I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 132

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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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Pure affection directed at me.
Though it seemed this emotion was perhaps closer to curiosity.
A strange fascination toward the first female sibling born in the Vilotian Royal Family.
[I won’t allow it.]
[Put me down.]
Beolkkot should have been frightened, yet today he showed no fear whatsoever.
I closed my mouth for a moment, then asked as calmly as I could manage.
“Why are you saying you’ll kill my friend?”
“Because it’s the most efficient solution.”
….
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
I had already read his emotions through my mana.
Just to be certain, I decided to verify once more.
“May I hold your hand for a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
Sermon smiled warmly and extended his right hand to me.
I reached out and grasped his hand in return.
Sermon’s hand was very warm, and his emotions were nothing but tranquility itself.
When Sermon said he would kill Beolkkot, it was truly just because it was “efficient.”
‘That’s what makes it terrifying.’
This wasn’t mere intimidation.
Sermon was speaking those words through reason, not emotion.
Whenever he deemed something efficient and rational, others’ lives and feelings seemed to hold no weight in his consideration whatsoever.
All I had said was that I didn’t want to go to the Flower Garden together.
Then, a voice reached my ears.
“Your Highness, it’s fine if you stab me.
Viscount Biatonn, who had awakened from sleep at some point, was smiling with his eyes narrowed.
“But you mustn’t stab Kim Beolggwol.”
“Why not?”
“Because Duke Robena treasures that creature dearly.”
Sister Robena treasures Beolkkot?
This was the first I’d heard of it.
Sermon shrugged and spoke.
“That doesn’t mean you can stop me right now, though.”
“If Duke Robena were to visit the Bladok Duchy later and cause a commotion—or rather, a minor disturbance—asking why you harmed her friend, it would become quite inconvenient for you.”
….
“Moreover, she tends to harbor even trivial matters deep within her heart, so she might obstruct the First Shadow’s mission. That wouldn’t be efficient, would it? There’s even a saying that it’s more important to avoid making enemies than to make allies, isn’t there?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Sermon smiled broadly and released Beolkkot.
It seemed Viscount Biatonn had quite the knack for handling Sermon.
I tightly embraced Beolkkot as he lunged at Sermon again, soothing him down.
Just moments before he seemed ready to charge, he settled into my arms and rubbed his head against me.
It was fortunate that his nature was to forget one thing the moment he fixated on another.
“And Your Highness, there’s something I’d like to say.”
“Go ahead.”
Viscount Biatonn’s atmosphere subtly shifted.
There was no way Sermon hadn’t felt what I had sensed.
A strange tension hung between the two of them.
“While I welcome a blade to my throat, I find it utterly unbearable for one to pierce the Princess’s heart.”
“….”
“Should any action of yours cause the Princess sorrow, I will face you not as Chief Advisor Biatonn, but as the man Biatonn.”
“That sounds like a warning of sorts—am I understanding you correctly? I’d appreciate a clearer explanation.”
“Chief Advisor Biatonn cannot harm the First Shadow, but the man Biatonn can harm Sermon.”
I swallowed hard.
Though invisible to the eye, it felt as though a storm of razor-sharp blades was sweeping between them.
I had the distinct feeling that if I carelessly intervened, I would be deeply cut by those blades.
“What benefit do you gain from speaking to me like that?”
Sermon didn’t seem particularly displeased.
The question seemed to contain only genuine curiosity.
“There is no benefit.”
“Then why?”
“Because people don’t live solely for the sake of gain.”
Sermon looked at me and smiled brightly. Then, as if speaking from the heart, he asked.
“But Isabel, why are you sad when he dies?”
And he also asked Biatonn.
“What is sadness?”
“….”
“I don’t understand what that is.”
Sermon was clearly twisted in some fundamental way.
* * *
Yuri held her waist straight and lifted her chin slightly.
Narmore glared with displeasure written all over his face.
“Hey, do you know how busy I’ve been?”
He launched into a lengthy monologue about how occupied he’d been in the Zirdel Kingdom.
Negotiating with kingdom officials, deciding where to place the Teisabel Teleportation Gate, what magical power source to use for its operation, when to introduce Isabelchain technology, royal-level ramen supply contracts, and more.
“Yes, yes, you must have been very busy.”
“Don’t you know how much I’ve burned myself out for the Princess?”
“Yes, you must have burned yourself out quite a lot.”
Yuri savored the taste of victory for the first time in a while.
“Brother was extremely busy here, and I was extremely busy there.”
Yuri pointed in one direction with her finger.
I wasn’t entirely sure if that direction led to the village of Calpoah, but it hardly mattered.
“I’ve been spending time with the Princess. I even tasted the sweetest lemon tea in the world, and we made friends together.”
“….”
“While Brother struggled here, I spent t.i.m.e. with the Princess.”
“….”
“We even made a secret friend, you know?”
“….”
“Her name is Aselia, and she’s incredibly beautiful.”
“So what?”
Whether it was Aselia or Baselia didn’t really matter to him.
Noticing this, Yuri adjusted her strategy slightly.
“We all became friends. We even dipped our feet in the stream and had genuine conversations. It means the Princess and I shared many wonderful memories together.”
The strategy proved remarkably effective.
Narmore’s body trembled visibly.
“This isn’t your victory yet. We won’t know the outcome until we see how things develop.”
“Sure.”
Yuri smiled more brightly than ever before, and watching her, Narmore felt his irritation spike.
He definitely seemed to be losing.
“Didn’t you mention having another executive meeting? Mr. CEO of Narmore Corporation?”
“…Yeah, I do. Ugh, this is killing me.”
Time was tight, so I had to move quickly.
I’d intended to at least say goodbye to Isabel before leaving, but Second Prince Sermon was already there, so I couldn’t.
What was the deal with this situation—I had to leave without even meeting Isabel.
What could possibly be more important than this?
“Oh, by the way, did you know?”
“Why are you suddenly speaking so ominously?”
“The Princess cut her hair short. She calls it a ‘short cut.'”
“Huh? She cut her hair short?”
Narmore’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s with that reaction? Are you saying it’s wrong for the Princess to cut her hair?”
“No?”
Narmore’s expression became deadly serious.
Far more serious than when he was in meetings with the royal administrative staff.
My goodness, the Princess with a short cut. I’d never seen her look that way before.
“She must look incredibly cute.”
I decided to finish the executive meeting quickly and return.
Before her hair grew even 0.1 millimeters longer.
* * *
Yuri, who’d sent Narmore off with a smiling face, was walking toward Isabel’s barracks when she encountered Captain Lucain.
“Wasn’t the Princess heading that way?”
“Thank you.”
“Oh. And Yuri, I have a favor to ask.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“We just realized the issues with the song, so this time we’re making sure to include the Princess’s name in the Isabel Hymn we’re composing. Once it’s finished, would you be the first to evaluate it?”
The Isabel Hymn.
Yuri’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“That’s a wonderful title. I’d love to. I’ll wait for you at the Arena Palace.”
After parting with Captain Lucain, Yuri walked in the direction he had indicated.
‘She’s come quite far, hasn’t she?’
In the distance, a clearing bloomed abundantly with yellow flowers.
‘Oh! There she is!’
Yuri’s pace quickened.
The Princess playing in the flower garden—the thought of creating more memories together there filled her with joy.
But something felt off.
She could tell from a distance.
‘The Princess seems a bit darker than usual?’
The man smiling so warmly was undoubtedly Second Prince Sermon.
He wore a crude flower crown on his head, and even that appearance was strikingly beautiful.
Yet his beauty held little importance to Yuri.
Just as Aselia’s beauty had been meaningless to Narmore.
‘The Princess seems uncomfortable somehow.’
Isabel was smiling as she always did, but it didn’t seem like a genuine smile.
It was a feeling difficult to put into words.
Yuri quickened her pace.
‘I’ll help her.’
As a friend.
As a one-of-a-kind friend, she resolved to help Isabel unconditionally.
No matter what difficulty arose.
“Ah, I’ll teach you how to make a flower crown.”
Yuri crafted the crown with practiced hands.
It was far more intricate and beautiful than the one Isabel had made.
It was hard to believe they were made from the same flowers.
“I’ve heard the Princess’s maid is exceptionally skilled in many ways, and the rumors seem to be true. I’ve never seen such a beautiful flower crown.”
“You’re too kind.”
Yuri observed Isabel’s expression carefully.
Even after helping with the flower crown, Isabel seemed to emanate a melancholic aura.
“I’ve prepared some delicious crepe cake. Would you like some?”
“That sounds nice. I like crepe cake too.”
The one who answered was not Isabel, but Sermon.
Sermon ended up joining us for dessert time quite unexpectedly.
Up to that point, there were no real issues.
Everyone enjoyed the crepe cake.
The real problem came after.
“Isabel. I’ve taken a liking to your maid.”
“…Pardon?”
“Give her to me. I’ll pay you handsomely.”
His demeanor was exactly like when he’d said “let’s go out together” earlier.
That same look from before when he’d threatened to harm Beolkkot if I didn’t comply.
“What if I refuse?”
“You may not be able to see your maid again starting tomorrow.”
It was difficult to grasp the exact meaning of those words.
Whether he meant kidnapping or something else.
In truth, I didn’t want to understand it precisely.
Sermon spoke gently.
“Wouldn’t it be more efficient for both of us if you accepted my generous proposal?”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“Haah.”
I was furious.
I set down the fork I’d been holding with a sharp clang on the table.
“Listen here, Brother.”

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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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