Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 136

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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 136
Marquise Primula grasped my hand with a resolute expression.
“Please, tell me. I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”
“I haven’t told Aiden yet about what the Assassins did to me.”
At the mention of the Assassins, Marquise Primula’s eyes trembled visibly.
“When I told you about it, I was so overwhelmed that I just blurted it out in the heat of the moment….”
“B-but Aiden is publicly Tania’s father, isn’t he? Can you tell me why you’re keeping this secret from him?”
“When I heard that I had been killed by the Assassins, I remembered Rivera’s expression and couldn’t bring myself to tell him.”
In truth, I had been thinking of this as my fight against the Former Duke Tempus.
I didn’t want others to suffer any further because of me.
After all, it was because I inherited Tempus blood in the first place.
This had all happened because I obtained an ability that was passed down only within the Tempus Duchy.
“So I’m trying to kill my grandfather, the Former Duke Tempus, by myself, no matter what it takes.”
Even if he is my father, he’s someone trying to kill me—surely you won’t object.
“So please keep this secret from Aiden.”
Well, it doesn’t seem like he’s been in separate contact with anyone….
Still, I thought it best to mention it just in case.
“Miss Tania, then at least let me help…!”
“Marquise Primula, you’re not an ability user, and you fear the Former Duke Tempus.”
“T-that may be true….”
It might sound cold, but it was reality.
The story of how she ran away when she was a young lady and hurried back in fear of Duke Tempus’s wrath was far too famous.
And besides….
Aiden couldn’t find the Former Duke Tempus and thus couldn’t kill him, but Marquise Primula must have met her own father fairly often.
Yet the Former Duke Tempus was still alive and well….
That meant either she didn’t want to kill him, or she didn’t have the courage to do so.
So the gentle Marquise Primula would be of little help to me.
Unless it came to information about the Tempus Family.
“Rivera, when did you last see my grandfather?”
At that, Marquise Primula’s expression darkened.
“Once when I was pregnant with Tania, and once when I lied to Father that I had miscarried. I haven’t seen him since then.”
I was taken aback—it was far longer ago than I expected.
So even she, his own family, hadn’t seen him after I was born.
…Was he really alive?
A sudden doubt struck me.
What if the Former Duke was already dead, and Hugo Tempus was the one trying to kill me?
She bit her lower lip and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry I can’t be of help. At the time, I was actually relieved that Father wasn’t looking for me….”
“By any chance, does my uncle Hugo Tempus know of my existence?”
“He wouldn’t. If he did, he wouldn’t have sent you a marriage proposal….”
Her pupils flickered with uncertainty. She didn’t know.
But I agreed with the assessment that Hugo Tempus wouldn’t know either.
If he’d killed her, he would have killed her—not sent a marriage proposal.
And to his niece, no less? It made no sense.
So the one who targeted me was my maternal grandfather, the Former Duke Tempus….
“In any case, I understand. Thank you for answering my questions.”
That was when Marquise Primula suddenly grasped my hand.
“Tania… please don’t get hurt. If you ever need my help, tell me anytime.”
I gave a light shrug.
“You know. I don’t die.”
“Not dying doesn’t mean you don’t feel pain. I wish you wouldn’t suffer at all, Tania.”
“Ah….”
My heart stirred in an oddly unsettling way.
Had anyone ever said such things to me before?
No.
There was no way they could have. So few people knew my true ability that I could count them on one hand.
And yet here was someone genuinely concerned for my wellbeing.
What must she have felt when I told her I’d been torn apart by monsters? When I said I’d been killed by assassins?
Suddenly, I found myself wondering what my life would have been like if I’d lived under Marquise Primula’s care.
I surely would have been happy.
Without thinking, my lips trembled.
“Rivera, would it be alright if the world learned that I’m truly your daughter?”
It was just a small wish.
Even if I had to bear the stigma of being illegitimate, I wanted the world to know I wasn’t an orphan.
But no answer came.
The moment she heard my question, she froze as though turned to ice.
Of course—living as Marquise Primula, having a bastard suddenly appear would be a serious blow to her image.
Though it seemed inevitable, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter sting.
Then she spoke.
“Do I even deserve to be called your mother, Tania?”
Tears welled in Marquise Primula’s eyes.
“If others’ gazes won’t wound you, I would be so very happy.”
She bowed her head deeply, her hands trembling without pause.
“I couldn’t fulfill a mother’s role, but you are my child, born from my own body….”
Her quavering voice made it clear how nervous she was, how much she cared.
How much she cherished me.
“Thank you, Mother.”
She lifted her head sharply, meeting my gaze.
Her expression was a tangle of surprise and joy.
“To be honest, I’m not sure I should call you that, since I’ve been blessed with such a wonderful adoptive mother….”
I fidgeted with my hair, feeling a bit awkward.
“Still, I’ll call on you often.”

✦ ✦ ✦
After a long conversation with Marquise Primula, my biological mother.
I left the Marquess Estate with a lightened heart.
[Overwriting Viewpoint 1 with the current perspective.]
Since I’d shed those old emotions, saving was essential.
I’d promised Elysion not to turn back time, but….
Well, saving habits aren’t a bad thing anyway. It’s not like I actually turned back time, right?
Saving should always be a routine. Absolutely. That’s right.
As I rationalized to myself, Raspi cautiously spoke up.
“Has the matter been resolved?”
“Yeah. You were worried, weren’t you? Everything’s settled now, so it’s fine.”
I’d arrived at House Freemula with a serious expression since morning, then gone to Duke Papiope’s Mansion.
And then came back to the Marquess Estate again, which must have been confusing.
“May I ask if something happened?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major.”
I spoke casually, as if I were simply taking a stroll in the garden in front of the house.
“Aiden is my biological father, and the Marquise I just met is my biological mother.”
“…Pardon?”
Raspi stared at me with an unusually dumbfounded expression.
Since I’d already raged, wept, laughed, and poured out all my emotions before accepting this truth, his reaction only struck me as funny.
“Haha, do you realize how hilarious your face looks right now?”
“…Was that a jest?”
“No, I’m serious. I just found your expression amusing.”
At my words, confusion deepened in Raspi’s eyes.
He seemed torn between whether to believe me or not.
“Well, I’ll explain the details once we return to Duke Papiope’s Mansion. I should have a conversation with Ron about various things too.”
“…Understood.”
He tilted his head in bewilderment but faithfully assisted me in boarding the carriage.
We were traveling peacefully in the carriage when it happened.
“Please buy some flowers!”
A young girl holding a flower basket blocked the path of the carriage.
Screeeech—!
The Coachman, who hastily pulled the reins to stop the carriage, glared at the child in fury.
“You block a moving carriage? Do you have a death wish? Get out of the way at once!”
Her clothes were grimy. Her body was skeletal, as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
I thought this might be her last gamble.
And it reminded me of my own past.
I had been observing the entire situation from beginning to end, so I gestured to the Coachman to calm his agitation.
“That’s enough.”
Then, looking down at the Young Girl from inside the carriage, I spoke.
“If you promise never to block a moving carriage again, I’ll buy all of your flowers.”
“…Yes! I promise!”
At my words about buying all her flowers, the Young Girl’s eyes sparkled with delight.
In the end, I purchased every flower the child had and brought them into the carriage.
“Thank you so much!”
As I watched the child bow in gratitude, the carriage began moving again and picked up speed.
The flowers the Young Girl had been selling were rare wildflowers, seldom seen in these parts.
She seemed quite proud of having picked and gathered such uncommon blooms to sell.
I brought my nose close to the flower basket and inhaled deeply.
“The scent isn’t particularly pleasant.”
The fragrance was somewhat peculiar—not quite what one would expect from flowers.
That was when it happened.
My head spun violently, and a wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by nausea.
To make matters worse, my body refused to obey me.
I hastily opened my mouth to call out to Raspi, who was riding outside on horseback escorting the carriage.
“Ras…
But before I could finish speaking his name,
darkness consumed my vision and I lost consciousness.
[Calling Viewpoint 1.]

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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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