Time Healer Ceres - 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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Antonien splashed his face repeatedly, then let out a long sigh and rubbed the stiffness from the back of his neck.
“Is that Blackie also a Tamer Vessel?”
It had been strange when the creature first came to the house. He’d been thoroughly unhappy about bringing such an odd thing into their home, but since his sister Yulia adored it and his elder sister seemed to care for the beast in her own way, he’d simply left it alone.
Though he still found it absurd whenever he watched it ruthlessly kick aside cakes made at home or cheap ones from a shop.
But now that he thought about it—was that creature also a Tamer Vessel or something like that?
“No, this one’s just a freeloader.”
[Puff!]
Blackie, who had been occupied defending the cake from Ailien, clearly heard that remark and let out a sharp squeak in protest.
In the meantime, Ailien darted forward again and plucked the fruit right off the cake Blackie was holding, popping it into her mouth.
[…! Squeal!]
Blackie’s body trembled as the creature fluttered upward and lunged at Ailien, jaws wide open.
[Screech!]
Thud!
Ailien sprang up and landed a kick, and Blackie, taking the blow full in the face, shrieked and flew back up again, launching another attack.
“That’s enough. Enough.”
Seres grabbed both of them by the arms and pulled them apart, clicking her tongue in disapproval.
“Ailien, you have your own cake. Why do you keep stealing from Blackie?”
[Whimper….]
Ailien’s ears drooped as the creature hung its head, while Blackie wore an expression of smug satisfaction.
“And you, Blackie.”
[Huh?]
“You don’t even eat the fruit on top of your cake. What’s the fuss about letting Ailien have a little?”
[Puff! Squeal!]
Blackie protested loudly again, letting out sharp bleats of indignation. After pulling down the creature’s head as it clung to her in exaggerated hurt, Seres cut another cake and handed it to her.
[Contentment~]
Clutching the cake tightly to itself, Blackie chirped happily as if it hadn’t just been crying moments before.
“…These things being called Tamer Vessels.”
“I told you it’s not.”
Watching Ailien eye the fruit on the cake once more while Blackie squeaked frantically and shielded it with its entire body, Antonien’s expression turned hollow.
“So, what’s the plan from here on?”
“What do you mean?”
“About the Tamer Vessel thing. Doesn’t that mean you’re going to get very busy from now on?”
Though he didn’t know all the details, Antonien certainly understood that a Tamer Vessel was something exceptionally rare. Today alone had made that clear.
Just look at how the Group B children acted around her, or how even that girl from Group A who usually picked fights with him was now watching his expression and offering awkward smiles. It was genuinely unsettling.
“Not really.”
“Not really?”
Seres pointed to the young creature again in response to Antonien’s bewilderment.
“You just said the same thing—how could something like that be a Tamer Vessel? Don’t you think others would feel the same way? All that creature can do is bloom flowers, after all.”
…Well, of course it had other abilities, but since what everyone saw in the Underground Space was just the flower-blooming ability, that’s all they’d believe it had.
“Besides, I don’t think they’re searching for it much because of that.”
The royal court had also been working hard to suppress word of it, though by now rumors had spread throughout the Academy anyway.
‘Rumors are like that—the more you try to stop them, the faster they spread.’
Knock-knock.
Shortly after, Colin the butler entered.
“Miss.”
“What is it?”
Seres turned to him with a questioning expression, noting how uncharacteristically flustered he seemed.
“Someone has come from the Palace.”
“…From the Palace?”
“Yes. His—His Majesty has sent them.”
…….
Seres’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned her head sharply toward Antonien, whose eyes had widened in shock—a look he couldn’t hide.
“…? Why? Why are you glaring at me?”
“I think you brought bad luck with what you just said.”
You had to mention how things would get busy, didn’t you?
“Come on… of all the…”
After throwing one last meaningful glare at the stunned Antonien, Seres followed Colin out with an uneasy feeling.
* * *
“It has been some time, Your Majesty.”
“Ha! So you wouldn’t show me your face even when I asked, and now at last I get to see that precious visage.”
Noroa Duke, who governed the Southern Region, broke into his characteristic warm laugh and inclined his head respectfully.
“I’m busy tending the harvest, Your Majesty. If you keep summoning me like this, all the empire’s people will starve to death.”
The Southern Region comprised a vast granary. Most of the grain the empire consumed depended entirely on what the Southern Region produced.
And it was Noroa Duke who defended that granary against the demon beasts’ assaults.
“I know, I know. Still, don’t you think you’ve been a bit standoffish lately?”
“That’s precisely why I’m here to see you today, Your Majesty.”
“After ten requests to show your face, I’m most grateful you’ve come.”
“Indeed. I thought I’d wait for twenty before visiting, but I came early instead.”
The Emperor of Devrika let out a soft laugh at Noroa Duke’s cheeky reply.
A moment later, his gaze drifted to another figure sitting quietly beside Noroa Duke, sipping tea.
“It’s been a long time for you as well.”
“This tea really is dreadful.”
Elkein Duke, who governed the Eastern Region, set down his cup with a sharp clink, his face twisted in displeasure, and clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“Drinking such awful tea every day—no wonder Your Majesty looks so haggard.”
“If anyone heard you, they’d think you haven’t aged a day.”
“When I go out, plenty of people still take me for someone in his thirties. But Your Majesty… well, I suppose it’s convenient. At least you don’t have to explain your age.”
The Emperor of Devrika laughed again, unbothered by Elkein Duke’s complete lack of restraint.
“You two have physical constitutions far different from ordinary people. You can’t expect to be judged by the same measure as me.”
“At least take care of yourself. Moisturize your face. I could send you some of the rare medicinal herbs we grow in the Eastern Region?”
“Ha, I’d be grateful for that.”
Noroa Duke gave a light shake of his head as if to say he was fighting a losing battle, then gently steered the conversation away by covering Elkein Duke’s mouth.
“Crown Prince, it’s been a while since we last met.”
“Has it been two years?”
“Yes, the last time you visited the Southern Region was two years ago.”
Crown Prince Aseraian, who had been quietly listening to the three-way conversation while sipping his tea, finally returned the greeting warmly.
He had briefly met Noroa Duke two years ago during an inspection tour of the Southern Region.
“Did you not summon Duke Schweis?”
“He came and left a few days ago.”
“Ah, so he visited before us.”
Unlike Noroa Duke, who nodded in acknowledgment, Elkein Duke’s brow furrowed sharply.
“That man always does things separately. What a troublemaker.”
“Yet you’d criticize him for acting together if he moved with us.”
“When have I ever—”
“Do I need to list the times? You do it every single time.”
“Oh, be quiet. Whose side are you on?”
“Now then, I called the two of you here today because there’s something about him I’d like to ask.”
The Emperor of Devrika cut back into the conversation.
“What is it you’d like to know?”
“Is there something I can answer about him?”
The two men’s responses diverged sharply. Noroa Duke smiled easily, ready to answer anything, while Elkein Duke’s displeasure deepened—the mere mention of Duke Schweis seemed to darken his mood.
“Your Majesty.”
Just then, an attendant entered and bowed respectfully. The Emperor of Devrika’s face brightened at once.
“Has the child arrived?”
“Yes, she has just now.”
“Show her in at once.”
The attendant departed, and shortly thereafter someone strode into the chamber where the four men were seated.
“Welcome.”
Seeing how particularly delighted the Emperor was, Noroa Duke and Elkein Duke both looked up to see who had entered.
Their eyes widened progressively. The figure approaching them with a respectful bow was none other than Seres.
“Did you find me…?”
Seres, in the midst of greeting the Emperor of Devrika, also fell silent mid-sentence upon recognizing the seated figures.
“Let me introduce—”
“Seres.”
“Sir.”
At Noroa Duke’s call, Seres responded warmly. She had not expected to see him again in a place like this.

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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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