Limited Extra Time - Chapter 199

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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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Side Story 4. Reunion, and What Follows

With a final, anguished cry, the massive Magical Beast collapsed.

A heavy spear fell with a dull thud near the fallen creature. A woman exhaled a short breath as she gazed down at the spear, blood dripping steadily from its blade.

That should be sufficient for the Subjugation.

From the breathtakingly beautiful woman came a crisp, refreshing voice.

She was a woman with odd-colored eyes, her dark blue hair bound tightly in a single knot.

Her snow-white skin and sharply defined nose were accentuated by long, delicate lashes and slightly upturned eyes that seemed remarkably fresh. Her gracefully sculpted jawline and softly curved lips were utterly endearing.

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I’ve prepared a gift I’d like to give you.

That won’t be possible today.

Ah…

Haran’s face fell with immediate disappointment as he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist.

I’m spending time with my family today, so I’ll be going to see Father.

Speaking of which, how is the previous Duke? I heard he went on a Subjugation and was attacked, suffering grave injuries.

Yes, he was trying to rescue children in a village that was attacked by Magical Beasts.

His back and legs were severely wounded.

Having heard that he would never be able to wield a sword again, Millaiyen had been spending his days barely leaving his room.

Despite summoning a healer all the way from the Northern Territory due to his body’s addiction to magical energy, his condition was decidedly not improving.

Serenus’s expression darkened.

He should feel better soon.

I hope so, but… for some reason, I have a feeling it won’t be that simple. Father has always longed to see Mother so much.

Mother… you mean the one who passed away from Art Disease…

Yes. Now that Winston and Uncle Periel have created a cure for Art Disease, hardly anyone dies from it anymore, but back then, there was no cure at all.

At Serenus’s words, Haran’s expression beside him also grew slightly somber.

Looking helpless, he waved his hand uselessly through the air before carefully patting Serenus’s back lightly.

You must have been very sad, Seren.

I wasn’t that sad. Back then, I thought Mother had simply gone on a very long journey. She appeared in my dreams every year and sent letters too. And I had Father.

Serenus smiled faintly.

Anyway, when exactly are you returning to your own nation? I picked you up, after all,

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and your wounds have all healed.”

“…Would you prefer that I returned?”

“Of course you should. You’re a prince, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but my nation runs quite well even without me, so there’s no urgent need for me to return immediately.”

Haran smiled brightly.

Serenus, who had been quietly observing his innocent-looking face, shrugged his shoulders. The vast Northern Territory’s finances wouldn’t be shaken by one additional mouth to feed.

“Then! Seren!”

“Yes?”

“Say, then… would you have time tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

“Then, then…! Would you be able to make time for me tomorrow?”

“Sure, we can have lunch together.”

“Yes, I would be delighted.”

Haran, with his dark complexion, answered with an innocent smile spreading across his face.

The young man, who had just turned twenty-four, certainly had a youthful appearance. Serenus lightly scratched his cheek and quickly moved the conversation forward.

I couldn’t quite pinpoint why my chest felt so warm.

* * *

I knocked on the door with my fist slightly clenched, and after a long moment, a very slow response came from within.

Serenus carefully turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

Millaiyen was leaning against the headboard of the bed, turning the pages of a worn diary in his hands. His hair, streaked with gray, spoke volumes of the years that had passed.

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“Father.”

At my soft call, Millaiyen turned his head, and his faded crimson eyes narrowed further.

“You smell of blood. Where have you been?”

“It was an Expedition day.”

“Ah, has it come to that already? These days, I can hardly keep track of time passing.”

“Were you reading Mother’s letters?”

“Yes, though I’m merely reading over the parts I’ve already finished.”

His slow voice clearly betrayed his advancing age.

He glanced out the window and let out a soft chuckle. Serenus, who had brought over a chair, settled beside him.

“What is it?”

“That prince of Catlan or whatever he is—he doesn’t seem to have any intention of returning home. I heard there was some major civil strife in Catlan decades ago.”

“Ah… yes. It was a nation where many people devoted themselves entirely to art. Haran said he’s the third prince, so there’s no need to rush back, and told me to do as I pleased.”

“From what I can see, he’s got plenty of ulterior motives. I’ve raised you well, and now some rascal is trying to snatch you away. And I can’t even pull strings from behind the scenes anymore since I’ve stepped back from practical affairs.”

“…Is that so?”

“It is, Seren. You take after your mother—you have no eye for men.”

At his words tinged with laughter, Serenus recalled the countless men who had confessed to me over the years.

Some of them could have developed into good relationships, but for some reason, all contact had abruptly ceased midway.

“Dad is overprotective.”

“I can’t help it. You’re such a beautiful daughter.”

Millaiyen reached out and gently brushed Serenus’s cheek.

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Serenus carefully cradled his scarred, calloused hand in both of hers.

“And why would Mother have no eye for men? She met you.”

“Meeting me was proof that your mother had no eye for men. I wasn’t gentlemanly from our very first meeting.”

“I like men like you, Dad.”

“You’d prefer a man who is kind and gentle only to you, someone who would do anything you ask. And just so you know, a man who is kind to everyone is like Periel in his youth—absolutely not an option.”

“A man who is kind to her is just like Periel in his youth, so that absolutely won’t do.”

Millaiyen’s eyes widened at the words.

“By the way, Shana invited me to a party. It’s a celebration for her sixteenth boyfriend.”

“…So the daughter takes after the father. And Periel, that man who went through so many women…”

Though these days Periel was certainly settling down properly.

Unlike at the beginning when it was a contractual marriage, they hadn’t divorced even after five, seven, or ten years passed.

I heard they were still living a blissful newlywed life. How tiresome it was whenever they sent postcards from their travels.

“Father.”

At the voice that reached him while his brow was furrowed, Millaiyen turned his head toward Serenus.

“What is it?”

“Do you miss Mother?”

“Always. I always miss you and worry about you, just as I always did.”

“If I hadn’t existed, if I hadn’t been foolishly kidnapped back then, could Mother have lived longer?”

The question that suddenly surfaced tumbled from my lips before I could even think.

Millaiyen’s eyes widened slightly at Serenus’s words.

“Seren, you were our blessing. A life that could have been twice as happy became three times, four times more

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happy because of you. Your mother’s death was predetermined. Don’t think such things.

Serenus crawled into bed like a child and nestled beside Millaiyen, acting spoiled.

“Father.”

“Hmm?”

“Dad, are you going to Mother too?”

Millaiyen’s eyes widened at Serenus’s words.

It was something I hadn’t anticipated,

yet I could discern to some extent why the child would say such a thing.

My body, poisoned by the Magical Beasts’ venom, did not recover easily, and I felt my numb legs growing increasingly rigid.

The child had been born with magical and divine power, and had spent an uneven childhood because of it. Perhaps that was why he had always seen things others could not.

Had he glimpsed his own death?

Without thinking, I reached out with my withered hand and stroked Serenus’s hair.

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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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