Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 81

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 81
‘Did the child slip away from her parents’ restraining hands?’
I glanced back with idle curiosity, only to be startled. A serpentine shadow burst from Yi Yeon-ju’s sleeve, hurtling directly toward me.
“Crown Princess!”
A Palace Guard nearby gasped and drew his blade. I cried out urgently.
“Don’t cut!”
“Your Highness?”
While the Palace Guard hesitated in confusion, the serpentine shadow drew closer. I extended my hand toward it.
A mewling sound, like a kitten’s cry, reached my ears.
‘Ah, so it was Myotusa after all.’
What landed, coiling around my outstretched hand, was a cat-headed serpent demon. Its belly was covered in scales like a snake’s, but its back was covered in fur with yellow stripes, and its head bore the form of a cat with the same yellow-striped fur. Still quite young, it was no larger than my palm, and its eyes held that distinctive kitten blue.
The young Myotusa gazed up at me with round eyes, mewling softly. Each cry released wisps of blue smoke.
“Nabi!”
Yi Yeon-ju’s face went pale as she reached toward Myotusa. Her parents, looking even more stricken, cried out.
“Crown Princess! It’s dangerous!”
“What are you doing! A demon has attacked the Crown Princess!”
“My Lady!”
The Palace Guards raised their blades at the word “demon,” and even the young Crown Prince came rushing over. I waved my hand to stop them.
“It’s fine. This creature poses no danger whatsoever.”
Myotusa stretched its long neck, watching my hair with its head tilted this way and that.
‘It must be drawn to the shimmer.’
As I grasped the end of my braided hair and moved it side to side, the kitten’s head followed along. Its bright, gleaming eyes were amusing and adorable.
I teased Myotusa with my hair as I spoke.
“See? There’s nothing dangerous about it.”
“Ah….”
I could sense the Palace Guards’ bewilderment. The Crown Prince stared at me with wide eyes.
I turned to Yi Yeon-ju.
“This is your pet, isn’t it? Its name is Nabi?”
“Y-yes! It’s Nabi! Nabi is really kind! It never bites people!”
Yi Yeon-ju answered urgently, her face crumpling as she pleaded.
“Crown Princess, please don’t kill Nabi. It only jumped out because I was curious about it. I’ll accept any punishment, but please, please don’t kill Nabi….”
“Yi Yeon-ju!”
“We should have killed that demon long ago!”
Her mother gasped and covered the child’s mouth, while her father ground his teeth and suddenly dropped to his knees before me, prostrating himself.
“Crown Princess, I have failed to properly manage my child. I beg you to understand the thoughtlessness of youth and grant us your merciful forgiveness…”
“I said it’s fine. Stand up.”
I offered the eagerly moving Myotusa the end of my braided hair to chew. Myotusa nibbled on my hair tie with its small mouth, dangling from it as I lifted the creature and approached Yi Yeon-ju. When I held out Myotusa, still hanging from my hair, Yi Yeon-ju quickly opened both hands.
“Nabi!”
At its master’s call, the kitten’s ears perked up. Myotusa immediately released my hair and returned to its owner. The girl caught Myotusa in both hands and held it tenderly to her chest.
“You’re a sorcerer, aren’t you?”
At my question, Yi Yeon-ju shook her head vigorously.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Isn’t taming and raising a creature sorcery?”
“I… I never learned how to do that…”
Yi Jong-ho, Yi Yeon-ju’s father, stepped forward and cut off her stammering words.
“Your Highness, this child has never formally studied sorcery. That creature began appearing one day, and she secretly started raising it. Given how much she fussed and how small the creature was, I allowed it—a foolish decision on my part. I shall dispose of it at once.”
“No, Father! If you kill Nabi, I’ll die too!”
At Yi Jong-ho’s words, Yi Yeon-ju burst into tears and let out a wail. I quickly spoke to Yi Jong-ho.
“There’s no need for that. Don’t you know what Myotusa is?”
“Myotusa…? Does the Crown Princess know about that creature?”
Yi Jong-ho asked blankly.
I glanced around briefly. Everyone looked bewildered. Even Yi Yeon-ju, Myotusa’s owner, had her eyes wide open.
Could it be that no one knows? I’ve always known about this creature, and when I was searching through records the other day, it even appeared in those creature encyclopedias written by humans.
“…Myotusa is not a creature that harms people. It prefers cooked food to raw, and being timid, it hides and lives in caves. The blue smoke Myotusa emits has the effect of disinfecting pathogens and boosting vitality. It’s an extremely rare and gentle creature, so if you raise it well, it will be of great help.”
As I spoke, Yi Yeon-ju’s face brightened dramatically. The girl rubbed her cheek against the small creature’s head and cried out.
“Nabi! You’re such a rare, gentle, and helpful creature! I knew it! That’s our Nabi!”
Yi Jong-ho turned to look at his delighted daughter with bewilderment, then asked me.
“How do you know so much about it?”
“…I’m from the Xue Tribe.”
“Ah…”
Once again, the Xue Tribe excuse worked perfectly. I found myself grateful that Se-ru-hwa wasn’t purely Xue Tribe—otherwise, what would I have done?
I let out a long sigh and continued.
“While Myotusa is exceptionally gentle, it’s still a creature, and ordinary people shouldn’t get too close to it, or they’ll suffer negative effects. If you’re going to raise a creature, it would be better for her to properly learn sorcery.”
At my words, Yi Jong-ho’s expression darkened.
Hmm? What’s the problem? Is there some reason she can’t learn sorcery? Could it be something looked down upon like shamanism?
Just as I was about to ask, the Right Prime Minister interjected.
“Thank you for graciously forgiving my granddaughter’s mistake and even offering such helpful guidance, Crown Princess.”
“…I was grateful to you too, last time.”
The fire at the East Palace was prevented without major damage thanks to the Right Prime Minister’s advance warning. Speaking with that gratitude in mind, the Right Prime Minister replied calmly.
“I have done nothing worthy of the Crown Princess’s gratitude.”
Sharp as a blade. I wanted to bring him to our side, but he clearly still preferred not to be entangled.
“Once again, I thank you for your forgiveness. I shall repay you for your guidance in due time.”
After bowing respectfully once more, the Right Prime Minister hurried his family along and began climbing the mountain path, passing us by.
‘…We’ll meet again at the tomb anyway when we go up, so he doesn’t want to climb with the Crown Prince?’
The twin siblings Yi Yeon-ju and Yi Yeon-jo, held by their parents’ hands, were led away while casting curious glances at me. When Yi Yeon-ju’s eyes met mine, she smiled brightly and tried to wave, but her mother stopped her. The scolding about being disrespectful to the Crown Princess gradually faded into the distance.
After they left, the Crown Prince sighed.
“Do not startle me like that, Lady.”
“What?”
“No matter how safe a creature may be, how can you accept it so suddenly? My heart nearly stopped.”
Was that really something to worry about? In my previous body, even a creature the size of a palm could have broken my wrist, but this body is sturdy enough that it’s fine.
‘I suppose my recent brush with unconsciousness has made me more anxious than usual.’
Feeling it was ultimately my fault, I offered my apology without hesitation.
“I’m sorry. I was worried Myotusa might fall and get hurt.”
“You should be more concerned about your own safety than that of a creature.”
The Crown Prince, mid-sentence, suddenly glanced up at the mountain path before turning to me with a question.
“Earlier, at the pavilion, when I supported you down with darkness… how did that feel? Did it displease you in any way?”
“Not at all. It was your darkness, so how could it? I was simply startled at the time.”
“…Because it was my darkness.”
The Crown Prince repeated my offhand response, then covered his mouth with his hand. The boy turned his back to avoid my gaze and continued speaking.
“If that is the case… then I may be able to serve you more comfortably.”
“What? Oh!”
As the Crown Prince turned around, his shadow stretched out from beneath his feet and suddenly lifted me up. Unable to maintain my balance, I stumbled, but the darkness flowed like mist and reformed into something resembling a chair. Since the darkness had transformed while holding me aloft, I naturally found myself seated upon it.
“Your Highness?”
“We shall proceed this way. If anything feels uncomfortable, please tell me.”
The Crown Prince spoke in a casual, matter-of-fact tone before issuing orders to the group.
“Those who were preparing lunch shall remain here. The rest of us shall depart. We will eat on the way down.”
With that, he immediately began walking. I found myself ascending the mountain path, seated in this shadow palanquin.
I was utterly astounded, my mouth falling open.
‘He can do this too?’
It felt as though I were riding in a small palanquin in the mountains. It wasn’t as finely crafted as a real palanquin—more roughly formed, a somewhat shapeless chair—and instead of palanquin bearers, it remained connected to the Crown Prince’s shadow, moving only as he moved. Yet…
‘Both in feeling and in sensation, it’s as if I’m riding in a palanquin that the Crown Prince is carrying. It even feels like he’s giving me a piggyback ride…’
My weary body had grown more comfortable, but I felt somewhat embarrassed. I also felt sorry toward the young Crown Prince.
‘Isn’t this exhausting for him?’
I observed the Crown Prince’s back as he walked with long strides. He showed no signs of strain whatsoever. Though his ears did seem slightly flushed. The small boy’s back… suddenly seemed so reassuring.
“…Isn’t this tiring for you, Your Highness?”
“Not in the slightest. When you are near me, manipulating darkness becomes far easier.”
“Still, it must feel heavy.”
“I am supporting you with darkness—what hardship could there be? I should have done this from the start.”
His response came with a hint of excitement. The boy turned to look at me and whispered.
“Becoming a shadow-bearer was not entirely a misfortune, after all. Just as you said… now that I can control it myself, there are many good things about it.”
The Crown Prince smiled brightly and continued walking with evident joy.
“You’ve been so exhausted that you haven’t been able to observe your surroundings properly, have you? Now, think of this as an outing and look around. Spring mountains are beautiful.”
I instinctively lifted my head and gazed about. The forest was lush with May’s fresh green foliage, and a crisp fragrance filled the air. Sunlight poured through the gaps between leaves, casting delicate patterns of light like fallen petals upon the soft earth. Young leaves in shades of pale green swayed in the breeze, creating a sound like waves. Wildflowers, just beginning to bloom, peeked out from among the vegetation.
Compared to the well-maintained Sang Ra Palace, this was a raw, unadorned natural landscape. Yet precisely because of this, it felt far more vivid.
Spring mountains truly are beautiful.
I gazed down at the darkness supporting me. Within the dark clouds, only the part touching me glowed softly, as if bathed in sunlight. When I gently brushed my hand across it, light spread like watercolor wherever my fingers traced.
‘How beautiful.’
The Crown Prince’s darkness was beautiful too. I smiled softly. The arduous mountain path had become beautiful and lovely. It was all thanks to the Crown Prince.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————