Chapter 56
The people of Robiana didn’t know the true value of this ruby necklace.
Above all, no one knew that the necklace of Oakland and the necklace of the Rose Consort were actually the same thing.
Which means—only we, now and in the future, know that the royal seal is hidden inside this 120-carat ruby!
“…Are you saying no one would notice even if we made a fake royal seal?”
“Huh? Mas? What did you just say?”
“O–oh, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”
“But you clearly said something about a fake—”
“Shh, Tina. Forget what I just said. And if that’s hard, at least pretend you didn’t hear it.”
“But, Mas… is that really okay?”
Privetina rubbed her hands anxiously. Watching her trembling eyes, Adamas slowly took her hands.
“Tina, this is Robiana. We’re not the Pantheon—we don’t need to take risks just to find Oakland’s necklace.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Tina, what is it you most want to protect?”
“That’s obvious… my family.”
Onyx. The family that abandoned her. The family she abandoned.
That’s how it ended up, but Privetina didn’t hate her family.
“I was certain my sword could help Mano. And that certainty has never wavered.”
The reason she entered the martial tournament to become a knight in the first place was because Robiana had invaded Mano for the first time in fifty years.
“I picked up the sword to protect what’s precious to me.”
Otherwise, she probably would have quietly married someone her father chose and lived as a noble lady, giving up her longing for the sword.
And when she felt empty, she might have occasionally swung a sword alone into the air.
“So for now… I’ll pretend I don’t know.”
“Thank you, Tina. Really. You know how much I love you, right?”
Adamas rubbed her hand against his cheek, then kissed the back of it repeatedly.
“That’s enough. End the conversation.”
Sapheiros, who had been quietly listening, stepped between them.
“…Ah, yes. Sorry for disturbing you so late, Commander.”
Privetina shot him a glare.
“I’ll walk you back.”
“Wow… how kind…”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself. I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself.”
She stood, smiled at Adamas who followed her to the door, and then suddenly shoved him toward Sapheiros.
“W–wait…! Tina!”
Adamas flailed his arms as he fell into Sapheiros’ arms.
“…Take care.”
“Yes. Good night, Commander. Good night, Mas.”
Privetina gave a crisp salute and quickly left the cabin.
Adamas stared blankly after her, then came to his senses.
“Y–your hair wasn’t fully dry… Did your clothes get wet?”
“I’m fine.”
Sapheiros brushed off his chest.
A brief silence fell between them.
“…Do you have anything you’re curious about? About me?”
“Is there something you haven’t said yet?”
“I–I’m not sure… but even if there is, I didn’t hide it on purpose. Believe me.”
Adamas grabbed both of Sapheiros’ hands tightly.
“…Alright. I believe you. So stop making that face like a puppy digging through garbage in the rain.”
Sapheiros looked away as he spoke.
A puppy digging through garbage? What kind of specific insult is that?!
“T–thanks anyway! Ros, I won’t lie anymore. No more secrets in my life! Ask me anything!”
“I can’t think of anything right now.”
“Tina asked when she’d officially become a knight. Aren’t you curious? About your future?”
“My future…”
“Or how you’ll be judged in the future.”
At Adamas’s quiet voice, Sapheiros smiled and gently brushed his damp hair.
“Dry your hair first. Go sit by the fireplace.”
“I don’t actually remember my very early childhood.”
Sapheiros spoke casually as he tossed a log into the fire.
“Amnesia?”
“Maybe… or I was just too young.”
His earliest memory was a garbage dump—cold and hungry days he could never forget.
He lived like that until he picked up a rusted sword and entered the tournament.
After becoming a knight, everything changed. Loyalty to his position became his life’s purpose.
Adamas looked like he might cry.
“You don’t need to make that face.”
“Did no one come looking for you after you became a knight?”
“No.”
“There must’ve been some reason… Maybe you’re from a great family.”
“You don’t have to comfort me. I was probably just an abandoned child.”
Sapheiros smiled faintly.
“Mas, have you heard the saying—‘a position makes the person’?”
“…Yeah.”
“I think it’s true. My life has always been with the marquisate.”
Was that why he fought with such blind loyalty?
“That sounds so lonely…”
“But lately, I’ve been thinking differently.”
“Huh? How?”
“I used to think I could give up my life for the marquisate without hesitation… but now, maybe not.”
He looked at Adamas. His blue eyes were filled only with him.
“I’ve started to fear death. Strange, right?”
“….”
“I want to see tomorrow’s sun.”
With you…
He whispered, threading his fingers into Adamas’s damp hair.
At that fragile distance, Adamas shut his eyes tightly.
Their lips met silently, warm and soft.
The crackling fire faded—only the sound of his heartbeat remained.
Time felt both fleeting and endless.
When they finally pulled apart, his hair had dried.
Morning light seeped through the cabin window.
Adamas rubbed his face against Sapheiros’ shoulder.
“Isn’t this uncomfortable?”
“I’m fine.”
“You didn’t sleep because of me?”
“One night is fine. If I slept… I’d probably just have nightmares anyway.”
“…Oh.”
Sapheiros swallowed his words.
Better to stay like this with you.
“Ros…”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t you really have anything you’re curious about?”
“Didn’t we finish that conversation yesterday?”
Adamas had already told him everything.
About time travel—how she fell asleep holding her father’s beetle ring and woke up a hundred years in the past.
About her father—she didn’t know if he was from the marquisate.
About her mother—she died giving birth, and there were no relatives.
“Think about it. Yesterday, most of your answers were ‘I don’t know.’”
“Hey! That’s because you only asked things I don’t know!”
“Really? Well… there is one thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“…Is there any soup left from yesterday?”
“…No. We’ll have to make more.”
“What about bread?”
“That we still have.”
“Good. Let’s head out early today. I have something to report to the marquis.”
“What is it? Something serious?”
“I checked the land for a merchant branch yesterday. But the guild master seemed hesitant.”
“Hesitant? Does that mean they won’t build it?”
“No, they will. It’s in the contract. But…”
“But?”
“The contract doesn’t specify the scale. It could end up being just for show.”
“…Then should I talk to the guild master?”
“You?”
“Yeah. Maybe there’s something I can do. We’re both from the capital… and I’m from the future.”
“You talk like being from the future is some special power.”
“And you talk like you’ve met ten time travelers before. You still don’t realize how special this is, Sir Sapheiros.”
“Even without time travel… you’re special to me.”
Bro wtf. Do they did it!!???