Chapter 40

To Consciously Use It

“…Couldn’t we just avoid having people investigate? You know, like robots… I mean, manipulating inorganic puppets to do the investigation instead?”

I almost mentioned something like a Roomba cleaning robot or a drone but quickly swallowed the words.

If it’s dangerous for people to enter, couldn’t we let inorganic objects handle the investigation?

That was my simplistic thought, but His Highness Lian answered easily.

“We do have magical puppet robots in the Lumos Empire, but…”

They exist!!

“Regardless, as long as there’s a disparity between the internal space and external time flow, without dispelling the magic, the investigation would still take years. Thirty minutes inside equates to two years outside.”

Oh, right~~~~!!
Of course!
Obviously!!
What am I even saying!!

I wanted to smack my own foolish head for such a naive idea.

But then, a critical issue arose.
Namely…

(Do I even have this so-called time-leaping power…!?)

Far from consciously using it, I wasn’t even sure it existed within me.

I desperately wanted to help with the tower’s investigation, but at this rate, I’d be nothing but a useless burden.

(The tower investigation will likely be a one-shot deal…)

If I couldn’t dispel the [Time Leap] magic inside the tower, time outside would pass in an instant.

A day or two might be fine.

But His Highness Lian said one minute inside the room equals roughly a month outside.
The skill to dispel the magic within seconds—ideally immediately upon entering—would be required.

I had no confidence in pulling that off right now.

When I shared this concern with His Highness Lian, he placed a finger on his chin, thoughtful, and spoke calmly.

“…As I mentioned, I believe the reason you crossed time is due to your latent ability. So, if you could consciously draw out that power…”

He paused, as if considering, then continued.

“Lady Felicia, since arriving here, have you ever felt the [Time Leap] ability manifest?”

“Felt the Time Leap ability manifest?”

I echoed, and he nodded in response.

“If the ability, dormant in your subconscious, has surfaced due to some trigger, it might activate unconsciously. Do you have any moments that come to mind?”

“—”

His words sparked a memory.
I opened my mouth slowly.

“…It might be overthinking, but…”

There was a sense of something off.
It happened just recently.
In the castle library, when Magnolia nearly fell.

(That moment… there was no way I could’ve reached her in time.)

It felt impossible.
Yet, I stretched out my hand.

And in that instant—

Magnolia’s body… unnaturally froze.

At least, that’s how it looked to me.
Then, before I knew it, I had grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward me.

It happened so quickly that I didn’t think about the reason at the time.

But now, prompted by His Highness Lian, I wondered if…

It might be overthinking.
But looking back, it was a discrepancy I couldn’t ignore.

When I voiced this, His Highness Lian’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You met Lady Magnolia? That’s…”

(Ah, in the Lumos Empire, noblewomen are called [Lady]…)

Another difference from Tsoabella.
Back then, we used “Lady” or “Miss.”

[TL/N: Felicia notices that in the Lumos Empire, noblewomen are called [Lady] (嬢, jou), a term for young, high-status women. In Tsoabella, they used “Lady” (レディ, redi) or “Miss” (ミス, mis) instead which is comparatively more formal.]

His Highness Lian looked hesitant, averting his gaze.
But he seemed to decide to continue.

“…My apologies for the inconvenience she caused.”
Magnolia’s sudden appearance was surprising, but I didn’t feel inconvenienced, so I shook my head.
Then, I returned to the topic.

“At that moment, indeed—for just a split second… her body seemed to stop.”

If not for that, I wouldn’t have been able to grab her wrist.

“I see. That’s fortunate. It’s good she wasn’t injured. If something happened to her, the duke would make a fuss, and it would’ve dragged you into it.”

(…As expected.)

His words echoed Zax’s, but their intent felt entirely different.
Zax’s words seemed to show concern for Magnolia, but His Highness Lian—

“If your [Time Leap] ability activates in a crisis, how about intentionally creating such a situation?”

“Eh!?”

I snapped my head up at his words.

(Creating that situation??)

Meaning??

“A crisis situation… how would we create that?”

I asked cautiously.

(Surely not… falling down stairs?)

The trope of a shock awakening an ability made me think of something like falling down stairs.

That’s terrifying and dangerous.
I definitely didn’t want to do it voluntarily.

As I thought this, His Highness Lian smiled warmly but said something outrageous.

“In our empire, we have a game called Aerial Levitation. One variant, Fall-in-the-Sky, uses wind magic to drop from a great height. Wouldn’t that safely simulate a crisis?”

Wait, wait, wait.
Is it just me, or do those words sound wildly contradictory!?

(“Safely simulate a crisis”!? What does that mean!?
Aerial falling—that’s just bungee jumping from my previous life!!)

I wanted to retort, but sadly, time ran out.

Before I knew it, the sky had shifted from crimson to deep navy.

Feeling a chill, His Highness Lian concluded, “Let’s call it a day.”
Rising from his chair, he let out a soft chuckle.

“? What’s wrong?”

When I asked, he looked at me with a relaxed, amused smile.
His eyes sparkled.

“No, it’s just… the thought that the seal, unsolved for five hundred years, might be my magic… it’s exciting.”

“…”

“What kind of magical structure, magic circle, or incantation was used to create that impregnable seal…? Just thinking about it makes my heart race. Don’t you feel your blood boil when faced with a difficult problem?”

No, I think that’s just you…

(Crown Prince Lumière said wielding a sword suited him, but…)

His Highness Lian is definitely his brother.
I can feel the same blood running through them.