~Chapter 34~
Even though I had traveled all the way to Labota, in just one use of Aska’s teleportation spell, I was already back in the capital.
I closed my eyes for a second, and when I opened them—I was home.
Ha… I wish this was all just a dream.
But no, the very real image of Aska sitting deeply on the drawing room couch reminded me: this was all real.
“I came straight here as soon as I got your letter,” he said. “But the house was already empty.”
“We left early…”
If I had known he’d catch up this fast, I wouldn’t have stayed so long in Labota.
“I thought I’d lost you again.”
He mumbled something quietly and then fell silent. Despite using such massive magic several times, he didn’t look the least bit tired.
Monster. His mana must be overflowing.
“Ash! You really came to get us! You’re amazing!”
“Yeah.”
“Wow!”
Shiz was just excited to see him again.
She had clearly dropped her guard toward her future rival and was happily buzzing around Aska.
She didn’t even seem to miss the trip anymore. That felt like a bit of a betrayal.
“Hey, that huge ice dome earlier—that was you, right?”
“Yeah, I made that.”
“Whoa, it was awesome! Show me again next time!”
“Don’t ask for stuff like that!” I snapped.
Shiz pouted.
“But it was so cool…”
“I’ll show you again if we need it someday.”
“Yay!”
“Ugh, you two are unbelievable…”
Then Aska ignored me completely and spoke to Shiz.
“Shiz, can I ask you something?”
He nodded toward the door.
“Can you play outside for a bit?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Your mom and I need to talk privately.”
“Ah, okay!”
Since when did she listen so well?!
She happily trotted out of the room.
She even gave Aska a wink.
What was that supposed to mean?
Before I could ask, she was already gone.
Now it was just the two of us, and suddenly the air felt heavy. Aska leaned toward me slowly.
I felt like prey being watched by a predator.
I shut my eyes, imagining the worst—but then he said something totally unexpected:
“How did the crown prince find out about Shiz? Did you bring her to the palace?”
That’s your first question?
I was a bit thrown off, but I explained everything.
“She snuck into my research bag without me knowing… and after that, I figured bringing her with me was better than leaving her alone at home.”
Aska chuckled after hearing the full story. That made me feel slightly less tense.
“She’s a little troublemaker, right? But is it hard for six-year-olds to stay home alone?”
“Of course it is…”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t compare her to how you were at six.”
Aska shrugged. I remembered what his nanny once told me—that she quit because he was so mature she didn’t have anything left to do.
Seriously, what kind of six-year-old makes their nanny quit?
Then Aska said something even crazier.
“It would be great if you could call someone to help watch her. Or just leave her with me.”
“With you…?”
Might as well ask a cat to guard a fish shop.
“Anyway, now that I understand the situation, it’s fine. As long as we keep our stories straight.”
“Huh?”
“Like I told you earlier. Your resignation? It’s canceled.”
“Wait, what?”
I couldn’t process it.
“You’re saying all that stuff… is it true? I’m not fired anymore?”
Aska nodded casually.
It felt like my brain short-circuited.
So… it wasn’t because we got caught?
What a relief. But now I really wanted to know how this all happened.
“The crown prince agreed to take me back? How?”
“Well…”
Aska looked hesitant. Strange. He’s not usually like this.
“Try to stay calm while I explain, okay?”
“I am calm. Just tell me.”
“To protect you and Shiz, I needed a safety net.”
Something felt off in this conversation. Why was he the one trying to protect us?
“I thought about how to keep the crown prince from using this situation against you.”
“And?”
“I figured I should tie you to someone the crown prince wouldn’t dare mess with.”
“And… you did what?”
This wasn’t like him. The way he was dancing around the point gave me a bad feeling.
“So what exactly did you do?”
“I let him assume… that I’m Shiz’s father.”
“Ah, makes sense—wait, WHAT?!”
I nearly screamed.
“WHAT did you just say?!”
“I let the crown prince think I’m her dad…”
“AAAAH!”
I couldn’t take it. I screamed like I was going insane.
“Mom? Ash?”
Shiz was peeking in through the door, worried.
But I had no time for her.
“Tell me you’re joking! Please tell me that was a lie!”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you ahead of time.”
Oh god.
Please. Someone wake me from this nightmare.
I pinched my hand. Bit my tongue. Nothing changed.
“You’re CRAZY! How could you lie like that?! Go back right now and TELL HIM THE TRUTH!”
“Tell him what?”
“That we’re NOT like that! That we’re not a couple or whatever!”
The most shocking part?
That the crown prince actually believed Aska was Shiz’s father.
How?! We’ve been rivals for years!
But Aska, completely unfazed, tilted his head and asked:
“Then you would’ve had to leave the capital.”
“That’s why I was leaving!”
“I can’t let you.”
“Why not?! What do you mean, you can’t?!”
I shouted at him, but he didn’t even blink.
“Let me ask you this. Where exactly were you planning to go?”
“I-I was going to…”
My mind went blank.
Truthfully, I didn’t have a solid destination.
My plan was just to wander around, looking for a crack, until I could send Shiz back to her original timeline.
But when I didn’t answer, Aska’s gaze darkened.
“…So you were planning to go to her biological father.”
“Huh?”
Who? What biological father?
Aska just kept going, assuming things on his own.
“I don’t think he was a good person… But do you still have feelings for him?”
“Wait, what are you—?”
“So you didn’t have anywhere else to go?”
“…”
“Is there really no other choice, Relshiz?”
His soft purple eyes stared right through me.
Was that… anger in his eyes?
Suddenly, a memory surfaced. Something the Duchess of Willovis once told me when I started visiting their estate as Aska’s sponsored friend.
***
“Relshiz, our Aska is… a little different.”
“Different how?”
“He doesn’t laugh much. He doesn’t cry much either.”
“Hmm…”
“So he doesn’t have many friends. Could you maybe stay by his side?”
***
Just like she said, Aska Willovis didn’t feel things the same way normal people did.
He had a very narrow range of emotions. Because of that, he didn’t really have any friends—besides me.
He wouldn’t laugh at funny stories, or cry when something sad happened.
To other kids, that kind of behavior seemed creepy.
I’d grown up in an orphanage, surrounded by other kids, so I used to feel a strange superiority about that.
Anyway, Aska grew up quiet and calm, like a plant.
He always stood out from everyone else.
So that’s why this is all so strange.
He misunderstood the situation with the prince, came all the way to Labota, caused a huge scene, and now—he’s… angry?
Or at least, something like it?
Since when was he so emotional and reckless?
Something didn’t sit right.
He was always a little strange, but…
This year’s Aska felt truly, genuinely different.
