<Chapter 114>
***
“Rose, Look over there!”
A little over a week had passed since we set out for the Temple of Light.
At Sian’s bright voice, I turned my head, and the wind blew through, tangling my hair.
“That’s the Temple of Light! Well… more accurately, the temple’s ruins.”
Just as he said, the once-grand and sacred temple from ancient times was now nothing more than a few crumbling white pillars and a shattered foundation.
It was in even worse condition than I had expected…finding anything significant seemed impossible.
“Ha…”
I let out a sigh, unable to hide my growing disappointment.
“…You must have been looking forward to it.”
Sian, watching me closely, spoke in a slightly dejected tone.
“If you want to see an intact temple, there’s always the Fire Temple in the Holy City. Why don’t we go there together?”
His golden eyes shimmered innocently as he offered, clearly trying to cheer me up.
“I don’t know… I’ve already been enough trouble. I can’t keep relying on you.”
“What are you talking about?! You saved my life, Rose. This is nothing in comparison.”
The moment I tried to refuse, feeling a bit burdened, Sian immediately protested.
…I was only trying to part ways before I accidentally altered the future by staying too close to my great-grandfather.
“Your Grace…”
With him being this persistent, how was I supposed to end this strange companionship with my great-grandfather?
Hiding my frustration behind a forced smile, I avoided his gaze and looked toward the ruined temple.
Nothing miraculous was going to come from stepping inside that place.
“…Then…”
Fine. I’ll accompany him to the Fire Temple. And then, as quickly as possible, I’ll leave him behind.
But unexpected events kept happening.
“So this is where you were.”
“…!”
That voice—one I never wanted to hear again.
“Rose.”
Calm, quiet… yet carrying an inexplicable sorrow.
“Khalid… Ilkai!”
His eyes, as pale and fragile as scattered ash, locked onto me.
Khalid Ilkai stepped forward, slowly closing the distance between himself and Sian.
Panic set in.
I had been careful, leaving no traces behind after meeting Sian.
Then how…?
How did he find me?
“Rose? …Do you know this man?”
Sian, confused by the stranger’s sudden arrival, asked hesitantly.
I bit my lip, hesitating.
I couldn’t let my great-grandfather get involved in this.
Even though Khalid had always treated me with courtesy, he was still undeniably a prince of Nisha, a kingdom that used any means necessary to achieve victory, no matter how underhanded.
“Your Grace. I told you before, didn’t I? That I came from the Duchy of Hacardella.”
There was no time to waste.
I grabbed Sian’s arm and spoke urgently.
“This man is someone I know. So I won’t be traveling with you any longer.”
“…No, rather, it’s more accurate to say I don’t need to anymore.”
“Rose…? What are you–”
“He has nothing to do with me.”
Sian’s voice was full of confusion, but I let go of his arm and stepped toward Khalid.
“This is between us. Let’s not drag anyone else into it.”
“So… you’re saying you’ll come with me willingly?”
Khalid, stopping a short distance away, studied my expression carefully.
“…Yes.”
Even if I planned to escape later, I had to get out of here first. I forced my lips to move and answered.
For a brief moment, the cautious wariness in his eyes eased.
“Then come closer.”
Khalid locked his eyes with mine as he spoke slowly.
“…”
Gritting my teeth, I took a step forward…
“Don’t go, Rose.”
Thud.
Suddenly, Sian grabbed my hand.
“Your Grace?”
Caught off guard, I turned back, only to see him staring coldly at Khalid. His golden eyes were no longer warm, but chilling.
“Tell me the truth. This man… he doesn’t seem like someone you share a good relationship with.”
“That’s…”
I wanted to ask for help…
Deep down, I wanted to ask him to help me escape from that man.
“Your Grace. To be honest, it’s true that he and I don’t have a good relationship, but…”
But I couldn’t put my great-grandfather in danger.
“You’ll be at risk too. Please, just let me go.”
“No.”
But Sian stubbornly refused.
“Rose, you saved my life. How could I abandon you to a man who looks so sinister?”1Weak personality, where are you 🤔
“No, that’s not…”
I almost laughed at the way he specifically called Khalid Ilkai sinister, as if he were my grandfather’s descendant through and through.
Until now, I had thought my great-grandfather didn’t resemble my grandfather much.
“Forcing a defenseless woman to go with him? How despicable!”
Was it just because he had only ever shown me his gentle side?
While I was momentarily lost in thought, Sian suddenly drew his sword not toward anyone else, but directly at Khalid.
Wait.
Great-grandfather?!
“Your Grace, what are you…?!”
“Step behind me, Rose! As long as I stand, I won’t let this man take you!”
Oh, for heaven’s sake!
I had agreed to go willingly precisely to avoid dragging my great-grandfather into this mess!
I never expected him to take such a firm stance against Khalid.
“…A noble. Judging by your title, you must be from the Roshan Empire.”
Khalid, who had been calmly observing the boy pointing his sword at him, murmured.
“I am Sian Orca Bastevan, heir to the Duke of Bastevan!”
Without hesitation, my great-grandfather declared his identity.
“…I see.”
Though Khalid’s expression remained composed, I caught the brief flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Come to think of it, maybe it was actually better for my great-grandfather to reveal his status.
Hacardella and the Kingdom of Dryas, frankly speaking, were far weaker compared to Nisha.
That meant the Nisha royals could trample over them without consequence.
But the Roshan Empire was different.
It was a powerful nation with a history spanning millennia.
There had been other great empires before, shaping the continent’s fate, only to be destroyed by war and destiny.
Yet, oddly enough, only the Roshan Empire had endured, still thriving in the distant future where I had once lived.
Now that Khalid knew Sian was the heir of one of Roshan’s most prestigious noble houses, he wouldn’t act as recklessly as before.
“…”
An unrelated civilian and not just any civilian, but a Roshan noble…
Khalid was clearly calculating the trouble he’d bring upon himself if he harmed the boy.
Good. If things kept going this way—
“You still refuse to step aside? Then take my blade!”
…What?
Just as I was feeling triumphant, I froze at the sight of the boy launching himself forward like the wind.
“Haaaah!”
“…”
Thwack!
Khalid effortlessly dodged the young swordsman’s reckless attack and, in one swift motion, struck the back of his head with the flat of his blade.
“No!”
Like a puppet with its strings cut, Sian collapsed, motionless.2Nevermind 😂
I screamed in horror.
He wasn’t moving, not even the slightest twitch.
Did my great-grandfather… just die?
Then what about my grandfather?
No—forget that—wouldn’t this mean I would never even be born?!
“Move!”
Overwhelmed by fear, I shoved Khalid aside and fell to my knees, cradling Sian’s unmoving body.
My hands trembled as I looked down at him.
“…Rose.”
“Shut up. You’re truly ruthless. How could you? How could you harm an innocent boy…?!”
“He’s not dead.”
At Khalid’s calm words, my mind went blank.3Déja vu?
