Chapter 49: Time Passes, the Past Won’t Return

“Haha, what a coincidence, running into Your Majesty here.” Tina’s panic was palpable, nearly blurting out her guilty deeds.
“Oh? No coincidence. I came looking for you.” Althea’s smile didn’t falter as she paid for Tina’s items. “So, Miss Tyna, why are you here instead of working?”

“Um… I was too tired from dancing yesterday. Needed a rest.”
“Alright, no practice today then.”

Surprisingly, Althea didn’t press further about her earlier question, which only heightened Tina’s unease.
“You asked what I looked like before transforming. Why not now?”

“I saw you didn’t want to talk, so I didn’t ask.”
Or rather, there was no need—she already knew what Tina’s true form was. She was just playing along.

“Unless… you want to tell me? I don’t mind.” Althea knew Tina wouldn’t answer honestly.
—Tina had been hiding from her.

Why she’d avoided her for six years, never returning to Kellivir, Althea couldn’t fathom.
She wanted to tie Tina up now, demand why she’d made her wait, searching bitterly all this time.

Was this Tina the same innocent girl from back then?
Or had it all been a lie—a six-year deception, stealing her heart, then abandoning her without a glance?

“If I said this is my real form, would you believe me?”
“Hmm~”

Althea gave a noncommittal hum, having anticipated this act, this answer.
More than her true form, what mattered now was—

“I said I’d leave after the auction, right?”
“Yes, what about it?”

Tina grew nervous. Was Althea planning to stay longer?
“Relax.” Althea patted her shoulder. “Are you that worried I’ll stick around?”

“No, no, not at all…” Tina shook her head like a rattle, desperate to prove otherwise.
“You don’t need to lie to me.”

Althea’s simple words pierced Tina’s defenses.
Does she know who I am? Tina felt a chill of fear.

“Why that look? What kind of massive lie have you told to go to such lengths to avoid me?”
Althea was one step from spelling it out.

Tina played dumb. “Haha, we’ve never met before, have we? How could I be avoiding you?”
She heard Althea let out a heavy, muffled sigh.

“You’re right. Maybe we’ve never met.”
Tina had never seen Althea so heartbroken, enveloped in a gloomy aura, like a lifeless husk.

“But that’s fine. Faces we haven’t seen before, we can make up for in the future.”
Suddenly animated, Althea leaned closer, grabbing her hand.

“As I said, I’ll make you want to come with me. If you don’t…”
Althea paused, leaving the rest unsaid.

If Tina didn’t, she’d be heartbroken.
She cared so much—coming to the inn to check on her, only to learn she’d been at the tea party.

Using some unknown magic, Tina had saved her life, keeping her from a poisoned fate.
Yet she acted like nothing happened, refusing any connection.

Such a kind-hearted Tina, just like before—but why so dishonest now? Why refuse to return home?
Was it the new body, the freedom of walking legs, that made her yearn for the outside world?

Had she forgotten the promises, the vows of marriage, chasing freedom and abandoning her?
…I’ve waited so long.

I won’t wait anymore.
If Tina still refused to leave with her in two days, Althea would make her revert to her wheelchair-bound self.

Then, she’d never leave her side again, forever offering her everything—her love.
Oh, a witch’s love!

“Uh, you’re thinking something dangerous, aren’t you?”
The happier Althea’s smile, the more terrified Tina became.

Her beauty didn’t spark joy—it was chilling, terrifying.
“Hey, you’ll come back with me, right?”

Althea’s mood had lifted, her question brimming with excitement.
She’d mapped out the path ahead.

No matter the choice, it led to one outcome.
The only difference was a winding or direct route.

“I… we’ll see?”
Tina dared not speak recklessly, fearing Althea might lock her in a dark room, subjecting her to endless, unspeakable acts until her mind broke.

That was the most despairing way to go.
“Hehe, good. I like this Tyna. A direct rejection would break my heart~”

Althea browsed the shop, buying a few potions. “Didn’t expect Valencia’s potions to be so advanced. Each one’s effect is so rare—hard to find elsewhere.”
Tina noticed a pink potion bubbling like soda and a pitch-black one that didn’t look potable, both purchased.

“Your Majesty, buying these for something special?” she asked, probing cautiously.
“Hm? No, just collecting. Probably won’t use them.”

“Just collecting, huh.”
Tina’s lip twitched. As if the pink one’s for buffs and the black one’s a nuke.

“All done. Time to head back~” Althea squinted, her smile widening.
“Back… where?”

“Where else? My room, at this hour.”
“Didn’t we say no dance practice today?” Tina was confused.

“Right, but can’t you come without dancing? We can do other things, like…”
“Like?” Tina had a bad feeling.

Althea pondered. “How about you tell me a bedtime story tonight? It’s been ages since I’ve heard one.”
“Oh, just a bedtime story? Easy enough.”

Yes, start with stories, ease back into the old life step by step.
Althea thought to herself.