Limited Extra Time - Chapter 15

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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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If I had refused, the estate would have passed to my ailing younger brother. After all, I couldn’t have rejected the engagement either.

Of course, I would have turned down the betrothal.

No, that’s not all…

She fell silent, her lips ceasing their restless movement.

Your brother’s first social gathering—it will be difficult for your ailing sibling to manage everything alone. Since your brother is inexperienced and clumsy, you must help him.

Karina, this is Ferden and Abelia’s debut into society. You must stand by their side and offer them considerable support. Do you understand?

I knew it was only natural.

Many siblings helped their younger brothers and sisters make their debut in society, after all.

I couldn’t refuse. Not before my two hopeful younger siblings and my parents, who trusted this was simply what I would do.

Why did you stop speaking?

…Oh, no. I don’t know what

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I was about to say. I was afraid it might sound petty.” Karina closed her mouth, having barely found this moment of respite.

I didn’t want to second-guess myself and read the atmosphere even in this hard-won sanctuary.

“That’s nonsense,” Millaion answered lightly.

Karina blinked at the abruptly thrown question, “What food do you dislike?”

She moistened her lips with a slightly flustered feeling. When no answer came even as she entered the Dining Hall, Millaion turned her head.

“Don’t you have any?”

“…greasy food doesn’t really agree with me.”

“You certainly have a taste for things as soft as your appearance.”

At Millaion’s chuckling remark, Karina froze. Her eyes darted about in evident confusion.

As Karina stammered with an bewildered expression, he

burst into laughter and settled into the round table prepared on the Terrace.

“Do sit down. Dinner will be ready shortly.”

Unlike the dining table at Leopold Manor, where it always seemed she was excluded from the proceedings, Millaion was regarding Karina with genuine attention.

She attempted to mask her bewilderment with an expressionless facade as she took the seat across from him.

* * *

True to his word, a sumptuous feast was laid out after a brief wait.

The Terrace was enclosed by transparent glass domes, allowing one to admire the view outside while keeping the cold wind at bay.

“Your Excellency, what do you call this?” Karina asked with curious eyes as she

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pointed to the transparent dome encircling the Terrace. The upper portion of the glass dome was adorned with stained glass, casting a brilliant spectrum of colors downward.

It’s a glass dome. When snow falls here in winter, the scenery is quite beautiful, but the weather is far too cold to dine outside. The craftsmen of the Northern Territory devised this solution after much deliberation. Though it does require proper maintenance.

At Millaion’s confident explanation, Karina nodded. In Leopold County, where the skies remain remarkably clear throughout the year, winter was not particularly harsh. It was somewhat chilly, but not so severe as to bring bitter cold or snowfall.

When will the snow arrive?

Early next month at the soonest, or late month at the latest. But given how unusually cold it’s been this year, I’m predicting early next month.

Millaion chuckled softly as he regarded Karina. He found her curious, bright eyes rather endearing—far preferable to how she used to trail about like a squid in tow.

The food will grow cold. Eat now.

At Millaion’s urging, she finally lowered her gaze to the table. The variety of dishes was remarkable—fried preparations, steamed delicacies, braised creations, and more. Before Karina were positioned only the lightest, least oily selections, a result of Millaion’s meticulous oversight as he directed the servants on where to place each dish. Without having tasted a single bite, she felt the consideration behind it all, and a small smile graced her lips.

Surely she wasn’t so fragile that merely holding utensils would cause her to cough up blood.

That’s not it at all.

She lifted her head with a start,

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and handed me the fork.

As she habitually moved the fork toward the salad, she paused and looked up.

She had thought he despised her, yet he showed more consideration than expected, more tenderness than she’d imagined.

‘I’ve been making assumptions without truly knowing him at all.’

Karina lowered her head, her expression darkening.

She admitted that her own thinking had been shallow.

If she were to truly perish here or if something went wrong, Milaion would bear the full brunt of the consequences.

“Does the meal not suit your palate?”

Milaion glanced at Karina, who hadn’t touched a single bite, and spoke.

She shook her head and exhaled a deep sigh. Then, finally, she lifted her gaze and studied Milaion’s expression carefully.

“Your Excellency.”

“Are you my subordinate? You can simply call me Milaion. Or Lieon, if you prefer.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Her eyes darted about.

This man expressed what he desired without the slightest hesitation.

Karina found it both peculiar and remarkable—something she herself had never once attempted.

“So why did you suddenly call for me?”

As her eyes curved into crescents with a smile, the man’s demeanor softened perceptibly. The rigid warrior melted into a playful rogue.

Karina blinked with a somewhat vacant expression before hastily shaking her head.

“I… I apologize.”

“Apologize?”

“I came here without properly explaining the situation, acting on my own. I’m sorry for not informing you beforehand. I thought if I asked, you would refuse outright

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without hesitation.”

“Of course I would.”

Millaion answered without a moment’s hesitation, his response swift and decisive.

The instant his words finished, she clenched the hand she’d lowered beneath the table.

“It’s not that I dislike you or find you troublesome. It’s simply because it’s dangerous. Don’t take what I said on the first day too much to heart. Besides, I already apologized for that back then.”

“Yes. And…”

Her lips trembled slightly.

Should I tell him about the illness I’m carrying?

Karina hesitated for a moment.

But there was no guarantee that telling him would improve the situation. The worst outcome would be if he contacted the Leopold Family.

Karina shook her head.

“And?”

“I’ll make sure the meal is delicious.”

Karina added an appropriate remark to Millaion, who had caught her mid-sentence.

“You’re truly dull.”

Millaion shrugged his shoulders and began eating without further interrogation.

“From next time, I’ll tell them to prepare a variety of dishes that are easier for you to eat. Why don’t you start now? The head chef will weep at this rate.”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

At Millaion’s urging, Karina hastily pierced the steamed food with her fork and brought it to her lips.

‘Delicious…’

Karina’s eyes widened.

“Is it good?”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Tell Lerber.”

Millaion spoke with a smile.

Beyond the salad, there was much else worth eating, and she reached for a variety of dishes—a rare occurrence for her.

For the first time in ages, her belly was full. Karina smiled faintly with a satisfied expression.

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Millaion frequently spoke to her, and Karina, though startled each time, answered his words thoughtfully.

Perhaps it was the brief mealtime she had long wished for—a simple exchange of unremarkable conversation.

* * *

“Do you have any sense at all? None whatsoever!”

As Karina heard Millaion’s voice, contorted with anger, she covered her ears.

I couldn’t scold her for being careless—not when she was clearly at fault this time.

As a result, blankets were wrapped around her entire body until she resembled some sort of cocoon.

Only Karina’s face and hands protruded from the thick quilts.

“I’m sorry.”

“Then tell me you wished to become ice instead. I’ll dump an entire bathtub of ice water over you.”

“…I truly lost track of time. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Listening to Millaion’s growling, fierce voice, Karina earnestly defended herself.

Yet her lips remained slightly parted, and she couldn’t suppress the laughter that threatened to escape.

Having never been scolded in such a manner before, it felt unfamiliar and remarkably novel—a ticklish sensation that somehow pleased me.

Observing Karina’s softened expression, Millaion’s eyebrows shot upward.

“Are you laughing?”

At his cold voice, she quickly

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hardened her lips.

Her expression of innocence, as though nothing had happened, drew a hollow laugh from Millaion.

Millaion placed his hand upon Karina’s forehead.

“Why not become a human furnace? It would save on fuel costs.”

“Are you cold, sir?”

“…Are you speaking to me right now?”

Karina met Millaion’s sharply raised eyes and shook her head with intensity in her gaze.

With only her face poking out like a turtle’s, shaking her head back and forth, the sight was utterly ridiculous.

It had been ten days since I arrived at Duke Millaion’s Manor.

In truth, I’d spent a week bedridden after arriving, so I’d only been exploring the manor for three days.

Even then, thanks to the Duke sending me back to my room immediately after the first meal, I’d only had two days of genuine freedom.

The problem was my behavior this morning—I’d climbed onto the Rooftop wearing nothing but a robe to sketch the sunrise.

Before going up to the Rooftop, I’d made a promise with Millaion.

First, I must inform either Millaion, the Head Butler, or Peng before leaving.

Second, I must dress warmly.

Third, I must come down from the Rooftop every hour to warm myself.

The problem was that when I woke, the manor was still quiet, making it difficult to rouse anyone.

Moreover, I had no warm clothes to wear, and I lost track of time while sketching.

I’d spent roughly four hours crouched on the Rooftop drawing—from before sunrise until well after the sun had fully risen and the manor grew bustling.

It was Millaion who discovered me. He’d come to my room to invite me to

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breakfast when he found me sitting on the Rooftop sketching, and he was furious.

He’d grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me down from the Rooftop—which led to this situation.

Thanks to Millaion’s glare every time I tried to wriggle free from the blanket, I remained swaddled in quilts, my face flushed crimson.

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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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