Chapter 66

“You are asking difficult questions… In conclusion, there is no such thing, I guess.”

“Really?”

Michael chuckled. “Time is not a realm that magic can handle.”

I was reminded of the time machine I had often heard about.

“I think I heard the argument that if you can move faster than light by magic, you can go back to the past. Can’t you do it that way?”

“Even if we use magic to make the body move faster than light, wouldn’t the durability of the body not be able to withstand it?”

His answer is realistic, not suitable for a fantasy world.

“… that’s right.”

He smiled bitterly at my disappointed face.

“But you don’t have to put too much faith in my answer, Noel.”

“Why?”

“Actually, I only know a little more about magic than most people do, but I don’t know the answers to all the problems in the world. There may be a way that has not yet been discovered.”

“Isn’t that an overly humble statement?”

“I’m serious. Everyone overestimates me,” he grumbled playfully. “I want to take a vacation now.”

I feel a little sorry to hear that. I just solved my curiosity by holding a busy person.

“Sorry, I was not considerate enough.”

“It’s okay, I missed you a lot too. There is a limit to only confirming your well-being through a letter.”

“I hope you enjoy your vacation.”

Michael smiled. “Okay, if you’re really sorry, come see me often. You can play like you did before you got married, right?”

I remembered Rupert telling me to go with him.

… … I don’t think so.

“Is it alright if my husband accompanies me? Actually, I’d like to introduce you two to each other. You haven’t met him in person, have you?”

“Rarely. I also wanted to meet him, so it’s okay. To be honest, I was curious about Marquis Ainel. I wonder if you get along well with him.”

I laughed at the last sentence.

‘Do we get along well?’

Our relationship is not bad.

But lately, I’ve been struggling with how to define my relationship with him.

‘No, I’ve always been worried.’

Putting my thoughts aside, I said goodbye to Michael.

“Thank you so much for coming today.”

“Yeah, let’s meet more often from now on.”

“Sure.”

I looked up at his face for a moment, he had a clear and calm expression as usual.

“Noel, do you have any more questions?”

He’s also good at reading my mind.

“This is a bit of a tough question, but… but if, really, if you did something magically impossible, how would you explain that?”

“That is, a miracle.”

Michael smiled and continued, “It’s the realm of God, as it is often said.”

***

After hearing Michael’s explanation, I went back to the mansion and lost myself in thoughts.

‘It’s the realm of God.’

This confirms one thing. I think there’s something special about me.

Exactly, it’s very likely.

I don’t know why this suddenly happened.

‘Could it have something to do with the sudden discovery of past memories?’

The timing was almost the same.

‘I thought I was normal, but the truth is… .’

I am talented! But I’m not very happy with that.

‘What should I do?’

To be honest, after saving Leah, no matter how hard I tried, I only had a one-man show in my room.

[T/N: When Noel tries to throw a pillow and cast a random spell to stop time.]

Usually, once you realize that you have something special, isn’t it natural for you to acquire your abilities?

I looked at my hands in dissatisfaction, then closed my eyes and concentrated.

‘Stop, stop, time, stop.’

“… … .”

To my surprise, nothing happened.

Only the shame increased.

“Madam, are you there?”

At that time, Ordin’s voice came from outside the door.

I was startled.

“Y- yes!”

Immediately, he opened the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Something important has happened. Could you come to the office for a moment?”

His expression was serious. The fact that the aide came in person must mean that an important yet secret matter has arisen.

It was not time to mutter while looking at the pillow alone in the room.

“I’ll go right away.”

I immediately followed Ordin to the office.

“What’s going on?”

Rupert seems to have been waiting for me too. When our eyes met, he gave me a worried look.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

I blinked and looked at him again. My husband is as expressionless as usual. It was probably an illusion.

“I found out why your family’s financial situation got worse.”

I looked at the document he handed me. After reading the contents, the worries about his expression were instantly erased.

As soon as I read it, I almost laughed out loud. In the document, it was written that the Opion family’s aide stole their money.

“The aide who was in charge of finances had a double ledger.”

It also seems to have been skillfully stolen for a long time. Besides, it wasn’t a single crime.

“That aide was in collusion with the vassals of the Opion family. The stolen money went that way.”

“Some of the vassals are planning a rebellion.”

“Of course, now the Opion family has noticed this fact and is hastily preparing countermeasures.”

I guess that’s why they called me.

“What’s their plan?”

“A letter just arrived from the Opion family,” said Rupert.

At this point, I was afraid of what would happen.

He continued, “It contains a request for support in case of a territorial battle.”

A sigh came out spontaneously.

“They’re too shameless… .”

Not too long ago, they sent a lot of protest letters.

‘When the situation becomes unfavorable, they change their attitude like turning the palm of the hand.’

It was my house, but I’m so sick of it.

“If we help, they will be able to transfer some of the rights related to the Miracle Herbs. They promise not to let the same situation happen again in the future. But,”

“But?”

“I got another similar letter. These are from the vassals who betrayed Count Opion.”

Things are messed up.

“By the way, they offer the same conditions.”

To summarize:

Now, two letters have arrived in the Ainel family. One is to ask for help to stop the rebellion of the vassals in Count Opion’s family. The other, on the contrary, is that the vassals asked for help to win the rebellion.

Regardless of which way you choose, the price of cooperation seems to be the transfer of some of the rights to Miracle Herbs.

“One is to save the Opion family, and the other is to destroy it.”

Helping with the rebellion will of course destroy the Opions.

“So I called you.”

“… … ?”

“Since it is a matter for the Opion family, I will leave the final choice to you.”

This seems to be his intention to respect his wife in his own way.

“First of all, thank you. I think I would have been very disappointed if you hadn’t said anything to me.”

“I thought so.”

“Anyway, no matter which side you choose, a territory battle will happen, right?”

“Battle is inevitable.”

I never thought I would be in a position to decide whether or not to start a battle.

There’s no way I could get off that easily. Win or lose, it’s obvious that a lot of people will die.

‘It’s difficult.’

It doesn’t matter which side, knights, soldiers, and many other people are one’s family, and they are people who lead ordinary lives.

Now I am making a choice that might change their lives overnight.

Rupert spoke in a businesslike manner, but he was pondered deeply, weighed down with a heavy sense of responsibility.

“Can the battle not happen?”

The answer came from Ordin. “The Miracle Herbs is a goose that lays golden eggs. No one gives up easily. It would be quicker for us to take sides.”

“Do you agree with this, Rupert?”

“If it can’t be avoided, it’s better to finish it quickly.”

Yes, I may be an overly emotional person who hesitates here.

‘Because this place is completely different from the modern world.’

The monopoly of the Miracle Herbs calls for a huge amount of money, and money always causes disputes.

Indeed, our joining the battle may be the best solution.

“Then I will ask you one question.”

“What?”

I checked for the last time.

“The fact that you called me here means that you intend to respect my opinion, right?”

“Yes, I respect your choice.” Rupert nodded.

He is not the type who breaks what he’s said once, so I can trust him.

“Okay.”

The decision was made. Only God knows if this is the right choice.

I declared, “I won’t choose either side now.”

“… … .”

For a moment, the two men seemed at a loss for words.

‘It can’t be helped.’

There is no turning back.

I can’t decide that the death of a person is the best solution.

‘At least not yet.’

I still have equipment left to use.