Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 110

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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 110
Until now, the Empire had been quiet while dealing with the aftermath of the late Emperor’s death, but now they’re seriously considering sending assassins?
‘Perhaps these envoys are just the beginning, and the Empire will continue to provoke us.’
How tiresome.
I sighed inwardly and spoke to the Toad Envoy with composure.
“Once the letter and portrait are ready, I’ll have the Guest House contact you. Now, off you go.”
“Y-Your Majesty.”
“I’ll accept your gifts graciously. Kim Sang-gung, please see our guests out.”
“Yes, Crown Princess.”
Kim Sang-gung bowed promptly.
The Toad Envoy’s face flushed and paled at the unmistakable dismissal.
What does he expect? This is my palace, and he had the audacity to speak of me as the Emperor’s beloved younger sister while being disrespectful here? Does your Emperor truly cherish me?
I stared at him with indifference, conveying this message, and the Toad Envoy’s cheeks trembled before he obediently rose from his seat.
“…Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty.”
His words carried a sharp edge.
Regardless, the moment Kim Sang-gung left with the envoys, I quickly retrieved the lacquered box.
An-si, who had been dozing, suddenly came to her senses and stared at me blankly.
“Princess, why are you taking out the Three-Time Messengers again?”
“I’ve found a use for them.”
I approached the window, stood on my toes, and opened it slightly. I could see the Toad Envoy descending into the courtyard with irritable movements.
“Sang-si, see that toad-like human down there? Go into his head.”
A translucent butterfly with trembling antennae fluttered through the window. I confirmed that Sang-si had entered the Toad Envoy’s mind, then closed the window.
“Now, let’s see what schemes they’re planning.”
* * *
The Ping Empire Envoys returned to the Guest House and immediately locked the doors to begin an emergency meeting.
“The Princess has changed considerably.”
“Indeed. She was clearly just a child who couldn’t even speak properly, but what happened in just one year…?”
“How are we supposed to take away a Princess who refuses us so openly?”
“If only the Chief State Councillor of Yun hadn’t changed…”
“The previous one was favorable to the Empire.”
“Now that I think about it, they say the previous Chief State Councillor was actually a demon.”
“Yes, and the Princess played a decisive role in exposing his true identity.”
“The King of Yun also seems to have completely recovered from his madness, just as the rumors suggested.”
“That was also thanks to the Princess…”
“I’ve heard that many people in Yun were cured of their madness by herbal remedies the Princess provided.”
“There are also rumors that since the Princess began serving a great deity called the Princess, she’s been providing enormous help to the supernatural beings of Yun Kingdom…”
“Support for the Princess runs deep in Yun Kingdom. Despite being only ten years old, she’s already an established Crown Princess…”
The envoys’ faces darkened as they laid out the information they’d gathered.
“At this point, we can say the current Princess is a different person from the one we knew.”
“Given how much attention the Princess is receiving, it seems difficult to take her away by force.”
“Well, we could just kidnap her….”
“If the Princess suddenly disappears, they’ll know it was us. How do you plan to handle the aftermath?”
“…What if we pressure the King of Yun to return the Princess?”
“Have you already forgotten what happened when you faced the King? The current King is a man who does not fear the Empire’s name.”
“The King of Yun has been arrogant since his coronation. He calls the Empire’s gentle advice interference in internal affairs, and whenever we offer him an opportunity to serve the Empire, he flatly refuses.”
“For a time, the King was mad and out of his mind, and since the Chief State Councillor was on our side, it was easy to meddle in Yun’s affairs… but now, ordinary pressure won’t work at all.”
“Then what do you suggest? That we give up and return empty-handed?”
The envoys exchanged glances at the words spilling from the toad-like man’s mouth. Then one of them cautiously opened his mouth.
“The Emperor’s original command to us was to spy on Yun Kingdom. We were to investigate the circumstances of how Se-ru-hwa encountered a fox demon in Yun, discover why our previously sent spies have gone silent, and learn what changes have occurred in Yun.”
“…In the end, Se-ru-hwa the Princess is connected to all of those matters, so wasn’t the Emperor’s command to bring the Princess to Pyeong?”
“Haven’t we learned much this time? The events that occurred after the Princess became Crown Princess, the incident where Se-ru-hwa treated the Queen, and the circumstances of the Chief State Councillor—who had been helping our spies—falling from power.”
“Hmm.”
“So wouldn’t it be sufficient to return with this information and the Princess’s letter? We have done our best.”
“The Emperor commanded us to bring the Princess, and you speak of returning empty-handed?”
“It’s not empty-handed! We have so much information—”
“Can you make that excuse to the Emperor yourself?”
The speaker’s complexion turned ashen, and his frightened eyes darted about frantically.
“That is….”
“If we cannot return with the Princess, our severed heads will all hang at the Imperial Palace’s Main Gate.”
“Ah, no matter how cold the Emperor is said to be, surely he wouldn’t go that far….”
“Do you truly believe there’s no possibility of that? Have you all forgotten what happened at the first court ceremony after the Emperor’s coronation?”
At those words, several men covered their mouths as if feeling nauseous. Some began trembling violently, while others stared downward with ashen, lifeless faces.
“…If we are to survive, we must bring the Princess to Pyeong by any means necessary.”
At this heavy declaration, one of the envoys swallowed hard and opened his mouth.
“Then what about this approach? Instead of targeting the Princess, we target the Crown Prince of Yun.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Wasn’t Yun’s Crown Prince the ‘Black-Calamity Prince’ who drove those around him mad and to death? We can seize upon that point and insist that we’re concerned for the Princess’s safety, so we’ll take her to Pyeong whether Yun agrees or not.”
“Ho. You mean to establish justification?”
“After all, this nation is but a petty kingdom compared to the Empire. If we have a plausible pretext, they won’t be able to stop us from taking the Princess.”
“Indeed, if we have such justification, even if Yun refuses to hand over the Princess, we can simply kidnap her and take her. What can Yun say when the Empire is protecting its own Princess?”
“Exactly! Once we somehow prove that the Crown Prince is dangerous, we can immediately depart with the Princess. The warriors of such a petty kingdom could never stand against our Empire’s warriors.”
“The problem is finding a way to prove the Crown Prince’s danger.”
“It won’t be easy. We’ve heard rumors of the Yongryong Ceremony… whether a dragon actually descended or not, it seems we can no longer make people distrust the Crown Prince with ordinary means.”
“Actually, I have a decent idea. Among our guards, if we use a few of them….”
After that, the meeting continued late into the night.
* * *
Now that Jamnyong Hall was operating normally again, the Crown Prince had no need to come all the way to Unyeon Hall to dine with me. He could simply take his meals separately at Jamnyong Hall. Yet somehow it had become a habit, and the Crown Prince still came to Unyeon Hall without fail for his meals.
As soon as the attendants set out the morning meal and withdrew, the Crown Prince asked with concern.
“My lady, did you perhaps lose sleep last night?”
“Pardon? Oh.”
He’s probably acting like this because I’ve had my eyes half-closed since morning, drooping about listlessly.
I mumbled drowsily.
“It’s just that there are those who don’t sleep and scheme all night long….”
“Pardon? A scheme, you say?”
“Mm… it’s nothing serious, Your Highness needn’t worry. I’ll stop them… *yawn*.”
I couldn’t help but yawn. Those damned Toad Envoy and Pyeong Envoys held their conference until the sun rose this morning, and I hadn’t slept a wink watching over them—I was dying of exhaustion.
Half-asleep, I rubbed my eyes and barely managed to pick up my spoon without even noticing the Crown Prince’s reaction.
Then, without warning, my head began to nod forward before something soft caught me. It was the Crown Prince’s hand.
“My lady, you seem fatigued. Why not rest a while longer and eat later?”
“Perhaps I should…?”
I answered blankly, and suddenly I was lifted. The Crown Prince carried me to the bed and laid me down, offering his thigh as a pillow instead.
“Ah… Your Highness?”
“You need only rest a moment. It would be troublesome to summon the attendants to remake the bedding.”
Along with his gentle voice came the sensation of his hand stroking my head. So exhausted was I that my eyes grew heavy before I could even protest.
Right after closing my eyes, the Crown Prince whispered in a soft voice.
“My lady, what scheme are you trying to prevent this time?”
“Mm… those Pyeong Envoys dare to….”
“They intend to move against me?”
“Yes… Your Highness is in danger, they claim such nonsense… truly infuriating… I’ll stop them, Your Highness will be fine… you needn’t know….”
“…So now I finally understand completely what you meant when you said you dislike it when someone hides something under the pretext of it being for your own good.”
“Mm, yes…?”
“This time, just as during the fire, you intend to….”
His quiet, calm voice and tender caresses continued, and I could resist no longer. I fell asleep before he could finish speaking.
* * *
I opened my eyes suddenly to find myself beneath the blankets. Startled, I sat up, and An-si, who had been sitting beside me, brightened.
“Your Highness, you’ve awakened?”
“How long did I sleep?”
“You slept very soundly, Your Highness. The sun is now at its zenith.”
I needed to prepare for those Empire Envoys’ scheme, yet I’d simply slept through it.
I pressed my forehead and asked.
“Where is the Crown Prince?”
“That human boy said to lay out fresh bedding for Your Highness, then left.”
The situation just before I fell asleep came back to me. No matter how exhausted I was, I’d actually fallen asleep resting my head on that boy’s thigh….
‘…I really have grown comfortable with him, haven’t I.’
Surely I didn’t drool on him?
I hastily wiped my mouth. Fortunately, it seemed I hadn’t drooled.
Still, it felt like I’d said something about the scheme to the Crown Prince while half-asleep. I don’t think I revealed the details, and he’s not the type to act recklessly, but….
‘I should find the Crown Prince first.’

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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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