Limited Extra Time - Chapter 75

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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 ——

“…What?”

“When Millaiyen is beside me, I feel at ease. Even when Millaiyen isn’t there, just being in Millaiyen’s manor… it feels safe.”

Carina Leopold didn’t understand how solid such a place could be.

Millaiyen seemed like someone who would protect her no matter what happened. There was a belief that even if something unfortunate befell her, he would come to rescue her.

“Of course, Millaiyen must find me troublesome.”

Carina Leopold spoke with a smile.

In the curve of her eyes, the softly drawn line of her lips—nowhere did regret or shadow appear.

“Why….”

“Pardon?”

“Why would you think I find you troublesome?”

Millaiyen asked, then called himself a contradiction.

It was he himself who had once told her outright that she was troublesome. Perhaps she still remembered it clearly, hadn’t forgotten it yet.

At first, it was certainly troublesome.

By rights, it should still be troublesome now. I dislike caring for others.

For Millaiyen, born in the Northern Territory and raised in its freedom and harsh ways, caring for someone was disagreeable.

Especially if that person required considerable attention.

That sentiment remained unchanged. Periel Kalos was still troublesome, and the various requests from nobles made me weary just to see them.

Burning the documents of those who thoughtlessly requested entry to the Northern Territory had become something I did without hesitation.

Among them, there was an exception—her. At some point, I became unable to dismiss her.

I stopped thinking it was bothersome. Instead, I found joy simply in seeing him by my side.

I had never once taken the initiative to care for someone.

But now? I reached out to a distant acquaintance for help, and I made certain that every Haron brought in this time belonged entirely to the Duke’s Estate.

In exchange, I did raise his wages more than usual, but even that didn’t feel wasteful.

Every single day I came to check if he was doing well.

—— Page 2 ——

Even while doing regular training, he found himself looking up at the Studio whenever it came to mind. He could say with certainty that this was something he had never experienced before. To the point of being flustered even now.

“I just thought… wouldn’t it be bothersome? Millaiyen and I have such different temperaments, after all.”

One sits all day painting, while the other moves about outside all day. Such completely different natures didn’t seem like they would be viewed favorably.

“And it’s obvious I’m causing him trouble. If he weren’t bothered, that would naturally be a lie.”

I had shown up without warning and thrust myself into his daily life without permission. For Millaiyen, it must have been an unavoidable choice. He was overflowing with responsibility, and besides, the Northern Territory was entering its closing season.

“It’s not bothersome.”

Even if he found it bothersome, there was nothing to be done about it.

Carina Leopold, who had been smiling with that thought, stopped moving at the sound of his voice.

“You are not bothersome to me. So feel free to bother me as much as you wish.”

I could only hope that was true. I hoped that if she desired something, she would tell me. I hoped that if she was in pain or distress, she would confide in me. If she wouldn’t speak unless asked, keeping everything locked away—that was the deepest wound to me.

“I don’t dislike you.”

Millaiyen’s large hand carefully covered Carina Leopold’s cheek. At the warmth that reached her, she slowly closed her eyes and reflexively rubbed her cheek against his hand. In this familiar exchange between us, the two of us gazed at each other in silence.

“Do you dislike me?”

I thought it was quite an amusing question.

Carina Leopold’s lips trembled as she fought back a smile, shaking her head. Not once had she ever disliked him.

“I’ve never disliked Millaiyen, not even once.”

And perhaps she never would. He was the only person she wanted to remember until the very end.

“You know there’s a banquet tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Yes, so that’s why tonight was a bit noisy.”

“Some guests arrived early. I’ve arranged quarters for them in the Separate Residence out back. You likely won’t run into them easily.”

She nodded at Millaiyen’s explanation. He smiled faintly and extended his hand toward her. Carina reflexively grasped his offered hand. Millaiyen’s eyes widened slightly.

“You grasp my hand without even asking what it is?”

“It’s your hand, Millaiyen.”

…

What was he to do with such blind faith? Millaiyen deliberately redirected his thoughts elsewhere, feeling an odd warmth in his lower abdomen. Every so often, he felt the urge to betray her blind trust in him—especially when she gazed up at him with such innocent eyes. He took a deep breath.

—— Page 3 ——

“Let’s go to the Lake I mentioned earlier.”

“Yes!”

“Bring whatever you need. If you’re planning to paint, bring your art supplies.”

Carina’s eyes widened at Millaiyen’s unexpected proposal.

She glanced around the Studio with sparkling eyes, then shook her head.

“Why not? It’s fine. We can load it in the carriage.”

“Well, I’d like it to be just the two of us today. I can sketch in my notebook instead…”

“Will that be enough?”

“Yes, if it’s beautiful, I’ll take it the second time we visit. Would that be alright?”

That assumed there would be a second visit, but Carina Leopold gazed steadily at Millaiyen.

Her eyes, now stripped of their golden gleam, were as brilliantly blue as the sea glimmering beneath sunlight.

Millaiyen nodded lightly as he beheld those eyes that threatened to pull him under.

“Of course. Whenever you wish.”

At his answer, Carina’s face brightened radiant with joy—so luminous one might ask what could possibly delight her so.

“I’ll prepare myself and come down.”

“Yes, and don’t forget to dress warmly.”

“I’ll do my best.”

She answered with surprising swiftness.

Millaiyen, regarding her hasty response with suspicion, left the room alongside Carina.

After showing her to her own chamber, Millaiyen stood in silence for a long moment, staring at her closed door.

“Oh…”

Carina found herself nestled between Millaiyen’s arms as he sat mounted upon the horse.

With each stride the beast took, wind whipped across her face, and she grimaced. Parched sand swirled through the air, catching in her eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, just some sand.”

Carina carefully rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

After blinking several times, the sand mercifully departed along with the tears her eyes had naturally produced, and the stinging sensation faded.

“Winter is drawing near quite rapidly, isn’t it?”

“Are you cold?”

“Yes, the Lake shouldn’t be frozen yet, should it?”

If it were completely frozen solid, that would certainly be a sight to behold—but I still wanted to see the Lake with its rippling waters.

In weather this bitter, living creatures would be scarce, yet it would still be beautiful.

“That Lake doesn’t freeze.”

At Millaiyen’s words, Carina Leopold’s eyes widened in surprise.

Where in the world could water exist that didn’t freeze?

The sea, one might think, rarely froze—yet even the seas at the edge of the Northern Territory were said to ice over at times.

—— Page 4 ——

“Water that doesn’t freeze exists? Is it like seawater?”

“The Northern Territory’s sea freezes too. But that Lake doesn’t.”

Millaiyen chuckled softly as he spoke.

His expression was that of a mischievous child, concealing something amusing and speaking in riddles.

When Carina Leopold narrowed her eyes with a pouty expression, he bent down and laughed quietly near her ear.

“Seeing it yourself will leave a far deeper impression than my words ever could.”

“…But I’m curious.”

“The greater the emotion you feel, the more beautiful your paintings become. For the sake of your art, I’ll hold my tongue.”

His generous praise was gratifying, yet somehow peculiar at the same time.

It was always like this when I heard Periel Kalos speak—being praised was such a strange sensation.

I remembered how others would show their joy openly on their faces when complimented.

Yet she felt a touch of embarrassment, an uncomfortable prickling sensation across her entire body. She lacked the confidence to express such profound emotion through mere expressions and words.

Sometimes, she even felt a hint of discomfort when receiving praise. It was ironic—to feel joy and discomfort simultaneously.

“By now, most of the Magical Beasts should have opened their eyes.”

“Why do Magical Beasts become active in winter rather than spring or summer?”

“Well, since this is the Northern Territory, winter might simply be a more convenient season for them to be active than spring, summer, or autumn.”

Millaiyen shrugged at Carina Leopold’s question and answered thoughtfully.

In truth, nothing had been definitively proven.

It was merely speculation—the Northern Territory had always been cold, and the Magical Beasts inhabiting this region likely found it more convenient to be active during the colder seasons than the warmer ones.

“How fascinating.”

“The Northern Territory has many fascinating tales connected to Magical Beasts.”

“Fascinating tales?”

“Yes, and the most famous among them concerns the Winter Mountain Range, which is called the End of Winter.”

At Millaiyen’s words, Carina Leopold’s eyes sparkled as she peeked her head forward with curiosity.

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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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