I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 214

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

* * *
Viscount Biatonn laughed like a villain.
“Kekeke, there’s a place I must take you to, Your Highness.”
“W-where is that place?”
“I’m determined to take a memory journey with you as well, Your Highness.”
“I’d like that.”
Peeking into Viscount Biatonn’s memories was just as thrilling as witnessing Mother and Father’s first love.
Except for his time as a former Sword Wraith, it seemed like it would be quite enjoyable.
What would it be like to see my childhood self through Viscount Biatonn’s eyes?
Just as I witnessed Mother and Father’s first meeting, what was our first meeting like?
“Come sit. Let’s go on this journey.”
I tapped the spot next to me on the sofa.
“No, thank you. As you know, I’m an old-fashioned person.”
For the first time, Viscount Biatonn rejected my gesture(?)
It was quite shocking.
Whenever I did this, he always came running like a retriever.
Sometimes he’d even conjure a tail with magic and wag it for me.
“I prefer analog to digital.”
“Mm.”
In other words.
“You’re going through all this trouble to suggest we take a trip?”
Nod.
Viscount Biatonn looked extremely solemn.
“There’s a place I truly wish to visit with Your Highness.”
“I don’t know where it is, but…”
Going anywhere with Viscount Biatonn was always thrilling.
I could explore new places while always feeling securely protected.
When I’m with Viscount Biatonn, all the inconveniences of the world seem to disappear.
“I’m not sure if Mother and Father will allow it.”
Surprisingly, I have a curfew.
Midnight.
Since I fall asleep by eleven anyway, the curfew is somewhat meaningless, but I do have one regardless.
Additionally, a law was recently established requiring both the Emperor and Empress to grant permission whenever the Prince or Princess of Villorian leaves the Imperial Palace for personal reasons.
Viscount Biatonn frowned.
“I believe that is the worst of all unjust laws.”
“Is that so?”
“It restricts freedom, does it not? Look, Your Highness. The Emperor’s obsession with you is improper. You are already an adult, and you have your own life to live, do you not?”
The distant, shining ‘☆’ glimmered a bit brighter.
Though I couldn’t see it, I felt as though it were nodding in agreement.
It seems Kim Beolggwol was eavesdropping as well.
“DPD. Dependent personality disorder characterized by strong possessiveness and obsessive attachment. OCD. It appears you possess some traits of a mental illness marked by repetitive and persistent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.”
It seemed he’d been watching some medical dramas from Earth.
So it wasn’t Earth Literature Syndrome, but Earth Culture Syndrome.
“Are you really saying such things in front of the Emperor’s daughter?”
“What I mean is that His Imperial Majesty requires treatment.”
I laughed lightly.
“I don’t mind it.”
Mother and Father.
Especially Father, who did tend to be overprotective of me, but fortunately, I didn’t dislike it.
Perhaps it was because my father in my previous life had abandoned me.
In other words, I seemed to have a tendency to become attached to my parents’ love as well.
“Then I shall become obsessed with the Princess as well.”
“Aren’t you already?”
“Huh?”
Viscount Biatonn tilted his head, realizing that was indeed the case.
“Heh. I’ve fallen into the dilemma of double standards. There’s no helping it.”
Viscount Biatonn dropped to one knee and extended his right hand toward me.
Today as well, I could see his pristine white gloves.
“Since we’ve come this far, I shall abduct you.”
“How refined of you.”
I gently placed my hand over Viscount Biatonn’s.
The stars in the sky had turned red—a sign of reluctance—but they didn’t descend upon us.
I winked at the sky and waved my left hand.
‘I’ll be back soon, Kim Beolggwol!’
The stars sparkled brilliantly in red.

* * *
I’m glad I had the Transportation Gates scattered throughout the continent.
Late into the night.
We arrived at an unnamed city without much difficulty.
I didn’t ask where we were going.
Somehow, it just felt like that’s what I needed to do today.
After arriving in the city, we traveled on horseback.
Viscount Biatonn’s back was as broad and solid as it had always been.
“We must cross this lake.”
“This is Lake Barkaldt, isn’t it?”
The largest lake on the continent.
We had arrived at the lake that so many had mistaken for the sea.
‘A sandy beach on a lake?’
A vast expanse of white sand stretched before us.
The grains of sand, glimmering under starlight, lay spread out like jewels.
“Yes, that’s right.”
I could sense it.
Viscount Biatonn was slightly tense.
“I’m sorry, Viscount Biatonn.”
“For what?”
“I should have come here sooner.”
I think I understood why we had come here.
This was Viscount Biatonn’s family home.
Where the Pahello Household was located.
Where the kind teacher who helped me overcome the curse of Narbidal now rested.
Where the Mother of Biatone found her peace.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Your Highness. What could you possibly have to be sorry about?”
“I should have suggested coming here first.”
“Your Highness.”
Viscount Biatonn looked down at me.
Even though so much time had passed, Viscount Biatonn was still far taller than me.
I lifted my head to meet his gaze.
“If you apologize, Your Highness, I’ll turn back right now. With just this, I can boast to His Majesty the Emperor that I sneaked out and played with you. That’s more than enough for me.”
“…Really now.”
I truly didn’t understand him.
It wasn’t as though we had used concealment magic to slip away unnoticed.
I had walked out slowly under Viscount Biatonn’s escort.
If Father had truly made up his mind, he could have stopped us.
If he had truly hated the idea of me going outside.
This was something my Biological Father had tacitly permitted, and Viscount Biatonn surely understood that fact well.
Kim Beolggwol, who got kicked and turned into a star on purpose.
Viscount Biatonn, who brazenly kidnapped(?) me and seemed delighted about it.
My Biological Father, who would give permission and then inevitably rage, ‘How dare this bastard kidnap my daughter for an outing?’
I couldn’t make logical sense of it.
‘Well, um, let’s just accept it.’
There was a part that was difficult to understand with reason.
Still, seeing Viscount Biatonn’s bright expression made my heart feel a little lighter.
“We’ll ride a mermaid across.”
Riding a mermaid across a lake brimming with starlight was romantic.

* * *
The Pahello Household, located in the very center of the lake.
I stepped into a place where no one lived anymore.
It felt like entering a very ancient castle.
“This is a secret space. Only direct descendants of Pahello could enter here.”
We arrived at a place surrounded by stone on all sides.
A sealed chamber.
“I’ve come to pay my respects.”
“To your mother?”
“Yes. She passed away here.”
Biatonn bowed his head once toward the center of the chamber.
I also bowed deeply at the waist and observed a moment of silence.
Beksah.
Because Viscount Biatonn’s mother existed, I could enjoy the present moment.
And then I spoke.
“Viscount Biatonn. It’s okay to cry.”
Viscount Biatonn wore his usual faint smile.
I thought that smile didn’t belong in this space.
Just as Viscount Biatonn had watched me for a long time and understood my heart perfectly.
I too had watched Viscount Biatonn for a long time.
Though not quite as well as Viscount Biatonn reads my heart, I can read his heart quite well too.
Right now, Viscount Biatonn seemed like he wanted to cry.
“Men do not cry, Princess.”
“It’s alright, Viscount Biatonn.”
I gestured to him.
“Come here, Teacher.”
“Ah, this isn’t right….”
Viscount Biatonn hesitated, but soon drew closer to me as if enchanted.
My body was too small to embrace Viscount Biatonn.
Yet Viscount Biatonn collapsed helplessly into my arms.
I gently comforted the Viscount, who was so much larger than me.
“I am the one who consoles the Princess, not someone who receives consolation.”
“It’s okay to miss her. It’s alright.”
Viscount Biatonn’s eyes reddened, but he did not cry.
Yet in my eyes, Viscount Biatonn was weeping.
Like a young child.
After a brief moment, Viscount Biatonn carefully opened his mouth.
“Perhaps….”
“Have you prepared your heart to meet your mother?”
“Did you use mind-reading magic?”
Viscount Biatonn made a gesture of searching above his head.
It looked as though he were searching for magical script.
“No, there’s nothing there.”
“Compared to how well Viscount Biatonn understands me, this is nothing at all.”
In any case, Viscount Biatonn seemed prepared as well.
“Just accept me.”
It was somewhat more difficult than it had been with Mother.
It wasn’t that Viscount Biatonn rejected me—rather, his instincts were rejecting my mana.
He still seemed afraid to face his mother’s final moments once more.
After a little time, Viscount Beksa appeared on the wall.
—Listen well. These are the final words left by the last patriarch of the Pahello Household.
The final image of Viscount Biatonn’s mother that remained in his mind.
Ah, so that is Viscount Beksa.
It was a scene containing Viscount Beksa’s last will.
The Viscount in the vision seemed both angry and sorrowful.
—Do not forget the reason you became an adult.
Glancing to the side, I noticed Viscount Biatonn’s body trembling faintly.
But then, something unexpected happened.
As the one casting the spell, I immediately noticed.
‘This isn’t my magic.’
This was not a ‘memory.’
Words that did not exist in the memory were being replayed.
—Is the child you are with the reason you became an adult?
Viscount Biatonn shot up from his seat.
“M-Mother?”

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