I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 192

Chapter 192

My birthday was approaching in a month.

“Mom, Dad. I have a favor to ask.”

Lately, it hasn’t been easy to talk to Mom and Dad.

“Again, again. You’re getting teary-eyed.”

Especially Mom, even more so.

Outside, she’s praised as the Monarch of Gentleness, but in front of me, she’s just an ordinary mom, full of emotions and tears.

Mom dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and then forced a bright smile.

“I just yawned. So, Isabel. What is your favor?”

“I would prefer it if my birthday party wasn’t too extravagant.”

That birthday would be my twentieth, and my last.

I didn’t want my birthday, which would also be my funeral, to be too grand and flashy.

“I knew you’d want that, so I’ve been preparing accordingly.”

“Really?”

Of course, Mom would have.

I shifted my gaze to Dad.

Dad was suddenly looking up at the ceiling, pretending to be distracted.

If it were the Dad I knew, he would have definitely planned the most extravagant party in the world.

He would have thought it was for my sake.

Mom nudged Dad’s side.

“Right, honey?”

“O-Of course.”

It’s the first time I’ve seen Dad stutter.

“It’s nice to see you two like this.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. You’re called the greatest monarchs in the world, but in front of me, you’re just a loving couple. I like that the most.”

What I’ve always dreamed of.

Having a mom and dad like everyone else.

I realized once again that my dream had come true.

“I’ve conveyed my wishes, so I’ll go to my room.”

Dad’s subdued voice followed me.

“Is Arun by your side today as well?”

“Yes. He’s my fiancé. And the safest escort knight in the world.”

“I’m not sure if he’s the safest in the world.”

“He protected me from countless forces that targeted me.”

“But he might take you away……”

Mom nudged Dad’s side again.

It seems Dad still doesn’t like Arun.

I wish they could get along since they’re both precious to me.

Mom said to me.

“Go back to your room. Get some rest, you must be tired. And let me know if there’s anything you need.”

Mom came closer and kissed my forehead.

“Sleep well, my baby.”

My forehead tickled.

I shivered and then smiled brightly. And I hugged Mom tightly.

“Oh my?”

“It feels strange when you call me baby.”

I’m all grown up now.

Anyone can see I’m an adult.

If someone else called me baby, I think I’d get goosebumps.

But when Mom calls me baby, my heart aches for some reason.

Maybe I always want to be a child in front of Mom.

“I’m all grown up now.”

Mom stroked my hair.

“You’re still a baby in my eyes.”

It seems like it’ll be another good night.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

I haven’t told Dad yet, but I sleep in the same bed with Arun.

Just like when I used to sleep with Kim Beolkkul, the honey badger, in my arms.

I sleep nestled in Arun’s arms, and his embrace is like a cradle.

“Arun’s embrace is always warm and cozy.”

I even suffered from insomnia on days when Arun wasn’t by my side.

Arun smiled softly, met my eyes, and stroked my hair.

“Me too.”

“Huh?”

“When I was Kim Beolkkul. Your embrace was the most comfortable in the world.”

We used to chat like this for a long time at night before falling asleep.

I don’t know what’s so funny and entertaining, even though we don’t talk about anything special.

Tomorrow night will come again.

I was so sad that this night was passing.

“When I was Kim Beolkkul, all I thought about was fighting.”

“You were quite belligerent.”

“How can I fight and defeat the lion that beat me up? How can I knock down Sir Teyselon, who rubbed his rough beard on my face? How should I fight when I fight that bear? All I thought about were things like that.”

I burst out laughing.

“Just like Kim Beolkkul.”

“But when I was in Isabel’s arms, I didn’t think about any of that.”

“Me too, now.”

Kim Beolkkul was much smaller than me.

But now Arun was much bigger than me.

When I was in Arun’s arms, it felt like a strong fortress was surrounding and protecting me.

It felt like it was protecting me from the approaching death.

“Thank you, Arun. I feel the most at peace when I sleep in your arms.”

Magic letters appeared above Arun’s head.

『But I’m not at peace.』

I lifted my head to check, but the letters disappeared quickly.

“What did you write?”

“I love you.”

“Huh?”

My heart pounded for no reason.

“Don’t joke around with words like that.”

“I’ve never joked around.”

“You know those aren’t words you throw around carelessly.”

“I never said it carelessly. I thought about saying these words hundreds of times. Are there any better words, any happier words, any more encouraging words?”

“……”

Gulp.

Arun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“But even after thinking about it hundreds of times, I couldn’t think of any words more beautiful than these.”

Arun was acting a little strange today.

He seemed to be breathing more heavily than usual, and his body seemed to be feverish.

Come to think of it, his face seemed redder than usual.

“I just, I love Isabel.”

Slide,

Arun lowered his body slightly and met my eyes.

I saw Arun’s large eyes.

It felt like those eyes were filled with the love he spoke of.

I couldn’t help but avoid his gaze.

“You know your birthday is 30 days away, right?”

“……29 days.”

It’s past midnight, so 29 is correct.

There’s a big difference between 30 and 29.

I felt awkward and started rambling.

“30 is 11110 in binary.”

“Marry me.”

“29 is 11101 in…… Huh?”

“Marry me.”

I came to my senses.

Engagement was one thing.

Marriage was another.

Honestly, the word “marriage” itself did resonate with me.

Maybe I wanted to marry Arun more than anyone else.

But I couldn’t show it.

‘I’m leaving soon.’

Arun’s destined partner was originally Asellia.

I know that Arun and Asellia have become quite close recently.

Once the variable that is me disappears, Arun and Asellia might fall in love as in the original story.

“As you know, I’m going to die in a month. I’m sorry, Arun.”

At the same time, a tear fell from Arun’s eye.

The tear landed on the pillow, and Arun cried for a long time.

I knew it, and Arun knew it too, but it was probably because it was the first time we talked about it directly like this.

After a long time, Arun spoke.

“I’ll get you a dragon’s heart as a marriage proposal gift. It will be able to cure you.”

No, what are you going to do?

“Then you must marry me.”

Arun got up.

It’s 2 AM right now.

“Where are you going?”

“Wait for me. I’ll be back before it’s too late.”

With those words, Arun disappeared somewhere.

And I had to spend the night without Arun.

‘I’m scared.’

When Arun disappeared, his absence felt immense.

It felt like death, which had been kept at bay by Arun, was now approaching rapidly.

“I’m scared.”

I thought if I spoke, Arun would come back, but he didn’t.

I pulled the blanket over my head and cried.

I tried so hard not to show it to anyone, but I was scared to be left alone.

The fact that I was going to die in 29 days was terrifying.

“Your Highness.”

Someone came into my room.

It was Yuri.

“Sir Arun told me to come see you……”

Yuri was in her pajamas, as if she had just woken up.

When I came to my senses, it was morning.

I couldn’t remember how I cried.

I only remember Yuri patting my back, saying, ‘It’s okay. I’m here. You’re not alone.’

Hiccup, hiccup.

I was hiccuping.

“Are you feeling better?”

Yuri was still wearing her sky-blue pajamas, but the front was all wet.

“That……”

“It’s okay. I can wash it.”

Yuri pulled out a tissue and held it to my nose.

“Blow your nose!”

“……”

The events of last night started coming back to me one by one.

I whined to Yuri like a child.

Like someone drunk, even though I hadn’t had any alcohol.

“……”

Wow, I really want to hide.

The fear of death and the sense of loss from Arun’s disappearance must have driven me crazy for a moment.

“Sir Arun promised that he would definitely save you before he left.”

“……I want to be alone now, Yuri.”

I want to hide.

I desperately want to be alone.

I think I’ve used up a lifetime’s worth of whining yesterday.

“If you’re alone, you might suddenly get scared again. Wouldn’t it be better to cry in front of a friend?”

“……”

“Think about it. What would happen if you cried in front of Prince Sermon?”

“What would happen?”

“He would find out who made you cry and beep- them. And if there’s no one, he’d create one.”

The image of Prince Sermon with his red eyes glowing ominously came to mind.

I bet he’d be licking a dagger.

“What if Prince Kaman saw you?”

“He would mobilize the Knights to find the cause……”

“What if Prince Michael saw you?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think a lot of things would be broken.”

“That’s right. Think about Sir Viaton, His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress. Think about them all.”

“……”

“It’s better to cry in front of me, right?”

Yuri placed a sweet lemon tea in front of me, as if she had prepared it beforehand.

Drinking it calmed me down a bit.

“I believe Sir Arun has been preparing to save you for a very long time.”

“……”

“At some point, it seemed like you were thinking more about how to leave well rather than trying to live.”

“I thought that was right.”

Because when I leave, it’s over for me, but the people who are left behind have to remember me.

Because my death is not mine to bear, but theirs.

“That’s why Sir Arun did his best to find a way to save you without showing it. I believe in Sir Arun. I’m sure he’s found a way.”

And three weeks passed.

“He promised he’d be back soon.”

Arun still hadn’t returned.

I only had one week left to live.