Chương 25: Chapter 24

The old woman remained hidden within the narrow passageway long after the young man had disappeared, quietly waiting for the strange helper who had appeared so suddenly and possessed abilities that made little sense to return.

Perhaps it was because of the confidence he carried, or perhaps because someone capable of moving in such a manner should not have simply vanished after saving someone, but as the minutes passed and silence continued to surround her, she slowly accepted that he had no intention of coming back. Instead, he had only left behind one instruction. Stay there.

The old woman followed his command, not because she completely trusted the young man, but because she understood that the situation was far more dangerous than she had originally believed. The people pursuing her were not ordinary criminals, and even with her own abilities, fighting them while attempting to protect herself would have created unnecessary complications. Fortunately, before leaving, she had already sent a signal through her communication stone.

The others should arrive soon, and until then, waiting was the only reasonable choice. After enough time had passed and she was certain the surrounding area had become quiet, the old woman finally stepped out from her hiding place. She adjusted her clothing, ensuring nothing about her appearance seemed suspicious, before making her way toward a more open area where she could wait without attracting unwanted attention. She had only walked a short distance when a familiar voice suddenly echoed through the area.

"Beatrice!" The old woman stopped immediately.

"Beatrice! Where are you?" Her expression shifted as she turned toward the source of the voice.

"Grandson?" Moments later, she saw him. A young man was rushing through the area with several guards following behind him, his usual composure completely replaced by panic and fear. The moment his eyes found her, his expression changed instantly.

"Grandmother..." Ronin McCann, the crown prince of the Empire, hurried toward her without hesitation. He grabbed her shoulders and carefully examined her, checking for any sign of injury as though he needed to confirm with his own eyes that she was truly standing before him.

"Are you hurt? Did anything happen? Are you injured anywhere?" The questions came out rapidly, almost as if he feared that the moment he stopped speaking, she would disappear again. Beatrice could only stare at him in confusion.

"Ronin, calm down. I am perfectly fine." The moment he heard those words, the tension that had been holding him together finally disappeared. His body gave out. The crown prince collapsed.

"Your Highness!" The guards immediately rushed forward, and Beatrice's calm expression vanished as she moved toward her grandson.

"Ronin!" …. For an entire month, Ronin McCann remained unconscious. The palace descended into confusion after the crown prince, a man known for his strong body and unwavering mind, suddenly collapsed after finding the missing Empress Dowager. Countless physicians examined him, yet none could discover a physical reason for his condition. Eventually, there was nothing left to do but wait. When Ronin finally awakened, however, everyone who saw him realized that something about him had changed.

The first thing he did after opening his eyes was grab the hand of the nearest attendant.

"What year is it?" The attendant froze at the strange question but quickly answered. Ronin stared at them for a moment before asking again.

"What month?" After receiving the answer, his expression changed completely, as though something within him had quietly broken. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. When Beatrice heard what had happened, she immediately understood that something was wrong. Her grandson had returned to her, but whatever occurred during that month had left behind a weight she could not see. Carrying a bowl of porridge herself, she entered his room.

"Ronin, it is time to eat." The young man sitting beside the window slowly turned toward her. His distant expression vanished.

"Grandmother..." There was something in his voice that caused Beatrice's heart to tighten. Ronin immediately stood, but after spending an entire month unconscious, his weakened body could not support him. His legs gave out, sending him to the floor before the attendants could catch him. Beatrice quickly placed the bowl aside and reached toward him.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" But instead of taking her hand, Ronin wrapped his arms around her legs. Beatrice froze.

"Ronin?"

"You are alive..." His voice trembled.

"You are still alive." The Empress Dowager looked down at her grandson, unable to understand the reason behind his reaction.

"Thank God." His grip tightened.

"Thank God you are still alive." For a long moment, Beatrice remained silent. She did not understand what had happened to him, but she understood that Ronin had returned carrying a burden far heavier than anyone realized. … During the month Ronin had been unconscious, he had experienced something impossible. A vision. Or perhaps, more accurately, memories. Memories of a life he had already lived. In that life, he had become emperor.

He had grown older, ruled the Empire, carried the responsibilities placed upon him, and followed the path everyone expected of him. He had been the hero who saved the world. The emperor who rebuilt the kingdom. The ruler who brought stability after countless disasters. He once believed that after accomplishing everything expected of him, he would have no regrets. But he had been wrong. Achievements could not erase the people he failed to protect. His greatest regret was his grandmother.

When she needed him most, he had not been there. Because of the actions of the hero party and circumstances beyond his control, he had arrived too late. She had died. No matter how much power he gained afterward, no matter how many battles he won or how much of the world he rebuilt, he could never undo that moment. His second regret was the Saintess, a companion who had fought beside him and sacrificed herself. By the time he learned what had happened, he was already too late.

There were countless other things he wished he could change. The second calamity. The lives lost. The destruction that followed. Even after becoming emperor and spending years repairing the damage left behind, he could never forget the people who had died because he had not been able to do more. If he had another chance, he would change everything. He would protect everyone. He would never allow himself to arrive too late again. But time did not move backward. Or at least, that was what he believed.

After many years of ruling and carrying the weight of an entire kingdom upon his shoulders, Ronin eventually reached a point where he could no longer continue. The kingdom was healing, but the scars remained, and the losses he could not prevent continued to follow him. One day, as he stared out at the recovering world, a maid silently entered his room and placed a jar of wine before him. Ronin looked at the jar. Then he looked outside. The people he had failed were still gone.

The damage he could not erase still remained. And outside the palace, the voices of those who had once called him their hero now demanded his death. Perhaps this was the ending he deserved. A hero who could not save everyone. An emperor who could not protect his people. A man who had spent his entire life trying to repair what had already been lost. Ronin lifted the jar.

"To be killed by one's own people..." He closed his eyes.

"What a tragedy." He drank. And when he opened his eyes again, he was back. … At first, Ronin did not understand what had happened. The room, the people, and even the atmosphere surrounding him were unfamiliar, until an attendant addressed him.

"Your Highness." Not "Your Majesty." Not the title of the emperor he had become. The younger title. The one he had not heard in years. Only then did he understand. He had returned. For a brief moment, hope appeared. If he had returned, perhaps he could change everything. Perhaps he could save his grandmother. Perhaps he could prevent the tragedies that had haunted him. But that hope disappeared when he learned the truth. He had been unconscious for an entire month.

The moment he wanted to prevent had already passed. The chance he desperately wanted was already gone. Or at least, that was what he believed. Until he opened his eyes and saw her standing before him. Alive. His grandmother was alive. And for the first time in years, Ronin McCann felt that perhaps the impossible had truly happened.