Chapter 26
The moment my answer left my lips, he arched one eyebrow.
I instantly pouted.
So, what exactly is a child like me supposed to make?
You won’t even let me go near a fire.
“At your age, Harzen was already able to create new spells on his own.”
Meanwhile, Bertholt went on, his tone carrying a subtle air of boastfulness, as if reciting his own achievements.
“He even applied the magic he created to objects, crafting magical tools.”
“……”
“I thought you resembled Harzen so very much—”
Just as he was murmuring this while scanning me from head to toe—
“……?”
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, staring blankly at the ground.
“Huh?”
Um, excuse me?
Why are you suddenly acting like this?
Did you spot a bug down there?
The strange unease made me lift my head and look at Bertholt carefully.
‘His eyes… there’s no focus.’
Alarmed, I waved my hand right in front of his face.
Nothing.
Not a blink. Not a reaction.
Was his body completely frozen?
But no one had cast a spell. How could this be happening?
‘Unless Father cast some kind of magic.’
Could something have happened to Mother?
I whipped my head around toward the Empress’s palace.
And then it struck me.
‘It’s too quiet.’
Just moments ago, the place had been bustling with noise, lively enough to hear from here.
But now, it was utterly silent, as though everyone had fallen asleep at once.
The world itself felt frozen in place.
“Waaah!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs, loud enough to shake the palace walls.
But no one came out.
Only my cry drifted aimlessly through the empty air before fading.
‘Mother and Father… are they the same?’
Why?
My eyes darted toward the Scroll.
No change at all.
Had someone in the palace accidentally cast a time-stopping spell?
Assuming such magic even existed.
But even if it did—
‘Why am I the only one unaffected?’
If even Father, a Grand Mage, was caught in it, then surely I should be frozen as well.
So why wasn’t I?
‘Calm down. Breathe.’
Yes, it was terrifying.
But as long as I stayed clear-headed, I could survive—even in a tiger’s den.
I steadied my thoughts, inhaling deeply.
Let’s summarize.
The world suddenly froze.
I’m the only one moving.
Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be related to the side story.
Then…
“Is this the right time?”
Maybe I should sneak into the Empress’s palace and inspect the attendants one by one.
That way, I’d finally know who harbored murderous intent toward Mother.
But what if this never ends?
What if the world stays frozen forever?
The dread rose again, halting my steps midway.
“……?”
And then, I noticed it.
Just ten paces away—rows of garden trees rising to shoulder height.
Between them—
‘Is that… distorted?’
The space looked warped.
The trees seemed bent, twisted unnaturally.
Was I imagining it?
No. It was definitely real.
‘Of course, only I’d notice.’
Since I was the only one awake.
I hesitated.
Should I go closer?
What if it’s dangerous?
But what if it threatened Mother?
What if even the Scroll had frozen, failing to update?
“Ugh!”
If I kept thinking like this, I’d never stop spiraling!
I clutched my head, then forced myself to step toward the bushes.
Whatever this was, I had to see it with my own eyes.
I wasn’t scared.
I was a brave child.
A fearless puppy.
And so, acting like the bold child I claimed to be, I crept closer.
“……Ugh.”
A faint sound came from beyond the bushes.
My eyes widened.
Someone else was awake?
Or maybe… collapsed?
If I couldn’t see them, they had to be either lying down or smaller than me.
Heart pounding, I pushed through the leaves.
And there—on the grass—
‘A boy?’
A boy lying unconscious… in the Imperial Garden?
At this hour? In the Empress’s private garden?
How could that make sense?
Maybe he came with his noble father?
No, impossible.
That wasn’t what mattered right now.
Someone was collapsed here.
“H-hello?”
Please don’t tell me he died the moment I found him.
I reached out to poke him—
“Wah!”
Suddenly, the boy shot up and grabbed my wrist.
I yelped, flinching hard.
He was alive!
Alive was good… but why was he so strong?
I tried to pull back, but his grip only tightened, as if he refused to let go for even a second.
“Ow—”
I grimaced from the pain.
Then, at last, his hand trembled faintly… but still, he wouldn’t release me.
‘He’s holding on like he’s afraid I’ll run.’
“Umm… are you okay?”
At my question, the boy finally lifted his head, meeting my gaze.
And when I saw his eyes, I swallowed hard.
‘Beautiful.’
I had never seen such crimson eyes.
The longer I looked, the more I felt myself being pulled in.
“Finally—”
His lips parted for the first time.
“It’s all right.”
“Huh?”
That voice… strangely familiar.
But more importantly, how did finally connect to it’s all right?
Was he only now feeling better because I asked?
So… was that it?
“Everything is fine.”
“You don’t have to worry.”
His tone was gentle, almost as if he wanted to reassure me.
“As long as it’s watching, you and your family will be safe.”
“……”
“Because you will be able to do it.”
But his gaze wasn’t on me.
It was angled toward the Scroll.
“You—You.”
I stammered, pointing at it.
“You can see this?”
What did he mean by as long as it’s watching?
Did he know something about the Scroll?
“And…”
He ignored my question, tightening his grip and tugging me toward him.
I lost my balance, collapsing to my knees in front of him.
“Do you know something?”
His face was suddenly close—too close.
His jet-black hair fluttered softly in the breeze.
And his crimson eyes—
‘Like fire.’
A blaze that could devour everything…
And yet, breathtakingly beautiful.
“You and I are destined—”
In a world where everything but us had stopped—
“—to fall in love with each other.”
……Excuse me?
“Wh-what?”
My brain short-circuited.
“We’re destined to fall in love.”
He had actually said it.
“W-what did you just—”
Before I could demand an answer, the boy suddenly collapsed forward, right into my arms.
I instinctively caught him, supporting his back, whispering faintly—
“……What just happened?”
What in the world had just passed by me?
