It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 41
—————
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 041
“A witch?”
“Yes. The witch from fairy tales. Elly sometimes calls her a fairy too.”
Ailesia certainly possessed an extraordinary appearance.
Her jade-white skin, brilliant golden hair that reached her waist, and deep blue eyes were so mystical they seemed otherworldly.
“Indeed, even in my youth in high society, I never saw such a beauty.”
“Her true value lies in her magic rather than her appearance.”
“I heard a bit from Lord Dayford. He said she was at the Upper Mage level.”
“From what she’s shown so far, she might be even beyond that.”
“Hmm.”
While it was certainly welcome that such a person showed favor to the Retis family, Iolene couldn’t feel completely at ease from her position.
She had investigated Ailesia in her own way. She searched through the library gathering materials related to Chernil Forest, and had tight-lipped retainers make inquiries in the villages near that area.
‘The witch of the Western Forest from legends…’
Long ago, women who inherited magical power through bloodlines were called witches. They were tragic beings whose perception was distorted among people due to being such a secretive group.
But in the current era, their lineage had already been severed. While not exactly taboo, it was a word with no particular reason to use.
“Do you happen to know why she calls herself a witch?”
“Well. She usually uses it to tease me.”
“Huh? To tease?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Receiving Iolene’s puzzled gaze, Termion just gulped down his innocent tea.
“Wow, what an amazing view.”
Ailesia was dangling her legs from atop the watchtower’s roof. She seemed completely unbothered by the fierce winter wind cutting like blades.
Being about 10 meters higher than even the inner castle wall, the entire view of the Grand Duke’s Castle was clearly visible. She could even see as far as the distant Gardbale Mountains.
Above the night sky near the mountain range, a massive curtain of green and blue light spread vividly. It was the aurora that supposedly only appeared in polar regions.
‘Though it’s actually a bit different from that.’
Ah, seeing that suddenly reminded her. The fact that she had completely forgotten Master’s dying words.
‘He did say it would take quite a while…’
How could I have known that so many years would pass like this?
While waiting for Elenora, saying just a little more, just a little more, several hundred years had already passed.
“I’m sorry, Master. Hehe.”
Just like when Rubia was alive, Ailesia stuck out her tongue slightly toward those distant mountains and smiled cutely.
It was her secret charm that she only showed to her master when she had done something wrong.
She rose from her position after about an hour had passed, lost in memories. She had sensed Termion’s presence moving somewhere in the main building.
‘Is their conversation finished?’
Snap!
Ailesia flicked her fingers and moved to the room she had been assigned. Elenora in the adjacent room was sleeping peacefully with steady breathing.
“Ailesia, are you inside?”
“Just a moment.”
Hearing the knocking sound, she went out to find Termion standing there. It seemed he had something to tell her after finishing his conversation with the Grand Duchess Dowager.
“You haven’t gone to sleep yet. I’m sorry for the late hour.”
“It’s not even 11 o’clock yet, is it? I just came in after looking around on the terrace.”
“Aren’t you cold?”
“Witches don’t get cold, you know?”
For some reason, upon hearing those words, Termion made a blank expression and stepped back slightly.
“…The Grand Duchess Dowager has requested a tea time.”
“Now?”
“If you don’t feel like it, you don’t have to go.”
This was somewhat unexpected. When someone of the Grand Duchess Dowager’s status calls, isn’t it usually the kind of atmosphere where refusal means refusal?
Curious about Termion’s true feelings, Ailesia tilted her head as if she knew nothing.
“Can I really not go?”
“I can just make an excuse that you’ve already fallen asleep. There’s no need to be dragged there by force.”
“Hmm, are you worried about me?”
She asked jokingly on purpose, but contrary to her expectations, he gave a serious answer.
“There’s no guarantee that the Grand Duchess Dowager views you favorably. She’s quite cold and direct, so it might unintentionally become an uncomfortable situation.”
“…Do you perhaps not get along well with the Grand Duchess Dowager?”
She asked carefully in her own way, but Termion even blushed slightly as he became serious.
“What nonsense are you talking about? She’s the person I respect most in the world.”
“I, I see.”
Really, why get so worked up about it? Anyone watching would think he’d been insulted.
‘Though I am curious about what kind of person she is.’
Iolene had shown a warm demeanor ever since Termion arrived at the castle.
Casually stroking his face or patting his shoulder was commonplace. Even during dinner, she carefully looked after him, asking one by one if the food suited his taste and if he lacked anything.
You’d believe he was a late-born legitimate son rather than the husband’s illegitimate child. In some ways, she seemed to dote on him more than Elenora, who was her own granddaughter.
‘For it to be acting conscious of others’ eyes… no matter how I look at it, it was sincere.’
Iolene’s expression toward Termion was consistently soft and relaxed. As if just looking at him made her feel pleased and satisfied.
“So, what’s your answer?”
“Sorry. Today is a bit… I’m tired too.”
After thinking for a moment, Ailesia subtly expressed her intention to decline.
Getting into a battle of nerves with the lady of the house from the very first day of arriving at the Grand Duke’s Castle was exhausting just to imagine.
‘It’s inconvenient right now. I haven’t even grasped the castle’s atmosphere yet.’
Moreover, she had just recalled memories with Master after a long time. Right now, she just wanted to continue being immersed in those sentiments.
Termion nodded calmly as if he had expected this.
“It’s fine. The Grand Duchess Dowager didn’t seem particularly urgent about it either.”
“Won’t she think it’s rude?”
“Not at all. Even though you’re Elly’s tutor, you’re not the Grand Duchess Dowager’s subordinate.”
He too had been thinking that Iolene’s request was a bit excessive. He didn’t want to burden Ailesia over such a trivial matter.
“You are an honored guest, Ailesia. Everyone in Retis should show you gratitude and courtesy. That fact will never change for a lifetime.”
“Oh, how embarrassing.”
“Will you join us for breakfast tomorrow morning?”
“Of course. If I’m absent, Elly won’t stay still, will she?”
“Understood. Then, have a good night.”
“Yeah, good night.”
Termion bowed slightly and immediately turned around. After seeing him off in the corridor, Ailesia went inside and pondered the original story’s content.
‘It’s certain that she cherished Termion more than her own son.’
She didn’t know how it was before the Former Grand Duke’s death, but from what she saw today, it seemed excessive.
There must surely be hidden circumstances between the two of them as well.
‘It’s quite possible. Our Elly is actually about 100 million times cuter than the novel’s content too.’
Ailesia’s face filled with anticipation as she headed toward the bedroom.
Four days after arriving at the Grand Duke’s Castle. Signs of a cold wave gradually approaching the entire Northern Territory began to show.
Unlike the Imperial Capital where warmth lingered during midday, the thin ice wouldn’t melt even with the sun shining brightly. They say it gets even colder than this when the real cold wave begins.
‘Termion wasn’t trying to leave Elly behind for no reason.’
The servants who had already adapted to the cold walked around outside nonchalantly, but their cheeks and ears were all tinged slightly red. They were basically dressed in thick fur vests or scarves.
As she rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window, Elenora, who was practicing writing with her tiny hands beside her, asked.
“Teacher, is it very cold outside?”
“It seems so. Can you see the icicles on the window?”
“Whitey and Blanky are outside too. Aren’t they cold?”
“They’ll be perfectly fine.”
“Really?”
What problem could there be? Even if you dropped them in the middle of a snow mountain at minus 30 degrees, they’d run around excitedly.
“If you want to play with the wolves later, you need to focus on your writing, right?”
“Yes!”
Elenora turned her gaze back to her notebook. Before long, the child raised her arm high and shouted.
“I’m done!”
“Let me see how beautifully you wrote.”
“Here, Teacher!”
“Oh my…”
On one page of the notebook, about half the size of document paper, neat little letters were written in orderly rows. It was unbelievably tidy and clear handwriting for a mere five-year-old child to have written.
‘She’s naturally gifted. This isn’t something you can achieve just through practice.’
Elenora had picked out words she liked from fairy tale books and copied them down. Ailesia planned to create simple magic spells with these words later.
“How did you write so beautifully? I should learn from you.”
“Elly wrote well, didn’t she? Hehe.”
What surprised her even more was the page next to it. Though a bit clumsy, someone’s name was written in fancy cursive that adults might use.
“Whose name is this?”
“This is Mother, this is Father!”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————