I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 179

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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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There’s a saying that no parent can overcome their child.
Truthfully, I had never really felt that saying in my life.
I didn’t have parents, after all.
But now, I felt like I understood it better than anyone.
“…Someday, far in the future, you must come to understand how deeply you’ve driven a nail into this father’s heart.”
My Biological Father spoke as though reproaching me, yet even those words were brimming with affection toward me.
Because he said “far in the future.”
My Biological Father was saying that I had to live on until that far distant future.
“I’m sorry.”
“If you know you’re sorry.”
My Biological Father stopped there and fell silent.
I waited quite a long time wondering what he was about to say, but he couldn’t open his mouth.
In the end, my Mother spoke in his stead.
“He was like this when we were dating too.”
She let out a sigh.
“When he knows he’s sorry, what he’s trying to say is that we should go on a date.”
“A date?”
“Your father has contracted a disease where he can’t ask to go on dates.”
“What kind of disease is that?”
Listening to this, my Biological Father should be admitted to the intensive care unit of a general hospital.
A disease where he can’t lie when it comes to my Mother.
A disease where he can’t get angry at my Mother.
A disease where he agrees first and asks questions later whenever my Mother speaks.
A disease where he can’t ask to go on dates.
And so on.
“He has frequent minor ailments. It seems Father is more frail than I thought.”
“Your father never learned anything but the sword. That’s why your mother suffered so much in the early days of their relationship. He wasn’t socialized at all, so they fought quite a lot.”
I opened my eyes wide.
A love story about my parents.
My interest was suddenly piqued.
“You fought? But back then, Father was….”
“Yes, he was an unsocialized person.”
My Biological Father was obsessed with the sword, she said.
When you fight with someone obsessed, it tends to end badly.
“But did the fighting actually happen?”
If he was an obsessed, unsocialized person, I’d expect him to draw his sword without hesitation.
Or perhaps never face each other again.
My Biological Father, who had been silent until then, finally spoke.
“We never fought.”
“Then is everything Mother said a lie?”
“I was attacked one-sidedly. Words hurt more than being cut by a blade, I’ve learned.”
“Then Father wasn’t angry with Mother?”
Mother smiled brightly.
“Your father contracted an incurable disease the moment he first saw me—he could never be angry with me.”
“…Ah.”
Now I understood after hearing the story.
“Father fell for Mother at first sight. That’s what happened, right?”
After meeting Mother, he went through socialization and was able to develop into his current (somewhat) complete self.
Father answered with a slight nod of his head.
He was clearly embarrassed, but if that were the case, he should at least deny it.
Father had definitely contracted a disease where he couldn’t lie about anything related to Mother.
* * *
Left: Mother. Right: Father.
‘This feels really reassuring.’
On the left was the Empress.
On the right was the Emperor.
In the middle was me.
We walked arm-in-arm through the bustling streets of the Capital City.
Of course, we wore magical rings to conceal our identities.
They were rings that magically altered our faces and physiques.
“This was always my wish—to take a stroll like this with Mother and Father.”
It had been that way in my previous life too.
Looking out from the Hospital window, I was so envious of the children walking arm-in-arm with their parents.
“I’m sorry. Mother was far too busy, wasn’t she?”
“No, I’m just happy we can do this now.”
Mother felt terribly sorry toward us.
I understood her position completely.
“Mother is my mother, but she’s also the mother of all people.”
Father kept his mouth firmly shut the entire time, looking straight ahead as we walked.
He seemed quite uncomfortable walking arm-in-arm with me.
His gait was stiff and jerky, like a wooden puppet.
I deliberately didn’t speak to him, fearing he might break.
“If you walk along the Serin River, you’ll reach Montmartre Hill. Mother and Father went there often when they were dating.”
“Did Father not say anything back then either?”
“That would be a blessing, wouldn’t it?”
We walked along the Serin River.
Countless people strolled the path laughing cheerfully, and merchants sailed boats selling their wares.
It felt like the scent of ordinary life.
“He radiated such murderous intent, saying he’d kill any male who dared approach, that no one could get near.”
“A, a male? That’s quite an extreme way to put it.”
“That’s how I was back then.”
I truly was a madman who knew nothing but the sword.
I couldn’t help but think of how much Mother must have suffered.
We arrived at Montmartre Hill while exchanging various conversations.
This place was renowned throughout the Empire as the premier spot to view the sunset.
A place where the orange glow of dusk unfolds like a panorama toward the Capital City as the sun sets.
Many people had spread out blankets and sat on Montmartre Hill to watch the sunset.
“By the way, your Biological Father didn’t speak a single word the entire time he was on a date with your Mother. Or rather, it wasn’t that he couldn’t—he just didn’t. He made grand excuses about needing to be wary of other males around, preparing for unforeseen threats, and controlling all variables and situations.”
“In truth, he was too nervous being with Mother to say anything, wasn’t he?”
“My, you saw right through that?”
Of course I did.
I was still holding onto my Biological Father’s arm.
Through his arm, I could feel all of his emotions.
If I were to compare my Biological Father to water, he was currently bubbling and boiling.
“My Biological Father is far more comfortable on a battlefield than on a family outing. We need to be understanding about that. He probably won’t say a word today either.”
The sunset began to fall.
The orange sky was so beautiful it would never be forgotten.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Not wanting to waste even a single blink, I opened my eyes wide and pressed today’s scenery firmly into my memory.
This place.
This moment.
I loved it all, and I loved the people who filled this place and time with me.
But then my Biological Father opened his mouth.
“Every year, on this day, let us watch the sunset together here.”
Mother was more surprised than I was.
“You, were you capable of speaking during a date?”
My Biological Father extended his pinky finger to me.
Unbecoming of the strongest person in the world, his fingertip trembled ever so slightly.
“It’s a promise.”
I deliberated for a long while before linking my pinky finger with his.
“Yes, it’s a promise.”
Though it may be a foolish wish, I too hoped that promise would come true.
With that wish, I rested my head on my Biological Father’s shoulder.
A breeze carrying the evening sunset blew pleasantly.
Montmartre Hill was truly beautiful.
* * *
After much difficulty in making up my mind, I ultimately decided to lure Wilhelm out.
I had determined this was what I needed to do.
Mother, Viscount Biatonn, and Aselia.
And I heard that Karin was joining them in putting their heads together to devise a meticulous and effective strategy.
Everyone seemed incredibly busy.
But Arun was busy in a different sense altogether.
“You have to go on a date with me too. We’re engaged, after all.”
“…Yes.”
It was only natural to spend time with one’s fiancé before undertaking a dangerous mission.
But this was somewhat different.
I would certainly play my role as bait, but Arun would likely be by my side.
I wondered why we needed a separate date when we’d be together anyway.
“But won’t we be moving together?”
“I’ve already secured a waiting list reservation.”
“A reservation for what?”
“A waiting list ticket for Yuri Mor Confectionery’s main branch!”
Arun broke into a wide smile.
I could eat Yuri’s desserts whenever I pleased.
But Arun’s logic was this:
“Waiting outside and eating dessert with your fiancé makes it taste so much better, doesn’t it? And even with a reservation, you can only buy one per person. It’ll taste even better.”
Now that I thought about it, I’d never actually visited my dear friend Yuri’s establishment.
I suppose I’d been rather thoughtless.
I headed to Yuri Mor Confectionery with Arun.
“Shouldn’t we conceal our identities?”
“We’re only moving within the Capital City of the Empire. It should be fine.”
But it wasn’t fine.
Of course, the area around Yuri Mor Confectionery was teeming with young nobles from all corners of the world, but among them, Arun and I were undoubtedly the ones drawing all the spotlight.
“A-are you really the Princess?”
“Princess Isabel has revealed herself in person!”
People surged toward us like a tidal wave.
But Arun’s demeanor toward them was distinctly strange.
“Yes, I am her fiancé.”
“Yes, I’m her fiancé. We haven’t held the formal engagement ceremony yet, but we love each other. Isn’t that right, Princess Isabel?”
I had to hide my inner bewilderment.
Arun wrapped his arm around my shoulder protectively, and through that contact, his emotions flowed through to me unfiltered.
‘He’s enjoying this!’
I was the only one flustered.
It seemed Arun had anticipated this entire situation.
The invitation to share dessert was merely a pretext—his real intention was to broadcast our engagement to the world.
We had only promised verbally, and we hadn’t held a formal engagement ceremony yet.
I ate the delicious chocolate cake without knowing whether it was going into my mouth or my nose.
Once we returned to the Imperial Palace, Arun apologized to me.
“I thought this was the only way to gain official recognition. I’m sorry, Isabel.”
“…”
“Because I don’t know when the Emperor might change his mind again. He wouldn’t even hold an engagement ceremony.”
In the original novel, Arun was fair and just, a typical male lead who faced all matters head-on.
He wasn’t the type of character to pull such cunning tricks, but he had changed considerably.
“…It’s fine. But if you’re going to do something like this, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me beforehand.”
“I’ll make sure to do that.”
Arun took my hand.
Arun was truly sorry to me.
“I was just too greedy for you.”
No matter how I looked at it, this was cheating.
He was so handsome that I couldn’t bring myself to stay angry any longer.
And to be completely honest, I didn’t dislike Arun’s cunning.
I was grateful that he gave me the excuse to reluctantly accept these feelings, as if I had no choice.
And several more days passed.
Yuli, the former newspaper reporter who had become the Imperial Palace’s chief spokesperson, announced one fact.
“…Therefore, in two days’ time, Princess Isabel will personally visit the Linta region of Alpea, where she previously conducted volunteer work.”
Two days had passed.

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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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