Chapter 58
“What do you mean by that?”
That I’ve changed?
Dahlia frowned. She hadn’t said anything, but the truth was, she’d been feeling frustrated. Ever since returning from the temple, she hadn’t discovered anything useful—except what she’d already told him about the clock.
The problem is that absolutely nothing changed.
She hadn’t expected to come face-to-face with the god again, like that day when she’d been brought back to life.
The benevolent deity had revived her, embraced her with love, and even granted her a holy relic bearing his divine mark.
It was a blessing so rare that even the royal family of Astaire—said to be blessed by the god since the kingdom’s founding—or the high priests who had devoted their entire lives to temple service could barely hope for it.
If not for the evidence before her eyes, Dahlia might have dismissed it all as a daydream, or even a bout of madness.
So when she went to the temple, hoping to feel even the faintest trace of Tempus’s presence, it wasn’t as though she’d gone without expectation.
Since he didn’t say anything, she spoke first, lost in her own thoughts.
“If you’re worried about me, really—it’s fine. Nothing happened. I just opened it for a moment, just to check, and that’s all.”
But even as she explained, Khalid stayed silent, his face still complicated.
Catching the worry that flickered across his expression, Dahlia added,
“Nothing happened, I swear. I’m perfectly fine—you saw me last night, didn’t you?”
“Ah…”
Only then did Khalid blink and nod stiffly, as though snapping back to himself.
“Yeah. I know. It’s not that kind of problem…”
“Then what is it? If something’s changed, isn’t that a good thing?”
“You think it’s good?”
“Yes. It’s not like He would ever harm me.”
Her faith in Tempus was as absolute as her love for Khalid.
Watching her speak so confidently, Khalid gave a faint, defeated smile.
“…If you say so, then maybe.”
“Then why do you look so grim? Seriously, stop keeping it all in your head and just say it already.”
She caught his fingers still resting on her wrist and shook his hand back and forth. Even her playful gesture couldn’t soften his expression.
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
He opened his mouth a few times, hesitating, before finally speaking—just when her patience was wearing thin.
“Your divine power has increased.”
“…What?”
Dahlia blinked, her face blank.
“What do you mean—divine power? Me?”
“Yeah. Just a little, but you’ve always had it.”
“Wait—no way. Are you saying I really have divine power?”
She stared at her palm and the clock in turn, dumbfounded. Khalid, seeing her confusion, added in surprise,
“So you really didn’t know. That’s why you could use the clock.”
“Oh… No, I had no idea. I just thought it had some divine ability because He gave it to me.”
She felt like a fool for not knowing something so basic—but really, she had a point.
It’s not like I’ve ever seen anyone actually use a relic before.
Even in temple and royal records, relics of Tempus were treated with such secrecy that no amount of research could uncover more than vague praise and metaphor.
Khalid patiently explained.
“It’s useless in the hands of an ordinary human. That’s why I assumed you already knew.”
“I really didn’t…”
“You could probably use it before too, but your power wasn’t strong enough to sustain it. That’s why it strained your body. Now, with your power strengthened, it’s easier.”
The more he explained, the deeper her frown grew.
Now it made sense—why it was easier to stop time during the full moon, when Tempus’s power was at its peak, and why Khalid had warned her not to use the clock too often.
The full moon was when magical power surged.
“But Khalid, weren’t you surprised? I mean, suddenly I appeared before you using divine power, and you just… accepted it? You didn’t even ask for an explanation?”
As she said it, she realized he wasn’t exactly the type of man who’d be shocked by the supernatural.
Still… shouldn’t he have been a little suspicious?
He shrugged lightly.
“You saved my life. If you wanted to hurt me, you could’ve just stood there and watched me die. Besides, if you were a priestess from the temple, you would’ve recognized me—and probably worshiped me. But you… didn’t seem to care much.”
“Now that I think about it, I was kind of casual with you, huh.”
Recalling their chaotic first meeting, Dahlia smiled awkwardly. Khalid looked at her fondly, reassuring her.
“It’s fine. Tempus being unpredictable isn’t anything new.”
In other words—he just thought she was some random person Tempus had decided to toy with.
“…I see.”
She almost bristled at his irreverent tone toward her god—but reluctantly admitted he had a point.
Tempus’s mood swings are legendary, after all.
“And people born with divine power aren’t that rare,” Khalid added.
“Really?”
“Yeah. They’re born that way, without any special cause. The power’s small and unstable, so the royal family keeps it quiet.”
But I was taught only those who dedicate their lives to the temple—or are born royal—can wield divine power…
And the god of time’s blessing was as fickle as His nature—waning as the body aged, fading when vitality did.
That’s why priests shut themselves away in temples, desperate to preserve what little divine power they had.
But even ordinary people can be born with Tempus’s power…?
Before she could ask why no one knew, she realized the answer herself.
“The royal family hid it—to keep their claim as the ‘chosen of the god.’”
“Most likely.”
He continued to answer her curious questions with patience.
Yet the shadow hadn’t left his expression since he’d first sensed how much her power had grown.
Listening closely, Dahlia crossed her arms and summarized.
“So, basically, I have Tempus’s power, and after visiting the temple, it got stronger. That’s why I can use His relic more easily now. Right?”
He nodded silently.
“Then… what’s the problem?”
“I never said it was a problem.”
“You didn’t say it, but your face says otherwise. Ever since I brought up the clock, you’ve been frowning nonstop. What aren’t you telling me?”
Her sharp question made Khalid flinch.
“It’s nothing like that. Anyway, haven’t we talked enough? You said earlier someone was waiting to see you.”
“Wait—”
Before she could protest, he waved his hand, dissolving the barrier. Outside noises flooded in.
Roy’s voice immediately rang through the door.
“Are you two done talking? That woman—Sylvia, was it?—she’s still waiting! Says she won’t go home until she sees you!”
Dahlia shot Khalid a narrow-eyed glare, but decided to let it slide—for now.
“Fine. If you can’t tell me right now, I’ll go see Sylvia first.”
“Alright.”
As she turned to leave, he quietly let out a sigh of relief. Dahlia noticed.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” she warned, squinting at him.
“…”
“And whatever it is you’re worrying about—I’m not going anywhere. No matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side.”
She’d grown bold in showing her affection.
“After meeting with her, I’ll check on Mary too. Everything will be fine, so stop worrying so much.”
“…Yeah.”
After buttoning up the last button of her clothes, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead before walking out.
As soon as Dahlia left, Roy came bounding in. The two spoke briefly, and then Roy rushed into Khalid’s room holding two letters.
“One’s from Lord Aaron, and the other’s from someone I don’t recognize—but the name looks familiar!”
Khalid gestured vaguely toward the side table. Roy quickly placed the letters there and ran after Dahlia.
When the room finally fell silent, the darkness Khalid had been suppressing returned, heavier than before.
They say great fortune is always followed by misfortune… how perfectly fitting.
No matter how he tried to think it through, his head throbbed.
Tempus. That wretched trickster of a god. He’d sworn never to fall for His games again—and yet here he was, caught once more.
He, who had lived so long in this world without kin or family, had slowly begun to feel the warmth of Dahlia’s affection and trust.
And that’s exactly why this is a problem.
The very power he had long desired lay within her.
If he drew it out before her youth faded and her strength waned, he could finally open the dimensional gate—and reunite with his own kind.
My kin… my comrades… the ones I’ve yearned to see even in dreams.
Even gathering the strength of countless priests hadn’t been enough. The gate had never stirred.
How much longer would he have to wait? The endless waiting had left him hollow.
But the divine power he had just felt from Dahlia… it might be enough to open the gate in one attempt.
Unbelievable—how could such change happen from a single visit to the temple?
But if I extract it all… her body will never survive it.
A dead end.
Khalid lowered his head, his face twisted in turmoil.
