Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 146

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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 146
The Crown Prince reached out with trembling hands to grasp the tattered edge of his garment. I brought my hand, shimmering with jade light, to the exposed wound.
‘When treating others, I had to be so careful, but since it’s my own body, my mind feels at ease.’
I poured out divine energy infused with the concept of healing somewhat carelessly. The jade-colored light spread outward, enveloping the injured area, and the wound began to mend at a visibly rapid pace.
‘Wait, shouldn’t I heal the internal damage before the skin and visible wounds?’
In medical class, I learned that treating from the inside first prevents complications later. If I started from the outside, I could miss internal injuries.
‘At this location… well, I avoided the ribs, so I don’t need to worry about bones, and if there’s internal damage here… are the intestines okay? Wow, they’re not. This area is wounded too. Good thing I checked.’
I stopped treating the surface by spreading divine energy and instead pushed it inward into my body.
Rather than the previous method of carefully drawing out thin strands of divine energy and gently inserting them to treat all nearby wounds, I now anticipated where wounds might exist and inserted divine energy like inserting needles.
‘This way, I can minimize the damage that occurs when divine energy burrows in and creates new wounds.’
Divine energy, unlike the vital energy that Royal Physicians primarily use, isn’t a force close to nature but rather the powerful force of a ‘deity’ with a clear master, so when non-Shamans receive it, rejection occurs and internal injuries result.
Even Shamans, who are naturally vessels for containing divine energy, often suffer complications.
‘That’s why until now I’ve been crudely forcing it in, treating the wounds caused by rejection with divine energy infused with the concept of healing.’
But if I do it like inserting needles this way, I should be able to minimize the rejection of divine energy.
Learning even a little medicine is already proving helpful. Treating the interior before visible wounds is also a technique I learned in medical class.
‘Come to think of it, treating my own wounds isn’t much different from treating others’ wounds, is it? Wait, then could I practice healing on myself? Royal Physicians also mainly practice medicine on their own bodies.’
Treating my own injuries was far more comfortable and safer than treating another person’s. Moreover, my body is now an extremely large Shaman’s vessel, so there’s less rejection of divine energy, making it perfect for healing practice. Besides, since it’s my original body’s divine energy, there’s almost no rejection at all.
That doesn’t mean I should deliberately wound myself for practice, but I shouldn’t have to fear getting injured in the future either.
‘If I practice like this, eventually I might be able to heal wounds directly through the winged robe, right? Just like I imbued the winged robe with Ki-yeon’s divine energy to darken it, I could imbue it with healing divine energy too.’
When I eventually fight Doo-eok-sini, I hope no humans have to be sacrificed. So from now on, I’ll practice diligently and protect everyone. I won’t let anyone die.
‘Good, from now on I’ll think of injuries as opportunities to practice healing.’
I treated the surface burns and torn skin, and finished by restoring the muscle soreness throughout his body. For this, I just had to flow healing divine energy slightly into the meridians as if ‘healing’ fatigue.
This way, the healing divine energy affects the innate vital energy that everyone naturally possesses, so when the vital energy circulates through the body, the fatigue recovers. The affected healing power doesn’t last long and disappears quickly after one circulation, though.
‘Even what I learned from Ki Ho-cheol about inner energy and the Microcosmic Orbit is proving helpful this way. It’s worth learning anything.’
I gazed down at the completely vanished pain and cleansed skin with satisfaction, then looked up to find the Crown Prince crying.
Wait. Crying? Him?
“Your Highness?”
Oh, I decided to call him husband, but I panicked and the familiar title slipped out.
The Crown Prince remained motionless in the posture of holding my garment, his face drained of color as tears streamed down. He made no sobbing sounds, didn’t contort his face, just let the tears flow silently down his cheeks, gathering at his chin before dropping. His bloodshot eyes stared intently at where I had been injured.
“Husband, I’m fine. Look, it’s all healed. See how clean it is?”
I quickly showed him the perfectly restored area to comfort him. But even as he saw the healed skin, the Crown Prince continued to cry silently, so I reached out and cupped his cheek in my hand.
“I’m perfectly fine like this, so why are you crying? Are you still worried?”
“…Doesn’t it hurt?”
The Crown Prince asked quietly in a hoarse voice. I nodded emphatically to reassure him.
“It doesn’t hurt at all anymore!”
There was still some dizziness remaining, but my body had fully recovered and was fine. The Crown Prince stared blankly at my face, then placed his hand over mine that cupped his cheek and whispered weakly.
“I’m sorry.”
“Husband, what could you possibly be sorry for?”
“I promised to protect you, but I couldn’t do anything, and instead I ended up being protected by you.”
“That’s not your fault. Who could have predicted something like this? They’re the ones who are wrong.”
The Crown Prince didn’t seem to agree with my words. His hand, clasped over mine, had grown cold and trembled as if still gripped by fear.
“You’re alright, aren’t you? A moment ago, it seemed like you couldn’t breathe…”
“I’m perfectly fine. It’s you I’m concerned about. Because of me, I froze like an idiot…”
He was spiraling into unnecessary self-reproach, so I decided to change the subject. Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand.
“…First, could you dispel this darkness, my lord? I can’t see anything.”
“Oh.”
The Crown Prince looked up in alarm and glanced around. I felt his grip on my hand tighten slightly, but the darkness enveloping us remained utterly unmoved.
“It’s not working?”
“…No.”
The boy answered dejectedly.
I wasn’t particularly surprised—I’d suspected as much. The darkness would only recede if he felt joy and contentment, yet his hand continued to tremble uncontrollably in mine.
“What frightens you right now?”
“That you were…seriously injured.”
“It wasn’t that serious. Besides, I’m completely healed now, so there’s no need to be afraid.”
“But…you took such a massive explosion and were thrown through the air. Right in front of me, shielding me with your own body… you did that.”
His pupils dilated with terror as he studied me again. Perhaps he was reliving the moment I’d been sent flying—his breathing grew increasingly rapid. As his agitation intensified, the darkness around us rippled and churned.
He’d been more than ordinarily shocked. If he reacted this severely now, I dreaded what would happen if he learned that the protective charm had been completely shattered.
‘I’m grateful and proud that he cares so much about me…but I also feel sorry for him, and honestly, I’m worried about what comes next.’
Just as I’d grown fond of the Crown Prince, he’d clearly become deeply attached to me. I gently released his hand and rose to my feet.
“Look. I’m fine. Completely unharmed.”
“My lady!”
As I took a step forward, the Crown Prince hurried after me.
I moved toward the large glass lamp-like object that had been bothering me since earlier, lying among the corpses. But instead of receding, the darkness surrounding us surged forward as if to swallow me whole.
‘No, it’s not trying to swallow me…it seems more like it’s trying to embrace me.’
It didn’t penetrate, but as the darkness layered itself around me and swirled, my vision became pitch black. So dark that I could no longer see even the Crown Prince, who had been visible moments before.
‘This is serious. I can manage in this darkness because of who I am, but if anyone else were here, it would be catastrophic. The explosion was so massive that people will arrive soon…if I’m not careful, all our efforts so far will be for nothing.’
I reached out into the void and spoke.
“Take my hand, my lord. I can’t see anything.”
“What? Surely you didn’t lose your sight too…!”
“No, it’s because of your darkness, my lord.”
I chided him gently and waved my hand through the blackness.
“Won’t you take it?”
A cold hand touched my fingertips, then carefully grasped them. I squeezed back firmly and spoke.
“Holding hands like this brings back old memories.”
“…You mean when you were helping me learn to control the darkness?”
“Yes.”
It felt strange to call something from merely three years ago “old memories.” Three years in the Heavenly Realm had been but a blink of an eye, yet three years in the Mortal Realm felt so achingly long.
‘If I can make the Crown Prince smile like I used to, this darkness should calm down, shouldn’t it?’
But his hand was still trembling violently. How could I help him relax?
As I pondered this, a memory suddenly surfaced—how I’d once instantly transformed my father’s grimly serious expression into a beaming smile.
Would the Crown Prince like this as much as Father does?
Even if he doesn’t like it, he won’t hate it, will he? If he’s flustered, won’t that ease his tension? I need to do something about this darkness before anyone else arrives….
“The darkness still won’t settle, Your Highness?”
“I apologize. I’m trying my best, but troubling thoughts keep surfacing.”
I stepped closer to the Crown Prince, whose voice sounded strained.
“My lord.”
“My lady, please wait just a moment longer. I will manage somehow….”
The Crown Prince’s dejected voice came from above me. I reached up to find his cheek, wet with tears, and pulled it down toward me as I rose on my toes.
Then I kissed his cheek.
“Be strong, because I’m here with you!”
I smiled brightly and offered my encouragement. Would it help?

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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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