I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 200

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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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The situation was hardly different from when Isabel had opened her eyes seven years ago.
Rather than different, it had actually worsened.
Steward Dailsa heaved a heavy sigh.
“If Your Majesty continues to disregard the order like this, it becomes difficult for me to maintain propriety.”
“I’m telling the other kids to follow it, not me.”
“Everyone says the same thing, Your Majesty.”
In the past, everyone had followed Dailsa’s guidance well.
So Isabel and her family were able to enjoy their individual dates without much trouble (?), but now even that had stopped working.
Eventually, Dailsa found himself in a one-on-one meeting with Isabel.
“At this rate, the Arena Palace will collapse entirely.”
“Collapse?”
“The way everyone fights over who gets to meet the Princess first… the pillars are shaking from it.”
“Wait, so the earthquakes we’ve felt these past few days weren’t actually earthquakes?”
“Correct. It was a power struggle, not an earthquake.”
“I… I had no idea.”
“Of course not. Everyone becomes well-behaved puppies in front of the Princess.”
Ultimately, under Dailsa’s mediation, the royal family designated every Wednesday evening as ‘Family Day’.
A day where no one monopolized Isabel, and everyone spent time together equally (?).
Dailsa managed to obtain a brief moment of peace, but it didn’t last long.
On the first Family Day, Arun, who hadn’t been invited, stormed into the family’s dining table.
“Father, Mother.”
And he declared boldly.
“Please grant me permission to marry now.”
In an instant, the warm atmosphere of ‘Family Day’ shifted.
Everyone except Serna set down their forks on the table.
The first to speak was Sermon.
“Did I mishear?”
“You didn’t mishear, Brother. I am Isabel’s confident fiancé, and I believe I can now demand marriage.”
“Is that how people ask to be killed these days—with such a long speech?”
A fork flew toward Arun’s face.
It was so fast that ordinary people couldn’t even see it, but Arun caught the fork lightly without much alarm.
“I have no desire to die. I plan to spend a hundred years with Isabel.”
“It seems you lack manners, boy.”
Kaman rose from his seat.
“Here we are, family gathered together enjoying a pleasant meal, and you deliberately come to disturb us like this? I shall teach you the solemn ways of imperial court etiquette.”
Shing—
He drew his sword.
What was strange was that the Emperor didn’t particularly stop him.
Michael rose from his seat.
“I didn’t like him anyway. Brother, want to beat him up together?”
“Ordinarily, it would be dishonorable for many to persecute one person, but when dealing with such a vicious criminal, we need not concern ourselves with propriety.”
“Understood. Let’s beat him together.”
Michael cracked his neck.
Crack, crack—the sound echoed.
Arun sighed.
“Father, did you not clearly promise to permit my marriage?”
“Me? When?”
Kaman swung his sword.
Though Kaman was formidable, Arun had already grown far stronger than the male lead in “The Villainess Dies Before the Ending.”
He evaded or blocked Kaman’s blade and Michael’s fists without much difficulty.
“I have sacrificed my life for Isabel.”
“Is that something to boast about?”
Ron’s eyes held subtle disappointment, and Arun realized his mistake.
“You’re right. I wasn’t trying to take credit for such a thing.”
“I was nearly disappointed.”
Isabel sighed.
There seemed to be no end to this situation in sight.
‘Perhaps I should just eat a steak.’
When matters reached this point, anything she said would be futile.
Eventually, someone would have to fall for this to end.
She thought today would be no different, but Serna smiled softly and spoke.
“Ultimately, what matters is our daughter’s thoughts, doesn’t it?”
As if by magic, the fighting stopped.
All eyes turned toward Isabel.
“Isabel wishes to marry me. We have already made a promise of marriage.”
Ron asked.
“Is that truly the case?”
“That is…”
“See? She doesn’t deny it.”
Arun countered without backing down.
“Isabel has not yet spoken, Your Majesty.”
“I have no intention of giving Isabel to a thief. Withdraw at once.”
“I must hear Isabel’s thoughts.”
Sermon threw a knife this time.
“Isabel said she dislikes it.”
But something strange occurred.
Arun, who should have easily blocked the knife, failed to do so.
“Ugh.”
The knife lodged itself in Arun’s shoulder.
Isabel shot to her feet.
“Arun!!!”

* * *
Sermon realized his mistake too late.
‘I’ve been played.’
He watched Isabel’s figure as she rushed forward.
In that moment, Sermon understood he could not protect Isabel.
“Brother! What are you doing!”
Sermon wanted to tell her the truth.
She deliberately took that blow.
She avoided all the vital points, dodged every tendon.
She took the hit intentionally just to get your attention.
“Apologize at once. Your actions are unjustifiable. Since when has the imperial family become so violent?”
For the past five hundred years, it had always been this way.
Yet no one had ever spoken against it.
“Arun, are you alright?”
Arun coughed violently.
In truth, his body had suffered no real impact, but somehow it felt necessary to cough anyway.
“I’m fine, Isabel. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“What do you have to apologize for? It’s Sermon who did this to you!”
Isabel whipped her head around and glared at Sermon.
Sermon avoided her gaze.
“Apologize now.”
“But he was the one who——”
“Quickly. If you don’t apologize, I will never forgive you.”
“….”
Sermon felt deeply wronged.
No matter how he thought about it, he was the one who had fallen into the trap.
Yet seeing Isabel’s fierce glare, he could not refuse to apologize.
“I’m sorry.”
“Properly. With sincerity and formality.”
“I overstepped. I acknowledge that my strength was excessive. I offer my sincere apologies.”
Arun rose from his seat.
He extended his right hand.
“Thank you.”
Incidentally, the knife had been embedded in that same right shoulder.
His movements showed no restriction whatsoever.
Sermon was well aware of this fact but chose not to mention it.
In the end, he clasped hands with Arun.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Arun spoke very quickly and quietly.
“Thank you for granting your permission.”
“Permission?”
“Wasn’t that handshake a gesture of approval?”
….
Veins bulged on Sermon’s forehead, but he couldn’t bring himself to grow angry because of Isabel.
Eventually, Serna spoke again.
“Isabel, what do you think?”

* * *
I don’t even understand myself.
To be honest, I do like Arun.
I’ve felt everything in Arun’s heart—how could I not like him or hold back?
And when I see that face, love springs forth from nowhere.
But when it comes to actually saying I want to marry him, the words don’t come easily.
Perhaps I’m just a little shy about it.
‘But I need to be brave.’
Compared to the courage Arun gave me, this is nothing.
I had to muster at least a small amount of courage for Arun’s sake.
“I think I do like Arun.”
“Then do you want to marry him?”
….
I nodded very slightly.
It was difficult to be brave at first, but once I took that step, I could understand my own heart more clearly.
“I’ve never seriously considered marriage before.”
Father’s and my brothers’ faces brightened.
“But if I were to marry, I’ve never thought of anyone other than Arun.”
This time, Arun’s expression brightened.
That night, an imperial palace council convened.
I’m not sure why this even warrants a meeting, but here we are.
Viscount Biatonn, Viscount Dailsa, Viscount Tesleron, Yuri, Narmore, and Aselia—my friends—were all invited.
Michael sat in an unruly posture, crunching on leaves.
“Why are you letting the thief go? Thieves should be beaten.”
I’d never seen Michael behave so poorly before.
Somehow, it felt like I’d raised him wrong.
Viscount Biatonn added his support to that sentiment.
“Is this a particularly vicious thief? If so, I shall capture them myself.”
Sermon, still not quite in his right mind, spoke up.
“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely kill him before the wedding. Kaman, what do you think?”
“If it is a matter of eliminating a thief, I too shall lend my assistance. For that is the path to serving the Empire.”
Ugh, seriously.
I have no idea what they’re doing, going on like this right in front of the person involved.
I clapped my hands twice—clap, clap.
“This won’t do. Let me be clear about this.”
I don’t know about the others, but it seems like I’m the only one who can stop my biological father and brothers.
“I want to marry Arun.”
At this rate, this will never end.
With Arun, I think it would be good to spend the rest of my life together.
As the situation reached this point, Arun’s face flushed instead.
He gently squeezed my hand, and I could feel it trembling slightly.
I found that trembling quite pleasant.
“Please let me marry Arun. If you keep talking about dealing with some thief, getting rid of him, and all that—I’ll consider it as harassing the person I love.”
“….”
“….”
Everyone seemed to be in shock.
Still, this was a hurdle I had to overcome.
“If you keep this up, I’m running away from home.”
Hmm, is there a better word than running away?
“I’m establishing my own household?”
At those words, my biological father stood up from his seat.
“Let us conclude today’s meeting here. My mind and body are quite exhausted, making it difficult to focus on the discussion.”
“Oh, I just remembered someone I need to kill.”
“I recalled a very important task I had forgotten. I must go handle it at once.”
“I had a sparring match scheduled with Bumblebee and completely forgot! Ahahaha!”
They all disappeared from their seats.
Viscount Biatonn approached me.
“I don’t care whether the Princess runs away or establishes her own household. However.”
He looked at Arun with eyes quite different from those he had turned toward me.
“It is I, Biatone, who will attend to the Princess. I shall attend to her whenever and wherever.”
And with that, he departed gracefully.
Viscount Tesleron laughed heartily, as if he’d witnessed something entertaining.
Teacher Karin—or rather, now Your Highness Karin—spoke.
“I support the Princess. Whatever choice you make, if you need my assistance, just say the word.”
“Teacher, you seem to be smiling too?”
“I’m relieved. The method is a bit unusual, but it’s clear that everyone cares for and loves the Princess deeply. That’s enough for me.”
And as she passed by Arun, she spoke as a warning.
“I don’t oppose the marriage, but you must do well. If you make the Princess suffer, you will suffer twice as much.”
Narmore nodded as well.
“I also support the marriage, but you must do well. There is no place on this continent beyond my eyes and ears. I could make your life very difficult, couldn’t I, Yuri?”
“Of course. If you make the Princess cry, we won’t let it slide.”
At some point, Narmore and Yuri had linked arms together.
Though the two of them had always bickered, mourning me together seemed to have kindled something between them.
In any case, it was a pleasant sight.
Aselia approached with a soft smile.
“The Princess is a very precious friend to me as well.”
Her eyes grew distant.
“If anyone makes my friend cry, I won’t let them off easy.”
It seemed she had spoken just then as the Dragon Lord.
Aselia withdrew, and now only Arun and I remained in this place.
I spoke awkwardly.
“Somehow… marriage doesn’t seem like it will be easy. Right? Arun?”
Arun was smiling brightly as if he didn’t care at all.
Then he drew closer to me.
“Why, why are you like that?”
He drew closer still.
I found myself stepping backward without thinking, and Arun pursued me at an unhurried pace, yet with relentless persistence.
Against my will, I ended up perched on the windowsill.
Just then, the pale blue moonlight filtered in, illuminating Arun’s face.
Gulp.
I swallowed without thinking.
I could see Arun’s crimson lips.
“Your… your shoulder is fine, isn’t it?”
Somehow, Arun’s breathing had grown slightly quickened.
“I’ll kiss you.”
Arun interlaced his fingers with mine.
As if drawn by an irresistible force, I gradually closed my eyes.
With my eyes closed, I focused only on sensation.
Arun’s emotions poured over me like a tidal wave.
That cascade of countless emotions seemed to crystallize into candy, melting softly within my mouth.
Love dissolved and flowed into my body, turning everything from my fingertips to my toes sweet.
It seemed this would be a very sweet night.
In that moment, I felt Arun drawing away.
‘Just a little more.’
I released our interlaced fingers and wrapped my arms around his neck.
Then I slowly drew him toward me.
Still, an even sweeter love rolled across my tongue than before.
May this candy never melt away.
I had merely savored a limited time, and yet 【THE END】

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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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