It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 57

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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 057

“I’ll go see who it is.”

When Hilda opened the door, an elderly maid was standing there.

Pinned to her chest was a red ribbon. The mark of a first-class maid.

“Oh, Hilda. You were here too.”

“Head Maid? What brings you here?”

“The Grand Duchess Dowager requests to see Teacher.”

“The Grand Duchess Dowager wants to see me?”

Ailesia, who had approached the door, blinked in surprise. The Head Maid bowed politely and continued.

“I know it’s rude, but she hopes you could spare some time. She said she has something to discuss about this evening’s incident.”

Has that been sorted out already? Termion was quite quick to act too, but this side seemed even faster.

Since she was directly involved in the matter, it would be awkward to make excuses to avoid it. Unlike last time, Termion wasn’t here to relay messages on her behalf.

‘Still, I should play hard to get at least once.’

Running over the moment she’s called wouldn’t look good, right? She also needed time to think about what to say.

“I have something I’m working on, so I’ll visit once I finish. It’s a little past 9 now… Well, no later than 10 o’clock?”

“What you’re working on, if I may ask…?”

“I am a ma-gi-cian, as you well know, Head Maid.”

“My apologies.”

When she deliberately made eye contact and smiled sweetly, the startled Head Maid hurriedly apologized.

Carelessly prying into or interfering with a mage’s research was taboo among taboos. The Head Maid serving the renowned mage Iolene couldn’t possibly be unaware of this fact.

“I’ll have Hilda guide me, so there’s no need for you to come.”

“Then I’ll inform the Grand Duchess Dowager accordingly. We’ll meet in the office at 10 o’clock.”

After the Head Maid left, Ailesia calmly sat on the sofa and continued enjoying her tea. The one who became anxious was actually Hilda, who had been watching her.

“Um, Teacher. Will you be alright?”

“About what?”

“I’ve heard the Grand Duchess Dowager has quite a temperament. Besides, saying you were working when you were just sitting with me doesn’t add up.”

It would have been fine if Hilda hadn’t come out. With the door only slightly open, there was no way to confirm who was inside.

But Ailesia snorted dismissively as if it didn’t matter.

“I was working. You want me to just abandon this leisurely tea time? Not a chance.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I don’t lie. Can’t a mage drink some tea?”

…That’s what she meant by work? When did she emphasize the word ‘mage’ so forcefully earlier?

Whether Hilda’s jaw dropped or not, Ailesia was already shaking her empty teacup frivolously.

“The tea our Hilda makes is the best. Hurry and give me another cup.”

“…Will this really be okay?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m confident I’d definitely win if I fought with the Grand Duchess Dowager. I’m super strong, you know.”

“Whaaaat?”

At this point, she couldn’t guess where this conversation was heading at all.

Across the table, Iolene maintained silence for some time.

There wasn’t particularly an oppressive feeling. She wasn’t observing Ailesia from the corner of her eye either, and from her expression, her mind just seemed complicated.

Clink.

Iolene, who had set down her teacup, finally made eye contact with Ailesia.

“I apologize for the late hour, Teacher. Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

“Not at all. I’m happy you invited me.”

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“The tavern food within the castle was excellent too, wasn’t it? I liked how it felt even more abundant than the Imperial Capital.”

After exchanging appropriate pleasantries, Iolene immediately brought up the main topic. It was an attitude that clearly showed the straightforward personality Termion had mentioned before.

“Regarding what happened earlier, I’ve called the Head Butler and Head Maid to take measures. Not only the servants who were directly rude to you, but also those who stood by and watched will all face salary cuts and job transfers.”

“You’re talking about the people in the kitchen, right?”

Hearing the question, Iolene’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Her gently curved lips hardened in an instant.

“The recording device contained some very interesting sounds.”

“Indeed. I was looking for Hilda to have dinner together, and ended up witnessing quite an interesting spectacle.”

“…The voice saying you’d let it pass quietly was definitely yours, Teacher.”

“There’s no law saying others have to stay quiet too, is there? And…”

Ailesia deliberately paused as she picked up her teacup with a relaxed gesture.

Until she took a sip of tea and set the cup down again, Iolene stared at Ailesia without moving.

“Baron Baton. His backer was never revealed in the end, was it?”

“Are you planning to use the maids as bait?”

“Bait only has meaning if the fishing succeeds. Would they really be lured out by just that much?”

After exposing Noid, the traitor in the Tigel Knight Order, Termion and Kubera had shown cautious reactions.

Just because the receiving location of the communication magic device they tracked at the time was the Imperial Palace didn’t guarantee the backer was from the Imperial Family. But Ailesia, who knew the original story, already knew the answer.

“The maid named Sophia showed no fear even while bothering Hilda. At first, I wondered what kind of impressive person she had backing her to act like that.”

“And then?”

“If she wasn’t recruited after working in Retis, but had thoroughly disguised her identity from the beginning and infiltrated, wouldn’t that change things? She was just momentarily overwhelmed by my presence.”

Even that Baron Baton couldn’t openly touch Elenora. Despite having considerable influence within the family and commanding his own faction.

Being able to call a Grand Duke’s daughter “just a child” regardless of her young age meant she had encountered many people even more impressive than that.

“Moreover, the assassin who infiltrated the Town House in the Imperial Capital was definitely in contact with someone from the Imperial Palace.”

“…Are you saying the Imperial Family is targeting Retis?”

“Who knows? I wouldn’t know. I’ve only been living in Retis for barely two months or so.”

What do you mean you don’t know. She knew that the First Imperial Consort was causing trouble using dark mages, and that it was all to make her son, the First Prince, emperor.

Since she couldn’t freely reveal the original story’s contents, dropping hints as if deducing from circumstances was the best approach for now.

“Does Termion know about this too?”

“It’s a delicate position. There’s no solid evidence, and we don’t know exactly what they’re after.”

This was true. Even in the original story, Retis constantly opposed the Imperial Family—specifically the First Imperial Consort—but the proper reason was never revealed.

The Second Prince, born to the Empress, lacked supporting forces, and the Third Prince had no interest in the throne. It was sufficient for the First Prince to inherit the throne even without doing anything.

‘The only thing I can connect is that the First Prince had his eye on Elenora…’

Causing all that trouble just to make the woman he wants his next empress? That doesn’t make sense either.

The First Prince’s infatuation with Elenora begins over ten years from now. His obsession only starts after Elenora officially makes her debut in high society.

Yet the First Imperial Consort has already been deploying all sorts of schemes against Retis, starting with Elenora’s disappearance incident.

This is why even Ailesia, who knew the original story, couldn’t guess the opponent’s intentions.

“What I’ve confirmed for certain is that they’re using dark mages. Even the Drake we caught today had become a mutant under the influence of dark magic.”

“You caught a Drake? Today?”

“We had quite a battle during the day. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but Termion got hurt.”

“What, what did you say! Termion got hurt? What do you mean!”

Oops, I forgot the most important thing. I should have mentioned this first before talking about backers and whatnot.

Her consistently calm demeanor vanished, and Iolene’s face turned pale as soon as those words ended.

Leaning forward as if ready to pounce, her appearance was beyond pitiful—it was almost tragic.

‘…He’s really not her biological son, right?’

At this point, I’d believe it if someone said he wasn’t the husband’s illegitimate child but her own hidden child. Could there have been a makjang drama mixed in with the massacre and devastation?

Ailesia, who had been letting her imagination run wild, pulled out a large mirror from subspace.

“Please calm down. How about talking directly with Termion? Fortunately, he’s been treated well, and they said he’ll be able to resume activities after resting for just a few days.”

“Is he hurt so badly that he can’t even move?”

…I should just keep my mouth shut, ugh.

Ailesia, who had been twisting her hair around her finger, lightly brushed the Mirror’s surface with her fingertip.

[…Grand Duchess Dowager?]

“Te, Termion…!”

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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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