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chapter 30
Uriella didn’t know where to begin with her questions.
“Could you first tell me what happened that day?”
In response to Conrad’s question, Uriella calmly began recounting the events of that day.
The Baraota Ducal House, ruined after being falsely accused of treason; the sudden arrival of a wizard; herself, having returned to the past, and the Crown Prince, who remembered the events just as she did.
She explained everything in detail, leaving nothing out.
It was quite a long story, but Conrad listened intently, his expression never wavering.
“That’s why I’ve been searching for you—to understand what happened.”
“I see.”
Uriella grew anxious at Conrad’s response, which felt ambiguous given the long story she had just told.
“To be honest, I don’t know anything about what happened that day. I don’t know why I even tried to meet the Duke.”
“Even with magic, you can’t find out?”
“That’s right.”
Hearing Conrad’s words, Uriella felt herself collapse inwardly.
“…I see.”
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
“Still, if I were to make a few guesses, the fact that the Duchess and the Crown Prince retain their memories is likely a side effect of breaking a taboo.”
“Side effect?”
“If the magic to turn back time is overused, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?”
“…Then that side effect became an opportunity for me.”
Uriella had returned to the past with her memories intact. This led her to resolve to prevent the rebellion that would occur two years later—or, even if he committed the rebellion, to protect him.
She had thought she had returned to save Ray, but now she found it hard to believe that it was all just a side effect of reversing time.
“Moreover, there are several conditions required to use that magic.”
“What conditions?”
“First, one must possess immense magical power. Second, the spell requires a special material.”
Conrad opened the pendant he wore and showed it to Uriella. Inside was a translucent green gem with a hollow core.
“What is this?”
“It’s one of the heirlooms left by my mother. To put it simply, it’s like kindling—essential for starting a fire. It can momentarily amplify magical power. Without this, I wouldn’t have been able to use that magic. And the time-reversing magic probably wasn’t complete.”
“What does that mean?”
Uriella furrowed her brow, unable to understand his words.
“Not everything in the world has a perfect formula, right? That’s why we call them unfinished works. The same goes for the magic that reverses time. It’s recorded in ancient books, but it seems legendary, and no one has successfully performed it. So perhaps there are other side effects yet to appear.”
After hearing Conrad, Uriella felt as if she had been pulled deeper into a mystery.
“Why did you come to the capital? If you’ve been hiding from the Empress until now, there must be a reason for suddenly coming here.”
“The gem inside the pendant I showed you earlier being hollow indicates I used it. That’s why I came to the capital—to find out what happened. I clearly don’t remember using it, but there’s a trace, so I need to investigate.”
Conrad stroked the pendant with a somewhat nostalgic expression.
“If you used something left behind on a hunch, it’s certainly not an ordinary matter. And it turns out to be bigger than I imagined.”
Uriella didn’t say a word. More accurately, she couldn’t. She had thought that meeting him would solve everything, but she hadn’t learned anything from him—not even the reason she had wanted to meet Ray.
“I’ll try to find out what happened. And why you tried to meet the Duke.”
“But you said even magic can’t tell you.”
“If it’s my master, he might know something. It would be better for me to retain my memories to proceed with this.”
With that, Conrad stood up.
“Are you leaving right now?”
“Yes. It seems you have no further questions. I’ll return once I’ve discovered something. Please deliver a message to the wizard outside.”
“Understood.”
Hearing Uriella’s response, Conrad used magic and disappeared quickly.
Uriella had experienced teleportation magic using the bracelet Soren had given her, but seeing it with her own eyes for the first time left her staring in shock at the spot where Conrad had stood moments before.
Knock, knock.
“Are you far away?”
“Soren, you can come in.”
No sooner had Uriella finished speaking than the door opened, and Soren stepped inside.
“Oh? Why are you alone?”
“He left.”
“He left?”
Soren asked incredulously.
“Yes.”
Sighing, Soren muttered:
“Why? Are we trying to advertise being wizards? People have seen someone enter but not leave, and it might cause strange misunderstandings… Hah, it’s better if I quietly disappear too. It’s better they think I left in a hurry due to an urgent matter.”
Soren muttered to himself and then nodded.
“I’ll be going, then. If you need me, feel free to contact me anytime.”
Before Uriella could reply, Soren used magic and disappeared. Left alone, Uriella let out a deep, frustrated sigh.
‘I want to see Ray.’
Uriella wanted to see the Duke of Baraota.
The imperial palace was filled with fear upon hearing that the Emperor had chosen Duchess Uriella Baraota as the Crown Prince’s partner for the party celebrating the Empress’s birthday.
Clang.
The statue, painstakingly obtained from a famous sculptor, lay in pieces on the floor.
“To show that the Baraota Ducal House and the royal family are united? Ridiculous.”
The Emperor had never cared about other nobles, allowing the Empress to manipulate them as she wished.
“When did we start caring about noble opinions? And why the Duchess of Baraota, of all people?”
The Empress grabbed her maid’s shoulder with all her strength, her face fierce.
The maid dared not breathe loudly, suppressing both pain and fear, terrified of angering the Empress.
“I raised this matter to flatten that arrogant one’s nose.”
“Your Majesty.”
A knight observing quietly spoke.
“Why?”
“It’s an opportunity. You must think of the Crown Prince first.”
Hearing this, the Empress released her grip on the maid’s shoulder.
“Who doesn’t know that already!”
Despite the Empress’s sharp voice, the knight didn’t flinch; instead, he looked at her with a sympathetic expression.
“I meant it as a word of caution. Even if you get angry, it will only be to your own detriment.”
“Are you telling me to stay quiet? The only thing the Emperor gave me—the right to control nobles—is what I must enjoy as Empress!”
Most of those present silently lowered their heads, though they likely shared her thoughts.
“…An interesting story you tell.”
The Crown Prince, who had come to speak to the Empress, twisted the corner of his lips upon hearing their conversation.
“Kian, what brings you here?”
“I came because of a mistake my mother caused, but you’re telling an interesting story.”
“What do you mean?”
The Empress feigned ignorance.
“Didn’t I tell you?”
The Crown Prince stepped closer to the Empress.
“Leave the Baraota Ducal House alone.”
“Right. And? Do you expect me, your mother, to obey my son?”
The Empress’s shameless attitude hardened the Crown Prince’s expression.
“Mother!”
“Yes. I carried you in my womb for ten months and risked my life giving birth. I endured a loveless marriage all for you, to make you Emperor. How can you treat me this way?”
“Stop pretending you sacrificed for your child. You want to pretend to be a mother who sacrificed, not actually for your child.”
The Crown Prince’s words hit home, and the Empress’s face flushed red.
“Do not harm Duchess Baraota. If anything happens to my partner, I am responsible. Do not put the Baraota Ducal House in my debt. I must keep the Duke under me; otherwise, he will stand above me.”
“What are you saying? Even if that happens, you’re royalty, and he’s a Duke. How dare a Duke stand above the Crown Prince?”
“If you dislike it, continue your usual indulgence, troubling those around you. Otherwise…”
The Crown Prince’s gaze turned to the knight beside the Empress.
“Perhaps take a mistress instead.”
“Kian!”
The Empress shouted, but the Crown Prince remained unmoved.
“Oh, and the Sylvestri Marquess is trading with other kingdoms without informing the royal family.”
The Empress did not react, perhaps already aware.
“Be careful not to let this reach the Emperor’s ears.”
With that, the Crown Prince left the Empress’s quarters. The maids held their breath, fearing the Empress’s continued wrath.
“Call the Sylvestri Marquess immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And Erika Medina said the Crown Prince seems to have taken a lady. Find out who she is. The Crown Prince has acted strangely since meeting her.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
