Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 104

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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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Chapter 104
“His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince nodded with evident delight, and I caught sight of the black-horn bow he held in his hand. I recalled our earlier conversation about that very weapon.
“When I turned eight, he told me it was time to have a real bow and gave me this black-horn bow as a gift.”
“He said that once I turned ten, we would go hunting together with it…”
Back then, he had gazed at that bow with an expression of resignation, but now he stood before me in his formal military attire as Crown Prince, holding it with pride.
A warm sense of satisfaction made my lips curve upward of their own accord.
“His Majesty has kept his promise to hunt together with you.”
At my words, the Crown Prince looked down at his bow, then turned his gaze back to me.
“Yes, it has come to pass just as you said, my lady.”
His cheeks flushed with unmistakable joy. Seeing the boy so happy made my own heart swell with contentment.
As I smiled along with him, the Crown Prince straightened his chest with pride.
“I shall bring back game with the finest fur. Winter approaches, and I must prepare a fur coat for you, my lady.”
“There’s no need to trouble yourself, Your Highness. I’m perfectly content as I am.”
When I shook my head, the boy’s expression faltered slightly.
“It seems you have little expectation of me. Perhaps you dislike furs?”
“No, it’s not that I dislike them. I’m simply worried you might get hurt, Your Highness.”
“This is an official hunting expedition organized by the military. There is nothing for you to worry about. You need only look forward to it with joy.”
“But this is your first hunt, Your Highness. You’re still so young.”
The thought of this child riding through the mountains on horseback, hunting—I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. I knew he was no ordinary boy, and I understood that a military-sanctioned event would be safe, but still… After witnessing him nearly die in battle against the Ten-Thousand-Man Snake, I couldn’t shake my anxiety.
“It doesn’t matter if you catch nothing at all. Please, just return safely without injury. That’s all that matters to me.”
“Hmm.”
The Crown Prince gazed at me with narrowed eyes, then released a small sigh.
“Seeing you worry about me troubles my heart and fills me with regret.”
“What? Why would that make you regret?”
“Because it means I have caused you much worry until now.”
“That’s…”
“It goes against my duty as your husband. From now on, I shall strive to make you feel secure rather than anxious about me.”
The Crown Prince, who had spoken with such dignified composure, suddenly broke into a mischievous grin.
“So please watch, my lady. I shall surprise you at this hunt!”
With a boyish laugh—no, a laugh befitting his youth—the Crown Prince seized his bow and dashed from the military camp with the swift grace of a deer.
‘…He actually laughed like that.’
I stood staring blankly at the doorway through which he’d vanished when An-si, who had been silent in the corner, let out a snort.
“For a mere human child to boast of surprising the Princess—how presumptuous! If the Princess were to be truly amazed, he’d need to hunt something like Gwang-chul.”
“Hey, why am I being dragged into this?”
Gwang-chul, who had been coiled around An-si’s wrist like a bracelet, protested indignantly. An-si silenced him by clamping his snout shut.
“Squeak!”
I regarded the small dragon flailing his tail with amusement and offered a quiet response.
“…But he’s cute, isn’t he?”
“What? You find that cute? Crown Princess, are you feeling unwell?”
An-si jumped in alarm, holding up the wriggling Gwang-chul to show me as she asked. I quickly shook my head.
“No, not him. I meant the Crown Prince.”
“….”
“Isn’t it cute how that little thing is so confident he’ll surprise me? I’m actually looking forward to seeing what he’ll hunt.”
“At best, he’ll probably just catch a rabbit. That’s about the level of a human child.”
“Catching a rabbit on his first hunt would be impressive!”
“…It seems Your Highness has been growing increasingly fond of that human lately. Weren’t you planning to stay only until his body fully matures? If you become too attached, it will be difficult when you leave later.”
“Hmm, well… I might not leave.”
If I successfully overcome the time limit as planned, there would be no need to leave, and then there was no reason I couldn’t continue being close with the little Crown Prince.
‘I originally planned to travel around once he grew up anyway.’
After living here a bit, it seemed there was no particular problem with experiencing the human world even as the Crown Princess. Once he grew up, I could travel around with the Crown Prince. That would probably be more fun than going alone.
As I shrugged my shoulders, An-si’s eyes widened.
“…That won’t do. The Jade Emperor ordered that Your Highness not become too close with that human boy….”
An-si turned pale and muttered something under her breath. What was she saying? It sounded like she just mentioned my mother.
“An-si, what did you just—.”
“Crown Princess, are you inside?”
A voice calling for me suddenly came from outside. It was the Queen’s voice.
“Yes, I’m here.”
I answered reflexively, and soon the Queen entered, pulling back the curtain at the entrance with a Lady-in-waiting.
Why had the Queen come to find me?
Confused, I had An-si bring tea and prepared a seat. After the Queen dismissed the Lady-in-waiting who had accompanied her, I sent An-si out as well, and we sat facing each other.
The Queen Mother of Yun Kingdom, Queen Sim U-yeon. The Crown Prince had inherited his ethereal appearance and larger stature from the King, but his deep, dark eyes like still water and his dignified bearing came from the Queen.
Sitting across from her like this, I could see how particularly the Crown Prince resembled her in his eyes and nose. His quiet, refined atmosphere was just like hers too.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t this the first time I’ve met alone with the Queen?’
Every time we met before, the Crown Prince was always with me. I even paid my respects with him.
Feeling awkward, I was fidgeting with my teacup when the Queen spoke first.
“You must have been surprised by this sudden visit.”
“Oh, no.”
“The King left for a hunt with the Crown Prince earlier. He should return in five days at the shortest, or perhaps ten days at the longest.”
The Queen took a sip of tea and continued.
“Thinking that I had nothing particular to do until his return, it occurred to me that the Crown Princess must be alone as well, so I came to visit.”
The Queen paused mid-sentence and playfully curved the corners of her eyes.
“In truth, I have always wished to have a daughter.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Your mother lives far away, does she not? I wish to fill that void here in her stead.”
The Queen, unaware that Seol Deung-hwa had officially passed away, looked at me with affectionate eyes. An expression of pride and love.
I relaxed my shoulders, which had been tensed with inner anxiety.
‘Ah, she really just came because she wanted to cherish me.’
The Crown Prince’s mother wanted to love me like a daughter—there was no reason to refuse. Besides, I wanted to grow close to her as well.
I smiled brightly and gave a cute little bow.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“There’s no need for thanks—it’s only natural for a mother-in-law and mother to do such things. Well then, ahem, yes.”
The Queen cleared her throat and glanced around before leaning in to whisper to me.
“Crown Princess, might I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course, please tell me.”
“…Would you let me braid your hair?”
“Pardon?”
“Crown Princess, if I had given birth to a daughter, there were so many adorable things I wanted to do. But instead, I ended up with only one son who’s been dignified since infancy….”
The Queen sighed deeply and looked at me with longing.
“My dream was always to personally braid my daughter’s hair beautifully with ribbons. Do you think I could try once?”
It was certainly an unexpected request, but there was nothing difficult about it. I nodded immediately.
“Of course. I’d be happy to.”
“Thank you!”
The Queen excitedly pulled a pouch from her sleeve. Out tumbled an ornate comb inlaid with mother-of-pearl and delicate silk ribbons—it was clear she’d been waiting for just this opportunity.
I turned around and offered my hair, and through the mirror, I could see the Queen’s cheeks flushed with excitement.
‘She’s rather endearing, isn’t she.’
Starting with that hair-braiding session, the Queen began visiting me every day. She brought embroidery frames and taught me needlework, suggesting we embroider together. She brought beautiful ornaments and clothes to dress me in, and homemade treats as well.
One day she brought string games, the next day a backgammon board, and later cloth dolls and toy kitchen sets—we even played house together.
Watching the grown Queen enjoy playing house even more than I did, I found myself thinking….
‘…How on earth did she survive all this time being so bored?’
The Queen clearly had a profound interest in these delicate pastimes. The toy kitchens, dolls, and game boards she brought were far from ordinary.
“These toy sets were actually…specially made and gifted to me by the King long ago.”
Hearing her speak with shy laughter, it seemed the King knew his wife’s tastes very well indeed. He’d gifted her an abundance of exquisitely crafted toys that looked like miniature versions of real dishes and cooking vessels.
“In the Central Palace Hall, there’s even a house where the dolls live. I’ve made clothes for the dolls myself. You must come see it next time.”
“Yes!”
I readily nodded at the Queen’s subtle invitation to visit the Palace again.
‘Honestly, it’s fun. I’ve been so busy all this time, and now I finally feel like I can rest.’
Playing with the Queen was quite enjoyable. It felt less like being with a mother and more like being with the immortal maidens of Sang Ra Palace. My own mother had been too busy to play like this with me.
‘I was planning to bring up the coming-of-age ceremony once we grew closer…but I’ll think about that after returning to the Palace. For now, let me just enjoy this.’
With that resolve, I played freely, and time at the hunting grounds passed quickly until it was nearly time for the King and Crown Prince to return.
“According to the messenger, they should arrive this afternoon.”
Today the Queen had brought jade jacks. Using playing with me as an excuse, she enthusiastically played the game before catching her breath and sipping tea.
“Crown Princess, shall we have lunch together and take a walk to greet them?”
“Yes, I’d love to!”
I nodded with a smile, and the Queen’s expression brightened with joy.
“Crown Princess, you truly are…a blessing from Heaven itself. That you healed the King, awakened me, and helped the Crown Prince—it’s already miraculous, and yet you’re so lovely besides…sniff.”
The Queen continued happily but suddenly made a retching sound.
“Ugh, urgh.”
“Your Majesty?”
Blood trickled between her fingers as she pressed her hand against her mouth, vivid crimson streaming downward.
Blood?
A chill ran down my spine and I shot to my feet.
“Your Majesty!”

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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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