I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 54

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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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It was one of the assets that could serve as a substitute for gold and silver currency.
Among them, gold bearing the seal of a prominent family was traded at a far higher price than ordinary gold.
It meant that the family guaranteed the authenticity of the gold.
This was an extremely important system, and forging the seal on gold was punished with capital punishment.
‘Why does it bear the Imperial seal?’
Kim Beolggwol could not have forged the seal.
“And it’s black, no less?”
A black seal.
This meant it had never been released into the world after passing the Imperial Palace’s authentication.
Gold bearing the seal of the Vilotian Royal Family was subject to rigorous management by the Royal Family.
It was much like a ‘check’ on Earth.
Through the application of magical engineering, every detail of how the gold ingot moved, through whom it was traded, and how it was transacted was recorded.
Isabel bit her nails nervously.
“Don’t tell me you stole it from the Imperial Treasury?”
Kim Beolggwol nodded.
Kim Beolggwol was intoxicated by his own actions.
[Let the miser be happy to her heart’s content.]
And he was very much anticipating Isabel’s joy.
But Isabel was so bewildered that she couldn’t speak. She understood Kim Beolggwol’s intentions, but this method was terribly wrong.
* * *
Meanwhile, there was someone even more bewildered than Isabel.
“I’m, I’m losing my mind…!”
It was Ulron, the Imperial Treasury’s chief keeper.
He was a 24-year veteran keeper and the chief administrator overseeing all seven treasuries within the Imperial Palace.
“The, the, gold ingots are missing…!”
There were no signs of intrusion.
So either it had been completely cleaned out, or there was a thief on the inside.
This was an emergency. The Imperial Treasury had been robbed.
‘If this fact reaches the outside world, my head won’t survive.’
Yet he couldn’t falsify the ledgers either.
For 24 years, he had lived with pride in his profession as a keeper. He also took pride in managing the Imperial treasures.
Because of this, he could not report falsehoods.
He ultimately sought out Serna, the Empress.
In such circumstances, the only person he could rely on and seek counsel from was the wise Empress Serna.
“Six years ago, Your Majesty said you would help me once. I remember those words and have come to see you despite my presumption.”
Ulron, suppressing his trembling heart, laid bare the entire situation to Serna.
Though Serna was respected by everyone in the Imperial Palace, even she could not offer a clever solution.
But then, a knock sounded at the door.
It was none other than Emperor Ron.
Ulron’s body went rigid.
‘Surely… you didn’t hear my report?’
Sweat poured down like rain.
This incident was the Chief Keeper’s responsibility.
Ron, the Iron-Blooded Emperor, would never let this matter slide easily.
He trembled, seized by fear.
“I’ve heard the general details from outside.”
“P-please, execute me.”
“Should I?”
Ulron’s body stiffened completely.
The murderous intent radiating from Ron threatened to make him lose consciousness.
“By protocol, I would have punished you severely.”
Ron withdrew his killing intent.
“However, the Empress promised to help you once, and you sought her out trusting that promise. Therefore, I will not hold you responsible. Now go back and do your best in the duties assigned to you.”
“Y-Your Majesty…!”
“Get out before I change my mind.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you, Your Majesty! I will henceforth manage the treasury with utmost care and ensure there are no further mistakes.”
Ron nodded, and Ulron fled from the study as if escaping.
Meanwhile, Serna smiled softly.
“You said that on purpose to be so harsh, didn’t you?”
“…”
Ron didn’t answer, but Serna understood his intention well.
Once Ron decided to forgive someone, he held no lingering resentment.
“Your Majesty knew that Ulron was excessively frightened. If you had spoken gently and softly, he probably would have wept right there. That’s why you spoke that way on purpose, isn’t it?”
“…”
Before Serna, Ron was as gentle as a lamb. Yet it felt somewhat awkward to actively agree with ‘yes.’
He was the Iron-Blooded Emperor before his people, a man to whom such tenderness was utterly unbecoming.
That was how Ron saw himself.
“You’re adorable.”
“An adjective far too unsuited to the Emperor of Villorian.”
“Adorable is still adorable regardless.”
“I am not adorable.”
“Aren’t you?”
“I’m rather strong.”
“Being adorable is the strongest thing of all.”
Ron’s ears flushed slightly red.
Realizing his facial temperature had risen, Ron quickly manipulated his mana to cool it down.
He didn’t want his blush to be noticed.
Though it already had been.
“I will handle this matter myself, so the Empress need not concern herself.”
“Really? You’ve been incredibly busy lately.”
“I have a rough idea of who the thief is.”
“Who is it?”
“I’ll tell you once I’m certain.”
Ron turned his back and walked away.
Serna tilted her head as she watched him disappear down the corridor.
“He seems to be in a good mood. The Emperor is usually only this cheerful when he has an evening appointment with Isabel.”
* * *
As Ron walked through the hallway, he sensed a familiar presence in the distance.
Though invisible to the eye, his trained warrior’s senses detected it clearly.
There was only one person within the Imperial Palace who radiated such an intense and warm aura.
‘After I pass this corner.’
His pace quickened slightly.
‘Isabel will be there once I turn the next corner.’
His steps slowed again, and his expression became neutral.
As if he had never anticipated meeting Isabel even once.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“What brings you here?”
Isabel’s bangs were slightly disheveled.
Ron stepped closer to her and gently tidied her hair with his index finger.
Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead, yet even that seemed impossibly endearing and lovely to him.
“W-Well, you see…”
“From the look of you, you seem like a young thief caught red-handed by the owner and fleeing in panic.”
Isabel’s body flinched.
Her transparent reaction made Ron laugh despite himself.
He quickly turned away to hide his laughter.
“Come along.”
Ron led the way forward.
Because her pace was so slow, he had to concentrate intently on moderating his own gait.
‘Perhaps she hasn’t learned the movement techniques yet. Her walking is quite clumsy. I suppose I’ll have to walk alongside her.’
He deliberately extended his hand backward.
Usually when he walked this way, Isabel would take his hand from behind.
But for some reason, she didn’t take it today.
Ron felt a slight disappointment, but they had already arrived at the Emperor’s Office.
“Oh? Your Majesty, what brings you to the office?”
It was Biatone, the Emperor’s adjutant. Dark circles hung heavily beneath his eyes.
In truth, the only time he looked vibrant was when he was teaching Isabel. Most of the time, his face bore the marks of brutal overtime work.
“Is it strange for the Emperor to visit the Emperor’s Office?”
“Well, it shouldn’t be strange, but it is.”
Biatone pointed to his own eyes.
“See these dark circles?”
“You’re ugly.”
“Can dark circles be ugly?”
“….”
Ron seemed to want to just say I was ugly.
Just as Ron said whatever he wanted, Biatone also said whatever he wanted.
“This is what happens when some great person living somewhere dumps all their work on me and devotes themselves entirely to sword training.”
Biatone noticed a girl peeking out from behind the Emperor.
“Wait, Your Majesty, what is this about?”
“What do you mean?”
“As Your Majesty well knows, the Princess radiates a unique, lovely, bright, and warm aura. But today I couldn’t feel it. This must be because she’s intimidated by Your Majesty. Your Majesty’s presence completely suppressed it, and I couldn’t feel the Princess’s aura at all! Surely you didn’t scold the Princess? Is that it? Did you curse at her and get angry?”
“What if I did?”
“Then that’s a betrayal.”
“Are you openly committing treason?”
Biatone clenched his fist.
He glared at the Emperor, then opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“I’m going to tell Mother.”
“….”
“You found that a bit scary, didn’t you?”
Biatone subtly gauged Isabel’s reaction.
The truth was, he was delivering this somewhat exaggerated joke in a playful tone to ease Isabel’s tension even a little.
Isabel looked like a frightened baby sparrow right now.
“I have some business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
After bowing to the Emperor, he passed by Isabel. He didn’t forget to flash her a gentle smile.
Thanks to Biatone’s efforts, Isabel was able to relax a bit.
Ron carefully picked Isabel up and sat her in the office chair.
Then he sat on the desk and spoke.
“Well then, tell me why you came to find me.”
“The reason I came to find Your Majesty is….”
Isabel hung her head low.
Breaking into the Imperial Treasury was a grave crime. Kim Beolggol might face severe punishment.
“…That’s why. I’m truly sorry. This is my fault for not educating her properly. Please punish me. I brought all the gold bars. I’ll return them.”
To be honest, Isabel was terrified.
She had never had a Biological Father, so she wasn’t accustomed to situations like this.
She thought she would be severely scolded, and that thought grew and became a formless fear.
It was too much for a seven-year-old body to bear.
It was also the fear that she might be hated.
“I was wrong. Please don’t hate me.”
Her body trembled. Her large eyes were brimming with tears.
“What are you even saying?”
“I don’t want to be hated.”
“So I’m asking what you’re talking about.”
“Well, that is… as I mentioned…”
Ron’s expression creased slightly with displeasure.
“That was something I had prepared as a gift for you.”
“…What?”
“It just so happens that today is exactly 72 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 15 seconds before your birthday.”

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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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