Limited Extra Time - Chapter 30

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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 visitor had arrived at the Leopold Family Estate, where the atmosphere had grown increasingly tense of late. An urgent messenger had announced the visit early that morning, but truthfully, there had been far too little time to prepare a proper reception. The guest had arrived less than an hour after the messenger’s announcement.

Count Leopold sat across from the silver-haired man in the Reception Room, studying him quietly.

“I was quite surprised to receive your sudden message.”

In the silence, Cassis Leopold—Count Leopold himself—spoke first.

“Ah, I do apologize for the abruptness of it all. I imagine it must have been quite unsettling. There was simply something urgent I needed to confirm.”

“Not at all. Given that this concerns the Kalos Family,

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I am certain there must be some pressing matter at hand.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

The exchange of pleasantries was formulaic and hollow.

Count Leopold found it somewhat surprising that this man—someone with whom he exchanged mere greetings at the occasional ball or conference—had come all the way to his residence.

Periel Kalos, Duke of the Kalos Family.

Like the Duke of Pestellio, he was a young nobleman who had inherited his title at an early age, known for his sociability,

his excellent accomplishments, and his shrewd business acumen.

He patronized those with artistic talent, and it was no exaggeration to say that he controlled the majority of the Empire’s artistic endeavors.

Of course, he himself was also an exceptional artist.

The melodies that flowed from his flute were said to work miracles.

Count Leopold was among those who had witnessed such a miracle firsthand.

The Empire had many who made their living through art, but among them were those of truly extraordinary talent.

The man leading them was none other than the beautiful gentleman standing before me.

With such striking looks and a temperament to match, I suspected he was the hottest prospect in high society at the moment.

“I’m pressed for time, so would you mind if I asked you a few things directly?”

The man, who sat with his legs crossed in casual confidence,

took a sip of black tea before speaking.

Though puzzled, Count Leopold simply nodded in response.

“I heard there’s a young lady in the Leopold House with exceptional talent in painting. Is that true?”

“…A child with exceptional painting skills, you mean?”

Count Leopold blinked somewhat blankly.

Periel Kalos tilted his head, observing that vacant gaze.

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As his head tilted, his beautiful silver hair tumbled gracefully.

“No such child exists.”

After a brief pause, Count Leopold answered.

“…None? What about a young lady afflicted with artistic syndrome?”

“None. My youngest child has been frail since birth, but it is not a case of artistic syndrome.”

At Count Leopold’s firm and measured response, Periel Kalos uncrossed his legs and straightened his posture against the sofa.

He rifled through his memory, recalling the contents of the letter he had read last night. It had clearly stated artistic syndrome. Any form of artistic syndrome has precursors—pain, unusual behavior, or occasional paralysis in the limbs or organs. Such symptoms were not the sort a parent living with the child could overlook. As the condition worsened, it would inevitably disrupt daily life.

‘…Could there be another branch of the Leopold House elsewhere?’

That hardly seemed likely.

I posed the question to myself, but the answer came swiftly. Periel Kalos shook his head. There was no other family in the Empire that bore the same name.

Then had he mistaken her for another family? Or was it an imposter claiming nobility? Was Millaiyen Pestellio truly so foolish and dull as to fall for such an obvious deception?

That couldn’t possibly be the case.

The more I pondered it, the more Periel Kalos’s expression hardened into something deeply displeased.

‘Surely he didn’t send her without even properly verifying her identity?’

The moment that thought crossed Periel Kalos’s mind, his refined features twisted into something savage.

Periel Kalos set down the painting he had brought with deliberate slowness. Count Leopold’s

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expression grew subtle.

“Do you have no idea who painted this?”

“…I’m not entirely certain. My second child did paint somewhat, but I doubt they possess this level of skill.”

Count Leopold examined the painting as he spoke.

The paintings at Leopold Manor were certainly well-executed, but they lacked this painting’s pristine, refined quality. He was certain this was not the work of the same hand—

the Count was absolutely certain of it.

“Second child?”

Periel Kalos repeated his words thoughtfully.

‘…His fiancée. His fiancée, that’s who!’

Years ago, there had been news that Millaiyen was engaged to the Leopold Family.

How could I have forgotten?

Understanding dawning upon him, Periel Kalos nodded immediately.

“It appears that young lady is indeed the one.”

Periel Kalos smiled faintly, his lips curving upward.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, might I see a portrait of that young lady?”

Count Leopold summoned the Head Butler nearby and ordered him to bring the paintings from Carina’s room.

“Ah, and if there happen to be any blank pages, charred paper, or anything incomplete among the paintings, bring all of it as well.”

Periel Kalos added this instruction to the departing Head Butler.

Count Leopold regarded him with a peculiar gaze.

A duke from an art family with no prior connection suddenly appearing and searching for Carina’s paintings—it was most curious.

‘Could there have been some connection I was unaware of?’

Yet Carina had never been particularly active in social circles. She had run away without a word, after all. Even now, not a whisper of news

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had reached his ears.

Deep furrows etched themselves across Count Leopold’s brow.

“But why did you believe this painting was done by Carina?”

Unable to bear the flowing silence, Count Leopold brought a half-cooled cup of black tea to his lips and asked.

“Ah, a close friend of mine… isn’t the young lady currently in the Northern Territory?”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“I received a letter from Duke Millaiyen Pestellio, who is there.”

Periel Kalos continued after moistening his throat with black tea.

“He requested materials regarding art sickness, and since I need to understand her condition and determine what sort it is, I thought I should examine traces of miracles being used or completed paintings with my own eyes. So I took the liberty of coming here.”

As Periel Kalos continued speaking, Count Leopold’s expression

grew increasingly distorted and strange.

He could not fathom what the man before him was saying.

What on earth was he talking about?

What was this art disease, and what did he mean by it being in the Northern Territory?

Was Carina Leopold currently at the Pestellio Duke’s residence?

“Since we’re on the subject, if the Young Daughter had contracted

the art disease, it would have been far better to seek assistance from the Kalos Family rather than send her to the Northern Territory.”

Periel Kalos spoke clearly, bowing forward at the waist.

Even upon reflection, he could not comprehend why she had been sent to the Northern Territory—a place with neither interest in the arts nor adequate medical personnel—when his own family stood right before them.

‘…There seemed to be scarcely any interaction between them as betrothed partners.’

In fact, their connection was so austere that despite the betrothal, not a single whisper of them circulated through high society.

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Periel Kalos searched his memory and recalled a quiet Young Daughter with dull brown hair and an unremarkable countenance.

She was the unassuming Young Daughter who had always remained at her younger sister’s side.

Their bond appeared so close that most of the rumors circulating about the Leopold House in society concerned the sisterly affection between them.

The sickly Youngest Daughter, always seated or standing in one place,

and her only older sister, who brought her food or offered her handkerchiefs.

While people gathered around the bright Youngest Daughter, the sole memory that lingered was of Carina Leopold standing silently beside her, never leaving her side.

‘I never knew she possessed such eyes, witnessing this world in such a way.’

Periel Kalos sometimes wondered what the world looked like to those who painted such pictures.

“…An artistic affliction, you say? That child is in perfect health. Besides, she’s in the Northern Territory? Where exactly? You’re saying Duke Pestellio has her with him?”

Count Leopold’s pupils trembled with confusion as he fumbled through his words.

Periel Kalos’s eyes widened slightly, having been pleasantly sifting through his memories one by one.

“…You didn’t know?”

“Isn’t it a misunderstanding? That child ran away several months ago. We have no idea where she went.”

“Ran away? Why?”

“Who knows. She suddenly bolted one day without reason. Perhaps some trivial matter upset her, or perhaps it was something else entirely.”

Periel Kalos rested his elbow on the armrest of the sofa, propping his chin on the back of his hand.

His eyes grew darker.

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“How could I know when she won’t speak?”

“You didn’t pressure her into silence, did you?”

“Absolutely not.”

Count Leopold answered at once, his tone sharp with displeasure.

Periel Kalos’s eyes narrowed.

“Then there were no signs of illness? No pallor, numbness in her limbs, difficulty breathing—nothing of that sort?”

“No, Carina Leopold was in good health.”

At his firm answer, Periel Kalos’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

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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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