CH 17

“I think it’s because of me.”

“She said she’s recuperating because she is not feeling well and there’s a risk of infection.”

“It could be. But…”

Ophelia brought up what had happened.

She let out a long sigh as she even talked about how cold Iris got after the hunting competition.

“I know I’m a parachute.”

“Parachute?”

“Ah, um. So this is what the countryside grandfather told me. A person whose abilities and personality have not been verified suddenly becomes a member of the organization without any notice under the protection of a superior in the organization.”

“Why do you call that a parachute?”

“That grandfather is always looking for something new.”

It’s not a lie. Because she hadn’t decided whether her grandfather was Archimedes or an unknown person who first coined the term parachute.

“Anyway, the terminology isn’t important, I know I’m that kind of person. Because I hung around Your Highness and became an aide overnight.”

“It didn’t happen overnight.”

“Infinite regression is a time that only exists between Your Majesty and I. In other people’s view, it’s at the level of appearing when they close their eyes.”

“Didn’t I approve?”

“Of course. But, um… Still, something is different. Anyway, I understand that she hates me. I know very well that not everyone can like me. Especially if they’re in the same position as Iris. Yes. I understand. However!”

Ophelia exclaimed, taking in a deep breath and exhaling.

“Isn’t it too much that she doesn’t want to talk to me so much that she doesn’t even go to work! Of course, all the conversations we’ve had so far have been work-related, but now it means she doesn’t even like that!”

The long story of Ophelia’s trouble ended, but Richard’s reaction was bland enough to make it seem funny that she had been thinking and agonizing for several days.

“Well.”

“Does she hate it so much? I must have been the only one who misunderstood that we have developed a sense of camaraderie after being together almost all day for a few days.”

Ophelia seemed to have lost her strength, now looking despondent

Then, Richard asked, tapping his chin. 

“Do you really need to like Iris or build camaraderie with her?”

“It… it’s not like that.”

“If it really bothers you, you can repeat the regression and redefine your relationship with Iris until you are satisfied with it.”

“That… is also true.”

“Then there will be no problem.”

It was a voice drier than a desert that had not rained in years.

His eyes, which seemed to have transferred the afternoon sun, were also dry.

Yes. Only Richard and Ophelia were trapped in this cursed bondage of infinite regression.

So, as he said, she could repeat the regression until her relationship with Iris improves, making all of the existing issues go away.

The countless pasts, such as relationships and conversations that other people could not remember, would remain as memories for only him and her.

The insides of her mouth were sore as if she had chewed a bull.

Because she could understand why Richard treated his relationships with other people so ruthlessly.

He didn’t regress once or twice.

Those were regressions that were not even of his own will.

He must have tried to escape.

And it must have failed. More than he could count.

Infinite regressions that he could never escape despite the far-reaching amount of time and challenge.

There was nothing he could do in that bridle of unknown reason and purpose.

In the end, everything in the world, even his own life, became meaningless to him.

Therefore, his indifference was closer to the end of resignation and despair than exhaustion.

It’s said that the world was as much as one knew, but he didn’t want to see the immeasurable frustration of a person who knew this and fell into the same quagmire.

However…

Ophelia wanted to live. She wanted to break free from the cycle of infinite regression.

‘Yet… I don’t want to give up.’

Ophelia exhaled slowly, licking her dry lower lip.

In her blue eyes, a bright spark flashed, like the day when she grabbed Richard by the collar to survive together.

“I’m not going to worry about what I can’t do. I’ll do what I can.”

“Do what you can.”

Richard repeated her words.

It was a very fundamental, irrefutable and beautiful mindset.

Plus, it was the words that came out of her mouth, who knew everything about him.

“That’s arrogant.”

“Yes. You have to have confidence in this trash-like reality.”

Should he say that it was Ophelia’s characteristic not to put hope in her mouth while talking about things like this?

Despite sharing the same experience and regressing countless times, Ophelia had not given up on anything yet.

“How long can you say that?”

“It’s not that you’re curious, it’s that you’re cursing.”

As Ophelia grumbled, Richard smiled slightly and got up.

“No, I want to see how far you can go.”

Truly, it was.

The only exception that appeared in his endless life.

He didn’t expect it.

No, he didn’t want to look forward to anything.

Since the beginning of infinite regression, hope meant despair to him.

Still, looking at Ophelia… 

“Didn’t you ask me to live together?”

“Yes.”

“You held me by the neck.”

“Forget that part.”

“It’s the first time.”

A voice deeper than a well that resounded softly.

From a distance so close that their noses could brush against each other, Richard looked into Ophelia’s eyes.

“Because you were the first.”

—It’s something unforgettable. The afterwords that had been swallowed permeated her ears.

A very brief moment in the blink of an eye.

An even smaller bud sprouted from the tiny seed that had been tucked away in the depths of Ophelia’s heart without her own knowledge.

But it’s still too small to realize that it’s there.

Ophelia, staring back intently, not avoiding Richard’s eyes, opened her mouth with a deep groove between her forehead.

“What did the people around you do, not even grabbing your collar once?”

“Well.”

“It’s a little difficult to complain to Your Highness.”

In the first place, wasn’t it difficult to express dissatisfaction with him?

For most people, it would be impossible.

Even if it was contrary to the opinion of the crown prince, it was a servant’s duty to say the right thing, but who is Richard?

He is not just a prince, but the protagonist of this world.

In short, it’s a world where what Richard does is the right thing to do.

“Well then, it’s the first and the last.”

As Ophelia shrugged, Richard took a step back, pulling his collar lightly.

“The last?”

“Excuse me? Do you want me to hold it one more time?”

Richard glanced at Ophelia, who was seemingly eager for the opportunity, and lightly flicked her forehead.

“You seem to have a lot of dissatisfaction.”

“Yes, well… I keep dying like that and I’m falling apart…”

“So what are you going to do now?”

Richard mercilessly cut off Ophelia’s words, burying it.

It was obvious that he was changing the subject, but Ophelia also decided to move on.

Because there was no need to waste time with questions that do not have an answer now.

Opportunities abound.

With infinite regression, one could do anything… 

“Now I’m going to do what Assistant Cooper told me to do.”

“Cooper?”

For a moment, Richard’s eyebrows furrowed, but Ophelia couldn’t see it because she turned around.

“Yes. I will be friends with Iris!”

Ophelia shouted vigorously, raising her hands and clenching her fists, but then she shyly lowered her hand and scratched her cheek.

“It’s too much to be buddies, but let’s try to build a little friendship.”

“Friendship?”

“We’re not friends yet. Anyway, Iris is said to be a generous giver with close friends.”

“That’s new.”

“You’ve been together for a long time, yet it’s a new fact.”

When Ophelia’s face became like a pufferfish again, Richard smirked.

“Because Iris always gave generously.”

“Ah…”

‘I guess so.’

That’s the extent of being Richard’s aide.

If it wasn’t for the level of loyalty sworn to him that was the same as a god, Iris would never be by his side.

In that respect, it was very far from Ophelia.

“Your Highness, please know that even though I am infinitely lacking in loyalty, I am full of camaraderie that is second to none.”

Ophelia pushed her chest out and pounded it hard, as if asking him to trust her.

Richard readily agreed to her words, where even false crumbs could not be found.

“Yes. Who else could be by my side without loyalty if it wasn’t for you?”

Perhaps because of the mood, Ophelia smiled playfully, her voice mixing with laughter as she replied.

“Even if I have no loyalty, I have love.”

Immediately there was silence between the two.

Ophelia blinked. At this point, he should have responded with ‘I don’t need your love.’

‘Ah, I forgot for a moment that it’s a fictional world again.’

‘I’m ruined!’

She added hastily before this awkward, maddening silence could get any longer.

“I’m kidding! It’s a joke. I know very well that you don’t need my love. Mhm. You know that my love is only as a comrade, right? There are many types of love. It can be said that there’s love between family members or between friends!”

The more Ophelia talked, the worse she felt, but she couldn’t just keep her mouth shut.

“That’s what I’m saying… uh. Uhh?”