Time Healer Ceres

There were plenty of people seeking resources found only in the Principality, along with those eager to establish new businesses there. Even so, they couldn’t accept everyone who came knocking.

Knowing that Grand Duke Persia never tolerated even the slightest misstep, his vassals were extremely careful with the reports they submitted. They thoroughly screened the contracts, selecting only those that offered exactly what the Principality needed.

“.......”

Tension slowly crept across the vassals’ faces as they watched Kainel silently review the documents. Depending on his decision, the northern gates could be firmly shut once again.

Not another long years....

Please, anything but that!

Still, none of them dared to object openly. Their fathers had drilled one rule into them from childhood: never go against the Grand Duke’s will.

It was the one thing they had heard most often from their fathers and grandfathers throughout their lives.

Gulp.

When Kainel finished reading and set the documents down, the vassals found themselves swallowing nervously.

“Proceed as planned.”

“Yes.”

Whew.

His simple reply drew a long sigh of relief from everyone in the room.

They didn’t know what had caused the change in his mood, but the vassals were delighted that he had grown attached to the capital and no longer shut himself away in the Grand Duke’s residence.

Flash!

“—!”

Just then, several figures appeared in one corner of the office. Someone seemed to have used a teleportation scroll.

Who dares?!

They had actually used a teleportation scroll to enter the Grand Duke’s office!

The vassals were stunned and outraged beyond words.

“Wow, this is my first time using a teleportation scroll!”

“I’ve used one a few times!”

“C-can I come too?”

“Yeah! Uncle said I could bring my friends.”

...Kids?

The vassals had been bracing themselves for whoever might appear, only to find a group of children standing there. Who were they? Did someone enter the wrong coordinates for the teleportation scroll?

Just as everyone was wondering what to do—

“Uncle!”

...Uncle?

One of the children called out to Grand Duke Persia casually. Everyone present was left speechless.

The child came running over and grabbed Kainel’s hand. It was none other than Julia.

“I brought my friends today. Is that okay?”

Kainel gently patted the child’s head. The sight left everyone even more shocked. What on earth were they looking at?

“You may all leave for today.”

“Ah... yes.”

At Kainel’s command, the vassals hurried out of the office, still casting astonished glances at the child who clung happily to his hand.

“Del.”

“Yes. I’ll have some refreshments prepared right away.”

A faint smile crossed Del’s face as he quickly left the office. This situation was nothing new to him. With two extra children here today, he’d have to prepare a little more than usual.

[Bbu!]

...Actually, he’d need to prepare a lot more.

Sooty suddenly popped out of Julia’s shadow and cried out loudly, demanding that snacks be brought at once.

Ever since Julia was kidnapped in the Principality of Persia, Ceres had made sure Sooty stayed with her whenever Ceres wasn’t around. She couldn’t risk anything happening to the child again.

“I’m Christine.”

“I-I’m Jailo.”

The two children who had come with Julia also introduced themselves to Kainel.

“...A boy?”

“H-huh?”

“Hmm.”

Jailo looked bewildered under Kainel’s sharp gaze.

“Uncle, my sister said she’d come home early today. So we can only play for about an hour.”

Julia’s visits to Kainel were a secret from Ceres. Only the butler, Colin, knew about them. Kainel had given Julia teleportation scrolls with the coordinates to his office and told her she could come over to play.

“It’s a secret from my sister! She said I shouldn’t bother you, Uncle. Colin promised to keep it a secret, too!”

Of course, Colin had planned to tell Ceres, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse Julia’s earnest request. After all, she only wanted to come play with Grand Duke Persia once or twice a week, for just two or three hours. How could he refuse? He had agreed to keep it a secret for the time being.

“I see.”

“Are you really not bothered when I come over?”

There was genuine concern in Julia’s question, but instead of answering, Kainel gently patted her head again.

“Uncle! Ice! Make some ice!”

Julia giggled and immediately began pestering Kainel to play with her. She had brought Christine and Jailo along today so she could show off how amazing her Uncle was.

Flash!

“Uncle, over here, too!”

Flash!

“Wow!”

“Over there, too! And there!”

Flash!

“Whoa!”

“Hehe! My uncle is so cool, isn’t he?”

“Yeah! He’s really cool!”

A short while later, Del returned to the office with the snacks. He paused to watch the ice flying around the room before setting the food down on the table.

[Buu~]

The moment he put the snacks down, Sooty rushed over as if he’d been waiting. Del watched him for a moment, then glanced around the room again.

It’s going to take forever to clean this up again.

“Uncle, over here too!”

Flash!

For a while afterward, Del watched with a fond smile as Kainel played with the children.

***

“You’re home late today, Christine.”

“Were you playing with Julia again?”

“Yes.”

Count and Countess Lucia warmly welcomed their daughter home from the academy. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) They were more than happy to see her growing friendship with Julia.

So Julia’s older sister is the owner of a Tamer Relic!

They had only recently learned that Lady Ceres, Julia’s older sister, was the owner of a Tamer Relic.

Before they knew that, the Countess had gone to the shop many times to apologize, even going so far as to force gifts on Ceres. Although there were plenty of people watching, that hardly mattered. Getting her forgiveness came first. It was far better than making an enemy of someone who was close to Grand Duke Persia.

Then, after learning that Ceres was the owner of a Tamer Relic, the Countess felt so moved by her own foresight. She had gone to apologize and bow her head before she’d even known the truth.

“What did you do today?”

“I played with Grand Duke Persia!”

“I see, Grand Duke Per— W-what?!”

The Count and Countess Lucia froze as they processed what Christine had just said.

“...W-who did you say you played with?”

“Grand Duke Persia. Do you remember? He came to my school event before, too.”

“......”

Their jaws dropped. She had really spent time with Grand Duke Persia? The very man whom even high-ranking nobles could barely meet in private?

“We had snacks and played with ice. It was really fun.”

“I-Ice?”

Count Lucia could only stare blankly as he repeated his daughter’s words.

“We’re going again next time!”

...Again? The two of them swallowed hard at the same time.

“Christine! What does Julia like?”

“Does she like cake? I’ll go to the capital right away and order the best one for her!”

“Sooty likes cake.”

“Sooty? Who’s that?”

“Anyway, if you need anything, just tell Mother!”

“That’s right! Make sure you stay close with Julia!”

“Okay.”

The couple kept patting their daughter’s head, clearly pleased with her.

***

“Jailo, why are you so late?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was playing with my friends.”

As Jailo entered the orphanage, he spotted the director waiting near the entrance and hurried over to her.

“Try to come home earlier.”

The director, a woman in her early fifties, let out a long sigh and patted Jailo’s head.

“Are you waiting here because of me?”

“Not just you. Anisha hasn’t come back yet, either.”

“Anisha?”

Anisha was a ten-year-old girl who, like Jailo, attended the academy with government support.

“It’s already five o’clock...”

The children usually returned around three, so the fact that Anisha still wasn’t back by five was worrying.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have seemed like a big deal. Like Jailo, she might simply have lost track of time while playing with her friends.

It was only two hours. Yet, the director was so anxious because several children had recently gone missing.

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