I Have Time On My Side!

As these thoughts tormented Emily, the door to the room suddenly opened. 

A young woman with long, shiny hair, meticulously styled, entered, dressed in quality clothing and exuding regal bearing: it was Princess Iris. 

Her presence filled the room, radiating an air of authority that immediately made Emily feel even smaller in that space. 

Upon seeing her, Iris frowned slightly when she recognized Emily in the corner, cowering as if trying to disappear. 

The princess vaguely remembered having seen her alongside Nolan in their previous encounter but had assumed she was one of those girls who approached him only to ask for favors or help. Yet there she was, still next to Nolan, which caused her some discomfort. 

'What is she doing here?' Iris thought, though she decided to ignore her for the moment. 

The healer, upon seeing the princess, immediately stopped what she was doing and bowed respectfully, performing the formal greeting expected of a royal family member. 

Emily, though out of place, also realized the importance of that gesture and tried to remain still to avoid drawing attention. 

However, when Nolan saw Iris, he remembered that he hadn't greeted her properly before. 

The norms of courtesy toward royalty felt somewhat distant to him, and due to the time he had spent away from the nobility, his formal manners had grown rusty. 

When the healer finished paying her respects, Nolan regretted that he couldn't get up to greet her properly. 

His body still ached after the treatment, and at that moment, he didn't even have the strength to sit up. 

"Princess…" he began, with a slight apology in his voice. 

The princess, seeing his effort, waved a hand as if to say not to worry. 

"There's no need to be formal with me, Nolan. You can call me by my name." 

Emily froze. 

Had she heard that right? 

Princess Iris, the king's daughter, had just told Nolan that he didn't have to treat her with the formality her title demanded. 

Even the healer, who always maintained an impeccable composure, showed a slight expression of surprise at that declaration. 

Emily, for her part, was even more bewildered. 

'Were they that close?' 

She had imagined their relationship to be distant, almost formal. However, that small interaction revealed something very different. 

'I have no chance of becoming that important to him,' Emily thought, feeling a slight pang of sadness. 

"Thank you for the offer, Iris. I suppose I will take it," Nolan replied, pronouncing her name as if it were completely natural, though also somewhat out of place given the situation. "But... what are you doing here?" 

Iris, somewhat nervous, shot a quick glance at the healer, who intervened immediately. 

"The princess is studying sacred magic, and she has come to observe... if it's not a bother, Nolan, while we treat your mana core." 

Nolan frowned at the idea of being the subject of study, even if it was from someone of royalty. 

Though he wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea, he knew his mana core was in a critical situation. If this increased the chance of being healed, he would accept it, even if it felt somewhat humiliating. 

Before he could respond, the healer, noticing his discomfort, added: 

"The princess has been recognized as a prodigy in sacred magic. She has studied under the best and has already proven to be exceptionally capable." 

The comment finally made Nolan relent. 

If the princess was a genius in sacred magic and could help heal his core, there was no reason to refuse. 

"Alright," Nolan murmured. "If she can help me, I accept." 

Iris approached slowly, her hands clasped in front of her, asking for permission before touching his abdomen. 

Unlike the healer, whose touch was delicate and clinical, the princess's hands felt more aware, as if she were exploring not just his skin but his mana itself. 

Iris's fingers brushed against Nolan's tense muscles, and he could feel the difference in her touch: it was more evident, more personal. 

"It's... incredible," Iris murmured, a hint of awe in her voice. "Your mana core... it's beautiful." 

Nolan looked at her, surprised by the comment, while 

Emily, still in her corner, blinked in astonishment. 

'Beautiful?' 

Emily didn't quite understand what she meant, but the fascination in the princess's eyes was clear. However, that amazement was soon replaced by a look of sadness. 

"But..." Iris added with a tone of regret. "It's a shame. There are small cracks all over. If we don't do something soon, they could expand." 

Iris raised a hand, beginning to conjure a spell to try to close one of those cracks when, suddenly, a loud crash shook the room. 

A powerful explosion from the door made the window panes rattle and the floor tremble violently. 

The air filled with dust, and a searing heat enveloped the room. 

Something had exploded near the door, and the impact was destined to reach them all. 

Emily, paralyzed by fear, watched as the world slowed before her eyes, and just when the wave of destruction seemed about to hit Nolan... time stopped. 

The silence was absolute, the dust particles suspended in the air, frozen. The fragments of wood and metal that had been shot toward them remained still in their deadly trajectory. 

Time had come to a halt.