I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 161

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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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“Where is my father?”
I found myself at a loss for words.
To Maria, Akmon was her father.
“I need to be with father.”
“What do you mean?”
“Once a month, father spends the night with me. When will he come?”
Maria seemed consumed by terror.
“Do you like your father?”
“Father said that if he doesn’t spend the night with me, the demon inside me will break free.”
“….”
“He said father protects me.”
Maria’s body trembled violently.
She was desperately afraid of when the demon inside her might awaken again.
‘This wasn’t in the novel.’
In the novel, the male protagonist Arun persistently persuaded Maria.
There was only a brief description that after spending about a year together and earning her trust, they eventually became companions.
‘Now I understand why it took a whole year.’
I sat beside the terrified Maria and took her hand.
Her hand was damp—she was clearly very tense.
Through the mana transmitted by her hand, I could feel just how consumed by fear she was.
“There’s no demon inside Maria.”
“No. There is a demon.”
“What happens if the demon comes out?”
“He said it would devour everyone.”
“Have you ever seen it?”
“….”
Maria’s body flinched.
Her emotions still transmitted through our joined hands.
A tremendous shock reverberated through me, my heart pounding violently.
“You have seen it.”
“… No, that’s not true.”
Maria covered her face with both hands and sobbed.
“I haven’t seen it. Really. There’s no demon.”
I could easily infer the situation.
Akmon must have deliberately orchestrated and shown her a scenario where the demon awakened.
“Wait here for a moment.”
The words didn’t come easily. But I had to say them.
“I’m going to go get your… father.”
“Understood. Please bring father back.”
I needed to understand the full context of this situation.
I couldn’t bring myself to act, so I decided to get Narmore’s help.
By the way, to gain Akmon’s trust, Narmore has been on a business trip here since the day before yesterday.
“Maria is convinced that she has a demon inside her, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Ah, I see. Why did you go through such troublesome work?”
“To make that power truly mine. I had to make her a simpleton who only I knew about.”
Narmore’s eyes widened in admiration as he looked at Akmon.
“Indeed. But such brainwashing couldn’t have been easy, could it?”
Seeing Narmore’s reaction, Akmon became even more excited and continued talking.
“First, I put Maria to sleep with drugs. Then, I staged a scene where a demon appeared and devoured a person. I hired first-rate actors and spent a lot of money on special makeup, but that was a kind of investment. Haha!”
“My, that’s truly impressive.”
“Thank you for the praise, haha!”
Akmon, unaware that he was digging his own grave, proudly confessed his crimes before Narmore.
“I thought you, Narmore, would understand my feelings. Oh, and of course the Princess as well. It’s truly fortunate to meet partners who share my vision so well.”
* * *
“Yuri, prepare some cookies. Maria likes the ones you make.”
“Understood. I’ll make them delicious.”
I gathered the cookies Yuri had made herself and went to find Maria.
Maria was terrified.
“The demon will appear.”
“Look directly into my eyes.”
…
“There is no demon. At least not in Maria’s body.”
Midnight was approaching.
The closer it came, the more Maria tore at her hair and screamed.
She begged for her father to be called.
She shrieked that she needed her father, and eventually lost consciousness.
“Yuri, help Maria calm down for now.”
“Where are you going?”
“Bring Servant Deilsa.”
“Se-Servant Deilsa?”
“Yes. I already sent word asking him to come. He should have arrived by now.”
Two days ago, I summoned Servant Deilsa to this place.
Since he’s the chief administrator overseeing all education at the Arena Palace, he would be far more experienced than me in every way.
Upon receiving my letter, Servant Deilsa set out immediately and just arrived here.
I told Servant Deilsa the full story of what had happened here.
“Servant Deilsa, I’m asking for your help.”
“Your letter only said it was urgent and to come quickly. So I got up in the middle of a meal and rushed here.”
I deliberately didn’t write the details.
Servant Deilsa tends to be somewhat rigid about such matters.
“I serve only the Crown Prince and the Princess.”
I grasped the hem of Servant Deilsa’s robe and made the most pitiful expression I could muster.
“Won’t you help me even if I ask like this?”
“….”
“Since you’re already here, I’d really appreciate it if you’d grant me this favor. You know I don’t usually ask you for things like this.”
“….”
“If you won’t listen to me, are you threatening me?”
I lifted the edge of my sleeve slightly.
Narbidal’s mark was barely visible.
Servant Deilsa covered the edge of my sleeve again.
“It appears you’re already threatening me sufficiently.”
“Hehe.”
“I will help as well, but it seems Luluka’s assistance will also be necessary.”
Servant Deilsa let out a small sigh.
“I hope you won’t forget that we are specialized personnel trained to cultivate the Imperial Family.”
“You’re welcome, right?”
“Pardon?”
“We’re all grown up now! You saved us when we were about to become unemployed.”
“…You seem to have become quite shameless.”
At first, Servant Deilsa was somewhat intimidating, but now I understand him better.
Though Servant Deilsa appears extremely stoic on the surface, he actually adores me deeply.
I suspect he doesn’t remember it at all, but once when he was drunk on wine, he told me I was like a daughter to him.
His eyes were so wistful at that moment—it seemed Servant Deilsa had always wanted a daughter.
In any case, I wrapped my arms tightly around Servant Deilsa’s waist.
“It’s nice to be shameless, isn’t it?”
“….”
“I’m cute, aren’t I?”
“….”
“I must be cute, right?”
“….”
“I must be lovable, right?”
“….”
In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to deny it.
Servant Deilsa slowly pushed my arms away and created some distance between us.
“I will do my best for now.”
And a month passed.
* * *
Ron was deeply discontented.
And the only person in the Imperial Palace who could soothe his discontent was Serna.
“What can be done about you being the Emperor? Even now, greater demons are being spawned somewhere. If you, the sword of Villorian, are not there, how will those greater demons be handled?”
“….”
“I cannot remain on Sky Island forever. Your Majesty has duties that require your attention.”
“A full month, no less.”
One month.
Brief by some measures, yet an eternity for Isabel.
“I despise that such precious time is being squandered on that woman.”
“That time should be spent building cherished memories with Father. Is that not so?”
“….”
“Yet this time, too, must be equally precious to that child.”
Several days prior, Serna had visited Sky Island and spoken with Isabel.
“Do you know what Isabel told me?”
“Did she speak of me?”
Serna burst into laughter.
“You are not nearly as significant to her as you believe.”
“….”
“Isabel wishes to be remembered as a good person.”
Isabel was a child without excessive desires.
Though she had accumulated wealth surpassing even the Rosild Duchy, she indulged in neither luxury nor excess.
Rather, she was establishing orphanages and healing sanctuaries across the continent for struggling children.
“But she asked me this—whether it was permissible to be so selfish.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“She hopes people will not forget Isabel. She wishes to be remembered as a good person.”
“….”
“She asked whether such a selfish wish was acceptable. The better a person she becomes, the greater the suffering of those left behind.”
“…What did you answer her?”
“I told her I was proud of our daughter.”
Tears welled in Serna’s eyes.
In truth, there was so much more she wished to say, yet the words would not come.
Speaking further would surely cause her to weep before her daughter.
“I simply offered her my support and encouragement. So please, I ask the same of you.”
“….”
Serna walked slowly into Ron’s embrace.
Ron sensed there was reason behind her words.
“It seems Isabel told you something.”
“….”
“Tell me as well, my lady.”
Serna wept in Ron’s arms for a long while before finally speaking.
“Promise me one thing. I stake myself on it.”
“…At least hear me out first.”
“Promise me. I stake myself on it.”
Ron was afflicted with a curse that rendered him incapable of uttering falsehoods whenever Serna invoked his name.
Well aware of this fact, Serna rarely resorted to saying “swear by me.”
In the end, Ron could only nod in acquiescence.
“Very well. I swear by you.”
Only then did Serna open her mouth.
“The truth is, Isabel….”

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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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