Limited Extra Time - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Doomed Extra’s Time

Chapter 14

“Is there anything you need? I’ve never cared for anyone before, so I’m ignorant when it comes to these things.”

“You’ve never cared for anyone before?”

“That’s right.”

“I haven’t either, but….”

She murmured, her heavy eyelids fluttering once.

Millian swallowed a hollow laugh. Of course she’d never cared for anyone before. The life of a noblewoman raised in privilege was far removed from the life of tending to the sick.

“I see.”

Millian replied dismissively, taking it for the delirious rambling of a fevered patient.

At his words, Carina nodded, and her lips parted once more.

“It’s nice, having someone there when you’re ill.”

Millian’s gaze turned toward Carina.

“I’ve always spent most of my time by my younger siblings’ and older brother’s side….”

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Millian’s brow furrowed as he watched her whisper in a voice so faint it seemed to scatter.

‘Now that I think about it, Count Leopold’s other daughter is said to be sickly.’

Millian grasped the situation without difficulty.

A household with an ailing member fundamentally struggled to function properly.

In a household devoid of familial affection, perhaps one could overlook such matters, but in a home blessed with genuine family love, favoritism naturally takes root.

“The fever isn’t subsiding easily.”

Millionen reached out and pressed his hand against Carina’s flushed forehead.

“My bag….”

“Your bag?”

“There’s medicine in it. I forgot to bring it.”

Carina explained, her breathing labored and uneven.

“Medicine? Will that help? Then I’ll fetch it at once.”

Millionen made to rise.

Carina grasped his hand and shook her head. The medicine wasn’t needed until tomorrow, so there was no reason for him to venture out in the dead of night.

“Not now. Tomorrow.”

“Your fever is severe.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Your stubbornness is more unyielding than steel cable.”

Though Millionen reproached her, he obediently settled back into his seat.

Carina smiled with a relaxed expression, then closed her eyes once more. She felt cold, her vision darkened, her body heavy—yet the warmth of his hand in hers brought an inexplicable comfort.

“It’s still early morning. Rest a while longer.”

“…Will you leave once I fall asleep?”

“No. I’ll remain in this room until Peng wakes.”

At Millionen’s words, Carina nodded

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I nodded in agreement.

When I opened my eyes, I never expected anyone to be beside me—it felt as though I had received a surprise birthday gift.

A glance.

Seeing her with no intention of releasing the hand Millaion held weakly, I grasped her hand in return.

The unexpected grip caused Carina’s pupils to dilate.

“I shall remain at your side while you sleep, so rest now.”

“…Yes.”

Carina’s eyes closed slowly.

As though she had been waiting for those very words, her breathing became even and rhythmic in an instant.

Millaion turned his head and gazed intently at the letter resting upon the table.

‘…It would be better to send word after winter passes.’

Millaion, who had intended to write to Count Leopold, changed his mind.

He reasoned that she too must have her own struggles.

Since there had been many times when Carina lacked his support, Millaion resolved to become her ally.

It was now November, leaving only three to four months until the snow melted.

Only when Carina had fallen completely still did Millaion return to the table by the window.

* * *

She spent a full week bedridden as the Physician had advised before she could walk on her own feet again.

For two months of doing as she pleased, perhaps this was a merciful price to pay.

What surprised me was that Millaion would pop in once a day to check on my condition.

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I honestly hadn’t anticipated such concern from him.

Compared to the Southern Territory, the Northern Territory was bitterly cold. The wind bit with an icy edge, and the season of chill arrived far earlier than I was accustomed to.

Having lived in the Southern Territory my entire life, my eyes widened in shock at the stark difference.

‘Has my health truly deteriorated?’

Only after circling the manor did I realize that despite my leisurely pace, I was breathing heavily.

Fortunately, aside from that, there were no other significant changes.

“Young Miss?”

“Oh, Millaion.”

“Your fever only just broke, and here you are already wandering about, gasping for breath?”

“Well, I was just so restless lying in bed all this time.”

Millaion approached with long strides and placed his hand against my forehead.

Though it startled me at first, he had made a habit of resting his hand on my forehead like a greeting each time we met.

Over the week of interacting with Millaion, I had discovered that despite his rough manner of speaking, he was quite attentive.

“Your fever has certainly subsided.”

“Yes, it has….”

I startled and took a step back.

It seemed his urgent matters had been resolved, as he had been sleeping at proper hours these past few days.

Perhaps because of that, the weary shadows beneath his eyes were no longer visible.

“Why are you startled like a frightened rabbit? Don’t worry—I won’t eat you.”

Milaion laughed at the sight of Carina huddled with her hand pressed to her forehead, speaking in a light tone.

She stared blankly at his laughter before slowly turning her head.

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She nodded.

“Have you had lunch?”

“Not yet.”

“I haven’t eaten either. Would you like to join me?”

She hesitated before nodding.

Fearing I would become a burdensome nuisance, I had tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

Yet aside from his initial sharp words, he proved far more favorable toward me than I had anticipated.

He was more favorable toward her.

“There’s no need for you to move to the Annex. Come to think of it, I’ll be away from Leopold Manor frequently for beast subjugation expeditions anyway.”

“If I accompanied you on beast subjugation, wouldn’t I be a hindrance?”

“Obviously.”

Milaion answered with a piercing gaze.

Carina laughed awkwardly at his blunt refusal. I hadn’t truly intended to go, yet even that fleeting imagination was cut short in an instant.

I never thought it would be cut off all at once like this.

“By the way, your bag was full of drawing supplies. You seem to enjoy painting, don’t you?”

At Milaion’s question, Carina’s eyes widened.

A bitter smile formed on her lips before fading away. She had never expected to hear such a fact—something no one had ever asked her about—from this man.

“Yes, I do like it.”

“I see. In that case, climb up to the roof of Leopold Manor.

You’ll find the view magnificent at dawn or sunset.”

“I’ll be sure to go.”

“However.”

Milaion suddenly turned around.

Carina gasped as her face collided with his chest, and she hastily stepped back.

“My apologies.”

“No, I’m the one who should apologize….”

Her face flushed crimson from the contact with his firm chest. Physical touch with anyone other than leather

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was unfamiliar to her. She forced herself to meet his gaze, steeling her eyes.

“What do you mean by ‘however’?”

“Ah, given that you’ve been bedridden for a week, it’s clear your constitution is quite frail. Be careful when climbing to the roof.”

“Ah, I understand.”

The Northern Territory grows cold in the mornings and evenings, so dress warmly.”

“Yes….”

“And before you go, be sure to tell either me or Peng.”

“Yes, understood.”

“You must come down at least once every hour to warm yourself.”

“…Yes.”

There were certainly many restrictions to climbing onto the roof even once. The man’s body resembled a taciturn servant in appearance, but experiencing it firsthand, he seemed to be quite the nag in reality.

‘My subordinates probably won’t like this much.’ Even as she thought this to herself, she nodded in agreement. In truth, Carina didn’t particularly dislike this kind of interference. Eventually, her lips twitched, and she finally burst into soft laughter.

“If you don’t want to become dried squid, don’t stay out too long.”

“…That squid nonsense again.”

She grumbled in discontent.

“Do you know how infuriating it was to see you trailing behind the Maidservants with an expression that screamed ‘I don’t want to be here but I’m forced to come’? If you hated it that much, you should have said so properly.”

“That’s…”

Because it was decided, because my only sister was ill. What joy could there be in an engagement that proceeded without even asking for my opinion? And on the day of the engagement ceremony itself, Abel

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Only Infrick, who came as Count Leopold’s proxy, and my brother Ferden attended because Lia’s fever had risen.

I had no motivation whatsoever toward the other party, though I felt sorry.

“I apologize if I was unpleasant.”

“You have nothing to apologize for to me. I only tried to honor it because my predecessor who decided the engagement is already dead, and it was his final wish anyway.”

Milayen shrugged his shoulders.

“What I mean is, if there’s something you dislike,

say so clearly.”

Though his tone was light, it was something Carina had always wanted to hear.

Speaking to those who wouldn’t listen even if you said you disliked something or that something was difficult was like having a conversation with a wall.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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