#88. The Play
After the wedding ended and the Imperial Palace began to quiet down again, the day inevitably came when the family who had rushed here to see Velia had to return home.
This farewell carried no promise of when they would meet again.
Just like when she left Ronica Kingdom for the Empire, Clozet’s eyes were swollen from crying, and Herald forced a smile while pretending not to notice his reddened eyes.
“Take care of yourself, Velia—” He cleared his throat roughly, unable to hold back the lump in his throat.
“You too, brother. I’ll definitely visit Ronica someday.”
“…Yes. You’ll have to come to my wedding, won’t you? Let’s see each other then.”
“Of course.”
Herald nodded, fighting back tears.
“And Clozet, stop crying.”
“Uwaaaah!”
Clozet clung to Velia’s clothes and bawled.
Velia’s heart ached at the sight of her little brother. Part of her wanted to say he could stay longer.
But the Empire was dangerous.
Raul’s silence is far too strange.
It was safer for her family to return to peaceful Ronica than risk being caught up in trouble here.
Velia held on firmly to her wavering heart.
“Do you remember what I told you?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not Anne, you know? Hic.”
“You must keep your promise, alright?”
His large tear-filled eyes were both endearing and pitiful. Velia stroked Clozet’s head tenderly before turning toward where her mother and grandfather were waiting to say goodbye.
“So the endless farewells are finally over. Honestly, you siblings are unusual.”
The Queen looked on calmly, as though used to it. Velia smiled awkwardly, embarrassed.
“Stay healthy. It eases my heart knowing the Second Prince seems to care for you.”
“Yes, I’ll be well. Please take care of your health too, Mother. I’ll miss you.”
The Queen smiled warmly at her daughter, who fiddled nervously with her fingers as she spoke. Then she embraced Velia gently.
“You’ve grown up, Velia.”
“….”
Her mother’s arms were so warm that Velia, who had managed to hold it in until now, suddenly welled up with tears.
The Queen stroked her daughter’s head and pressed a kiss to her crown—a kiss filled with deep love.
“I’d like to tell you to visit often, but I know that won’t be possible for a while.”
Her tone grew heavy.
“Be careful. Your father and I prepared protections for you, but they’re only for emergencies. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
The holy barrier placed in the Second Prince’s palace was a last-resort safeguard. She could only hope it would never need to be used.
The High Priest, who had been watching silently, added,
“And don’t take off the necklace I gave you. Not for a moment.”
“Yes, I promise.”
Velia smiled brightly at the kindly wrinkled face as she clasped his hand.
It was truly time to part.
“I’ll always pray for you.”
The Queen patted Velia’s shoulder twice before turning away.
She didn’t exchange many words with Khalid—only a brief, “Take good care of her.” But Khalid, as though he understood the weight of everything unsaid, bowed deeply in response.
With that, the Queen climbed into the carriage looking a little more reassured.
Velia’s family, who had come to celebrate with her, slowly faded from sight.
And when the carriage finally disappeared completely, Velia leaned against Khalid’s chest and cried. Partings were always sorrowful.
“It’ll be alright. This won’t be the last time.”
Khalid held her close, hoping his warmth would soothe her.
“Will you really tell the child nothing?”
The High Priest asked as he gazed at the receding palace.
The Queen smiled faintly, wondering if Velia would feel hurt later when she learned the truth.
“No. Even the Divine One would not wish that much.”
The Divine One was both merciless and merciful, perfectly fair. Yet even that deity had favorites—those beloved ones were called Children of God and regarded as sacred treasures within the Holy Nation.
In this generation, the one chosen was none other than Hestia, the former Holy Maiden of the Holy Nation and now Queen of Ronica.
This was a secret known only to the five High Priests and the King of Ronica—not even Velia herself knew.
A Child of God could hear the Divine’s will directly and wield holy power greater than any other, carrying part of the Divine’s power within their own body.
Thus, Hestia had immediately realized the truth—
That this world was a rewound one.
“The flow of time reversed because of someone’s desperate wish. And if that change centers on Velia, then surely something in her future forced her to make such a choice.”
Hestia’s eyes turned sharp as she gazed out the window.
“The day time itself stopped—since then, Velia has changed. She cast aside Prince Raul and moved urgently, as if driven to accomplish something.”
Her expression hardened.
“It’s only conjecture, but it seems Raul did something truly terrible to her. And…”
She trailed off, sighing heavily.
“Everything Velia does now points toward protecting Ronica. That must mean Ronica suffered some dreadful fate in the future she lived. Perhaps, in that future, Ronica no longer even existed.”
Otherwise, why would Velia regard the Empire with such seething contempt?
Choosing the Second Prince was nothing more than her struggle to survive.
How could a mother ignore such a child?
“You summoned me all the way to the Empire and even entrusted her with a barrier. Do you think this will truly be alright?”
The High Priest’s voice was tinged with unease about her daughter interfering with the flow of fate as God’s representative.
“…The Divine will understand a mother’s heart aching for her child. Besides, granting the reversal of time itself was already an act of divine mercy.”
Hestia spoke with a sorrowful expression.
“But I think this is as far as I can intervene. From now on, all I can do is watch as things unfold.”
She prayed fervently that in this new, altered world, Velia would suffer less, hurt less—
and most of all, that she would find happiness.
The palace felt hollow and desolate after her family’s departure.
As Velia and Khalid left the central palace after greeting the Emperor, she sighed, feeling strangely empty.
“Do you miss your family?”
“…It would be a lie to say I don’t.”
Velia smiled faintly.
Khalid took her hand and gave her a light hug before letting go.
“Mm?”
“I just don’t want you to feel lonely.”
At that, Velia smiled broadly.
“I’m not lonely.”
It was true.
It hurt to think she might not see her family again, but she didn’t feel alone.
“Because you’ll be by my side. So it’s fine.”
She remembered the clumsy yet sincere comfort Khalid had offered when her family left.
“Don’t worry. I can endure it.”
Velia grinned bravely.
“Let’s go to the Empress’s palace.”
Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, she hurried ahead.
Khalid watched her warmly, then quickly caught up to walk at her side.
Chatting lightly as though on a stroll, they soon reached the Empress’s palace—their first time there in quite a while.
“Shall we go in?”
“…Yes.”
Last time, Velia had gone alone to speak with the Empress. Today, Khalid would join her.
Since their talks had never ended well before, Khalid felt uneasy.
Sensing it, Velia gripped his hand firmly.
Unlike last time, when she’d met the Empress in a bedroom parlor, today’s official visit led them to a large, lavishly decorated reception hall.
After a moment, the maids announced the Empress’s arrival, and tables quickly filled with tempting confections.
“It’s been a while.”
The Empress greeted them carelessly, as though they’d only met yesterday.
“And what sight do you expect to see, coming here like this?”
She clicked her tongue, glaring coldly at Khalid and Velia.
Velia smiled serenely as she spoke.
“Your Majesty, last time we hardly got to speak properly.”
“…So this time you wish to be drenched in tea?”
The Empress turned her head sharply, recalling the day she’d hurled teacups and a teapot.
Velia let out a small sigh, then turned to the maids.
“I’d rather not show an unseemly side before you all. Please leave us.”
“But…”
The maids hesitated, ready to refuse—
Until Khalid’s icy glare pinned them in place.
“Are you ignoring the Crown Princess’s words?”
“That’s not—”
He cut them off.
“Then it must be me you’re ignoring.”
“N-no, Your Highness! That’s not what I—”
Khalid didn’t let her finish.
He smiled coldly.
“Unfortunately for you, I’m not a very forgiving man.”
The higher his lips curved, the more the maid trembled.
There were many rumors about the Second Prince—
The abandoned prince. The wastrel prince. The arrogant, insolent prince.
But in this moment, only one title came to her mind:
The cruel and merciless prince.
Stories of how he’d slaughtered those who displeased him flashed through her mind.
“Y-Your Highness, I think you misunderstand—”
“Misunderstand? I’ll be the judge of that.”
His tone slowed, almost merciful.
“You’re lucky. I won’t show my consort something so unpleasant right now. So take the chance and leave—quietly.”
At that, the maids bowed in haste and scurried out.
Watching it all, the Empress let out a thin chuckle.
“…You act better than I expected.”
“Well, I had someone to learn from.”
Khalid’s lips twisted into a mocking smirk, mirroring hers.
