Chapter 11: Past

Ten years since I said goodbye to my beloved wife.

Today, I lived a life where I couldn’t sleep for even an hour, as I dealt with numerous tasks.

‘Is it time.’

I got up from my seat, opened the door to my office, and saw a dark hallway.

Even as I walked down the hallway to the youngest’s room, there was only one wish.

That she would open the door to her room, and call out ‘Dad,’ with a bright smile.

Was it because I had a lot on my mind?

I arrived in front of the youngest’s room.

When I opened the door, I saw the youngest sleeping on a pure white bed.

‘Aria Liberica’

The youngest daughter among my four beloved daughters.

It’s already been a year since the youngest fell into a deep sleep.

I summoned all the doctors in the empire to try and treat the youngest, but they all failed.

I didn’t spare those who dared to tell me to prepare myself.

‘Incompetent people who couldn’t even find out the name of the disease…’

I sat next to the youngest, who seemed as if she would wake up at any moment, and began to speak.

“You’re already 17 years old this year.”

It had become my habit to stroke the youngest’s head, who couldn’t wake up from her deep sleep, and speak to myself.

“These days, there are many swindlers. There were guys who used abandoned mines and lied about magic stones.”

12 years ago, there were also guys who swindled using magic stones, but I never thought there would be so many.

“How dare they think of swindling the Liberica Duke Family…”

I spoke to the youngest for a long time, but there was no reaction.

Looking at the youngest who was in a deep sleep with a troubled expression, I finally made up my mind and decided to put it into action.

“Since it’s come to this, there’s no choice but to change the plan.”

The next day, the third sister came to the office.

“Father. Are you really going to decide on the youngest?”

“Yes. Even if I turn back time, the youngest will fall into a deep sleep again.”

“I’m worried. It’s the first time we’re using the ‘Dragon Heart’ isn’t it?”

‘Dragon Heart’

It is called the dragon’s heart and is a gift left by the last dragon that existed in the world.

It’s only known that it can turn back the world’s time to 12 years ago, and the user will be blessed and gain various abilities.

As a representative ability, it gains the ability to be immune to any disease and to repel curses.

“If she receives the blessing, the youngest will be safe. That’s enough.”

“…If it’s Father’s decision, I’ll follow it. More than that, what about my sisters?”

“The first said she would send information from the academy, and the second will be here soon.”

As soon as I said that, the door of the office opened, and the second sister entered.

My second daughter, who has platinum blonde hair, bright and shining like her mother, arrived.

She was fluttering a silver robe that only the Master of the Tower could wear.

‘Aurora Liberica’

She is called the Master of the Tower and is said to be a great mage who stands at the pinnacle of all mages.

“Dad. And, Liriel, I’m here.”

“I’ve been waiting for you, little sister.”

“Come quickly. Did you get the message?”

“Yes, I did. I don’t mind, but are you really okay? The Dragon Heart disappears even if you turn back time.”

The Dragon Heart, which loses its effect if you turn back time, turns to dust and disappears.

It means you can never turn back time again.

“It’s okay. Using the Dragon Heart to turn back time is for the happiness of our family.”

10 years ago, I had to say goodbye to my wife, and now, even the youngest is in danger.

I have to turn back time before it’s too late.

According to the original plan, I was going to use the Dragon Heart.

The person who uses the Dragon Heart to turn back time can return with all the memories.

‘I wanted to tell the youngest that I love her the most in the world if I went back…’

There were many things I couldn’t do for the youngest.

I made her grow up without even the attention of her parents during the most important time of her life.

Even though it was to take care of my wife’s illness, I committed an act that I couldn’t be forgiven for by the youngest.

A bolt from the blue was heard while I was lost in thought.

“Dad, then you have to change the youngest’s memory.”

“What do you mean?”

“The youngest is asleep because of an unknown disease, right now. You have to change her memories first.”

After listening to my second daughter’s explanation, she said that if I turned back time in this state, the youngest might not be able to wake up forever in the worst case.

“In a word, do you mean that I have to deceive the youngest into thinking that she died of an illness…?”

“That’s right. Humans are delicate. It’s fatal if you mess up their memories a little.
And, you have to give the youngest gifts, starting with Mom’s cure and information that will be helpful in the future.”

“…Isn’t there another way? At least, besides the memory of dying from illness, what about happy memories…?”

“You have to change the memory as similar as possible to avoid side effects.”

I had a long argument, but my second daughter was firm.

In the end, I proceeded with the plan according to my second daughter’s words, but I couldn’t hide my bitter feelings.

I couldn’t raise her to be cherished, but I have to make her regress with those bad memories…

‘You can resent your father. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…’

There was a secret place in the Liberica Duke Family.

It’s a place where only the head of the family can enter, and even direct family members don’t know about it, except for the head of the family.

Currently, in that place, all the magical circles, which were both elaborate and complex, were emitting bright light.

In the center of the magic circle, there was a pure white bed, which didn’t fit the room, and the youngest was sleeping there.

According to my second daughter, the preparation period takes about a month, so I have to give the youngest as much information as possible.

Generally, you can’t remember anything while you’re asleep, but it was made possible with a magic circle.

It makes it possible to remember the stories you heard while sleeping, and those memories take a natural form.

For example, you overheard the stories by chance, or you saw them through newspapers.

Our family told the youngest many stories for a month.

“My unnie, you know, she was swindled once when she was young, right? She bought a painting, but she didn’t know it was fake.”

…For the sake of the family.

“At that time, the third sister cried and asked Dad to help her.”

“Hiiiiik!? P, please don’t say those things! I’m sure the youngest will change the future!”

“Huhu, yeah, yeah. Ah, Dad, I don’t have many wishes.
If my wife…that is, if our youngest’s mother is safe, I’ll be satisfied with that.”

“Father is a real family man. I also want to meet a man like Father.”

“…That won’t work. Didn’t our daughters decide to live with Dad forever? I’ll get rid of anyone you bring.”

“…Father. That’s a display of favoritism.”

How long has it been since we had such an ordinary conversation?

“And, you know, my unnie was betrayed by the people she trusted, right? I’ll tell you the list from now on, so you have to let me know!”

“…Is that for the youngest? It seems like you’re using it for personal reasons.”

“Of course! Wouldn’t the youngest do well if unnie does well!? We’re family!”

“…Yes.”

Starting with those words, the third sister began to pour out a lot of stories, which was a concern.

Our youngest is kind, so she’ll surely help, but there were more accidents and incidents than I thought.

The third sister, who was pouring out stories for a long time, seemed tired and said she would take a break and leave the room.

And after a while, my second daughter entered.

“Dad, I’m here.”

“Yes. Does our second daughter have something to say, too?”

“…It’s a secret, but can you go out, too, Dad?”

“…I understand.”

I suppressed my feeling of disappointment and left the room, and my second daughter was waiting for me to leave.

‘…I’m disappointed. Well, it’s my fault, so I can’t help it.’

Dad left the room, and I was alone with the youngest.

I looked closely at the youngest who was sleeping and began to stroke her head and tell her a story.

“My unnie, you know, had a hard time. If you help my unnie in those days, then, for your whole life…”

That day arrived.

The day to turn back time using the Dragon Heart.

The family gathered, centered around the youngest.

There are only 5 people right now, but if we turn back time and the youngest changes the future, there will be 6.

With that one belief, I looked at the youngest and said a word.

“…The me from 12 years ago may be a little cold, so don’t get hurt.”

“That’s right. Dad was a tyrant back then. Me too, and the second unnie…”

“…Stop it. Now, I’ll start. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

I looked at my second daughter, as she was fluttering her silver robe, and holding a wand in the air.

At the moment she swung the wand, the world began to collapse.

After the last words, the world went dark.

“I love you, my daughter.”