Ch.58What goes around comes around.

It was a bright day with an impressive clear sky.

I knelt down and humbly bowed my head at Duke Rupenter’s Estate.

I belatedly realized that an excessively serious incident had occurred while I was unconscious.

If not for Serin, Luca, and the duchess, I would have gone down in human history as a mass murderer by now. Additionally, I would have met my end with a sword embedded in the reigning emperor of the time.

In that sense, the three of them were my lifesavers.

“I truly… thank you…!!!”

But from the perspective of the three people receiving my apology, my response seemed awkward. Soon, Serin was the first to express this strange discomfort with her delicate lips.

“No, well… Rian became like that while trying to save me…”

Saying she should be the one apologizing instead. Serin left a brief self-reproach.

Then Luca and the duchess also lifted me up with embarrassed faces.

“I’m the one who dragged you into my personal affairs in the first place. I’m in no position to say anything.”

“Yes, Rihart… no, should I call you Rahilt now? Anyway… as royalty of this country, I should be the one kneeling before my savior.”

Eventually, Luca knelt before me. Unable to just watch this, I quickly stood up and stopped him.

After forcibly lifting me up, Luca wiped his cold sweat and joked.

“Phew, things will be busy for a while. The country will be in chaos. Who knows how long it will take to investigate officials who were brainwashed by the black magician and remove tumors both large and small.”

“I’ve lost my emotional abilities too, so there will be many inconveniences.”

“So what if you don’t have them? You still have spear skills worthy of a martial arts family.”

Apparently, spear techniques were martial arts that the duchess had learned through her own efforts. Even though she had lost her mysterious abilities, it seemed her efforts hadn’t been in vain.

“…Still, I didn’t know I would feel such a sense of loss.”

“Kanarin…”

Luca couldn’t readily comfort her. He could only fidget with his hands, contemplating appropriate words and actions.

However, feeling that he couldn’t just dwell on stories with people standing before him, Luca offered us:

“Rahilt. And Your Highness. If you wish, I’ll provide convenience for your return to the Empire.”

“Convenience?”

“Yes, I’ve learned a useful spatial magic for this occasion. You can reach the Imperial Palace from here in one leap.”

Then Luca added:

“It’s thanks to you, Kanarin.”

“Thanks to me?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

At Luca’s words, the corners of the duchess’s previously gloomy expression turned slightly upward. Then the duchess pinched Luca’s cheek lightly and scolded him.

“You always choose the most annoying things to say. Someone lost their abilities, while someone gained abilities thanks to me. Are you stupid?”

“Ugh, Kanarin…! That hurts!”

“If it didn’t hurt, there would be no point.”

“Such value isn’t necessary… ow…!”

Though it looked like she was reprimanding him, the duchess seemed happy. Serin watched them and let out a quiet laugh. I also quietly laughed, feeling a strange sense of peace from their everyday interaction.

That’s when the bickering pair simultaneously focused their gaze on me.

“It’s like reconfirming, but my friend was truly born with a face that defies common sense.”

“I thought the mansion was brightening up just from your brief smile.”

“Sorry Kanarin, could you close your eyes? It’s becoming scary in many ways.”

“Why are you treating someone like pornography? And I’m scared too, thanks to a certain someone who will protect the country from future calamities.”

Luca nodded in understanding at Kanarin’s statement. Unable to comprehend the meaning, I simply kept quiet.

“Ha… haha.”

Serin just laughed without saying anything. But her eyes formed a horizontal line, which was slightly frightening. If there was something she didn’t like, I wished she would give me a hint beforehand.

Just as the situation was becoming awkward:

“Brother Rihart! Sister Serin!”

With perfect timing, Eshtiel came down the stairs. Behind her, the duchess’s younger brother was looking at us with a face full of regret.

I naturally picked up Eshtiel.

“Did you finish saying goodbye?”

“Yeah, they said we’ll see each other again soon.”

“You made a friend, I see.”

“Yep! I just need 98 more to reach 100!”

“…Who’s the other one?”

“Brother Tesser?”

At Eshtiel’s innocent remark, two people were simultaneously shocked.

“What?!”

“What did you say?!”

They were Serin and the duchess’s younger brother, Arhan.

Especially Serin, who was so surprised that she stammered while making eye contact with Eshtiel.

“You’re friends with Tesser, Tiel?”

“Yes. He took really good care of me.”

“That indifferent child…?”

Serin seemed to find it hard to believe. I wonder what her younger brother’s usual behavior was like to elicit such a dramatic response. Perhaps when we return, it would be better to investigate before allowing their association.

Meanwhile, the duchess’s younger brother, Arhan, was experiencing his own despair.

“I wasn’t the first…”

A dejected murmur flowed out, but unfortunately, it was too quiet to reach the innocent Eshtiel’s ears.

After finishing our farewells, Serin requested the spatial magic that Luca had offered.

“Hmm, I’ll accept the 2nd Prince’s kindness. Would you deploy the spatial magic?”

“Oh, of course. Both of you, come here.”

Luca pulled out a branch from his waist. Immediately, the branch absorbed particles of light and transformed into a large staff, fitting perfectly in Luca’s hand.

“Now, here we go.”

Vast magical power circulated inside the mansion. The magical wave surrounding him was strong enough to shake the frames hanging on the walls.

Shwoop.

Eventually, the magical power gathered in a circle and tore through space in the form of a pond. Everyone present gazed in admiration at the rippling surface of the space. Eshtiel was especially amazed, poking at the spatial ripples and exclaiming.

“Wow… so cool.”

“I did well, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then can I pat your head once?”

“I’d like that.”

Eshtiel extended her head toward Luca. At Eshtiel’s behavior, Luca fell into ecstasy and stroked her head, forgetting the passage of time.

And so, our farewell filled with lingering attachments concluded.

We waved our hands to bid a final farewell to the Duke’s Estate and stepped into the rippling space.

…

……

In the corridor of the Rupenter Estate, now quieter after the three people departed for the Empire.

There, Arhan, Kanarin’s younger brother, quietly grabbed the hem of Luca’s clothes.

“…Brother Luca.”

“Arhan? What’s the matter?”

“I want to learn magic.”

“Hmm, first I’ll look for a suitable magician as a teacher…”

“I want to learn from you!”

Arhan, uncharacteristically interrupting and passionately requesting. With his years of experience, Luca couldn’t help but guess the reason behind Arhan’s passion.

“Y-y-you naughty little kid. Are you that envious of getting attention?”

“That’s not it at all!”

“Then what is it?”

“Ugh… it’s not that!”

Arhan pounded on Luca reproachfully. Unable to ignore the request of his prospective brother-in-law, Luca finally made a promise.

“First, take a magic aptitude test, and if you’re deemed suitable, then I’ll seriously consider it.”

“Really?”

“Would I give empty promises to Kanarin’s family?”

“…I’ll trust you, brother.”

“Yes, yes.”

This day became the starting point of Carnar Kingdom’s secret history.

The birth of a great magician who would succeed the King of Carnar began in this way.

◇

After returning to the Empire in an instant through the portal, I parted ways with Rahilt for a while. I thought he needed some time to reunite with the family he had lost, especially after confronting his past regrets.

Of course, before that, I made something clear to Rahilt.

That I had known all along that he was the child of the deposed emperor. Just as he immediately recognized me as the Imperial Princess when I was kidnapped.

Naturally, he was very surprised. But he didn’t pry more than necessary. I thought it was very characteristic of Rahilt.

I wish he would remember that messy confession from back then. Since he literally went crazy, he says his memory is completely gone. He even seemed to have forgotten the very existence of Rastali, whom he had executed.

Yet he still remembered his tragic past end.

It was a result that added to the sadness in many ways.

But he himself just brushed it off, whatever he was thinking.

“Sigh… I don’t know. I’m busy dealing with my own situation…”

Meanwhile, I also had someone I needed to confront in my own way.

The male and female leads who killed Rahilt’s parents – my parents in this world.

There were many opportunities to bring it up, but it was difficult to readily mention Rahilt in front of my two parents who cherished and welcomed me. And now, two days later, I knocked on the door of the office where both parents were present.

Knock knock.

Permission to enter was granted immediately.

“Come in, Seriniel.”

“I’m coming in.”

I sat in the arranged chair and slowly looked at both of them. Their expressions showed curiosity about what their daughter was being so serious about.

I can’t postpone this any longer.

I spoke directly.

“I have something to talk about regarding a man you both know well.”

◇

My heart was full.

The Elenot Estate located in the Empire. There, a piece of my past that I had once lost was staying.

“Finally home!”

“Are you happy, Eshtiel?”

“Yeah. So happy.”

“Even though you hid all the way in the kingdom because you disliked home?”

“Umm, that was then, but not now.”

“Why?”

At my brief question, Eshtiel proudly puffed out her chest.

“I’ve gained enlightenment. Running away from home is damn hard. From now on, home is my favorite.”

“Your language… your language…”

I wonder who taught her such vocabulary. Even though the mercenaries used rough language, I had created an environment for Eshtiel to see and hear only good things…

Just as we opened the door to the mansion:

“You’re back.”

Rodrick casually greeted us.

He must already know that a huge commotion occurred in the Carnar Kingdom. His indifference, as if seeing someone returning from a neighborhood stroll, was very like Rodrick.

At least, until he noticed the dramatic change.

“Hey, you crazy bastard, what happened to your mask?!”

“I threw it away.”

“What, what did you say? No, no. You can’t be that senseless… No one has seen your bare face yet, right?”

“Hmm.”

I informed him of what I could remember.

“The 2nd Prince of Carnar Kingdom, Duchess Rupenter, and Serin… and passersby we encountered on our way here. Just about that many.”

“Fuck!!!”

He violently cursed. I reflexively covered Eshtiel’s ears and spoke calmly.

“The child can hear you, Rodrick.”

“Oh, what idle nonsense is this beautifully crazy bastard babbling about?! Pack your bags right now, damn it…!!!”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, so calm down.”

I added a word to Rodrick, who was stomping his feet.

“Father.”

At that moment, time stopped. More precisely, only Rodrick’s time unnaturally paused.

“You…?”

Rodrick made a metallic sound and staggered with his whole body. Eventually, he tripped over his own feet and fell with a thud. Moreover, his face, settled with shock, was so unfamiliar that it seemed like he was in a trance.

“I’m back, Father.”

“…”

I gently embraced Rodrick, who had collapsed on the floor.

I see. So this is the warmth he has. Rodrick’s body.

I didn’t know in the past.

I regretted not knowing the warmth due to the unbridgeable distance. Then the last time I held him, what I felt was the coldness of rotting flesh.

Now I had no intention of hiding anything.

“I’m back…”

And so I stupidly repeated the same words over and over.

“I’m back…”

From the distant future.

And from the distant past.

“I’m back… Rodrick, Eshtiel.”

Perhaps sensing something from my inexplicable behavior, Eshtiel also approached and joined our embrace.

Earnestly hoping that if this was a dream, it would never end.

I recited the same words over and over to the miracle that had come like a blessing.

“I’m back…”