It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 42

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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 042

“Ah…”

The name written on the paper appeared particularly clear. Ailesia, who was about to let out a sigh without realizing it, hurriedly closed her mouth.

The Former Grand Duchess’s personal details were never specifically revealed in the original work. She was only mentioned as ‘Elenora’s mother.’

‘…She must miss her parents terribly.’

She smiled even more brightly than usual and stroked Elenora’s head.

“Mother and Father would be so happy. Can you read it to Teacher too?”

“Mother is Vies Flangber von Retis, Father is Landrit Iolene von Retis!”

The child answered in a clear voice, then continued reading the names written below.

“Grandmother is Iolene Diana von Retis, Uncle is Termion Haran von Retis! Elly is Elenora Vies von Retis!”

“My, you did so well.”

“Oh, there’s still one left!”

Elenora pointed with her finger at the largest writing at the very bottom, as if to show her.

“Teacher is Ailesia Milenov!”

“…Our Little One, you know how to write Teacher’s name too?”

“Yes! This is the right way to write it, isn’t it?”

Surprisingly, Elenora had written her teacher’s name perfectly, even though she had never been taught the spelling. Unable to contain her emotion, Ailesia pulled the child into a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Little One. Teacher is truly, truly happy.”

“Ehehe. Elly is happy too!”

Elenora smiled brightly in Ailesia’s arms. The child tickled her teacher’s ear with a voice full of affection.

“I like Mother and Father, I like Grandmother and Uncle, and I like Teacher too.”

“Pfft, then Uncle will be jealous, won’t he?”

“Even so. You should always tell the person right next to you that you like them. You might not be able to say it later even if you want to. So right now, Teacher is the best!”

Ailesia’s body momentarily stiffened upon hearing Elenora’s words.

Of course they were good words, but the meaning contained within them was far too sorrowful for a five-year-old child to have thought of on her own.

‘Moreover, these words right now…’

Ailesia carefully released Elenora from her embrace and asked with a deliberately calm expression.

“Our Little One speaks so beautifully. Who did you hear that from?”

“Uh…. Uncle! Uncle told me that!”

“Is that so? Termion too, I thought he only said mean things.”

“Huh? Did Uncle say mean things to Teacher? Elly will scold him!”

“Ohoho, you don’t need to do that. Teacher is super strong.”

“Right! Teacher is super strong!”

Ailesia lightly kissed the giggling child’s forehead, her eyes widening while feeling inwardly complicated.

‘Termion already said such things to her…?’

That scene definitely appears in the original work. But that was after Elenora turned sixteen.

As the conflict between the Imperial family and the Retis Grand Duchy deepened, the relationship between Elenora and the Second Prince became somewhat awkward, and it was then that Termion said those words to encourage his niece.

Later, knowing that those words became the catalyst for Elenora and the Second Prince to develop into lovers, Termion would throw a fit.

‘I laughed for a long time reading about what a niece-doting fool he was.’

Well, there’s no law saying every little detail has to follow the original exactly.

He might have repeated as an adult what he said when she was young. There are already quite a few things that have changed.

“In the next lesson, we’ll be making spells, so remember the words you wrote today well. Understood?”

“Do I have to memorize everything?”

“You don’t need to memorize them in advance, right? You’ll memorize them quickly while practicing with magic.”

While Ailesia was organizing the pen and ink on the table, the sound of knocking on the door was heard.

Knock knock.

“It’s open, please come in!”

“Is the lesson finished?”

“Uncle!”

As if he had been out somewhere, Termion was dressed in a thick cloak.

He approached the table and gently patted his niece’s cheek.

“Did you have fun studying?”

“Yes! Teacher praised me for writing beautifully!”

Elenora opened her notebook and held it up high. Seeing the words written densely in round letters made him smile naturally.

That was brief, as Termion’s face stiffened upon seeing the next page.

“…You wrote the family members’ names too?”

“I’m going to write letters later too!”

“I see…”

Termion carefully traced those names that could no longer be called with his fingertips.

While it was fortunate that his young niece was living brightly even without her parents, it seemed he was the one who couldn’t escape from their absence.

‘I mustn’t waver. Elly is trying so hard like this.’

While gently stroking Elenora’s head, the writing at the very bottom of the paper caught Termion’s eye.

It was written in letters twice as large and bold as the family members’ names, including his own.

“Ailesia Milenov…?”

Termion, who had read it aloud without realizing it, whipped his head around. Fire was blazing in his eyes as he looked at Ailesia.

“Ailesia.”

“Hm? What?”

“Did you teach her how to spell your name too?”

“No? She said she wrote it just from hearing the pronunciation, but it was accurate, wasn’t it? I was surprised too.”

“Then why is only your name written so elaborately?”

“Well, I wonder…?”

How would I know that, Grand Duke? She must have written it that way because she wanted to.

As Ailesia blinked her eyes as if she didn’t know either, Termion quietly knelt on the floor and pulled Elenora into a tight embrace. His lips were pouting in an expression unlike his usual self.

“She’s my niece.”

…Who said otherwise? I know that too, you know?

I’m not taking her away, but he’ll never believe it no matter what.

“Kyahahaha!”

“Little One, you can’t go too far!”

“Yeeees!”

Elenora was extremely excited to be playing outside after a long time. Snow had already accumulated quite a bit, and the training ground behind the Grand Duke’s Castle was completely dyed white.

Termion, watching his niece rolling around in the snow with two wolves, spoke first.

“Elly writes really well.”

“Have you never seen it before?”

“I’ve only been directly caring for Elly for about ten months at most.”

The Former Grand Duke Couple had their accident in January of this year.

After attending the Imperial Palace New Year banquet, the two began their territory inspection on their way back to the Grand Duke’s Castle. At that time, Elenora was waiting for her parents at the Town House in the Imperial Capital with Termion.

“The plan was for my sister-in-law and the Grand Duchess Dowager to come to the Imperial Capital once the two arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle. I was to head to the Grand Duke’s Castle to help Elder Brother.”

Ailesia carefully glanced at Termion upon hearing this unexpected story. He was looking at Elenora with a somewhat complicated expression.

“Was there really a need to go back and forth so troublesomely?”

“When spring comes, social activities including Imperial Palace banquets become active in the Imperial Capital. Meanwhile, in the Duchy, the magical beasts that spent winter slowly begin to move. It’s not at a level requiring massive subjugation, but thorough surveillance is needed for about a month.”

“And the accident happened during the inspection?”

“After finishing their visit to the last territory, they were attacked by a mysterious group while returning to the castle. They went through the Gardbale Mountains to shake off the pursuit and were caught in an avalanche.”

“…The demonic beasts, you couldn’t catch them.”

Before she knew it, Ailesia’s voice also carried a slightly subdued tone. Not only young Elenora, but the shock that Termion must have received was beyond imagination.

‘To think there was such a hidden story.’

In the original work, it had only been briefly mentioned as an ‘accidental death.’

“The on-site investigation didn’t yield any particular clues either. We were fortunate enough to at least recover both of their bodies safely.”

“…It must have been difficult.”

“No matter how difficult it was for me, could it compare to what Elly went through?”

“That’s a separate matter.”

Ailesia unconsciously gently wrapped one of Termion’s hands with hers.

Though startled by the unexpected contact, he didn’t particularly shake off her touch.

“When it comes to grieving the loss of family, how can there be more or less? You must have had to take care of Elly during all that, and suddenly had to inherit the Grand Duke position too.”

“…It’s something I had to do. I’m still lacking in many ways though.”

“What more do you need to do well? You’re working harder than anyone for Elly and Retis. If it’s obvious enough for me to see even though we haven’t known each other long, it’s really remarkable.”

“Do you really… think so?”

“Yes. You’re very admirable, Your Highness.”

Ailesia smiled brightly and slowly patted the back of Termion’s hand.

If it could help him lighten the burden on his heart even a little, she could offer this kind of comfort and praise as much as needed.

Perhaps Ailesia’s feelings reached him, as Termion slowly turned his head to meet her eyes.

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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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