I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 169

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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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A grand special amnesty was proclaimed in the name of Princess Isabel, the Spring Princess.
Special amnesties were enacted to commemorate occasions of such magnitude that the entire empire could rejoice together.
For reference, since the empire’s founding, there had been only five special amnesties.
One occurred roughly every hundred years, and it was happening now.
Biatone sighed, buried beneath mountains of documents.
“Ugh… this is seriously infuriating.”
I needed to spend every single second with Isabel.
Yet the Emperor had to issue this special amnesty at precisely this moment, drowning me in an avalanche of work.
“People think an amnesty is simple, but it’s anything but.”
Since the Emperor had officially commanded it, I had to move quickly.
That meant I had to go through the process of classifying which people would receive amnesty.
I couldn’t just pardon anyone indiscriminately.
Armitel, the second-in-command advisor, sat across from me in the same exhausted posture, sorting through documents.
“Stop complaining and focus on your work.”
She too had dark circles that extended down to her jawline.
“No, second-in-command. When we’re alone like this, shouldn’t we at least grumble about His Majesty? When else would we get the chance?”
“I don’t engage in such disrespectful behavior.”
“Come on, you’re not even a soldier anymore—when will you stop being so stiff?”
“I’m simply being reasonable.”
“This has to be a conspiracy. You know it as well as I do, don’t you?”
“What conspiracy are you referring to?”
“You’re deliberately creating all this work because you hate me spending time with Princess Isabel, aren’t you? The Emperor is the embodiment of jealousy. He’s terrified that the Princess will love me more than her father.”
Though I spoke these words, my eyes and hands moved busily across the documents.
“Look at the bright side, Chief Advisor.”
“What bright side is there?”
“The fact that the amnesty is being proclaimed in Princess Isabel’s name means her radiance is spreading to every corner of the empire, doesn’t it? The people will love and respect the Princess even more.”
At those words, I couldn’t hide my true feelings and broke into a broad grin.
“Don’t smile like that. It undermines the dignity of the Chief Advisor.”
“I wasn’t smiling.”
“You were.”
“I wasn’t, I tell you.”
Armitel glanced sideways with only her eyes, observing her younger sibling seated beside her, absorbed in document work.
“What do you think of the administrative officer?”
“I think she’s beautiful.”
Aselia, Armitel’s younger sister and the heroine of the original novel, had been recommended by Armitel to work in the imperial palace’s advisory office.
Aselia possessed a remarkably sharp mind and excellent numerical skills, making her far more capable at her work than even Armitel.
Aselia continued speaking.
“The Chief Advisor has a condition where he becomes even more handsome when he smiles.”
At that remark, I broke into another broad grin.
Incidentally, I was extremely fond of and cherished Aselia.
Because she was Isabel’s friend, I felt even more affection for her.
Once, Aselia had asked me a question.
“Why do you treat me so kindly?”
“Why? Does it seem strange?”
“I’ve never heard of a workplace superior being this considerate.”
“You remind me of my precious daughter’s dear friend. That’s why I have such special affection for you.”
Biatone spoke up.
“Our Administrator Ria is certainly quite capable.”
“You’re too kind.”
Armitel couldn’t fathom what was so capable about her, but decided to focus quietly on his work.
* * *
The advisors weren’t the only ones who had grown busy.
Steward Deilsa, the overall director of Arena Palace, had also become extremely occupied.
So many people visited Arena Palace, and most of them were troublemakers.
Now the worst troublemaker had arrived.
“Why am I not a VIP, Steward?”
“VIP waiting tickets are allocated one per person, Emperor.”
“I am the Emperor of this realm.”
“I am the overall director of this palace. I hold the highest priority in assisting Princess Isabel. And that authority was granted to me by Your Majesty. Have you forgotten?”
“….”
Deilsa looked Ron straight in the eye.
Having recovered his martial prowess in his prime, Deilsa was not greatly overwhelmed by Ron’s momentum.
Empress Serna asked with a benevolent smile.
“Could you not spare just one more ticket?”
“Even with such a gentle request, I cannot. I have already given you a VIP waiting ticket, Empress.”
A VIP waiting ticket meant a ticket that allowed one-on-one private audience with Isabel.
Because so many people wanted to spend time with Isabel, they had necessarily created this waiting system.
“I can only offer you a general waiting ticket. Please understand.”
It wasn’t just Steward Deilsa who was busy.
During this time, Midwife Luluka, who had been promoted to Vice Steward, was also extremely occupied.
While the Steward dealt with various troublemakers, the true overall director of Arena Palace was Luluka.
Normally, to become Vice Steward of the imperial palace, one must be from a noble house or possess great martial prowess and prestige like Deilsa.
Luluka was the first midwife to rise to the position of Vice Steward.
Some newly hired maids even disrespected Luluka.
“Didn’t we say our Vice Steward is of commoner origin?”
“Hey, it’s Vice Steward—you should say Vice Steward, not just that.”
“Still, it’s awkward for us to bow our heads to a Vice Steward of commoner birth.”
“She raised Princess Isabel. That’s why she rose to Vice Steward.”
Having raised Isabel was a most glorious distinction.
Countless servants and maids obeyed Vice Steward Luluka.
Meanwhile, Yuri had been letting out exclamations of admiration the entire time.
“I’ve attended many social gatherings following the Empress, but I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you, Princess. How can you possibly be this beautiful?”
“Yuri, stop it. That’s just infatuation talking.”
“It’s not infatuation!”
Yuri was being sincere.
“I’ve never seen skin so radiant and full of vitality like this. Your eyes are as white as snow and as clear as a lake. It seems the Miracle Saint must have been infusing her holy power into you every single day.”
“Every day?”
“Yes, every single day.”
“While I was asleep….”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
My infatuation had grown considerably while I was asleep.
I didn’t bother mentioning this to anyone.
Though I had experienced every conceivable form of infatuation through countless romance fantasy novels, Yuri’s degree of it was excessive.
“I feel like I could lose myself in your eyes, Princess.”
“….”
“You should practice not smiling, Princess. Everyone will melt away from your smile.”
Is this… really okay?
I was beginning to feel a bit concerned.
“Oh right, Prince Sermon will be visiting in 30 minutes. That’s alright with you, isn’t it?”
“Of course it’s alright.”
I had heard that Sermon had made a complete recovery.
I wasn’t entirely sure of the details, but he had reconciled to some extent with my father Ron, and Sermon seemed to be enjoying his own happiness, so I felt a sense of pride about it.
“I find Prince Sermon somewhat frightening for some reason.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. His heart is still warm.”
And 30 minutes passed.
* * *
Sermon entered the room.
“Brother Sermon?”
I was startled.
I thought he was fully grown, but he had grown even taller.
Sermon’s eyes curved like a fan.
“Isabel. Did you sleep well?”
His voice sounded somehow drowsy.
It seemed to be because he was speaking at a slightly slower pace.
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Did you have good dreams?”
Sermon approached me slowly.
His legs were so long that even his slow approach felt like he was taking great strides.
As if to confirm that I had truly awakened, he stroked my head before placing his hand on my forehead.
“Brother, why are your hands so cold?”
“I’m not sure. I suppose my body temperature runs a bit lower than most people’s.”
And he smiled that peculiar smile again.
Prince Sermon’s crimson eyes gleamed with an unsettling light.
I wasn’t sure if I should use such a word to describe my brother, but it was difficult to express it any other way.
‘Now I understand why Yuri finds Prince Sermon so intimidating.’
Through his hand resting on my forehead, I could sense precisely how much affection and fondness he held for me.
Yet if I had only seen his expression, I might have found it somewhat frightening.
It was a suffocating feeling, in a way.
Like standing before a ferocious beast that might tear out your throat at any moment.
He was like a wildcat with its claws hidden.
“Brother, you’ve become so much more impressive. You seem like an adult now.”
“As your brother, I shouldn’t bring you shame.”
Prince Sermon lifted one corner of his mouth.
“You smiled?”
“Yes, I laugh quite a bit these days.”
“You laugh quite a bit?”
“Well, there are plenty of people who deserve it.”
“People who deserve it?”
Just now, I felt a terrifying murderous intent transmitted through his touch.
Was it my imagination?
Prince Sermon gently stroked my head with affectionate fingers.
“I laugh a lot when I think of them. Actually, I wanted to give you a gift when you woke up, but I haven’t prepared one yet.”
“A gift?”
It seemed as though Prince Sermon’s hand had a magnet attached to it.
Even though he’d already stroked my head plenty, he showed no sign of removing his hand.
‘He’s really excited about this, isn’t he?’
What kind of gift could make him this thrilled just thinking about it?
It must be something truly wonderful.
“I was planning to give you Wilhelm’s head as a gift when you woke up.”
Why are you licking your lips with your tongue at a time like this!
“It’s just been difficult to accomplish.”
The door opened.
“I’m going to greet Isabel too!”
A blonde man entered.
I had no difficulty recognizing that this man was Michael.
“Wow….”
The Michael I remembered was not here.
It was a truly dramatic transformation.
The young Michael had disappeared, leaving only the adult Michael behind.
“Michael. If you don’t want to become a nuisance, would you mind leaving?”
“Brother, didn’t you say you weren’t using a VIP waiting pass?”
“….”
“Then we can all meet together.”
Michael rushed at me without warning and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Why did it take so long? I’ve been waiting all this time.”
Michael rested his hand on my shoulder and smiled with the brightest expression in the world.
His body had grown tall, yet there remained something childlike about him.
“Brother has become an adult now.”
“Yeah, I’ve grown up now.”
A child who refused to grow because he didn’t want to become an adult.
What did it mean that this child had now matured?
“I thought I had to become an adult to protect Isabel.”
“R-really?”
There was something oddly peculiar about how everyone’s words seemed to revolve around me.
Since I’m naturally attention-seeking by nature, I didn’t dislike such things, but it did feel strange.
It must be because I’d been unconscious for seven whole years, right?
Actually, I could understand if my family felt the same way after having such a precious person lying in bed for seven years.
Another voice reached my ears.
“You’re awake.”
“Brother Kaman?”
Prince Sermon seemed displeased that his younger brothers had interjected themselves.
He was radiating a fierce and intimidating aura, but Michael and Kaman’s presence was equally formidable, creating a sense of equilibrium between them.
‘How peaceful.’
Kaman, whom I met again, had also grown into an adult.
Though it seemed his middle school syndrome still hadn’t been cured.
“I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”
“Not really.”
“Were you waiting for me to wake up?”
“Not particularly.”
For reference, I was shaking hands with Kaman.
I could feel everything in Kaman’s heart.
What is this?
Mana is holding hands and dancing in a flower field?

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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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