I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 138

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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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The dawn of Isabel’s ninth birthday.
Yuri was startled when she saw the cake that Servant Deilsa held in his hands.
“My goodness….”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve never seen you bake before. Did you make it yourself?”
“….”
Servant Deilsa simply gazed at Yuri with an expression as cold as ice.
Yuri felt an inexplicable pang of guilt and lowered her head.
‘Is he… is he angry?’
It was Biatone who came to Yuri’s rescue.
“Servant Deilsa, why are you so embarrassed?”
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
“It’s obvious you’re embarrassed right now.”
“I have no desire to hear nonsense at the break of dawn.”
Servant Deilsa turned away and left.
Biatone chuckled with amusement, but Yuri remained somewhat worried.
“He’s not… he’s not angry, is he?”
“Don’t worry, Yuri. Servant Deilsa is just incredibly embarrassed right now. You know he wasn’t always a steward, right?”
“I know. He was an exceptional knight who commanded the Imperial Guard’s Black Whale.”
“Since he didn’t follow an elite path as a steward from the beginning, there are some things he struggles with. Do you understand?”
Biatone bent down and whispered very softly.
“When he first tried to learn baking, he destroyed all the baking equipment.”
“Servant Deilsa… did that?”
“Yes. He swore he would never, ever bake again, even if it killed him.”
That’s why I hadn’t seen him baking until now.
“But looking at what he made, he must have practiced quite a bit.”
“The Steward practiced? I… I never saw him do that.”
“He probably practiced in the early morning when everyone was asleep. As you know, Deilsa is an obsessive perfectionist. He probably didn’t want to show you something he couldn’t do well.”
“….”
“But now that you’ve caught him with the cake, how embarrassed must he be? He probably wants to crawl into a mouse hole right now, doesn’t he, Yuri Morr Confectionery’s CEO Yuri?”
From dawn, Biatone had been quite busy.
Though it was a small celebration, he prepared with all his effort.
So that Isabel could be happy.
The Sword Forest Academy had criticized Biatone’s actions quite harshly.
The argument was that the Empire’s Chief Advisor was wasting energy on trivial matters.
“So what.”
Biatone paid no attention.
He had been somewhat influenced by Kim Beolggwol.
“I’m doing this right, aren’t I, Kim Beolggwol?”
[Incorrect.]
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
[Whatever happens, happens.]
“Whatever happens, happens? That works.”
It was an unfamiliar phrase.
I’d never heard it before, but I quite liked the ring of it.
Kim Beolggwol and Biatone were always bickering, but today they were perfectly in sync.
[Call me, Tutor Kim Beolggwol.]
“But what are you hiding in your fur?”
[Secret.]
Biatone’s eyes narrowed.
Something was concealed within that fur, and I could sense a powerful flow of magical energy emanating from there.
‘This is no ordinary ratel.’
Even without the interpretation magic currently active, he was expressing himself so freely.
Moreover, he’d apparently even raided the imperial treasury’s treasure vault.
‘What on earth is your true identity?’
But I didn’t let it show.
For now, I was simply a colleague preparing for Isabel’s birthday party.
* * *
It seemed I’d slept in a bit late.
“Yuri?”
By this hour, Yuri would have come to open the windows and tidy my bedding. But today, Yuri was nowhere to be seen.
I rose from bed.
“Where did she go?”
Knock, knock. I heard a knocking sound.
It wasn’t Yuri—it was Steward Dailsa.
“Steward?”
“Today, I shall attend to you in Yuri’s stead.”
“Why? Is Yuri ill?”
“No, that’s not it, but there’s apparently a serious matter at Narmore’s Bakery, so she’s taken a three-day leave.”
Steward Dailsa tidied my bedding and took over Yuri’s duties.
The Steward was as taciturn as always.
“Please sit.”
I sat in the chair.
Steward Dailsa stood behind me with a large brush. It seemed he intended to brush my hair.
“But I have short hair?”
“Even so, brushing is necessary.”
And I could tell.
Steward Dailsa’s brushing, which had seemed perfect in everything else, was slightly rougher compared to Yuri’s.
Of course, that didn’t mean his skill was lacking.
It was just that my comparison was with Yuri, but objectively speaking, the Steward was adept at everything.
“Um, what’s that over there, Steward Dailsa?”
“I won’t be removing the broccoli. Broccoli is not green poop.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
I asked carefully.
“What date is today?”
It shouldn’t be possible, but I wanted to check if I’d somehow gotten the date wrong.
“Today is the 27th of April in the year 522 of the Imperial Calendar.”
“Then what kind of day is today?”
“Traditionally, the 27th of April has always been the day we begin serious preparations for the mid-year settlement that will occur in May.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“The temperature is slightly lower than average. The weather is quite pleasant.”
Hmph, as if anyone doesn’t know that.
“I’m finished. I’ve applied Aliaab Oil, so you should refrain from any strenuous activity for about ten minutes.”
“Yes.”
“Then please rest comfortably.”
Steward Dailsa opened the door and left.
It was exactly the same as always.
The Arena Palace was quieter than usual.
“Tch.”
I felt a bit melancholy for no reason.
Last time, Father had congratulated me right at midnight.
“Father isn’t even at the imperial palace…”
Mother and Father had some urgent matter and left the capital by carriage at dawn, or so I heard.
Kim Beolggwol was nowhere to be seen—off playing somewhere.
Viscount Biatonn has been disappearing somewhere lately, probably dating Karin or something.
“He promised he’d always be tired.”
I felt melancholy for no good reason.
I went back to bed.
There was nothing scheduled for today anyway, so I might as well take a good nap!
But wait, I just had Aliaab Oil applied?
It was a hair oil that disappeared on its own after ten minutes, but it had the property of causing significant contamination to its surroundings before it vanished.
If I just lay down, the bedding would become difficult to wash.
“Hmph!”
This was revenge.
Revenge for everyone forgetting my birthday.
Feeling petulant for no reason, I went ahead and committed the mischief of lying down on the bed anyway.
But then something strange happened.
It felt as though the Aliaab Oil was seeping into the bed.
‘Huh?’
I wasn’t entirely sure, but it seemed like some kind of magical reaction was occurring.
“Huh? Huh? Huh?”
Suddenly, the bed lifted off the ground.
“W-wait! Bed!”
The window burst open and the bed suddenly took flight.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
I screamed.
For some inexplicable reason, the bed soared high into the sky.
I clutched the blankets tightly to keep from falling.
It seemed I was being punished for my petulance.
“I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
The bed flew so high it pierced through the clouds.
‘Huh?’
Then the bed began to plummet toward the ground.
‘Am I… being left behind?’
I felt like I was falling too.
I had never learned flight magic, but to survive, I absolutely had to cast it now.
‘Huh?’
Even though I hadn’t cast any magic, the sensation of falling suddenly stopped.
My fear vanished instantly.
When I came to my senses, I found myself cradled in someone’s warm embrace.
High in the sky, no less.
“…Father?”
Only then could I regain my composure and look around.
[Cloud Carpet, Illusion.]
Bumblebee stood on the cloud beneath us.
Bumblebee didn’t seem frightened at all by the height.
But just as I had felt in the Erbe Mountains, I was terrified of heights.
“Father. Don’t let go. If you do, I’ll cry. Really, absolutely don’t let go.”
As I held him tightly, Father seemed oddly pleased.
I mean, I’m being serious here, so I don’t understand why he’s so happy about this.
“The child is so frightened. What’s going on, Duke Robena?”
“Isn’t Your Majesty enjoying this right now?”
“…Not particularly.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you smile without murderous intent in twenty years.”
“…”
Apparently, this cloud carpet was a surprise gift created collaboratively by Sister Robena, Grandfather Tesleron, Viscount Biatonn, and Knight Karin.
Mother’s voice reached us.
“Since Isabel is so frightened, let’s come down for now.”
Thanks to Mother’s intervention, I was able to return to my room.
Only then could I finally collect myself.
“Shall I put you down?”
“No. Hold me.”
If I descended now, my legs would surely give way and I’d collapse.
As the Princess of Bilotian, I couldn’t afford to show such weakness.
Yet somehow, Father seemed to enjoy it.
Cradled in Father’s arms, I could observe the faces of everyone gathered here.
‘Mother, Father, Bumblebee, Viscount Biatonn, Servant Deilsa, Grandfather Tesleron, Narmore, Brother Sermon, Brother Kaman, Brother Michael, Duke Robena, General Armitel, and even Saint King Rahela and King Valkio?’
Viscount Biatonn stepped forward.
“I’ve arranged a modest gathering according to Your Highness’s wishes.”
“…Modest, you say?”
“Yes. Typically, gatherings with fewer than 100 attendees are considered small and intimate affairs. Quite humble, really.”
Yet the caliber of those present was extraordinary.
Viscount Biatonn continued.
“Ah, but we’re not finished yet. There’s someone else who wished to celebrate Your Highness’s birthday.”
The door opened.
A girl carrying a cake appeared.
She was remarkably beautiful, with emerald-colored hair and eyes.
“Ria!”
Meeting her after so long, we embraced and shared our joy.
Yuri, who had been away on business, stood behind her.
“May I embrace you too?”
“Of course!”
My beloved family and friends filled the space around me.
A profound contentment I had never experienced in my past life welled up from the depths of my heart.
‘Am I truly allowed to be this happy?’
Suddenly, an ominous feeling crept over me.
They say there exists a cruel god in this world who breaks the wings of those soaring highest in happiness, sending them plummeting down.
That was when it happened.
A knight I didn’t recognize came rushing in breathlessly.
“Your Majesty!”
“I ordered all reports to be postponed unless urgent.”
From the emblem on the knight’s chest, he belonged to the Black Whale order.
He dropped to one knee.
“There is an urgent matter I must report.”
“Is it good news or bad news?”
The knight bowed his head deeply.
“Bad news, Your Majesty.”
He continued carefully.
“I believe the Chief Advisor and Servant Deilsa should hear this as well.

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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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