It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 179

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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 179

The moment the murmuring sounds from all around subsided and silence descended, the nobles’ gazes turned in unison toward one direction.

A man and young girl appeared side by side in the banquet hall, with a height difference of at least two spans.

The man, boasting an overwhelmingly imposing physique that took one’s breath away, gazed straight ahead with a calm expression. The women who saw his face, revealed by his slightly swept-back bangs, let out silent screams inwardly.

However, the person who drew even more attention was the young girl who had her hand lightly placed on the man’s arm.

Her black hair braided to one side, adorned with ornate lace and jewels, resembled a single flower blooming atop tangled vines.

Below that, her shining green eyes held a brilliant light like vivid emeralds. Her slightly upturned lips added the refined elegance characteristic of great nobility to the liveliness and coyness typical of a young girl.

“Huh…”

Only after someone’s low exclamation of unknown origin flowed out did time in the banquet hall begin to move again.

“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”

“Have you been well all this time?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

When several nobles who were acquainted with him offered greetings, Termion responded to them with light nods or brief answers.

Even during this, all the nobles couldn’t take their eyes off Elenora, who was staying close by Termion’s side.

“So the rumors about returning from recuperation were true.”

“Time really flies. Back then, she was such a cute little young lady.”

“Doesn’t she resemble His Highness too much? If strangers saw them, they’d believe they were father and daughter or siblings.”

While people who had gathered close whispered in small voices, worried they might be overheard, Termion and Elenora stopped in front of Marquis Havir.

“It’s been a long time, Marquis.”

“Bastian Havir greets Your Highness. And…”

The old man’s finely wrinkled eyes reddened slightly. Marquis Havir couldn’t continue his words and looked at Elenora with trembling eyes.

“Hello! I’m Elenora Vies von Retis!”

The little child who had greeted him with bright, sparkling eyes over ten years ago now stood before him as a complete young lady.

The girl, who had added fresh, budding purity to her inherent cuteness, gently bowed while holding her dress hem.

“Elenora Vies von Retis greets Marquis Havir.”

“Heh, hehe…”

Marquis Havir, moved with emotion, bowed his head in return and opened his mouth.

“I’m relieved you’ve returned in good health, Grand Duchess. This old man who couldn’t provide any help feels only ashamed.”

“What are you saying? It’s thanks to your concern that I was able to return like this.”

“If the Former Grand Duchess could have seen this sight, she would have been so happy…”

As soon as his heart grew heavy and he trailed off, a sharp voice flew in.

“That sickly old man never runs out of things to say. If you’re going to dampen the good mood, just shut up quietly.”

“You, you, senile chatterbox!”

As if he hadn’t just had tears in his eyes, Marquis Havir turned around and shouted angrily with a furious expression.

“Anyone would think she’s your own granddaughter, you fool. Why are you yelling in front of the child?”

“Did you catch a chill from the northern wind that gave your tongue palsy? The older you get, the more brilliant your nonsense becomes.”

Whether the surrounding nobles gaped or not, Iolene, with her back straight, clicked her tongue lightly and glared at Marquis Havir.

“With only your face all dried up, hmph. You should have eaten something good for your health long ago.”

“Every time you come to the Imperial Capital, you cause such a fuss that wrinkles I never had start sprouting.”

“Is that my fault? The incompetent ones are the problem.”

“…Ugh, honestly I have nothing to say to that.”

Only after the spirited elders finished confirming their friendship did the blonde woman standing beside Iolene offer a greeting with a smiling face.

“Marquis Havir, have you been well?”

“Oh my, Teacher Milenov. I’m late with my greetings. It seems you came to the capital together with the Grand Duchess?”

“Yes. I think I’ll be staying in the Imperial Capital for a while longer.”

“That’s wonderful. Please make time for me sometime. Last time there was such chaos that I missed the opportunity to interact with you, Teacher, which was regrettable.”

Though he had deliberately kept quiet at the time, Marquis Havir had long since noticed that Ailesia was an outstanding mage.

With the fragmentary stories he had heard from Iolene over the years added to this, he simply couldn’t contain his curiosity as a mage.

“I should be free until the first week of February, so please contact me when it’s convenient for you. I think I’ll be busy again after that.”

“I’ll definitely remember that.”

Thanks to Termion and Iolene joining them, the moderate faction side had much more vitality than before.

The Retis Grand Duchy didn’t belong to any particular faction nor did it advocate any political orientation.

However, the fact that Termion didn’t get along well with Duke Kaif was something any noble with functioning eyes and ears knew.

Moreover, since Grand Duchess Dowager Iolene was an intimate close friend of Marquis Havir, it was a natural current for the moderate faction people to show favorable attitudes toward the Retis Grand Duchy.

“This worked out well, Grand Duchess. How about exchanging brief greetings with other people before His Majesty enters?”

“Oh my, that sounds good to me. Thank you for your consideration.”

Unlike ten years ago, Elenora had entered while clearly announcing her name to the hall.

Not only Marquis Havir but all the nobles in the banquet hall instinctively understood what this meant.

‘It’s practically the same as announcing that the Grand Duchess is Retis’s official successor.’

It was customary to announce only one representative of a group when entering the banquet hall. If anyone other than the family head had their name called, it also meant they were an important figure.

Even Iolene, called the Grand Duchess Dowager, had entered quietly without direct announcement, but Elenora’s name being called was also a signal that she would soon be active in political circles.

‘The young lords are already in an uproar.’

At the same time, signs appeared that quite a big stir would arise in high society, which had been quiet for a while.

The age of sixteen was the appropriate age for engagement for a noble young lady. Usually, social activities began after age fourteen, and engagement between fifteen and eighteen was common, leading to marriage as soon as they came of age.

Of course, there would be differences depending on the family’s title and various circumstances, but it was only natural that Elenora would receive more attention than Termion, who was already approaching his late twenties.

“Who gave this old man permission to play matchmaker for someone else’s granddaughter on his own?”

“What matchmaker? With His Highness acting like that, how would that even be possible?”

“…Can you see it?”

“At your age, don’t you have that much sense? I have a plan too.”

“For someone who was stuck in the Imperial Palace, your head works quite well.”

The reason Iolene didn’t stop Marquis Havir was because she roughly guessed his thoughts.

The young male nobles greeted Elenora quite warmly and asked after her well-being, but that was exactly where it ended.

A few steps away from Elenora, Termion was glaring with wide eyes, radiating a terrifying presence. The only person by his side was Ailesia, who was smiling brightly.

“At least our people won’t be able to look down on the Grand Duchess. Not if they don’t want to get beaten up for nothing.”

“Acting like you’re taking care of your own faction.”

“Let’s call it light family discipline rather than taking care. Wouldn’t this make the Grand Duchess more comfortable too?”

“Hmph.”

Despite her attitude of snorting as if displeased, Iolene inwardly felt grateful to Marquis Havir for setting the stage.

Whoever it might be, if they approached Elenora recklessly with shallow purposes, they probably wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully with their legs stretched out.

That Grand Duke Retis would never tolerate anyone who touched his one and only niece.

So this was a public warning not to act carelessly. The same applied not only to the moderate faction but also to other factions watching this situation from afar.

“Relax your expression a bit.”

“What about me?”

Though Ailesia poked his arm with her fingertips, Termion remained motionless, only staring toward Elenora.

“You could make people faint with just your gaze.”

“Anyone weak enough for that absolutely cannot have my permission for Elly.”

…This isn’t some group blind date, so what’s with all this fuss? It seems like most people have already noticed as much as they’re going to notice.

‘Marquis Havir is quite the fox too.’

Ailesia had seen through Marquis Havir’s true intentions.

He was only smiling good-naturedly on the surface, but as expected of a faction leader, his thoughts were far from ordinary.

‘That aside…’

It wasn’t her imagination that she felt a strange gaze from somewhere.

The moment she turned her head, Ailesia made direct eye contact with a gray-haired man who was looking at her from far away.

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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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