MTM 99

“It’s cloudy today too….”

Harto muttered to himself as he looked out the window. The rain had completely stopped by dawn, but the sky was still thick with dark clouds, as if it might pour down again at any moment.

“Mister Harto, this way.”

“Oh, yes…!”

The butler politely showed the way to Harto, who was slightly behind Ser and Reina. Harto hurried to follow them. Today, he was leaving the annex and heading to the mansion’s dining room to have breakfast with Isadora.

It was because Isadora had requested that they eat together today, as they had not been able to do so properly the day before due to the news of the Crown Prince’s visit.

“You may sit wherever you like.”

Arriving in the dining room, Harto took his seat at a neatly arranged round table. However, Isadora was still nowhere to be seen. Taking advantage of the gap, Harto cautiously addressed Ser and Reina.

“…. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth….”

When he apologized for not having been honest about the fact that the crown prince almost visited, Reina just chuckled and shook her head.

“Why are you sorry? Harto, I know you were worried about us. You don’t have to worry.”

Reina’s face was calm, as if nothing had happened. She had been anxious the night before, so she kept consulting her fortune, but the fact that the crown prince hadn’t visited the mansion seemed to be a great comfort to her.

The Crown Prince said that on his way to the Grenhardt mansion, the road was blocked by a landslide caused by rain, and he had no choice but to turn back.

‘Thank god… .’

Harto felt relieved when he heard those words, but at the same time, yesterday’s strange experience came to mind.

‘… How unexpected. To think that a fragment of the Demon God is in a place like this.’

What on earth could it have been? A simple illusion? An hallucination? It was too vivid, too chilling to dismiss. Just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Yes, Harto. Don’t worry too much, like Reina said. I don’t believe in superstitions, but… this time, it really feels like heaven is helping.”

Ser, observing Harto’s expression, smiled gently and spoke. His gaze seemed much warmer than before. After their conversation yesterday, he felt that they definitely had grown closer.

“Yes… Maybe it really was heaven helping us.”

Harto blinked, agreeing with Ser’s words. He was overwhelmed by drowsiness, making his eyelids heavy.

Actually, after talking to Ser yesterday, he had so many thoughts that he could hardly sleep at night.

‘But why hesitate? The world isn’t going to end any time soon.’

It was because of that one line from Ser.

He’d always thought he had to accept his fate as if it were a given. That was the original novel’s premise.

However, the reality he faced was very different from the original.

Of course, it differs from the original in that he, possessed Hartiros, hid himself without revealing his identity to anyone. However, that was all; he did not defy fate or exert influence on anyone.

Despite this, Zed’s actions differed from those of the original. Furthermore, Isadora, who should have become a holy knight, became the commander of the Royal Knights, and the Crown Prince of the Regnovar Empire was still alive.

‘No, I’m not sure if the Crown Prince is still alive… ‘

In the original novel, Crown Prince Magnus harbored immense envy and jealousy toward Ares Carseon. This tormented Ares, and even the readers longed for him to escape the palace. Fortunately, the crown prince was murdered for unknown reasons before Ares could receive the revelation.

But the crown prince was not only alive, but was also relentlessly pursuing Ares.

It seemed Zed hadn’t yet received the revelation about the world’s destruction. There wasn’t much time left until he did, but if the crown prince truly survived his fate…

‘Then… the fate given to Hartiros, perhaps… .’

Harto had something he wanted to confirm.

Creak.

Just then, the door to the dining room opened and Isadora and Robert entered.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Isadora’s expression was one of genuine apology and embarrassment, but Robert’s face, on the other hand, seemed remarkably bright. He greeted Reina first with dignity.

“I am Robert Gremore, the mage of the Royal Knights who was in charge of Lady Reina’s treatment two days ago. You may call me Robert, my lady.”

“Oh my, I didn’t even know that. Thank you so much.”

“Not at all. So… I know it’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but I skipped breakfast because I’m taking on all of Commander Isadora’s overflowing workload. Would it be alright if I joined you here?”

Robert asked with a smile. Isadora, beside him, looked displeased, but Robert seemed unfazed by it.

Robert, who had been smiling brightly, now walked towards Harto. Isadora’s gaze grew threatening.

“Robert, don’t make Harto uncomfortable for no reason. Sit over here.”

As Robert attempted to pull out the chair next to Harto, Isadora quickly stopped him. Robert bowed, his eyes widening as if to ask what she meant.

“Harto, are you uncomfortable with me sitting next to you?”

“Huh? Oh… no.”

Harto glanced at Isadora and answered. He really wouldn’t be uncomfortable sitting next to anyone.

“Oh, what a relief! I really want to sit here. I want to get a good view of the commander’s face.”

“…….”

Isadora frowned for a moment at Robert’s witty words and then sat down without saying anything.

Finally, breakfast began. Bread, soft scrambled eggs, a warm tomato soup and chicken broth were placed on the table. As Isadora continued eating, she discussed the necessary measures to ensure Reina’s safe passage to Hipora. Ser listened quietly to the conversation and asked questions about those who had been transported to the shelter.

Harto also ate in silence, listening to their story, and then opened his mouth.

“I… Mr. Robert.”

“You can just call me Robert.”

“But….”

Harto hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask what he had been curious about.

“By any chance… besides the relation of Commander and knight….”

“Are we personally acquainted with each other?”

“Huh? Oh… yes, that’s right. You seem very friendly….”

“Really? Do we seem close? Not like we’re on bad terms?”

Robert’s eyes sparkled as he laughed, as if he found something so amusing. His laughter echoed throughout the dining room, drawing Isadora’s attention. But she quickly continued her conversation with Reina as if nothing had happened.

“In my eyes… you look close….”

As Harto, feeling embarrassed, muttered softly, Robert wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke leisurely.

“You have a keen eye. That’s right. We’ve been close since we were young. Of course, the commander might not think so.”

“Really…? Then are you friends?”

“Hmm… That’s right. Usually, we call that a childhood friend.”

“……!”

His heart pounded for a moment. Harto took a deep breath and asked again.

“Then, by any chance… when you were 9 years old, did you ever fall from a tree?”

“…Did Isadora tell you that?”

‘Ah! So it really was true…!’

It was a question he asked out of curiosity, but Robert was indeed the childhood friend who had held great significance in Isadora’s past.

Isadora suffered for a long time from a deep sense of guilt after losing her childhood friend in a bet to pick an apple from the very top of a tree.

“I fell from a pretty high place and almost died. But Isadora caught me, and I barely survived. Because of that, Isadora broke one of her legs….”

Robert’s expression turned bitter as he recalled the events of that day.

“She saved my life. From that moment on, I decided to stay by Isadora’s side for the rest of my life.”

Only then did everything make sense. Why Robert knew so much about the Grenhardt mansion? Why, as a mage of the Royal Knights, he attended Isadora like a shadow.

All the reasons fell into place naturally.

‘It changed… fate…’

Maybe fate really could be changed.

‘When that sprout fully grows and takes firm root, not even the fate given to you will be able to shake you.’

At the same time, the words that Reina had conveyed through the bronze mirror came to mind.

A brighter color quickly appeared on Harto’s face. His expression, which had been weighed down by the pressure, brightened.

“Reina!”

As soon as breakfast was over and Isadora and Robert had left, Harto called out to Reina loudly.

“Huh?”

Harto quickly approached Reina, who turned her head with surprised eyes, and hugged her tightly.

“Thank you so much.”

“Huh? Me…?”

Reina was taken aback by the sudden thank you, even though she hadn’t done anything special.