Limited Extra Time - Chapter 4

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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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—— Page 1 ——

Abelia was merely fourteen years old—an age when childish whims were entirely natural.

Yet Karina had always found her attention stolen away by the perpetually ailing Abelia and Ferden, who returned home battered and bruised from his daily escapades outside.

Abelia’s crystalline laughter stirred something ugly within me—jealousy and resentment that should never have taken root.

“Sister, truly there’s no way? Please?”

Nocton observed her distress and gently grasped Abelia’s shoulder, drawing her away from Karina.

“Lia, you wound me with such words. I’ve come on Count Leopold’s direct orders to conduct your health examination today.”

“…But.”

Abelia gazed at Karina with eyes brimming with reluctance.

Karina fell silent. In her current state of mind, any words that escaped her lips would surely be misspoken.

“Moreover, I understand Miss Karina has urgent and important matters to attend to.

—— Page 2 ——

It would be troublesome if Lia were to throw a tantrum.”

…Ah, is that so?

Abelia’s longing gaze turned toward Karina.

Rather than speak, I forced a smile to reassure her.

Sister always gets to go out and have fun…

Abelia pouted and grumbled, her head drooping in disappointment.

Something surged violently within me.

Abelia clung to Karina, and because of that, I was always forced to remain at the side of this sickly child.

Because of this, Karina couldn’t form a single worthwhile friendship.

The tea parties she’d hosted could be counted on one hand, and her attendance at others was equally sparse. Her clenched fists trembled faintly.

There were times when she too longed to go out and play with friends. There were days when she’d tried to redirect her attention elsewhere, refusing to resent them.

Instead, couldn’t you just buy me something delicious from the Market? Why only skewers and juice? I wanted to try them!

Abelia’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she lifted her head with a playful expression.

Understood.

Karina, eager to leave, answered curtly with her brow furrowed.

She offered a slight bow of gratitude to Nocton, who was watching her with an odd expression, then turned away.

‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

Her eyes darkened as she descended the stairs.

Alongside her remorse toward Abelia came a gnawing jealousy.

She found herself repugnant and loathsome.

Her steps grew so unsteady she seemed on the verge of collapse.

—— Page 3 ——

It was precarious, as if it might break at any moment.

“Karina, I’m sorry. Infrick has fallen from his horse, so I must hurry to the Academy. You’re a good daughter, so you understand, don’t you?”

“But today is Karina’s birthday….”

“Your brother might be injured.”

“What about Father…?”

“Your father has already gone to the Academy. Tell the butler about your birthday gift. We’ll have the party another time. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

Like a theatrical actor spotlit in darkness, Countess Leopold and little Karina emerged from the gloom, conversing together.

It was a story from her fourth birthday.

In the end, before the Countess could even hear Karina’s response that day, she hastily turned and left Leopold Manor. The young Karina could only stare blankly at her retreating figure.

The scene shifted in an instant.

“Wow, so tiny! Is this my little sibling?”

“Yes, Karina’s younger siblings. Now that you’re an older sister, you must take good care of them. Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

On the day her twin siblings were born, Karina was overjoyed.

She had never before witnessed adorable, precious babies squirming about.

She was happy. The thought of cute children toddling after her made her laugh.

But the moment the twins were born, all attention shifted to the newborn Abelia. She had been born with a frail constitution.

—— Page 4 ——

“No! This is mine! Mother made it for me…!”

The grip of the tiny crawling child’s fingers was so strong that Karina, robbed of her precious bear-shaped purse, stamped her feet in frustration.

When she tried to retrieve her possession from that clenched fist, it wasn’t what the little girl intended when her twin sibling tumbled over and burst into tears.

“Good heavens, Karina! What on earth are you doing? You’re supposed to be the older sister!”

“But… Ferden took my things….”

“You should give in to him. You’re the older sister! An older sister must be mature. That’s how your siblings learn by watching you. Just give it to Ferden. Won’t you be good, Karina?”

“….”

“Listen to me! Don’t throw a tantrum. How old are you anyway….

“If you don’t listen to me, I’ll tell Father and he’ll scold you severely.”

“I don’t like this….”

“Don’t act like a child.”

In the end, Countess Leopold snatched the purse from Karina’s hands. Ferden, holding it in his grasp, laughed with delight.

That purse was a precious gift her mother had made for her fourth birthday, which she had spent alone.

With eyes swollen red, Karina was forced to lend the purse to Ferden, who was crying pitifully.

After a long time had passed, it returned to Karina’s arms, worn and tattered.

The scene shifts again.

“…Mother, my head is spinning.”

“What? Oh dear, you have a fever. Abelia has also developed a fever, and the Physician is examining her now. I’ll ask him to see you after that. Let’s go to your room first.”

—— Page 5 ——

Come. Mother will take you there.

Yes.

After so long, I nestled into Mother’s embrace and quietly buried my face against her shoulder.

Rarely did Mother look directly into my eyes and hold me with such tenderness—her embrace was wonderfully warm, yet that happiness did not last long.

Madam, the Physician who came for the examination says he has something to explain regarding

Miss Abelia’s condition and requests that you come for a moment.’

Something is wrong? Very well, tell him I’ll be there shortly.

Countess Leopold set me down with an apologetic expression.

Karina, I’m sorry. I’ll call a maid to take you to your room to rest. Once I’ve finished, I’ll come find you with the Physician. You’re the elder sister, after all—

How could you possibly go alone?

…Couldn’t Mother take me instead?

You’re healthy, aren’t you?

Countess Leopold sighed at Karina’s petulance.

Your sister is more ill than you, so as the older sister, you must make a small sacrifice, Karina.

Everything was not centered around Karina.

What a good daughter you are.

Praise was given only when she suppressed what she truly desired.

Because she was the older sister with a sickly younger sibling, the elder sister with a troublemaking younger brother, the sister of an older brother living far away.

Affection was never hers to claim.

—— Page 6 ——

When she turned ten, I made a conscious effort to stop seeking anyone’s attention.

Instead, I developed a different sort of hobby.

Whenever I was alone, I would paint. Drawing lines and adding color brought vibrant images to life. Only then did a profound sense of fulfillment surge from within.

I was certain Karina didn’t even know that this ability was called a “miracle.”

And I was even more ignorant of the fact that such a power could

consume my very lifespan.

The Leopold Family had produced warriors for generations.

There was no one renowned in fields that could be called artistic. Naturally, artistic afflictions were uncommon maladies.

Had I been born into a family like the Atillen Family or the Kalos Family, which produced many exceptional artists, I would have naturally undergone such examinations.

But she could not.

She watched in astonishment as the butterfly she had drawn with all her might came to life, stepped off the canvas, and flew away.

The butterfly fluttered around the room for a moment before vanishing entirely. Young Karina rushed straight to her parents.

“Mother! Father! I… I drew a picture…!”

“Karina! Listen, Infrick won first place in the sword tournament held at the Academy

and it seems he will graduate early.”

“Oh… as expected of my brother! But Mother, I also drew a picture…”

She had meant to tell them how the butterfly flew from the painting, how amazed she was, and to ask them to look just once.

“A picture? Ah, you drew it well.”

—— Page 7 ——

Their gaze touched the canvas only briefly before drifting away.

Her drawing never reached the two of them, who read Infrick’s letter over and over again.

“By the way, Infrick is coming home this weekend, so I thought we might hold a small gathering. Abelia’s health has been quite good lately, and I’m delighted.”

“…”

The words that had lingered on young Karina’s tongue crumbled away into silence. The girl turned away.

As time passed and no one gave her any attention, Karina threw herself ever deeper into her art.

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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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