Bouclair, the palace of the capital Bellenov, the jewel of the city and a haven of luxury, stands proudly atop a verdant hill, offering a panoramic view of the entire city. Its white walls gleam under the sunlight, like mirrors reflecting the grandeur of the place, topped with blue-tiled roofs that boldly and elegantly kiss the sky. Surrounding the palace are lush gardens, resembling a natural painting woven by the hand of a master artist, filled with all kinds of plants and diverse flowers that spread their fragrance everywhere.
The wall encircling the palace is made of strong steel, but the clever design has intertwined dense trees around it, creating a perfect blend of strength and beauty.
The marble bridge connecting the palace to the city is an architectural masterpiece in itself, with its broad walkways adorned with intricate carvings and its pillars reflecting the sunlight as if inviting kings and knights to cross into this dream palace. Beneath the bridge flows a clear river that mirrors the image of the palace in a scene beyond description.
The palace is not just a symbol of authority but the beating heart of the city, drawing everyone in search of the beauty and majesty that inhabit every corner of it.
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After a week in this palace, our protagonist was still learning the art of gardening under the tutelage of the palace gardener, Old Rom. Rom was an elderly man with deep knowledge of agriculture, teaching our hero how to plant trees and nurture flowers with care and patience. Despite gardening tasks seeming arduous at first, the protagonist began to take pride in seeing the flowers embellish the garden and every plant grow under his hands.
Ryan: "Damn it, this is harder than I thought. I used to believe gardening was just watering flowers, but now I feel like I'm tending to an entire forest! But, no complaints—I have a place to sleep, food to eat, and I'm getting paid too."
Old Rom (hitting Ryan with his stick): "Oh! Did you come here to fool around or to work? Do you think gardening is just watering? You must understand that every flower here has its own specific needs!"
Ryan (groaning from the hit): "Ouch! What did I do? Why are you hitting me, you senile old man?"
Old Rom (angrily): "Listen up! Orchid flowers require delicate care. Do not overwater them, as the soil mustn't be soaked! I see you drowning the soil. Do you think the flowers need a swimming pool instead of soil?"
Old Rom (continuing in a furious tone): "And what about the lavender flowers? Did you care for them properly?"
Ryan (muttering to himself): "Damn! I completely forgot about them."
Old Rom (hitting him again): "You fool! How can I teach you to care for trees when you can't even handle flowers?"
Ryan (sighing in pain): "I understand now... but this is truly harder than I expected."
Old Rom (lowering his stick slightly, then looking at him with sympathy): "Gardening isn't just work; it's an art. You have to feel every flower as though it's a part of you. Don't expect to become a skilled gardener overnight. But with time, you'll understand, you'll feel, and you'll grow alongside the plants."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching from behind and turned around.
Old Rom: "Is that you, Camellia?"
Camellia: "Uncle Rom, what's going on? I can hear your shouting all the way from the palace kitchen."
Old Rom: "Ah, my dear, this hard-headed boy is driving me insane! A whole week, and he still can't tell the simplest flowers apart!"
Camellia (giggling softly): "Don't be too harsh on him, Uncle. He's new here, and it seems he's doing his best."
Camellia, the head maid of the palace, was a woman in her thirties, though her features appeared ten years younger. Her silky black hair and hazel eyes made her no less beautiful than the most stunning ladies. She had captivated the hearts of the palace staff and even noblemen from across the kingdoms. Three knights had proposed to her, but she turned them all down.
Camellia: "Thank you, Ryan. The boys you saved in the cave—one of them is my younger brother. He's reckless and never listens to me. Our parents left him in my care, and I didn't know what to do when he disappeared. I searched the entire city for him. Thank you again."
Ryan: "No need to thank me. Actually, it was Lilia who saved them. All I did was stand guard."
Camellia: "She told me you were the one who found them. By the way, when you finish your work, come to the kitchen. I have a task for you."
Ryan: "Alright."
Camellia (smiling charmingly): "And also, take care of the camellias for me—they're my favorite, Flower Knight."
Ryan (blushing): "I... I will."
Old Rom: "Now, you fool, go and fetch the seeds from the storage. Today, you'll learn how to plant."
On his way to the storage room, Ryan noticed a girl sitting by the fountain in the middle of the rose garden. Her golden hair shimmered like gold under the sunlight, and her pale skin resembled the snow of the mountains. She was petting the rabbits around her, and for a moment, Ryan thought she was an angel due to her overwhelming beauty.
He noticed that the beautiful girl glanced at him briefly before shyly running to hide behind her maid.
Ryan (nervously): "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Maid (smiling reassuringly): "No need to worry, sir. My lady doesn't mean any offense; she's just very shy, especially with strangers."
Ryan (with a slight smile): "I'm not a stranger. I'm the new gardener here at the palace. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Ryan Carter. I've been here for a week. It's a pleasure to meet you both. What are your names?"
Maid: "My name is Beatrice."
Ryan: "And what about the lovely lady hiding behind you? What's her name?"
At that moment, Ryan noticed the shape of the shy girl's ears—they were unusually long, unlike those of humans.
Ryan (in astonishment): "Miss, are you an elf?"
The beautiful girl only stared at him shyly, without responding.
Ryan (smiling): "Damn, she's adorable."
Beatrice: "Yes, Lady Merilyn is an elf."
Ryan (curiously): "Wait, why are you answering for her?"
Beatrice: "Because Lady Merilyn cannot speak. She is mute."
Ryan (Pondering): "Really? Sorry, I didn't know."
Beatrice (Reassuring): "No need to apologize. Now that you know, it's fine."
Beatrice then turned to the girl:
"We must go now, Lady Merilin. You need to prepare for Lord Rothschild's son's party."
Beatrice and Merilin left, leaving Ryan deep in thought. He hadn't expected to see one of the elves up close. He muttered to himself:
"Truly, the elves are as beautiful as they are said to be."
Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his head with a cane. He turned to find Uncle Rom standing behind him, his face stern.
Uncle Rom (Angrily): "I sent you to fetch the seeds from the storage, not to bring back a Cyclops' eye!"
Ryan (Hesitantly): "By the way, Uncle, why is that elf girl here? I thought elves preferred isolation in their forests."
Uncle Rom (Sighing): "Ah, that girl? She's a guest of the Duchess. She was purchased from a slave trader ten years ago."
Ryan (Shocked): "Wait, if she was bought, why is she treated as a guest?"
Uncle Rom (Irritated): "I don't know, and I don't want to know! You ask too many questions! Why don't you show the same enthusiasm about gardening? Now hurry and fetch what I asked for."
Ryan's workday finally ended after a long, exhausting day. On his way to his room, he remembered Camellia's request to meet her after work. He muttered to himself:
"Alright, I'll take a bath first since I reek of that cursed fertilizer, then I'll go."
After bathing and changing, his eyes fell on the lamp he had forgotten in the corner of his room. He picked it up and tied it to his waist before heading to the kitchen, where Camellia was waiting.
Ryan enters the kitchen.
Camellia: "Finally, you're here! I thought you'd forgotten me."
Ryan: "Ah… Do you need something?"
Camellia: "Actually, yes. I need you to accompany me to the tailor. I ordered new uniforms for the maids and some dresses for Lady Merilin."
Ryan: "Let me guess… You need someone to carry the items."
Camellia (Smiling): "Don't put it like that; you'll make me sound mean. Besides, I need a gallant man to protect me from strange strangers."
Ryan: "Why not send one of the maids instead of yourself?"
Camellia: "Because this is the head maid's responsibility."
Ryan (Sighing): "Oh, of course… I'm starting to miss the city. Working here with old Rom is exhausting, but fine, I'll treat this as a little outing to change the scenery."
Camellia: "Alright, alright, I'll grab the money and be back. By the way, why is that lamp tied to your waist? Is it a charm to ward off curses or something?"
Ryan: "Don't worry about it; I just use it as decoration."
Camellia: "Just a moment, I'll be back."
As Camellia left, Ryan muttered to himself:
"In truth, the reason I took this lamp is that I feel it's connected to the time-manipulation incident in Dola Village's cave."
Now Camellia and Ryan were wandering the city streets, heading to the tailor's shop.
Ryan asked:
– "By the way, isn't it surprising that the Duchess doesn't have a tailor in her massive castle?"
Camellia replied:
– "Oh, we have more than twenty tailors, but the man we're going to is considered the finest in the city, perhaps in the entire kingdom. People call him 'The Royal Tailor' because of the frequent visits from Duchess Anna Frimore and her mother, the former Duchess Eleanor Frimore."
– "Wow, is he really that skilled?"
– "Yes. Actually, he's from 'Taiyang,' a kingdom in the far west, so his expertise isn't surprising."
Ryan, surprised, asked:
– "Taiyang?"
Before Camellia could respond, they heard the sound of a little girl crying.
Ryan said:
– "Do you hear that?"
Camellia replied indifferently:
– "Yes, it's probably just a lost girl. Let's keep going."
Ryan protested:
– "I think we should check on her. She might be in trouble."
Camellia sighed and said:
– "Do what you want, but count me out. I need to get to the shop; the clothes are essential for tonight's party. When you're done, look for Farso Bank; the tailor's shop is next to it."
Ryan said:
– "Alright, I'll see you later."
They parted ways, and Ryan followed the sound of the crying girl, which led him to an alley. There, he found a little girl holding a baby barely her size, crying.
He approached her gently and said:
– "What's wrong, little one? Why are you crying?"
The girl, trembling, replied:
– "Thieves attacked our house. They found nothing to steal because we're poor, so they decided to take my mom and me to sell us. But my dad managed to help me and my little brother escape through a small hole in the house. I ran, but I'm scared."
Ryan muttered:
– "Damn, what should I do? Should I tell Camellia? There's no time for that!"
He then said firmly:
– "Alright, little girl, lead me to your house."
Nearly an hour of continuous running later, Ryan reached the girl's small home on the outskirts of the city's poor district. The place was in chaos; the thieves were ransacking the house, smashing pots, and breaking doors and windows. They dragged the girl's parents and her infant brother outside, tied up the father, and beat him mercilessly while the mother watched the horrifying scene, pleading for mercy.
The little girl rushed toward her father, screaming:
– "Dad! Please, leave my dad alone!"
The father, shocked, shouted angrily:
– "Syrilla! What are you doing here?! I told you to run! Take your brother and run now!"
The mother cried out in panic, tears streaming:
– "Syrilla, run! Why did you come back?!"
Before anyone could react, one of the thieves grabbed the girl and her baby brother, grinning wickedly:
– "Well, well! I've never seen prey return willingly to the predator's grasp!"
At that moment, Ryan broke the silence, shouting:
– "Stop!"
The thieves turned toward him, and he added:
– "Let's negotiate!"
One of them approached slowly, eyes narrowing menacingly:
– "Who are you, stranger?"
Ryan quickly pulled out his phone, raising it in front of them, and said:
– "Look! This device can stop time for a moment, and it can draw anything you desire instantly! You can take it in exchange for the family."
Ryan muttered to himself anxiously, trying to steady his trembling voice:
– "Damn it! The battery is about to die... I hope they fall for this."
The thieves exchanged glances before one of them spoke with a sly grin:
– "Alright, it seems you have something interesting. Maybe the boss will like it."
As Ryan attempted to negotiate with the thieves, the mother seized the moment, pulling a small knife hidden in her shoe. Without hesitation, she stabbed it into the back of one of the thieves. He turned towards her in rage, his eyes blazing like fire. Before he could utter a word, he raised his axe, delivering a single fatal blow. Her head separated from her body, rolling away amidst the screams of young Cirilla.
Ryan stood frozen, unable to move, his blood turning cold at the horrific sight. One of the thieves approached, snatched the phone from his hand, and punched him hard, sending him to the ground. The blow left him paralyzed, unable even to move his mouth.
Through tear-filled eyes, he watched as another thief mercilessly beheaded the father while others set fire to the house. Their leader ordered the girl and her infant brother to be taken away to be sold, ignoring their desperate pleas.
The thieves surrounded Ryan, who tried to beg for mercy with his eyes but couldn't utter a single word. One of them approached, swinging his axe and saying coldly:
– "Sorry, kid, but you've seen too much."
Just as the axe was about to hit his neck, a blue light suddenly flashed from the lamp hanging at his waist. The entire area was bathed in a brilliant blue glow, and time slowed down until it came to a complete stop.
In the blink of an eye, Ryan found himself walking beside Camellia, as if nothing had happened, both heading toward the tailor shop. He was panting heavily, trembling as though he had just seen a ghost.
Camellia (worried): "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Ryan (eyes filled with fear): "I was about to die... I was going to die!"
Camellia (annoyed): "What are you talking about? What happened?"
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a little girl crying nearby. Ryan rushed toward the sound, muttering frantically:
Ryan: "Is she alright? Where is she? Did something happen to her?"
Camellia followed, confusion written all over her face.
When Ryan reached the young girl, he knelt down and asked anxiously:
Ryan: "Cirilla! Are you alright? Where are the thieves? What happened to them?"
He then turned to Camellia, shouting desperately:
Ryan: "We need to help her! The thieves are here... they'll kill us!"
Camellia (firmly): "Calm down, Ryan! Pull yourself together!"
Ryan didn't respond, his panic only intensifying, until he collapsed unconscious on the ground.
Camellia carried the little girl and set out to find the nearest patrol of royal guards to report what had happened. Along the way, she bumped into Frederick, one of the royal guards.
Ryan woke up lying on a bed in the palace, his head throbbing with pain. He glanced around the room and muttered softly:
Ryan: "Where am I?"
A voice responded—it was Lilia, the sorceress:
Lilia: "You're in your room at the palace. Camellia carried you all the way from the city herself. She was worried and said you nearly lost your mind."
Ryan sat up abruptly, exclaiming:
Ryan: "Cirilla! The girl... where is she?"
Lilia (calmly): "Don't worry. The guards dealt with the thieves at her home. It turned out they belonged to the Sewer King's gang."
Ryan: "And what about her parents?"
Lilia: "They're fine. Her father sustained minor injuries, but nothing serious."
Sweat dripped from Ryan's forehead as he whispered in shock:
Ryan (bewildered): "But... I saw the thieves kill her parents! What is going on? I'm sure of what I saw! There's no other explanation... I can manipulate time. Yes, that's it... This lamp... it's the key to all of this."
The next morning, Ryan asked Uncle Rom where he could find Lilia. Noticing the anxiety on Ryan's face, Rom replied:
Uncle Rom: "You'll find her in the palace library. She spends most of her time there."
Ryan headed to the library. As soon as he entered, Lilia greeted him with a sarcastic tone:
Lilia: "What are you doing here? You don't seem like someone who loves books."
Ryan: "Actually, I have some questions for you."
Lilia (bored): "I hope you're not wasting my time. Speak directly."
Ryan: "Is there any magic that can manipulate time?"
Lilia eyed him suspiciously before replying:
Lilia: "That's an odd question... especially coming from you."
Ryan (insistently): "Please, answer me!"
Lilia: "No, there's no such magic."
Dissatisfied with her answer, Ryan retorted skeptically:
Ryan: "Really?"
Lilia (with a sigh): "I once read in ancient elven scrolls about a legend. It spoke of someone who possessed the ability to manipulate time. They called it the 'Magic of Escaping Time.'"
Ryan (seriously): "Lilia, listen to me carefully."
Lilia: "I'm all ears."
Ryan: "I believe... I have the power to manipulate time."
Before Lilia could respond, the lamp began glowing with a strange blue light. Blue flies swarmed the room, and time stopped. In the blink of an eye, Ryan found himself standing in front of the library door, just before entering. He realized then that time had rewound.
He entered the library and tried once again to tell Lilia about his ability, but the same thing happened. The lamp emitted its blue light again, and time rewound, placing him in front of the library door.
He tried again, once, twice, a third time, but the result was always the same. Every time he attempted to reveal his secret, time would rewind.
Losing his patience, he rushed to the kitchen, where Camellia was busy preparing food.
Camellia (sympathetically): "Ryan, are you feeling better now? You look much better. How can I help you?"
Ryan (anxiously): "Camellia, I think... I think I can manipulate time!"
But as before, time rewound again.
Ryan dashed out of the castle, searching for Uncle Rom. He was running frantically, and during his dash, he collided with someone. He looked up to see who it was and froze in place.
Gray hair like ash, green eyes like spring grass, and an authoritative gaze with an underlying radiant beauty. There was no mistaking it: it was Duchess Anna Fremore herself.
Ryan stood stunned by her beauty, all his worries momentarily forgotten, his cheeks flushed with obvious embarrassment.
The Duchess (warmly and gently): "Careful there, young man! Why are you running so fast? Are ghosts chasing you?"
Ryan stammered, nearly tripping over his words:
Ryan: "I... I'm sorry... I wasn't paying attention."
The Duchess smiled softly, teasing him:
The Duchess: "What's wrong? Your face is as red as a tomato! Do I fascinate you? Or are you one of those who adore women in their forties?"
Ryan's embarrassment grew, and he quickly replied:
Ryan: "No... no, I'm really sorry. Please, forgive me, Your Grace."
The Duchess laughed sweetly and said:
"Don't worry, I was just teasing. No need to apologize."
She extended her hand to help him up, and the moment their hands touched, Ryan was struck by a terrifying vision.
He saw a flash of the Duchess drenched in her own blood, surrounded by flames, screaming in agony as her voice faded into nothingness.
He snapped back to reality, staring at the Duchess in shock and fear, while she remained unaware of what had just happened to him.
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To be continued...