When he saw the saint for the first time.
Remember, he drew a dividing line for himself; That he can pretend to love her all he wants, but he will never truly love her.
Until now, he was the type to set strict standards for the girl of his dreams that might not exist in this world, clinging to the idea that if she wasn't his dream girl, then she wasn't his destiny.
When the shabby saint began to look nice in his eyes.
When his mood began to rise and fall with every trivial word or simple action from her.
And when he found himself unable to take his eyes off her little round head, he thought that his heart had tilted just a little.
Take it easy and consider it as permissible.
Although his goal was different, in the end she was the woman he would take as a wife.
So consider having some degree of admiration a good thing.
It's definitely better than being someone you can't stand to see.
But, does this mean he actually loves her?
Once he realized the truth of his feelings, he felt like his head was spinning.
'...Oh shit'
In fact, the reason why Alisto denied that Saint was the girl of his dreams for all that period was due to a subconscious deep within him: 'Precious people are weaknesses.'
This is what he saw and grew up with.
His mother, despite losing her husband, was forced to live a life she did not want just to protect her precious child.
And Gerold, because he considers his mother dear to him, goes to visit her like a fool every time despite all the hatred he receives from her.
Because he realizes this, Alisto himself has repeatedly exploited the people dear to his opponents as weaknesses with which to pressure them to get what he wants.
So, he didn't have the slightest desire to possess someone dear to his heart.
Especially since his mother or Gerold at least have enough strength to protect themselves, but Saint...
Screw it.
The best choice was to not love her in the first place.
'Would it be okay if I tried not to love her from now on?'
He looked at the saint for a moment.
She had no idea what was on his mind.
Once she saw her staring at him with her round eyes, and gesturing with her chin towards the strawberry, signaling him to quickly lift the fork.
He obediently lifted the fork holding the strawberries, and thought as he watched her open her little mouth “Woah” to pick the strawberries: that he didn’t have the confidence not to love her, even if he tried from now on.
He doesn't know how someone could be so kind and gentle.
Since he has realized his love for her, and has come to the decision that he cannot hold back his feelings, he has no choice now.
Except to become the strongest greenhouse (glass house) to protect this fragile flower.
'First...'
“I, I really love you”
***
Paradoxically, Alisto's confession sours Atha's mood rather than cheers him up.
Because his facial expressions when he said “I love you” looked very miserable and complicated.
I definitely felt the dating vibe.
There was heartbeat, pampering, and sweet moments, so why did he say the word “I love you” with that face?
And moreover.
He didn't say "I love you", he said "I really love you" (meaning: it seems like I really love you)?
'...Do you really love me?'
This question came to her mind for a moment, but she really didn't doubt his words.
Is it reasonable for the “promising tyrant” who only shows warmth to his wife, and the “first fool” in the world, to lie and say that he loves a woman when he does not?
There is no greater breakdown of character than this.
So, the word “I love you” itself was reliable.
But why was his face like that?
'Does it bother him that he loves me?'
Does he love me against his will when he doesn't want to?
Is it because this is the “setting” of the character in the novel?
Is he not happy with his heartbeat, but just defined his feelings as love?
'This...'
Can this be called my love?
Even his feeling of love for me is false then.
>
“Okay.
Let's go together.”
“Don't we look perfectly proportioned?
Marry me.”
“If you feel afraid and want to escape, come to me.”
<
Maybe he didn't have freedom to begin with.
If only he had chosen the words and actions that the “writer” specified for his character.
Can the kindness and admiration he showed me be considered real?
Just when she thought that all this was just an elaborate scenario, she was overcome by a sudden feeling of extreme loneliness.
This world, in which she had expected to live happily while enjoying “imperial confinement,” began to feel to her as if it was a world that lacked reality.
The sun disappeared behind the distant mountains.
Although the world is still bright, the time of darkness is approaching.
“It's getting cold, how about we go back now?”
Atha, who had been absent-minded for a while, quickly agreed with Alisto’s words: “A good idea.”
She needed time alone to organize her thoughts and feelings.
'I will act as usual for now, and immediately return to the Almond Pavilion.'
Atha began placing the empty food containers neatly into the picnic basket.
As Alisto watched the saint move skillfully, he thought for a moment about how to broach the topic.
It will be a sensitive question because it concerns her ability, so how does it start?
Moreover, the saint denied her knowledge of the revelation a short while ago.
Would she answer him if he asked?
While he was watching her and thinking about it.
The saint who had placed the plates and forks in the basket stood up and asked him first: “Do you have something else to say?”
Since he did not deliberately hide his features, he expected her to find out about him, so his face looked a little embarrassed: “Was it clear?”
“I'm very observant.
What do you want to say?”
He didn't wait long and asked her directly.
Very simply, as if the question had no importance: “The ability to rewind time, can you use it whenever you want?”
She shook her head in denial: “No?
I cannot.
In fact, it is an ability that is as if it does not exist...
Hope.”
She quickly covered her mouth as if she had made a mistake, but the words that came out could not be taken back.
Of course, Alisto pretended not to notice her action nor her previous lie about the revelation.
He merely looked into her brown eyes seriously and continued with his next question: “Do you know how to use it?”
The saint hesitated for a moment, then swallowed her saliva and nodded once.
“Can you tell me?”
Atha thought for a moment.
Will you tell Alisto everything?
Honestly?
There is no reason why this should not be done.
If he did not have free will and was forced to love her, he would certainly protect her under all circumstances.
If its heart is a result of the novel's settings, that makes its effect all the more credible.
Unless an exceptional reason occurs, his feelings will continue steadily.
But, what if...
What if I'm wrong about Alisto and this world?
“……”
This is impossible.
Atha was convinced that this world was made of paper, or a digital world.
Moreover, he said that he wanted to prevent anyone from exploiting the Saint's power—
The more she thought, the more she felt that telling him the truth and asking for his help would be better for her future survival.
And when her heart began to lean toward frankness—
“If the answer is not in your interest, it is okay to skip the question.”
Was it his words that she shouldn't talk that gave her more confidence?
Her heart tilted completely and quickly.
Atha looked around resolutely.
Even though it was a quiet and empty forest, she took a step closer to Alisto as if she was afraid that someone would hear her.
Then she whispered in a faint voice: “…If I die, time will go back about six months.”
***
The moment he heard the saint's answer—
A red warning light lit up in Alisto's head.
The saint does not use a tool to turn back time, but the saint herself is the tool?
Previously, that is, before he realized his love for the saint—
He wouldn't have been much affected even assuming she was kidnapped in an unfortunate accident.
Because he was confident that he could get her back at any time and no matter who the opponent was, as long as she was alive.
Of course, then Alisto only needed the Saint's ability, and her condition was not among his considerations at all.
But now the situation has changed.
No matter how much he hated the idea of putting a saint in a terrifying situation, he found a reason why committing even a single mistake against her was not permissible.
If someone who needs the saint's power knows that she is the tool that restores time with her death...
He would kill her immediately without needing to torture her.
'I won't even have time to save this woman.'
That is, no one should know this secret.