I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 15

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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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It was Isabel’s birthday.
The Emperor and Empress were absent from the Imperial Palace that day as well.
There was no word of their return.
Isabel felt a touch of melancholy, but soon smiled with quiet acceptance.
“There’s nothing to be done about it. They’re both so busy.”
Luluka’s heart ached terribly.
She could have pouted a little more. She could have been a little more upset.
Luluka spoke.
“Allow me to celebrate with you.”
“Thank you. Even so, I’m truly a blessed child.”
“Of course! Today you can enjoy your final birthday here with me, and tomorrow you can move to your new residence with a joyful heart.”
“Time has already come to that, hasn’t it? I just need to bring myself, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. All the preparations have been completed.”
“I’ll be able to meet my brothers there too, won’t I?”
Until one’s fifth birthday, one resides in Lepien Palace, which could be called a separate residence.
After one’s fifth birthday, members of the imperial family move to Arena Palace, where the imperial children reside.
“My brothers were incredibly handsome.”
I could not forget the selection ceremony.
It was etched powerfully into my mind.
Their graceful appearances transcended mere eye candy—they were a feast for the eyes.
‘That alone will be entertaining. It’s a shame I only have a fourth brother, though.’
Currently, the only one actually residing in Arena Palace was the Fourth Prince, Michael.
My other brothers were away from the palace due to their respective duties and heir training.
‘Well, I’ll just become close with my fourth brother first.’
Entry into Arena Palace is often called the beginning of politics.
However, Isabel had no intention of engaging in palace intrigue.
With only sixteen years remaining, it was difficult to find a reason to do so.
“I just want to live like a carefree heroine.”
“A carefree heroine?”
“Yes, such a thing exists.”
Isabel enjoyed a modest party with Luluka.
11:55 PM.
Only five minutes remained until her birthday.
“Shall we light the candles on the cake now?”
“Yes, understood.”
Still, no word came of the Emperor and Empress’s return.
‘They’re both far too busy.’
I accepted that it couldn’t be helped.
“The cake looks delicious.”
Though it was quite late, only then did we light the candles on the cake.
I clasped my hands together and prayed aloud.
“Please let me spend the next one with Mother and Biological Father together.”
Luluka gazed at me with a pitiful expression.
The current time was 11:59.
I snapped my fingers.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the candle.
Multicolored flames flickered and danced.
As always, it seemed my birthday was coming to an end like this.
“I suppose you should blow out the candles now.”
“There’s still thirty seconds left.”
Thirty more seconds of my birthday remained.
I waited a little longer.
But then, a voice rang out.
“How presumptuous—a failure who can’t even master swordplay, yet harbors such grand wishes.”
The door opened.
It was Ron.
“Biological Father?”
My body froze in place.
Ron’s body was covered in blood.
“Biological Father!”
I jumped to my feet.
Seeing the blood covering Ron’s body, my mind went blank with panic.
“How dare you make such a brazen wish to spend time with me?”
A voice came from behind him.
“There you go again, saying things you don’t mean.”
It was Serna’s voice.
I spoke urgently.
“M-Mother. Biological Father’s body, there’s blood, blood on it…!”
“That’s why I told him to wash up first. You startled him.”
“If you’re alarmed by this much, you lack the qualifications to be of Villorian’s royal blood.”
Serna shook her head.
“Couldn’t we just say he was in such a hurry because he didn’t want to be late for our daughter’s birthday that he didn’t have time to wash?”
“…It was merely to keep my promise.”
“If you keep speaking like that, Isabel might come to resent you later.”
Serna walked over quickly and embraced me.
“My dear daughter, happy fifth birthday. Mother is sorry for being so late.”
I found myself embracing Serna in return.
Now, I too had a Mother.
This time, she did not abandon me.
Mother held me close in her arms.
What meant nothing to others was a miracle to me now.
Whiiiiiing!
Tears spilled from my eyes without my realizing it.
I had thought that turning five meant I would no longer act like a child, but I was wrong.
That was truly a mistaken belief.
I hate it.
No matter that I was five now, no matter that I had grown closer to my original self, I still became a child before Mother.
Oh my, our daughter knows how to cry.
At those words, I snapped back to my senses.
I wiped away my tears with determination.
My body wanted to act like a child, but my mind insisted it should not.
She, who had never known a mother or biological father, thought she must not whine excessively.
I hate it, but I don’t hate it.
Your pronunciation has improved quite a bit.
During that long time as her pronunciation grew clearer, I also realized I had missed spending time with my daughter.
I held Serna even tighter.
Thank you.
For what?
For being with me.
….
I’m so, so happy that Mother is holding me.
I loved the warmth of Serna’s embrace.
Serna stroked my head.
Brush, brush.
A warmth I had never felt in my past life washed over me.
Then my body grew drowsy.
Midnight was far too late an hour for a five-year-old.
Slipping away.
I drifted into sleep cradled in Serna’s arms.
Ron watched the two of us from a step behind.
* * *
Morning broke.
As always, bird songs drifted in, and a pleasant breeze rustled gently through the window.
As usual, the Midwife must have opened the window early this morning—wait?
Biological Father?
Startled beyond measure, I called out the name without thinking.
The person sitting by the window reading was not the Midwife, but my Biological Father.
He looked remarkably neat, as if he had just bathed.
Even in the morning, he sat without a trace of dishevelment about him.
My Biological Father lifted his gaze from the book and spoke.
“How dare you address me so disrespectfully?”
Yet the corner of my Biological Father’s mouth was twitching.
I’d read about this in a book.
Ron’s mouth corners twitch when he’s in a good mood.
I bounced out of bed.
“My apologies, Biological Father.”
“Though dignity is something one can have and then lose, or lose and then regain.”
I approached my Biological Father.
He was clearly reading, so why was his jawline so sharp?
In the fresh morning atmosphere, my Biological Father reading looked like a scene from some youth film.
“May I call you Father in private?”
“If you desire it so earnestly, I shall permit it.”
There it was again—that victorious expression.
But I’m already five years old now.
I won’t be so easily fooled.
“I didn’t say I desired it so earnestly, Biological Father.”
“Why not earnestly?”
The twitching corner of his mouth stopped.
“Because I am a Princess who values dignity and propriety.”
“Didn’t you just say that dignity and propriety are things one can have and then lose, or lose and then regain?”
“I’m already five years old now. I’ve reached an age where I must uphold propriety and dignity.”
My Biological Father’s expression crinkled slightly.
“Five is still a child. Just yesterday you were crying your eyes out.”
Somehow, my Biological Father seemed a bit hurt.
I drew closer to my Biological Father.
And I discovered something interesting.
‘Hm?’
My Biological Father was holding the book upside down.
He wasn’t reading at all—he was merely pretending to read.
I spoke with confidence.
“My Biological Father is demonstrating the dignity and authority of an Emperor through the refined practice of nourishing one’s spirit with ancient texts from the morning hours.”
I’d deliberately chosen difficult words, and my tongue nearly twisted, but I managed.
‘Good. That was perfect pronunciation.’
I’d pronounced it flawlessly.
At least, that’s how it sounded to my ears.
“Of course.”
Hmm, why did he seem pleased again?
He was truly unpredictable.
“Reading is experiencing another world and broadening one’s horizons. Therefore, do not neglect your studies, but apply yourself diligently and keep books always close at hand.”
“Are you saying you’re staying close to my Biological Father because he’s always close to books?”
“…What?”
My Biological Father’s body flinched.
My Biological Father, whose gaze had been fixed on books until now, turned to look at me.
I could clearly sense it.
What lay in my Biological Father’s eyes was unmistakable love.
It’s a somewhat sad story, but I was extraordinarily sensitive to such a gaze and emotion.
It seemed to be because I had never received it before.
My Biological Father’s lips were twitching more violently than before.
“Biological Father. Do you know that?”
“Know what?”
“I’m happy that you’re by my side.”
“Nonsense.”
My Biological Father’s face flushed slightly.
“Were you here all through last night?”
“My body was so exhausted that I fell asleep here without realizing it.”
“You were exhausted?”
The Empire’s greatest swordmaster?
There are accounts that the mana within your body is as vast as the universe.
In the books, it said you fought a war for two weeks without sleeping.
“Are you staying in my room because you’re exhausted?”
I decided to give my Biological Father an excuse.
It was like candy to me.
“I wish you’d be exhausted every single day.”
“….”
“Then we could spend days together like today, couldn’t we?”
“…You’re an unfilial daughter with a wicked heart.”
I paused for a moment.
Wishing for chronic fatigue for my own selfish desires seemed rather wrong.
“Only on my birthday.”
“….”
“Just one day a year—couldn’t you be exhausted for me?”
“….”
“I still have sixteen birthdays left.”
“….”
“From seventeen onward, I won’t bother you. That’s why they say you’ll be full of energy from seventeen and beyond.”
My Biological Father was staring at me with an expressionless face.
Perhaps his mood seemed a little displeased.
‘Did I whine too much?’
Anxiety crept over me without reason.
“Are you upset with me?”
My Biological Father simply gazed at me in silence.
My anxiety deepened.
“Is sixteen times perhaps too many?”

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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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