It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 197

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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 197

“Is it over?”

Unlike before, various voices could be heard mixed together. Ailesia waved her hand in midair to block out the surrounding noise.

[Yes. We decided to do the detailed coordination a week later.]

“The person who was speaking proactively earlier was the Foreign Minister, right?”

[You mean Count Galid. He’s a person with an upright character and good abilities. There are evaluations that he’s an opportunist, but that’s probably because he doesn’t formally belong to any faction.]

“He has no faction?”

[If we had to categorize him, he leans toward the moderate faction. He draws a strict line, saying that if foreign policy gets swept up in domestic political trends, the direction of diplomacy will waver.]

“He’s an impressive person.”

In the original work, there was indeed a description that he was one of the Empire’s loyal retainers along with Marquis Havir.

Though only his name appeared, and he didn’t particularly play an active role in any episodes.

‘There were quite a few characters like that.’

Still, the experience of listening to an Imperial Palace meeting live was quite refreshing. It felt like enjoying a radio drama.

Come to think of it, I didn’t ask about the truly important figure. He must have been sitting there.

“Duke Kaif was there too, right?”

[Yes.]

“I couldn’t distinguish him by voice alone. Did he speak?”

[No. He didn’t say a word from when I contacted you.]

“That’s unexpected…? I thought he would push to put the First Prince in the representative position.”

[I hate to admit it, but he’s an incredible tactician. He probably judged that seating the First Prince would bring more harm than good.]

“To that extent?”

[He’s not called a pillar of the Empire for nothing. When evaluated purely as a politician, he’s someone with many points to learn from.]

I thought he was only cold to his own people, but he was no different toward enemies.

No matter how much of an enemy they were, Termion didn’t just put forward emotions. Rather, the fact that he would utilize any parts that could be utilized felt more attractive.

‘…What am I suddenly thinking.’

Get it together! While Ailesia shook her head vigorously and made an embarrassed expression by herself, Termion’s words continued.

[The Emperor is calling for me.]

“Why is the Emperor calling?”

[I don’t know. He says he has something to discuss separately, and I can’t refuse. It seems I’ll be quite late.]

His voice was filled with regret.

Well, he’d been in meetings for hours, so how boring must it be.

[I wanted to see you, so I was trying to leave quickly.]

“…You’re being cheeky. Really excited, aren’t you?”

[I’ll definitely go before dinner time.]

Now he’s not even listening to what I say. When he’s that excited, I couldn’t coldly rebuke him.

‘How could I do that to someone who’s just started being honest about his feelings.’

…Seeing that I think this way first, I guess I still don’t see Termion as a man.

Though contradictory, I felt a little sorry for him.

[May I contact you again when I leave?]

“Well…”

I was about to casually say yes but closed my mouth.

Unlike usual, I suddenly felt like giving it a little variation.

Is this also a kind of encouragement?

“Alright, I’ll wait.”

[…]

What, why is there no reaction.

It wasn’t even anything grand.

[Tell me honestly.]

“What?”

[That you miss me too.]

“…Enough, that’s enough, okay? Hang up!”

[Haha.]

Ailesia shouted angrily and withdrew her magical power. But even so, it felt like Termion’s laughter kept echoing in her ears.

“Haah…”

What am I even doing. A sigh naturally flowed from her lips.

Still, look at that shameless attitude. How can a person change so much in just one day?

While she was fuming with resentment, she forgot the fact that messages automatically fly over when aura is infused from the other side.

[I’ll buy apple pie, so let’s eat it together tonight.]

With those words, the signal was completely cut off.

“…Life.”

In the end, Ailesia sprawled on the sofa with a half-enlightened expression.

If she forced herself to send a reply now, she’d probably just feel defeated.

“Eating at that time will make you gain weight, tsk.”

But with that voice and that tone recommending it. I should at least pretend to eat out of courtesy, right? Apple pie is delicious.

‘When did he remember my preferences.’

It felt cute in a way that didn’t match his build, so the laughter that leaked out couldn’t be helped.

“Would you like some tea?”

“I’m fine.”

Termion, sitting on the sofa, declined the Emperor’s offer in a calm voice.

Given that this was a private audience with everyone else dismissed, he could have relaxed a bit, but he sat with his back straight, hands clenched into fists and placed on his knees.

“Good grief, man. Is it really worth looking so serious just because I detained you on your way out? How embarrassing.”

“If you know that, please just briefly state your business.”

“You know that’s insubordination, don’t you?”

“My one and only niece is waiting for her uncle with her neck craned, so I have no choice.”

“You leave me speechless. Why, is she so pretty that it wouldn’t hurt to put her in your eye?”

“What are you saying. The kid is so big, of course it would hurt to put her in your eye.”

“…”

The Emperor, who had been staring at Termion with a dazed expression for a moment, burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! What a thing to see in my lifetime! You making jokes like that.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll send you off soon, so relax that glare.”

The Emperor, who had hardened his face as if he’d never laughed, straightened his posture and opened his mouth.

“First, I wanted to say thank you. Thanks to you, the meeting ended early.”

“…You flatter me.”

The comment about ending the meeting early was just a joke.

If Termion hadn’t stepped forward, there might have been a mudslinging fight over the position of negotiation leader.

Though it went slightly off from the Emperor’s intended direction, it was actually a better result.

“I was originally planning to appoint the Second Prince or Third Prince to that position. Until I heard the news that the Princess of the Melantia Kingdom was coming.”

The Emperor seemed determined to reveal his inner thoughts. Just by referring to himself as ‘I’ instead of ‘We’, he meant to have a comfortable conversation without being bound by formalities.

“The opposition from Duke Kaif’s side must have been considerable.”

“I had justification to persuade them. Since the First Imperial Consort handles protocol, it would be excessive to also entrust the negotiation responsibility to the First Prince.”

“What changes when the Princess comes?”

“Not much will change significantly. The problem is that one more condition we didn’t expect has been added.”

“What is that?”

“Marriage alliance.”

The words that came from the Emperor’s mouth were something that even Termion couldn’t easily dismiss.

“The reason the Foreign Minister mentioned the condition of at least a marquis title was because of that. Since the other side wants to find a suitable match for their princess, it should be at least the marquis himself or his heir.”

“Indeed, if she’s a princess of a kingdom, we should match that level of status.”

“The Princess of the Melantia Kingdom is twenty-two years old this year.”

“…Is there any reason why the First Prince shouldn’t marry her?”

“There may be no reason, but then again, there might be.”

Having to consider political situations regarding his own son must have made the Emperor feel quite uncomfortable.

Of course, the one he was wary of wasn’t the First Prince, but Duke Kaif behind him.

“You must be tired.”

“Don’t tease me, tsk. Anyway, thanks to you, I’ve managed to block one unnecessary complication, so my gratitude isn’t empty words. Separately from that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Please ask.”

“Grand Duke, do you truly have no intention of marriage?”

He had suspected this since the talk of marriage alliance came up.

‘So this was his real intention.’

Since he couldn’t openly glare at the Emperor, Termion turned his head with a crooked smile.

“I fully understand that you might find this unpleasant. However, I’m not forcing it unconditionally.”

“I believe I’ve told you before that I’ll handle my marriage matters myself.”

“I think it would be fine for the Grand Duchess to come of age and inherit the Grand Duke position. But what about after that?”

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t stand behind the Grand Duchess forever. Moreover, the Grand Duchess will also need to marry someone and raise an heir. Even then, will Retis be able to maintain its current unrivaled position?”

“That’s…”

“It’s not like I took two Empresses just because I wanted to.”

“I know.”

“Only if you take a Grand Duchess and have children will Retis find that much more stability. Just think about what happened over ten years ago.”

“Your Majesty.”

Termion finally couldn’t hold back and frowned, but this time the Emperor seemed to have no intention of backing down.

“I’ll gladly accept your anger. However, please understand my heart that worries about the Empire’s safety, and Retis’s safety. If you hadn’t been there at that time, what could that young Grand Duchess have possibly done? It wouldn’t have been easy for the Grand Duchess Dowager alone.”

Hearing the Emperor’s earnest voice, Termion bit his lips tightly.

Although he couldn’t completely exclude political intentions, he couldn’t ignore his sincerity either.

“…I honestly didn’t know His Majesty was worrying about Retis to that extent.”

“If it seemed otherwise, that’s entirely my failing. Still, there’s one fact that will never change.”

The Emperor continued with an expression full of regret.

“I owe the Grand Duchess Dowager a debt that I couldn’t repay even if I spent my entire life doing so.”

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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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