Time Healer Ceres

Antonian rubbed his face several times before letting out a long sigh. He massaged the back of his stiff neck.

“Is that black one a Tamer Relic too?”

It was strange from the moment it first came to their house. Antonian had been completely against bringing such a bizarre creature home, but Julia adored it, and Ceres seemed to have a soft spot for it as well. That was why he eventually stopped objecting.

Even so, he still felt dumbfounded whenever he saw it kick away every cake they made at home, or even the cheap ones they bought.

But now that he thought about it, was that thing actually a Tamer Relic too?

“No, he’s just a freeloader.”

[Bbu!]

Sooty had been too busy defending his cake from Airien to pay attention, yet somehow, he caught that one word and immediately cried out in protest.

In the meantime, Airien quickly plucked the fruit from the cake Sooty was holding and popped it into its mouth.

[—! Bbuuuu!]

Sooty trembled with anger, flapped his wings, and charged at Airien with his mouth wide open.

[Piiiii!]

Smack!

Airien instantly leaped up and kicked him in the face. Sooty whined miserably and burst into tears, but that didn’t stop him from flying back up and charging at Airien again.

“Enough.”

Ceres clicked her tongue and grabbed the two of them with both hands, pulling them apart.

“Airien, why do you keep taking Sooty’s cake when you already have your own?”

[Pii....]

Airien’s ears drooped sadly, while Sooty looked pleased with himself, as if he had won.

“And you, Sooty.”

[Bbu?]

“You don’t even eat the fruit on top of your cake. Why are you making a big fuss when Airien just takes a little?”

[Bbu! Bbuuu!]

Sooty cried out in protest again, as if insisting that it was unfair. When he grabbed onto Ceres’s hair and refused to let go, she pulled him down and set him aside. After cutting off another piece of the remaining cake, she handed it to him.

[Bbuu~]

Sooty hugged the cake tightly, guarding it with all his might. He started making happy noises with a satisfied grin, completely forgot he had been crying just moments ago.

“...These are supposed to be Tamer Relics.”

“I told you, he’s not.”

Antonian could only look on in disbelief as Airien once again eyed the fruit on top of Sooty’s cake, while Sooty clung to it with his entire body.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Do about what?”

“Since it’s a Tamer Relic, doesn’t that mean you’re going to be extremely busy from now on?”

Although Antonian didn’t know much about them, he was well aware that Tamer Relics were incredibly precious. He could tell just by seeing how the students acted earlier.

Even Iron from Group A, who was always looking for an excuse to pick a fight with him, had been watching him carefully with an awkward smile. The whole thing had been unsettling.

“Not really.”

“Not really?”

Seeing Antonian look puzzled, Ceres pointed toward the baby rabbit.

“You were just saying it yourself. You couldn’t believe something like that was a Tamer Relic. Don’t you think others would feel the same way? As far as anyone knows, that thing’s only ability is making flowers bloom.”

...Of course, the rabbit has other abilities too. But the only one it showed in the underground space was making flowers bloom. Everyone probably thinks that’s all it can do.

“Maybe that’s why no one is really trying to find it.”

Besides, the Imperial Family had been working hard to suppress the rumors. Though it seemed the news had eventually spread all the way into the Academy.

That’s how rumors work. The more you try to stop them, the faster they spread.

Knock, knock.

A moment later, Butler Colin entered the room.

“Milady.”

“What is it?”

Ceres looked at him in surprise. Colin seemed flustered, unlike his usual composed self.

“Someone from the palace has arrived.”

“...The palace?”

“Yes. H-His Majesty has sent them.”

“......”

Ceres narrowed her eyes before turning her head to look at the shocked Antonian.

“...Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I feel like I got bad luck because of you.”

You had to say something about me getting busy, and now this happens!

“Wow... I really can’t believe this.”

After giving Antonian one last glare, Ceres followed Colin outside with an uneasy feeling.

***

“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty.”

“Haha, even when I told you I wanted to see you, you kept refusing to come. Now, I finally get to see that precious face of yours.”

Duke Nora, the head of the Southern Region, laughed cheerfully before lowering his head.

“If you keep calling someone as busy as I am away from his fields, the people of the Empire will end up starving.”

The Southern Region was a vast agricultural area, producing a large portion of the grain consumed throughout the Empire. The person protecting those fields from monster attacks was none other than Duke Nora himself.

“I know, I know. Still, I couldn’t help but feel that we’d been apart for far too long.”

“Which is why I came here today.”

“I’m grateful you finally came after I contacted you ten times just to ask for a meeting.”

“Exactly. I was planning to wait until you reached out around twenty times, but I decided to come a little earlier.”

Emperor Devrica chuckled at Duke Nora’s shameless response. Then, his gaze shifted toward the other person sitting beside Duke Nora, who was quietly drinking tea.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you too.”

“This tea is awful.”

The one who set her teacup down with a deep frown was Duchess Elkein, ruler of the Eastern Region. Clicking her tongue, she gave the Emperor a disapproving look.

“No wonder you’ve gotten so old. You’ve been drinking this tasteless tea every day.”

“Anyone listening to you would think you haven’t aged a day yourself.”

“Oh, but plenty of people still mistake me for someone in my thirties. As for Your Majesty... well, life must be easier for you. No one needs to ask how old you are.”

Emperor Devrica laughed heartily. As always, Duchess Elkein had no intention to filter what came out of her mouth.

“You can’t compare yourself to me. Your bodies don’t age the way ordinary people’s do.”

“You should take better care of yourself. Put something on that face of yours. Or should I send you some of the fine medicinal herbs that only grow in my region?”

“Haha. I’d gladly take them.”

Duke Nora, who was used to her antics, just shook his head. He clapped his hand over Duchess Elkein’s mouth and steered the conversation elsewhere.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”

“It has. Has it really been two years already?”

“It was during Your Highness’s inspection of the Southern Region two years ago.”

Crown Prince Aseraian, who had sipped his tea while listening to the others chat, finally joined the conversation. The last time he had seen Duke Nora was during his inspection tour of the Southern Region two years earlier.

“Didn’t you invite Duke Schweiss?”

“He stopped by a few days ago.”

“Ah, so he came before we did.”

Duke Nora merely nodded, but Duchess Elkein furrowed her brows.

“That man’s always off doing his own thing. What an insufferable j*rk.”

“But if we did everything together, you’d complain about that too.”

“When have I ever?”

“Do you really want me to answer that? You say it every single time.”

“Oh, be quiet. Whose side are you on?”

“Now then, the reason I invited the two of you here today is because there’s something I’d like to ask about him.”

Emperor Devrica smoothly cut back into the conversation.

“What would you like to know?”

“Is there anything about that man I can answer for you?”

Their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

Duke Nora simply smiled, inviting the Emperor to ask whatever he wished, while Duchess Elkein’s frown only deepened. Just hearing Duke Schweiss brought up was enough to sour her mood.

“Your Majesty.”

Just then, a servant entered and bowed respectfully. As soon as he heard the report, Emperor Devrica’s face lit up.

“Has our guest arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She’s just arrived.”

“Show her in at once.”

The servant withdrew. Moments later, someone strode into the room where the four of them were gathered.

“Come in.”

Seeing the Emperor welcome the newcomer warmly, both Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein looked toward the entrance. Their eyes slowly widened.

The person walking toward them after bowing politely was none other than Ceres.

“I’ve been summo—”

Ceres was greeting Emperor Devrica when she noticed who else was in the room. The rest of her words caught in her throat.

“Let me introduce you. This is...”

“Ceres.”

“Mister.”

At Duke Nora’s voice, Ceres greeted him with an easy smile. Of all places, she had never expected to run into him here.

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