Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 120
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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 120
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When I returned to my seat, the Crown Prince greeted me with an anxious expression.
“Where did you suddenly go? You startled me.”
“I’m sorry. I had something to tell that Shaman, so I followed her for a moment.”
“What could you possibly have needed to tell her…?”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince’s awkward question was cut short by Baek Tam-sol approaching us.
“…Did the two of you venture out incognito together?”
Baek Tam-sol, who had been about to call me over, felt the curious gazes of those around us and lowered her voice considerably. Her eyes trembled noticeably as she seemed to recognize who the boy beside me was.
“Yes, we came out together.”
“There are many eyes watching. Would you prefer to move to a private room?”
She glanced around before making the suggestion. I shook my head.
“No, you must be busy with the cleanup after the Ha-si ritual. We should be going now.”
“What could be more urgent than seeing the two of you?”
“I only intended to watch briefly anyway. Now that I’ve seen your dance, that’s more than enough.”
“But there is so much I wish to thank you for, and so many questions I have….”
Baek Tam-sol fidgeted with her folded fan. True enough. She must have plenty to ask.
‘Setting aside the matter of the Straw God Plan for now… I should explain the basics about my divine power and divine artifacts, but this isn’t the place to discuss such things in someone else’s home.’
I shook my head slightly.
“I’ll explain everything in detail when you visit next time.”
“…I understand. Then this….”
“I’ll continue lending it to you for now. Please keep it for the time being.”
If I stayed any longer, Baek Tam-sol would be unable to accomplish anything because of us, so I quickly rose from my seat. The Crown Prince, quick to read the mood, stood as well and spoke.
“Then we shall take our leave. Thank you for showing us such a beautiful dance.”
“Y-yes, it was an honor.”
Baek Tam-sol bowed hastily. The Crown Prince led me across the celebration grounds. Ki Ho-cheol and An-si quietly followed behind us.
After leaving the Zelkova House, I let out a small sigh.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Pardon?”
“Because of me, you couldn’t properly enjoy the celebration and had to leave. The real festivities must be just beginning….”
“What are you saying? Thanks to you, I witnessed something truly precious. I was genuinely moved.”
The Crown Prince seemed deeply affected by Baek Tam-sol’s dance. That’s right—it was a dance worthy of such emotion.
‘It was at a level that would earn recognition even in the Heavenly Realm.’
I was suppressing the urge to feel proud that I had discovered such a genius, when the Crown Prince added with an animated expression.
“Indeed, the tutor you personally selected is truly exceptional. Your discernment is remarkable.”
…The shoulders I was barely holding down began to rise again. How does he always know exactly what to say?
Delighted, I linked my arm through the Crown Prince’s and hung onto him.
“Your Highness, let’s visit the South Market on our way back!”
“Pardon?”
“The South Market! It’s not often we get to leave the Palace like this, so let’s see it while we’re out! It’s still broad daylight!”
I quickened my pace while dragging the bewildered Crown Prince along. Behind us, Ki Ho-cheol spoke with a strangely pleased tone.
“It’s dangerous, Your Highness. Please don’t run.”
“Crown Princess’s Palace! You’ll trip!”
Even An-si chimed in with her nagging. I called back without turning around.
“It’s fine. If I start to fall, Your Highness will catch me anyway!”
“…!”
The Crown Prince stumbled along beside me as if his soul had left his body. What’s wrong with him? Does he not want to see the market?
“Your Highness, do you perhaps not wish to go? If you’re tired, we can return to the Palace right away.”
“No, no. I’m perfectly fine, and I very much want to go. Let’s hurry, my Lady.”
The Crown Prince answered urgently and began walking with longer strides. Since my stride was shorter than his, I had to quicken my pace to keep up. Why was he suddenly in such a rush?
‘Ah, this must be his first time seeing a market outside the Palace too. That’s why he seems secretly excited.’
I’m incredibly excited as well. A human market—something I’ve only ever glimpsed through the lens of a far-seeing mirror.
‘Will it be even more bustling than that feast earlier? There must be so many fascinating things.’
I’d deliberately brought some coins with me. I wanted to buy things myself. After all, I’d never actually spent money to purchase anything in either the Heavenly Realm or the Mortal Realm.
‘I want to receive change, and I want to haggle!’
Brimming with anticipation, I stepped into the South Market.
The entrance was already bustling. On both sides of the wide alley, shops displayed their wares outside. Beneath the eaves were wooden stalls, and in empty spaces stood rows of street vendors, with several large tents visible as well. Amidst the cacophony of voices, the sounds of flutes and janggu drums echoed through the air.
On one side, people haggling over the exchange of cloth and grain were bickering loudly, while on the other, someone was negotiating repair fees with a craftsman for farm tools.
In the distance, I could see a troupe of wandering performers walking a tightrope, and nearby, a storyteller was reciting a tale, cutting off at a perfectly dramatic moment to collect coins and cheers from the eager crowd.
‘Wow, it’s really chaotic.’
I came here excited, but it’s more overwhelming than I expected. I felt a little nervous about stepping into the throng of strangers.
As I froze at the entrance of the South Market, a taffy vendor passed right in front of me. I stared blankly at his large clicking scissors and the wooden board filled with white taffy, when suddenly the Crown Prince moved.
“One taffy each for us.”
“Oh my, thank you so much!”
The taffy vendor, grinning like a mask, skillfully cut off one piece of taffy for each of us with his scissors. Glancing at our clothing, he wrapped the ends of the taffy neatly in paper before handing them over.
“It seems young siblings have come out to enjoy the market.”
“We’re not siblings—we’re husband and wife.”
The Crown Prince immediately corrected the vendor’s assumption and handed me my taffy first. The taffy vendor blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter.
“Oh my, this country fellow has no eye for such things! So you’re a young couple married early! My apologies—please take another piece!”
The taffy vendor quickly cut off another piece and offered it.
I accepted it somewhat awkwardly, then turned to look at An-si and Ki Ho-cheol. When Ki Ho-cheol shook his head, I placed the taffy in An-si’s eager, curious hands.
“Is this… Yun taffy? It looks different! How fascinating!”
This little chick almost said Mortal Realm. Still, she’s become more accustomed to human life now—she corrected herself and said Yun properly.
In the meantime, the Crown Prince must have paid. The taffy vendor bowed repeatedly as he departed.
‘When did he get coins? Did he prepare in advance since we were going outside the Palace?’
This little one is far too prepared. I let my eyebrows droop slightly.
“Your Highness paid for that?”
“Yes, of course… Why do you ask, my Lady?”
“I wanted to buy something myself… I told the Nains and deliberately brought coins for that reason.”
“Ah.”
I spoke with a sullen tone, and the Crown Prince’s lips twitched.
“I apologize, my lady. I failed to understand your feelings.”
“You’re holding back laughter right now, aren’t you?”
“I was not laughing.”
“That’s the same as saying it’s funny!”
“It’s not funny—you’re adorable.”
The small child with a covered mouth pointed toward the stalls with wide, rounded eyes.
“Let’s go over there. It appears they’re selling accessories and trinkets, so there might be something worth purchasing for you, my lady.”
“Hmm….”
It was across the street. There were far too many pedestrians. I had no confidence in squeezing through, and I feared brushing against these unfamiliar strangers.
‘I feel like I’ll get trampled if I go over there.’
As I hesitated, the Crown Prince tilted his head and seemed to understand something.
“It’s alright, my lady.”
The Crown Prince gently took my hand and wove through the constant stream of passersby. The boy navigated the dense crowd with natural ease, flowing between the tightly packed bodies like water through narrow stones.
Simply following the Crown Prince, gaps appeared and paths opened before us. We slipped between the people without colliding with anyone and stood directly before the stalls.
I opened my eyes wide and looked up at the Crown Prince.
“How did you just do that?”
“Once before… I unconsciously slipped through a group of military officers. After that, I practiced until I could do it deliberately.”
“Wow, that’s amazing, your—”
The Crown Prince gently covered my mouth with the edge of his sleeve just as I habitually began to use an honorific. Then he gestured with his eyes toward the stall owner who was glancing at us and whispered.
“You mustn’t call me that right now.”
“Oh.”
It wasn’t something to tell An-si about. I had almost made a mistake. I tilted my head.
“Then what should I call you?”
The Crown Prince fell silent for a moment, then answered with a smile.
“Don’t you already know, ‘my lady’?”
“…my lord?”
The Crown Prince’s smile froze on his face as he suddenly turned away. I could see his ears turning red in real time.
‘He calls me my lady without fail, yet when I call him my lord, he suddenly becomes shy about it.’
Finding this amusing, I deliberately emphasized it even more.
“Why are you like that, my lord? Is the title of my lord embarrassing to you? But you are my lord, so it’s strange that my lord would be embarrassed to be called my lord….”
My mouth was covered by his sleeve again. The Crown Prince glared at me with a flushed face.
“Don’t tease me, my lady.”
“Because you’re adorable. You were laughing at me earlier too, my lord.”
“I was not laughing.”
“Liar. I saw the corners of your eyes crinkle.”
“Hey, you little bride and groom! Save the lovey-dovey stuff for home—are you buying something or not?”
A gruff voice interrupted. It was the stall owner. I quickly turned my gaze toward the stalls.
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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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