It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 149
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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500 Years as Just an Extra,
The Original Story Still Won’t Begin
Episode 149
“I am Iolene Diana von Retis. I have come to briefly greet you on the occasion of my granddaughter’s birthday.”
The excited residents quickly regained their composure and focused their attention on her.
Iolene, who had protected the castle as the mistress of Retis for decades, was an admirable figure respected throughout the entire duchy.
“Although there was pain last year, this year’s Retis will soar higher than ever before. I have no doubt that today is the first step toward that. I pray that health and happiness will always be with all of you. Thank you.”
Instead of cheers, gentle applause poured forth in response to Iolene’s calm words. The heartfelt emotions contained in her few brief words had touched people’s hearts.
Last was the turn of today’s main character. Elenora took Termion’s hand and stood on the chair, giving a bow greeting.
“Hello, I’m Elenora Vies von Retis!”
Some of the residents had seen Elenora’s face while she wandered the streets, but for most, this was their first meeting.
“Oh my, how adorable she is.”
“Her voice is so clear and bright too.”
“Didn’t they say she’s six years old this year? She’s so mature.”
Warm smiles spread across people’s faces as they saw her black hair tied in cute twin braids and her large green eyes.
Especially the children who had come with their parents were looking at her with admiring eyes, as if they had seen a princess from a fairy tale.
“Elly will be very happy today! I hope everyone here will also be happy today! Not just today, but always from now on!”
It was quite typical speech for a six-year-old child, but the content within was surprisingly mature. Subtle admiration appeared on the faces of those listening.
“Retis will always love and protect all of you! Have a wonderful day everyone! Thank you!”
“Waaaah!”
“Grand Duchess, happy birthday!”
Amid the people’s cheers, more passionate than ever, the illusion on the inner castle wall gradually faded and completely disappeared.
“That was an excellent speech, Little One.”
“Elly, did I do well?”
“Of course. Whose granddaughter could be this lovely?”
“Grandmother’s granddaughter! Hehe.”
Elenora was embraced in Iolene’s arms, laughing brightly. Seeing her granddaughter’s cheerful expression, Iolene barely suppressed the emotions welling up inside her and smiled back.
“Let’s head down now. It’s going to get quite busy from here.”
“Yes. We need to save time if we’re going to play with our Little One all day long.”
“All day? Grandmother and Uncle, aren’t you working today?”
“Today we’re only going to stay by Elly’s side.”
“Waaaah!”
After Iolene and Elenora went down first, Termion approached Ailesia, who had been looking outside the castle wall.
“Is there some interesting sight to see?”
“Just, it’s fascinating.”
Roughly ten thousand people or more, perhaps. Since coming to this world, it was the first time she had seen so many people gathered together.
“The official start is from lunch, right?”
“Yes. All the retainers and servants will gather for the banquet as well. Dinner will be separate, just with family and a few others.”
“It’ll be bustling.”
Ailesia walked alongside Termion, matching his pace.
Despite her calm outward expression, her heart heading toward the main castle was not entirely at ease.
‘…It’s just my imagination, just my imagination.’
She had cleanly eliminated the Prologue’s Curse, so what more could happen now? She had also completely rooted out all the internal spies.
The lunch banquet would take care of itself and she just needed to enjoy it, so the only thing she needed to worry about was dinner.
She tried her best to calm her anxious feelings.
* * *
“Happy birthday, Grand Duchess!”
“Happy birthday!”
Pop pop pop bang!
With retainers and servants gathered together, fireworks burst as Elenora’s birthday banquet began.
The tables and food filling the Grand Banquet Hall, along with the splendid decorations, heated up the excited atmosphere even more.
Elenora, standing on the platform, jumped up and down in place while waving her arms widely.
“Thank you all for celebrating Elly’s birthday! I hope everyone has a happy day!”
“Yeeees!”
As if they had made a promise beforehand, a resounding response followed. Soon, the retainers who had been waiting for the greeting rushed toward the platform.
“It’s quite hectic.”
“It’s probably more so because it’s been a while since we had a banquet. Last year’s atmosphere wasn’t great.”
“Was it the same for the Knight Order?”
“Well, we don’t really mind much. As long as there’s alcohol and meat, that’s enough for us.”
Rebecca was wearing ceremonial uniform instead of her usual work clothes.
Over a white shirt and pants, she wore a black half coat embroidered with gold thread.
With stylish long boots on top of that, her naturally tall height and long limbs made her look like a model.
The red armband wrapped around her left arm was the symbol of a Senior Knight. Besides her, about five or six other knights wearing armbands were visible.
“Are all the Senior Knights gathered here?”
“About half are probably dispatched to other territories. It’s unfortunate but can’t be helped.”
She had heard that there was roughly one Senior Knight per 100 regular knights. That would mean the total size of the Tigel Knight Order was about 1,000 members.
‘…The number itself isn’t particularly small.’
Even families that are considered great nobles usually don’t have more than 200 knights.
Comparing just this, the Retis Grand Duchy’s military strength could be considered tremendous, but considering the area of the duchy and the special position as a border territory, it actually felt rather insufficient.
“But why are you here, Teacher?”
“Hm?”
“I thought you would naturally be by the Grand Duchess’s side.”
“Hey, strictly speaking, I’m an outsider, so it would be a bit awkward for me to be over there. If I joined them, the picture would look a bit strange.”
That was also true. Rebecca clicked her tongue inwardly after hearing Ailesia’s answer.
‘Aren’t you already practically like family?’
According to what Hilda said the other day, the atmosphere between Termion and Ailesia seemed unusual again.
She had been feeling sorry that there seemed to be no major progress since the Imperial Palace banquet.
But recently, the time the two spent together had noticeably increased over the past few days.
Especially since Termion had been showing an unusually gentle atmosphere lately, Rebecca couldn’t help but have expectations.
“Since we decided to enjoy dinner intimately anyway, it’s fine. Rebecca, don’t forget to come.”
“Yes. Since the Grand Duchess personally invited me, I’ll definitely go.”
A dinner on her birthday evening with not only family but also her closest associates was also Elenora’s wish.
Besides Hilda and Rebecca, several other people had received invitations. Baron Gavin, Lady Herman, and Kubera were included, of course, as well as Tulk and Ronel who had previously served as guards.
The Head Maid and Head Butler had also received invitations, but both declined, saying it wasn’t a place where they belonged.
Honestly, calling it declining was putting it mildly—they were practically horrified.
‘I’d want to run away too. Sitting at such a gathering, the food would probably go down the wrong way.’
Think about it. It’s a gathering with not only the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Dowager, but also the Head Maid, Chief Steward, and Knight Commander all together.
Sharing a table with Retis’s most powerful figures—for the Head Maid and Head Butler, just imagining it would be like torture.
“Oh my. Teacher, sorry, but could I step away for a moment? My seniors are calling me.”
“Oh, don’t mind me and go take care of your business. We’re all here to enjoy ourselves comfortably.”
“Then excuse me.”
Ailesia waved to Rebecca, then stretched her arms forward and looked around.
She was thinking of wandering around herself anyway. She planned to get more familiar with the faces of people in the Grand Duke’s Castle and check if Kalior and the twin siblings were having fun.
‘The children should be fine since I left them with Hilda.’
Originally, Hilda was supposed to stand on the platform, but it seemed like too burdensome a position for her yet.
So today, Lady Herman was standing beside Elenora instead of Hilda.
“Hello, Teacher!”
“The pie is absolutely amazing. Please have a slice before you go!”
“Teacher, please continue to take good care of our Grand Duchess.”
“Not at all. Thank you.”
People who recognized Ailesia eagerly offered her food along with their warm welcomes.
Perhaps because she had helped with various matters, big and small, around the Grand Duke’s Castle, Ailesia’s reputation was quite good.
After walking about halfway around the banquet hall, someone greeted her with a cheerful voice.
“Teacher Milenov! How nice to see you here again.”
“Oh? Priestess Cecilia?”
“May the blessing of Goddess Liriana be with you. Have you been well?”
“Of course. You haven’t had any troubles either, have you?”
After exchanging greetings with smiles, she could see the people around Cecilia. Besides adults wearing priestly robes, several children were also gathered there.
“Did you come with people from the temple?”
“Yes. Thankfully, His Highness the Grand Duke invited the priests and children from the orphanage as well.”
When did he do such a thoughtful thing? When he visited the temple last time, he had briefly talked with the Archbishop, so that must have been when they discussed it.
“You should go and greet him.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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