I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 151

Chapter 151

Everyone moved in unison and stopped in their places.

Wow. Like machines.

They were overflowing with discipline.

“Left, align.”

They stood close together to the left.

And one person approached me.

He seemed to be the highest-ranking knight among them.

“Johen, First Training Officer of the Black Whale Unit.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience. Please go ahead, Princess-nim. I will escort you.”

“It’s no inconvenience. You don’t have to go this far. There’s enough space for us to pass.”

I walked down the path, receiving an almost excessive level of courtesy.

After a little while, Yuri spoke.

“Did you see him?”

“See him? See who?”

I was slightly startled.

Yuri is my longtime friend and immediately noticed my change in demeanor.

“Ah, you saw him!”

“What, what are you talking about?”

“You saw him, didn’t you? The apprentice knight in the last row. He’s the most famous apprentice knight in the Imperial Palace these days. The maids my age are all lovesick.”

Actually, I think I know why.

Even in this place where handsomeness is average, someone that good-looking stands out.

Thanks to Father, Sir Viaton, and my brothers, my standards have become unreasonably high.

Even I, just passing by, was struck by the boy’s beautiful appearance.

“But do you know what the really surprising fact is?”

“What?”

“He’s the only son of the Duke of the North! They say that even with such a noble status, he started from the bottom as an apprentice knight. Isn’t that cool?”

I tilted my head.

‘Did Sister Rovena have a son?’

This was something that never appeared in the novel.

Yuri clasped her hands together and her eyes sparkled.

“I hope someday I can talk to Prince Arun.”

She looked like a teenage girl experiencing her first innocent crush, it was cute, no, wait a minute.

“What was his name again?”

“Arun, Arun. Isn’t it a beautiful name? In some regions, it means obsidian. He really has obsidian-like eyes, did you see them?”

The Duke’s son, who didn’t appear in the novel.

And his name happened to be Arun.

‘Why is Arun appearing here?’

According to the novel’s setting, Arun overthrows the Bilotian Imperial Family and establishes a new empire.

That was the biggest plot point that ran through the entire story.

‘The novel’s content has changed a lot, but I still need to be careful.’

Because he’s practically the only one who can overthrow the Imperial Family.

‘This might be for the best.’

It would have been best if Arun hadn’t appeared at all, but since he has, it’s better to keep him close and observe him.

The case of Duke Bladock was a good example.

It’s really disorienting when someone who is far away from the Imperial Palace, where the Imperial influence doesn’t reach, suddenly stabs you in the back.

Besides, if he’s part of the Black Whale Unit, one of the best knight units, he’d be more trustworthy.

‘If the story has a tendency to follow the original plot…… I need to be even more careful.’

I couldn’t help but be suspicious of that.

In the case of Sir Karin, the final villain, although she escaped Wilhelm’s clutches, she faced a comparable level of trials.

In the end, she even suffered the pain of her mana circuits, which were practically her everything, being shut down.

And she experienced ‘the phenomenon of mana circuit recovery,’ which never happened in the original story.

I, the variable of the story, was involved in that phenomenon.

As if someone was guiding things, saying, “Since you changed the story, put it back to the way it was.”

‘The main context of ‘the final villain who has suffered mental anguish awakens’ is still maintained.’

“Princess-nim, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“……”

“Princess-nim?”

“Huh, huh? Did you call me?”

“Yes. I called you over seven times.”

“Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

“By any chance…… Princess-nim, are you in love?”

“Love?”

“I have no intention of competing with you, Princess-nim. You are my priority, and I want you to be the happiest. So, if you come to like Prince Arun, please tell me. I like you a hundred, a thousand times more than Prince Arun.”

That’s not it.

I was thinking about what kind of danger and variables Prince Arun might pose to the Imperial Family.

I decided not to say it because Yuri would take it too seriously.

“He is handsome.”

“Right?”

I think I’ve also entered puberty as my body has grown.

I did briefly make eye contact with Prince Arun.

It would be a lie if I said my heart didn’t flutter at that moment.

I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight, but it was still awkward and made my heart race to make eye contact with someone of the opposite sex my age.

I decided to accept it as a natural emotion to feel at this age.

‘But……’

Arun’s image kept lingering in my mind.

Is it because he’s handsome?

I couldn’t figure out the reason.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Special Royal Assembly.

This time, there were quite a few attendees.

The Emperor and Empress.

The seven kings and their successors.

Duke Rossild and his only daughter, Reina.

Narmore, the representative of Narmore Corporation.

And Princess Isabel.

As always, the meeting was presided over by Empress Serna.

“Let’s begin the Royal Assembly.”

Each king spoke about various issues and exchanged opinions.

Boasting about their successors was also a part of it.

“Ahem, it’s nothing to brag about, but this child has already……”

“That’s truly wonderful. But this child also……”

“Then we can’t leave out this child’s achievements either.”

“Excellent. Then what about this story?”

They were kings as well as parents.

Everyone praised their successors’ achievements, but in the end, it was a place to say, ‘My child is so talented!’

There was a justification that it was to impress the successors upon the kings and the Emperor, but in a way, it seemed like simple bragging.

Afterward, many issues were discussed, but the most important one was ‘the excessive expansion of Narmore Corporation.’

One of the seven kings, Seugren, spoke.

“Narmore Corporation is establishing a new monetary system. As you all know, Narmore Corporation has already taken control of the global distribution network. It has established a massive monopoly system and is accumulating tremendous wealth. On top of that, it has gained immense public support with ramen, and the influence of Isabel Coin is also expanding. Frankly, I believe it’s time to put a brake on the growth of Narmore Corporation.”

It was indeed a point that many were concerned about.

This was especially true with the growing influence of Isabel Coin.

“Currency represents credit. How can a useless piece of paper have the power to function as a medium of exchange? The reason that piece of paper functions as a medium of exchange is because the powerful Bilotian Empire guarantees it, isn’t it? I don’t recognize Isabel Coin as a substitute for currency, and if I were to recognize it, it would obviously lead to a weakening of the Empire’s influence.”

Serna replied.

“In any case, you are concerned about the weakening of the Empire’s influence and believe that the unchecked growth of Narmore Corporation should be stopped, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Indeed.”

However, only Rahella, the Holy King of Alphea, and Valkio, the Uncle King of Jirdel – a nickname given by the Chief Aide, Gabrizen – remained silent.

Ron pointed that out.

“Rahella and Valkio, you two are silent.”

“Well, I don’t have any particular objections.”

“I agree. Not same age, but same opinion! Ehehehe!”

“I see.”

Ron nodded.

Unlike usual, Ron was much more proactive.

“Then Narmore, what are your thoughts?”

Narmore stood up from his seat.

“To the esteemed Emperor, Empress, and Your Majesties……”

After a brief greeting, he continued.

“There will never be anything that threatens the well-being of the Empire.”

King Seugren spoke.

“That’s how all great powers begin. In the end, they have always threatened the existing order and peace.”

“I have no intention of threatening the existing order and peace. Because I am not the true owner of Narmore Corporation.”

“What?”

King Seugren asked with wide eyes.

“Then is the owner the Imperial Family?”

“Half right, half wrong.”

“Are you trying to play word games with me?”

“The true owner of Narmore Corporation is Princess Isabel.”

Isabel gulped.

‘Me?’

Of course, it’s true that I invested in Narmore stock.

This is why I brought Narmore here.

But the owner of Narmore Corporation?

‘I haven’t done anything?’

After I died, I invested in Narmore, hoping that the Imperial Family wouldn’t lose out to Rossild, as a parting gift.

I just wanted to be of some help.

That was all.

But Narmore took out a few documents he had prepared in advance.

“These are documents proving that Princess Isabel is the owner of Narmore Corporation. I am just a working-level executive. Princess-nim achieved all of this. Therefore, strengthening the influence of Narmore Corporation directly translates to strengthening Princess-nim’s influence, and that will become the power of the Imperial Family.”

“……”

Narmore Corporation, a newly emerging power that threatens the House of Rossild, which has accumulated wealth and fame for 500 years, in an instant.

Everyone fell silent at the words that Princess Isabel was the owner of that power.

The achievements of each successor had to become humble and respectful in the face of Isabel’s achievements.

“Excuse me. I have something to say.”

Reina, the only daughter of Duke Rossild, raised her hand.