Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 58
Most mages unequivocally stated that regression was impossible, but legends spoke of individuals who had experienced it. These tales might be as fanciful as the creation myths of nations, but it was a field worth investigating.
To reverse the course of the world is to intervene in the fate of everyone. The study of time travel was forbidden in all countries, and even if it wasn’t, it would be impossible for anyone but a genius to develop a magical device that could travel back in time.
Nevertheless, I kept my research on time travel a secret from everyone for many years. Given my extensive research into various magical theories and continuous development of magical items, even the servants at the tower did not realize I delved into forbidden areas. The complex and arcane terminology made it difficult for the average person to even imagine it.
Even though I knew it was a fruitless endeavor, I tried again and again.
‘If only…I could turn back time.’
I longed to see my parents again. I wanted to go back to my childhood, prevent the downfall of my family, and live a simple life as a noble young lady. I wished to receive my father’s love, engage in playful banter with my brothers, and live happily with my mother.
To prevent Lucian from succumbing to the hereditary disease, I just had to ensure he never broke his mana gate in the first place. Then, he would never had been tormented with the pain of mana regression.
Then I could stop seeking revenge, forgive everyone, and live quietly among my people.
‘I would have married Lecan as well.’
If it were a marriage arranged by the family, I would have been content if it were with Lecan. I would have persuaded him not to harbor ill feelings, engaged in a warm but unpassionate love, given birth to children, and lived a simple life.
Frequently attending events at the Rotea Ducal House, attending the Persi Academy under my own name, and going to balls – just like that.
I wanted to live in a world where no one was hurt, and no one died. I didn’t need to reach paradise as defined by religion. For me, the opportunity to turn back time was the key to paradise.
***
Thanks to the man’s help, I obtained all the ingredients. I put them in the infinite pouch, a magical item that made them light, compact, and easy to carry. Once outside the dark street, the man and I are alone again in the alleyway where we encountered the thug.
“Thank you for your help. I have no way to repay your kindness. Instead, I will pray for your prosperity.”
“If you’re going to pray, why don’t you take me out for a meal later?”
“We won’t meet again. I can guarantee that.”
“Why such a firm assertion? I’m actually a nobleman. I’m sure we’ll cross paths at least once.”
What?
A nobleman?
‘As expected, should I kill him?’
My gaze sank coldly into the iron mask the man was wearing. I didn’t consider silencing him because I thought there would be no chance of meeting him again. If he were a noble, I should have memorized everyone’s faces through portraits, enabling me to respond immediately whenever and wherever we might meet. My eyes met the man’s iron mask.
The man laughed, his eyes crinkling awkwardly.
“Uh… What’s with the energy in your heart?”
The man smirked, feigning bewilderment.
My heart?
Suddenly, I looked back on his words and asked, “Did you, by any chance, sense my hostility?”
At my question, the man blinked and tilted his head to the side.
“Miss, you don’t have even a bit of mana in your body to be called a mage. Haven’t you noticed that your energy is strangely easy to read?”
“…”
Can he sense my intentions?
‘So did Lecan know every time I silently contemplated to kill him?’
“I guess you didn’t realize.” The man chuckled softly at my silence. “Don’t drop your mask this time.”
The man handed me a pink mask while saying, “I bought one while you were getting the ingredients earlier.”
The reason I hadn’t considered him as nobility was because of his casual way of speaking. I even entertained the possibility that his claim of being a nobleman might be a bluff.
“See you next time.”
Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, the man effortlessly leaped up and disappeared over the rooftop of the three-story house. Just like the time he saved me earlier.
It wasn’t in my nature to leave a trail, but I didn’t have the power to kill him right away, Besides…
The moon was bright tonight.
‘If I don’t hurry back…’
I clicked my tongue, and eventually made my way to the palace.
***
Benedict watched the woman from a distance, feeling relieved that she hadn’t noticed him mixing with the crowd until now. Since the woman couldn’t manipulate mana anyway, she couldn’t sense his presence anyway, and she remained oblivious to Benedict trailing her.
No matter how he looked at it, she stood out conspicuously, with a beauty that seemed too out of place for such a rough neighborhood. If Benedict hadn’t been guarding her, she might have been kidnapped and tortured in those dark streets.
‘Does she not realize how beautiful she is?’
The reason Benedict initially approached the woman was simple. He’d seen her from a distance and was skeptical, and he needed to see her up close to be convinced. Benedict had seen her when she was very young, but when they spoke, he recognized her immediately.
The woman was none other than the young lady who had disappeared on the day the House of Rotea was extinguished.
“It’s Winter, isn’t it?”
Benedict murmured her name, and his expression subtly changed.
