Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
“…What was that?”
“Is that really Ceres-nim?”
“I still have goosebumps all over my arms.”
It was only after a long silence that the three maids finally spoke, their eyes still fixed on the spot where Ceres had stood, unable to snap out of their trance.
What on earth had they just witnessed?
Would anyone even believe them if they told them?
Especially since it was Ceres, of all people?
“Uh… uh, uh! Aaaaah!”
“What, what is it…? *Gasp*!”
“W-What is this!”
Suddenly, one of the maids shrieked. The other two, startled, turned their heads and couldn't help but widen their eyes in shock.
“The, the clothes!”
“Aaaaah!”
“What happened!”
The state of the clothes in the tub was bizarre.
They had been perfectly fine just a moment ago, so why had the color changed like this?
Looking at the garments, now so faded and yellowed that their original colors were unrecognizable, the three maids could do nothing but scream in succession.
Chapter 2. The One Who Turns Back Time
Bang!
“Noona!”
Ceres, who had been spending her time leisurely, watched Antonion rush into the room before slowly pushing herself up from the bed.
“Noona, what on earth did you do…!”
“Little brother.”
Come here, come here.
“……?”
Ceres, playing the part of a kind sister with a warm expression and a gentle beckoning gesture, tilted her head.
Why did he suddenly space out?
“Hurry up and come over here.”
“…Okay.”
She watched the boy approach with a look as if he were possessed by something.
Finally, the moment he was close enough to touch.
Puuuuull!
“A… Ahhhh!”
“It seems my dear little brother has completely forgotten his basic manners.”
“Ahhh! Ah, ahh! It hurts!”
“What should you do when entering someone else’s room?”
“It hurts! I said it hurts!”
“Answer me.”
“K-Knock!”
“You know it well, then.”
Only then did Ceres release Antonion’s cheek.
Antonion hurriedly backed away, cupping his stinging cheek with both hands.
‘Is she actually crazy?’
Antonion couldn't hide his bewilderment as he recalled the Ceres of the past, who had never even laid a finger on him in jest, let alone pinched his cheek.
Does losing one's memory change a person's personality that much?
“So?”
“…….”
“What's your business here?”
“…….”
“Hmm, it seems my dear little brother has no intention of answering his older sister’s question. Is it tasty? The way you're chewing up my words?”
“N-No, it’s not!”
Antonion, who had been dazed for a moment, vigorously shook his head as he saw Ceres reaching out her hands toward him again.
“What on earth did you do?”
“What do you mean, what did I do?”
“I heard you messed with Aunt’s maids!”
“Hmm?”
What, the rumors are already circulating? That was fast.
‘Wait, but still.’
Why did this kid come running as if it were a life-or-death situation just because of that?
“Messed with them? I did no such thing.”
“You didn't?”
“Yeah.”
“Haa, right. There’s no way Noona would do that. Drenching people with water…”
“Oh, I did drench them with water.”
“…What?”
“They were whining so much for me to do the laundry that I suppose you could say I showed them some kindness.”
“Wh-What?”
“I really should have finished them off with some soap, though.”
Antonion’s jaw dropped as he watched Ceres lick her lips as if she were genuinely disappointed.
“W-What are you talking about? So it’s true?”
A commotion had broken out a short while ago. It started at the residence where their aunt was staying.
‘Aaaaah! What is this! My clothes!’
‘Th-That is, Madam.’
‘What happened! Why are my clothes in this state!’
‘We’re sorry! We’re so sorry.’
‘Aaaaah! Even the dress I went through so much trouble to get this time!’
The shrill screams had echoed loudly throughout the mansion. It was because all of their aunt’s clothes that had been put out for laundry were ruined.
The clothes were so worn out—as if they had been rotting in a warehouse for over twenty years—that they were deemed beyond salvage.
The maids had vied to report what had happened with Ceres, and upon hearing the news, Antonion had rushed straight here.
‘I didn’t believe it.’
Even though he had heard that his sister had drenched the maids with water, he simply couldn't believe it.
She had been acting a bit out of it lately, but surely she wouldn't go that far?
He was certain this was another instance of the maids framing Ceres.
In the past, they would often pin their own mistakes on the uninvolved Ceres.
Every time that happened, Ceres would just shed tears in silence, unable to even defend herself properly.
“Did you really mess with them?”
“I told you, I didn’t mess with them. Is that what they’re saying?”
A thick smile played on Ceres’s lips.
I guess I’ll have to set a date to have a little chat with them. Clearly, they haven't been scolded enough.
Antonion’s insides burned at her nonchalant attitude.
He stomped his feet and cried out desperately.
“Why did you do that, of all things!”
“Why what?”
“Why did you drench them with water!”
“To do the laundry.”
“Noona!”
Was she actually using that as an excuse right now?
Laundry; he had no idea why she had been rambling about laundry this whole time.
“I can hear you even if you speak softly, little brother.”
“Aunt is very angry!”
Looking at his sister, who was far too composed compared to him, Antonion felt a throbbing headache.
His mind was already in a mess, and with Ceres acting like this, it was truly maddening.
And his headache reached its peak with Ceres’s next words.
“So?”
“S-So? I’m telling you Aunt is angry!”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
What does she want me to do about it?
“Are you telling me to go perform some tricks to appease her anger?”
I don't have much talent in that area.
“That’s not it!”
Antonion shrieked, exasperated.
Wasn't it Ceres who cared about and feared their aunt’s emotions more than anyone?
She was the one who wouldn't even step out of her room when their aunt was in a bad mood.
And yet…
“I guess those clothes were really expensive?”
…Is she laughing right now?
Antonion’s mind was in a whirl as he watched Ceres giggle quite openly.
Is this person really my sister?
“A-Anyway, be careful.”
Though he didn't understand what was going on at all, Antonion managed to voice a warning.
Now that his sister had lost her memory, he had been trying his best to avoid any contact between her and their aunt, but he didn't know why things kept getting so tangled.
“Hmm.”
Ceres looked at Antonion with a slightly intrigued gaze.
So he does worry about me as his sister, huh?
For Ceres, who had lost her parents at a young age and could barely remember their faces now, the concept of family was something very foreign.
‘A younger brother.’
It was a bit of a strange feeling.
‘That aside…’
Another question arose here.
“Why do I have to be careful just because Aunt is in a bad mood?”
Isn't this a strange situation to anyone who hears it?
If that person called Aunt uses her nieces and nephews as targets for her venting whenever she’s in a bad mood…
“How interesting.”
“I-Interesting? What’s so interesting! Stop talking nonsense and please just lay low!”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why should I lay low?”
“That’s…!”
“That’s?”
“…Haa, you’ll find out soon enough.”
Antonion tried to say more but eventually swallowed his words with a sigh.
‘He’s doing it again.’
What is this young kid holding back so much for?
He had done the same thing when they first met, always cutting himself off mid-sentence.
“Be careful until Aunt’s anger cools down.”
After giving one final, firm warning, Antonion turned around.
“…Huh?”
However, he came to a dead stop before he could even leave the room.
He hadn't noticed earlier because of his urgent state of mind when he entered…
Step.
‘…What is this?’
Step by step, he moved again.
Antonion walked cautiously, examining the floor with eyes full of doubt.
‘Why isn't it making any sound?’
The floor had always let out bizarre creaks.
It wasn't just this room. Because the house hadn't been properly repaired or maintained for a long time, every corner of the building was screaming in decay.
‘But…’
Strangely, not a single sound could be heard in this room today.
Even though the terrible noises had been constant while he was walking down the hallway just a moment ago, why was it like this here?
“Why? Do you have something else to say?”
“N-No.”
Seeing Ceres’s questioning look as if asking why he wasn't leaving, Antonion started moving again, his eyes still fixed on the floor in confusion.
Click.
“Hmm.”
Once Antonion left and she was alone in the room, Ceres slowly stood up and walked toward the window.
“Did I turn back time too much? The clothes did look expensive, but the reaction is more intense than I expected.”
