I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 124

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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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Yuri pressed every word Isabel spoke deep into her heart.
It felt as though Isabel were speaking directly to her.
‘It’s okay not to do anything.’
Yuri had always felt compelled to strive.
To repay the kindness Isabel had shown her.
She had studied mathematics and chemistry for Isabel’s sake, and had endured rigorous maid training under the stern and frightening Steward Dailsa without complaint.
She was always thinking.
‘I need to try harder. I need to become an even better friend to the Princess.’
Though Isabel had never asked this of her, Yuri felt compelled by an obsessive need to do so.
What if Isabel came to hate me? What would happen to my mother then?
That fear only strengthened the compulsion.
But Isabel had clearly said it.
“You deserve to be loved simply by existing.”
Though the words weren’t directed at Yuri herself, she could clearly read Isabel’s thoughts and feelings.
That alone brought Yuri great comfort and solace.
‘That’s right. The Princess has always been like that.’
Thanks to Isabel’s words, Yuri could feel it once more.
Even if I make small mistakes, even if I don’t strive under the weight of compulsion, perhaps I am someone who shines a little in the eyes of Princess Isabel.
At that thought, Yuri’s heart swelled with emotion.
“…Yuri? What’s wrong?”
“May I ask you something too?”
“Of course. What is it?”
Yuri set the tray on the side table next to the bed and gathered her courage to ask.
“Can I shine a little too?”
After asking, her face turned red.
Even she thought it was a shameless thing to say.
It was Isabel who shone, not herself.
She was merely a maid enjoying Isabel’s kindness.
Yet part of her desperately wanted confirmation.
A longing rose in her throat to hear from Isabel’s own lips what kind of friend she was to her.
Isabel’s expression grew serious.
“Yuri, you see…”
Isabel thought she understood why Yuri would say such things.
She had noticed how anxious Yuri was every day.
She was grateful that Yuri had opened her honest heart to her.
Yuri appeared completely tense. She heard the soft sound of her swallowing.
“You shine far more brilliantly than tteokbokki or ramen.”
“…Pardon?”
The comparison was oddly trivial, but Yuri found that triviality deeply endearing.
“It’s not that I love the sweetest lemon tea in the world—it’s that I love the Yuri who makes the sweetest lemon tea in the world.”
Yuri clenched her ten toes like claws, gripping tightly.
There was something ticklish and embarrassing about it, yet she didn’t dislike the feeling.
“What if you won’t make me lemon tea?”
“Then you’ll pester me to make lemon tea.”
“What if you had to choose between lemon tea and me?”
“That would never happen. Because whenever I pester you to make something, you always give in and do it.”
It wasn’t what Yuri wanted to hear.
She wanted to hear something like, ‘You’re the most precious friend in the world to me!’
But Isabel continued speaking.
“It seems difficult to refuse when someone you care about deeply asks for something.”
“….”
“You care about me a lot, don’t you, Yuri?”
“…Yes.”
Isabel, being in a position of receiving support, understood Yuri’s heart well.
Once such a hierarchical relationship formed, it was difficult to feel pure affection alone.
She didn’t ignore that, but she hoped Yuri would feel more at ease.
“I care about you a lot too.”
“….”
“So I think we’re very close friends, and I believe my friend shines the brightest in the world. At least to me.”
Yuri hung her head low.
After talking it all out, she finally felt like herself again.
‘What did I just say to the Princess?’
For a moment, it felt like she’d been enchanted by something.
Suddenly, she felt embarrassed.
But beyond the embarrassment, she felt happy.
‘I’ll be good to the Princess.’
Yuri’s heart shifted subtly.
Not simply because she was in a position of receiving support, or because she was a maid.
That’s not why she was anxiously trying so hard.
‘I want to be good to the Princess. I really want to be very good to her.’
Not from the position of someone subordinate, but from the position of a friend, she wanted to be good to Isabel.
The motivation had shifted only subtly, yet Yuri’s heart became much lighter and more joyful.
Then.
From under the bed—no one knew when she’d gotten there—Kim Beolkkot, who had been sleeping curled up, poked her head out.
[☆★☆★]
She floated a series of sparkling stars above her head, apparently wanting to express that she was the most radiant in the world.
Isabel, who had promised not to neglect Kim Beolkkot, hugged her tightly.
Nestled in Isabel’s arms, Kim Beolkkot wore a very satisfied expression.
The speed at which magical symbol characters appeared above her head accelerated greatly.
[☆★☆★]
[☆★☆★☆★☆★]
[☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★]
Kim Beolggwol snorted dismissively.
[Call me Star Beolkkot.]
[I shine the brightest.]
Laughter bloomed throughout the room.
* * *
“I’d like to get some fresh air.”
The moment I heard Aselia’s words, I sprang to my feet.
The scent of pain still lingered heavily in the room.
It was rare for someone carrying such a strong scent of pain to express a desire for fresh air.
At the very least, it meant her physical condition had improved considerably.
Though infrequently, there were times when I too wished to take a walk.
The spring breeze and sunlight I had encountered then remained as precious memories.
“Alright. Let’s go. General Armitel, is that okay?”
Armitel’s expression grew slightly anxious.
The thought of taking his ailing sister outside seemed to unsettle him greatly.
“Aselia knows her own body better than anyone.”
The physicians had recommended even light walks.
They had told her to go out, receive sunlight, and breathe fresh air, but I simply hadn’t felt like it every day, so I had merely remained in bed.
Of course, verification was necessary.
She resembled me greatly and carried the same scent of pain that I had possessed, but I still couldn’t say she was completely me.
“Did the physician tell you to remain absolutely still in bed?”
“That’s not quite what was said…”
“They said light walks were permissible, didn’t they?”
“…Yes.”
“Then that settles it!”
We were already prepared to leave; Aselia only needed to change her clothes.
But Aselia hesitated slightly.
“Sister. I… that thing…”
“….”
Aselia glanced around cautiously before retrieving something from the wardrobe.
‘A wig?’
Only then did I understand why Armitel was wearing short hair.
It wasn’t merely a matter of fashion.
‘He cut his hair for his sister.’
Most noble ladies in this world cultivated long hair.
Lustrous, flowing locks were the measure and dream of beauty.
The obsession grew so severe that about ten years ago, human trafficking for beautiful hair had become rampant.
Eventually, the side effects became so serious that both the Empire and the Magic Federation implemented a complete ban on wig trading.
Apart from cutting one’s own hair and gifting it directly, all commercial hair transactions were illegal in this world.
‘This wig is made from General Armitel’s hair.’
As Armitel handed over the wig, he looked somewhat apologetic.
“I’m sorry, it’s quite worn out, isn’t it?”
To be honest, the wig’s condition wasn’t very good.
Since hair sales were illegal, the entire wig industry and all related technology in this world had been abandoned.
Even if higher-quality items could be obtained illegally, they were prohibitively expensive, and there was no way a military officer like General Armitel could procure such things.
“No, it’s fine. I really like this.”
Aselia put on the wig and smiled brightly.
As she glanced at the mirror repeatedly, I understood her feelings all too well.
One of the reasons I hadn’t wanted to go outside was precisely because I had no hair.
It was simply too embarrassing in itself.
Especially at that age, it was even worse.
I pretended not to notice and spoke up.
“I’ll push the wheelchair.”
“….”
General Armitel seemed concerned.
“You can just keep a close eye from beside me, can’t you?”
The martial artists of this world possessed physical abilities that were beyond what ordinary people could possibly imagine.
Even if I made any mistakes, General Armitel would be more than capable of handling it.
“Understood.”
“Let’s head out!”
I set off on a walk with Armitel, Aselia, Yuri, and Bumblebee.
The people we encountered along the way were kind, and the sunlight streaming through the clouds felt quite pleasant.
Aselia seemed very happy as well.
She even got out of the wheelchair and walked a bit in the middle.
Eventually, after finishing our walk, we returned home.
Aselia fell asleep quickly, as if the brief walk had tired her out.
“General, what do you think? That was quite a successful walk, wasn’t it?”
“…Yes. Thanks to you, Princess, I’m having truly wonderful experiences. It was a day like warm sunlight.”
I ate the dinner that General Armitel had prepared himself.
While not quite as skillful as Yuri’s cooking, it was still very delicious and I was grateful for it.
Our night was peaceful.
That is, until 11 o’clock that night.

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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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