It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 76

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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 076

“…Do you really hate me?”

I muttered dejectedly with a slightly hurt look in my eyes, and oh no.

The crying fit I had barely managed to calm down burst out again.

“Waaaaah! No! Hic, no! Sob, huhuhuh…!”

“S-sorry! Teacher was wrong! Really, really sorry! Okay? Okay?”

“Huaaaaaaah!”

…Well, this is what I get for my own actions and karma.

Even if she’s cute, I should have just stopped after the first verse. To think I’d make a child cry with such a pointless joke—I’m unfit to be a guardian.

‘Still, things are roughly sorted out now.’

I’m human too, so I make mistakes. I can’t always be confident that I’m right.

Though I said all that, Elenora will surely throw tantrums again.

Sometimes I’ll indulge her appropriately, but there will also be moments when I need to steel my heart and scold her.

‘I’ll try harder. So this child won’t get hurt.’

Separate from the original story, I decided to do my best in this moment I’m spending with Elenora.

When we fight, I’ll extend my hand first to make up, and when I’m wrong, I’ll bow my head and apologize.

If we keep bumping into each other like this, someday I’ll be able to reach this child’s true happiness.

“Teacher, I won’t go anywhere. Even if Elly tells me to leave, I won’t go.”

“…Really?”

“Really, I promise. Witches don’t do things like lying, right?”

“They don’t!”

After finally calming Elenora down and continuing to walk, we found ourselves facing a palace so splendid it couldn’t be compared to any other buildings.

Not to mention its scale, there were quite a few people bustling about outside right now. Even from a considerable distance, we could hear laughter and chatter along with the smell of food wafting over.

‘They’re having their own party among themselves, how nice.’

I didn’t need to check to know where this was. It was the First Imperial Consort’s Palace.

Among people who clearly looked like high-ranking nobles, the First Imperial Consort was laughing elegantly, and next to her stood a boy with an arrogant posture. It was definitely the First Prince.

If we happened to pass in front of them and catch their attention, things would get complicated. It seemed best to end today’s Imperial Palace exploration here.

‘But before that.’

After forcibly materializing demonic energy at the Second Prince’s Palace, I quickly got the hang of it.

Ailesia slowly closed and opened her eyes, gently awakening the Dragon Heart sleeping deep within her body.

‘As expected.’

I can see it.

The dark red aura gathered on the top floor of the First Imperial Consort’s Palace.

Being able to detect demonic energy without having to smell the burning scent was a great harvest. This energy that Master passed down to me seemed to be incompatible with dark magic.

Though it was evidence I couldn’t present to anyone, what mattered was that I knew this fact.

I could think about the next plan slowly. Ailesia turned around without any lingering attachment.

“Little One, shall we have shabu-shabu when we get home? It’s been a while.”

“…Just shabu-shabu?”

“Is there something else you want to eat?”

“Mmm… I want to eat the cheese tart Teacher baked for me.”

“Alright.”

“With crispy chocolate on top too!”

“Chocolate too?”

“Is that not okay?”

Usually I didn’t give her chocolate after dinner. I was quite strict about controlling it, worried she might get cavities.

“Alright, let’s eat it just for today as a special treat. While we’re at it, strawberry jam cookies too.”

“Waaaah! I’m so happy! Teacher is the best!”

What’s the harm in doing it once? Since I made her cry for no reason, I decided to go all out as an apology.

“But you have to brush your teeth diligently. You need to get inspected by Hilda before bed, okay?”

“Yes!”

Her energetic response was brief, as Elenora suddenly drooped with a gloomy expression.

“The Prince… it would be nice if he could eat delicious food too.”

Oh my, this little one is already worrying about her boyfriend. If Termion knew about this, wouldn’t his eyes light up with fire again?

“If you’re that worried, shall we secretly visit him later with Teacher?”

“Huh? When is later?”

Ailesia whispered in a playful voice to Elenora, whose eyes had widened.

“When good children depart for Dreamland.”

Ailesia baked a large cheese tart as Elenora had wished.

The shabu-shabu made for dinner was also a huge hit. Termion silently emptied five bowls, and even Iolene didn’t spare her praise, saying it tasted healthy for the body.

After handing over the macarons and meat cheese pie bought for Hilda and Rebecca, I briefly left Elenora in their care.

At the tea time held in the office, both Termion and Iolene were present.

“What did you want to discuss?”

“It’s nothing grand… but I think I need some consultation.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s grand, so please speak comfortably.”

Could there finally be something he could help with? Termion’s eyes holding his teacup shone with subtle anticipation.

After hesitating a little, Ailesia soon brought up the main topic without reservation.

“About the Second Prince.”

“Yes?”

It was truly an unexpected name. Rather than the Emperor or First Imperial Consort whom she had actually met, it was a surprising figure for someone with no connections to the Imperial Family to mention.

“Isn’t there a way to help the Second Prince from Retis? Like, sponsorship or something.”

“The Second Prince…”

Both Ailesia asking the question and Termion mulling over her words naturally turned their gazes toward Iolene.

The moment one forms a connection with a member of the Imperial Family, political issues become unavoidable. For Termion, who still lacked experience, this wasn’t a problem he could answer easily.

Iolene let out a quiet sigh and asked Ailesia.

“You wouldn’t have mentioned the Second Prince without reason, would you, Teacher?”

“I visited the Imperial Palace earlier and happened to pass near the Second Prince’s Palace.”

“…Happened to?”

The area where the Imperial Consort Palaces and Prince Palaces were located wasn’t open to ordinary nobles. Naturally knowing this fact, Termion and Iolene looked at Ailesia with puzzled eyes.

“I know it’s originally a place we shouldn’t enter. But Elly really wanted to see it.”

“She’s a curious child, so that’s understandable. It’s not particularly problematic. And then?”

Ailesia slowly recounted what had happened at the Second Prince’s Palace.

She appropriately condensed the fact that Elenora had cried and made a fuss, and completely omitted the part where she had manipulated the knights’ memories with magic.

“Elly seemed greatly shocked after seeing the Second Prince.”

“I knew he was being neglected, but… Tsk tsk.”

Iolene clicked her tongue briefly with a pitying expression. If he was being neglected to that extent when barely two years had passed since his birth mother the Empress died, the situation was obvious.

“The First Imperial Consort’s tyranny has reached its peak. No matter what, he’s direct Imperial Family.”

“She intends to starve that young child to death. If we’re talking about legitimacy, the Second Prince takes priority.”

“That aside… Ailesia, I understand the situation well. But is there a reason we must help the Second Prince?”

“Because he’s pitiful.”

“…That’s true.”

Termion smiled bitterly at receiving such a fundamental answer.

That’s exactly right. What grand reason is needed when wanting to help a pitiful child?

Perhaps because he was also in the position of raising a niece, the Second Prince’s circumstances were heartbreaking beyond words. However, as Duke Letis, it was not a matter he could easily decide on.

“Personally, I’d like to bring him here immediately for protection, but there are many aspects to consider before moving under Retis’s name. No matter how good our intentions in helping the Second Prince, the nobles will think Retis is trying to interfere with the imperial succession.”

“The nobles’ opinions don’t matter. The problem is the Emperor.”

Iolene, who had been listening, naturally added to the conversation. She too knew better than anyone that this wasn’t a matter to approach with simple sympathy alone.

“The Emperor is surprisingly possessive of what’s his and has tremendous pride. He’s someone who thoroughly calculates gains and losses even for trivial matters. Yet he always wants to appear kind in others’ eyes.”

Ailesia unconsciously frowned deeply. Just listening to this reminded her of several relatives from her previous life who had caused chaos.

“A typical sociopath, then?”

“Sociopath? What’s that?”

“Someone who looks fine on the outside but lacks empathy and is a personality-wrecked, socially deficient lunatic?”

“…I don’t think it’s quite that extreme.”

Termion made a slightly appalled expression after hearing the sharp criticism, but Iolene nodded as if in agreement.

“Teacher is right. That’s why the Empress Dowager left me with her dying wish to take good care of the Emperor. She said that since there are no adults in the Imperial House, there should be at least one person keeping an eye on things.”

“She understood her own son well, didn’t she?”

“Would you believe that the current Emperor was the best choice available at the time?”

“…Is there some kind of curse on the Imperial House?”

If that kind of person was the best option, just how terrible were the other candidates? This Empire really is hopeless.

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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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