It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 65

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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 065

“Ahem.”

Lady Herman, who seemed to have gotten a bit excited, cleared her throat for a moment and smiled gently again.

“This is a good opportunity to announce that Teacher’s beauty is the finest in the Empire. Of course, Teacher is someone who shines even in modest attire.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Since the Grand Duchess Dowager was renowned as high society’s greatest beauty in her youth, Teacher should inherit that reputation as well. This old woman absolutely cannot tolerate Retis being outdone by other families.”

“I… I see.”

…This is that thing you commonly see in romance novels, isn’t it? Some kind of forced fashion show for noble young ladies.

‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to have a partner or anything like that!’

Lady Herman seemed to have already made up her mind firmly, and with Elenora’s eyes sparkling so brightly, there was no way to refuse.

Ailesia asked Lady Herman, grasping at straws.

“Shouldn’t you be paying more attention to the Grand Duchess Dowager than to me?”

“The Grand Duchess Dowager has been receiving treatments since right after dinner yesterday evening. Since Teacher’s beauty is so outstanding, we’re just doing the bare minimum for you.”

“…That quickly?”

“Skin care requires at least half a day of effort to see results.”

Bathing in water with flower petals, applying fragrant oil, receiving massages, and things like that, right?

If they had told her to do the same, she probably would have abandoned the banquet and everything else to flee straight to the forest.

“Still, you need basic grooming, so please take a light bath and we’ll just wash your hair.”

“Please come this way, Teacher!”

“Oh my, oh my. Your hair is so long but there isn’t a single split end!”

“How is your skin so good? It’s like a baby’s skin!”

“Ahahaha…”

The atmosphere had become just like an esthetic salon from her previous life. In the end, she let out a resigned comment with an awkward smile.

“Please make me pretty…”

“Is there a need to take separate carriages?”

Termion asked Iolene, who sat across from him, in a disgruntled voice.

The seats were spacious enough for one person to lie down comfortably, but Iolene had unavoidably put Ailesia and Elenora in a different carriage.

“There are two people wearing voluminous dresses, so do you really need everyone to ride in here? Since we’re going anyway, it’s better to go comfortably.”

“Then Ailesia and Elly didn’t necessarily have to ride together either.”

“Why? Are you disappointed that Teacher isn’t riding in the same carriage as you?”

“That’s not it… Sigh.”

Ever since the marriage talk last time, Iolene had been trying to pair Termion with Ailesia at every opportunity.

Because of that, Termion had become cautious about even casually mentioning her name.

“Even if you had asked Elly, it’s obvious she would have chosen Teacher anyway.”

“…You don’t know that.”

“We have a long way to go, tsk.”

Could this child ever manage to date, let alone marry? Iolene clicked her tongue and turned her gaze to the window.

When there wasn’t enough time to spend with his niece, he was instead burning with rivalry, which was pitiful beyond just being pathetic.

Even if she told him that such jealousy was because he cared about Ailesia that much, he would never admit it.

“Forget it. What’s the use of talking to a blockhead like you all day? You take after your father exactly in all the useless ways.”

“…I thought I was pretty perceptive.”

Termion opened his mouth to make what he considered a defense, but Iolene didn’t even pretend to listen and just snorted.

“After greeting the Emperor, try to stick together as much as possible. I’ll need to have some conversations with other nobles.”

“Won’t they come to us on their own even if we just stay put?”

Considering the prestige of the Retis Grand Duchy, it wasn’t wrong, but Iolene’s thoughts were a bit different.

Other nobles wouldn’t look kindly upon Termion, whose position within the family wasn’t yet secure.

‘They’ll look down on him as an illegitimate child who luckily seized the Grand Duke position.’

So until Termion established himself, she had to serve as a breakwater. Taking real power and stepping forward was something that could be done sufficiently even after he came of age.

“In the current situation, that wouldn’t be very wise conduct. It wouldn’t look good.”

“Why not?”

“Then let me ask the opposite. Are you confident you can easily handle all the nobles who approach you?”

“…That’s.”

“Don’t even think of saying something like ‘you won’t know until you try.’ You can’t become a good ruler if you confuse confidence with recklessness.”

“I know that too, but.”

“You’re still young. More precisely, ‘childish’ would be more fitting.”

Iolene cut off Termion’s response with a cold voice.

Even if it stung a bit, this was an issue that needed to be properly addressed once.

“Fighting while exposing your shortcomings will only make you a laughingstock. Time is on your side. There’s no need to prove anything right now.”

“…”

“Or do you find this old woman so unreliable?”

“…This is something I’ve always wanted to say.”

“What?”

“Why do you always talk about being old? You’re someone who’s perfectly healthy.”

Though his voice was quite sulky, it was actually a joke he could make because Termion had essentially given up and backed down from his stubbornness.

Iolene seemed to understand his feelings and slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

“I’ll be sixty the day after tomorrow, so I am old.”

“…Someone whose face still looks like they’re in their forties, what are you saying.”

“Are you complaining about that? There’s no sense of incongruity with your face either, how nice.”

“Why is your way of speaking always like that?”

“Should I act like a real mother?”

“Don’t make a fool of yourself in front of Elly and keep it moderate.”

While having this trivial conversation, they had already passed through the Imperial Palace main gate.

Confirming that the carriage had stopped, Termion got out first and took Iolene’s hand to help her.

“I’m fine, so go see Teacher instead.”

“…Earlier you were adamantly blocking me.”

“When adults are being stubborn, there’s always a reason. Go on and look.”

It doesn’t seem to match up at all. Termion shook his head and headed toward the carriage waiting behind.

At that moment, the carriage door opened and Ailesia, holding Elenora in her arms, gracefully stepped outside.

“I thought I’d suffocate to death. Little One, weren’t you bored?”

“It was fine because I was with Teacher!”

“Whose student speaks so prettily?”

“Because I’m Teacher’s student! Oh, Uncle!”

Elenora burst into laughter and waved her hand toward Termion.

But unlike usual when he would smile and respond, he was half-dazed and couldn’t react at all.

“Teacher! I think Uncle fell for you!”

“Really? How is it, Termion? Do I look alright?”

Ailesia lightly spun around in place, but Termion still remained silent.

‘Am I seeing an illusion.’

The smooth shoulders and prominent collarbones extending below her pure white neckline, gracefully decorated around with thin lace.

The dress skirt followed the curves of her upper body, came down to about mid-thigh, and then wrapped abundantly in three tiers below in a deep black color that captured the night sky.

The silver embroidery placed on top subtly emitted various colored lights depending on the viewing angle.

The place where Termion’s gaze finally settled was Ailesia’s face.

‘…The fairies would truly weep in defeat.’

Her hair, which usually reached down to her waist, was elegantly pinned up, with golden thread-like strands cascading down just enough to barely cover her exposed back.

The blue eyes nestled beneath her lush eyelashes seemed to shine even more brilliantly today.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you answering?”

“But Teacher, isn’t Uncle’s face turning red?”

“Maybe he got hot riding in the carriage?”

“Eh! But it’s winter right now!”

Click, click.

Before he knew it, Ailesia had approached Termion and was staring intently at his face.

After a moment, she tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand at all.

“Grand Duchess Dowager? Did you have some serious conversation in the carriage?”

“Hoho, we did have quite a serious discussion… but it wouldn’t be because of that.”

Iolene smiled gracefully and took Elenora’s hand.

Since Ailesia was attending as Termion’s partner, she planned to look after her granddaughter until they made their entrance.

“Um, Termion?”

“…I’m perfectly fine, so could you please step back a little?”

“Geez, you startled me. Why are you being so awkward all of a sudden?”

“Haah.”

At the sight of her deeper red lips than usual forming a graceful curve, Termion barely managed to exhale the breath he had been holding.

After calming his trembling breathing, he carefully extended his hand.

“Shall we go?”

“It would be my honor, Your Highness.”

The moment Ailesia’s fingers touched the hand he extended for the escort.

A thrilling sensation that pierced through his entire body made somewhere in Termion’s chest throb.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Pressing his palm firmly against the area near his solar plexus, he deliberately acted nonchalant as he began to walk.

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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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