Novel Full Chapter 269: Karina Maeril [7]
Chapter 269: Karina Maeril [7]
“These aren’t my memories.”
“They obviously aren’t.”
“Then why are we seeing this?”
“Not why.”
“….”
“It’s you who wants to see this.”
They stood within a constant flux of frozen time. The Origin of Time itself. Karina Maeril, as the Origin, seemed to possess some form of interference over the collapsing past, present, and future.
A misdirection.
These were not visions. They were exact replicas of events occurring simultaneously across time.
According to Albert Einstein, time was relative. There was no absolute present shared by all observers. Past, present, and future did not exist as a simple sequence.
This understanding was further formalized by Hermann Minkowski, who described time as inseparable from space, forming a single structure known as spacetime, where all events existed together as fixed coordinates.
And with Karina’s strongest attachment being her mother, Beatrice Maeril, she had unknowingly aligned herself with one such coordinate.
What she manifested was the past itself, still existing within the structure of time.
“Mother…”
Karina reached out, but her hand passed straight through her.
“….”
“Did you listen to my thesis?”
“Which one?”
“The String Theory.”
Vanitas Astrea’s String Theory proposed the existence of multiple dimensions inspired by Einstein and Minkowski.
Alternate realities, parallel worlds, or even the collision of past, present, and future. Theoretical concepts that, according to Vanitas, could not be perceived without the correct frequencies.
Because they existed in the present, or rather, in the future relative to the past, they could not interfere with it.
Just as Cha Eunwoo could not interfere with this dimension unless he was Vanitas Astrea.
That, at least, was the extent of Vanitas’s own speculation and research.
It was the only explanation that made sense for the existence known as the Archives of Haven.
Worlds had laws. Magic had laws.
And so, the Archives of Haven, which contained records of everything that had ever occurred across history, along with all knowledge and lost knowledge of the world, could not exist within any single era or location.
By necessity, it had to exist between layers of time and space itself.
Perhaps that was why he could never find it.
And if that were true, then perhaps Karina was the closest thing to a key.
Initially, he had believed it was Margaret. Vanitas had often entertained the thought that if Margaret focused hard enough, she might be able to cut through a gap in reality itself.
That she could warp the frequencies of existence and cleave a path leading directly to the Archives of Haven.
But that no longer seemed to be the case.
Because if such a threshold were crossed directly, if one were to walk through the front doors of the Archives of Haven, there was a high likelihood that the act itself would erase him.
That he would cease to exist.
But Karina was different.
If she could truly resonate with the frequencies of time, then perhaps her very existence could bypass the laws that bound the Archives of Haven.
Or perhaps, together, both Karina and Margaret could become a path.
“So if I can somehow align my frequencies, I can interfere with time?”
“In theory, yes.”
“And what’s the rationale for this?”
There was a trace of hysteria in Karina’s eyes. Or perhaps desperation. Either way, she was seriously considering interfering with time itself.
“I am the rationale,” Vanitas replied. “If you were listening, you’d know this is the first study.”
There was no such thing as a true first attempt.
Every theory that existed had been tested before by someone who failed. Someone who paid the price for reaching too far. Their mistakes, though partial successes, and discarded conclusions, were recorded and passed on to those who came after.
That was why references existed in the first place.
Only through the accumulation of past failures and rare successes could a theory gain legitimacy and acceptance.
“So it seems we’ve already met before, huh, Professor. You were even in our house.”
“It seems so.”
Karina looked away, her fingers curling.
“…I’m sorry for forgetting.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Crack——
Somewhere within the frost, a branch of ice thawed.
* * *
Vanitas would never admit it, but for a moment, he was able to relax within Beatrice’s household.
They were pleasant people. And whenever the air grew awkward, the little girl, Karina, would always be the first to break it. If that failed, then there was Beatrice, who had already shown him there was warmth in this bleak world.
A warmth he had not felt in a long, long time. So long that he had nearly forgotten what it meant. A warmth he had never even received from his own mother.
But there was one person who did not belong there.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t even him.
“Listen, Vanitas. Was it?” Romulus said. “If you’d like, I can help you. I have connections among the upper nobility. They could be of use to you.”
Romulus Neuschwan. Despite the smile on his face as he interacted with the family, Vanitas could not shake the feeling that something was off.
Call it bad vibes.
“Help me?” Vanitas asked. “Why?”
“You’re being abused, aren’t you?”
Vanitas frowned. He glanced at Beatrice, then turned back to Romulus.
“What makes you think that?”
“I know it’s hard to ask for help,” Romulus continued. “There are many cases like yours. But think of this as—”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Silence followed.
What had been a lively birthday party only moments ago turned awkward.
“You don’t know who my father is…”
Romulus cleared his throat. “Vanir Astrea, right? As far as I know, he’s only a Viscount. I’m fairly close with an Earl, so—”
“As I said,” Vanitas interrupted, “you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Vanir Astrea.
A Viscount in name alone. In truth, he was the Imperial Family’s hunting dog. That had always been the fate of the Astreas. Once Dukes, reduced to Viscounts within two generations. Vanitas had not realized it back then, but there had been a reason for it.
It was far easier to move through the underworld as a Viscount than as a Duke. A Duke was watched at all times. A Viscount, on the other hand, barely held any attention.
Romulus stood, then crouched down in front of him and placed a hand on Vanitas’s shoulder.
“I know you’re a good lad,” he said. “And I know pride makes it hard to accept help. But whatever you’re dealing with, you’re not alone.”
“Take your hand off me.”
Romulus hesitated, then slowly withdrew it.
“I’m not trying to insult you,” he continued. “I’m just saying there are paths out of situations like yours. You don’t need to fight everything by yourself.”
Vanitas looked away.
“Want to know what will happen if you mess with my father?”
His gaze swept across the room.
“This. All of this. It’ll be gone in a single night.”
“….”
“So it’s best if you just stop and mind your own business.”
No one spoke.
Then, all of a sudden, Beatrice began coughing. She reached for the table, trying to steady herself, then fumbled for a glass of water.
Unfortunately, her fingers missed. She stumbled, and her balance gave way.
“Beatrice!”
Romulus was on his feet in an instant, catching her before she could fall.
“I’m fine,” Beatrice said, forcing a weak smile. “I’ve just been… really tired lately…”
Vanitas glanced around in panic, feeling guilty for reasons he couldn’t explain. He avoided her gaze, then turned and bolted for the door.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Vanitas!”
Karina looked around, left and right, confused and shaken. Her birthday party had become an utter mess before she could understand why.
“Go after him,” Beatrice said.
Karina nodded and ran.
“Vanitas!”
Vanitas ran, then slowed, then stopped altogether. By the time he turned around, Karina was already there, catching her breath.
“Happy birthday,” he said. “I’m sorry for ruining the party.”
“…I don’t really understand,” Karina replied. “But I don’t think you did anything wrong.”
“I see. Goodbye.”
He turned to leave.
“Will I be able to see you again?” Karina asked.
He paused, then glanced back. “Why would you want to see someone like me?”
Karina tilted her head, as if the answer were obvious.
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Ever since that day, Vanitas disappeared.
He did not show up for school the next day.
Nor the day after that.
Not even the one after.
“….”
It was only later that Beatrice learned the truth. The boy had transferred to another academy under his father’s orders.
Only then did she realize the mistake she had made.
If she had never gotten involved with him, none of this would have happened. She could picture it all too clearly. A boy beaten for coming home late. The truth forced out of him. And then the decision made.
A transfer, arranged so that Beatrice would never have the chance to interfere again.
“It’s for the best,” Romulus said. “I looked into the Astreas. Apparently, Vanir Astrea is deeply involved with the underground mafia.”
Beatrice curled her fists tightly.
“But he was still a child,” she said. “Regardless of who his father is.”
Not long after, Beatrice fell ill.
The diagnosis came later. Mana Core Degeneration Syndrome. Despite only being a member of the staff at the Empress’s facility, she was not exempt.
“…Vanitas.”
And naturally, since Vanitas had been there as well, there was a high likelihood that the illness would one day manifest within him, too.
“I wish you good health.”
Beatrice inevitably was hospitalized as the illness grew stronger. Doctors stated she had a few months to live.
Unlike the Empress, whose illness had manifested early and received immediate intervention, Beatrice was already too late by the time hers was discovered.
She should have noticed the signs. But she had dismissed them as nothing more than exhaustion from being overworked. Because of that delay, there was a real chance she would die long before the Empress ever did.
“C-Court physician?”
Only then did Beatrice learn who had been overseeing the Empress’s treatment.
It was none other than her former husband, Zelliel.
“I… I have to see him…”
There was no lingering attachment or anything, nor any unresolved affection. Beatrice just wanted answers.
She wanted to know why.
Why he had abandoned them.
Why he had disappeared without a word.
Why he had never ever shown up in front of his own biological daughter, Karina.
Despite everything, Zelliel had been good to her during their time together.
So much so that, even now, she could not understand how someone like him could leave all his responsibilities aside.
As a Court Physician, one had to be formally validated by medical officials. Naturally, that meant Zelliel had deep connections within the hospital.
“Please,” Beatrice said. “Let me get through to him!”
She clutched the counter desperately. The nurses exchanged uneasy glances.
“I’m sorry, miss. Court physicians aren’t available without prior authorization.”
“Just tell him my name,” Beatrice insisted. “Please. That’s all I’m asking!”
Another nurse hesitated. “Even if we did, there’s no guarantee he would respond.”
“I understand,” Beatrice said. “I just… I need to see him.”
One of the nurses relented and sighed.
“…I’ll see what I can do. But don’t expect too much.”
Beatrice nodded.
Days passed.
Then, something unexpected happened.
“Vani… tas?”
Vanitas Astrea appeared before her hospital bed, all grown up now.