It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 188
—————
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 188
“Ha, hahaha. What a thing to say.”
Something invisible began to press down on the surroundings. Gail, who felt even a sense of eeriness, forced an awkward smile.
“Lady, it seems there’s been some misunderstanding.”
“We’re not suspicious people.”
Just as the men beside him clumsily tried to help, a heavy voice settled over their heads.
“What business do you have with my partner.”
With those words, Ailesia’s aura presence disappeared as if washed away.
His sigh of relief was brief, as Gail turned his head and felt a terror that made his heart seem to stop.
“I asked what business you have.”
A pair of indifferently sunken black eyes were looking down at him coldly. At that sharp gaze, Gail’s complexion turned pale as he hurriedly grabbed his friends and stepped back.
“G-G-Grand Duke! We apologize!”
Seeing them disappear while fleeing, Termion tilted his head.
“What was that? They just seemed to want to say hello.”
“Ahahaha!”
Finally, Ailesia clutched her stomach and banged on the table.
Perhaps because it was obvious that Termion had no ulterior motives, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Haa, haa.”
“You’re going to suffocate at this rate.”
“No, what exactly have you been doing to people? The moment they see your face, they panic like they’ve encountered the grim reaper.”
“Grim reaper?”
“A ghost civil servant who comes to greet people when they die.”
“Another story from your hometown.”
As if it didn’t matter anymore, Termion pulled out a chair with a calm expression and sat next to Ailesia.
“I don’t particularly remember doing anything to them.”
“But they acted like that?”
“That’s not my concern. So, did you catch their names?”
“What, were you watching again?”
“Not exactly. But isn’t the intention of men approaching a woman alone at a banquet hall obvious?”
Well, Termion would certainly know what kinds of situations occur at these large-scale events.
He’s just not interested in women himself.
“They seemed to be from decent families.”
“The second son of Count of Orleans, apparently. His name was Gail?”
“Count of Orleans…?”
Upon hearing the answer, Termion slightly furrowed his brow. Could they be involved in something unpleasant?
“Those weren’t men who approached you with pure intentions.”
“I was already intimidating them. If you’d come a little later, they probably would have run away on their own.”
“That’s not what I mean. Count of Orleans is one of the core figures of the Imperial Faction.”
“Imperial Faction?”
“Meaning he’s a loyal subordinate of Duke Kaif.”
“Huh?”
Wait, this story is taking a strange turn.
Don’t tell me that man named Gail came to spy on me? Just because I’m Termion’s partner?
“It’s a bit much to call it a coincidence.”
“It’s an unwritten rule not to casually approach someone who attended with a partner. Especially between opposite sexes. If there’s business, you request conversation when they’re together with their partner.”
“Maybe they didn’t know?”
“In the first place, several men approaching one woman is quite rude. It could be perceived as threatening.”
“I suppose that’s true…”
It might be speculation, but listening to Termion’s words, it became quite suspicious circumstances.
I was sitting at an inconspicuous corner table, yet they specifically sought me out, which was strange to begin with.
Perhaps they deliberately targeted me.
“It seems they’ve started to take notice of you.”
“Who? Duke Kaif?”
“Well. The problem is we can’t be sure what schemes they might pull.”
“What could be so significant? Don’t tell me they’d send assassins after me or something?”
“They’ve probably known for a while that you’re an excellent mage. They might be planning to recruit you instead.”
“Hmm.”
Somehow the situation is taking an interesting turn. Now it feels like political intrigue is being added to the genre.
If that’s really their intention, I wonder what compensation they’d offer. That’s somewhat curious.
The thought of pretending to go along and then betraying them crossed my mind, but it didn’t seem like there would be much benefit.
Rather, it would likely just complicate things unnecessarily.
“Did I look that easy? I’m an expensive woman.”
“I noticed that man Gail was quite handsome earlier.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Since money or honor wouldn’t work, they probably thought to use a honey trap.”
“A honey trap? Pfft.”
My goodness, of all the schemes they could use, that one? A chuckle escaped Ailesia’s lips.
“They’re trying all sorts of things without even knowing my taste.”
“Do you have preferences like that?”
“Well, if I were to be picky, I suppose I could be…”
Feeling like teasing him a little, Ailesia poked Termion’s shoulder a few times with her fingertip.
“When I see the most handsome man in the world every day, a face like that wouldn’t even come close.”
“…Are you talking about me?”
“Yes.”
Separate from personal feelings, it was simply the truth. That’s how the setting was made, so it wasn’t wrong, right?
…Though if you asked whether I was completely without personal interest, that wouldn’t be true either.
“That’s fortunate.”
“What is?”
Termion smiled uncharacteristically and gently took Ailesia’s fingertips.
“That my face is to your taste.”
“…Huh?”
Termion kissed the back of Ailesia’s hand while slightly curving the corners of his eyes.
The music softly drifting from across the banquet hall, the occasional footsteps of people passing nearby.
None of it reached her ears.
The moment she met those black eyes gazing at her calmly head-on, it felt as if the surroundings grew distantly far away, as though only the two of them remained in this world.
“Ailesia.”
“Uh…?”
“Shall we go out to the hall for a moment? Shouldn’t we at least see the faces of the other imperial family members?”
“Y-yes.”
What’s this, it’s strange. I was clearly the one who started teasing first.
As she took Termion’s offered hand and stood up, the stopped time began to flow again and the surroundings became noisy.
“Let’s go.”
As she placed her hand on his arm as if enchanted, she could finally comprehend what had happened.
‘It’s hot…’
The spot where his lips had touched burned as if branded. Perhaps her face had heated up even more than that.
“Um, Termion.”
“Yes?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Whether it was from embarrassment or some other reason.
She couldn’t bring herself to ask what that action from earlier had been about.
Perhaps, as he always did, it was just a playful gesture on his part.
Kissing the back of one’s hand was merely common courtesy among nobles, after all.
“Do you know something, Ailesia?”
“What?”
“You’re my type too.”
“…Don’t tease me.”
“Oh my, I’ve been found out.”
At those words thrown out with such casual laughter, her spine tingled as if she’d been electrocuted.
“So we finally meet, Grand Duchess.”
While Elenora and Kalior were in the middle of their conversation on the terrace, the curtain suddenly opened and someone revealed themselves.
Without giving the two any chance to respond, the man strode forward with a grin and introduced himself.
“First Prince, Lukiere Ravienosa von Blair. Pleased to meet you.”
“…Did you perhaps throw your manners away somewhere?”
Whether Elenora glared at him with sharp eyes or not, Lukiere shrugged as if asking what the problem was.
“I was rude in my eagerness to speak with the Grand Duchess. My apologies.”
“If you knew it was rude from the start, wouldn’t waiting have been the right thing to do?”
Kalior threw out the words in a sarcastic tone, but Lukiere burst into hearty laughter instead.
“I understand you’re upset about being interrupted, Kalior. But you’re being too much, monopolizing the Grand Duchess all to yourself. You should give others a chance to greet her too, shouldn’t you.”
“I don’t know since when you’ve been overflowing with such consideration.”
“Oh my, looking after various people is one of the virtues of a ruler. You should try harder.”
Unlike Kalior’s coldly sunken gaze, Lukiere’s expression overflowed with leisure.
‘How disgusting.’
Elenora shuddered at the sight. It felt like she got hives every time she heard his voice.
“Grand Duchess, how about you stop associating with this stuffy fellow and spare me some time? Mobi is also curious about your recent situation, so I’d like to have a brief conversation.”
“The First Imperial Consort wants to see me?”
“In a way, isn’t the Grand Duchess at the pinnacle of noble women? It’s only natural that Mobi, the greatest lady among the Empire’s women, would take interest.”
Though he maintained some courtesy, his crude manner of speech, unbefitting of a prince, poured out completely.
At what sounded like an incredibly friendly remark, Elenora tilted her head and asked a question.
“Don’t you often hear that you’re the spitting image of your mother?”
“Hmm? I do hear that often.”
“Oh my, I knew it!”
As if she’d expected as much, Elenora clapped her hands together forcefully with a loud smack. Then she continued with a bright smile.
“No wonder you have the same insufferable look.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————