It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 27

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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 027

“Aren’t you cold?”

Suddenly, I noticed Lady Herman’s face had turned slightly red. The weather was indeed quite chilly for an elderly woman to be outside.

“This much is fine. I should at least see off His Highness the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess on their way.”

“You shouldn’t overdo it.”

“Hoho, I’m someone who can’t afford to fall ill. I’ll have to take responsibility for this place for a while.”

As if telling me not to worry, Lady Herman pulled the shawl draped over her shoulders tighter.

Lady Herman, the Head Maid, held the greatest authority at the Grand Duke’s Estate in the Imperial Capital. After Baron Baton’s dismissal, the remaining servants were all on edge, trying not to fall out of her favor.

Baron Gavin, the Chief Steward, was strictly speaking more like a representative of the retainers. He wasn’t someone with direct authority over the internal operations of the manor.

“You’re working so hard.”

“Not at all. This kind of thing isn’t even work.”

After carefully examining Elenora’s outfit once more, Lady Herman continued in a low voice.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask you a favor?”

“What is it?”

She took out two letters from her bosom. One was an ornate envelope sealed tightly with wax, while the other was a plain envelope without any decoration.

“Please deliver the envelope with the wax seal to the Head Butler at the Grand Duke’s Castle, and this one to the Grand Duchess Dowager.”

“…Isn’t it usually the other way around?”

“The letter going to the Head Butler is a kind of official document.”

That meant this plain letter was one she was sending to Grand Duchess Dowager Iolene not as a Head Maid, but as a friend.

“I’ll make sure to deliver them. Anything else?”

“Please take good care of the Grand Duchess.”

“Really, Head Maid.”

Looking at Lady Herman, I was slightly reminded of my late maternal grandmother.

Though her manner of speaking was a bit blunt, her expression was always gentle. It was a bit regrettable that her face was hazy in my memory since it was so long ago.

“If it’s alright with you, let me ask you a favor too.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“Please clean Elly’s room every day. And after 8 PM, make sure no one except you can enter.”

“So you’re saying there will be occasions for me to enter.”

“Correct.”

Ailesia winked with one eye. As expected, Lady Herman’s intuition was extraordinary.

“I’ll explain the details tonight.”

“…Pardon? Tonight?”

We’d be departing for the Grand Duke’s Castle soon, so what could we discuss tonight? Lady Herman looked puzzled, but Ailesia opened the carriage door without any answer.

Just then, Termion came out through the main gate and walked straight toward the carriage. Recognizing him, Elenora waved her hand.

“Uncle!”

“Did you wait long? We’re leaving now.”

After rubbing Elenora’s cheek once with his fingertip, he asked Ailesia.

“We’ll be departing soon. Can the carriage run right away too?”

“Yeah. Lord Dayford will take the lead, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I’ll tell the kids. Follow the most dignified-looking gentleman closely.”

“…Do you understand what it means for wolves to look dignified?”

When Termion asked in a somewhat bewildered voice, Ailesia and Elenora simultaneously puffed out their chests proudly.

“Blanky can make dignified expressions too. Amazing, right?”

“That’s right, Uncle! Blanky is super dignified!”

“…”

They’re becoming alike. So alike that no one could argue otherwise.

That triumphant look in their eyes, the shape and position of their hands on their hips, even their straight, upright shoulders.

If not for their different appearances, anyone would mistake them for mother and daughter or sisters with a large age gap.

“Hohoho, how wonderfully close master and disciple are. His Highness the Grand Duke’s choice was truly excellent.”

“…Let’s go with that.”

Termion’s voice, tinged with slight regret, scattered helplessly into the air. He soon sighed and composed his expression.

“Head Maid, please take good care of the manor for a while.”

“Please don’t worry, Your Highness. If any problems arise, I’ll contact the Grand Duke’s Castle immediately.”

“Yes. This time, there won’t be any need for the Head Maid to make the difficult journey to the castle.”

When Elenora had gone missing, Lady Herman had personally traveled to the Grand Duke’s Castle when communications weren’t getting through properly.

She had taken the gate five times over two days with her sixty-year-old body—something even healthy adult men found difficult to do twice in one day. She was stubborn despite the knights who accompanied her as escorts trying to dissuade her.

She had rushed to the Grand Duke’s Castle even while coughing up blood and fainting, so her loyalty was something that no one in the Grand Duchy could help but bow their heads to.

“Elly, you should greet the Head Maid, shouldn’t you?”

“Grandmother Herman! I’ll be back!”

Lady Herman took Elenora’s outstretched hand and gently bowed her waist.

“Have a pleasant trip, Grand Duchess.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Elenora’s excited appearance, Lady Herman secretly reddened her eyes.

‘She’s become much brighter thanks to Teacher. A child should be childlike.’

Even after getting into the carriage, Elenora stuck her head out the window and kept waving. Lady Herman also smiled and waved back.

“Depart!”

With Kubera’s command, the knights mounted on horses began moving one by one.

[Please come to Elly’s room at 9 PM tonight. As discreetly as possible so others don’t know.]

A clear voice seeped into Lady Herman’s ears as she watched the carriage moving away.

After unconsciously looking around briefly, she realized that the voice she’d just heard was a message sent by Ailesia.

“…You must have something in mind.”

Even though there was no one particularly listening, Lady Herman used respectful language. She thought that if she respected Ailesia first, the other servants wouldn’t dare treat her carelessly either.

“Hm?”

When Ailesia suddenly touched her ear, Elenora, who was sitting beside her, tilted her head.

“Teacher, does your ear hurt?”

“Witches don’t get hurt. It’s just itchy.”

“Elly sometimes feels that way too.”

“Hmm, someone must be praising Teacher.”

“That’s right, Teacher is super strong and pretty!”

“I know.”

After gently stroking Elenora’s head as she cheerfully shouted, Ailesia looked out the window and briefly reflected on recent events.

‘The early content has already changed quite a bit.’

Originally, Grand Duchess Dowager Iolene was supposed to come up to the Imperial Capital soon to spend the year-end with her lonely granddaughter. Baron Baton’s expulsion was also supposed to happen at that time.

Though the order of events had changed slightly, up to this point, it hadn’t significantly damaged the original story’s plausibility.

‘…Honestly, I could smash the ending right now if I wanted to.’

I could just close my eyes and swing my staff once, but if you asked why I was hesitating, the answer was simple.

‘It’s because I’ve read too many possession novels.’

If you deviate too much from the original, all sorts of ridiculous things happen. Hidden masterminds like gods or demon lords pop up, and cosmic truths like corrective force or causality activate to cause bigger problems.

Of course, when I asked Master about this while he was alive, I only got a scolding.

“Did you read some strange novel? Or maybe a cult’s scripture?”

“I just had that thought suddenly.”

“If that were true, all those bastards who went out and caused trouble because they were bored should have been struck dead by lightning.”

“I-Is that so?”

“When dragons go on rampages without just cause, it’s normal for their kin to swarm over and beat them to death. No matter how much you pray, gods won’t do anything about it. I also screwed over several of them in my younger days, tsk.”

“…Do gods actually exist?”

“They exist. They simply don’t descend directly into this world.”

It wasn’t just anyone speaking—there was no way Rubia, a dragon, could be wrong.

However, Ailesia was merely considering the possibility that there might be another existence as powerful as herself somewhere in the world.

‘There’s a reason protagonists hide their power in the early stages.’

What would have happened if she had revealed all her strength from the beginning? An unimaginably powerful enemy might have emerged and put the Grand Duchy in danger.

“Teacher.”

“Mm?”

It seemed she had been lost in thought for too long. When she turned her head, Elenora was pouting and looking at her with quite serious eyes.

“Teacher, you’re making a strange expression.”

“What kind of expression was Teacher making?”

“Well…”

Elenora clutched her head with both hands, struggling, then opened her mouth.

“Like Mother’s expression when she stares at the door when Father doesn’t come for dinner?”

“Oh my, was I?”

“When Mother makes that expression, Elly feels very sad.”

Watching Elenora glance at her cautiously made her chest ache slightly.

She might have made the child anxious by worrying about things she didn’t need to—at least not in front of a child.

“Little One, our Elly.”

Ailesia pulled Elenora tightly into her arms and whispered.

“Does being with Teacher make Elly happy?”

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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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