It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 130

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

500 Years as Just an Extra,

 

The Original Story Still Won’t Begin

 

Episode 130

 

After everyone in the office had moved to the Grand Duke’s Castle, Ailesia was walking through the garden alone with Termion.

 

There were still people like Baron Gavin and Lady Herman who needed to go to the Grand Duke’s Castle together, but Termion had said he had something to discuss privately.

 

“It seems winter is finally coming to an end.”

 

“Though the Grand Duke’s Castle is still in the depths of winter.”

 

“But won’t it be a bit less cold once March arrives?”

 

“By the time of Elly’s birthday, the weather should warm up quite a bit.”

 

Elenora’s birthday was March 14th. Ailesia suddenly remembered White Day from her previous life and burst into a small laugh.

 

“What an exquisite date.”

 

“What date do you mean?”

 

“Elly’s birthday. In my homeland, March 14th was quite a special day.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. It was a day when men would confess to women they liked by giving them candy.”

 

“…What?”

 

Was that statement really so shocking? Termion stopped walking with a dazed expression on his face.

 

“Why?”

 

“Do you absolutely have to confess on that day?”

 

Termion asked in a quite serious voice. His tense face showed the solemn determination of a soldier heading to war.

 

“Ahaha, what are you talking about? It’s just a commemorative day created as a marketing ploy by candy sellers.”

 

“…What strange customs exist in the world.”

 

“In reality, people who are usually close just exchange simple gifts with each other, not necessarily candy. It’s kind of a concept for building friendships? Like ‘please continue to treat me well,’ that sort of feeling.”

 

It was probably a deliberately planned scene, but in the original work, Kalior did give Elenora candy as a gift.

 

As it happened, the next day there was a big event called the ‘Spring Festival,’ and Kalior, who heard about it late at the banquet hall, pulled out a lollipop from his pocket.

 

Along with a promise that he would definitely prepare a proper gift for her next birthday.

 

Elenora treasured that candy so much she couldn’t bring herself to eat it and cast preservation magic on it. Before going to sleep, she would look at that candy decorated in a flower vase with flowers and smile happily.

 

‘…It was also foreshadowing that made readers cry their eyes out.’

 

In the epilogue, there was a scene where Hilda entered the office after its owner had left and discovered a suicide note on the desk with that lollipop placed beside it.

 

“Grand Duchess, aren’t you going to eat that candy?”

 

“No. Next year… I’m going to share it with Kalior on my next birthday.”

 

“Oh my, how romantic. Your Highness the Second Prince will be so delighted.”

 

“…I hope so, hehe.”

 

Hilda, who remembered the story she had once heard from Elenora, couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw the candy that was exactly half remaining. And those tears eventually turned into screams after reading Elenora’s suicide note.

 

“…Do you perhaps have any bad memories related to that day?”

 

“Huh? What? Not at all.”

 

Had she unconsciously shown a gloomy expression? Ailesia, feeling startled inside, tilted her head as if nothing was wrong.

 

“Never mind then.”

 

“It’s a completely unrelated custom to here, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, Elly’s birthday is what matters.”

 

“I’m thinking of properly celebrating it this year. Last year the atmosphere wasn’t quite right.”

 

“Last year? Ah….”

 

Right, it hadn’t even been two months since the Previous Grand Duke Couple had died.

 

Forget celebrating, it would have been fortunate if Elenora hadn’t burst into tears saying she missed her parents.

 

“When direct family members pass away, it’s the Empire’s custom to skip all family celebrations for one year. Participation in external events is also minimized as much as possible.”

 

“Is that so…?”

 

Attending the Imperial Palace New Year banquet must have been quite a big decision. Iolene had also seemed a bit puzzled that an invitation had come at all.

 

“Anyway, this year we can celebrate without worry, right?”

 

“Yes. But for that to happen, there’s something that needs to be handled as quickly as possible.”

 

Now we’re getting to the main point. Ailesia just stared quietly at Termion’s face.

 

“…Why is your expression like that?”

 

“What’s wrong with my expression?”

 

“It looks similar to when you praise Elly.”

 

Oops, was I found out? Honestly, I was feeling a bit proud.

 

‘Before, he would desperately try to handle everything alone.’

 

The fact that Termion was comfortably bringing up such topics with her was quite a joyful thing.

 

It meant they had grown closer to each other, and it seemed his loneliness had lessened somewhat, which put her mind at ease.

 

“Let’s skip the trivial stuff. So what is this task you mentioned?”

 

“We figured out who the spy at Tillan Fortress was. What remains is the Grand Duke’s Castle.”

 

“Do you have a plan in mind?”

 

“First, we need to deal with that maid named Sophia. We need to find out who’s behind her and what purpose she infiltrated the Grand Duke’s Castle for.”

 

That arrogant maid who had been rude to Hilda?

 

I had stopped paying attention after leaving her to Iolene, so I wonder how she’s doing now.

 

“The Grand Duchess Dowager seems to have taken measures in advance.”

 

As if noticing Ailesia’s thoughts, Termion added an explanation.

 

“She said the Head Maid is keeping watch. I also ordered knights to be assigned separately.”

 

“Has she been behaving during this time?”

 

“The Grand Duchess Dowager demoted her to grade 3 and sent her to the laundry room. She probably didn’t have time to pay attention to anything else during the day.”

 

“Then what should I do?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Termion made a puzzled expression as if asking what she meant. He hadn’t intended to ask Ailesia for anything in particular.

 

“Would there be anything for you to step in for? She’s just an ordinary maid at most.”

 

“She might be under a prohibition curse with dark magic like Sigmund, right? And there’s more than just one or two such people.”

 

The same was true for Brantin’s group that Baron Baton had brought in, and the assassin who had exploded from the pendant.

 

If they had been able to properly interrogate them, they would have learned about Dusk Talon long ago.

 

“Is there a way to find out in advance?”

 

“There is, but… do you remember what we talked about before?”

 

“You mean the new information the Magic Tower Master told you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Indeed, if what he says is true, we might not find any traces in Sophia. That demonic energy doesn’t reveal itself until dark magic is activated…”

 

Ailesia had already confessed everything that happened outside to Termion on the very day she returned from her outing.

 

She didn’t want to hide her meeting with Melbarik, and more than anything, she couldn’t forgive Countess Sergel as things stood.

 

“We should avoid physical torture. If the prohibition curse activates by mistake, we’ll gain nothing.”

 

“There’s also the possibility she doesn’t know she’s under a prohibition curse.”

 

“Let’s think about it a bit more. There’s no need to do anything immediately today.”

 

“Are you going to leave Countess Sergel alone?”

 

Though things had been settled for now thanks to Melbarik’s mediation, Ailesia still had lingering dissatisfaction.

 

In reality, Countess Sergel hadn’t even offered a proper apology. There was some misunderstanding,

 

she didn’t know so there wouldn’t be such incidents in the future – she had only made vague excuses.

 

‘It seemed like she left the scene because she was reading Melbarik’s mood in the first place.’

 

Surprisingly, Termion had shown a calm reaction when he heard this story.

 

Sparks had flown in his eyes the moment he heard that Countess Sergel had pushed Elenora’s forehead, but his attitude was to wait and see for now.

 

“That’s not happening. The grace period is now over.”

 

“Grace period?”

 

“I was thinking of letting it slide if they had at least sent an apology letter before we returned to the Grand Duke’s Castle, but there was no movement whatsoever. I’ve already told the Grand Duchess Dowager what to do.”

 

“You’re going to formally protest to the Kaif Duchy?”

 

“Strictly speaking, Countess Sergel is not a person of the Kaif Duchy. It wouldn’t have much effect.”

 

“Then?”

 

“Disputes among nobles are resolved by higher authorities. It’s not something for a mere Magic Tower Master to interfere with.”

 

Of course. It seemed Termion had been holding back his anger quite a bit inside.

 

An adult had acted rudely toward a Grand Duchess of much higher status, and a child at that. It wasn’t even just a simple verbal argument but had escalated to physical contact.

 

Not only was it legally problematic, but if it became known in high society, it would be utterly disgraceful.

 

“I’ll send a formal complaint letter to the Emperor.”

 

“Asking him to punish her instead?”

 

“No. I’m only planning to write that I was very displeased. That way the Kaif Duchy won’t be able to react rashly.”

 

Instead, the Emperor would pour all that displeasure onto the First Imperial Consort.

 

Already troubled after being lectured by Iolene, and now Retis had been given justification externally? It was obvious who the Emperor’s anger would be directed toward.

 

“Of course, damage compensation is separate from that. They must pay the price for hurting Elly.”

 

“Isn’t that fine?”

 

It reduced risk while subtly keeping the Kaif Duchy in check – there couldn’t be a more effective method than this.

 

‘He’s gotten quite good at political maneuvering now.’

 

Right, our Termion is definitely better than that fox-like Melbarik. When he doesn’t like something, he just charges right in. And he secures practical benefits in the process too.

 

Perhaps because the cold-hearted aspect from the original work was showing, he seemed to give off a more mature feeling as well.

 

“Shall we head back now too?”

 

“…Mm-hmm.”

 

Why her response came out slightly delayed, even she herself didn’t know.

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