[‘The Connoisseur of Clichés’ shivers with excitement.]
“….”
The trembling confusion in Tesilid’s eyes gradually subsided as he stared at the artifact. Slowly, his expression settled into a mask of complete indifference.
On the other hand, Queen Raviola’s pale blue eyes were filled with turmoil, as if the weight of all the world’s confusion had fallen upon her.
“H-How could this…?”
“…”
“This can’t… it can’t be true, can it?”
“…”
“My son… my son is a prince! He bears the royal mark! He… he didn’t even have silver hair like that…”
But when she met Tesilid’s gaze, she fell silent, seeing her own eyes looking back at her.
“Allow me to confirm this one more time,” the chamberlain said, barely containing his own excitement.
This time, the chamberlain didn’t use Queen Raviola’s blood for comparison. Instead, a vial containing a very different, highly guarded blood sample was brought forth and carefully held against the artifact.
If that blood belonged to the ailing king, the result would be clear.
“Oh… oh my goodness!”
The result was indeed undeniable. Once again, the artifact turned a brilliant red.
The chamberlain, now visibly moved, dropped to one knee in reverence.
“I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince!”
The noblemen quickly followed suit.
“It’s the Prince!”
“Prince Reminik has returned to us!”
“The Holy Sword’s master is none other than our lost Second Prince!”
The hall erupted in excitement and astonishment.
“Is… is this real? Tesilid is really…?”
“Oh my god, I can’t believe it! This is insane!”
“Uh… Hyung?”
Ifeil, Hestio, and Ash could only blink in utter disbelief.
“…”
Tesilid himself remained silent, too still, his mind adrift as the altered reality seemed to create more disconnection than understanding.
His gaze moved across the room slowly, his eyes unfocused.
[‘The Overseer of Hidden Fates’ fails to comprehend the protagonist’s inner turmoil.]
[‘The Language that Builds Worlds’ sighs at the protagonist’s heavy heart.]
[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ suggests you go hold his hand.]
[‘The Connoisseur of Clichés’ eagerly awaits your intervention.]
“H-How… how could this possibly be?”
Queen Raviola’s voice sounded half-lost as she muttered, barely holding onto her composure.
Speaking loud enough for all to hear, I laid out the truth.
“There was a villain, long ago, who separated Prince Reminik from his family. This person planted a spy as a maid within the palace, someone who helped lure the young princes away. Then, he bribed mercenaries to kidnap them and sell them to a cult of fanatics.”
As I finished, my gaze fell upon a particular figure.
“Isn’t that right, Prince Hadeil?”
“…!”
A low murmur spread across the hall.
Under the growing weight of countless stares, Hadeil broke into a cold sweat but still managed to feign innocence.
“Why are you directing such accusations toward me, Holy Vicar? Do you mean to stir up some kind of misunderstanding? Haha…”
“That was your last chance to confess, Prince. I’m afraid you missed it.”
“This is… preposterous! Slander! You’ll find no one foolish enough among Winchester’s noble houses to fall for this deceit!”
“Is that wishful thinking?”
I couldn’t help but scoff.
After all, with a single command, I’d forced the paternity test, verified the truth, and asserted my authority as God’s messenger.
The judgment of the hall had already shifted, turning toward Hadeil like an invisible jury.
“Why… why are you all looking at me like that? I’m telling you, it’s a lie!”
I cut off his desperate pleas.
“Prince, Princess Celestid and Countess Gilet have thoroughly investigated your deeds. You should be pleased—you’ll soon be paying for your sins, and maybe your dreams will be a bit more peaceful.”
“I-I am innocent…!”
“Think that because it happened so long ago, no proof remains? I remind you—you’re facing the Holy Vicar here.”
“…”
“Through me, the gods are aiding this investigation. Soon, we’ll secure both the evidence and the witnesses, and even capture the mercenaries you bribed. You’d best prepare yourself, Prince.”
“…!”
The confidence drained from Hadeil’s face as his expression twisted with panic. Mentioning those mercenaries, whom he’d thought long gone, had struck a nerve. It was written all over his face.
From here on, it was the royal family’s matter to handle.
I turned my gaze back to Queen Raviola, and with that, all eyes followed.
The queen, gasping with suppressed fury, managed to force out her command.
“…Seize Prince Hadeil.”
“Y-Your Majesty! This is a false accusation! Please, listen to my side of the story…!”
“What are you waiting for? Take him away! And don’t give him food or water! I’ll personally see to his questioning!”
The queen’s anger filled every corner of the hall.
At last, the royal guards stepped forward, subduing Hadeil and dragging him out.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please…! Have mercy, I beg you…!”
His desperate cries grew distant, until the heavy doors of the hall closed behind him with a resounding thud, cutting off the sound.
[‘The Connoisseur of Clichés’ is deeply satisfied, as though they’ve just finished a thrilling drama.]
[‘The Connoisseur of Clichés’ leaves a 7.0/10 rating for the entertainment provided and exits.]
[‘The Balance-Adjusting Cynic’ is surprisingly pleased with the positive rating.]
[‘The Language that Builds Worlds’ grumbles that true enjoyment requires no ratings.]
For a time, the hall was silent, as if time itself had stopped.
Then, a soft voice finally broke the stillness.
“Hyung…?”
“…”
It was Ligares.
Slowly, hesitantly, he took a step forward, looking lost, like a child who had wandered too far from home. His path led him toward Tesilid.
“Hyungnim… Reminik hyung…?”
“…”
As if in response to his call, Tesilid slowly turned his head. His sea-colored eyes were painfully indifferent.
Ligares flinched, stopping just short, unable to close the final steps between them.
Instead, his hand reached out, almost pleadingly.
“Hyung… Reminik hyung… Please, say something… Hyung…”
“…”
“Call me Liga… like back then… when we were young…”
“…”
“Please, just call me….”
“…”
Tears welled in Ligares’s eyes as he took another shaky step forward. His outstretched hand hovered, inches from Tesilid’s face.
At that moment, Tesilid took a small step back, avoiding Ligares’s touch.
“…”
“…”
The significance of that small movement was impossible to misinterpret.
Ligares’s hand fell to his side, and his expression crumbled, a heart-wrenching mix of despair and regret.
Next came Queen Raviola’s turn.
“Re… Reminik…”
“…”
“I… I said such terrible things to you earlier…”
She seemed to remember how, just a short while ago, she’d so callously used his name to threaten me.
In her effort to intimidate me, she’d unleashed her sharp tongue against her own son, pouring venomous words upon someone she held so dear.
“A… ah…”
Queen Raviola clutched her head in her hands, curling in on herself, a picture of grief and self-reproach as she sat atop her once-grand throne, now more like a lowly sinner.
Carefully, I glanced over at Tesilid.
His foes of past lives now stood before him as people he was supposed to love.
Yet he alone remembered everything. The face he showed in this moment was exactly as I expected.
“…”
His unyielding expression concealed the struggle within.
I moved closer and gently took his hand.
Speaking clearly, without caring who heard, I said to him,
“It’s okay. You don’t have to accept them or embrace any of this.”
“…”
Really, it didn’t matter who heard.
“Think of it as dealing with former enemies a little more peacefully, if that’s easier.”
So just… alright?
I continued softly, trying to offer reassurance as I watched his face.
At last, he exhaled, as though a weight had lifted from his chest.
“…Ailet.”
“Yes, Tesilid.”
“I want to leave this place.”
“All right, let’s go.”
With a quick look at Ifeil, I conveyed my request to handle the situation here.
A nod of understanding was all I needed before I pulled out a teleportation stone.
“Hyungnim!”
“No! Please, just wait, just for a moment…!”
Ligares and Queen Raviola’s anguished cries echoed behind us, but I blocked them out.
With a soft shimmer, the teleportation stone dissolved into glittering powder, bathing my vision in light.
Our destination was neither the Holy See nor the Grand Duke’s estate. There was only one place where he could truly find rest for his weary soul. ✠
The cottage near Feronsa, where Tesilid had first opened his eyes in the 17th timeline.
Since we’d arrived, Tesilid had stepped out onto the terrace.
Leaning against the wooden railing, he gazed out at the fading light over the flower field, with a soft breeze rustling his silver hair.
If only the wind could also blow away the tangled thoughts in his mind, leaving him at peace.
Seeing him so absorbed in the view, I decided it was time to approach.
I held two steaming cups in my hands as I joined him.
“Tesilid, here. Drink this.”
“…Thank you.”
He lifted the mug slowly to his lips, taking a deep sip. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed.
“It’s good.”
He gave me a faint, yet genuine smile.
This serene, rustic setting seemed to be working wonders in calming his mind.
Watching him regain his composure, a thought occurred to me.
Maybe… maybe he should just live here.
There were no people to confront, no reminders of the world’s disdain.
Perhaps he’d be better off staying within these walls, where he could be at peace.
As the thought lingered, I found myself voicing it aloud.
“Tesilid.”
“Yeah, Ailet?”
“How about I give you this place? Would you like to stay here?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I mean… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad for you to live here and leave everything else behind.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
“…With you?”
“…”
Uh… I hadn’t thought that far ahead.