I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 46

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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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“Are you saying we should be mindful of Rosilde’s feelings?”
Isabel’s body flinched.
Somehow, Ron seemed a bit angry.
Still, she answered spiritedly.
“I am the Princess of Villorian, after all.”
I couldn’t exclude all political considerations.
Even the smallest flutter of wings could bring a tempest.
A single word, a single action could become a hidden blade that flies toward you.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“…Pardon?”
Serna interjected.
“Ahem, if you say it like that, the child will misunderstand.”
Serna sat beside Isabel and gently stroked her hair.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that it’s ridiculous for you to be a Princess.”
Under her mother’s tender touch, Isabel smiled bashfully.
“What I mean is, it’s absurd for you, a Princess, to be mindful of House Rosild’s feelings. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
Isabel whispered into Serna’s ear.
“Is Father angry?”
Though it was an extremely soft voice, Ron, who possessed superhuman hearing, caught every word.
A small crack formed in his steadfast heart.
Serna knew well that no matter how quietly she spoke, it would be futile. Yet she whispered very softly nonetheless.
In truth, she meant for him to hear.
“Does Father seem angry to you?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
“Are you frightened?”
“A-a little scared.”
Serna laughed.
Her pupils shifted slightly between her crescent-moon-shaped eyes.
As expected, Ron was now flustered.
Serna whispered very softly once more.
“He’s not angry.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Your father is simply inexperienced. He’s a father for the first time too.”
Throughout generations, the Emperors of Villorian had regarded their children only as successors.
Ron was no exception.
Thus, he didn’t know how to properly treat his child.
Moreover, she was the first daughter born in five hundred years of history, making it all the more difficult for him.
“If you’re truly frightened, ask him directly.”
Isabel clenched her fists tightly. Then, with courage, she looked toward Ron.
Meeting Isabel’s bright, sparkling eyes, a smile unconsciously spread across Ron’s lips.
Of course, that smile was so subtle that no one but Serna would have noticed it.
Isabel carefully opened her mouth.
“Father.”
This was a private space. That was why Serna called Ron “you” instead of using his name.
So Isabel also called Ron father. She had judged it to be proper etiquette depending on the place and time.
“You’re not angry, are you?”
“….”
Ron did not answer.
He could only remain silent for a while.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Even thinking about it himself, it was absurd.
He couldn’t understand why that word “father” felt so good.
Seeing himself become so childish and emotional in front of Isabel was so foolish that it made him want to be angry.
“I’m not angry.”
“You’re lying.”
Isabel’s eyes narrowed.
The bright sparkle in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a suspicious gaze directed at Ron.
“I’m not lying.”
In fact, Isabel had already realized that Ron wasn’t angry.
When he said with his own mouth that “he wasn’t angry,” it truly meant he wasn’t angry.
Yet his expression itself was terrifying.
It wasn’t exactly a frightening expression, but rather the atmosphere that Ron himself exuded was fierce.
‘Like the majesty he possesses as Emperor of the Vilotian Sword Empire.’
That kind of presence intimidates and makes people tense. According to the expressions in novels, it was called “presence.”
Isabel looked at Ron like that and smiled brightly.
“Please be warm to me.”
Isabel knew that Ron was only a cold person.
Once exhausting, twice exhausting, three times exhausting—she knew what it meant to be tired many times over.
She clearly remembered the warmth of that moment and the embrace of her father.
Isabel unconsciously stretched both her arms forward.
She wanted to feel that warmth again. She desperately longed for that sense of security and comfort.
The warmth she had never felt in her past life, the warmth she had yearned for so desperately.
As if bewitched, Ron embraced Isabel and sat her on his lap.
‘What am I doing?’
Even he found it absurd.
As if under a spell, his body moved on its own.
He felt displeased by this strange sensation of his body escaping his will and control.
Yet soon he found himself happy at the sight of his daughter sitting on his lap, looking up at him with a smile.
Ron couldn’t bring himself to face that radiant smile.
That smile, the thought of it disappearing before me—my heart ached.
So I couldn’t bear to look at my daughter’s face any longer.
“Don’t worry about it. Do what you wish to do.”
Ron granted it right then and there. The Imperial Palace would take in the thief that House of Rosild had cast out.
Isabel asked with concern.
“But House of Rosild might take issue with it, might they not?”
“And?”
“I’ve heard that even the smallest things can become grave weaknesses in political relations.”
“That’s not something for you to worry about.”
Ron chuckled softly.
As Emperor, he had much to tell the Princess. But he decided not to broach such complicated matters.
Not as Emperor to Princess, but as Father to Daughter, he spoke.
“I’m stronger.”
* * *
The Empress’ Palace, its most secluded bedchamber.
Serna, draped in thin silk nightwear, lay in bed and nestled into Ron’s embrace.
Ron wore matching silk nightwear as well, with an adorable embroidered bear on his chest.
It was something Serna had embroidered herself, and Ron’s most treasured nightwear. For the record, this fact was classified as top-secret within the Imperial Palace.
Serna spoke.
“I never expected you to grant permission so recklessly, even so.”
“Those Rosild fools can do as they please.”
There was something even Isabel hadn’t thought deeply about.
Beyond House of Rosild’s disrespect toward the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family equally disrespected House of Rosild.
This was a history accumulated over a long time.
If House of Rosild subtly disrespected the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family openly disrespected them. Especially if one possessed absolute power like Ron did.
“That’s true enough.”
“You’re not scolding me?”
“How could I possibly scold the Emperor, who is like heaven itself?”
Publicly, the Empress had never scolded the Emperor.
The Emperor was well aware of this fact.
Yet sometimes—or rather, often—he felt as though he were being scolded, though it seemed that wasn’t the case tonight.
“Since Father has shown reassuring strength, Mother must demonstrate a different kind of reassurance.”
“. . . .”
“House of Rosild won’t be able to raise objections anyway. I’ve already looked into it since that child Yuri entered the capital.”
The Empress had already grasped everything.
She knew about the false accusation.
“Since they’re uncomfortable about it, they won’t want me to step forward.”
After all, it was merely an incident of expelling a powerless child, and they hadn’t gone to great lengths to fabricate evidence.
If the Empress stepped in personally, she could prove Yuri’s innocence.
House of Rosild wouldn’t want that either.
“So a single letter with subtle coercion would be enough for Rosilde to simply bury the matter. After all, it’s not such a significant incident from Rosilde’s perspective.”
I understood why Yuri had been driven away.
It was because of Reina’s jealousy.
Since it wasn’t entangled in complex webs of interests, it could be easily buried if they chose to.
“But I hope they understand this: what is a trivial incident to them is the greatest event in someone’s life.”
Their casual, careless decision had completely overturned Yuri’s existence.
And that changed life had flowed into Isabel.
“I feel terribly sorry for Yuri, but I think things turned out well. I was so troubled by the fact that Isabel had no peer friends.”
“….”
“She’s a child with the audacity to show up at the Imperial Palace unannounced. A child like that could become a wonderful friend to Isabel.”
Serna smiled softly.
“Today, our daughter made a friend for the first time.”
Ron casually wrapped his large arms around Serna.
This moment, with Serna nestled against him, was the happiest time in the world for him.
He asked carefully.
“Was I a good father today?”
* * *
Meanwhile, Isabel was biting her nails. Her legs were trembling too.
“I’m worried.”
Dailsa, who had been tidying Isabel’s bedding, asked.
“What troubles you so?”
“When I think about it, Yuri won’t be coming alone. She’ll need to bring Mother, and that expense alone will exceed ten million Ludens.”
The prize money seemed insufficient.
Dailsa straightened up and walked toward Isabel.
“You need not worry about the cost.”
Dailsa told her about the one hundred million Ludens.
Isabel’s eyes widened and she blinked several times.
At first, she seemed unable to accept reality, but soon she let out a shriek of joy.
“Kyaaaa!”
It was a genuine exclamation of delight.
She let out a cry almost like a scream and suddenly embraced Dailsa.
“Lady Dailsa, I love you.”
Isabel’s body was still six years old. When Isabel let her guard down, her speech naturally became childlike.
That was today.
Isabel had completely fallen into the sweetness of capital.
She rubbed her cheek eagerly against Dailsa’s embrace.
“…Your Highness.”
Dailsa’s body went rigid.
“I love you so so much!”
One hundred million Ludens, no less.
I never would have expected this.
And a hundred million Ludens every year at that.
“Wait, the salary is a hundred million? No, that’s the actual take-home amount, so what would the gross salary be? Wow, anyway I love you!”
She spoke with childlike pronunciation yet remarkably practical words.
“…Please let go of this.”
“No way. I won’t let go. If you want to run, then try running! Hehe.”
Isabel bounced with joy.
“Director is the best!”
Isabel embraced Dailsa and savored the delight of capital.
“….”
Dailsa stood rigid like a wooden statue, cold sweat dripping down her face.
To Dailsa, this place was a flower garden—it felt as though beautiful, fragrant flowers were in full bloom.
After some time had passed, she closed the door and stepped outside.
The moment she stepped out, her body swayed.
As if entranced by something, she murmured while walking down the corridor.
“Money… is the answer.”
* * *
Isabel pulled the blanket over her head and kicked her feet inside it.
She could help Yuri settle down and launch the explosive rocket as well.
Everything had worked out thanks to Dailsa.
“Hehehehe.”
The lingering joy of capital was quite long-lasting.
She rolled over and wrapped the blanket around herself tightly.
Roll, roll.
Her reflection in the mirror showed her tucked snugly between the rolled blanket.
“A sausage hot dog! Hehe.”
Her form wrapped in the blanket looked just like a sausage hot dog.
Regardless of that, everything in the world felt beautiful.
And someone outside the window was watching her.
‘Hm?’
Isabel, sensing a gaze, looked out the window.
There was nothing outside the window.

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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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