I could tell immediately just by the way she was looking at Albert.
This was the very moment that Rosé Artius had fallen in love with Albert Grey.
Twinkling eyes. Flushed cheeks. One’s body was much more honest when it came to emotions.
She could not take her eyes off of Albert as he was walking away.
I thought that she would have encountered Albert in the palace once he had already become a prince. But betraying my expectations, Rosé had fallen in love with Albert much, much longer ago.
Yet for her childhood love to become so twisted… enough to make her want to get locked up with Albert in the tower in the future.
But most of all, what caught my eye were the wounds and bruises on her skin. It was evidence enough that she was being beaten.
Who did that.
The first answer that came to mind was either Marquis Evnen or Tower Lord Belfort, both of whom had arranged this event.
I looked up towards where Marquis Evnen was seated. His eyes were on the balcony, and he had a clear view of Rosé.
Rosé Artius and Marquis Evnen had some sort of connection with each other.
It’s just that, Marquis Evnen died before that connection could be uncovered.
However, my pity for Rosé soon died down.
I was in no position to save her. And, above all, Rosé Artius was a key figure that had allowed me and Albert to meet.
Even if this, too, was part of the ordeal, I knew this time that it was serious.
As she served as a point of contact between me and Albert, if Rosé Artius’s future were to change even a little, the two of us would not meet at all.
And knowing what she had done to Albert, I could not completely sympathize with her.
One’s past was not enough to justify one’s future actions.
However, I still knew just how much a person’s childhood could affect them, so I couldn’t help but pity her.
Would Rosé’s future be different had she not been placed under Marquis Evnen’s charge?
What if, like me and Albert, she had met someone who truly cared for her?
I stared after Rosé for a moment, but I soon walked away and went towards Albert. He was taking a break while drinking a glass of water.
Catching sight of me as I was approaching him, Albert had a sulky expression, as if he was saying, Why didn’t you come back earlier?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing much, just… You did well, Albert.”
“Say that to yourself.”
Albert replied with a faint smile.
I wondered how I would have acted if this happened to me instead of him. He was much calmer about this than I thought.
After sipping his water, he spoke to me calmly.
“This moment’s rest given by Marquis Evnen is literally that—just a moment. If he can’t corner me again just as he did a while ago, something else that’s similar will happen again and again.”
…As he readily admitted that this was not the end, I groaned softly. I was much more concerned about Albert’s condition than he was.
“I can’t stop time anymore. That was the only gift that Master gave me. So, what I mean to say is… Just stay somewhere else.”
He was still thinking about my sake. I shook my head.
However, Albert was being more resolute about this.
“If you’re here, I can’t help but worry about you,” he said.
And there was nothing I could answer. Silence was my only response.
Albert’s eyes glistened.
“I should have sent you away sooner, but I didn’t say that on purpose because I just wanted to be with you. It’s like everything’s much better when I’m with you.”
“Then I will stay.”
I remained quiet. Even if I were to receive a scathing look from him, I was going to stand by him.
“I’m being sincere. From the bottom of my heart.”
Umm. As Albert narrowed his eyes at me, it’s certainly making me feel like I should be somewhere else.
“Please.”
But when Albert answered back, his voice was trembling faintly, and so I could no longer refuse. I decided to do as he said.
“…Just a little while then.”
It was to the extent that I could understand him completely.
As he heard this though, Albert shook his head.
“There would be no point if you’ll come back right away.”
I appealed with my honest feelings.
“But how can I leave you alone? I’d rather just close my eyes.”
Albert blushed.
“You need to think about what kind of power your words carry.”
“…Hm?”
That’s what I want to say to you in the future.
As I kept my eyes on him, Albert faked a cough and hastily wove his way back into the crowd.
Only when I saw him acting as he usually did that I smiled.
I intended to do as Albert said, but I’ll be staying for a bit longer before leaving.
I went out to one of the balconies. Rosteratu was still intently watching Albert’s movements.
And he seemed very eager to choose his successor.
The same time I saw him like this, I was reminded of how ruthless Marquis Evnen was. And, Rosé Artius, who was still in the hall, also came to mind.
There were so many things I didn’t know. I still couldn’t understand why Marquis Evnen brought Rosé Artius here.
I couldn’t touch either Marquis Evnen or Rosé for the sake of preserving the future, but if I were to find out what kind of connection there was between them, wouldn’t that be helpful? Especially for Rosé’s punishment once I return to the future.
Albert had disposed of all the damning evidence of Rosé Artius being a dark mage because of me.
And besides that, Rosé Artius had already received a title, and her face was well known amongst the citizens of the kingdom.
It would take a very good reason to bring her down again.
That’s why, I should find that reason now.
Even if I could find a good enough reason, it’s still unknown whether such evidence would remain intact in the future. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to find any at all.
But still, it would be the right thing to do in the meantime.
Thinking about where I should go, I decided to go to Marquis Evnen’s room.
It’s highly likely that I’d find even the smallest clue in his private space.
It’s probably the room that the attendants took care of the most. Leaving the banquet hall, I began to wander around the mansion in search of the marquis’s room.
While searching diligently, I finally found a room that the servants went in and out of many more times compared to others. That seemed to be the place.
Taking a deep breath, I slipped in through the narrowly opened door…
…and froze right where I was.
What appeared before me was a person, or rather a dragon, who I least expected to meet here of all places.
I could tell immediately just by the way she was looking at Albert.
This was the very moment that Rosé Artius had fallen in love with Albert Grey.
Twinkling eyes. Flushed cheeks. One’s body was much more honest when it came to emotions.
She could not take her eyes off of Albert as he was walking away.
I thought that she would have encountered Albert in the palace once he had already become a prince. But betraying my expectations, Rosé had fallen in love with Albert much, much longer ago.
Yet for her childhood love to become so twisted… enough to make her want to get locked up with Albert in the tower in the future.
But most of all, what caught my eye were the wounds and bruises on her skin. It was evidence enough that she was being beaten.
Who did that.
The first answer that came to mind was either Marquis Evnen or Tower Lord Belfort, both of whom had arranged this event.
I looked up towards where Marquis Evnen was seated. His eyes were on the balcony, and he had a clear view of Rosé.
Rosé Artius and Marquis Evnen had some sort of connection with each other.
It’s just that, Marquis Evnen died before that connection could be uncovered.
However, my pity for Rosé soon died down.
I was in no position to save her. And, above all, Rosé Artius was a key figure that had allowed me and Albert to meet.
Even if this, too, was part of the ordeal, I knew this time that it was serious.
As she served as a point of contact between me and Albert, if Rosé Artius’s future were to change even a little, the two of us would not meet at all.
And knowing what she had done to Albert, I could not completely sympathize with her.
One’s past was not enough to justify one’s future actions.
However, I still knew just how much a person’s childhood could affect them, so I couldn’t help but pity her.
Would Rosé’s future be different had she not been placed under Marquis Evnen’s charge?
What if, like me and Albert, she had met someone who truly cared for her?
I stared after Rosé for a moment, but I soon walked away and went towards Albert. He was taking a break while drinking a glass of water.
Catching sight of me as I was approaching him, Albert had a sulky expression, as if he was saying, Why didn’t you come back earlier?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing much, just… You did well, Albert.”
“Say that to yourself.”
Albert replied with a faint smile.
I wondered how I would have acted if this happened to me instead of him. He was much calmer about this than I thought.
After sipping his water, he spoke to me calmly.
“This moment’s rest given by Marquis Evnen is literally that—just a moment. If he can’t corner me again just as he did a while ago, something else that’s similar will happen again and again.”
…As he readily admitted that this was not the end, I groaned softly. I was much more concerned about Albert’s condition than he was.
“I can’t stop time anymore. That was the only gift that Master gave me. So, what I mean to say is… Just stay somewhere else.”
He was still thinking about my sake. I shook my head.
However, Albert was being more resolute about this.
“If you’re here, I can’t help but worry about you,” he said.
And there was nothing I could answer. Silence was my only response.
Albert’s eyes glistened.
“I should have sent you away sooner, but I didn’t say that on purpose because I just wanted to be with you. It’s like everything’s much better when I’m with you.”
“Then I will stay.”
I remained quiet. Even if I were to receive a scathing look from him, I was going to stand by him.
“I’m being sincere. From the bottom of my heart.”
Umm. As Albert narrowed his eyes at me, it’s certainly making me feel like I should be somewhere else.
“Please.”
But when Albert answered back, his voice was trembling faintly, and so I could no longer refuse. I decided to do as he said.
“…Just a little while then.”
It was to the extent that I could understand him completely.
As he heard this though, Albert shook his head.
“There would be no point if you’ll come back right away.”
I appealed with my honest feelings.
“But how can I leave you alone? I’d rather just close my eyes.”
Albert blushed.
“You need to think about what kind of power your words carry.”
“…Hm?”
That’s what I want to say to you in the future.
As I kept my eyes on him, Albert faked a cough and hastily wove his way back into the crowd.
Only when I saw him acting as he usually did that I smiled.
I intended to do as Albert said, but I’ll be staying for a bit longer before leaving.
I went out to one of the balconies. Rosteratu was still intently watching Albert’s movements.
And he seemed very eager to choose his successor.
The same time I saw him like this, I was reminded of how ruthless Marquis Evnen was. And, Rosé Artius, who was still in the hall, also came to mind.
There were so many things I didn’t know. I still couldn’t understand why Marquis Evnen brought Rosé Artius here.
I couldn’t touch either Marquis Evnen or Rosé for the sake of preserving the future, but if I were to find out what kind of connection there was between them, wouldn’t that be helpful? Especially for Rosé’s punishment once I return to the future.
Albert had disposed of all the damning evidence of Rosé Artius being a dark mage because of me.
And besides that, Rosé Artius had already received a title, and her face was well known amongst the citizens of the kingdom.
It would take a very good reason to bring her down again.
That’s why, I should find that reason now.
Even if I could find a good enough reason, it’s still unknown whether such evidence would remain intact in the future. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to find any at all.
But still, it would be the right thing to do in the meantime.
Thinking about where I should go, I decided to go to Marquis Evnen’s room.
It’s highly likely that I’d find even the smallest clue in his private space.
It’s probably the room that the attendants took care of the most. Leaving the banquet hall, I began to wander around the mansion in search of the marquis’s room.
While searching diligently, I finally found a room that the servants went in and out of many more times compared to others. That seemed to be the place.
Taking a deep breath, I slipped in through the narrowly opened door…
…and froze right where I was.
What appeared before me was a person, or rather a dragon, who I least expected to meet here of all places.
