* * *

It was truly a strange experience.

The keepsake left by Zahid’s parents—that map said to contain the method to overthrow the High Priest—was written in the ancient language.

And even though it was my first time seeing it, I could read the ancient text perfectly.

I also understood now why I kept confusing “Antata” and “Theol.” There were similar characters in the ancient language.

[For reference, if you’re born with a very high amount of divine power, it’s hard to learn letters. I had trouble too.

They say it’s because you confuse it with the ancient script you can read automatically from birth.]

So it wasn’t because I was stupid that I learned to read late. On the contrary, it was because I had incredible abilities.

“Here, the Divine Beast and the master become one, drawing out maximum power… However, one must be prepared for the price they will recognize on their own.”

As if possessed, I read the densely packed ancient text.

Of course, there wasn’t anything immediately useful in it. It just left a bad feeling, and I had no idea where this winding path and pond were supposed to be.

“What the hell? Talking ominously about a ‘price.’ Nothing that comes after ‘however’ is ever good…”

Though I said something filled with insight, Zahid only looked at me silently.

What kind of kid looks that faraway in the eyes, seriously… He looked cool.

He’d definitely get even more handsome when he became an adult. That much, I knew for sure.

At that moment, music for a dance reached us from far away, and I danced with Zahid.

“Wow, so you’ve never danced with a girl one-on-one before, huh?”

“Why, feel sorry for me? Then you should dance with me.”

“I promise. Once I get out of here, I’ll dance with you at the first ball. Since we’ll be adults by then, maybe we could even dance alone.”

Though it wasn’t in our adult forms, we did dance alone at a ball.

Not in the beautiful dress and fancy shoes I dreamed of, but still. As promised, our first dance was with each other.

It might even be the last dance. Because today, I’m going to make a major confession.

“Let’s break off our engagement.”

At those words, Zahid’s slow steps came to a halt.

“Zahid.”

I let go of his hand and took a step back. Then, holding back the sorrow as much as I could, I spoke calmly, all in one breath.

“My father… is the High Priest.”

Because of the mask, I couldn’t see Zahid’s expression. I was honestly grateful for that.

The High Priest.

A man worshipped by many—and feared just as much by many others.

He murdered Zahid’s parents, and he was set to kill countless more in the future. A monster.

A villain who had lived a long life and seized control of this world with terrifying precision.

From Zahid’s expression as he looked at the keepsake, I could tell. He still missed his parents.

The boy who could have lived happily, showered in love, had been pushed into the pit of misery by none other than my biological father.

Memories of overflowing love don’t disappear. Just as I can never forget those 14 months with Julian for the rest of my life.

Zahid too would never forget his childhood with his parents.

And he must hate the Temple and the High Priest just as much. Just like I did in my previous life after losing Julian.

“I was born with divine power on the same level as the High Priest, and Teaching Assistant Yuta was the one who helped me hide it. But there’s a limit to how much it can be concealed, so they say it’s going to be exposed soon.”

“What?”

“If they find out, the High Priest will kill me to prolong his youth. Apparently, he’s been extending his life by killing his own children.”

I glanced up at the clock on the clocktower. The time I had promised Ethan was drawing near.

I swallowed my tears.

I’d finished everything I needed to do. So now, once I said what I had to say, I’d have to head to the Magic Tower.

“So now I’m going to the Magic Tower. Only that level of magic can suppress my divine power enough to hide it. And I’ll probably be locked up there for an indefinite period.”

Until Ethan becomes an archmage. Even in the best-case scenario, it would have to be after he becomes an adult.

“To the outside world, I’m going to say I went mad for magic and entered the Tower. I’ll pretend to be someone so obsessed with research that I won’t meet anyone—not even family or friends. There are plenty of people like that in the Tower.”

Zahid didn’t say a word.

It wasn’t my fault that I was the High Priest’s daughter, but still, I couldn’t hold my head high in front of Zahid. After all, I was the daughter of the man who killed his parents.

And even if we generously set that aside, staying engaged when we wouldn’t even be able to see each other for who knows how long made no sense.

Both to the public and between us.

No matter how mature Zahid seemed, he was only eleven years old.

I couldn’t tie down the life of a child while not even being by his side. In a way, I was leaving him alone again.

“The article about our broken engagement will come out tomorrow, along with the article about me entering the Magic Tower. I’ve prepared everything. You said yourself you wanted to break it off as soon as possible… or, well, something like that.”

I slowly removed the ring from my finger.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The ring I’d worn ever since I forced Zahid into the engagement. I’d never once taken it off. I threw it down beneath the clocktower for all to see.

“…You!”

“Be happy, Zahid. Please, be happy.”

I was glad he couldn’t see the tears welling in my eyes.

After the regression, I thought I could handle everything on my own.

I naively expected that life would fall within the bounds of my control.

But in the face of something I couldn’t change—my own bloodline—I now had to disappear from this world’s stage for several years. Entrusting what comes next to the people I love, the ones standing against the High Priest.

“I truly wanted to stay by your side no matter what, but… now, if I stay, I’ll die.”

And not just die—my death would extend the High Priest’s life. That, I could never allow.

“So, I’m going. Honestly, I don’t have any time left. Even now, my power is growing stronger by the second.”

The words I really wanted to say—that I’d find him again once I came out of the Tower—I ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ kept to myself.

I’d promised never to leave him alone, and now I was doing just that. I had no right.

If someone ends up by Zahid’s side during that time, that lucky damn girl… shit, maybe he’ll even be happy.

Just thinking about it made me curse.

But.

I lowered my eyes.

Just in case…

You never know what might happen in life.

If Ethan failed to become an archmage, or if something happened before then…

I was even considering taking my own life. Better to die by my own hand than to let the High Priest extend his lifespan with it.

Of course, I told no one that. Either way, until this was all safely resolved, I didn’t want to make any promises about a future with Zahid.

Drip. Eventually, a few raindrops began to fall.

“You’re… leaving? Now?”

Zahid murmured with a slightly hoarse voice.

“Oh, right. I forgot to say this.”

I clapped my hands once and said:

“I became the master of the Grass Divine Beast in the meantime… and it’s seriously so useful. Way more than fire or water, unexpectedly…”

At some point, a vine had wrapped around my waist as I stood atop the clocktower.

“Take care, Zahid.”

I smiled quietly as I looked at him.

“Stay healthy. Don’t get sick.”

The vine around my waist lifted me up in one swift motion.

Zahid called my name in disbelief, but in the next moment, his voice faded out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep