Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 326

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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That problem still remained. Since my name was already entered into the Imperial Harem registry, I would need to preserve the Imperial Court’s dignity if I wanted to withdraw. What possible reason could there be for withdrawal that was one hundred percent Reina’s fault? Since I didn’t know much about Imperial Court etiquette, I poked the Bachelor repeatedly, and after some thought, he came up with something plausible.
“Before entering the palace, was there perhaps someone you were intimate with? Though wouldn’t that be excessive disrespect to the Countess’s Daughter….”
“Before entering the Palace, is there someone you’ve had relations with? But wouldn’t this be too much of an insult to the Countess’s Daughter…?”
“Not at all! That works perfectly! A man or two before entering wouldn’t even tarnish the Letem name!”
True enough—thinking of her mother, shame would be meaningless. Count Letem continued cycling through men even now, remaining at the forefront of high society scandals. Honestly, considering that woman’s personality…, wouldn’t she find it more embarrassing that Reina had no male rumors at all?
“Then let’s do it this way.”
Wait, wait, wait—was Cecilia laughing a bit too much? To others it probably looked like no change at all, but that was definitely her delighted expression. It was the same look she’d shown only when we went to Bunny Land last time and rode the Roller Coaster seventeen times.
“Moved by the profound love between Ice Heart and Flame Heart, the Emperor graciously released the Empress Consort.”
“What the hell?”
“Huh?!”
“…What do we do?”
“What do I do?”
“You’re good at controlling Letem’s media—can’t you just suppress it with money?”
“How the hell are we supposed to suppress a scandal about Ice Heart and Flame Heart, you lunatic.”
Were we really that influential? I was genuinely shocked, but Reina covered her face with both hands, saying it was irreversible.
“The rumors have already spread throughout the Imperial Palace, I’d say. It’ll take three hours to spread across the entire nation.”
Were we really that influential?!
“Come on, no way.”
I spoke halfheartedly, then gave Reina’s rear a firm kick, telling her to just head home. I’d planned to return to the Neftis Townhouse, get some proper sleep, rest, and then think of countermeasures, but the moment I woke up the next morning, Rael came running with shocking news.
“Sister! Ice Heart and Flame Heart have gone all the way! Is it, is it true?!”
The scandal of Ice Heart and Flame Heart appeared on the front page of every morning newspaper in existence throughout the Crowell Empire. The Emperor himself conceding to the love of these two, their passionate escape last night, whether it was Ice-Flame or Flame-Ice—such was the curiosity, and so forth.

As money was poured out at random, the rumors that were spreading like crazy were somehow suppressed. By mobilizing all of Letem and Nephthys’ financial resources to put pressure on the media, we were able to prevent further articles about the Ice Flame from being published. Things like paparazzi are still around.
Throwing money at the problem had somehow managed to suppress the wildly spreading rumors. Once Letem and House Neftis mobilized their full financial resources to pressure the media, we managed to prevent further articles about the Frostflame from circulating. Though the paparazzi still clung to us like leeches.
Reina subsequently faced charges of lèse-majesté and contempt against the Imperial Court, and was sentenced to imprisonment. Cecilia renegotiated with Count Letem, and apparently agreed that when one of Reina’s siblings who possessed a flame skill came of age, they would be taken as Empress Consort. The Imperial Court truly hadn’t abandoned its obsession with mixing magical skills into the imperial bloodline. How very Cecilia of her.
“Hey, Evan, over here!”
I headed toward the sprawling lawn of the Academy, camera swinging from my neck. Today was Crowell Academy’s summer graduation ceremony. I’d suggested Eugene stay for another semester and graduate with us, but he’d stubbornly insisted on graduating early.
As my friends left school one by one, I felt both the emptiness and the loneliness of their departure, but I couldn’t very well drag him back when he had his lord’s territory to tend to.
“Hey! You’re happy to graduate alone and abandon us?!”
“How heartless, Eugene Brandenburg.”
“Ha, sorry. But Freesia seemed to be working so hard.”
This chick of a fiancé really does care about her deeply. Wait, are they officially married now? Is she the Countess already? I’d heard that while Eugene was studying at the Academy, his wife was serving as acting Border Earl. Certainly, handling two people’s worth of work alone must be exhausting.
“Evan! Eugene!”
“Phew, we’re not late, are we?”
“You’re not late.”
Of course, it was only natural that when Eugene was graduating, Sera, Sunbird, and Seian rushed over to celebrate. With everyone gathered like this, I found myself remembering our club days. We’d done the most peculiar things back then—treasure hunts, dungeon explorations. It had only been a few years ago, yet it felt like ancient history.
“Congratulations, Eugene. I’m sure you’ve received many bouquets, but we wanted to show our sincerity as well.”
“Take pride in being congratulated so much!”
Reina, Kanna, Sera, Seian, and I all handed Eugene graduation bouquets, and he ended up completely buried in flowers. Were you really going to carry all of that home? We’d all be watching to make sure you did.
“You got your diploma, right? And you’re wearing your mortarboard properly.”
“Should we take a commemorative photo before we go to lunch?”
Of course. That’s why I’d been waiting in front of the Grand Library. I set up a tripod and gathered my friends with the library as the backdrop. A little to the left, and since Sera was short, she’d stand in front. I’d position myself next to Reina.
“Alright! Three, two, one, whiskey!”
I set the timer and quickly rushed into position.
“Three! Two! One!”
Click!
It should have turned out well. Just to be safe, I rearranged the group and took several more shots, then took individual portraits of each of us.
“So for lunch, should we get meat?”
“Is it always meat with you?”
“Then what should we eat?”
“I’m not sure…?”
Sungkuk style was trending these days, so maybe we should try that? We were in the middle of debating lunch options when an Imperial carriage suddenly pulled up in front of us. The Empress Consort incident was over, and the Imperial Court had no reason to seek us out, did they? Or had they sent someone because of Sera? I thought we’d never have a quiet day, but surprisingly, a Bachelor emerged from the carriage.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Eugene Brandenburg.”
The Bachelor then called out to Eugene with nervous formality before dropping to one knee.
“His Majesty has bestowed upon you the rank of Noble Consort.”
“What?!”
I was shocked, but I’d never seen Eugene look this surprised before. Now that I thought about it, hadn’t they said something about reopening the Imperial Harem? Was Eugene being placed there? But Eugene was already married, wasn’t he? Could they really make a married woman a Noble Consort? To put it nicely, it’s a position for important diplomatic figures; to be blunt, the Imperial Harem is where hostages are kept, so marital status might not matter.
“The Noble Consort will reside in the Imperial Harem for the next three years.”
“Why me?!”
“The acting Border Earl has already agreed to this arrangement. Did you not receive word?”
“What?!”
Eugene looked like she was about to faint. She’d rushed to graduate early to help her young fiancée with her duties, only to be stabbed in the back like this. Her shock was completely understandable.
“Oh… Eugene is a Noble Consort…?”
“Should I… congratulate you?”
“Considering our relationship with Brandenburg, this is more like having a hostage in the Imperial Palace, so there’s nothing to celebrate, is there?”
Ah, now that I think about it—in the original work of 【Yeomyung’s Repentance】, in that alternate possibility, Freesia ended up as a hostage in the Imperial Palace, which is why Eugene was ground down until he died on the battlefield. This situation was precisely the opposite.
The Brandenburg Military no longer had to fight the dragon to the death, and the Margraviate needed Freesia’s administrative and political abilities more than Eugene’s combat prowess. If one of them had to become a hostage, sending Eugene was the right choice.
“Wow, your chick fiancée sold you out.”
“Shut up, Evan!”
Still, isn’t a Noble Consort a fairly high rank? I decided to comfort Eugene by asking the Bachelor how the Imperial Harem hierarchy actually worked. The Bachelor explained it thoroughly, as if he were also informing Eugene.
“From lowest to highest: Attendant, Concubine, Precious Consort, and Noble Consort.”
“Ooh, quite the exalted position.”
“I… I suppose that’s something to be grateful for?”
So now we’re even filming harem content in this world. What exactly is this setting supposed to be?
I looked up at the sky with half a mind to question the Mother Goddess and half a mind to protest. The summer sky was a brilliant blue, and though it was probably just my imagination, the artificial satellite seemed to glimmer.

– Time-limited messages rain down in the status window. End of Epilogue 3.
– Epilogue 3 of “Countdown Notifications on the Status Window” ends.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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