Chapter 89

After that, Sabina didn’t return home.

Even Helio, who had been shut in his room, absorbed in his own matters, noticed that Sabina hadn’t come home for several days.

‘Something must have happened to that man.’

Helio knew that since his vacation, Sabina had been trying to keep some balance, however awkwardly. If she hadn’t come home for days, something must have happened to Ashton.

His palm was damp with cold sweat.

It would be a problem if Ashton died now.

Even on New Year’s Eve, Sabina didn’t return home. Helio waited for her—not so much because he missed her, but to check if Ashton had really died.

‘But if she isn’t coming back…’

Helio made his own guess.

‘It means he’s critical, but still alive.’

Even the next morning, Sabina didn’t return.

Helio ate breakfast alone. The servants’ faces were filled with concern. Even they could tell Sabina’s condition had been poor lately.

But they didn’t openly discuss their worries about Sabina in front of young Helio. Recently sensitive to being treated as a child, Helio didn’t appreciate their discretion.

The servants assumed Helio’s gloomy expression was because he hadn’t seen Sabina for days. They kept thinking about how to improve their young ward’s mood.

In a situation where nothing was easy to suggest, little Hazel spoke up.

“Helio, how about going to make a wish at the New Year’s Festival?”

“A wish at the New Year’s Festival?”

Helio, who had been shut in Marquis Meolin’s basement, didn’t know much about what people did at year’s end and New Year. Little Hazel was happy for the chance to teach Helio something.

“You throw a coin into the fountain in front of the royal palace and make a wish. The old King of Brinita built the fountain, and he threw a coin into the top basin, wishing for the country to prosper. That’s how Brinita became a country where mages are born.”

It was a founding myth, like those in any country.

Julia doubted Helio would be interested in such things. She worried that Little Hazel might have annoyed Helio, so she quickly lifted her daughter under her arms. But after thinking for a moment, Helio nodded.

“It might be nice to try.”

Little Hazel smiled brightly.

Helio wore a caramel-colored wool coat and a black beret. Mitchell insisted on fur boots to keep his feet warm. Helio didn’t like how he looked in the mirror—like a little gentleman.

But Mitchell seemed pleased. She temporarily set aside her worries about her absent master.

“Should I go with you?”

Helio shook his head decisively.

“I can go alone.”

He was sick of being treated like a child.

Since it was still bright daylight on New Year’s Day, the streets would be crowded. Mitchell calculated that and let Helio go out alone. But she warned him six times not to try to face any thugs or danger alone, and to teleport away immediately if needed.

Helio was completely worn out by it. He stepped outside as if fleeing.

Cold air froze his nose and ears. He wanted to take off the beret that only young gentlemen would wear, but once outside, he realized he had to keep it on.

The boy walked slowly, looking around.

The world was bright, as if the misfortune and conflict among Sabina, Ashton, and Helio were nothing. People seemed happy. Helio’s world and theirs were so separated.

Helio felt complicated.

He hurried his steps, as if not wanting to see his surroundings, and headed for the fountain in front of the royal palace.

The road from D’Vialis mansion to the palace was quite long. Taking a carriage would have been wise, but Helio, like kids his age, stubbornly walked. Luckily, people were busy with their own affairs and paid no attention to Helio.

There were many people on the street, but the fountain was truly packed.

Just trying to get to the front to throw his coin into the basin required fierce shoulder battles.

Helio felt a bit self-conscious, wondering if it was worth all this trouble.

But since he was out, he decided he’d see it through. He pushed forward bit by bit.

He was briefly tempted to teleport, but figured he’d end up landing on someone’s head or inside the fountain, which would be embarrassing.

After a long struggle, Helio finally reached the edge of the fountain.

He threw his coin.

Just as he threw, someone hit Helio’s arm. The coin flew much higher than he’d intended.

‘Ah…’

He was about to be disappointed, but the coin landed with a click atop the pile of coins in the basin.

For some reason, a ray of light seemed to pierce his dark mood.

Helio quickly closed his eyes and put his hands together.

‘Please let Ashton Bryant live until the day comes.’

He had hated that man so much, and now he was wishing for his survival. How ridiculous.

Helio sighed.

It had taken ages to get through the crowd, but throwing the coin and making the wish was over in an instant. It felt a bit anticlimactic.

Thinking about it, throwing a coin and making a wish seemed kind of silly. If Sabina saw, she might say it was childishly pure.

Helio’s face flushed as he turned to leave the crowd.

At that moment, someone grabbed Helio’s arm.

He was startled and tried to pull his hand away. But the person, anticipating his reaction, held firmly and didn’t let go.

Helio frowned and checked the person’s face.

“Hello, Helio.”

The voice was as smooth as silk. A cold sweat ran down Helio’s back.

It was, as always, a beautiful face. Reyes Brinita smiled with striking green eyes.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Helio slowly shook off his hand, making sure not to seem hostile. He didn’t want to anger Reyes right now. Helio wanted to appear as an ally.

Helio spoke quietly.

“It’s too crowded here. I’d like to go somewhere quieter.”

Reyes readily agreed. They discussed where would be best.

The two disappeared from the spot.

People at the front grumbled about the two using teleportation magic so rudely in public.

***

Helio and Reyes teleported together to the Royal Research Institute, which was quiet since Reedblon was so crowded today.

Actually, outsiders shouldn’t be able to enter without a pass, but Reyes’s presence was as good as a pass.

Helio and Reyes holed up in an empty lab. Reyes locked the door.

“I’m getting curious about how things are going.”

Reyes said, handing Helio warm water, sounding relaxed.

Helio slowly opened up. He told Reyes about casting magic on Sabina after Reyes left, the conversations over the holidays, and even that Sabina hadn’t been coming out of Ashton’s house lately.

He omitted parts he didn’t want Reyes to know, but since he shared more than he hid, Reyes didn’t notice.

The Prince was intrigued by the feelings of hatred Helio had forced onto Sabina. More than Sabina hating Ashton, he was interested in the fact that Helio could do ‘bad things’ to Sabina.

Helio, who destroyed Sabina to save her.

Reyes wondered how to make use of this phenomenon. Provoking and manipulating were his specialties. He quickly came to a conclusion.

“Helio, I see you took on a grand plan for Sabina… but it doesn’t seem to have worked as you hoped, right?”

Helio flinched at Reyes’s point and sighed, unable to deny it. He avoided Reyes’s gaze. Reyes liked that reaction.

“I don’t think imposing a new emotion on her now will help.”

“So…”

Helio cut in, but hesitated, unsure about his alternative.

Reyes wore a very thoughtful adult expression and waited in silence for Helio to speak.

Under that subtle pressure, Helio finally confessed what he’d been thinking.

“I wondered if I should make Master forget that man.”

A satisfied smile flashed across the Prince’s lips, unseen by Helio. He needed to skillfully counter this and draw Helio into his territory. Reyes was confident.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Sure, making Sabina forget him would change things. But think about Sabina’s nature. She always digs into mysteries.”

“……”

“Even if she loses her memories of him, everyone around her would still remember. Would Sabina just ignore the strange phenomenon of people mentioning someone she can’t recall?”

“Then make her not notice it…”

“Oh, Helio, please. Are you going to layer another spell on top? And if it goes wrong, layer another? Sabina’s mind would be utterly ruined. At that point, I’d wonder if it’s even her own mind.”

The boy fell silent. Regardless of his changed opinion of Reyes, the words rang true. Helio’s voice trembled.

“Then… what should I do?”

He finally asked the question Reyes had been waiting for.

Reyes took his time, letting Helio grow anxious. He needed to make the boy a little desperate, so he couldn’t think rationally.

The Prince, after a long pause, leaned toward Helio. He brought his lips close to Helio’s ear and whispered very quietly, so no one else could hear.

“If there were a way for Sabina to be briefly miserable and forever happy, would you follow it?”

Helio tensed for a moment. An ominous feeling brushed the back of his neck. Still, he… nodded.

“Undo the magic you cast on her. And erase her memories.”

“For how long?”

“That’s what we need to decide now.”

“Wait, just a moment ago you said erasing Master’s memories wasn’t a good choice…”

“That’s true. Other people remember Ashton Bryant. But what if everyone else forgets him too?”

It sounded absurd. Helio frowned.

“You’re not telling me to go around Reedblon and erase everyone’s memories of him one by one, are you?”

“Of course not, of course not. What I mean is…”

Reyes smiled brilliantly.

“Let’s turn back time.”

Helio doubted what he was hearing.