“Yes. Several times… casting spells, leaving me behind, casting more spells when I went to find her, over and over again…”

“Ah…”

I tightly embraced Rodelo. Well, Beatrice wouldn’t have been able to use magic properly. So I didn’t think about that part.

‘No wonder Rodelo’s magic seemed strange, almost too perfect…’

He couldn’t use magic fully because of that, Beatrice. So there might have been other intentions, but that could be one of the reasons.

“It felt like I was breaking through something. When I closed my eyes, I kept seeing a wall in front of me. When I touched it, it shattered, and there were dozens, hundreds of walls. Later, there were countless…”

“I see…”

“Every time, memories from a very young age came to mind. It was really… tough. The one who gave birth to me didn’t love me. From the moment I was born until the moment she abandoned me, I was fortunate to have the characteristics of the imperial family. But you were a discarded child. You’re all I have. You have to grow for me, become an emperor for me. I kept hearing those kinds of words.”

I slowly stroked the child’s head. What could I say? What comforting words could I offer? No, I couldn’t even offer hasty comfort.

Until now, in the novel, I always thought of Rodelo as just a bad child.

Using Shasha, who had been manipulated by the family through gaslighting, and discarding Shasha, who loved him. He was a prince who acted on his own and treated people that way because he was a prince. That’s what I thought.

But the Rodelo I saw was just a fragile butterfly torn apart before it had fully matured.

“So that’s how it was… That’s how it was.”
“Even though it’s not reality, even though it’s the past, it felt like I knew the present and the future there. No matter who reaches out to you, in the end, you will be abandoned by everyone. You will continue to be lonely. Only I will be by your side. Hearing those words repeatedly made me scared. What if I open my eyes and no one is there? That thought filled my mind.”

I could feel Rodelo’s voice trembling.

Listening to the child’s words, for a moment, I wondered if Beatrice knew something about the novel.

I briefly considered whether Beatrice knew the ending of the novel or had regressed, but fortunately, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

‘If that were the case, I wouldn’t have done it like this.’

In the end, while Beatrice got what she wanted in the novel, she never appeared until the end.

If I had known the story, I wouldn’t have done things like I am doing now. If there was regression or possession, there was a time when everything could be changed.

I could have apologized to Lian, revealed everything. There must have been a time when I could have done that, but she didn’t. That means she’s either ignorant or a fool who doesn’t think about changing anything.

Of course, even if she were a possessor or regressee, she would never lose. I’ve built the story for everything.

“Um… Is it okay?”

While I remained silent for a moment, Rodelo opened his mouth, seeming anxious.

“Yeah, it’s okay. You won’t be lonely. We’ll always be with you in your days and your future, so you won’t be lonely. I’ll show you instead of just saying it. Just like I was there when you opened your eyes, I’ll always be by your side. When you suddenly turn around, I’ll always be there.”

“Yeah. Yes… But, I mean, Mom.”

“Hmm?”

“There wasn’t anything good.”

I looked at the child quietly. I knew so well what Rodelo was talking about that I couldn’t add anything. I could only wait for the child to speak.

“I don’t know if it’s fortunate or not. If only there was something good… Like longing or something… It was just difficult things.”

“Was it like that?”

“Yeah. Every moment was tough. There wasn’t a single good memory. There was never a time when I was warmly embraced. I did receive love. But it was as difficult as the tens of millions of love I received.”

“I see.”

Give love. But take away that love before the child feels it. Parental love is more significant than anything to a child. Beatrice wanted to make the child love-deprived to manipulate them as she wished.

“So… So…”

“Don’t think about the past. The past is just the past. Even if that person reappears and gives you love, there’s no need to yearn for it. Because you will receive a greater love than that. Got it?”

“Yeah. Even if that person appears again, I won’t yearn for it.”

“Rodelo, surely that person will appear on your birthday. Don’t be afraid. I’ll be by your side. Understand? There’s no need to be scared, no need to follow that person’s words. Just like you got rid of those who troubled you around you, I’ll get rid of that person too. Got it?”