Time Healer Ceres

“The Master of the Forest?”

Fear filled the elderly maid’s eyes. If she hadn’t heard the old stories from her grandmother, she would never have known what that strange cry belonged to.

There was a legend that the Forest of Ice Trees had a master who ruled over it. They said no one, whether human or monster, could survive there after angering its master.

“It rarely cries out like that...”

Was this the second time she had heard that cry? The memory of the first time came back to her vividly.

It was a terrible day at the Grand Duke’s residence.

That was why she remembered it so clearly. It was the day something strange happened to Lady Grace’s remains, which had been preserved at the residence. Her body suddenly crumbled away like smoke and vanished.

Back then, everyone held their breath, as though they had been affected by the dark and oppressive aura coming from the Grand Duke.

Woooooo—

After that, they heard the sorrowful cry coming from the Forest of Ice Trees. She could still remember how everyone was shaken by the sound that broke the silence of the residence.

Why is it crying like that again?

Has something happened in the Forest of Ice Trees? The elderly maid listened closely, a strange feeling settling over her.

Hmm... Maybe it’s just my imagination.

She tilted her head while looking toward the snow-covered forest.

At that time, it sounded so sad.

Even though the monster’s cry had frightened her, she couldn’t help but sense a strange sorrow within it. It sounded like the cry of a beast that had lost its mother. She had thought the gloomy atmosphere of the Grand Duke’s residence might have influenced her perception.

But today...

How should she put it? It almost sounded excited. If she told anyone else, they would probably think she was crazy. But after spending so many years working as a maid, she had learned to read people’s emotions through their voices.

And now, she could sense that same feeling from the monster’s cry.

“Ah, it’s quiet now.”

“Wow, that gave me chills.”

“Me too!”

Only after some time did the Forest of Ice Trees finally fall silent. Everyone loosened their tense bodies and sighed in relief together, as if they had planned it

“By the way...”

Just as everyone began chatting cheerfully again, Yuness carefully spoke up.

“There’s something I’d like to ask.”

When everyone turned their attention toward her, she smiled awkwardly, looking a bit embarrassed.

“I’m looking for something.”

“Something you’re looking for? What is it?”

“Feel free to ask us anything!”

At their enthusiastic response, she smiled before explaining what she was searching for.

***

Awooooo—

“...A wolf?”

Ceres, who had been walking through the snow-covered garden, stopped at the strange cry echoing from afar.

“The Forest of Ice Trees.”

The moment she realized where the sound was coming from, Ceres frowned. Anything that cried out from there was no ordinary monster.

The cry sounded just like a wolf, though. Was it a wolf-type monster?

“Why is that thing crying like that?”

It’s only scaring everyone nearby. It’s not like anyone wants to hear it.

“Big sister, what’s that sound?”

Julia, who had been playing in the snow with Airien and Sooty, came running over with wide eyes.

“A monster throwing a fit. Don’t worry about it. Go back and play.”

“Okay!”

The child looked a little frightened at first, but Ceres’s words quickly brought back her bright smile.

“Tell me if you get cold.”

Nod!

Looking excited again, the little girl ran back toward the snow.

This must be her first time.

Julia had been sent to a recuperation house when she was very young, so she never had the chance to play in the snow before. Understanding how she felt, Ceres didn’t stop her.

Because the weather was quite cold, she was a bit worried about Julia’s health. However, letting her enjoy herself for a little while wouldn’t hurt.

“......”

As Ceres watched the three children happily playing in the snow, she fell into another train of thought.

The situation was so urgent when we left the Empire.

Yet after arriving at the Principality of Persia, everything was strangely peaceful. Ceres knew it was all thanks to Saintess Yuness, who had brought the epidemic to an end.

Who is she?

It was a question that kept crossing her mind ever since she first saw her.

Yuness, the woman known as the Saintess. As soon as Ceres saw her, she doubted her own eyes.

Because “I” was standing right there.

It was such a strange feeling. Seeing someone with her face smiling as she called out to Kainel felt unsettling. When she saw Kainel unable to look away from Yuness, she felt a dull ache in her chest.

Well...

She looked exactly like Grace, after all. It was only natural that Kai couldn’t easily turn away from her.

Kainel, who had protected Grace’s body for three hundred years. And Yuness, who appeared after that body disappeared.

“Ah, whatever.”

He would figure it out himself. Like she had told him, this wasn’t something anyone else should interfere in. It was something only Kainel could decide.

Even if he ends up believing that woman is Grace...

Still, anyone could see it. That face was Grace’s.

“But you do trust that idiot Kai, don’t you?”

Ceres could hear Artia clicking his tongue. It felt like he was mocking her for worrying over something so pointless, saying, “Why are you worrying when he already believes you’re Grace?”

...I don’t know.

No matter what evidence was placed before him, Kai would only believe the conclusion he had reached himself. If he decided that woman was truly Grace, then everything she had shown him until now would become meaningless.

That includes Artia’s letter.

He would think it was fake.

After all, this was about Grace. If anything involved Grace, Kai would be even more unwilling to accept it at face value.

Whoosh.

“...It’s cold.”

As expected, this place had plenty of problems, but the cold was the worst of them all. Wasn’t yesterday supposed to be the coldest day of the year?

“But today feels even colder.”

Does that mean tomorrow will become the coldest day instead?

[Pii!]

[Bbu!]

Airien and Sooty, who had been playing in the snow, shivered at the fierce wind and ran over to cling to Ceres’s legs.

“You two get cold too?”

A fairy and an S-rank monster were bothered by the cold? That made no sense.

Ceres stared at them in disbelief.

Airien, seemingly unable to endure it any longer, hopped away. She stomped the ground a few times, clearly dissatisfied with the snow-covered garden and biting wind, then crossed her arms.

[Piiii—]

A long cry soon came from Airien.

“Hey, wait...!”

Ceres immediately realized what Airien was about to do and tried to stop her. But...

Whoosh!

She was too late.

“......”

Ceres slowly looked around with her mouth slightly open. The garden that had been covered in nothing but white snow...

“...Flowers bloomed.”

She could only stare as pink buds burst open, sending flower petals drifting through the air.

[Pii!]

Ceres pressed her forehead as she watched the baby rabbit nod proudly, looking completely satisfied.

Even for you, this is a little too much.

What am I supposed to do now?

What was she going to do about this flower path? How could she explain this strange phenomenon to everyone?

Imagining the crowd of people who would gather around her with endless questions, Ceres rubbed her aching brow.

...Right. There’s only one way.

After glancing around and confirming there was no one nearby, Ceres grabbed Julia’s hand.

Run.

Once Ceres made up her mind, she had to act quickly. She immediately turned to leave.

Or rather, she tried to.

“What is this...?”

She would’ve gotten away if she hadn’t run into someone entering the garden at that exact moment.

“Flowers?”

The person staring at the flower garden in shock was Roel, the butler. As soon as he appeared, Ceres’s eyes darted around.

Why did someone have to show up right now of all times? Her luck really was terrible.

Now that she had been caught trying to escape, there was only one thing left to do.

Shuffle.

[Pii?]

Airien tilted her head in confusion as Ceres suddenly moved a few steps away from her.

“It was her.”

Ceres, now standing apart from Airien, pointed at the baby rabbit.

“She did it.”

[P-Pii?]

M-Master?

Ceres avoided Airien’s shocked gaze and took another step back, making it clear she wanted no part in this.

[Bu! Buu!]

That’s right! It was her!

“Why did you do that, Airien?”

Shuffle.

Sooty and Julia also quietly moved to Ceres’s side.

Seeing the three of them abandon her without hesitation, Airien turned to look at Roel.

[Pii.....]

The baby rabbit stared at him pitifully before flopping onto the ground.

[Pii... Pii...]

Airien cried miserably, as if she were a criminal tearfully admitting her crime.

Roel could only stare in a daze at the scene before him, trying to make sense of what was happening.

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