I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 170

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Over the past week, I experienced a happiness that perhaps would never come again in this world.
I felt anew how my family and the precious people around me cherished and loved me, and my heart became abundantly full because of it.
‘It was truly chaotic.’
I had no idea how a week had passed so quickly.
Every day I met with someone and had lengthy conversations.
There were several memories that stood out in particular, and one of them was my Biological Father’s sudden visit.
It was very late at night.
I was asleep, so I didn’t know the exact time.
It must have been around 2 in the morning.
“Shh.”
“Father…?”
I couldn’t understand why he would sneak through the window when a perfectly good door was available.
If someone who didn’t know had seen him, they would have mistaken him for a thief.
“I wanted to see you.”
“…Couldn’t you just use the door?”
“There’s a particular woman who’s quite strict about these things.”
I wasn’t entirely sure, but the strict woman in question seemed to be either Servant Deilsa or Midwife Luluka—or rather, Vice-Midwife Luluka.
“She makes such a fuss about how you should be sleeping at that hour.”
“So you came through the window instead? This is the seventh floor?”
This was something Kim Beolggwol used to do, but now that my Biological Father was doing it, it felt rather strange.
I had grown far more accustomed to calling him simply “Father” rather than “Your Imperial Majesty” or “Biological Father.”
My Father came to visit me without fail every time dawn arrived.
During the day, there were too many matters requiring his attention, so this was the only time he could spare, or so he said.
Because of this, I found myself eagerly anticipating 2 in the morning.
I hadn’t had many conversations with my Father during my childhood.
Through his magical power, I could sense that he loved me, but I hadn’t experienced that love through his actions or words very often.
At first, even fifteen minutes of conversation would lead to silence, but now we talked incessantly for an hour.
I never knew my Father was such a chatterbox.
Over these past few days, my Father had become remarkably relaxed.
“Father, I have one request.”
“Tell me.”
“Could I call you Father instead, except during completely formal occasions?”
My Father hummed and stroked his chin slightly.
It seemed a bit awkward for a fully grown Princess to call him Father so casually.
“There aren’t many days when I can call you Father. I want to call you that until I leave.”
“…”
“Because I want to always be a child in front of you.”
I wanted to indulge in childish behavior I’d never gotten to experience in my past life.
My body had grown considerably while I slept, and I’d become a full adult, but I still wanted to be a child in front of my parents.
“Mother already gave me permission.”
“The Empress?”
My biological father seemed somewhat relieved.
“Then there’s no helping it. Do as you see fit.”
My biological father stroked my head.
His touch carried a warmth like spring sunlight.
It almost seemed like he was quite pleased about it?
I only understood the full context after hearing the story from my mother later.
“He’s always wanted to be called Father. He even tried to force that on Isabel.”
“He tried to force something like that?”
“I gave him quite the scolding. After a few strikes to his back, he stopped making such unreasonable demands.”
“Then when I asked if I could call him Father, why did he make that troubled expression…?”
“That’s right. He was reading my mood. His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t care about anyone else’s feelings, but he’s developed an extreme condition of being overly sensitive to mine.”
In any case, this was one of the impressive events for me.
Acquiring the right to call His Majesty the Emperor Father as much as I pleased, and discovering that Father was actually quite the chatterbox.
And there was one more remarkably impressive encounter.
“Ria!”
“Your Highness!”
The original heroine Asellia was dazzlingly beautiful.
When I first met her, I was so stunned I couldn’t say a word.
‘But….’
There was something slightly uncharacteristic of what I considered a ‘romance novel heroine.’
Her skin was somewhat dull, and she had quite prominent dark circles under her eyes.
She looked like an overworked office worker.
“You’re working as a clerk in the Imperial Palace Advisory Office?”
“Yes, there’s so much work to process that I didn’t sleep a wink yesterday either.”
Asellia resembled Armitel somewhat.
She was a bit more rigid and tended to emphasize principles and rules.
So she maintained proper etiquette and spoke formally even to me.
While that was slightly disappointing, it also felt strange.
‘The original heroine Asellia was more free-spirited….’
She monopolized the male lead Arun’s love and also played the role of a minor troublemaker.
But the current Asellia was completely different.
“I hear rumors that you do your work well?”
“That’s not true.”
“People all over the palace are eager to scout Ria. I definitely heard it.”
“It’s only because Viscount Biatonn has been so kind to me that I was able to learn the work quickly.”
A romance novel heroine who’s a workaholic?
If I were the heroine, I’d be having fun and enjoying a rich happy life with the male lead.
This novel’s heroine is working so hard that her dark circles extend down to her chin.
I asked carefully.
“Have you seen Arun anywhere?”
“Arun?”
Aselia tilted her head slightly.
For Ria, the name “Arun” didn’t seem to be a particularly important keyword.
“Yes, I’ve seen him from a distance. He has quite a beautiful appearance.”
“That’s it?”
“Just because he’s beautiful doesn’t help with my paperwork, does it?”
In the original story, Aselia’s eyes would sparkle whenever she thought of Arun.
I feel a bit sorry for the original heroine, but right now her eyes look somewhat like a dead fish’s.
‘She was supposed to glow with affection whenever she thought of Arun, brightening everything around her…’
Instead, she was a workaholic consumed by her job, not a woman touched by love.
I even felt the pressure that she might be working Monday through Friday, Friday, Friday.
I’m not entirely sure, but somehow Aselia seemed to dislike Arun quite a lot.
“Arun has never spoken to you?”
“Since work is work, we do have frequent official conversations. However, we’ve never had private conversations. I don’t particularly want to have them either. But why are you asking?”
“Well, I just got the feeling that you and Arun would look really good together…”
Saying this made my heart feel strangely uncomfortable.
I found myself hoping that Ria would strongly deny it.
“I have absolutely no desire to be matched with such a person.”
Ria seemed slightly angry.
Yet I felt somewhat pleased by her words.
I don’t even understand myself.
“In my opinion, the Princess and Viscount Arun seem to be the best match.”
“Eh, no, what are you talking about?”
“Viscount Arun once proposed to the Princess and fought with His Majesty the Emperor for seven days and nights. You didn’t know?”
“He, he did?”
“They fought on abandoned land on the outskirts so the capital wouldn’t be destroyed. Because of that, all the terrifying monsters living there lost their homes and fled. That’s why Viscount Kiruen, the commander of the guards, had such a headache.”
Then I clenched my fists.
I seemed annoyed again.
“All the resulting paperwork fell on my shoulders.”
Wait, did I just hear something grinding? It must be my imagination.
“In any case, I think the Princess and Viscount Arun are truly a perfect pair. Of course, it’s a shame about the Princess.”
“That’s, that’s not it. We’re just friends.”
Ah, my face is burning.
Only now did I truly feel what it meant to be single since birth.
Hearing such words felt so unfamiliar.
“Aren’t you interested in romance, Ria?”
Aselia adjusted her glasses.
She looks like a scary senior with glasses.
“I have too much work to spare interest in romance.”
As she spoke of her work, her face began to brighten slightly.
Now she was truly radiant—befitting a heroine of a romance novel.
“I’m quite ambitious about my career. I have no time to waste on frivolous romantic entanglements like love affairs. Of course, I harbor no intention of disparaging others’ romantic pursuits. This applies only to me, so Your Highness, please feel free to enjoy romance as you wish.”
“…Is work really that enjoyable?”
Behind Ria, it felt as though flowers were blooming in full splendor.
“It is. My goal is to become an outstanding chief aide like Viscount Biatonn someday.”
Ria grasped my hand firmly.
Through that touch, I felt such genuine affection and love that my heart warmed.
“In the distant future, I hope you will allow me to serve as your aide. I will work hard and become a chief aide worthy of Your Highness. I ask that you promise me this—that you will appoint me as your chief aide when that time comes.”
I could not bring myself to agree.
The emotion transmitted through her hand was too sincere and earnest for me to lie.
* * *
Mirotel Magical Federation.
A secret council of the Primordial Mages convened.
Over the past seven years, the number of Primordial Mages had grown to sixteen.
All sixteen gathered for this meeting, though it was not announced publicly.
Sixteen mages sat around a large round table.
“Let us begin.”
They all opened their mouths with identical expressions and voices.
“We have received intelligence that Isabel has awakened.”
“We have received intelligence that Isabel has awakened.”
“We have received intelligence that Isabel has awakened.”
It was a grotesque scene.
“The children bearing Narbidal’s mark are well prepared.”
“The children bearing Narbidal’s mark are well prepared.”
This was not a normal meeting.
It was merely a ritual of sorts, with all of them uttering identical words in the same expression and voice.
“Now it is Isabel’s turn.”
“Now it is Isabel’s turn.”
They continued speaking.
“We do not have much time left.”
“We do not have much time left.”
Black aura seeped from the bodies of the sixteen mages.
It was as though smoke were rising.
“Let the grand scheme commence.”
“Let the grand scheme commence.”
Their bodies vanished along with the black smoke.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————