Chapter 151. A Fate of the Same Day and Time

“When are you going to remove this?”

When Ellen showed the shackle on her left ankle and asked, Enoch raised one eyebrow with a displeased expression. Judging by his reaction, he didn’t seem to have any intention of removing it.

“Just keep wearing it. You never know what might happen.”

“You can relax now, I won’t run away anymore.”

“I didn’t think you’d run away three times either. But like with Navaroa, they might try to kidnap you from Atreos……”

“Worry can be a disease too. Surely such a thing won’t happen again? Atreos must be too busy dealing with their domestic situation to look elsewhere.”

“……”

Unable to find a suitable rebuttal, Enoch let out a heavy sigh. He took reluctant steps towards Ellen, who was sitting blankly at the end of the bed, and slowly knelt in front of her. Then he carefully cradled her left foot.

What Ellen saw in her view was his thick, black top of his head. And long, lush eyelashes. From afar he looked infinitely scary, but up close, when observed carefully, he was a man with many delicate aspects.

His large hand grabbed the shackle and moved nimbly, and soon, with a click, the heavy feeling disappeared from her left ankle.

Ellen felt relieved as she looked down at her now free ankle. The shackle that had lost its usefulness went into Enoch’s coat pocket, and Ellen hoped that he wouldn’t feel inclined to take it out again.

“But is it okay to be away for so long? If a problem arises……”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m most concerned about your condition worsening in a week.”

Every time she coughed up blood and collapsed, he wished he could be sick in her place. He had accepted the Mage Tower Master’s intention that a week of preparation was needed, but he wanted to urge him to quickly resolve Ellen’s lifespan issue. He was restraining himself because he knew it would be too shameless to rush someone who was voluntarily giving up their lifespan.

“Don’t worry. A week will pass quickly, and nothing will happen.”

“……”

Swallowing a sigh like a lump of coal, Enoch pulled Ellen’s hand and pressed it to his cheek. He was still kneeling in front of her, looking up at her intently. His transparent golden eyes were filled with an undeniable pathos and longing.

“…I don’t have the confidence to be apart from you for two years.”

“We can meet occasionally. I heard you can go out for two days a month?”

“That’s just two days. Is that enough? For you?”

Ellen hesitated, avoiding his gaze as she pondered her answer. ……To be honest, she would miss and long for Enoch, but probably not to an unbearable degree. If she were to compare her feelings to water temperature, it would be comfortably warm rather than boiling hot.

But the man in front of her was different. Ellen thought his affection was like very hot and dangerous lava. And sometimes that fact felt surreal to her.

That Enoch Bayern loved her sincerely, not because of magic.

“…I’ll miss you too. Very much.”

It wasn’t difficult to give him the answer he wanted. Ellen leaned forward, stretching her arms to pull his head into her embrace. Even if it’s not a hot temperature, my feelings are the same as yours. Hoping that the affection contained in this warmth would be conveyed.

* * *

Finally, the morning of the promised May 18th dawned.

The last thing Nov did before performing the succession ritual was to bring Laila to the Mage’s Tower.

Nov, who had seen through the fact that Laila was also a mage, suggested that she should also complete her studies at the Mage’s Tower, and Ellen agreed after much deliberation.

Laila, the person in question, strongly expressed her intention to join when she heard that Ellen would be completing two years at the Mage’s Tower, and so today, she came to the Mage’s Tower.

“Laila, are you feeling alright? I heard you’re still recovering……”

“I-I’m fine, Your Highness. I’m tougher than I look.”

Laila’s bright smile and answer were reassuring, as she seemed quite cheerful for someone who had gone through such an ordeal. However, still… thinking of Angela inevitably made anger well up. Maybe I should have slapped her ten more times.

“Angela Besnard, who did such a thing to you, will surely be punished. It seems there are other victims too, so it won’t be easy for her to escape.”

“Ah, yes, actually, I w-was questioned as a witness by the capital’s security bureau about that incident.”

“I see….. Wasn’t it difficult, with your body not fully recovered?”

“I-It’s fine, that much. And I had to testify so that Lady Besnard could be punished.”

“I see……”

Ellen tightly held Laila’s hand, finding her admirable. She felt a surge of desire to take good care of Laila during their stay at the Mage’s Tower. In fact, she couldn’t express how relieved she was to have Laila with her. It would be less lonely to have a close friend nearby rather than staying alone in an unfamiliar environment.

“Then I’ll see you later. I have to go to the succession ritual now.”

“Yes, Your Highness. T-Take care.”

Laila was taken away by a mage who said they would show her to her room, and Ellen joined Enoch, who had been waiting idly in the corridor, and headed to Nov’s study.

When she arrived at the study, they found Nov and Sion waiting for them. Nov’s expression was fresh, unlike someone about to leave this world. Does life become boring if you live for 2,000 years? Ellen hesitated a little before once again expressing her gratitude to Nov politely.

“Thank you so much for giving me a chance at a new life, Master Victorian.”

“I should be the one thanking you, Grand Duchess, for agreeing to inherit my magic. I’m glad I can save you.”

“……”

Perhaps she had grown attached in such a short time, but the thought of never meeting this person again made her feel sad. Ellen pressed her lips together and clasped her lowered hands tightly.

Seeming to notice Ellen’s feelings, Nov smiled enigmatically and spoke up.

“All things in the world are meant to circulate. I have been stagnant for too long. If my existence can save someone and allow me to die, I think it’s a joyous and honorable thing…”

“……”

How could one fathom the heart of someone who has lived for such an immeasurably long time? Ellen simply nodded silently. She vowed to live her life bestowing kindness to others, as she was given new life through someone else’s goodwill.

“Well then, shall we begin?”

Nov extended both hands. Ellen took Nov’s left hand, and Enoch took his right. A strange magical power flowed between the three people, centered on Nov. The secret ritual, attended only by the three of them and Sion, finally commenced.

Nov first allowed his stopped time to flow again. Then, leaving only 9 hours of lifespan for himself, he gave the remaining 10 years to Ellen.

Next, he mixed Enoch and Ellen’s lifespans into one. With this, the two were destined to meet their deaths on the same day and at the same time.

Lastly, Nov transferred the magic of time to Sion and the spatial movement magic to Ellen. All these processes were carried out smoothly.

After the ritual was over, Nov smiled, seemingly feeling unburdened and made an outrageous suggestion.

“Well then, shall we have a party for the remaining 9 hours?”

Exactly 9 hours after the succession ritual ended, Nov breathed his last. His funeral was held modestly, attended only by Ellen, Enoch, and his closest associates.

No matter how much Nov had wanted such a funeral, Ellen couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was too meager for a ceremony mourning the great mage who had led the Mage’s Tower for so long.

Nov’s body, laid in the coffin, was buried on the west side of Rosretzia Island. It was because of his last wish to be buried in a place where the western sky was visible, as he preferred the soft evening glow to the dazzling dawn light.

Ellen placed flowers in front of Nov’s tombstone and stood in silent prayer for a long time before turning away. Enoch, who had already left the graveside, was standing at a distance waiting for her.

The sky she suddenly looked up at was all red with the sunset. A raven circled in the air, cawing. The strong sea breeze carried a salty taste.

Ellen slowly took steps towards the man who had now become her only fate. She was still not sure if choosing to die on the same day and at the same time was the right decision. On the other hand, a heavy sense of guilt weighed on Ellen’s heart. The thought that his lifespan had been reduced because of her…

However, there was no doubt that this path was the best. For both him and her.

“You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. I’d like to kidnap you too, if I could.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I know, I’m joking.”

Enoch sighed deeply and wrapped his arms around Ellen. As if it would be fine to become one, the strength with which they embraced each other grew stronger and stronger.

From that evening until night, through the dawn of the next day until the morning sun rose, the two did not part from each other for even a moment. Hoping that the moment of the long farewell to come would be delayed.

* * *

The next morning, Ellen asked Enoch as he was leaving.

Won’t you regret it?

Enoch answered. The only regret in my life is that I almost lost you.

“So you wait for me. I’ll wait for you.”

Even your waiting had to be mine.

Someday, the day when we can be together for a long time will surely come.

The farewell greeting was replaced with a kiss. Ellen stood at the port for a long time, waving her hand towards the ship sailing far, far away.

Time will flow gently like a river, but in one precise direction. And with a sensation like a fleeting moment, it will bring us to the future.

As it always has.

* * *

Two years later. At a mental hospital in Schleswig.

“Angela, I’m here. ……How have you been?”

“Get lost!”

Roelyn frowned, flinching slightly at the loud voice that came through the small barred window.

It’s already been 6 months since she returned to the palace after staying at Evitern Castle. She’s been visiting Angela about once a month, but it’s difficult to have a conversation every time due to such fierce reactions.

Angela was sentenced to imprisonment in the trial two years ago, but considering her unsound mental state, she was confined to a mental hospital instead of a prison.

It was June of the year before last when Roelyn first came to this hospital to visit Angela. Learning about all the evil deeds Angela had supposedly committed, Roelyn couldn’t believe it and wanted to hear the detailed story from Angela herself.

However, Angela, locked in a private room in the mental hospital, was not in her right mind. She would throw things or try to harm Roelyn as soon as she saw her, so after that, Roelyn had no choice but to meet her like this, outside the door.

‘How did she end up like this……’

Roelyn sighed and shook her head. Enoch and Julian, even Henry, people who knew Angela, told Roelyn about Angela’s true nature. They said that the angelic appearance she knew was fake.

Since Angela was a close friend from childhood, Roelyn was greatly shocked. But she couldn’t deny reality, as the evidence of Angela’s evil deeds was too clear.

According to the psychiatrist in charge of Angela, she has severe delusions of grandeur, deep-seated paranoia, and a kind of personality disorder. In addition, she has strong sadistic tendencies, and it was said that she had likely been abusing small animals and servants since she was young…

Hearing this opinion, Roelyn naturally thought of the pets Angela had raised. Small birds, rabbits, hamsters, dogs….. Such animals often died within 3 months of being with Angela.

Only then could Roelyn reach the conviction that Angela herself had killed those animals. She had been close friends with Angela for so long. It was puzzling why she hadn’t suspected the deaths of the animals until now. ……Perhaps she had been subjected to something like brainwashing by Angela.

“……Until now, I’ve been coming to see you out of consideration for Teacher Morpheus, but I won’t be visiting anymore. Take care, Angela.”

“Get lost! I said get lost! Aaargh!”

Bang bang bang!

Leaving behind Angela, who was screaming and banging on the door violently, Roelyn left the place with light steps, shaking off even the faint lingering attachment that remained.

Only the miserable cries of a woman who had lost all glory and even her sanity filled the empty corridor.

* * *