I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 119

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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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‘Why…’
I stared at the photograph in silence for a long time.
‘Does she look exactly like me?’
My hair felt like it was standing on end.
Black eyes—uncommon in this world—and distinctly Eastern features caught my attention.
I had never been fond of looking in mirrors.
After living as Isabel for over eight years now, I couldn’t properly remember what I used to look like. Or rather, it was closer to not wanting to remember.
Yet the moment I saw the photograph, I could feel it. Aselia in the picture bore far too much resemblance to my former face.
I recalled Aselia from the novel.
「With shimmering emerald hair flowing…」
「Arun met her gaze. Whenever he looked into those emerald eyes, meticulously polished by a renowned craftsman, he would inadvertently let out a deep sigh—ah…」
Setting aside everything else, Aselia’s hair and eye color were described as ‘dazzling emerald.’
Yet the Aselia in the photograph had black eyes.
‘No, that can’t be. The resemblance to me must be… just a coincidence.’
I deliberately tried to ignore that fact.
‘But why doesn’t she have any hair?’
She was wearing a white knitted cap.
Her skin was pale from lack of sunlight, and her complexion had taken on a grayish pallor.
‘That’s truly the face of someone gravely ill…’
Aselia in the photograph was smiling brightly. Yet behind that smile, I could sense hidden suffering.
That image was so identical to my former self that my chest ached.
‘How is this possible?’
I decided not to think about the fact that she resembled me so closely.
I didn’t want to think about it.
Yet it was truly strange.
Why was the original heroine practically dying at this point in the story?
“You mentioned your sister is ill? Has she contracted some disease?”
“The physicians and priests say they don’t know the cause.”
My chest tightened at those words.
That was something I had heard far too many times.
They don’t know the cause.
I was dying from illness, yet they said they didn’t know why.
From the perspective of someone who was suffering, that was truly unbearable.
“May I ask what happened to her hair?”
“Since there’s nothing we can do at present, we’re administering painkillers. However, most painkillers are ineffective… I can’t quite remember the name, but only one particular painkiller has some effect, and the hair loss is apparently a side effect of that medication.”
“…”
One of my first thoughts after possessing this body was, ‘At least I have hair now!’
‘How did things get so bad?’
If she had been suffering to that degree, it surely would have been mentioned in the novel.
「When the Villainess with a Time Limit Dies」was essentially a novel written for the heroine Aselia.
If Aselia had overcome such pain and borne the fruit of love, I would have praised her endlessly within the narrative.
With words like, ‘She overcame such a terrifying and dreadful illness!’
Suddenly, a thread of unease passed through my heart.
‘Could it be because of me?’
Her face resembles mine too… No. No, it can’t be.
Of course it wouldn’t be, but still, I felt a little anxious.
I am the greatest variable in this world.
I am changing the world right now. The Teisabel Teleportation Gate, ramen, and so on.
Isabel’s Arrangement, Isabel’s Chain, and such.
And Wilhelm, who wouldn’t have gone missing originally, has gone missing.
Robena, who rarely showed herself on the Sky Island, is now actively involved.
In any case, I have brought many variables to this world.
I couldn’t know what butterfly effect I had caused in this world.
‘If such misfortune befell Aselia because of me….’
I felt I couldn’t turn away from it.
My past self came to mind, and my breath caught in my throat.
‘I should pretend not to know.’
I just want to live pretending I don’t know.
She’s just someone who resembles my past self a little, with no connection to me whatsoever.
But my chest ached persistently, and I couldn’t do that.
And I felt I had to confirm why she resembled me so much.
“Could I meet my younger sister?”
* * *
King Valkio of Jirdel shot up from his seat.
“What? The Princess is leaving Jirdel?”
Without even notifying anyone?
We haven’t even finalized the details related to the Teisabel Teleportation Gate yet?
Nothing has been confirmed?
“No, it’s not like that. She says she’ll stop by a small village called Kalpoa and then return.”
“That’s leaving!”
Valkio sat down and tapped his leg anxiously.
“At this moment? What’s it called? Kalpia?”
“It’s Kalpoa.”
“Yes, Kalpua. Why is the Princess going there? Does she have connections? Friends? Is there a diamond mine?”
“….”
“What’s the reason?”
“I apologize. I was unable to ascertain it.”
I hadn’t even thought she was going to meet a sick child.
Chief Advisor Gabrieng spoke carefully.
“It seems to be a form of protest, perhaps….”
“No, but even so, isn’t this something I could interpret as an insult to me?”
“Your Majesty was the one who sent such an insulting gift first.”
“Ugh….”
“Your Majesty, I apologize for bringing this up….”
“If you’re going to apologize, don’t say it.”
“….”
“Just say it.”
“In truth, I believe sending me to spy was a mistake from the start… If it were the Princess I’ve met, she would have immediately grasped why I came.”
Balkio’s face darkened.
Now that I thought about it, he was right.
“Despite receiving an insulting gift, the Princess remained in place and waited.”
Of course, Isabel hadn’t given it much thought. If anything, she’d been genuinely absorbed in playing with dolls.
“Yet instead of offering a proper apology, Your Majesty sent me, your chief advisor, to subtly probe her intentions.”
“Stop hitting me. It hurts. The King doesn’t get hit even with lies. I’m delicate, you know.”
Balkio exhaled a long, deep sigh.
Normally he would have pressed his temples firmly, but instead he rubbed his protruding belly with a swish-swish motion.
“What should I do?”
“Your Majesty must go yourself. If you depart now, you might be able to catch up.”
“But I have a second meeting scheduled with the young lady of the Rosild Duchy soon.”
“What is more important?”
The Princess was now expressing her will in a manner befitting royalty.
If he failed to respond to this, cooperation with the Princess would certainly be lost.
It was he who stood to lose.
“I ask of you, my dear friend.”
“You only call me that when you need something.”
“Anyway, do I have anything stuck in my teeth?”
“No, Your Majesty. Have a safe journey!”
Balkio hurriedly departed the Royal Palace.
Gabrieng watched his retreating figure and suddenly realized something.
“He didn’t crack any strange jokes or quips today—he must really be in a hurry.”
* * *
Armitel, seated in the carriage, found himself somewhat ridiculous.
‘To think I accepted that proposal so readily.’
In truth, the Princess had no reason to meet her brother.
Yet she had agreed to accompany him because she wanted an excuse—any excuse—to see her brother.
What she needed was a pretext: ‘a special mission to attend the Princess.’
‘I’m truly pathetic.’
But then someone blocked the carriage carrying Armitel and Isabel.
The coachman brought the carriage to an abrupt halt.
“Whoa, whoa!”
The Coachman cried out in shock.
“Are you insane?!”
Then he opened his eyes wide.
It shouldn’t be possible, but somehow he looked like King Zirdel.
The Coachman rubbed his eyes.
He couldn’t read, and he’d only seen the face a few times in newspapers that noble guests had left behind.
Looking again, the black horse’s coat gleamed with a lustrous sheen.
It was undoubtedly a magnificent steed.
“I’m not insane, but I apologize. I had to meet the Princess no matter what, so forgive my rudeness.”
The carriage door opened and Isabel and Armitel descended together.
Balkio quickly dismounted from the black horse and approached Isabel.
“Princess. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“…Yes?”
Rudeness? What rudeness?
Ah, was he referring to blocking the road?
It seemed he was apologizing for cutting in so dangerously.
“Yes, well. I’m sure you had your reasons.”
“You forgive rather easily than I expected.”
Balkio felt relieved.
It seemed breaking his promise with Reina and rushing here was the right call after all.
This was the Princess’s test, and fortunately, he seemed to have barely passed it.
“Is there really anything for me to forgive?”
“….”
“What brings you here?”
Balkio’s body flinched.
It was astonishing how a sharp blade was hidden behind that innocent and lovely face.
The Princess showed such firm resolve, yet displayed such naivety.
“Literally, I came rushing to apologize for my rudeness. Wasn’t I treating the Princess like a young child?”
“Hmm….”
Isabel paused in thought.
Something felt oddly off about his words.
“I’m not entirely sure what you mean, to be honest.”
She decided to clarify one thing at least.

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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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