Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 135

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 135
I traced the shock in his eyes and lifted the corners of my lips into a smile.
“Surprising, isn’t it? That I’m smiling like this after expressing all that anger just moments ago.”
“….”
“I came from a different point in time. My ability doesn’t rewind time itself—rather, I return to a specific moment I’ve stored.”
It’s absolutely broken, isn’t it?
“I came from a point in time when you were already dead and gone. A time when I couldn’t become family with the people of Papiope like I am now, when I lived as an orphan.”
“…So this place was so unbearable that you went back to that time.”
“Yes, that’s right. I hated being here so much that I ran away. Because there was no one there who knew me.”
I extended my hand to Aiden, who was still on his knees. A gesture telling him to take it and stand.
“But after running away and spending time there, I calmed down a bit.”
At that, Aiden’s eyes, which had been clouded with tears, trembled slightly.
He slowly grasped my hand in return.
“Elysion, the orphan whom Father wanted so desperately to make his son-in-law, was my only friend. And he comforted me so well.”
I pulled Aiden forward with force, and as if entranced, he gathered strength in his legs and rose to his feet.
“So I came back.”
I added a joke about how I should treat your son-in-law well.
But he didn’t laugh.
Still bewildered by the current situation, he couldn’t take his eyes off me.
“Aiden. You had no choice but to entrust me to Uncle because of the Tempus Duchy, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
It wasn’t an emotion that could be defined in a single word.
He could have made a lengthy excuse, but he didn’t.
“Then, if I just kill my maternal grandfather, the Former Duke Tempus, will everything be resolved?”
“Yes. That’s also correct. But I’ve been searching for the Former Duke Tempus for a long time, and I haven’t been able to find him.”
I quietly furrowed my brow.
If Aiden, the captain of the Golden Silver Mercenary Company, couldn’t find him for so long….
It seemed that quickly finding and killing the Former Duke Tempus would be difficult.
But Aiden seemed to think differently than I did.
“If he were alive, he wouldn’t have disappeared without leaving any clues like this. I’ve concluded that he’s essentially already dead.”
“Is that so…?”
“If he were alive, he wouldn’t have left you alone.”
I realized my mistake.
Aiden could reach that conclusion because he didn’t know I had died at the hands of the Assassins.
I had angrily revealed to Marquise Primula that I had been killed by the Assassins, but he knew nothing of it.
Since he had sent Assassins after me, the Former Duke Tempus must surely be alive somewhere on the Continent.
I debated whether to tell him this fact, but decided not to reveal it for now.
“Does Mother know about this?”
“…Are you talking about Viviana, or are you talking about your biological mother?”
“Of course I mean our mother, Duchess Papiope. I was wondering if she married you knowing that I’m your biological daughter.”
I’m not hoping for the two of you to divorce, but….
Still, marrying someone under false pretenses—a bachelor with a child—that’s fraudulent marriage, isn’t it?
Aiden spoke softly.
“…Viviana knows. She confessed everything on the day she proposed to me.”
“So Mother already knew everything but kept it secret?”
Aiden flinched visibly and hastened to speak.
“Viviana bears no fault. She simply respected my wishes.”
“I know. I’m not blaming anyone. I was just shocked to realize I was the only one kept in the dark.”
He looked at me anxiously.
“Really, it’s fine. It’s nothing compared to when I found out you were my biological father.”
….
“Ah, I apologize for constantly switching between ‘you’ and ‘Father.’ I’ll correct it gradually, so please bear with me.”
In truth, until now I had always behaved like a meek lamb in Aiden’s presence.
Knowing he wasn’t my biological father, I had unconsciously played the role of a dutiful daughter.
I thought that was the only way he wouldn’t come to resent me.
Because I desperately wanted to preserve this miraculous relationship—Aiden becoming my father, a lifelong wish come true—and feared it might shatter at any moment.
Perhaps that was why.
Learning that Aiden was my biological father, I could finally be genuine with him.
No matter how I treated him, the fact that he was my biological parent would never change.
“Anyway, I’ve calmed down now. I don’t understand everything, but I’ve come to realize the sacrifices you made for me, Aiden….”
….
“So I forgive you.”
I shrugged lightly and spread my arms wide.
“What are you doing? Come embrace me.”

✦ ✦ ✦
After meeting with Aiden, I headed straight to the Freemula Marquess House.
To others, I must have appeared frazzled, coming and going since morning.
I had asked Aiden if he would come with me to the Freemula Marquess House, but he declined, saying he had no further connection to Rivera.
It seemed his heart had finally found closure.
Of course, he had offered to accompany me if I found it difficult to go alone….
But I declined, sensing the atmosphere would only grow more awkward.
After all, Rivera had her husband, Marquis Primula, and Aiden had Duchess Papiope.
There was no need for them to meet now that each had found a new partner.
I lifted the teacup before me and brought it quietly to my lips.
The bitter herbal fragrance filled my mouth completely.
After thoroughly moistening my throat, I set the cup down gently and opened my mouth to speak.
“You must be surprised. I poured my heart out this morning and left, yet here I am again.”
Marquise Primula trembled pitifully as she gazed at me.
Her eyes betrayed her fear of what sharp words I might unleash next.
“You don’t need to tremble. I didn’t come here to be angry.”
“Y-yes…?”
“What felt like a very short time to you was actually much longer for me.”
I slowly crossed my legs, affecting composure while my heart raced with tension.
Truthfully, I still didn’t know how to treat her—my biological mother.
It was all the more complicated because I already had Duchess Papiope, who was no different from a true mother to me.
“My ability does reverse time, but to be precise, it returns me to a point I’ve saved. I experienced time alone.”
Marquise Primula’s eyes were vacant, as if she still couldn’t grasp what was happening.
“At first, I thought it would have been better to die as a newborn in your arms. That’s why I couldn’t forgive you for handing me over to Aiden.”
“…I-I’m sorry.”
No. I hadn’t brought this up to receive an apology.
“But if I had died then, I would never have met Elysion, would I?”
Not just that I wouldn’t have met him.
Elysion, unable to turn back time, would have inevitably faced death at his own father’s hands.
“Thank you. For saving me.”
I rose from my seat and pulled her into an embrace.
Now I understand that your choice was the best one possible.
“That handing your newborn away to another was also an agonizing decision.”
“No, that’s not…”
Marquise Primula’s voice trembled with moisture as she held me.
“Compared to the suffering you endured, I am truly…nothing at all.”
Her hesitant hands touched my body.
At first, she was cautious, as if even touching me were a sin, but gradually she strengthened her embrace.
“I’m sorry. For letting you suffer. If only I had been a little braver, I would have fled with Aiden. It’s all my fault.”
Marquise Primula held me in a sobbing embrace.
And for a long time, he apologized to me. As if no amount of words could ever suffice, he repeated himself again and again.
When I finally managed to calm Marquise Primula and we parted, her face was a complete mess.
I pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks before speaking.
“There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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