Episode 127
In truth, Callisteon was inwardly feeling a rare surge of murderous intent towards humans.
‘How utterly tiresome.’
Every single process—detaining those two, taking them to Babenberg for imprisonment—felt utterly revolting.
He only wished they would disappear from the world so he wouldn’t have to share the same air with them for even a second longer. However, the fact that the wedding was imminent gave him pause about carrying out an immediate execution.
“Their execution will proceed after discussion with His Majesty the Emperor. For now, detain them and provide just enough food to keep them alive.”
Callisteon rose without a trace of hesitation.
Having threatened the heir of Babenberg, their lives now depended solely on the Grand Duke’s disposition.
Still, wanting to inform the Emperor, who would be waiting anxiously, and also to seek his understanding regarding executing imperial citizens without a trial, Callisteon intended to address both matters.
Leander, grinding his teeth beside him while glaring alternately at the two prisoners, reluctantly replied.
“As you command.”
He thought the Emperor would be more pleased than anyone about their immediate execution.
Although, of course, Leander himself would be the happiest of all.
Fortunately, Frilis had been fed and had fallen asleep in the wet nurse’s arms.
The wet nurse seemed to have been knocked unconscious by Cyril’s blow to her head, but, thankfully, she had woken up with only minor bruises.
However, Phoebe, who had been in the hallway during the explosion, like the nearby knights, had yet to regain consciousness.
While no major injuries were visible, it was said the sleep effect of the magic bomb was still lingering.
I was terribly confused by the 23 years of memories that had suddenly returned.
It seemed the shock and fear that Frilis might come to harm had jolted my lost memories back to life.
But as soon as Ren’s palm touched me, my headache vanished as if washed away, and my limbs felt lighter.
I felt almost guilty for monopolizing him with a perfectly healthy body like this.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to ask him to take care of the others.
Not only had I realized how cruelly and shamelessly I had treated him over the past year, but I was also filled with deep regret for the selfish actions I had taken before that.
There was one thing, though, I couldn’t understand: why had Lendo played along with me?
If my returned memories were complete, there had been no incident between us that would justify his claim of being Frilly’s father.
Len looked down at me, his eyes wide and alert, then let out a soft chuckle.
“If you’re not in pain, then get some sleep. Stop being so wary.”
Finally managing an awkward smile, I spoke.
“How did you get here so fast? Karl said you arrived even before the defensive shields were activated.”
Callisteon had briefly suspected Ren was behind everything because of that, but I naturally left that part out.
“How?” He flicked my forehead. “I told you I’d protect you and the baby. Looking at you now, you really take the words of the Imperial Tower Master lightly.”
When I looked up at him quietly, Ren sighed softly and answered.
“The necklace. The necklace I gave Frilis is linked to mine.”
He pulled out his necklace from under his shirt to show me.
It was a heavy-looking metal locket with complex ancient characters engraved on the surface.
“I set it to send a signal if danger is detected. I told you before. I don’t trust the shoddy, trashy protection magic of those Northern wizards.”
He had indeed said that.
I spoke cautiously.
“I thought… you’d be really angry. Thank you… for coming to help us…”
Just as I was about to say ‘thank you,’ Ren finally flared up in anger.
“Aren’t you being truly unreasonable? Suppose I was angry with you. Does that mean I should just stand by and watch what happens to your baby?”
“I know you wouldn’t. But still, thank you. And I’m sorry…”
Ren furrowed his brow deeply at my excuse and let out another deep sigh.
Not a single way to appease his anger came to mind.
Even though Ren had saved my baby’s life, I was marrying Callisteon in a fortnight.
It was what should have happened from the very beginning.
But then Ren asked, almost accusingly,
“And you—why on earth did you put up with my nonsense all this time? Why didn’t you tell me to stop talking rubbish?”
“…Huh?”
For a moment, his face contorted as if he were about to cry, startling me into sitting up slightly.
“Ren.”
At that, Ren hid his expression as if nothing had happened and laid me back down.
Then, avoiding my gaze and looking off into the distance, he muttered as if to himself.
“What do you have to be sorry for? Sure, I wasted a year on futile efforts, but it wasn’t bad. Because it was all things I wanted to do for you, I have no regrets.”
“No, Ren.”
How could he say I had nothing to be sorry for?
The number of things I needed to apologize to him for was countless by now.
I might not be forgiven this time, but I mustered my courage.
“I’ve really… done something wrong to you, Ren.”
A large hand slowly cupped my cheek, and he asked quietly,
“Is it something you’re more sorry for than ultimately not choosing me?”
His small voice was laden with sorrow.
Hot tears streamed down my cheek as well.
“Yes, even more than that.”
A flustered Ren withdrew his hand from me and took a step back.
I looked straight into his wavering eyes and made my request.
“So, take me to the Magic Tower.”
“What?”
Ren asked, bewildered, but I pleaded with a tearful voice.
“Take me to Moghold . Him still being unable to wake up… it’s because of me. So let’s go to the Magic Tower quickly, okay?”
Because of Cyril’s intrusion in the middle of the night, the luggage meant to be moved from Edessa to Babenberg was still sitting there.
From among those things, I retrieved my diary and showed it to Ren.
“Look at this.”
Actually, I had given this diary to Moghold as payment for the parallel transport magic.
In a word, the diary was a symbol of me using magic at the cost of my past memories.
As such, all the diary entries should have been erased.
Yet, this diary had returned to me without my realizing it and was showing me the lost time once again.
‘He must have prepared this in advance for the day Moghold would lose his memories.’
Since it restored the memories I had sacrificed as payment for the magic, Moghold must have used an immense amount of magical power on this diary as well.
It had been a long time since I read the diary, but when I placed my finger on the pattern on the blank page, text appeared just like before.
“What…?”
Ren flinched in surprise.
The diary had consistently revealed its entries, regardless of Moghold’s health status until now.
Even now, when his life was hanging by a thread, it remained unchanged.
‘He must have stored enough magical power in this diary in advance to keep the magic running.’
Was that all?
It must have taken an even more colossal amount of magic to send me to another world and bring me back.
Ren looked intently at the diary, noticed the embossed pattern bearing Moghold’s signature, and frowned.
“This is Master’s mark? Why would he place such magic…?”
But Ren froze before he could even finish the question.
“Lou… don’t tell me you…”
I was so sorry that I couldn’t stop my tears.
“I thought it would only cost my life, my memories. I didn’t know Moghold Nim would have to… stake his life on it too. I’m sorry, Ren…”
Ren was silent for a moment, then muttered self-deprecatingly.
“You used parallel transport magic. The fate of death you mentioned… it was real.”
I could only nod silently, and he added,
“That’s why you lost your memories.”
Just from hearing his master’s mark and my disjointed words, Ren had immediately grasped what had happened.
Looking back, my behavior had been full of suspicious elements.
‘So it’s no wonder he figured it out.’
But I had never been able to honestly confess that I had lost my memories.
If I had spoken up sooner, perhaps Ren would have noticed something and handled the situation more appropriately.
I thought it was his turn to get angry, but for some reason, Ren just repeated the same words, sounding lonely.
“…So that’s why you lost your memories.”
By now, Ren must have realized the answer he hadn’t heard from me earlier.
“And you—why on earth did you put up with my nonsense all this time? Why didn’t you tell me to stop talking rubbish?”
It was because I hadn’t even known he was being nonsensical.
Ren was quiet for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.
Not long after, he spoke.
“The magic placed on this diary… is considerably heavier than you might think. If we dismantle the spell, it might help Master.”
