Chapter 93
“Bania.”
Ryan, flustered, stepped closer.
Not knowing what else to do, he pulled her small body into his arms. Bania clung to him and began sobbing hard in his embrace.
“Uhh… Haaah…”
“…”
There was definitely something more going on here.
“C-can I… ask a question now?”
Still crying, Bania looked up and asked. Ryan stared blankly at her tear-streaked face, then nodded.
“…Yeah.”
“Did you… come back in time together?”
She was asking if he learned Nike’s ability through joint regression.
“Yeah.”
“That person… must have been so, so shocked…”
“…”
…She really must have loved him.
Ryan felt a bitter twinge but tried to sound playful.
“Yeah, he was shocked. I’m sure he already knew I had powers, so it must’ve startled him… but it’s fine.”
“…”
“I acted so well that I put him at ease. Now the 3rd Prince thinks I’m powerless.”
“…What?”
“I hid it so well that he actually came and asked me if I was powerless. So relax, okay?”
Bania sniffled and frowned.
“What do you mean…? You came back together… and in that short time, you acted? You realized time had turned back instantly?”
“Yup.”
“And you figured out right away that he had powers? And then you acted so he wouldn’t worry that his secret was exposed?”
“That’s right. That’s me.”
“….”
Bania gave a short, incredulous laugh at his smug answer.
“If you laugh right after crying, something bad will happen.”
“Hah… you really are… scary.”
“Took you long enough to notice.”
“Dad, I… I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“….”
She took a deep breath to steady herself, but then burst into sobs again.
“Wait—sorry… ah…”
“It’s okay. Take your time.”
Ryan hugged her again, patting her back gently. He figured it must be overwhelming—telling someone for the first time something she had carried alone all this time.
***
“Not sleeping yet? Whoa, don’t tell me you two are planning to snuggle up in the same bed?”
Late at night, Riban walked into the room in his pajamas and was shocked to see the two lying side by side.
Ryan waved him off.
“Why not! A dad and daughter can sleep together! Out, out!”
“…Good grief.”
Clicking his tongue, Riban closed the door and left.
Sniffling, I stared up at the ceiling.
“So…”
Ryan, lying in the same position, rubbed his face.
“You’re saying the 3rd Prince is kind of an incomplete ability-user?”
“Hey! Don’t put it like that!”
“But it’s true! If he can only go back 30 minutes with his memory, how is that not incomplete?”
“Ugh.”
I had just told Ryan everything about Nike’s secret. Since he already knew part of it, I figured I might as well tell him everything—because I had a request.
“But isn’t your boyfriend a bit slow? He told you every little detail of a life-threatening secret. Might as well have told Basenberg to come arrest him.”
“No! He told me because he trusted me!”
“Yeah, sure.”
Ryan paused.
“Wait—then why didn’t you get the 3rd Prince’s Blessing earlier? If you were that close, you could’ve asked him to do a short joint regression.”
“….”
That was exactly what I regretted the most.
“Actually… he did tell me to take his hand. Said he’d show me.”
“And?”
“I didn’t.”
“Why?!”
“Because he only told me his secret after I kept doubting him—kept asking if he really liked me. I annoyed him so much he told me the truth to prove it. I felt awful. That’s a life-or-death secret. Forcing him to show me by using his power would’ve been too much.”
“…Huh?”
“And if I took his power too, it’d leave undeniable proof. I didn’t want to make him even more anxious after he’d just revealed his secret.”
Ryan stared at me like I was an idiot.
“…In a way, you two deserve each other. The 3rd Prince, spouting his secret without thinking, and you, not taking a great ability for a silly reason.”
“I look stupid, right?”
“If I’m honest? Yeah.”
“But Dad, when you’re in love, you’ll understand. Love makes you do things like that.”
“Yeah, no, I’ll never do that.”
He said it firmly.
“If I ever fall in love, and that person begs me to tell my secret? No way. Not happening.”
…That’s not good.
“You don’t have someone you love?”
“What?”
“I do. I love you, Dad. You love me too, right?”
“…What are you getting at?”
“Well, remember I said I had a favor? Can you tell the 3rd Prince your secret?”
“Are you crazy?!”
Ryan yelled so loudly I covered my ears.
“You’re messing with me, right?”
“Please. Just tell him you have powers and that you hold a grudge against Basenberg.”
“Wow, you are crazy.”
“It’s going to come out eventually anyway. The royal family will have to sentence Basenberg to death. They need to know you’re strong enough to do it.”
“I know. But that’s something for the very end—after we have power and trust.”
“Right. So just tell him for now. Please…”
“What, because he’s your boyfriend?”
“Uh… yeah.”
“You’re love-blind, aren’t you?”
“I won’t deny it. But I also want you to help him during hunts.”
“What do you mean?”
“When there are casualties, I want you to do joint regression with him.”
Ryan’s jaw dropped.
“That man… he tries to save everyone he can.”
Even though death was inevitable in battle, Nike still blamed himself whenever he couldn’t save someone. Thirty minutes wasn’t enough, and it tore at him.
“So you’re saying… tell him everything, become soulmates, and save people together because he remembers only 30 minutes but you can remember everything?”
“Exactly.”
Ryan looked away.
“…It’s dangerous, Bania.”
“I know. But please. He’ll have so many people he wished he could’ve saved. Help him do it.”
Ryan sighed and stared at the ceiling.
“So you’re telling me to do something insane—give him my secret and basically hand him my life.”
I clasped my hands together like I was praying.
“You won’t… do it?”
“…Ugh.”
Ryan jumped up, scratching his head.
“I love you, Dad. You’ll do it, right?”
“Stop looking at me like that!”
Finally, with a defeated groan, he flopped back down.
“Fine. Let’s do something crazy.”
“Yay! Dad, you’re the best!”
I hugged him tightly.
“…Oh, and if he does what I asked him to, I’ll do it too.”
“What did you ask?”
“Something big.”
“And he agreed?”
“He said he would… but who knows.”
“He’ll do it,” I said confidently. “He always keeps his word.”
***
Imperial Palace – Crown Prince’s Office
After returning from the monster hunt, Nike went straight to see the Crown Prince, Vane.
As always, Vane set aside all work to speak with his younger brother.
“You worked hard. You must be tired, so why come straight here?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Oh?”
Nike got straight to the point.
Gaaah. What did Ryan ask him to do?