The searing pleasure that coursed through her entire body continued even after they moved to the cave connected to the hot spring, the heat unabated.

Rodrick laid out blankets and clothes with considerate hands to minimize the heat escaping, allowing her to rest comfortably in his embrace.

In moments with him, all worries and thoughts vanish. The overwhelming happiness brings tears to her eyes.

When he presses his regularly beating heart against hers as he exhales hot breaths, she can vividly feel that she is alive.

Even though nothing has been resolved in reality, she becomes grateful to be alive.

With him, she can fully feel the throbbing of life rather than the life-sapping pain.

Just that alone clears her airways. Just that alone brings her relief.

With you by my side, I won’t die. That reassurance spreads warmly throughout her body.

“Haah. Rodrick.”

A moan slips from her lips. As if unwilling to let go, he slides his hands under her back and presses her close.

“Rodrick.”

She continues calling his name.

“Rodrick.”

“Haa, Diana.”

His hot breath dampens her ear at her plaintively clinging voice.

“Why do you keep calling me?”

He mischievously nibbles her ear and whispers softly.

“Even if you call me like that, I won’t let you go.”

A smile spreads across her slightly flushed cheeks. He always says exactly what she wants to hear.

How infuriating. Don’t make my heart flutter so much. You rascal.

“Don’t let go. Stay close by my side like this. Don’t go anywhere.”

“……”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Because you’re stating the obvious.”

As if pleased by her words that sound like complaining, Rodrick meets her eyes with an irresistible, wonderful smile.

“Where would I go leaving my wife behind?”

At those words, Diana bursts into laughter as if she can’t help it.

The men of this household always spoke with their minds made up. The problem was that she didn’t dislike it.

“Oh my, was the man before me my husband? I thought he was my knight.”

“Shall I have you call me your master then?”

He spoke as if there was one more option left – being a slave.

“I’ll have to put a collar on you.”

“You’re incorrigible, really. Come here.”

I wish this peaceful time would stop just like this. If only this moment could continue on.

They shared the same thoughts and the same sensations.

Within the fully rising sensations, they wholly felt each other’s unique warmth.

It was such a serene night that even the fishy smell unique to the hot spring water felt cozy and sweet.

[This is the timeline separator]

Listening to the even breathing, blue eyes fluttered open.

Fiddling with the soundly sleeping Diana’s fingers, he tapped on the ring on her fourth finger.

“Hey. Come out.”

[Ahem. Hmm. Phew. It’s hot. So hot. Isn’t this near a hot spring area? The descendants are doing quite the righteous deed.]

“I didn’t call you to hear such nonsense.”

[Wait, can you see me?]

Levant, who had shrunk to the size of a fairy, flew right up to Rodrick’s nose. Rodrick frowned and waved his hand as if shooing a fly.

“I can only see a lump.”

[It’s amazing that we can even communicate. You’re not even wearing the ring at all, yet you can see me. Ah, it must be because you had a lot of contact with this child!]

“Diana’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse. Why is that?”

As if uninterested in the floating Levant, Rodrick meticulously brushed her hair behind her ear.

[It’s because her magic is being drawn out and used. At this rate, she’ll really die.]

“……”

[It will be extremely painful whenever magic escapes her body. You need to sever the connection quickly.]

Shadows fell across his face. His heart sank with an eerie feeling at the mention that she could die.

“What should I do……”

His sharp eyes turned towards the luggage. He couldn’t even finish his sentence and stood up from his spot.

[Hey, descendant. Where are you going?]

Rodrick, who had quickly dressed himself, asked the bluish lump.

“Can you protect her?”

[What?]

“I’ll be back in a bit. Stay and protect her.”

He seemed convinced that the ancestor inside the ring could protect her.

[Of course I can protect her.]

Rodrick turned his back on Levant, who was tapping his small chest while boasting with an ahem.

He left the cave without even waiting for a response. He passed the hot spring and headed towards where the procession was.

The magic stone in the luggage was sending a distress signal.

Just what on earth happened?

His knight order, as well as Felice’s warriors, were quite formidable.

If someone dangerous enough to ambush them appeared or a situation they couldn’t handle broke out, then the large group following them was in peril.

Assuming the worst-case scenario, he hardened his expression.

With his robe fluttering, he swiftly headed towards where his younger brother was.

[This is the timeline separator]

“……”

Seeing the campsite where not a single breath could be heard, Rodrick halted his steps. He quietly stayed alert to his surroundings and placed his hand on his sword.

People were sprawled out as if dead, sleeping between the tents. Even the horses tied to the wagons were slumped over.

Only the half-burnt bonfire made any noise.

It was silent all around. To assess the situation, Rodrick surveyed the area and closed his eyes, opening his five senses.

“Uhh… uhh…”

A small groan was heard from a place it should never be audible. Relying on his sharpened senses, he approached and found Noel.

“What is this?”

Noel was dangling from a tree, his arms and legs tied and his mouth gagged.

He swiftly brought Noel down and cut off the cloth covering his mouth. As soon as his mouth was free, Noel shouted urgently.

“Where is Diana!”

“What?”

Noel was so desperate that he even omitted the honorific ‘elder sister’.

His red eyes wavered unsteadily. Seeing Diana absent from Rodrick’s side, his heart beat ominously.

No. No. No. Please don’t let her get hurt.

“You fool. Hurry and go!”

As Rodrick stood there frozen, Noel cried out frantically with sobs.

“Don’t leave Diana alone!”

He had already turned on his heels before even hearing Noel’s words.

Noel shouted something behind his back, but it didn’t reach his ears.

Only the thought that he had to return to her dominated his entire body.

The anxious feelings gradually began to fuel his madness. An ominous premonition instinctively sensed danger.

‘Don’t let go. Stay close by my side like this. Don’t go anywhere.’

Her voice scattered futilely, following the swiftly passing scenery.

He had become unable to keep the promise he made just a few hours ago.

He gnashed his teeth to the point of drawing blood. Praying that she was safe, he tore through the pitch-black darkness at an unbelievably fast speed.

[This is the timeline separator] [Descendant. Angela’s descendant! Diana Beatus! Wake up.]

Perhaps she was too deep in slumber. Even at Levant’s shouts, she didn’t wake up.

Slap slap – The shrunken spirit urgently slapped Diana’s cheeks.

Only then did her trembling eyelashes faintly open.

Blinking blankly, she frowned at the skin-colored scenery filling her vision.

“What the……”

Her voice didn’t come out well, her throat hoarse.

“Hmm.”

Diana flinched as an old man’s face approached right up to her nose. Vivid eyes glimmered beneath droopy, wrinkled eyelids.

Wh-who?! Diana’s pink eyes widened in shock.

“Hoho. They’re definitely pink eyes.”

Diana’s eyes swiftly surveyed her surroundings.

Rodrick was absent.

She quickly pulled the blanket up, wary of the unfamiliar old man.

“W-who are you?”

[Diana. Quickly run away.]

‘What? No, it’s impossible right now since I’m not wearing anything!’

[Is that more important than your life?!]

Leaning on a long staff as he stood, the old man twitched his eyebrows.

“You have quite the peculiar thing. It’s noisy, so I’ll have to stop it for a bit.”

The old man raised the pointed end of his staff and poked her fourth finger.

The tip of the staff touched precisely the sapphire ring she was wearing.

[What, how! Diana, run aw-!]

The ring, enveloped in magic power, fell silent. The small spirit vanished as if scattering.

She was someone who had been trained since childhood to prepare for emergencies. She calmly assessed her surroundings. There was nothing nearby that could be used as a weapon.

Having quickly assessed the situation, Diana tried to flee with the blanket wrapped around her. However, the old man’s staff was faster.

“Tsk tsk. How unseemly. Where are you going in that state, young lady?”

Thud – The staff, which vibrated as if shaking the ground, instantly changed the clothes on her body.

Now perfectly dressed in outdoor attire, she stopped in the posture of running away and looked at the old man.

A hunched back, a face full of wrinkles, and a hooked nose. It was the typical appearance of a witch from fairy tales.

Even the staff had a crooked, bent head, the kind witches would carry around.

It’s not just like a witch, it’s a real witch? Diana, exposed to the magic the old man had just performed, gulped dryly.

Weren’t magic users rare beings in this place? Who is this old woman, just like Noel?

“Looks like you have a lot to say.”

The old man grinned unpleasantly.

“Who are you? I didn’t get an answer. What did you do to Rodrick?”

As the old man approached while leaning on the staff, Diana took steps back towards the cave entrance.

“First of all, don’t call me grandmother.”

The rough voice dropped chillingly. Seeing the sensitivity to the word ‘grandmother’, it seemed she had touched upon something she shouldn’t have.

“That man who was with you? Since he had a magic stone that alerts of danger, I temporarily drove him away.”

“……”

Why? Diana furrowed her brows. She couldn’t understand the old man’s motive.

Seeing as her neck wasn’t being taken right away, it didn’t seem like there was an intention to kill.

“I was in a deep slumber for a very brief moment and woke up, you see, child.”

The old man began an abrupt story without even revealing her identity.

“Perhaps because I didn’t wake up of my own accord, my mood is foul.”

Step. Each step the old man took towards her, Diana retreated a step.

“As I carefully read the magic power, I discovered something strange.”

“……”

“It seems as though time has been turned back.”

Her heart sank heavily. It was a fact only she knew.

“I came to check, and…”

Because she had died and come back to life.

“It’s you.”

A chill ran down her spine.

The old man, who read her subtle change in expression in an instant, grinned.

Behind her was the hot spring water. The old man’s eyes flashed, and with a light tap of the large staff, she was pushed.

Her body, frozen by magic, toppled over into the hot spring with a splash, unable to resist.