It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 77
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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 077
“But according to what the Grand Duchess Dowager said, supporting the Second Prince might be better than we thought.”
Termion, who had been quietly listening, offered an unexpected opinion. He could see a gap they could exploit based on the Emperor’s tendencies.
“What do you mean?”
“Unless the Emperor is a fool, he must have realized that the First Imperial Consort is being too forward. It’s just that right now it’s not bothersome enough and doesn’t directly affect him, so he’s letting it slide. But what if it reaches the point where it damages the Emperor’s reputation?”
“Being bewitched by the First Imperial Consort and treating the dead Empress’s son like a bastard child… Just spreading rumors would make the Emperor panic.”
“Before that happens, we propose to cover it up with a heartwarming story. The Emperor gave his first direct order to Retis, and Retis, feeling sorry for the Second Prince’s situation, responded accordingly. The Emperor gets to save face, and we get to earn some favor with the Imperial Family. The public perception that relations between the Imperial Family and Retis are poor will also quiet down for a while.”
“A reasonable compromise. The nobles might be cautious but probably won’t show outright wariness.”
Termion and Iolene went through other sensitive matters and made concrete plans. Ailesia, who had first brought up the opinion, felt somewhat bewildered.
“Um, excuse me.”
Termion and Iolene, who had been engrossed in their discussion, turned their heads simultaneously. Ailesia felt unnecessarily awkward as she carefully opened her mouth.
“Is it really okay though?”
“What do you mean?”
“Helping the Second Prince. Couldn’t Retis be misunderstood as trying to interfere in the imperial succession?”
“What does it matter? It’s not like we’re openly pressuring them to make him Crown Prince.”
Termion’s voice was utterly indifferent. Even Iolene just sipped her tea with an unconcerned expression.
“Not to mention the First Prince, even that quiet Third Prince has his own faction. There’s nothing strange about Retis backing the Second Prince.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s not even backing him. We’re just making sure he eats three meals a day and sleeps comfortably. Since the Duchy is far from the Imperial Capital, they’ll judge that we can’t directly influence anything.”
“…I was worried that things might get complicated because of me.”
“What a disappointing thing to say, Teacher.”
Iolene answered with a firm tone as if it was absurd.
Compared to all the favors they had received from Ailesia, this was hardly even worth showing off about.
“Ailesia.”
“Yes?”
“Anyway, you want to help the Second Prince, right?”
Ailesia wouldn’t have brought this up simply because she felt sorry for him. But Termion had no intention of prying into her reasons.
“That’s enough justification for us to step forward.”
“No, even so…”
“If you want it, we’ll do our best to grant it. Well… if it were something like treason plot, we’d have to think about it more seriously.”
“Why are you suddenly bringing up treason plot!”
Why is he making such a scary joke? Unlike the startled Ailesia, Iolene went even further and replied with a serious expression.
“That would require some long-term planning. We’d need to eliminate at least half of the First Imperial Consort’s supporters to have a chance of winning. It would also take time to win over the moderate faction including Marquis Havir.”
“No… why are you reacting that way too, Grand Duchess Dowager?”
Am I about to destroy the original story? And in a direction that has absolutely no plausibility?
When Ailesia let out a deflated voice, having lost all energy in an instant, Termion and Iolene burst into light laughter simultaneously.
“Teacher. You might find this somewhat burdensome, but we think of you as a member of Retis and like family.”
“Family doesn’t need to nitpick and question each other. We just trust and help, that’s all.”
“Uh…”
At the unexpected words, Ailesia found herself at a loss for words.
Besides her Aunt and Master, who else had ever said such warm words to her?
At least for Hwirin in her previous life, it was the first time since losing her parents.
“So whatever it is, don’t struggle alone and speak comfortably. Just like now.”
“That’s right, Teacher. Of course, I can’t carelessly guarantee that we’ll grant everything, but at least we can discuss it together and find a way, can’t we? Solving everything with magic isn’t always the answer.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
What’s with these people? Why are they suddenly making me feel touched?
Elenora was like that earlier too, did they all pick today for this? At this rate, I might end up showing an embarrassing side of myself.
Termion and Iolene just watched with gentle smiles as Ailesia, whose eyes had turned slightly red, fidgeted with her teacup for no reason.
“Ugh…”
Moonlight faintly streaming through the window. The boy lying on the bed opened his eyes with difficulty, feeling a burning thirst in his throat.
As always, it was a room where cold air had settled thickly, but strangely, he didn’t feel the cold. Even his hands and feet, which had always been cold, were warm.
‘…My head doesn’t hurt.’
It had been a week since he’d been suffering from dizziness both before sleeping and after waking up.
The vertigo that sometimes shook his head so severely that his vision became distant had disappeared without a trace.
Just as the boy slowly sat up with a dazed expression, wondering about this, a faint flash suddenly burst from the middle of the room.
Flash!
“…Who are you?”
A hoarsely cracked voice flowed through his dry lips.
It was a situation where anyone would have screamed in surprise, but the boy only frowned slightly.
“You’re awake?”
“I asked who you are.”
“How’s your body? Even if you drank an elixir, the thirst and hunger shouldn’t have disappeared completely.”
“…”
The blue-eyed woman with blonde hair down to her waist only said what she wanted to say. However, her words contained a term that couldn’t be ignored.
“Elixir…?”
“That’s incredibly precious. When you grow up, you’ll pay me back with interest.”
“You gave me that legendary medicine that can even revive the dead? You did?”
“Speak nicely to Teacher! Hmph!”
Suddenly, a young voice was heard.
A little girl who had peeked her head out from behind the woman’s skirt was glaring at him with puffed cheeks.
“…So who exactly are you?”
The boy muttered weakly with a thoroughly dejected expression. He felt like the conversation had been going in circles from the beginning.
“My name is Ailesia Milenov.”
“Elly is Elenora Vies von Retis!”
“…The Grand Duchess of Retis?”
The startled boy looked over both their faces and reluctantly opened his mouth.
“Kalior Sielin von Blair. I’m the Second Prince of the Blair Empire.”
“You must have a lot of questions, but how about eating something first?”
Ailesia had already taken out a steaming bowl. It was porridge made by boiling finely chopped meat and vegetables thoroughly.
“How can I trust you?”
“Then will you starve to death? While stubbornly holding your head high as a Second Prince?”
“Ha…”
“If there were bad intentions, wouldn’t something have happened already? How do you think I appeared in this room, Your Highness the Second Prince?”
Despite meeting for the first time, her attitude was incredibly sharp. However, the words that followed were threatening yet strangely trustworthy.
“Drink some water first.”
“…”
Kalior, who had been staring at the water cup she offered, soon carefully moistened his throat.
“…Thank you for the meal.”
“What a polite child.”
Kalior slowly picked up the spoon.
The moment he put the porridge in his mouth, the boy’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How is it? Delicious?”
Kalior just nodded as if he had no time to answer and moved his hands busily.
The sight of him hurriedly gulping down the porridge looked appropriate for his age, yet somehow pitiful at the same time.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Perhaps because the meal was satisfying. Kalior’s expression as he set down the spoon was noticeably relaxed, unlike when he first arrived.
“Well then, shall we have a little talk?”
“…I apologize for my rudeness earlier.”
Though he still seemed subtly wary, Kalior first offered a polite apology.
Ailesia was clearly no ordinary person. As she had said earlier, the very situation of appearing in the middle of the Imperial Palace as if dropped from the sky was impossible.
Moreover, the girl who had introduced herself as Elenora was addressing her as ‘Teacher’. If this child was truly the Duke Letis’s daughter, she wouldn’t address just anyone that way.
“So, what are your real identities and purpose?”
“Our Teacher is the prettiest, kindest, smartest, and strongest witch in the world!”
“…What the hell.”
Kalior’s expression, which had finally relaxed, twisted awkwardly once again.
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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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