William finally woke up from a long nightmare. Reflexively raising both hands to check, he saw the hands of a 14-year-old boy with newly formed blisters that had just burst from starting sword training.

His heart was beating wildly in place. William took a deep breath and threw off the blanket.

The academy dormitory doors are locked after curfew. He couldn’t go outside. So he quietly entered the bathroom.

Closing the bathroom door and sitting down, William raised his trembling hand. Just before pressing the chrono button on his wristwatch, William took another deep breath.

Click.

As he pressed the button, the wristwatch began to glow softly. While Guinevere or Hedel’s watches could call up any stored contact by infusing them with magic, William’s watch was set to only connect with Guinevere.

Even for his mother, contacting her at such an early hour would be rude. She’s probably asleep. Just as he was about to give up thinking that, a voice was heard.

[William?]

“……”

[Did you have another dream?]

William exhaled. Perhaps sensing his complicated feelings, Guinevere also remained silent. After a while, she asked.

[Should I come over?]

Ah, mother.

William covered his mouth with one hand. Tears burst out uncontrollably. At that moment, Guinevere appeared with a flash of light.

“Why are you like this.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what.”

“I…”

William couldn’t continue his words.

“You did nothing wrong.”

Guinevere sat down next to her crying son and hugged him with one arm. Forcing William’s head to lean on her shoulder, she said in a stern voice.

“You, you did nothing wrong.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“I told you to shut up.”

Guinevere bit her lip anxiously. She wanted to ask what kind of dream he had, but at the same time, she didn’t want to know.

She hugged William’s head like a baby and said as if chanting a spell.

“It’s all my fault. William. You did nothing wrong. It’s all my fault.”

“I turned back time……”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. William, everything will be alright.”

“In front of mother.”

“I said it’s okay!”

As she shouted, there was a sound from outside the door. William’s roommate seemed to have woken up. Guinevere had no choice but to teleport with William.

As soon as they arrived at the lab, William’s face turned pale. Larisa’s coffin was here. Realizing that William had recalled that memory, Guinevere grabbed William’s wrist and left the room.

She didn’t know what to do at times like this. But as they walked aimlessly, both of their thoughts began to settle.

“Mother, I’m okay now.”

William stopped walking in some corridor. Guinevere slowly turned to William and said.

“Larisa will be fine too. Right?”

“Yes. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you both.”

“I think you should adopt Larisa.”

“What are you saying?”

Guinevere furrowed her brow.

“You said Larisa became endangered since we started dating. Now that I think about it, I understand. The reason why no woman approached me even after announcing Larisa’s death. It wasn’t because I became a wreck… From the beginning, they didn’t want the Rodante duchy to prosper.”

“Who?”

“Who else?”

“Are you suspecting the imperial family?”

“Well. The imperial family might not be, since they’ve always wanted to strengthen ties with the Rodantes. But the nobles are different, aren’t they?”

“Are you saying Larisa was murdered for political purposes?”

“It could be, or it might not be. As you said, mother, the imperial family could be the culprit too. But whatever the reason…”

William rubbed his face.

“If I don’t love Larisa, the problem would be solved, right?”

To protect Larisa, that was the reason William couldn’t love her.

*

Guinevere dumped William in the dormitory and teleported back to the lab. He was talking such nonsense with such a pitiful face that she almost slapped him.

“Crazy fool, with a face already fallen in love…”

Guinevere infused magic into her wristwatch to call Siod. Siod didn’t answer for a long time. He was undoubtedly sleeping peacefully in this situation.

“Answer right now. Or else…”

Just as Guinevere swallowed her curse, a locked voice was heard.

[What’s the matter?]

“Stop teaching magic language.”

[Why suddenly?]

“Just stop for now. The kid seems to have recalled the past of time regression.”

[What?]

“I said stop for now!”

Siod appeared through teleportation.

“He had another dream?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Siod, emotions welled up. Guinevere hit Siod’s chest in a storm of emotions, whether anger, rage, or sorrow.

“How are you not helpful at all!”

“Wait, Vera. Calm down and…”

“How can I calm down!”

Siod embraced Guinevere. Guinevere obediently nestled in and burst into tears.

“It’s okay. William can handle it. He’s our son.”

“I can’t. I… I don’t want to see him despair again.”

“Those are things of the past. Mere memories can’t hurt William. William is strong. He’s stronger than we think. Okay?”

Guinevere hated Siod. It seemed like everything was happening because of him. If it weren’t for him, Guinevere would still be alone and wouldn’t have to go through such heartache.

If she hadn’t made love with him, if he hadn’t abandoned her when she was pregnant, if he hadn’t reappeared to shake them up like this.

“It’s all because of you.”

“I know. I know. It’s all my fault.”

“What did you do wrong?”

“I’m sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

Siod sighed. Guinevere was not pleased that he was apologizing just to get out of the situation.

“We knew he might recall the past and agreed to teach him anyway. Vera, so…”

“I want to go back to before I met you.”

Siod stopped what he was about to say and took a step back. Guinevere, now away from his arms, said.

“Then I wouldn’t have to go through such pain.”

“Those words hurt me too.”

He said seriously. Guinevere looked up at Siod and flinched. Siod, who had been looking down at her with an expressionless face, left through teleportation, and Guinevere sat down again.

*

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Larisa asked.

“Huh?”

Guinevere, lost in thought, looked at Larisa.

“Have you lost your appetite?”

“Ah, yes.”

Larisa tilted her head and said.

“But it’s your favorite meat stew, mother.”

“I like this?”

Guinevere looked down at the stew bowl at the unexpected statement. It was the same meat stew she always ate.

“Yes, you eat a lot when this comes out.”

Did I? Guinevere blinked stupidly. She thought she didn’t have any particular likes or dislikes when it came to food.

“The chef made it especially for you because he said you looked weak, mother.”

“…How do you know that?”

“Why wouldn’t I know?”

Larisa tilted her head again. Her face, looking at Guinevere as if to say ‘how could you not know that’, could have been annoying, but it was just too cute.

“Everyone in the mansion knows when you’re feeling weak, mother.”

Was it that obvious? Guinevere unconsciously touched her face.

“Did something happen?”

“No.”

Tch. Larisa pouted.

“Is it another story that only I don’t need to know?”

“Larisa, it’s not like that…”

“Hmph, I’m sulking.”

She’s become quite bold lately after being told it’s okay to be a little naughty. Guinevere couldn’t help but chuckle. After laughing like that, she felt a bit better.

“Fine. I won’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a story you don’t need to know.”

“I’ll ask William then!”

Guinevere was about to take a spoonful but put the spoon down again. A deep sigh escaped.

Larisa, who had been quietly observing, hopped off the chair and pitter-pattered over. Then she tugged at Guinevere’s collar.

“What?”

“Should I hug you?”

“What?”

“Come on, let me hug you.”

Larisa spread her arms wide.

“Ah, really…”

“Quickly!”

Guinevere hesitantly picked up Larisa. After setting her on her lap, Larisa wrapped her arms around Guinevere’s back and snuggled close.

“When mom was having a hard time, I hugged her tightly like this. She said it gave her strength.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. It’s true. It’s magic.”

As if it were a lie, holding Larisa and quietly feeling the child’s body temperature, Guinevere felt a sense of relief, making her previous worries seem foolish.

Larisa was safe. She was safe in her arms. Guinevere hugged Larisa tightly and smelled the soap scent from the top of her head.

“Strength, arise. Yay!”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a spell!”

It was ridiculous. Guinevere chuckled, then ended up laughing out loud because of Larisa wiggling her bottom while chanting the spell.

“I feel stronger. It works well.”

“Right?”

“Will you do it for William too?”

“No way.”

“Why?”

“William is a boy, so it’s embarrassing!”

My goodness. She thought Larisa was just a young child, but she knew about propriety and was quite precocious.

“Actually, I was troubled because William said he won’t marry you.”

“What?”

“Why are you so surprised? You said you won’t marry William either.”

“William said that? Really?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph!”

Larisa’s lips protruded three feet. Guinevere laughed out loud. After laughing for a while, Guinevere said.

“If you’re not going to marry William, why don’t you just be my daughter now?”

“Huh?”

Larisa’s eyes widened round.