It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 72

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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 072

“What’s couple look?”

“When people who get along well wear clothes with similar designs, that’s called couple look.”

“Eheheheh.”

Putting a hat on Elenora, who was twisting her body shyly, finished the preparations for going out. Hilda also picked up gloves and a scarf and stood up from her seat.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes!”

On the third day of the Imperial Palace New Year banquet, certain areas of the Imperial Palace are freely opened to the nobles.

It was an event to show off the majesty of the Imperial Family and to inspire pride in their country among the nobles.

Additionally, they provide spectacular sights and abundant gifts to those who visit the Imperial Palace.

Hilda’s explanation was that it was a kind of welfare system that naturally increased loyalty while creating good memories—

‘Yeah, right. As if.’

Welfare, my foot. To Ailesia, it was just something to scoff at.

The Imperial Palace opens twice a year. The New Year banquet in January and the grand summer banquet in July.

Both were nothing more than excuses to force Termion and Elenora to visit the Imperial Palace for the sake of story progression.

That way, they could have confrontations with the First Imperial Consort and other nobles, and create opportunities to encounter the Second Prince.

‘Thanks to that, it’s convenient for me, I suppose.’

Ailesia sat in the carriage with an indifferent expression, looking out the window.

Opening the Imperial Palace like this was incredibly dangerous. If outsiders came in and attempted to assassinate the Imperial Family, chaos would surely ensue.

And what crime did the Imperial Knights commit to have to work without rest during what’s supposed to be a banquet?

‘Long live author convenience.’

For all that, the original work was fairly faithful to plausibility. Surprisingly, it steadily recovered the foreshadowing laid out in the early parts, and setting conflicts were rare.

…Though there were hardly any settings laid out to begin with, so how many conflicts could there be?

‘That’s why I’m suffering like this right now…!’

When you don’t know, you have no choice but to run around on foot. Anyway, since an opportunity had arisen, she planned to thoroughly examine every corner of the Imperial Palace.

If she was lucky, she might be able to pick out at least one Dark Mage disguised as an ordinary person, and even if not, at least some clue would emerge.

“Please be careful on your trip.”

“Should I buy you something when I come back? Isn’t there anything you want to eat?”

“No, Teacher. You don’t need to go to such trouble.”

“I feel sorry that I can’t take you with me. Come on, tell me.”

Unable to resist Ailesia’s urging, Hilda finally opened her mouth cautiously.

“If you insist… Just one macaron from Bakery Street downtown.”

“Just one? I’ll buy out the whole place. What else?”

“About two meat cheese pies…?”

“Hm?”

This was a bit unexpected. She had already shared several meals with Hilda, but she didn’t seem to particularly like meat.

It felt more like she ate only the minimum necessary amount for health. Could it be that she held back because she was conscious of others watching?

“It’s not for me, Sir Senberg likes them.”

“Ah.”

Thanks to Ailesia personally taking Elenora around, Rebecca was on vacation for the time being. Currently, she was concentrating on training at the Training Ground.

‘When did they become so close? Even taking care of each other’s snacks.’

At first, Rebecca seemed quite awkward around Hilda, but there seemed to have been some progress.

“Good. Let’s have a late-night snack party tonight.”

“Oh? Teacher! Elly wants to party too!”

“Good children should go to bed early, shouldn’t they?”

“Noooo!”

“If you behave well, I’ll think about it.”

“Really? Really?”

Her eyes were sparkling, but well? It was obvious she’d fall asleep peacefully after ten o’clock anyway.

The Imperial Palace was not very crowded long after lunchtime.

Even though it was called an open event, it was essentially like a giant Social Hall. Nobles with any sense would focus on expanding their networks while enjoying tea time indoors.

Moreover, it was still cold winter, so how many people would leisurely stroll around the Imperial Palace Garden? Most of the people around were Noble Ladies who had come sightseeing with their children.

“Excuse me. You’re the one who attended as Grand Duke’s partner on the first day, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m Ailesia Milenov. This is Grand Duchess Retis.”

“Hello! I’m Elenora Vies von Retis!”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess.”

People who recognized Ailesia and Elenora greeted them warmly. They didn’t have particularly long conversations, just lightly showing their faces.

After touring the Garden for about twenty minutes like that, Ailesia found a suitable spot and stopped walking.

“Little One, shall we stand near that magic lamp for a moment?”

“Here?”

“Yes. Strike a cute pose for Teacher from there.”

“Like this?”

Elenora tilted her head and made a flower cup with her hands. It was something she often did when acting cute.

“Stay just like that for a moment!”

“Okay!”

Ailesia quickly pulled out a magical device with a cylinder attached to a flat rectangular board from Subspace and operated it. It was a camera she had made in her spare time for this day.

‘Long live magic!’

There was no clicking sound like cameras from her previous life, but instead the cylinder emitted bright light as it released Magical Power.

‘Heh, I’m quite something.’

Ailesia checked the rectangular plate and approached Elenora with a proud expression. The child’s face was already full of curiosity.

“What is that, Teacher?”

“This is a magical device that turns the scenery reflected in the cylinder into a picture. It’s called a camera.”

“Camera?”

“There’s specially made paper inside this rectangular plate. If I take out the paper like this, ta-da.”

“…Woooow?”

Elenora smiling cutely next to the large magic lamp. The image quality was good enough that she didn’t envy the finest digital cameras.

Perhaps amazed by her first encounter with a photograph, Elenora blinked and was speechless for a moment.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen such a detailed portrait. It looks alive.”

“Later, let’s take pictures with Uncle and Grandmother too. We’ll take many shots and make frames and albums.”

“Teacher too! Teacher should be in them too!”

“Hehe, alright.”

How long had they been walking around taking pictures with Elenora and exchanging light greetings with people they encountered? They came across Imperial Knights blocking the path.

“I’m sorry, but you cannot go beyond this point.”

One of them spoke in a polite yet firm voice. He seemed to be the highest-ranking person among them.

“The area beyond here is where the Imperial Family resides.”

Buildings faintly visible through the densely packed trees. According to him, the Imperial Consort Palace and Prince Palace must be located there.

“Can’t we even just look around?”

“If you haven’t applied for an audience in advance, it’s impossible.”

“Not to meet them directly, but just to look around the exterior of the buildings?”

“Well, really.”

Just as irritation was about to creep into the Knight’s expression, Elenora spoke up.

“Knight Uncle, do the Princes live here?”

“…That’s right.”

“I’m curious what the Princes’ home looks like. Can’t I just take a look?”

“Haah.”

Finally, the knight with a furrowed brow let out an annoyed sigh.

“Little one, this isn’t a place you can just wander into out of curiosity. It’s different from going to play at a friend’s house.”

Oh no, those are dangerous words! Don’t you know that children around five or six hate being called “little one” the most?

Sure enough, Elenora puffed out her cheeks with all her might and shouted back in a determined voice.

“Elly isn’t little! I’m Elenora Vies von Retis!”

“Oh my, is that so? What a long name you have… gu…”

At that moment, the knight who had been responding mockingly froze like ice. The other knights who had been watching with indifferent expressions were the same.

Black hair peeking out from under her hat, vivid green eyes. It was the face of a distinguished guest that any Imperial Knight should naturally know.

“We greet the Grand Duchess of Retis!”

While the startled knights took military salutes and broke out in cold sweats, Elenora grabbed Ailesia’s sleeve and began whining in earnest.

“Teacher, can Elly really not go in here? I really, really want to go. Is it really not allowed?”

“Well? The Knight Uncles said it’s not allowed, so there’s nothing we can do, right?”

“What if I ask Uncle?”

“Uncle must be busy right now? We don’t even know where he is.”

“…Hwaaang! I’m, I’m going to go home and tell Grandmother! Waaang!”

This was on a completely different level from an ordinary child throwing a tantrum. When Elenora, who had even mentioned the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Dowager, finally burst into pitiful tears, the knights’ faces turned deathly pale.

“Oh my, she gets stubborn like this sometimes. I’ll handle calming her down, so please go about your duties.”

“Uh, excuse me…”

“What, surely our Elly wouldn’t really do something like tattling? There’s absolutely no chance the Grand Duchess Dowager would be so upset upon hearing this that she’d go to His Imperial Majesty. And she certainly wouldn’t tell him that her one and only granddaughter was disrespected.”

“Pl-please wait a moment! You two there! Go immediately and bring the Captain!”

Seeing the knights run off like the wind, Ailesia quietly lifted the corners of her mouth.

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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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