Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 74

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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 74
[I’m not entirely certain. I’ve lived nearly a thousand years and witnessed countless demons, but this was the first time I felt something like that… The moment I saw it, I sensed something so overwhelmingly terrifying that I knew for certain I would die if I stayed.]
Seok-juk shuddered once more before continuing.
[I fled the instant we encountered each other, but the moment that creature ordered me to bring it back, demons erupted from all directions. That creature was the leader of all those grotesquely abundant demons infesting the Pyeong Imperial Palace.]
“So everything after that matches what I witnessed yesterday.”
[Yes. I’ve never seen so many demons gathered together—each one powerful enough to govern an entire mountain—all obeying the commands of another demon. It was unprecedented.]
Seok-juk added gravely.
[Something terrifying is unfolding within the Pyeong Imperial Palace. I would strongly advise caution.]
“You and your kind need to be more careful than I do in Yun Kingdom. Where are you now?”
[Near Gangang-seong, in the foothills.]
I unfolded a map and gauged Seok-juk’s location.
“To reach Yun Kingdom, it would be fastest to head to the Harbor and take a ship. So….”
[Ah, about that.]
Seok-juk glanced briefly at Seol Deung-hwa, who slept peacefully against his side, oblivious to the world, before turning back to me.
[It seems I’ll need to remain in the Empire a while longer.]
“In Pyeong? Why?”
The original plan was to flee the Imperial Palace safely and come to Yun Kingdom. I intended to hide in Yun, rest thoroughly, and contemplate what to do next. Then, once sufficient time had passed and “Lady Seol” faded from the world’s memory, I could live freely as I wished.
Seok-juk hesitated before answering.
[It appears you have something you wish to accomplish, my lady.]
“That’s welcome news, but… is it something that can only be done in Pyeong? If I encounter someone who knows ‘Lady Seol,’ it could be dangerous.”
[It’s something that can only be done in Pyeong.]
The large fox released a sigh like a human would.
[The Xue Tribe members who survived as slaves have been scattered and sold throughout the Empire.]
“…!”
[You haven’t shown it openly, but… you continue to concern yourself with the other Xue Tribe members. You were the chieftain’s daughter, after all. It seems you feel a sense of responsibility.]
“So Seol Deung-hwa wants to rescue the surviving Xue Tribe members. Now that I think about it, it’s an entirely natural desire.”
Perhaps if my thirst for vengeance against the Emperor had been less consuming, when I asked what she wanted me to do, she wouldn’t have asked me to save the other Xue Tribe members.
[I wish to help you rescue the enslaved Xue Tribe members throughout the Empire. But… does this also count as part of my duties as your guardian?]
Seok-juk asked carefully, gauging my reaction. Understanding his concern, I answered readily.
“Of course. It’s more than worthy of earning merit points. Don’t worry and proceed with it.”
[…! Thank you! Thank you so much!]
Seok-juk’s ears perked up excitedly as he bobbed his head.
“Be careful, and contact me immediately if anything happens. Take good care of Seol Deung-hwa.”
[I will protect her with my life!]
“Oh, and….”
I reflected on Seok-juk’s account before asking.
“That white-haired demon you encountered—did you notice anything else about it? Any distinguishing features?”
A fox demon like Seok-juk, nearly a thousand years old, had been terrified at first sight. The fact that I couldn’t identify it troubled me. Moreover, such a creature was controlling the human Imperial Palace and commanding other demons like an army?
‘Should I inform Mother and Father? Or do they already know?’
They know everything beneath the heavens and above the earth, so it’s unlikely they wouldn’t know. Still, I posed the question out of caution, and Seok-juk’s expression grew contemplative.
[There was something unusual about it… Now that I think about it, just before being discovered, that demon was having a conversation with someone.]
“What kind of conversation?”
[‘Is it another nation of those hat-wearers? How tedious.’… That was the feeling I got. I’m not certain about the other words, but the phrase ‘hat-wearers’ was so distinctive that I remember it clearly.]
“Hat-wearers?”
What could that mean? Kim is the most common surname in Yun Kingdom, so it does sound like someone from Yun, but “hat” is a strange thing to attach to a name, and adding “wearers” to a name is also odd. Could it be a nickname rather than an actual name?
[I’ve never heard that word before either, so I’m not sure.]
“Still, it’s such an unusual phrase that it might become a clue. Thank you.”
[No problem! I’ll contact you from time to time!]
With Seok-juk’s respectful bow, the connection between the fox orbs severed.
* * *
Once the sun had fully risen and morning arrived, I dressed in my training clothes and headed to the Gyebang Training Grounds. It was for the breathing exercises I practiced every morning.
‘This isn’t even that difficult, and when it’s done, I feel refreshed and healthy. I like that.’
Of course… with my clumsiness and complete lack of dexterity causing all my other classes to fail, the fact that I was succeeding at this and receiving praise for my good progress made me want to continue.
An-si followed behind me, carrying water and a towel, grumbling.
“You collapsed during breathing exercises, and the moment you woke up, you’re going to do breathing exercises again? This An-si cannot understand it.”
“My collapse has nothing to do with the breathing exercises. It was because of my original body.”
“An-si was so startled seeing the princess collapse that she nearly died. Everyone there was shocked too, so if the princess does the same training again, won’t they all panic and try to stop you?”
“Surely not. I already made a good excuse that it was just Xue Tribe growing pains.”
I laughed off An-si’s concerns and asked about something I’d forgotten.
“By the way, where did Gwang-chul go? I don’t see him.”
“He said he was going to meet with the goblins and I sent him off.”
“Huh? Goblins?”
Goblins are unique creatures that exist somewhere between demons and spirits. They’re spirit-like beings born when natural energy settles into old objects over time, but they’re obsessed with pranks, wagers, and games—so much so that they sometimes cause accidents just as bad as demons do.
“Why would he meet with goblins?”
“After seeing the princess collapse, he said the goblins had something that might help you, so he went to get it.”
“…What?”
While goblins are skilled craftsmen and good at making mysterious objects, for them it’s all just play or pranks—you can’t commission them like you would real artisans. There’s a very high chance that what you get will be something that only looks impressive on the surface, with some kind of trick or surprise hidden inside, making it unusable. What could he possibly borrow from goblins?
Wait, and hold on.
“An-si, do you know why Gwang-chul caused that accident before when he started a wildfire in the Mortal Realm?”
“That was because he stole goblin liquor and ate it, and fire came out of his mouth… Oh!”
Realizing belatedly what she had just permitted, An-si jumped up in place.
I let out a long sigh.
“When did he leave?”
“Four days ago….”
“If he doesn’t come back by a week, you’ll have to go catch him.”
“When that water serpent returns, I’ll break his legs clean off and pluck out his whiskers to tie him up!”
“Hmm… He might actually bring back something genuinely helpful, so let’s wait a bit longer.”
I arrived at the training grounds while soothing the frustrated An-si.
“…!”
Sa Young-jun, who was already there, rushed toward me the moment he saw me, his expression grave, and bowed deeply.
“I was a fool.”
“Hm?”
“Health is extremely important and one must always be careful and mindful of it. The Crown Princess was right to worry about your body. Since the Crown Princess is not healthy at all, she must worry even more.”
“…No, I’m healthy. It’s true I should worry less.”
“No matter how foolish I am, I cannot believe that someone who coughs up blood and collapses is healthy.”
“That wasn’t because I was sick or had an illness—it was something like growing pains.”
“What are growing pains?”
“Leg pain when you’re getting taller.”
“…? Are you getting taller? You still look tiny.”
“That was a metaphor, not literal growing pains. And I did grow! I’m still growing! Ask the Crown Prince and he’ll tell you!”
“Your older brother?”
Sa Young-jun’s pupils trembled. The foolish little one swallowed hard and muttered.
“Your older brother is frightening.”
“Hm?”
“He wasn’t scary at all before, but now he is. He’s really, truly frightening. But since your older brother is scary, he looks a bit cool.”
“Why did the Crown Prince become scary?”
“Your older brother is….”
“Young-jun.”
The Crown Prince, who had entered the Training Ground at some point, called out to Sa Young-jun.
“Am I frightening?”
“Y-yes, older brother.”
His voice was gentle, but the smile he wore while asking such a question did look somewhat frightening.
‘Now I understand why Sa Young-jun is so tense.’
The Crown Prince wears that false smile to control the power of darkness within him. By smiling, the darkness cannot easily run wild. But it seems there’s been a side effect.
Knowing how hard he has worked to suppress the darkness and how he’s finally become able to converse with others like this, I felt a pang of sympathy.
‘The Crown Prince smiles to keep from hurting others, yet he’s told he’s frightening….’

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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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