon?”

“That is the punishment I am giving you.”

Jaiha’s tone was cold, but the punishment was so lenient—borderline indulgent—that Theodore’s eyes widened in disbelief. 

Seeing his reaction, Jaiha smirked and added with a chuckle, “I suppose I’m allowed to be selfish, just this once.”

“Are you serious? If you gloss over this like that, the saint’s faction won’t stay silent.”

“I’ve held back for so long—because I lacked power, because I needed to wait for the right moment. I’ve sacrificed much for those reasons.”

“…”

“So, at the very least, can’t I be selfish about keeping one long-time friend?”

Jaiha’s voice carried the weight of countless emotions he had suppressed over the years. 

Even Wolfgang, who rarely concerned herself with such matters, could sense the hardships Jaiha had endured.

“Well, as long as I’m here, everything will work out, won’t it?”

“Indeed. I owe you my thanks, Leonhardt.”

“Speak freely. We’re in the same boat now, aren’t we?”

“Haha, if you put it that way.”

Though the path ahead remained long and treacherous, the small victory they had achieved today brought a rare moment of relief. 

For the first time in a long while, Crown Prince Jaiha allowed himself a genuine smile.