"Actually, I can stop time!"
Lloyd dropped the bomb at the dinner table. He didn't pull any punches. What else was there to do, right? He's decided. Instead of beating around the bush, it would feel better to address this matter straightforwardly, considering the deep trust he had in the count and countess. This was the rationale behind his declaration. But there was something he overlooked, and it was that their trust in him was unimaginably deeper, heftier, and more incredible than he imagined.
"Honey."
"Hmm?"
As soon as Lloyd spoke, Count Arcos and Countess Marbella started exchanging gazes with each other.
"It looks like our son has gone through a lot lately."
"Hmm... Does it appear so to you as well?"
"Yes, my dear. He must be under an immense amount of stress to say something like that."
"I feel the same way. Ha... I believe he is acting this way because of the expectations everyone has of him. He thinks he needs to make everyone happy and do something for them."
"I am with you on that. The poor thing must have been struggling all by himself."
"My heart is hurting. I think we have been too neglectful of our child."
"We have been, my dear. It pains me to see him carry such a heavy burden all alone."
"I wish we could help him in some way."
"We should support him more at times like these, shouldn't we?"
"Let's lighten his stress a little first."
"Yes, we should."
The couple was on the same page. Tons of gazes were exchanged in this almost telepathic conversation, and they teamed up silently toward one goal: To alleviate their son's stress. Count Arcos made the first move.
"Hmm, I see. That is amazing," complimented Count Arcos ever so gently.
Lloyd looked at him with a dazed look. "You believed me so quickly?"
"I do. Have you ever lied to me before?"
"You are right. I never have." Lloyd was glad that his words were well-received.
"Truly," said Count Arcos, "I'm amazed at how hard you work every day. It takes a lot for a person to feel that they are frozen in time."
"Eh...?" Lloyd lifted his brow, sensing that something was off.
"Honestly," obliviously went on Count Arcos. "I, too, feel like I'm stuck in time sometimes. Very rarely, however. Lately, I mostly get that feeling when I give a hand to Marbella with her flower garden."
"F-Flower garden?" muttered Lloyd.
The count smiled mysteriously. "Yes, her flower garden. As I crouch down under the strong sun with my hands covered in dirt, beads of sweat start dripping down my forehead. I can see the beautifully bloomed flowers while my stomach growls. Then I wonder to myself, "Oh, is it lunchtime now?"
"Ah... I don't think-"
Count Arcos didn't let Lloyd finish. "But when I stand up at that feeling and look up at the sky, I realize lunch is far yet to come. That is when I feel like I'm frozen in time."
Lloyd pressed his lips.
"I wonder what it is with the gardening. I am truly mystified. So, at times-"
"Honey." Count Marbella's voice, which was ever so gentle, prompted Count Arcos to clamp his mouth upon belatedly realizing his mistake.
The smile on her face turned suggestive. "My, you told me you were happy when you helped me, but it appears that the work has taken a toll on your body."
Count Arcos didn't respond.
"What should I do now?" asked Count Marbella rhetorically. "I suppose I should work alone starting tomorrow."
"No, no," interjected Count Arcos hurriedly, "Honey, that is not what I meant-"
"What can I do?" Countess Marbella rubbed her nails. "The work makes you feel like you're stuck in time. That
is how dreadful the job is for you. I'm not going to force anyone to do something they hate."
"I am happy!" cried out Count Arcos again. "Truly happy!"
"Do you mean that?" Count Marbella shot a meaningful gaze. "Ehem...!"
"You should have told me if the work was that hard on you, my dear."
"No, no, it is not hard on me... Ehem, it is just that sometimes I would like to ride my horse and enjoy the fresh breeze."
"Then how about you take a break tomorrow and ride your horse?"
"M-me? Alone?"
"Yes."
"Really?" Count Arcos's face lit up.
"Yes, yes."
"Th-Thank you, honey!"
"You are welcome."
Staring at the overjoyed count and beaming countess, Lloyd heaved a sigh. "Um, it's wonderful that you two love each other so much, but when I said that I can stop time-"
"It is all good," Count Marbella interrupted softly, "I know what you mean. I am your mother."
"Excuse me?" Lloyd asked.
"You do not have to think too hard. It's okay to move forward one day at a time. Sometimes, failure is acceptable. Everything is all right, my son. You are doing very well already."
“...”
"Stopping time?" She went on, "Changing the world? I do not expect such grand undertakings from you. You are my son, and that will never change no matter what you do. So, Lloyd." She looked at Lloyd in the eyes.
"Yes." Lloyd's gaze met hers.
"Do not overwork yourself."
"No, no, it's not that." Lloyd waved his hands.
"Shh." Count Arcos put his finger on his lips to let Marbella finish. "You do not have to deny it."
"I, too, have heard from your father," Countess Marbella cast an appreciative look at Count Arcos. "How you did your utmost to stop the misfortune the Dragon King has enlightened you about. How you kept the matter and stress all to yourself because you were worried about us. How burdensome it must have all been for you, my Lloyd. How lonely."
Lloyd slightly choked up, and he couldn't say anything.
"The same is true now. Building a dam and a magnificent building called the Jewel... It must be difficult for you. I'm sure things will only get harder in the future. That is why I am saying this. You do not need to carry everything by yourself. If you are tired and struggling, tell us. We are your parents. Can you do that for us?" "Um..." Lloyd gulped. "Yes."
"All right, thank you, our dear son. Then should we go back to our meal? I rambled for too long. The food will get cold."
Lloyd couldn't refute their words or explain himself further, seeing their gentle smile. It wasn't the time to press further. He couldn't bring himself to erase the smile on the couple's faces after hearing their words of encouragement and invigoration, which were spoken so carefully and considerately to him. At the same time, Lloyd felt wronged.
Argh... Please believe me, come on. I can really stop time!
How on earth am I supposed to make them understand me? Lloyd chewed and crunched salad as he smiled embarrassingly. The next day, however, something strange took place in the fiefdom. An incredible rumor spread across the place.
"Hey, did you hear? They say that Master Lloyd can stop time," a woodcutter uttered to his brother.
"What?" The brother grimaced. "What are you talking about?"
"What do I mean? I heard it from my wife."
"From your wife?"
"Yes."
"Is she feeling all right?" asked the older brother skeptically.
"Oh, no," he refused as he shook his head. "My wife overheard it from somewhere else too."
"Somewhere else? Where?"
"From the servants in the lord's manor."
"What did they say?
"That Master Lloyd said he could stop time while having dinner with Count Arcos."
"Haha, Really?"
The conversation between the woodcutter brothers took place under the tree shade. Soon, another conversation took place as well between a young shepherd and a young huntress in the meadow.
"Hey, did you know?" asked the boy as he tapped the ground with his staff.
"Know what?" brusquely asked the girl.
"Master Lloyd can stop time."
"What?" She clucked her tongue as she shook her head. "You must have eaten something weird."
"Nuh-uh. I'm telling the truth."
She huffed annoyingly, "Where did you hear that nonsense?"
The boy crossed his arms. "From my sister."
"Emily?" Her face softened.
"Uh-huh," said the boy proudly.
"What did she say?"
"What the heck! You trust her but not me?"
"Obviously," huffed the girl. "I'm not dumb enough to trust a liar like you."
He gaped at her.
"Besides," she went on, "If it's coming from Emily, then it has to be true. So, tell me. What did she say?"
The boy pouted. "That Master Lloyd can stop time. He announced it while having dinner with Count Arcos." "And what was the lord's reaction?"
"He laughed and comforted Master Lloyd. She said he looked pretty wronged."
"Wronged?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Then... It is true?"
"You agree?" exclaimed the boy delightfully. "Do you think so too? It doesn't seem like nonsense, right?"
"Duh. It's Master Lloyd. Right?"
"I think so, too!" The boy nodded.
At the same time, the bar owner raised his voice at his store.
"Oh, come on! What, did you think that Master Lloyd was that incapable?"
"Hey, old man, that's not what I meant..."
The bar owner thrust his fist onto the desk. "Like heck, that wasn't what you meant! It was all thanks to our young master that you have some land to farm on from the Maritz Wetland, isn't that true? The rumor has it you did a fine job with your piece of land and sent your son to Cremo for school! So, how dare you question the young master's capabilities!"
"Please," the man reasoned pleadingly. "Don't get worked up now-"
"How can I not?!" bawled the owner. "My young master is being questioned right now!"
"Come on, I said I believe it too!"
"You do?" At this, the bar owner's voice softened.
"Yes, I do."
"Then have a drink here," he said as he poured a free drink. Then he said, "The thing is, I owe Master Lloyd a lot. You know about the ondol room he built outside the bar, right?"
"I know, yes."
"My mother, you see, was able to be comfortable during her final days before she passed away, thanks to the ondol room. I'm still touched by his actions whenever I think of her. That's why I'm doing this. If you see anyone questioning or insulting him, you know what to do." The bar owner cracked his knuckles.
"My, I know. How could I not?"
"Anyway! He should be well enough to stop time! He sure is capable of doing such a thing! Yes, yes! Of course! I knew from the start that he was going to be someone big! Yes!"
"But didn't you used to wail every day about how he wreaks havoc at the bar?"
"The past is the past!"
The rumor spread through the mouths of the servants who were there at the dinner table. It was about how Lloyd could stop time. Everyone bought the rumor without hesitation. The atmosphere of trust hanging in the air was antithetical to what Lloyd had initially expected. And when the messages appeared in front of Lloyd's eyes, he could clearly feel what was going on around him.
Ding Dong!
Hmm?
Lloyd opened his eyes wide. He was rolling around in bed as he struggled to fall asleep when a few messages popped in front of him.
[Rumors about you are spreading across the people of the fiefdom.]
[They completely believe your assertion that you can stop time and are growing excited about it.]
[Though dispassionate residents claim that it's unrealistic, their opinions are being pushed aside by the general public.]
[The countless accomplishments and praises you've earned until now are allowing this kind of atmosphere to cultivate inside the fiefdom.]
[The title <Exemplifying Punisher> is at work.]
[The title <Builder of Dead Estates> is at work.]
[The title <Bell Saver> is at work.]
[The title <The Eldest Son of the Frontera Family> is at work.]
[The title <The Pathfinder to the Weary> is at work.]
[The title <Red Pill or Blue Pill> is at work.]
[The above six titles are bringing about a linkage effect.]
[The intimacy level with the fiefdom residents has increased from <Favor and Trust> to <Affection and Praise>.]
[From now on, the fiefdom's residents will trust and support all your actions.]
What is this now?
Lloyd shook his head as he studied the messages in disbelief. Then he realized what they meant.
Wow!
The people believed in him. Not only that, they almost seemed to have blind faith in him as if they were his worshippers. Thanks to this, his Time Freeze skill was nothing strange to them.
I didn't expect this at all.
Lloyd used to be strung out that they might consider him a dark magician for enabling something that goes against nature. He was afraid of losing their trust and receiving skeptical gazes. That was why he had chosen to discuss the matter with the count and countess first. His plan was to announce the Time Freeze skill to the people using the count's authority to minimize the confusion and misunderstanding that may arise from his skill.
But I was worried for nothing. There won't be any issues even if I use the time freeze right away.
Their trust in him went beyond his imagination. Lloyd smiled, the corners of his lips rising up to his ears. After all, the days he had spent busting his gut in this fiefdom weren't all for nothing. Excited and overcome with a sense of reward, Lloyd couldn't sleep at all. It was only after the sun began to rise that he fell asleep. After breakfast, he waited for the sun to be up just enough. That was when Lloyd strolled out to the manor and stood in the front yard.
Now is the perfect time. Since the flow of time outside this area will come to a complete stop, the position of the sun won't change. So, sometime between nine and ten will work just fine.
Freezing time at night would be problematic as then it would always remain dark out. The afternoon wasn't a good time either since the scorching sun would make construction extremely difficult. As such, Lloyd picked the morning time when the sun was in the perfect position. He opened the optional skill window.
Ding dong.
[Manaheart Skill Option 5: Time Freeze - You can freeze time of this world by borrowing the power of the Heart of Winter in the manaheart.]
[Required RP to use the skill: 3,000]
[Current RP: 11,755]
[Would you like to use the Skill Option 5: Time Freeze?]
[YES/NO]
Of course, it's a yes.
Lloyd chose "Yes."
Now, time to build the dam and the Jewel of Truth.
♣
At the same time, the heavenly world was completely unaffected by the frozen passage of time below. In the office of Gabriel the Seraphim, there came a scroll of an urgent report on his desk. The following statement was written outside it:
[Report of Illegal Construction Status on Earth: The Jewel of Truth Aotearoa]
