Limited Extra Time - Chapter 183

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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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Is there anything uncomfortable?

By the second day of their journey, Carina Leopold thought she must have heard this question from him at least ten times.

No, truly nothing is uncomfortable. To be honest, everything is so comfortable that I wonder if it’s all right to be this at ease.

That’s a relief. Make sure you eat all the meals provided to you. If you feel even slightly unwell, tell me immediately. If anything hurts, don’t endure it under any circumstances. Do you understand?

…Yes.

Carina Leopold puffed out her lips. Millaiyen Pestellio was truly a nag.

I had no idea how relentless his fussing could be. From beginning to end, he scrutinized her condition and checked her status—as if tending to a glass marble on the verge of shattering.

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Especially regarding meals, he was extraordinarily particular, never missing a single shared dining. He could not overlook even the slightest morsel left on her plate. Curiously, the portions Millaiyen Pestellio provided matched almost exactly what Carina Leopold normally consumed, so eating them was not terribly difficult.

“By the way, did I mention that a Physician named Winston would be joining us?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. When I explained the situation, he agreed to come without hesitation. However, he has preparations to make, so he’ll arrive later than we do.”

I was somewhat surprised that Winston would come. He was a connection from the past, and since she had not received a terminal diagnosis, I had never expected their bond to continue.

“And before we left here, I also sent a messenger to Periel Kalos.

The Kalos Family has deep knowledge of the arts, so they will surely be of help. When he comes to the Northern Territory, he plans to bring Winston with him.”

She nodded. It felt strange that the connections she had seen only in dreams were gathering one by one in the Northern Territory. The Carina Leopold in her dreams was herself, yet simultaneously someone else. This was because the current her had desperately strived not to fall ill, had fortunately avoided a terminal diagnosis, and faced no mortal danger. And precisely because of this, she believed she could not continue the bonds she had forged in her dreams.

“…It’s remarkable.”

“What is?”

“That someone would come for me.”

At Carina Leopold’s words, Millaiyen Pestellio turned his head to look at her.

“Whenever I fell ill, I would always pull the blanket over myself,

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squeeze my eyes shut, curl up my body, and count sheep. Doing so would help me fall asleep quickly, and once I was asleep, the pain would fade away.”

In truth, I had endured many hardships this way.

No matter how much pain I suffered, no matter how alone I suffered through it, no one ever truly listened. So I learned to overcome everything by myself.

“He will come.”

“Yes, he will. After all, you asked him to.”

Of course he would come. Unlike me, he possessed both strong interpersonal connections and unwavering confidence.

“Whenever you are ill or troubled from now on, I will be the one to come. You no longer need to endure alone. You don’t have to bear it by yourself. You may speak of it whenever you wish.”

At Millaiyen Pestellio’s words, Carina Leopold’s eyes widened.

Her lips trembled softly before curving into a gentle smile.

“Yes, I will.”

“And… I would prefer it if you called me Millaiyen instead of ‘Your Excellency.’ After all, you and I are betrothed, and you are coming to Leopold Manor.”

At his suggestion, Carina Leopold nodded.

“I look forward to it, Millaiyen.”

“…Those are my words.”

“…What did you just say?”

“…I said it seems someone overheard me performing a miracle.”

Carina Leopold shrank back slightly, mumbling her response.

She was well aware of the sin she had committed. Now that something unsightly had surfaced, Millaiyen had every right to be angry.

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There was nothing she could say in her defense.

“Did you perform a miracle?”

“Yes… I mentioned before that I have the Art of Creation as my illness, didn’t I…?”

“You did.”

“The landscape I saw today was so beautiful that while I was painting, I completed a butterfly.”

Millaiyen’s expression darkened.

It was only recently that he had told her not to use her ability unless absolutely necessary.

But there were times when she could not resist the impulse.

It was not something she could suppress no matter how hard she tried. As if drawn by something, she would suddenly find herself creating miracles.

Still, recently she had managed to maintain some semblance of reason.

“I swear. It was truly only one butterfly.”

At Carina’s words, Millaiyen nodded with a displeased expression.

He exhaled with exasperation.

With an impatient hand, Millaiyen rubbed his face and furrowed his brow.

“Do you remember who saw it?”

“I’m not sure. I only knew someone was there from the rustling and the sound of them fleeing… but I didn’t see who they were.”

At her cautious words, Millaiyen let out a short sigh.

“We should move up the schedule. We—”

My goal is to finish preparations quickly within the next day or so and enter the Northern Territory.”

Originally, I had planned to take my time on the journey, enjoy the sights, and rest before reaching the Northern Territory, but circumstances had changed everything.

The Miracle of Creation was the most talked-about miracle among all miracles.

After the dream, Millaiyen had also investigated the Miracle of Creation from various angles.

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Their lives had been unfortunate, but their surroundings had made them unfortunate as well. There were artists of Creation who had been exploited their entire lives before descending into madness and perishing. One could easily imagine how sweet and beloved prey those who could create what did not exist and realize through imagination alone what had never been—how delectable they must have appeared to those in power.

“I need to return to the Northern Territory as quickly as possible.”

Since I had come alone without the Knights, I had hired mercenaries with considerable skill and usefulness, but I could not trust them. Mercenaries bought with coin would bend to an even larger sum without hesitation. Moreover, their abilities fell short compared to the Knights of the Northern Territory, so there was no way my concerns could be eased.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. These things happen. You didn’t do this intentionally.”

“…I suppose not.”

Carina Leopold could not believe that she had lost her reason to a momentary surge of emotion and completed the painting despite Millaiyen’s repeated pleas not to.

“Don’t worry, and try not to leave this Inn if you can help it.”

“I will.”

“I’d also appreciate it if you could refrain from painting for a while. Sketching is fine, though.”

“…I understand.”

Millaiyen pressed his lips firmly shut at the sight of Carina Leopold’s dejected voice.

I had no idea how to console her now that her spirits had been thoroughly dampened. Neither I nor the Millaiyen Pestellio from the dream possessed much skill in such matters.

“This isn’t your fault. I should have been more attentive. You’ve simply held back all this time and finally let it out once.”

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“….”

“You need not reproach yourself for doing your utmost to keep your promise all this time. It was merely a butterfly, after all.”

Merely a butterfly.

She had endured so much for him—she who had painted and painted and painted until she had finally surrendered even her own life.

Knowing this, I could not bring myself to blame her.

“Do not worry. I will protect you.”

Millaiyen Pestellio said this as he gently grasped her hand.

Carina Leopold’s eyes widened considerably.

“…I will.”

“I must inquire about the witness and prepare for our departure within two days. Rest yourself.”

“Yes.”

The moment her answer left her lips, he began to lean forward naturally, then suddenly startled and drew back.

She held her breath.

“Ah, there’s… dust.”

He stammered awkwardly.

“Ah, yes….”

Carina Leopold bowed her head deeply, her face flushing as she murmured. Millaiyen Pestellio hastily withdrew from sight.

Carina Leopold did not emerge from her room until the late dinner hour.

Quite famished, and with no meal arriving as usual, she had no choice but to venture out into the corridor.

Descending to the first floor, she found the Inn Dining Hall in utter chaos, crowded with guests.

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She wove through the bustling crowd toward the Innkeeper, a familiar figure from her daytime visits.

“Excuse me.”

“We’re swamped right now, what— Oh, you’re a guest from the VIP room. What can I do for you?”

“It’s been a while, and my meal still hasn’t arrived. Would it be possible to get my food soon?”

“Oh my goodness, I’m terribly sorry! Of course! But as you can see, we’re absolutely slammed and short-staffed… Would you mind dining in the main hall just for today?”

Carina Leopold’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Innkeeper was drenched in sweat, his expression heavy with apology. He’d clearly rushed out from the kitchen when the dining hall became overwhelmed, only to encounter her.

Carina Leopold was far too gracious to press someone so obviously harried.

‘I’ve never dined alone in a place like this before.’

The noise was almost unbearable, threatening to split her eardrums. Yet everyone around her wore such cheerful expressions, eating with genuine joy, that it didn’t feel entirely unpleasant.

‘Perhaps this is a worthwhile experience in its own way.’

Besides, she’d been instructed not to leave the Inn, so venturing outside for a meal held little appeal anyway.

After deliberating for some time, Carina Leopold finally nodded her consent.

“Thank you so much! The only available seat is at this shared table. This works for you, doesn’t it? I’ll bring your meal right away!”

“Ah, wait—”

Carina Leopold blinked several times as the Innkeeper seated her and vanished in an instant.

She truly hadn’t anticipated sharing a table with a complete stranger.

As she exhaled softly and looked ahead, she found a man with a somewhat surprised expression gazing at her.

“Ha, hello there?”

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The Dark-skinned Man possessed a complexion that exuded an exotic, foreign atmosphere, along with piercing golden eyes. It was evident that he, too, had not anticipated this turn of events.

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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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