It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 24
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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 024
Termion, swallowing the curse that was about to burst out, opened his mouth with a cold expression.
“…Don’t carelessly use that title.”
“There must be some misunderstanding!”
“When you trespassed into the Grand Duchess’s room, and now you claim misunderstanding?”
“I only rushed there out of concern for the Grand Duchess after receiving a report about an intruder!”
At his appearance of proclaiming innocence with a face full of injustice, Termion only let out a hollow laugh.
There was a limit to desperate attempts to escape the situation. If he had received a report, the normal thing would be to summon the knights, not go directly with retainers himself.
‘If he had confessed everything honestly and begged for forgiveness, I would have spared his life at least.’
Regardless of his crimes, the years Baron Baton had devoted to the Grand Ducal House couldn’t be ignored.
This attitude was tantamount to confessing that he had something to hide. He had kicked away any possibility of minimal leniency himself.
Termion, completely casting aside the handful of mercy that remained, continued speaking.
“Every time you spout nonsense, you’ll have to worry about your family’s safety.”
“Y-Your Highness!”
“The Baroness and two children under your care? Including your parents, that’s five times you can babble nonsense.”
Upon hearing the deadly threat, Baron Baton’s body slid down against the iron bars as he fell to his knees. Even if he had committed a capital crime, he couldn’t drag his innocent family into this.
“Everyone withdraw except Lord Dayford.”
After the knights had completely left, Kubera cast soundproof magic around the area. Confirming the sound was blocked, Termion glared at Baron Baton.
“Who is it, the one who planned this?”
“…I only know the name Brantin.”
“Brantin? That man who was locked in the adjacent room? Brown hair with a scar across his right cheek.”
“That’s correct.”
Baron Baton readily provided an answer upon hearing the description. His earlier defiance had vanished, and he already wore the expression of someone who had given up everything.
“He came to find me right after the Former Grand Duke passed away.”
“…Right after Elder Brother passed away? Has he been targeting Elenora since then?”
Termion’s face froze cold upon hearing this completely unexpected truth. Feeling his killing intent, Baron Baton shuddered in shock.
“Th-that’s absolutely not the case! This incident with the Grand Duchess’s disappearance had no direct connection to me!”
“Tell me everything from when you first met Brantin. All the conversations you exchanged and everything that happened.”
Baron Baton gulped and began his story with a trembling voice.
Baron Baton and the two retainers who had joined him lost their titles and were demoted to commoners. They were also sentenced to 30 years of hard labor in the most dangerous magic stone mine in the Duchy.
His family residing in the Duchy were also exiled, but their minimal assets were preserved. This was the result of confirming they had no connection to this affair.
Initially, the majority opinion was that they should all be hanged, but Baron Gavin, the Chief Steward, proposed a compromise.
“Wouldn’t it be better to keep them alive as an example rather than execute them?”
“I agree. I think it’s better to put even worthless labor to useful work.”
Kubera also sided with Baron Gavin. Given their complete lack of ability, the possibility of them surviving and coming back out of the magic stone mine was extremely small.
After much deliberation, Termion decided to accept their opinion.
This punishment also served as a warning to retainers who hadn’t revealed their tails to watch themselves. In reality, there was another motive behind it.
‘If something happens to Baron Baton, that would definitely be the work of those behind the scenes.’
Now that Brantin was dead, Baron Baton was the only remaining connection to the external forces targeting the Grand Ducal House. His life would make quite good bait.
After the meeting, Termion called only Baron Gavin and Kubera separately to his office.
“Is it true that the corpse rotted away in just one day?”
“Rather than rotted, it turned to powder like dirt.”
“And you can’t identify what kind of magic it was?”
Baron Gavin asked urgently, but Kubera shook his head with a bitter expression.
“We’re searching for materials in every direction, but it’s not easy.”
“So it’s not ordinary magic. Your Highness, how about making a request to the Magic Tower?”
“It’s not that I haven’t thought of it, but I don’t want to create unnecessary trouble.”
The Magic Tower was an organization that was neither particularly hostile nor friendly to the Grand Ducal House.
While the Magic Tower was overwhelmingly superior in academic research achievements, the Grand Ducal House was rated a step above in political influence and actual combat power.
Naturally, they were bound to be in a subtle competitive relationship. Leaking information about the Grand Ducal House to such an opponent was an uncomfortable matter.
‘…How about asking Ailesia.’
She had already thoroughly proven her abilities. Just looking at how she instantly restored the barrier made that certain.
However, Termion immediately reflected on his own thoughts.
‘No, this is strictly an internal matter of the Grand Ducal House. I can’t give her unnecessary risk on top of the help she’s already provided.’
He didn’t want to drag Ailesia into complicated affairs unnecessarily. Even nominally, it was wrong to keep involving someone who was a tutor in such deadly matters.
‘It’s better for Ailesia to focus only on Elly. That’s the path for both of them.’
For now, he had to try as much as he could do himself. If help was needed, it would be better to request it from the Grand Duchess Dowager instead.
“This isn’t an investigation that will end in a day or two anyway. Let’s take time to think about the rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll thoroughly ensure the retainers keep their mouths shut.”
Termion nodded to Baron Gavin and looked at Kubera.
“There won’t be any problems departing for the Grand Duke’s Castle?”
“Thanks to Miss Milenov restoring the barrier, we have leeway. The existing barriers have even been strengthened further.”
“She really isn’t an ordinary mage.”
Just as Termion was quietly admiring, suddenly the office door burst open noisily and that extraordinary mage appeared.
She was accompanied by her cute student and beloved Grand Duchess.
“Ailesia? What brings you here with Elly this early in the morning?”
“Elly says she wants to go to the Grand Duke’s Castle with you.”
“What?”
“Elly wants to go too, Uncle! To the Grand Duke’s Castle!”
Elenora jumped down from Ailesia’s arms and placed her hand firmly on her hip as she shouted. Her attitude was resolute, as if she wouldn’t allow any opposition.
“…What’s this about all of a sudden.”
Termion grabbed his head as it began to throb.
This was about an hour before Termion returned to his office.
“Did you sleep well, Elly?”
Looking at her student squirming beside her, Ailesia asked in a gentle voice.
Elenora peeked up her head and soon grinned broadly, then hugged Ailesia’s waist tightly and burrowed into her embrace.
“Ehehe…”
“Our Little One, what makes you so happy?”
“When I opened my eyes, Teacher was next to me being pretty…”
The girl swaying with a face still drowsy from sleep was lovely from morning again today.
Unable to contain the cuteness, Ailesia left a kiss on Elenora’s forehead with a smacking sound.
“I wish I could always sleep with Teacher…”
“You’d like that?”
“We did that in the forest… I don’t like home, waaah.”
“Oh my.”
What a thing to say that’s bad for the heart. Maybe because it’s been a while since sleeping in the same bed, her aegyo is completely exploding.
“But you have to get up, sleepyhead lady. The sun is shining brightly.”
“Yesss.”
Elenora rubbed her eyes several times and sat up abruptly to stretch. As if she had never acted spoiled, her eyes were sparkling brightly.
Normally she would have washed her face first, but given last night’s commotion, she decided to skip it this time.
When Ailesia snapped her fingers once, both of their skin and hair became fluffy and clean as if they had just finished washing.
“Should we eat and then go see Uncle?”
“Uncle? What are we going to do with Uncle?”
“Uncle said he’s returning to the Grand Duke’s Castle soon. We should see his face whenever we have time.”
“Ehhhhh?”
That’s right, he had said that! Elenora jumped up and down on the bed in surprise.
“What about Elly? Aren’t you taking Elly?”
“Well? What would you like to do?”
“…I want to go together.”
The Duchy was located at the Empire’s Northernmost Region, so summers were short and winters were long. Moreover, the educational conditions and other facilities were somewhat lacking compared to the Imperial Capital.
Thanks to this, Elenora had mostly lived only in the Imperial Capital since birth. There was no need for the still-young girl to suffer unnecessarily.
“Then let’s try pestering Uncle to let us go together.”
“Do you think Uncle will agree?”
“Teacher will help you from the side. Uncle is weak against Teacher.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Teacher is a super strong witch.”
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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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