“There are only boards that have already been lost and started anew. And the abandoned board may look like the future, but it’s actually the past. You just don’t realize it, as it’s the time that has already passed.”

While Uvia spoke, the world slowly brightened. Ivy was back on that hill.

“A person who appears to have defied time has cheated. By making the connection with the world and oneself loose.”

Contemplating those words, Ivy stared blankly at the boy-like Uvia who had returned.

“Then can it be two?”

“Two?”
“Can two people who are divided into the time before turning back and the turned-back time never meet each other?”

“That’s something you shouldn’t do.”

It’s not impossible, but it’s something you shouldn’t do. At Uvia’s meaningful words, when Ivy stared at him intently, Uvia muttered with a dark expression.

“When the flow of time is restored throughout the world, you can remain alone in the appearance of a different time. It’s a small deviation. But becoming two is an entirely different matter. To do that, you have to abandon even yourself and be alone. It’s eternal separation.”

Uvia’s voice was heavy. So, once again, Ivy felt her chest sink.

“You have severed all connections with everything in this world, even with yourself. It’s more pitiful than death. You become a stranger to the entire world, and the world doesn’t recognize such existence.”

“If it doesn’t recognize… what happens?”

“It will be eradicated as soon as it’s discovered.”

Ivy secretly bit her lip at Uvia’s assertion.

The astrologer with a covered face. He never took off his robe even when he was alone.

—Have you seen the face of the young man, my lord?

But when Ivy asked a few days ago, the Earl nodded.

—I might be a little late. So someone else will come instead. That person will come and explain everything then.

And before leaving, the astrologer said one last thing.

Ivy tried not to show her discomfort, but her breath felt constrained.

“I see.”

She forced out this one word and casually nodded. Then, with a determined face, she asked Uvia again.

“How long will you stay here? If you’re going to stay longer, I’ll go down first.”

Instead of answering, Uvia quietly looked at Ivy. Then, calmly, he added.

“Who would do that?”

“Yeah, there’s someone suspicious.”

“Who?”

“The person who saved and took care of me.”

In a moment of spontaneity, Ivy answered and bit her lip, smiling. It wasn’t something she couldn’t say, but it felt awkward.

So, as Ivy was about to leave her seat, Uvia mumbled again.

“Impressive.”

With that one word, as Ivy hesitated, Uvia added in a small voice.

“You abandoned everything and met me.”

Ivy felt extremely uneasy at Uvia’s words. So, almost unknowingly, she denied it.

“It’s not accurate yet.”

“Then which side do you prefer?”

“Huh?”

Ivy didn’t want to keep dragging this topic.

However, for some reason, she couldn’t firmly reject Uvia’s approach like she did to Dias earlier. It felt too gentle, pushing her without her realizing.

“If that person has come across time, wouldn’t it be nice?”

“I don’t know.”

Not knowing, Ivy sighed at her own answer.

The organization was already done, and she knew the correct answer. Therefore, Ivy should have just said she didn’t care.

But Ivy, who was under the curse to always tell the truth, couldn’t say anything at all.

While Ivy was feeling awkward, Uvia spoke again.
“If you don’t know, try answering. After all, you’re under a surprisingly convenient curse.”

“Convenient?”

The idea that this curse could be convenient was an unexpected perspective.

As Ivy made a bewildered expression, Uvia suddenly asked.

“Why did you answer that you don’t know?”

“Because it can be both good and bad.”

“What’s good about it?”

“It’s good if you’re an important person to me. It’s good if you haven’t left me, and it’s good if I haven’t clung to you like a fool.”

“Then what’s bad?”

“I’m afraid that you might have suffered because of me.”

The suppressed feelings in Ivy’s heart flowed out smoothly as words. So, Ivy stiffened.

When the chaos, which she didn’t want to peer into, unraveled into concise language, her muddled feelings, stained with insensitivity, felt relieved and empty, as if they had turned cold.

Ivy wanted to become a strong person. She thought she had to stand on her own to achieve that. She realized that hiding behind others’ curtains wouldn’t help her conquer this harsh world. So, she decided not to expect anything. She resolved not to become weaker.

However, contrary to such determination, Ivy still missed the world that had been affectionate to her.

Surprised by her own answer, Ivy was asked again by Uvia.

“So, what do you want now?”

“I want to meet again if it’s possible.”

Ivy’s sincerity, brought to light by the curse, was simple. So Ivy couldn’t endure it anymore and buried her face in her hands.

As Ivy tried not to cry, her face turned red, and Uvia reached out to her. Then, the girl, taller than Ivy, gently patted her head.

“Yearning and wanting to meet are connected, so it’s possible.”

Uvia’s words were still puzzling.

“Fortunately, you are connected to the world.”

Still, it was somewhat comforting.

At that moment, Uvia had a faint smile on his always expressionless lips.

Fortunately, she didn’t cry.

She almost cried, but Ivy desperately swallowed and dried her tears. She barely preserved her pride. Of course, Ivy’s solo dignity was of no interest to Uvia.

After relieving the heat on her face with difficulty, Ivy glanced awkwardly at Uvia.

He was unusual from their first meeting, but the more she knew, the stranger this boy became.

“…How did you get to know Dias?”

Ivy became curious about this boy. So, she cautiously asked, and Uvia answered with his usual expressionless face.

“Dias is my benefactor.”

“Benefactor?”

Did that dog rescue someone and have the chance to do that?

When Ivy asked hesitantly, Uvia nodded confidently.

“Yeah, he came to kill but spared me.”

Uvia casually said an amazing thing. So, Ivy’s eyes widened.

“So, he’s a benefactor.”

Ivy, not knowing if he was kind or foolish, pointed her finger at Uvia without realizing.

With that blatant reproach, Ivy asked.

“Was that you?”