Time Healer Ceres

Ceres’s eyes widened as she watched Aseraian calmly pull out his pocket watch to check the time, looking as unhurried as ever.

“Everyone, stop!”

Whoosh!

At Ceres’s cry, the forces raging through the auction hall vanished in an instant.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Ceres immediately moved. As the Crown Prince had said, getting caught by the soldiers now would only make things complicated.

Of course, there would probably be no problem if they explained why they were here... But why risk being mistaken for someone who used this illegal auction house, or even one of its members?

“Airien, that’s enough.”

Ceres hurried toward the boy wearing Artia’s ring. When the fight between Kainel and the three dukes broke out moments earlier, she had sent Airien to protect him.

A field of flowers had already bloomed around the boy ro form a protective barrier.

“......”

The boy’s blank face briefly faltered as he took in the strange sight around him. He was fascinated by the little rabbit kicking away the pieces of the building falling from above.

Airien’s flower barrier was enough to keep out monsters, demonic energy, and the magic power pouring from the two dukes and Kainel.

But...

Rustle, rustle.

[Pii!]

Whack!

It did nothing against physical force. Airien had to kick away every debris that came flying toward the boy.

“Kid, come with me. We need to get out.”

“......”

The boy simply stared at Ceres. He seemed completely unaware of how urgent the situation was and made no move to follow her.

Ceres sighed and took his hand.

“We have to go.”

Ceres gave his hand a firm tug and started walking. Only then did the boy reluctantly follow behind her in small steps.

[Pii!]

Airien hopped after them.

“......”

The boy stared at Ceres again, his gaze slowly drifting down to their joined hands. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the hand that held his so gently, careful not to hurt him.

.

.

.

Chapter 52: What’s Your Name?

“Um...”

“Dear...”

“Hmm...”

“......”

Duke Nora, Duchess Elkein, Duke Schweiss, and Kainel sat side by side, their knees neatly pressed together. With Ceres glaring at them, none of them dared move.

“Why don’t you fight here too?”

After escaping the auction house, the group headed to Ceres’s home. Now, everyone was too busy avoiding her sharp gaze.

“It’s not my fault. I didn’t attack first...”

“Want a camera?”

Kainel, who had been protesting that he was innocent, immediately shut his mouth at the mention of a camera. He suddenly had a horrible feeling he might have to do what he had done with Cheion all over again, this time with the three dukes.

“I told you not to hurt my parents’ friends, didn’t I?”

“Well, I don’t quite remember...”

Crackle.

“...I do.”

Kainel swallowed as he watched a cookie on the table crumble to dust in Ceres’s hand. He really needed to be careful. He might end up having to take those three outside with a camera again.

“Ceres...”

Meanwhile, the three dukes’ eyes grew misty. Ceres had called them her parents’ friends and even told Kainel not to hurt them. How could they not be touched?

“The three of you, too.”

“Huh?”

But the three dukes flinched again at Ceres’s next words.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Kai isn’t a bad person, so stop picking fights with him.”

...Kai? She had a nickname for him? Since when?

...They really didn’t like that guy.

Crackle.

“......”

“.....”

“.....”

When another cookie crumbled to the floor, the three dukes quickly looked away from Kainel.

“We just... thought you wanted that ring.”

“Exactly.”

How could they just sit back and watch? Ceres didn’t have the money to buy the ring, and it looked like she was about to borrow from the Grand Duke of Persia again. Naturally, they had to step in. That was why they joined the bidding, only for everything to go completely sideways.

“See what happens when you don’t listen, Rose.”

“......What?”

“I told you to hold back.”

“You were the one who said—”

“Do you really think you should be throwing your power around like that?”

“She’s always been a little impatient.”

“...Hey.”

Duchess Elkein stared at Duke Nora and Duke Schweiss in disbelief.

These two are at it again! They always gang up on me like this!

“You two, seriously...!”

“Again, Rose? You really need to work on your patience.”

“Hey!”

“That’s what a good duchess does.”

“You assh*le—”

“Now, now. Watch your language. Surely you’re not about to swear in front of our Ceres, are you?”

“......”

“I wonder how you ended up with water magic instead of fire. With that temper of yours, you seem much more suited to fire.”

Duke Nora smiled as he soothed Elkein, though his words were clearly meant to tease her, while Duke Schweiss quietly joined in. Elkein felt her blood pressure rising and grabbed the back of her neck in frustration.

Oh, for crying out loud. I can’t exactly lose my temper and start swearing in front of Ceres! Just you two wait. I’ll deal with you later!

“So, what are you going to do about the child?”

Duke Nora quickly changed the subject before Elkein could get any more worked up.

“Well...”

Ceres picked up Sooty from beneath the table, where he had been happily gobbling up cookie crumbs. When did he even get here?

[Bbu?]

Suddenly lifted into the air, Sooty shot her a cheeky look as if asking why she was stopping him. Ceres couldn’t understand why he became so obsessed with cookies lately. He used to eat nothing but cake.

Tap.

You shouldn’t eat things off the floor. Ceres lightly tapped Sooty on the nose.

“I’ll ask the child what he want first.”

[Bu! Buuu!]

Sooty grabbed Ceres’s hair and bit it. Ceres caught him again and soothed him with a small sigh.

She had just realized that, even after returning from the auction house, she still hadn’t heard the child speak a single word.

***

“What’s your name?”

“......”

“I’m Julia. I’m seven years old. How old are you?”

“......”

“Can’t you talk? Do you know how to write?”

“.....”

Julia kept asking questions, but the boy never said a word. He sat quietly in his chair while staring down at the floor.

“If you don’t know, I can teach you. I know how to write all the letters.”

“......”

“This is what you use to write. You hold it like this...”

Smack!

When Julia reached for his hand to put the pen in it, the boy reacted for the first time. He quickly pulled his hand away and glared at her.

“Ouch...”

[Pii, pii?]

Airien, who had been keeping Julia company at Ceres’s request, hopped around anxiously as if asking if she was all right. Julia stared wide-eyed at the boy, more surprised by his sudden reaction than by the pain in her hand.

“......”

But the boy acted like nothing had happened. He lowered his head again and went back to staring at the floor.

Smack!

“—!”

This time, the boy looked up when a small hand smacked him hard on the back of the head.

“Why are you getting mad?”

“.......?”

“Why are you getting mad at me? I didn’t do anything to you!”

Julia put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“You’re only supposed to get mad at people who did something wrong! You did something wrong to me, so I’m mad at you!”

“......”

The boy rubbed the back of his head and stared blankly at Julia.

“Hmph. Come on, Airien.”

[Pii!]

Julia turned away with a huff and quickly left the room. Airien hopped after her.

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