Time Healer Ceres

I should probably calm Sooty down first and give him a snack.

Swish.

[.....]

Just then, Whitey, who had been resting nearby, came over and gently wrapped his long, fluffy tail around Sooty.

[Buu~]

Sooty immediately clung to his tail, his gloom disappearing in an instant.

...What a simple little guy.

Ceres smiled at the sight, then glanced back at the Tamer Relic bracelet, remembering someone else who loved Whitey’s tail just as much as Sooty did.

“But you two.”

“Yes?”

“Me?”

Ceres suddenly realized something {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} and gave them both an incredulous look.

“Why did you come to me?”

Herion, if there was a problem with the family head’s ring, shouldn’t you have dealt with it yourself?

And Ersi, shouldn’t you have handled this with the people at the Temple?

“What do you expect me to do?”

Why are you both running to me first thing in the morning?

“Lord Jubelios told me to come straight to you if anything happened, Lady Ceres...”

“Of course I came to you, Master. You can fix anything.”

“......”

...Maybe I taught these two a little too well.

The two of them tilted their heads as if they couldn’t understand why she was asking an obvious question. Ceres could only let out a long sigh.

.

.

.

Chapter 63: The Vanished Abilities

“What?”

“Oh, dear. You don’t have to look so surprised.”

“Exactly. It’s hardly a big deal.”

...But it is a big deal.

Ceres could only gape at the three dukes sitting there with such calm, unconcerned expressions. Her mind was still reeling from what they had just said.

Their abilities are gone.

The three dukes had lost their unique abilities to control water, wind, and earth. The very powers that had protected their families—no, the Empire for generations had suddenly disappeared.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to use a shovel when I farm now.”

“Watering the crops will be a pain, too.”

“At least you two won’t be pestering me to make the wind blow whenever it gets hot anymore.”

...Why does everyone seem relieved? Isn’t this something we should be worried about? Am I the only one taking this seriously?

“Are you all right?”

At Ceres’s worried question, the three dukes’ eyes widened before they all broke into amused smiles.

“Why so worried~?”

“Is my girl worried about her auntie?”

“.....”

Pat, pat.

Duke Nora and Duchess Elkein smiled fondly, while Duke Schweiss patted Ceres on the shoulder.

“Just because we’ve lost those powers doesn’t mean we’ll be pushed around by anyone. Our Ceres must have thought this old man was pretty weak.”

Seeing Duke Nora playfully dab at the corner of his eye as though he were hurt, Ceres finally relaxed her worried expression.

I suppose he’s right.

The three ducal families were considered the greatest houses in the Empire for more than just their unique abilities. Those powers were certainly an important part of their reputation, but they weren’t the only reason.

They were the families known as the Swords of the Empire, alongside House Ellesia.

The three ducal families were sword clans as well. Unlike House Ellesia, which had lost its swordsmanship, they still possessed formidable skills with the blade.

Is this also related to the Holy Spring being contaminated?

When Ceres wondered why the three dukes’ abilities had disappeared, she naturally thought of the Holy Spring. It was just like how the power of the Tamer Relic had vanished all of sudden.

The Holy Spring.

Even when she was Grace, she never paid much attention to that place. She only thought of it as the place where Tamer Relics were examined.

I never thought it had anything to do with me.

After all, Jubelios, the one within the family head’s ring, wasn’t a Tamer Relic she had awakened herself. Elliet also became bound to her on its own, so Ceres never had any connection to the Holy Spring.

And yet...

The dukes’ abilities were connected to the spring too? Why? Are their powers related to Tamer Relics?

“Ah...”

...Wait a minute!

Ceres suddenly sprang to her feet as a thought struck her.

“Ceres?”

“What is it?”

The three dukes stared at Ceres in confusion as she abruptly stood up. But when they heard her answer, all three let out a long sigh at once.

“I need to go see Grand Duke Persia.”

Leaving the three dukes behind, Ceres hurried outside, her steps quickening with every moment.

“...Has anyone ever seen Ceres look that flustered before?”

“She didn’t even go that pale when she heard Beibei was injured.”

“.....”

“......”

Grand Duke Persia. He’s really an annoying man.

***

“Haa...”

“Are you all right?”

Concern filled Del’s eyes as he looked at Kainel sitting in his office. Kainel had been looking unwell since this morning.

This has never happened before.

Del was very worried. He had served Kainel for a long time, but he had never seen him look this exhausted.

Lord Kainel is actually sick?

If word of this reached the Grand Duke’s household, everyone would surely laugh and call it nonsense.

There was a reason people called him the Monster of the North. Was it simply because he had lived for three hundred years?

No.

It was because he had never shown the slightest sign of aging or physical change in all those years. In fact, he had never even caught a common cold.

“Perhaps we should call a healer...”

“...Forget it.”

“You have a high fever.”

Del knew how much Kainel hated being touched, so he didn’t dare examine him himself. Even so, he could feel the intense heat radiating from Kainel just by standing nearby.

A fever...

The Grand Duke of Persia had a fever?

The heirs of House Persia inherited an icy elemental power that kept their body temperatures exceptionally low. It was no wonder people said they could feel a chill just by approaching him.

Yet now, Kainel was radiating heat from head to toe. How could Del not be worried?

We don’t even know what’s causing it.

Del had suggested calling a healer, but he honestly doubted one could find the cause. Who could properly diagnose someone whose constitution was so different from everyone else’s?

“You should get some rest.”

Del wished Kainel would go to his room and get some proper rest. Instead, he had come to his office and was working as usual.

“You said these matters were urgent.”

“They are, but...”

You should be taking care of yourself first. I can handle the urgent matters for now, so you don’t need to push yourself this hard!

“Enough. Go back to work.”

Del sighed at Kainel’s blunt dismissal. In the end, he had no choice but to leave. There was no getting through to that stubborn man.

Click!

“—!”

Del was just opening the office door when he stopped short. Someone was standing outside with a hand raised, apparently about to knock. As soon as Del recognized her, a bright smile spread across his face.

“Miss Ceres! I’m so glad you’re here!”

“......?”

Ceres looked puzzled by Del’s enthusiastic welcome.

“Please, come in.”

Del quickly took her hand and ushered her into the office. Ceres barely had time to react.

But the moment she saw Kainel’s condition, she understood why Del had been so eager to let her in.

“Haa.”

With a quiet sigh, she approached Kainel. He was looking at her with a slightly dazed expression, so unlike his usual self.

Ceres placed a hand against his forehead. Her brows drew together slightly.

He was burning up.

I knew it.

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