"…Value: 1."
The words didn't disappear.
They lingered.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"…There must be a mistake," the woman holding me said.
Her voice trembled.
"…Check it again."
A man in robes lowered his head slightly.
"The artifact has never been wrong, Your Highness."
Silence filled the room.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just… suffocating.
"…Magic capacity of 1…"
"…In the royal family…"
"…Impossible…"
I couldn't move much, but I could hear everything.
Every whisper.
Every doubt.
Every judgment.
So it's the same again…
Even in this life—
I was already being labeled.
Measured.
Deemed worthless.
"…Leave us."
A deep voice cut through the whispers.
Everyone froze.
Then immediately bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Footsteps echoed as the room emptied.
One by one.
Until only three remained.
Me.
The woman holding me.
And—
"…What are you thinking?" she asked quietly.
The king stood in silence for a moment.
Looking down at me.
Not like a father.
But like someone evaluating a problem.
"…A royal child with no magic is dangerous," he said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"He will be targeted. Used. Or become a weakness to the throne."
"…He's just a baby," she replied, holding me closer.
Her arms tightened around me.
As if trying to shield me from those words.
"That does not change reality."
Each word landed without hesitation.
Without emotion.
"…There are other options," she said quickly. "We can hide him. Raise him away from the court—"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Silence.
"…Then what are you saying…?" her voice shook.
The king closed his eyes briefly.
Then—
"…He cannot remain here."
My chest tightened.
So that's the decision…
Not anger.
Not even sadness.
Just… rejection.
"…Please…" she whispered.
Her voice broke.
"…He's my son…"
For the first time—
The king hesitated.
"…If he stays," he said slowly, "his existence will invite conflict."
"…If others learn of him, they will not show mercy."
"…And you think this is mercy?" she asked.
Tears fell onto my face.
Warm.
Real.
He didn't answer.
That silence said everything.
"…Let me keep him… just for a little while," she said, almost pleading now.
"…Please…"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"…One hour."
Warmth.
That was all I felt.
She held me close.
Closer than before.
Like she was trying to memorize everything.
"…I'm sorry…"
Her voice was soft.
Barely above a whisper.
"…I couldn't protect you…"
My chest ached.
Don't apologize…
If anything—
I should be the one saying that.
"…I'll remember you," she said.
"…Even if no one else does…"
Time passed.
Too fast.
The door opened.
"…Your Highness."
A knight stepped forward.
Reluctantly.
"…It's time."
Her arms tightened around me.
For a moment—
I thought she wouldn't let go.
"…Please…" she whispered again.
"…Just a little longer…"
No one moved.
"…Give him to me," the knight said gently.
Slowly—
Painfully—
She let me go.
"…No…"
Her voice cracked.
"…NO…!"
Her scream echoed as I was taken away.
The last thing I saw—
Was her reaching hand.
And the look in her eyes.
Not disappointment.
Not rejection.
Just love.
The sound of wind replaced everything.
Leaves rustled.
Branches creaked.
"…This should be far enough," a voice said.
"…You sure about this?" another replied. "It's just a child…"
"Orders are orders."
A pause.
"…At least make it quick."
"…No."
Silence.
"…We leave him here."
Cold ground met my back.
"…That's cruel…"
"…Better than drawing attention."
Footsteps.
Fading.
Then—
Nothing.
Alone.
Again.
The forest felt different.
Heavy.
Watching.
"…Grrr…"
A low growl echoed nearby.
Something was coming.
I stared up at the sky through the trees.
My body too small to move.
Too weak to resist.
So this is how it ends…
Both lives.
"…No…"
The word formed in my mind.
Clear.
Sharp.
Not like this.
Not before I change.
Not before I make things right.
Not before I prove—
Something inside me shifted.
The air… tightened.
The growl stopped.
A presence approached.
A beast.
Large.
Hungry.
It lunged.
And then—
It stopped.
Right in front of me.
Like it hit something invisible.
A faint distortion shimmered in the air.
"…What…?"
The beast stepped back.
Confused.
Then attacked again.
And failed again.
The space around me—
Was protecting me.
No—
It was obeying me.
"…Am I really…"
The pressure in the air grew heavier.
Denser.
The beast trembled.
"…that weak?"