CHAPTER 92……………………………..
Anna must have died.
No matter how outstanding Anna was, she was a commoner without even a contract.
Even if she had miraculously defeated the assassin, how could she have escaped a collapsing mine?
The thought that it was too late flashed through Linaria’s mind.
“I have to undo this.”
As if it had never happened.
Making something that had already occurred vanish was impossible.
But Linaria had the ability to do just that. She had actually done it once before.
“If I die right now…”
Linaria felt the coral gem in her hand, the “Star of the Sea.”
According to Magnus, there was no telling how far back in the past the divine beast’s power could take her.
She couldn’t be sure if she would return to her 17th birthday like the first time, or even further into the past.
It meant that all the effort she had painstakingly built up so far could collapse like a sandcastle.
“Maybe I’ll have to start completely from scratch. Or maybe there won’t even be another chance, and I’ll just die as is.”
Even though she had experienced the divine beast of time’s power once, it was still uncertain.
Because death meant a complete end.
But it didn’t matter.
“I can save Anna.”
Her hesitation was brief.
A life lost once could never return.
If she could save Anna, Linaria was willing to give up everything she had.
“Liri, run!”
Linaria saw a rock falling from above.
Thud—.
Without thinking, she pushed Kaas forward.
To die.
Kaas thought Linaria was hurt on his behalf, but in truth, she chose death for herself.
“This is the final order.”
With intense pain, her vision blurred.
She saw Kaas faintly, desperate, standing with the light behind him.
Thinking it might truly be the end, she asked him to carry out the revenge she couldn’t achieve herself.
Even if this moment wasn’t the absolute end, it didn’t matter.
If she returned to the past again using the divine beast of time’s power, this request would never have happened.
And then, she lost consciousness.
“…Milady! How about this dress? Your black hair suits it so well. That’s why I always struggle to decide.”
Anna’s voice sounded vividly.
“No matter the hair color, every outfit suits you. I want to dress you in them all!”
Linaria slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath.
It was as if she had been washed clean; there was no more pain.
“I’m back.”
Anna was alive.
Sitting at the dressing table, Linaria could see Anna reflected in the mirror.
Anna humming while picking out clothes was not a dream.
“You said you’re leaving for Rosen today. The schedule seems tight; how about having a meal before you go?”
“Anna.”
With a start, Linaria rose and held Anna’s hands tightly.
Feeling the warmth, the reality of Anna’s survival sank in.
“Y-Yes? Are we leaving right now?”
Anna’s eyes went wide.
Callouses could be felt in their clasped hands.
“I’ll follow you. No matter what.”
Anna’s back flashed in her mind.
Tears welled up, but Linaria smiled brightly.
“No, no. Not like that.”
She shook her head.
She couldn’t bring herself to say aloud that she was glad Anna was alive.
She just smiled.
“Milady, are you feeling unwell? Should we postpone the trip to Rosen until tomorrow?”
Anna wasn’t foolish.
She would have noticed something was off.
Linaria’s hands were trembling.
There must be a reason for this sudden behavior, but instead of questioning her deeply, Anna suggested rest.
“To Rosen, you said.”
“Yes, you said you’re going to Rosen today. Something important, right?”
Rosen. Hearing that name, Linaria realized she had returned to the day she had gone to the abandoned mine.
“Milady, you look pale. Even if it’s important, there’s no need to overexert yourself. I’ll inform Sir Kaas.”
“No, I’ll tell him myself.”
If she kept looking at Anna, the tears she had held back would fall.
She needed to step away from Anna for a moment.
Kaas was a convenient excuse.
“Where is Kaas now?”
“Probably in the garden pulling weeds. I saw him heading out for morning gardening.”
“I’ll go.”
She hurried outside.
Since the villa was small, Kaas was visible as soon as she stepped out.
“Kaas!”
Contrary to Anna’s guess that he’d be pulling weeds, he stood tall with his back to her.
The sky was clear, without a cloud.
Looking up at the blue sky, he turned his head when he heard her call.
Their eyes met.
Linaria had seen him just moments ago, but she smiled broadly, feeling joy.
Startled, his pupils widened.
Then—.
Kaas ran at full speed and hugged her so tightly she worried he might crush her.
“Liri. Liri.”
After calling her name several times, Kaas released her.
Just when she thought she could breathe again, he traced her cheek with a careful touch.
His eyes were unfocused.
“Why…?”
Linaria couldn’t finish speaking.
Her lips were blocked.
It was a passionate kiss, like two lovers reuniting after a long separation.
Flustered, Linaria could not push him away despite the suddenness.
Kaas was desperate, as if clinging to the only lifeline he had.
“Linaria.”
He, who always used only pet names, called her name in a low, hoarse voice.
Hearing him call out with a breathy resonance, Linaria realized something.
Kaas was not himself.
“Say my name.”
“Kaas.”
She had come looking for him to avoid showing a pitiful scene in front of Anna.
Yet Kaas looked like he might actually cry.
“What happened?”
Linaria, Linaria.
He repeated her name over and over, as if engraving it deep in his chest, then clamped his mouth shut.
A heavy silence followed.
‘I just went back a few hours. If Kaas had been like this then, I would have noticed.’
But he had been normal.
There had been nothing unusual about him, nothing noticeable.
‘The only event different from before I died is that I came to see Kaas, avoiding Anna.’
Then why is he like this?
Kaas struggled to speak.
“You died.”
“…What do you mean? Explain in detail.”
Had she dreamed it?
There was no other explanation.
“You died in front of me. The abandoned mine collapsed… Your legs were crushed. And you gave up your life just like that…”
Kaas babbled.
But the details matched Linaria’s memories exactly.
“That’s impossible.”
No one should know that.
Except herself, the one contracted with the divine beast of time.
‘Wait, am I the only one contracted with the divine beast of time?’
His words about seeing the divine beast flashed through her mind.
Magnus, who knew Kaas was a dual beast contractor, said it could be possible.
But a more certain example existed.
Linaria herself, contracted with the divine beast of time.
‘There’s no reason why Kaas, a dual contractor, couldn’t also contract with the divine beast of time.’
If he contracted with the divine beast of time like her,
Then it all made sense.
Even Kaas’ current state.
“You’re all I want.”
As Linaria stood dazed, trying to sort out her thoughts, Kaas pulled her close.
He buried his face in her neck and breathed slowly, as if savoring her scent.
“Could it be, Kaas…”
Linaria was confused.
If it was true that he had contracted with the divine beast of time, he must have returned to the past through its power like her.
And the condition to turn back time—.
“You died?”
It was death.
“Yes, Liri.”
He lifted his head and confirmed it.
A surprisingly calm affirmation.
“I carried out the final order and came to see you.”
Kaas lifted the corners of his mouth.
A distorted smile that somehow looked like crying, full of sadness.
<Side Story: ■■■>
Holding Linaria’s cold, stiff body, Kaas returned to the Obel estate.
“She can still be saved.”
He forced himself to ignore the fact that she was already lifeless.
As they entered the castle, Ricardo met them.
Seeing Linaria in such a state, Ricardo was horrified.
“What on earth did you do?!”
Linaria was dead.
In the face of that truth, Ricardo could not stay calm, raising his voice and grabbing Kaas by the collar.
