IDIBC Chapter 97

Leave, As Soon as Possible

“I don’t know what impact my words will have on you, so I… hesitated for quite a long time. Perhaps that’s why things have reached this point?”

“…….”

“I couldn’t wait any longer. A woman carrying a child places only one thing above all other choices.”

I steadied myself. What she was about to say would surely shake me. I removed my trembling hand from the teacup and placed it on my lap.

My body trembled finely, but I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself as much as possible to keep from swaying.

“I didn’t plan to meet you from the beginning. His Highness the Crown Prince and Ricardo both pressed me not to. But you were far more reckless than I thought. Seeing how you had no intention of leaving Ricardo’s side even knowing that an oracle with the Empress’s name would descend, I thought I could no longer just stand by and watch.”

“Please speak. I’m ready to listen.”

I pressed my lips tightly together to avoid showing my agitation. Ricardo’s voice telling me not to waver at anything held me firm.

“Since you’ve become part of Rochester, you must have heard about the powers the ducal family possesses.”

I nodded.

Most people know that the imperial family and the three ducal houses have powers bestowed by God, but they don’t know exactly what those powers are.

What the imperial family and ducal houses gain from this is the unwavering awe of the empire’s people.

The reason they’ve occupied the highest positions in this land for a thousand years is probably because of that. Not so much the power itself, but people’s fear and respect toward the absolute.

“Then do you know what power Schneider possesses?”

Ricardo had asked me the same question before… When I told him I knew about Chaplin and Paquin’s powers, that was the first thing Ricardo asked.

His expression, which had seemed somehow anxious, hazily came to mind over the awkward atmosphere of the drawing room.

“Ricardo wouldn’t have told you, so you wouldn’t know.”

“…….”

“They can turn back time. As much as desired, to whatever period desired. That is Schneider’s power.”

Ah, they can turn back time. That was about the extent of my reaction when I first heard it.

These were remarkable people who could erase others’ memories and move through space at will, so of course they could turn back time too—I accepted it that calmly.

“The ability of this generation of Schneider passed to my husband, His Highness the Crown Prince.”

It was an obvious statement. Only those who manifested the ability were successors of the bloodline.

“The price is half the lifespan of the time turned back. So when Stuart turns back time, he dies earlier.”

The Crown Princess closed her eyes briefly, suppressing some rising emotion as she wrapped her hands around her belly.

Meanwhile, in my mind, the fragmented puzzle pieces of words she was putting forth were gradually finding their proper places.

“The time my husband should have contracted his illness wasn’t five years ago, but this year.”

What had I just heard? My carefully maintained expression crumbled in an instant at her sharp tone that seemed to blame me. Some unknowable, chilling premonition ran down my spine.

“That’s right. Stuart turned back time. At Ricardo’s request. Ten years’ worth. Solely to save you.”

Whoosh—before her words even finished, flames flared before my eyes. The Crown Princess’s words receded into the murmuring noise of people at the execution ground.

“Even before time was turned back, Ricardo manifested the family’s power because of you. But before he awakened, the imperial court and the Grand Temple took issue with you serving as Rochester’s companion, saying it went against God’s will. So they dragged you to the execution ground.”

[Kill her, kill her.]

Between the voices of people consumed by madness, I heard the clatter of the Crown Princess setting down her teacup.

“I’ve only heard about it secondhand too, but… that day’s events are regrettable, truly regrettable. I can say nothing more than that.”

[The girl from the Eastern Kingdom who couldn’t even read or write was finally burned at the stake.]

I could clearly see even the unfamiliar face of the person who spoke those words nearby.

‘Ah… so my burning to ash and disappearing isn’t a future event but something that actually happened.’

The moment I understood, all the unresolved questions found their answers at once and completed the picture.

Walter, who said Judith Fan Monzania’s name would soon appear in the oracle.

The Crown Princess’s face crumbling when told the Grand Priest had left for Hadeima without even asking permission.

Ricardo’s cold voice saying he could never give up my side.

The realization that rushed at me all at once when I returned from death that night when lightning struck countless times as if I were in hell.

The reason my heart crumbled like ruins every time I met his eyes.

Why hadn’t I realized? Everything was inexplicable unless time had been turned back.

“In exchange for borrowing Schneider’s power, Ricardo promised my son’s future.”

“…….”

“Rochester is strong, and Ricardo was the strongest even among Rochesters, so of course it was a good opportunity for His Highness the Crown Prince as well.”

The Crown Prince saved his son and wife by staking his life.

Stuart’s face gazing intently at his wife rose above my closed eyes. The Crown Prince’s heart, always looking at his wife like one parched with thirst, had been filled with guilt.

“Ricardo must become Emperor.”

The ground beneath my feet was entirely a sea of flames. Or was it a bottomless cliff?

“I cannot let it be in vain. My husband’s sacrifice… the price he paid…”

The Crown Princess finally broke down while talking about her husband.

It didn’t take long for her, the most noble woman in this country, to become an ordinary wife trembling before her husband’s death.

Flames rose again over the face of the Crown Princess sobbing as she lifted her hand from her belly to cover her face.

[How dare a witch try to perform the saintess’s duties—that is the great sin.]

I was still in the flames burning miserably, but I no longer felt even the heat.

I recalled the drawings I’d once seen in Ricardo’s room, full of images of my younger self.

The windy hilltop, the garden of the East Wing where we played together, the small, shabby room where he and I ate and slept together.

He remembered everything. Me during the two periods of time spent with me, our memories together.

A Rochester who has manifested and awakened never remembers the past. But he, who forcibly turned back time, didn’t lose all those days.

It wasn’t Ricardo who forgot and didn’t remember the past—it was me.

I let out an empty laugh.

“Do you know what decision Ricardo made while watching you die miserably in the flames?”

Had I truly not known? Even when hearing him say he would fight God until he reached a state of irresistible force?

“He loves you. Enough to risk death.”

“…….”

“Knowing he’s someone who doesn’t break promises, knowing he’s a man who could throw away everything for you—that’s what frightened me.”

Had I truly not known that there was only one way for Ricardo, who must keep his vows before God, to keep me by his side?

Had I truly not realized, even after witnessing multiple times what that remarkable man was afraid of—afraid enough that his eyes turned violet without being able to hide it? What he was enduring…

“Every time I saw the way that man looked at you, I was afraid as if someone were slashing at my heart. Even though it’s frustrating that I’m forced into the role of villain, I have only one choice.”

Was it time again for those words saying there’s only that one answer? Our ending, which only I refused to acknowledge, was repeated like a round song from another person’s mouth.

“Leave. As soon as possible.”

“…….”

“From this empire, from Ricardo’s side. Before he turns this entire world into ruins.”

Before the angered God sweeps away this entire land. Even as the Crown Princess’s words continued, my hell went on.

Someone walked steadily into the tremendous flames. Whoosh—even as fire spread to his clothes, he had no hesitation.

He walked through flames where even breathing was difficult as if feeling nothing.

So I thought he surely couldn’t be human.

“Ah…”

At the constricting pain in my chest, I too buried my face in both hands like the Crown Princess.

Even covering my eyes, I couldn’t ignore the man walking toward me.

[You have a chance.]

That thin, moaning voice again. As that unpleasant voice ended, the man before my eyes stopped in front of me.

[Lienne.]

My name was called, familiar yet strange. My heart was torn to shreds seeing the one who called me.

At this moment, I didn’t even feel the pain that had been covering me entirely. Only a sentiment boiled up intensely—resentment, though I didn’t know toward whom.

[It’s okay, it’ll be over soon. Just a little longer, just hold on a little longer.]

I heard people’s screams of ‘Ahhh, kyaaah!’

[Someone pull out Young Duke Rochester!]

At those words, our eyes met.

Eyes like the pitch-black night sky. In his eyes, my hideous face screaming as I burned was reflected completely.

Even so, my heart beat so hard it felt tattered, realizing this was the end. It was that dull blade-like emotion I’d felt the day we met again in Resotia.

[If Rochester’s manifester dies, God will be enraged.]

A thick male voice filled with horror was heard, but no one dared even set foot in the fire.

[Ricardo… please, don’t come. It’s too hot here.]