I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 67

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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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I asked again.
“Did my biological father truly say that himself?”
“To be precise, the Empress said so.”
“I see.”
I thought my biological father had said it directly, but apparently not.
I felt slightly disappointed.
“Yes. She clearly said it was a day when he wanted to be least tired. The Emperor didn’t particularly deny it either.”
“That day was indeed my birthday.”
“Your birthday? Truly your birthday? Is there anything else special about it?”
“Well, that day really was my birthday. That night, I was surprised when they threw a light party to celebrate me as a surprise.”
“So what you’re saying is that because of your daughter’s birthday, the Emperor—not just any emperor, but His Majesty Ron Vilotian, the Vilotian Emperor—ended the royal council early?”
“It seems that way.”
You understand well that logically this makes no sense, don’t you, Princess?”
Rahela pondered for a long while before asking again.
“There’s really nothing else special about it?”
“Well, I suppose what’s special is that I don’t have many birthdays left. That’s why my biological father seems to treat me a bit differently.”
I will leave before my biological father does.
To give one’s heart to someone whose lifespan is shorter than your own means accepting parting, and so it seemed he treated me with a certain tenderness.
“…Ah.”
Rahela realized what she had forgotten and looked at me with an exclamation.
“You don’t need to see me as pitiful. I’m living quite brightly, after all.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pity you.”
“No, it’s fine.”
After a brief moment of silence, Rahela spoke.
“So you really want to volunteer?”
“Yes. That’s why I came.”
“Why?”
“Do I really need a reason?”
“For Princess Isabel, you do.”
“I simply want to do my very best with what I can do.”
“That’s… all?”
“Since I’m living at a pace several times faster than others, I thought I should live several times more earnestly.”
Rahela nodded.
“I see. I understand what you mean. I hope that’s truly what you believe.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s nothing. You’ll start volunteering tomorrow.”
* * *
Rahela didn’t entirely believe Isabel’s words.
‘When I look at that child’s smile and expression… I find myself wanting to believe her.’
It was a subtle power that only Isabel possessed.
However, she was a woman of exceptional political acumen and ability, ascending to the throne at the youngest age among the seven kings.
Because she perceived the world through her own lens, she failed to truly understand Isabel’s perspective.
‘There must be a reason for this.’
And that ‘reason’ would reveal itself within days.
Volunteering in this place was essentially menial labor, an act that pushed one’s body to nearly its breaking point.
‘For a child who had lived comfortably, eating meals prepared by others each day, this would be grueling work. No matter how strong a Vilotian body might be, it would certainly be taxing.’
Eventually, true intentions surface. Cracks would appear, and then I would understand what political motives the Vilotian Royal Family had for sending the Princess here.
‘They even assigned Biatonn as her attendant.’
Biatonn was a figure of considerable concern to the kings of various nations.
A former assassin, a skilled magic swordsman, and the Emperor’s chief advisor.
There was no reason to waste someone of his caliber on mere volunteering.
‘There are definitely numerous political schemes hidden beneath the surface.’
* * *
Biatonn’s room was directly adjacent to Isabel’s.
The day before volunteering began, Biatonn visited Isabel’s room.
“Your Highness. This is a mask.”
“That’s a mask?”
Isabel’s eyes widened in surprise.
There was no sign of a mask anywhere.
What Biatonn held in his hand was merely a small necklace.
“Yes. I obtained it from a dwarf master artificer friend. When you wear it around your neck and channel a small amount of mana into it, it generates a virtual mask. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?”
“…You did obtain it, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I paid a fair price for it.”
A magical engineering necklace that changes one’s face.
In truth, this could be considered an extraordinary device. Especially in a world where such everyday(?) magic hadn’t developed.
In other words, this was likely a treasure belonging to the ‘dwarf master artificer.’
“You purchased it?”
“I paid a fair price for it.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
“Then, what?”
“I’m asking whether the seller was willing to sell it.”
“That is…”
Biatonn scratched the back of his head.
“He kept saying he wouldn’t sell it.”
“And then?”
“So I paid a fair price and…”
“You stole it?”
“Rather than stealing…”
“You stole it.”
“…”
“What if someone steals it? There are plenty of excellent masks that fit over the face.”
Biatonn laughed brightly, looking embarrassed.
“Am I… being scolded right now?”
How should I put it? There was something subtly delightful about it.
“Teacher!”
“I only borrowed it for a moment. Once my volunteer work is done, I’ll return it to its proper place.”
“You can’t call it borrowing when you secretly took something that wasn’t being sold! That’s stealing!”
“….”
“Go return it right now.”
“R-right now?”
“As quickly as possible.”
“Can’t I do it later?”
“No.”
“You’re being so firm about this, I suppose I have no choice but to obey.”
“You must. You have to promise me.”
Isabel extended her pinky finger.
‘I absolutely must return it to its rightful place.’
Isabel had a feeling she knew who had created this necklace—a master artificer of magic.
It had to be Hirden, the dwarf master artificer.
In 【When the Villainess Dies】, the villainess Isabel had desperately wanted Hirden’s masterpiece, the “Tears of the Sun,” and eventually had Biatonn steal it for her.
Hirden, consumed with rage, later crafted exceptional magical weapons for the male lead Arun, and those weapons would play a crucial role in the downfall of the Vilotian Empire.
‘Hirden is the type who never forgives anyone who steals from him. He’ll take terrifying revenge!’
If I made the master artificer Hirden my enemy, there was no telling what might happen in the future. He could become a major threat to Vilotia.
“And later, you’ll come with me to apologize to him again.”
Hirden was a dwarf with a fiery temperament, but despite that, he was weak to young children.
So if Isabel went herself to apologize, there was a very high chance he would accept it.
“I’ll apologize to Hirden as well.”
“But Your Highness did nothing wrong?”
“I asked you to find the mask for me. I’ll come and apologize too.”
“There’s no need for Your Highness to go that far….”
“Only if I do this much will Viscount Biatonn stop stealing! This is my way of scolding you, Viscount Biatonn.”
“I understand. I’m sorry. Then as punishment, I’ll stand watch here all night and stay by Your Highness’s side.”
Biatonn truly stood there all through that dawn, guarding Isabel.
Only this way could his heart find peace.
‘If this is the punishment, I could accept it every day.’
And morning broke.
* * *
Just before leaving for volunteer work, Isabel learned something new.
‘No matter what, how could there be absolutely no casualties?’
It was the capability of Rahela, who ruled the Alpea Kingdom.
I had analyzed seismic waves long before the earthquake struck and predicted it, then evacuated the residents based on superior crisis management capabilities.
The evacuation shelters were exceptionally well-prepared, and the subsequent disaster recovery efforts were proceeding with considerable systematic organization.
‘Remarkable.’
Thus, the citizens of the Alpea Kingdom called Rahela the “Holy Monarch” with reverence.
‘Still, my heart feels somewhat lighter.’
It seemed I could now approach the volunteer work with a slightly more at-ease mind.
In the Linta region, at Disaster Recovery Zone 3, Hector the work supervisor furrowed his brow deeply.
“What is that?”
“A volunteer, sir. Apparently the youngest daughter of the Beloti Marquess family. Her specialty is said to be magic….”
In truth, it meant nothing.
Many nobles listed magic as their specialty when they possessed no other particular skills.
Excluding mages affiliated with the Mirotell Magic Federation or the Magic Tower, only a tiny fraction of those claiming to be mages could actually use proper magic.
“Sigh, again? Really again?”
The Beloti Marquess family was a fictional house.
The youngest daughter of the Beloti Marquess family was none other than Isabel.
Upon seeing Isabel, Hector sighed heavily.
Hector despised this type of volunteer.
Nobles who added their names to volunteer rosters and participated for the sake of their own and their family’s honor.
Hector called this type of volunteer “honor-seekers.”
‘Honor-seekers who only take up space on the paperwork.’
It was said that one commoner volunteer was worth ten noble volunteers.
Moreover, this child was barely in her early teens. She couldn’t possibly be helpful, and it would be fortunate if she merely didn’t get in the way.
“Aren’t there other areas short-staffed? Please send her somewhere else, I’m begging you.”
And several hours later, work supervisor Hector could only be utterly shocked.
“…What exactly am I witnessing right now?”

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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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