Limited Extra Time - Chapter 51

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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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It was an ordinary corridor, the kind one might expect to see anywhere.

“It was me.”

At Carina Leopold’s belated addition, Periel Kalos’s brow furrowed.

When he cast a displeased glance her way, Carina Leopold quickly turned her head away.

“I wish you had mentioned that beforehand.”

“I never expected you to open it.”

Carina Leopold scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed.

“I’ve always wandered alone, so I never imagined anyone would open it.”

Carina Leopold added her excuse in response to Periel Kalos’s displeasure.

Periel Kalos, observing her profile as she shrugged, slowly surveyed the room.

“It’s quite different from a typical young lady’s chamber.”

“What is a typical young lady’s room like?”

“Well, it’s as I understand it to be. Lace everywhere, curtains and beds in various colors, and decorative items scattered throughout.”

Periel Kalos slowly laid out his answer as he knew it. Carina Leopold shrugged.

She had never been invited to anyone’s home, so she’d never had the chance to see other young ladies’ rooms or different manors.

“I wouldn’t know. My family always made me care for my younger brother, so all my friends eventually drifted away.”

Carina Leopold spoke matter-of-factly, her hand resting on the windowsill. Periel Kalos seemed to realize his misstep and hastily fell silent.

Her dry voice no longer carried the sting of fresh wounds, yet the bitterness cut through with a sharpness that was almost painful.

“…I wish I could have made friends too. It’s a shame.”

Because that’s something I could never do before death.

“How can you say such things right in front of me?”

“Pardon?”

“We’ve exchanged names and traveled together—by this point, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

“…Is that so?”

Was that truly all it took to become friends—an exchange of names and a journey together?

Besides, we’ve only crossed through a single door. Calling it a journey seemed generous; perhaps “outing” would be more accurate.

“Yes, of course. We can confide in each other now, so we’re friends.”

“…I don’t know how to make friends. What am I supposed to do once we are?”

“Nothing in particular. Friends are people you can lean on when things are difficult, confide in when you have worries, and go places with. That’s what friendship is.”

Periel spoke with a smile.

In truth, he himself had only one person he could call a friend—Millaiyen, though “rival” might be more accurate than “friend.”

Neither Periel nor Millaiyen possessed particularly pleasant dispositions.

“Then… I suppose.”

Carina Leopold paused, considering.

Making friends through conventional means was impossible for her. Time was slipping away, and his proposal might be the best option available.

“Then, shall we…?”

“Of course, Carina Leopold.”

Periel Kalos grasped her hand and shook it gently up and down.

At that light touch, Carina Leopold

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I blinked vacantly like a cow before letting out a soft laugh.

Yes, I look forward to working with you.

She replied, clasping Periel’s hand in hers.

…But Periel.

Yes?

It’s just simple curiosity, but how do you know where the other young ladies’ rooms are?

Now that I thought about it, something seemed rather odd.

It was amusing, really—Periel shouldn’t have known such a thing. After all, he was a man, and unless he were my Fiancé, there was no way he could enter another young lady’s room.

…Hmm.

Periel offered a harmless, radiant smile while quietly pressing his lips together.

…

A heavy, meaningless silence settled between us.

I was simply invited to the ladies’ tea time, so please don’t harbor any misunderstandings.

…Yes, I see.

Carina Leopold replied with a lukewarm expression, her tone remarkably composed.

Though she seemed far from convinced, when Periel shrugged his shoulders, she gracefully shifted the conversation to another topic.

I was thinking of leaving the letter here—when do you think they’ll find it?

Doesn’t the cleaning staff come every day?

…I wish they did.

Thinking of the dust accumulated on the windowsill and the faint musty odor drifting through the room, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that the letter would take an extraordinarily long time to reach him.

But where is the letter? You didn’t forget it, did you?

I wrote it yesterday and brought it with me.

Carina Leopold patted her chest to show me, answering my question. Even though I’d written only what was necessary and kept it as brief as possible, it had ended up being slightly more than one page.

If I don’t state it clearly, I feel like I’ll never know for certain. Even so, I’m not sure how much of it will actually reach his ears.

You’re planning to leave it somewhere else?

Yes, ideally I’d like to just leave it in the Study, but…

With so many servants working in Leopold Manor, it was nearly impossible to move about without being noticed.

Besides, it’s not a relationship where seeing each other face-to-face would be beneficial.

Then let’s do it that way.

That would be ideal, but there are so many people working in the Manor… What are you doing…?

Periel Kalos confidently unwrapped the cloth surrounding the flute he’d brought and brought it to his lips.

Ah, Carina Leopold. Could you open the window a bit for me? I think I might be able to help.

Periel Kalos spoke with a cheerful smile, his expression seeming oddly delighted.

I’m not sure what she was so excited about, but Carina Leopold obediently opened the window halfway.

Periel Kalos opened the door slightly, then brought the flute to his lips once more.

Carina Leopold, cover your ears.

…Pardon?

Quickly now.

He spoke with the innocent, childlike expression of a young boy. From his waist, he began to sw

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Her beautiful silver hair gleamed beneath the cascading sunlight.

She hesitantly raised her hands, pressing both palms firmly against her ears to block out the sound.

“Good, well done.”

In Carina Leopold’s vision, she could see Periel Kalos with only his lips moving.

Soon, Periel Kalos faced her directly, smiled softly, and breathed into the flute.

A gentle melody began to spread slowly through Leopold Manor. The tune seeped through the slightly ajar windows and door cracks,

gradually enveloping the entire manor.

Carina Leopold stared blankly at Periel Kalos, who was gazing directly at her.

In his pale gray eyes, a golden shimmer bloomed, and gradually it pushed aside all other colors, taking root in their place as it slowly expanded its domain—that wondrous sight.

She had never once seen herself when painting or when her eyes turned golden… yet somehow, she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from those eyes.

The golden irises were beautiful.

Like golden dust scattered by someone’s hand, the shimmering aura bloomed and gradually expanded its territory.

Carina Leopold’s initially bewildered expression gradually settled.

Her gaze was fixed solely on Periel Kalos’s eyes. He gazed at his own reflection in her pupils.

‘…I never expected to be captivated by eyes rather than a face.’

I’ve seen many people lose themselves staring at my face, but I never thought someone would get stuck in my eyes like this.

Though the color was unique, his exceptional beauty meant few ever praised his eyes specifically.

He was certain. She was now regarding his eyes as a work of art. At the turbulent feeling rising within, Periel Kalos smiled.

Periel Kalos knew that she was now viewing him as

I realized she was viewing me as a ‘masterpiece.’ And the thought that I might soon see myself through the tips of her fingers made laughter escape unbidden.

The music I drew forth crescendoed ever higher. Carina Leopold read the music that resonated throughout Leopold Manor in the depths of his eyes.

The golden light in his irises that shifted subtly with each note of his music.

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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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