I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 151

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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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Everyone moved in perfect synchronization, coming to an absolute halt.
Wow. They move like machines.
Precision overflowed from their formation.
“Align to the left.”
They shifted sharply to the left in a tight line.
Then one of them approached me.
He appeared to be the highest-ranking Knight among them.
“I am Johen, First Commander of the Black Whale.”
“It’s good to meet you.”
“My apologies for the inconvenience, Your Highness. Please proceed first. I shall escort you.”
“There’s no inconvenience. You don’t need to go this far. We have plenty of space to pass through.”
I walked forward while receiving what felt like an excessive ceremonial reception.
After some time had passed, Yuri spoke.
“Did you happen to notice?”
“Notice what?”
I was slightly startled.
Yuri was my old friend and could read my expression in an instant.
“Ah, you did notice!”
“What are you talking about?”
“You saw him, didn’t you? That apprentice Knight at the end of the line. He’s the most famous apprentice Knight in the imperial palace lately. The maids around my age are all pining away for him.”
I actually understood why.
Even in a place where handsomeness was average, someone that striking would certainly stand out.
My standards had become unreasonably high because of my biological father, Viscount Biatonn, and my brothers.
Even I, just passing by, felt my eyes widen at the sight of such beautiful features.
“But do you know what’s truly remarkable?”
“What is it?”
“He’s the only son of the Northern Grand Duke! Despite such noble status, he’s starting from the very bottom as an apprentice Knight. Isn’t that impressive?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
‘Robena had a son?’
This was something that never appeared even once in the novel.
Yuri clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling brightly.
“I wonder if one day I’ll get the chance to have a conversation with Prince Arun?”
The sight of her looked like a lovesick teenage girl in the throes of first love—it was cute, wait.
“What’s his name again?”
“Arun, Arun. Isn’t the name beautiful too? In some regions, it means obsidian. He has eyes like obsidian itself—did you happen to notice?”
The Grand Duke’s son who never appeared in the novel.
And that son’s name was Arun, of all things.
‘Why is Arun appearing here?’
According to the novel’s setting, Arun destroys the Vilotian Royal Family and establishes a new empire.
That was the greatest overarching plot that ran through this entire work.
‘The story’s content has changed quite a bit, but I still need to be careful.’
He’s practically the only person capable of toppling the imperial family.
‘In a way, this is fortunate.’
It would have been ideal if Arun had never appeared at all, but since he has, it’s better to keep him close and observe him.
Just look at the case of Duke Bladog.
When someone lurking in a remote place beyond the imperial family’s reach suddenly strikes from behind, it stings far more than expected.
Moreover, if he belongs to the Black Whale, one of the finest knight orders, that makes him all the more trustworthy.
‘If the work has a directional tendency to move toward the original plot… I need to be even more careful.’
I couldn’t help but suspect it constantly.
In the case of Count Karin, the final hidden mastermind, she escaped Wilhelm’s grasp, but tribulations of comparable severity descended upon her.
In the end, she even experienced the agony of her mana circuits—which were essentially everything to her—being sealed.
And she experienced a phenomenon that never once appeared in the original work: ‘the restoration of mana circuits.’
I, the variable in this story, was involved in that phenomenon.
As if someone were guiding me, saying that since I changed the content, I should restore it to its original state.
The larger context of ‘the final hidden mastermind awakens after experiencing emotional suffering’ still remains intact.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking so hard about?”
“….”
“Your Highness?”
“Oh, oh? Did you call me?”
“Yes. I’ve called you over seven times now.”
“I’m sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
“Could it be… Your Highness has fallen in love?”
“Love?”
“I have no desire to compete with you at all. You come first to me, and I just want you to be happy above all else. So if you come to like Prince Arun, please tell me. I like you a hundred, a thousand times more than Prince Arun.”
That’s not it.
I was thinking about what kind of danger and variable Prince Arun might create for the imperial family.
But if I said that, Yuri would take it far too seriously, so I decided against it.
“He is quite handsome, though.”
“Isn’t he?”
As my body grew, I seemed to be entering puberty as well.
I did make eye contact with Prince Arun for a brief moment.
If my heart hadn’t raced at that moment, that would be a lie.
That said, if you asked whether I fell for him at first sight, that wouldn’t be quite right, but in any case, making eye contact with someone of the opposite sex around my age felt strangely embarrassing and made my heart flutter.
I thought this was a natural emotion to feel at this age and simply accepted it.
‘But….’
Prince Arun’s image kept lingering in my mind.
Perhaps because he’s handsome.
I couldn’t determine the reason.
* * *
A special royal council meeting.
This gathering had drawn a considerably larger attendance than usual.
The Emperor and Empress.
Seven Kings and their heirs.
Duke Rosild and his only daughter, Reina.
Narmore, the representative of Narmore Corporation.
And Princess Isabel as well.
As always, Empress Serna presided over the council.
“I shall commence the royal assembly.”
Each King spoke on various matters and exchanged their views.
Among these, boasting about their heirs was inevitable.
“Ahem, nothing to brag about, but this child has already….”
“How impressive indeed. Though this child of mine also….”
“Then surely we cannot overlook this child’s achievements either.”
“Splendid. Then what of this matter?”
They were Kings and parents simultaneously.
All praised their heirs’ achievements, but ultimately it amounted to saying ‘my child is this accomplished!’ It was fundamentally a venue for boasting.
Though there was the pretext of impressing the heirs upon the Kings and Emperor, it appeared to be nothing more than simple pride.
After this, many matters were discussed, but the most critical issue remained ‘Narmore Corporation’s excessive expansion’.
One of the Seven Kings, Sergren, spoke.
“Narmore Corporation is establishing a new currency system. As you all know, Narmore Corporation has already monopolized the distribution networks across the entire world. They possess a massive monopolistic system and are accumulating enormous wealth. Furthermore, they enjoy the support of countless people through ramen, and the influence of Isabel Coin continues to expand. To speak frankly, I believe the time has come to apply the brakes to Narmore Corporation’s expansion.”
In truth, many had already expressed concerns about this matter.
Especially as the influence of Isabel Coin grew.
“Currency represents trust itself. How could mere scraps of worthless paper function as goods? Such scraps function as goods only because the mighty Vilotian Empire guarantees them, does it not? I do not recognize Isabel Coin as a means to replace currency, and should I do so, it would inevitably lead to a weakening of the Empire’s influence.”
Serna responded.
“In any case, you all are concerned about the Empire’s weakening influence and believe we must prevent Narmore Corporation’s monopoly, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Indeed.”
Only Rahela, the Holy King of Alpea, and Balkio, the King of Zirdel—a nickname bestowed by Gabrieng, the Chief Advisor—remained silent.
Ron pointed this out.
“Rahela and Balkio, you two have nothing to say.”
“Well, I simply have no intention of objecting.”
“I concur with that. Not the same age, but the same sentiment! Ehehehe!”
“I see.”
Ron nodded.
Ron was far more proactive than usual.
“Then Narmore, what are your thoughts?”
Narmore rose from his seat.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Majesties the Kings….”
After some brief pleasantries, he continued.
“There shall be nothing that threatens the Empire’s peace.”
King Sergren spoke.
“All great powers begin this way. In the end, they have always threatened the existing order and peace.”
“I have no intention of threatening the existing order and peace. Because the true owner of Narmore Corporation is not me.”
“What?”
King Sergren asked with wide eyes.
“Then the owner is the Imperial Family?”
“Half correct and half incorrect.”
“Are you playing word games with me?”
“The true owner of Narmore Corporation is Princess Isabel.”
Isabel swallowed hard.
‘Me?’
It was true that I had invested in Narmore stock.
I had brought Narmore here for this very reason.
But the owner of Narmore Corporation?
‘I haven’t done anything.’
After I died, hoping the Imperial Family wouldn’t fall behind Rosilde, I had invested in Narmore with the heart of preparing a parting gift.
I only wished it could be of some small help.
That was all.
Then Narmore pulled out several documents he had prepared in advance.
“These are documents proving that Princess Isabel is the owner of Narmore Corporation. I am merely a practitioner working on the front lines. All of this has been accomplished by Her Highness. Therefore, strengthening Narmore Corporation’s influence is strengthening Her Highness’s influence, and that will become the power of the Imperial Family.”
“….”
Narmore Corporation—an emerging force that threatened the House of Rosilde, which had accumulated wealth and prestige for five hundred years, in a single breath.
At the revelation that the master of this force was Princess Isabel, everyone fell silent with solemnity.
The achievements of each heir could only appear humble and respectful before Isabel’s achievements.
“Wait a moment. I have something to say.”
Reina, the only daughter of the House of Rosilde, raised her hand.

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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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