It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 63

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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 063

“…New Year’s banquet?”

Termion quietly set down the fork he had been holding.

His deeply furrowed brow showed an attitude of clear displeasure for anyone to see.

The Former Grand Duke Couple had been in an accident while returning to the Grand Duke’s Castle after attending a banquet. From Termion’s perspective, even hearing the word ‘banquet’ was unbearable.

“Will you attend?”

“I’m considering it. If I’m to attend, I’ll need to depart within two days at the latest.”

Using the major city’s Gate at full capacity, they could reach the Imperial Capital within a week. However, considering all the preparations needed for attending the banquet, time was indeed tight.

“Didn’t the invitation for the last banquet arrive in early December? I remember the preparations being much easier since Sister-in-law was staying at the Town House.”

“This is just my guess, but… the Emperor probably had no intention of sending an invitation.”

“His Majesty?”

“We’re still officially in mourning. It hasn’t even been a year yet.”

“…There’s something going on.”

At this point, it wasn’t a situation to simply be annoyed about.

Termion drained the cold water in his glass in one gulp and calmed his expression.

“What happens if we don’t attend?”

“The nobles will certainly gossip needlessly, but it’s not that serious. I can just write a letter directly to the Emperor.”

Ailesia, who had been quietly listening since it wasn’t a conversation for her to join, watched with quite an interested expression.

‘Even if no one’s around, calling him just ‘Emperor’ so openly.’

Iolene had been quite close with the current Emperor’s mother, the Empress Dowager.

Despite the age difference, the Empress Dowager cherished Iolene like a friend and younger sister, even leaving words asking her to take care of the Emperor on her deathbed.

The deeply filial Emperor still treated Iolene like an elder of the Imperial Family. This was one of the major reasons why the Imperial Family hadn’t dared to carelessly touch Retis until now.

“What would you like to do?”

“Honestly… it’s not exactly an appealing occasion.”

After pondering for a moment, Termion soon spoke with a resolute expression.

“We can’t keep avoiding it forever. It might be better to show our face.”

“Why?”

“We need to show that the Retis Grand Duchy remains strong. Besides…”

It had long been an established fact that the Imperial Family was targeting Retis.

Even just to assess the First Imperial Consort’s movements, it was necessary to visit the Imperial Palace at least once.

“To catch a tiger, you eventually have to enter the tiger’s den, don’t you?”

“Actually, I think the same as you. The Emperor likely has no connection to recent events.”

“Even so, the First Imperial Consort couldn’t have acted independently. There must be nobles helping her.”

“Now that we’ve made the decision, we need to hurry. If we want to reach the Imperial Capital before the heavy snow falls.”

“We’ll probably have to leave the castle to Lord Dayford for a while. It would be good to contact the Chief Steward to come to the Grand Duke’s Castle immediately as well.”

“What for?”

Ailesia, who had been quiet until then, suddenly joined the conversation. From this point on, she had a reason to step in.

“I understand everything else, okay? But why do you need to rush to the Imperial Capital?”

“Attending the New Year’s banquet isn’t something you can do by just showing up. We need to prepare gifts to present to the Imperial Family, and since it combines territorial work reports from the past year with new year plan presentations, there are many things to worry about.”

“No, what I mean is why are you trying to move there directly. Little One, want more meat?”

“Yes!”

Ailesia continued speaking while cutting steak into small pieces on the plate.

“If you put your mind to it, you could go right now, so why make it so inconvenient? You could leisurely handle your business at the castle and arrive right on schedule, couldn’t you? If you need clothes, you could just stop by a dress shop in the Imperial Capital tomorrow morning.”

“What do you… no, wait.”

“Our Grand Duke sometimes thinks too much without including me. If you keep doing that, I’ll be hurt, you know?”

“Huh? Uncle, why are you making Teacher sad? That’s bad!”

As if she had finally caught him doing something wrong, Elenora, who had been quietly focused on her meal, shouted eagerly.

“I never did that.”

“But Teacher just said she was sad?”

“She said she almost got sad, not that she actually was.”

“Then why did you almost make her sad? Mean Uncle.”

“You really…”

Termion held his forehead as he engaged in a childish argument with his five-year-old niece.

The actual culprit was shrugging her shoulders with a shameless expression.

Unlike Termion, who looked troubled, Iolene couldn’t understand this situation. She asked Ailesia cautiously.

“Teacher, what do you mean you could go right now?”

“Exactly what I said. Why worry about something that could be solved with one Spatial Movement? I can put necessary items in my subspace and take them along.”

“…You can use Spatial Movement from here to the Imperial Capital in one go?”

“I can go anywhere I’ve personally visited. Even without Dimensional Coordinate Measurement.”

More precisely, she couldn’t do coordinate measurement, but it was the same thing.

When Ailesia answered nonchalantly, Iolene took a sip of wine from her glass without showing any particular reaction.

“Then… it would be troublesome, but could we ask for your help?”

“Of course. I don’t mind going several times a day, so just let me know the schedule in advance. Of course, if it’s urgent, you can tell me right away.”

“Thank you. I’ll gratefully accept your help.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The conclusion naturally settled on receiving Ailesia’s help.

Termion tried to say something, but seeing Iolene’s look, he ultimately had no choice but to close his mouth.

“Your face is full of dissatisfaction.”

“Not to that extent.”

After dinner, Termion sat facing Iolene in his office.

He had intended to discuss future schedules, but the first topic that came up was about Ailesia.

“I’m just wondering if it’s really necessary to receive Ailesia’s help.”

“Does it burden you?”

“…Similar, but a bit different, I think.”

Just safely protecting Elenora was already a debt he thought he’d need to repay for life, but in the Gardbale Mountains, she had even saved his own life.

If he were to count all the other help Ailesia had given, ten fingers wouldn’t be enough. It had long surpassed the level that could simply be called a burden.

“That person has done so much for me, for Elly, for the Retis Family House…”

“And?”

“But I haven’t done anything for that person. No, I wonder if there’s even anything I could do.”

“Human relationships don’t necessarily have to be maintained by repaying exactly what you’ve received.”

“I know that too. I know, but…”

Ailesia only showed pure affection and goodwill. She even seemed to find satisfaction and joy in such situations themselves.

Since she wanted nothing, no matter how much he tried to repay her, he couldn’t even think of an appropriate method.

“Ailesia is… someone who may have affection for Elly but wants nothing in return.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“She once said something like that. That she would be satisfied if Elly could just think of her and smile in the distant future. Isn’t that strange?”

“Hmm…”

“…I don’t know how long that person will stay here. That person could live comfortably and happily anywhere, not just Retis.”

Termion closed his mouth with a self-deprecating laugh.

Even his status as Grand Duke and his abilities as an Aura Master seemed truly insignificant compared to Ailesia.

That was probably since he had realized that she was pouring a kind of affection on him.

“I promised Elly I’d protect you, didn’t I?”

“Anyone listening would think I did something amazing for you. It’s really nothing special.”

It would be better if she at least took some credit, but Ailesia truly regarded what she did as insignificant.

As long as this one-sided situation continued, the distance between himself and Ailesia would never close.

That fact made Termion feel strangely uncomfortable.

“Would you like Teacher to continue staying at the Retis Family House?”

“…I’m not sure about that either. She’s not someone you can hold onto just by trying to, and I still wonder why she’s so fond of Elly in the first place.”

“When there’s no reason, you can create one.”

“Create a reason?”

“Yes. If I had to force an example… something like marriage.”

“Pardon?”

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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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