I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Yuri firmly etched every word Isabel spoke into her heart.

It felt as if the words were directed towards her.

‘It’s okay not to do anything.’

Yuri always had to strive.

To repay the kindness Isabel had shown her.

For Isabel, she studied mathematics and chemistry, and she even endured the harsh maid training under the strict and formidable Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim.

She always thought:

‘I have to try harder. I need to be a better friend to Her Highness.’

Isabel had never told her to do so, but Yuri had an obsession that she had to.

What if she were to be hated by Isabel? What would happen to her mother then?

That fear further intensified her obsession.

But Isabel had clearly told her:

“Just by existing, you are worthy of love.”

Even though those words weren’t directly addressed to her, Yuri could clearly understand Isabel’s thoughts and feelings.

That alone brought great comfort and solace to Yuri.

‘Yes, that’s the kind of person Her Highness has always been.’

Thanks to Isabel’s words, Yuri was able to realize once again.

Even if I make small mistakes, even if I don’t strive with obsession, maybe I can still be someone who shines a little in the eyes of Princess Isabel.

As that thought crossed her mind, Yuri’s heart swelled with emotion.

“……Yuri? What’s wrong?”

“Can I ask you just one thing too?”

“Yes, of course. What is it?”

Yuri placed the tray on the nightstand beside the bed and mustered the courage to ask:

“Can I shine a little too?”

Her face flushed red after asking.

Even she thought it was a shameless question.

The one who shines is Isabel, not her.

She is merely a maid who benefits from Isabel’s kindness.

But on the other hand, she wanted confirmation.

A longing to hear from Isabel’s own mouth what kind of friend she was to her rose up to her throat.

Isabel’s expression turned serious.

“Yuri, you see……”

Isabel seemed to understand why Yuri was saying such things.

She had sensed Yuri’s constant anxiety.

She was rather grateful that Yuri was opening up her honest feelings.

Yuri seemed extremely nervous. A gulp could be heard as she swallowed.

“You shine brighter than tteokbokki and ramen.”

“……Huh?”

Although the objects of comparison seemed somewhat trivial, Yuri found that triviality quite endearing.

“I don’t like the sweetest lemon tea in the world, I like Yuri, who makes the sweetest lemon tea in the world.”

Yuri curled her ten toes like claws and clenched them tightly.

It was a ticklish and embarrassing feeling for some reason, but she didn’t dislike it.

“What if I don’t make lemon tea?”

“Then I’ll pester you to make it.”

“What if you had to choose between lemon tea and me?”

“That’s impossible. Because if I pester you, Yuri, you can’t help but do it for me.”

It wasn’t exactly what Yuri wanted to hear.

She wanted to hear something like, ‘You’re my most precious friend in the world!’

But Isabel continued:

“It seems hard to refuse when someone you really like is pestering you.”

“……”

“You really like me, don’t you, Yuri?”

“……Yes.”

Having been in the position of being sponsored, Isabel could understand Yuri’s feelings well.

Once a hierarchical relationship like this is formed, it becomes difficult to feel complete fondness.

She knew that, but she thought it would be nice if Yuri could feel a little more at ease.

“I really like you too, Yuri.”

“……”

“So I consider us to be very close friends, and I think my friend shines the brightest in the world. At least to me.”

Yuri lowered her head.

After the conversation, it felt like she was finally coming to her senses.

‘What did I just say to Her Highness?’

It was as if she had been possessed for a moment.

She suddenly felt embarrassed.

But she was happier than she was embarrassed.

‘I’ll be good to Her Highness.’

Yuri’s heart changed subtly.

It wasn’t simply because she was being sponsored, or because she was a maid.

That’s not why she was so anxious and striving.

‘I want to be good to Her Highness. I’m going to be really, really good to her.’

She wanted to be good to Isabel, not from the position of a subordinate, but from the position of a friend.

Even though the motivation had changed subtly, Yuri’s heart felt much lighter and happier.

At that moment……

Kim Beolkkul, who had been curled up asleep under the bed – it was unclear when he had gotten there – poked his head out.

『☆★☆★』

He consecutively floated twinkling stars above his head, probably wanting to express that he was the one who shone the brightest in the world.

Isabel, who had promised not to neglect Kim Beolkkul, hugged him tightly.

Kim Beolkkul looked extremely pleased to be held in Isabel’s arms.

The speed at which magical image letters were generated above his head increased significantly.

『☆★☆★』

『☆★☆★☆★☆★』

『☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★』

Kim Beolkkul snorted.

『Call me, Star Honey Badger.』

『I shine the brightest.』

Laughter filled the room.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“I want some fresh air.”

As soon as I heard Asellia’s words, I jumped up from my seat.

The ‘scent of pain’ still lingered heavily in the room.

It was unusual for someone with this much ‘scent of pain’ to express a desire for fresh air.

It meant that her physical condition had improved significantly, at least for this moment.

There were very rare occasions when I, too, wanted to take a walk.

The spring breeze and sunlight I experienced during those times remained as precious memories.

“Okay, let’s go. Lieutenant General-nim, is it alright?”

Armitel-nim wore a slightly worried expression.

It seemed she was anxious about going outside with her sick younger sister.

“Asellia knows her own body best.”

The doctors had also recommended very light walks.

They said she should go out and get some sunlight and fresh air, but I wasn’t always in the mood for that, so I just stayed in bed.

Of course, I needed to check.

She looked just like me and had the same ‘scent of pain’ that I had, but I couldn’t be completely sure it was me.

“Did the physician tell you to stay in bed and not move at all?”

“Not exactly, but……”

“They said it was okay to take light walks, right?”

“……Yes.”

“Then it’s settled!”

We were all ready to go out; Asellia just needed to change her clothes.

But Asellia hesitated a little.

“Unni, that……”

“……”

Asellia glanced around for a moment before pulling something out of the wardrobe.

‘A wig?’

I finally understood why Armitel-nim had a short haircut.

It wasn’t just a matter of style.

‘She cut her hair for her younger sister.’

Most of the young ladies in this world grow their hair long.

Flowing long hair was a measure of beauty and a romantic ideal.

It was so extreme that about ten years ago, there was even human trafficking to obtain beautiful hair.

Anyway, the side effects became so severe that the Empire and the Magic Federation ended up banning the trade of wigs altogether.

Apart from gifting one’s own cut hair, all hair transactions for commercial purposes were illegal.

‘It’s a wig made from Lieutenant General Armitel’s hair.’

Armitel-nim seemed somewhat apologetic as she handed over the wig.

“Sorry, it’s quite worn out, isn’t it?”

To be honest, the wig wasn’t in good condition.

Since selling hair was illegal, the wig industry and related technologies in this world had all but disappeared.

Even if there were high-quality items available illegally, they were exorbitantly expensive, and there was no way Lieutenant General Armitel, a soldier, could acquire them.

“No, it’s alright. I like it.”

Asellia put on the wig and smiled brightly.

She kept glancing at the mirror, and I understood her feelings all too well.

One of the reasons I didn’t want to go out was because I didn’t have any hair.

It was just too embarrassing.

Especially at that age.

I pretended not to notice and said:

“I’ll push the wheelchair.”

“……”

Lieutenant General Armitel-nim still seemed worried.

“Lieutenant General-nim can watch over us from the side, right?”

The warriors of this world possess incredible physical abilities that ordinary people can’t even begin to imagine.

Even if I made a mistake, Lieutenant General Armitel would be more than capable of handling it.

“Understood.”

“Let’s head out!”

I set off for a walk with Armitel-nim, Asellia, Yuri, and Honey.

The people we met along the way were kind, and the sunlight filtering through the clouds felt quite pleasant.

Asellia enjoyed it very much as well.

She even got out of the wheelchair and walked a little.

Eventually, we finished our walk and returned home.

Perhaps tired from the short walk, Asellia quickly fell asleep.

“Lieutenant General-nim, how was it? It was quite a successful walk, wasn’t it?”

“……Yes. Thanks to Your Highness, I’m having a wonderful experience. It was a day like sunshine.”

I ate dinner prepared by Lieutenant General Armitel-nim herself.

Her cooking wasn’t quite as good as Yuri’s, but it was still very delicious, and I was grateful.

Our night was peaceful.

That is, until 11 o’clock that night.