Tervan, who had finally escaped Erika’s barrage of questions, glanced at Rachel.

He was confused, unable to understand his own feelings lately.

Tervan knew well that Rachel had harbored feelings for him for a long time.

Though she never said it directly, anyone could tell from her eyes and behavior, even someone completely oblivious.

At first, he thought it might be his misunderstanding, but as years passed, his doubt transformed into certainty.

It wasn’t that Tervan disliked Rachel.

From their academy days until now, he had always considered her a good friend.

But if asked whether his feelings went beyond simple affection, he could answer without hesitation that they did not.

What he felt for Rachel was merely the affection of a friend, nothing more.

That’s why he had no choice but to keep his distance from Rachel.

Though he felt sorry for Rachel who seemed to genuinely love him, he couldn’t accept her with half-hearted feelings.

So he deliberately avoided her at times.

Because of this, Rachel misunderstood that Tervan had feelings for Viola.

The Tervan of the past thought this was for the best.

Since Rachel’s misunderstanding maintained the delicate balance in their three-way relationship, he thought it wasn’t bad for her to continue misunderstanding as long as she didn’t give up her feelings.

Though it was unfair to Rachel, Tervan had no choice as he didn’t want to break the relationship between the three of them.

He had hoped that Rachel would eventually give up on him.

And that wish became reality.

He should have felt relieved now that Rachel had moved on, but he couldn’t shake off his uncomfortable feelings.

‘Why?’

Tervan couldn’t find the reason.

By this point, Tervan became skeptical of himself.

He even wondered if he had been enjoying Rachel’s affection all along.

Due to his complicated emotions, Tervan kept glancing at Rachel.

Rachel was aware that Tervan was looking at her but showed no particular reaction.

After some time passed, Rachel checked the reddening sky and turned to look at Erika and Viola.

Viola and Erika chatted away. They mostly talked about Erika’s experiences at the academy.

Rachel smiled faintly at the two who seemed to be having fun, then spoke.

“Erika, we should head back now.”

“What? Already?”

Erika looked out the window in surprise.

“Is it evening already? Why does time go by so fast? I still want to play more with sister.”

Erika grumbled in a disappointed tone and looked at Rachel with a pitiful expression.

“Sister, can’t we stay a little longer? We finally got to meet Viola and Tervan.”

“That’s right, Rachel. Since you’ve come all this way, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

Viola supported Erika’s words. However, Rachel maintained her firm stance.

“No. It’s getting late, so we should head back. Erika, you can come visit again next time. Let’s go home for today.”

“…Alright.”

Erika reluctantly nodded and got up, trudging over to Rachel.

Rachel stood up and took Erika’s hand.

“That’s too bad. You could stay longer.”

“Next time.”

“Okay. I’ll at least see you to the carriage.”

“Thanks.”

Rachel soothed the sulking Erika as they headed to the first floor of the Hestein mansion.

“See you next time.”

“Yes. Rachel and Erika, come visit anytime. You’re always welcome.”

“Yes! I’ll come again!”

A servant helped the still small Erika climb into the carriage. Rachel followed her into the carriage.

After confirming that both had boarded, the coachman set the carriage in motion.

When the carriage slowly disappeared from sight, Tervan let out a short breath.

“Then I’ll be going too, Viola.”

Viola turned around and looked up at Tervan.

“Wait a moment.”

Not expecting Viola to stop him, Tervan looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“You heard earlier, didn’t you?”

“…”

Realizing what Viola was asking, Tervan closed his mouth. Then he slowly nodded.

“It can’t be helped.”

“Can’t be helped?”

Viola hesitated, unable to understand Tervan.

“But didn’t you secretly have feelings for Rachel too?”

“What are you talking about?”

At Tervan’s retort, Viola’s lips trembled.

Viola had always thought that Tervan also had feelings for Rachel.

But seeing his reaction now, she belatedly realized it was all her misunderstanding.

“I… thought you liked Rachel too.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because the way you treat me and the way you treat Rachel is different.”

“I remember being relatively indifferent to Rachel.”

“On the surface, yes. But your heart wasn’t. Do you know how different your gaze was when looking at me versus looking at Rachel?”

“…”

Tervan didn’t answer. He neither confirmed nor denied, but Viola interpreted his silence in her own way.

“…I thought you liked Rachel. But… I guess not.”

Viola muttered in a voice filled with self-reproach.

Guilt toward Rachel weighed heavily on her.

It was suffocating to think that Rachel might have suffered more because of what she had done with good intentions.

Tervan watched Viola swallow her emotions, then let out a small sigh and turned away.

On his way out, he encountered Edward.

Edward was always kind, but at that moment, his eyes were cold.

Tervan paused briefly, bowed slightly to Edward, and then continued on his way.

* * *

Inside the carriage returning to the Pluret estate. Rachel, who had been passing the boring time looking out the window, turned her head to check on Erika.

Erika, who had been energetic until boarding the carriage, had quickly fallen asleep, probably from fatigue.

Rachel unfolded a blanket placed on one side of the carriage and carefully covered Erika to prevent her from catching a cold.

Erika might have woken up, but she only mumbled a little without actually waking.

[Don’t you want to go back to the past?]

At that moment, Creon suddenly asked Rachel.

‘All of a sudden? I’m sick of regression. You know that.’

Rachel frowned at Creon’s unexpected question.

[Yes, you’ve already gone back in time numerous times. But what I’m talking about isn’t the same as what we’ve done so far.]

‘Then?’

Rachel sat up and questioned Creon.

[I was wondering what if you could have the same emotions as before while retaining your current power and achievements.]

Rachel recalled her encounter with Tervan in the garden of the Hestein estate.

Tervan’s reaction was definitely different from usual. He looked hurt by Rachel’s words.

Rachel couldn’t figure out why he had shown such a reaction.

‘Is that even possible?’

[Well. Who knows.]

Creon answered ambiguously.

It sounded like there might be a way.

The current Rachel had resigned herself and given up due to the repeated regressions. Rachel couldn’t believe that her worn-out emotions could be restored to how they were before.

‘Even if it’s possible, I don’t want to go back.’

[Really?]

Creon seemed surprised.

‘Why are you so surprised?’

[Usually, people want to go back. As you know.]

‘That’s right.’

I belatedly recalled the stories of the numerous contractors Creon had met.

Despite risking death to achieve something they desperately wanted through repeated regressions, they gradually became exhausted and withered away, choosing death.

What they probably wanted was, as Creon said, to have the same heart as in the beginning even after achieving everything.

‘Can it really be restored?’

Rachel let out a hollow laugh. It was true that she, living in a different timeline, found it difficult to blend in with others, but now Rachel’s desire to blend in with them had also faded.

‘I still don’t want to go back. It’s rather refreshing. I couldn’t let go of Tervan all this time. I’m glad I can finally let him go, even like this.’

Rachel’s words were filled with many emotions. Creon knew this too, so he didn’t question Rachel further.

The carriage stopped at the portico entrance of the Pluret estate. Rachel personally carried Erika out of the carriage, and the butler took Erika from her.