Part 2 Chapter 49
Alphonse thought for a moment about ability-users.
The power to revive those as good as dead.
The power to lift patients already marked by death’s shadow.
A miracle he’d seen all his life, and still could hardly believe.
Nike’s question—“Father, have you been sick?”—
It must have meant he guessed… Bania had used that power on him.
But how would he know?
Alphonse turned his head blankly.
The open door.
There stood his physician, Lemon, who had been checking on Bania earlier.
Yes… Nike could’ve asked him.
Alphonse felt flustered.
And at the same time, an odd ache rose in his chest, leaving him laughing bitterly.
“Father.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Nike’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“If there’s something wrong with you, tell me. Depending on your answer, I’ll decide whether to persuade Bania—or to regress.”
“….”
His son’s words were startlingly cold.
If it wasn’t serious, Nike meant to undo everything. To reset time, regardless of what his father felt.
Or maybe…
From the beginning, he had already planned to regress.
Hadn’t he just spilled secrets—things he’d hidden for good reason—so easily?
Because it didn’t matter.
If he regressed, no one would remember anyway.
“Ah.”
Alphonse was startled by the emotion that suddenly rose in him.
Hurt.
A fleeting pang of it.
Ridiculous, he thought. He had no right to feel that way toward a son he’d given nothing to all his life.
“…It’s just a mild chronic illness.”
He waved it off clumsily.
“Nothing worth fussing over. That young lady must’ve overreacted. Do as you see fit.”
“….”
Nike only looked at his father in silence.
A heavy quiet fell between them.
Until—
“Your Majesty!!!”
A loud, ringing shout came from the room.
“Please stay healthy!!!”
Alphonse blinked. Nike flinched, grinding his teeth in frustration at his disobedient fiancée.
By calling out for the emperor’s health, Bania was clearly saying: Don’t regress.
Even if time rewound, she’d only heal the emperor again.
There was no mistaking her intent.
“Haa…”
Nike let out a furious sigh through clenched teeth.
***
Later that night.
I lay in a tiny room, floral pajama pants on, pretending to sleep.
With one eye cracked open, I stared at the ceiling and perked my ears.
Silence beyond the door.
It must’ve been about thirty minutes since Doctor Lemon had finished fussing over me and ordered absolute rest.
Nike hadn’t regressed.
Because I’d shouted at the top of my lungs for the emperor’s health.
He was smart. He must’ve figured out why I’d gotten a nosebleed.
But what could he do? His father was sick.
“Of course, he’s going to scold me later…”
I sighed to myself.
After all, he’d practically chained himself to me these past days, insisting I recover properly without using my powers—
And the moment he let me out of his sight, I got reckless. Even threw a tantrum begging him not to regress.
If I were him, I’d be mad too.
Still, I wasn’t wrong.
Yes, I’d bled, but I hadn’t used my ability carelessly.
Right now my body was like wet clay, slowly hardening.
To know how much it had set, you had to tap it here and there—check progress a few times.
It was the perfect moment to test it. And the emperor had happened to be sick.
Win-win, wasn’t it?
“Well… except Nike doesn’t see it that way.”
I sat up quietly.
Creeeak.
I tiptoed to the door and cracked it open. No one.
I crawled a little further, glancing left and right.
And then—
“Gasp.”
A familiar pair of legs.
I slowly lifted my head.
Nike.
His expression was so furious, it made my spine go cold.
“Heh… heh…”
“Back inside.”
His voice was sharp as he held the door.
When I froze, he repeated, colder:
“Inside. Now.”
“…Y-yes, sir.”
I crawled right back in. Nike followed, shutting the door.
And I knew instantly.
Uh-oh. I’m about to get it.
***
“The moment the sun rises tomorrow, we return to the palace.”
The emperor’s words left both the doctor brewing herbs in the kitchen and the steward beside him wide-eyed with joy.
“Ohhh, excellent decision, Your Majesty!”
“Of course! After all, Lady Bania even came here despite her health—!”
Watching them rejoice, Alphonse could only sigh inwardly.
“Details can wait until we’re back at the palace.”
Meanwhile, Nike looked clearly regretful. He shouldn’t have told Bania his secret.
He cut the conversation short and left, as if saying: If you’re curious, wait until we’re back.
But truthfully, Alphonse had already been thinking of returning.
Their union was already controversial enough. Everyone assumed the emperor himself opposed it, since he never showed his face.
“…Even if I don’t object, who would ever believe it?”
Neither his son nor Bania deserved this.
A wedding, the most joyous event of their lives, shouldn’t be spoiled by gossip and suspicion.
“Is it ready?”
He asked Lemon, who was pouring the herbal tonic into a bowl.
“Yes. I avoided anything too strong—just some herbs for fatigue and digestion.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.”
Alphonse reached out.
“I’ll take it.”
“You, Your Majesty?”
Lemon smiled warmly and set the tray in his hands, with the bowl and a few candies.
“She’s asleep. You don’t need to wake her.”
“…I see.”
Alphonse carried the tray to Bania’s room.
He paused at the door.
Bania, who had risked her own frail body to secretly heal him.
“Our little secret~!”
She hadn’t even tried to take credit.
If not for the nosebleed, he’d never have known.
Thoughts churned in his mind.
She had noticed his illness, one his own children hadn’t seen, and healed him.
It felt awkward. It stirred his heart in unfamiliar ways.
“…My lady.”
He called softly. No reply.
He gently opened the door—
And froze.
CRASH!
The tray fell from his hands.
Clatter!
There they were.
His son, practically pinning Bania to the floor, kissing her like a starving beast.
The two jolted apart, flailing with a loud thump and scramble.
But the shameful sight burned itself into Alphonse’s mind like slow motion.
Was he… dreaming?
He’d only come to bring medicine to his future daughter-in-law—
And stumbled into this?
He could only gape, mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
Then he turned his wide eyes on his son, plastered against the wall in panic.
Has he lost his mind?
No matter how strong the desire—how could he do this to a girl who’d just been sick, nose bleeding and weak in bed?
Was this really… his son?
Alphonse’s trembling finger rose to point accusingly.
“You… you’ve gone mad—”
“Father!”
A trembling voice cut in.
Bania, crouched like a frightened rabbit, blurted out:
“It’s not his fault! I—I’m the one who…! I mean…! I-I…!”
***
Reverse Time.
Our mouths crashed together again, tongues tangling wildly.
After all, a handsome man scolds me nonstop like a broken record… Well, I’d lost patience and shut him up with a kiss.
And as expected, once I kissed him, Nike completely forgot the lecture and devoured me instead.
Our fight melted into heated reconciliation.
Until the sudden intruder.
We broke apart in an instant.
Nike, quick as ever, straightened up like a nurse on duty.
“Lie down.”
I scrambled under the blanket.
But there was no hiding my flushed cheeks or ragged breath.
“…My lady.”
The emperor’s voice sounded outside, loud enough this time.
We hadn’t even heard him before.
The door creaked open.
I clutched the blanket and looked up at him.
“Haa… haa… haa…”
He stopped short, staring at me panting and flushed, his face full of concern.
“…You must be very unwell.”
“Haa… huff…”
“….”
“I-I’m f-fine, Your Majesty…”
That power is very useful in every situation 🤣
lol