It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 161

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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 161

“Reminds you of the old days, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, so pretty!”

Hearing the chattering voice beside him, Termion was momentarily lost in old memories.

He had rushed over to catch Elenora when she slipped on the ice.

“You need to be careful, Elly. You’ll fall like that.”

“Uncle caught me!”

“…What will you do when Uncle isn’t watching?”

“Then I’ll just dust myself off and get up! Elly doesn’t cry over things like that!”

Though she should have been startled, the child answered spiritedly as if nothing had happened.

Not acting spoiled even once, despite her young age.

“I can run around really well now, Uncle.”

“Hm?”

As if she had noticed his inner thoughts, Elenora emphasized clearly once more.

“I won’t fall.”

“Would it be okay to fall at your age?”

Though he pretended not to know, Elenora instead hugged Termion’s arm tightly and continued in a spoiled voice.

“But if I do fall, Uncle will catch me. You said you’d always be watching over me.”

“…You remember?”

“Of course. Elly is smart like Teacher!”

After smiling briefly at his niece’s triumphant attitude, Termion slightly furrowed his brow.

“Wait.”

“Why?”

“If you’re going to resemble someone, shouldn’t you say you resemble me, Teacher?”

“…Uh, um.”

Somehow she felt like she’d been caught. Getting jealous all of a sudden?

Elenora rolled her eyes around like in the old days, but the Teacher she thought would be on her side was standing far away just smiling brightly.

“Um, Teacher?”

“What?”

“You should take my side at times like this!”

“Well? Teacher doesn’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Doing this to your one and only disciple… Kyaa!”

Elenora let out a small scream as her body suddenly floated up.

Just like other fathers in the plaza carrying their children, Termion had lifted Elenora up with just one arm.

“Uncle!”

“Why? You always used to beg me to carry you when you were little.”

“That was so long ago…!”

Since Termion was already tall and doing this, she could feel the stares of people around them intensely.

Her eye level had risen so much that she could see the second floor windows of buildings almost straight ahead.

“Elly.”

“What!”

“Thank you for coming back healthy.”

“…You’re quick to say it.”

Still, it didn’t seem entirely unpleasant. Elenora quietly blushed while resting her hands on Termion’s shoulders.

“Elly wants to stay with Uncle forever. I won’t leave Uncle alone and go away like Mother and Father did, never.”

The young niece who had promised never to leave Uncle alone had returned to his side as promised.

So now it was his turn to keep his own resolution.

“Sometimes act spoiled too. Don’t always pretend to be an adult.”

Those words he couldn’t bring himself to say 10 years ago finally flowed out naturally now that he was an adult.

Iolene was leisurely enjoying tea in her office.

Perhaps because the hardships of the past few years hadn’t been in vain, this year’s Christmas festival was particularly abundant and relaxed. It felt like it had been ages since she could rest like this.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Termion, who had said he was going to look around the street, entered.

From his slightly disheveled clothes, it seemed he had walked around quite enthusiastically.

“I thought you’d at least eat dinner before coming back.”

“Then you’d be sulking all day, wouldn’t you?”

“Who would sulk? Don’t pin false accusations on me.”

“Since it’s a rare vacation, shouldn’t we eat meals together?”

“Making excuses.”

Though she said that, the corners of Iolene’s mouth hidden behind her teacup were slightly raised.

Termion in his teens had always been blunt and prickly.

Yet he never held back what he wanted to say, which made him quite insufferable.

But as he aged, he gradually began showing a gentler side.

While still usually taciturn, his overall atmosphere had become quite soft. Sometimes he even showed a slyly smooth attitude like now.

“What are you carrying so much of in your hands?”

“I bought various things outside. There were many unusual foods.”

“Since when did you like snacks so much?”

“Would you like some?”

Termion took out a bungeoppang from the bag and offered it.

Though the distance from the street stalls to the main castle was quite far, steam was still rising from it somehow.

“…What’s inside?”

“Red bean paste.”

“At least you know the basics.”

She was feeling a bit hungry anyway. Iolene unhesitatingly brought the tail of the bungeoppang to her mouth.

“…Is that your preference?”

“What do you mean?”

“The way you eat it.”

“Once it goes inside, it’s all the same anyway.”

“Elly eats from the tail first too. She must resemble Grandmother.”

Iolene, who was chewing the bread, paused for a moment.

Soon she swallowed the bread in her mouth and gulped down the still-hot tea like water.

“Nonsense.”

“Why is it nonsense to say a granddaughter resembles her grandmother? You should be happy.”

“Stop it. Don’t unnecessarily disturb an old woman’s heart.”

Iolene’s eyes, pretending to answer calmly, were trembling slightly.

She roughly swallowed the remaining half of the bungeoppang without barely chewing it.

“How was the festival?”

“It felt unusually excited. Perhaps because we released the budget early, there were plenty of attractions. The number of outside tourists seemed to have increased quite a bit too.”

“It’s good just to hear about it. The atmosphere last year and the year before wasn’t great, so we should enjoy this year.”

As they enjoyed their brief chat, the sun was already setting before they knew it.

“I should start preparing dinner soon.”

Termion, who had checked the time, gathered up the snack bundle and rose from his seat.

As he was about to leave the office, he suddenly turned to Iolene as if something had occurred to him.

“How about having dinner in the greenhouse today?”

“Why there?”

“To create a modest atmosphere.”

“…They say when someone does something they’ve never done before, it’s a sign they’re dying of some illness.”

“I went to the trouble of thinking of something nice, and this is what you say.”

Though Iolene showed signs of displeasure, Termion instead frowned and grumbled.

“…Well, do as you wish.”

“Then I’ll see you at the greenhouse at 6 o’clock.”

After leaving the office, Termion headed straight to the first floor. He planned to personally tell the head maid to prepare dinner in the greenhouse.

While going down the stairs, he sensed someone in the corridor. Someone was just opening a door and coming out.

A neatly worn gray dress and brown coat, blue hair cut sharply to match her shoulder line.

The woman who consistently maintained her post even when the owner of the fourth floor was absent recognized Termion and bowed her head.

“I greet Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“It’s been a while, Lady Forthen. Are you going out?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I have a dinner appointment with Baron Roagis.”

“I heard about it. So you’ll be returning late today?”

“Probably so. We’re planning to attend evening prayer together after dinner.”

“Hmm…”

After pausing briefly, Termion continued with a deliberately playful expression.

“How about returning early today?”

“Pardon?”

“You can attend prayer anytime during the Holy Night Festival week, can’t you? I thought it might be nice to just enjoy sightseeing around town and perhaps have a glass of wine with Baron Roagis.”

“That does make sense, but…”

“If you’re interested, I’ll gift you a good bottle. Let’s see, around 9 to 10 o’clock? Your room would be a fine location too.”

The more she listened, the more confusing it became.

Termion was someone who had never once interfered in his retainers’ private lives.

She blinked several times and asked in a cautious voice.

“Do you perhaps have something to discuss with me tonight?”

“I’m on vacation too, so what business could I have? This is merely a suggestion.”

For a simple suggestion, the content was far too specific. What kind of suggestion about having a drink specifies the time and place in such detail?

If it had been an ordinary command instead, she would have followed it without needing to question it.

“…I’ll keep it in mind.”

In any case, she couldn’t completely ignore her master’s words, so she gave the most diplomatic answer.

“I have business to attend to, so I must go first. I hope you have a pleasant time.”

“Take care.”

She tilted her head with a puzzled expression at Termion’s retreating figure as he leisurely waved and walked away.

“Did he win a prize at some street vendor…?”

As promised with Termion, Iolene arrived at the greenhouse a little after 6 o’clock.

In the middle of the garden with its modest layer of snow, the atmosphere created by soft lighting and colorful flowers beyond the glass walls was nothing but cozy.

‘Yet the child who should be enjoying this scenery is still absent.’

This greenhouse was a place built to commemorate Elenora’s 10th birthday.

He had even planted all the flowers with his own hands for his granddaughter who would return someday.

Iolene, feeling newly wistful, looked around once before heading to the center.

The servants had already finished preparing the meal and withdrawn, leaving the table fully set.

Most of the food happened to be dishes his granddaughter had enjoyed.

‘…Elly really wasn’t a picky eater. She ate her vegetables well too.’

Just as Iolene, seated in her chair, let out a quiet sigh, the sound of a door opening could be heard.

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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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