I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 156

Chapter 156

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Father answered without a hint of hesitation.

“Just because there’s no hesitation doesn’t mean it wasn’t bullying.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“……Really?”

“Ask Arun-gongja.”

I shifted my gaze to Arun.

Arun-gongja looked at me and smiled lightly.

‘Wow…’

I almost stared blankly at Arun without realizing it.

Is this the protagonist’s halo effect?

This is beauty on a whole different level.

In terms of looks alone, Father doesn’t lose at all.

But the feeling was a little different.

The difference in perception between seeing the beauty of a blood relative and the beauty of a stranger was enormous.

Maybe it was even more so because he was my age.

‘Pull yourself together!’

It was really dangerous.

It wasn’t a lie that the characters in the novel were busy admiring Arun’s beauty.

‘Black hair and black eyes.’

Because of that, he looked a bit like Father in some ways.

Actually, I’ve seen black hair and eyes to the point of boredom.

Because most Koreans have black hair and black eyes.

But it felt like there were only two people with black hair and black eyes in this world.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.

The moment you see the beauty of those two, the faces of everyone else in the world are bound to be erased from your memory.

I tried to focus as much as possible and spoke again.

“Arun-gongja, please answer me.”

“I don’t think it can be considered serious persecution just because His Majesty the Emperor called me, a trainee knight, here and made me stand.”

“It’s persecution.”

For example, it’s like an intern at a large company meeting the chairman?

I think the pressure would be about 300 times worse.

Oh, of course, 300 times here is just a figurative expression, not an actual mathematical figure.

I’m a liberal arts and science hybrid with a lot of emotions, but I’ll be tired if I say this in front of Yuri.

Arun spoke again.

“He did glare at me with powerful eyes, but there was no physical persecution.”

“He bullied you.”

I looked at Father.

Father glared at Arun and then suddenly turned his gaze towards the window.

It was all obvious.

“Therefore, there is nothing for Your Highness to worry about. Thank you for your concern.”

“Strangely…”

“Yes?”

I don’t know exactly, but he felt strangely similar to Sir Viaton.

“It’s nothing. Please excuse yourself for a moment… No, never mind. I think it would be good to talk together. Since Arun-gongja is also the Grand Duke’s son.”

We talked about wanting to go to Sky Island.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Last time, we went because of the debate, so we couldn’t really look around.

I heard there are many beautiful places, so I want to go on a trip.

…That was the main point.

“That’s not a bad idea. Let’s leave tomorrow.”

“Yes?”

Isabel didn’t understand for a moment.

Arun interpreted for her.

“Perhaps His Majesty the Emperor plans to accompany you.”

“Father? No, Father Emperor?”

“You may call me Father in private.”

“But Father is busy.”

I know he’s someone who devotes almost 20 hours out of 24 to swordsmanship training.

That’s also the main job of the Emperor of the Swordsmanship Empire.

But it was strange that he would join us on such a leisurely trip.

“Viaton is also busy in many ways, so it’s difficult for him to go on a long-term business trip. In that case, shouldn’t I go with you?”

Arun interpreted again from the side.

“Your Highness’s escort must be someone truly trustworthy and exceptionally skilled. According to His Majesty’s standards, that’s only Sir Viaton. It seems His Majesty intends to make Sir Viaton busy.”

“…Make him busy?”

“Because he’s the type of person who can make even someone who isn’t busy, busy.”

Conversely, he can make someone who is busy, not busy.

Of course, Ron planned to make Viaton busy.

“So, it seems that His Majesty has no choice but to accompany his daughter on the trip himself.”

Isabel shook her head.

“That’s not right.”

The Emperor’s main job is swordsmanship training.

Isabel didn’t want to be a burden to Ron.

“It’s fine.”

“You’ll lose a lot of time for swordsmanship training. I don’t want to be a daughter who’s a burden to Father.”

“I have a sparring match scheduled with Rovena, anyway.”

“Yes?”

This was the first time she’d heard of it.

Usually, when a sparring match between the Emperor and the Grand Duke is scheduled, the news goes wild.

‘Father’s voice seems a bit quieter.’

It felt like he wasn’t quite comfortable with it.

“Did you say you have a sparring match scheduled with Sister Rovena?”

“That’s right.”

“Why do I feel like Father is lying?”

Ron flinched.

He may be the Iron-Blooded Emperor in front of others, but he couldn’t be Iron-Blooded in front of Isabel as well.

Since he wasn’t used to lying, it was bound to show.

“I wish Father wouldn’t lie.”

Ron’s expression darkened slightly.

After briefly debating whether to ask or not, I finally asked.

“Do you not want me to go with you?”

“I like it.”

Isabel burst out laughing without realizing it.

‘It’s fun to tease him.’

It had its own charm to see such a handsome man embarrassed.

Ah, I shouldn’t do this.

I feel like my tastes are getting weird.

‘He’s kind of cute.’

Then I quickly came to my senses.

‘This is bad. I think I’m starting to sound like the people around me.’

Departure was tomorrow morning.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Arun returned to his lodgings and fell into meditation.

‘I couldn’t take my eyes off her.’

Isabel seen through the eyes of Honey Badger and Isabel seen through human eyes were so different.

His heart pounded for no reason, making it difficult to meet her eyes.

He felt like he wanted to remember every single word, every single breath of Isabel’s.

That memory felt more precious than anything else.

‘I’m doing well, right?’

He had been thinking and worrying for a long time about how he should treat Isabel in the future, and what kind of life Arun, not Honey Badger, should live.

And today, he was able to make up his mind.

‘My role model is Viaton.’

To Honey Badger, Viaton was an annoying rival.

Because Viaton always stole Isabel’s attention and love.

That’s how Honey Badger felt.

‘I think I did better than I thought.’

When he was leaving the office, he heard Ron say, ‘He’s strangely like Viaton, it’s disgusting.’

The operation was a success.

He had already observed Viaton a lot through Honey Badger’s eyes and had fought with him a lot.

He thought of Viaton, the object of his love and hate, and looked forward to the next day.

He couldn’t sleep at all.

‘This won’t do.’

3 a.m.

He got up and stood at the entrance of Arena Palace.

‘If I wait here, I can see her 1 second sooner.’

He waited for Isabel with a happy heart.

How much time had passed?

Dawn broke and the day brightened.

“Arun-gongja?”

“I’ve come to escort you.”

“How long have you been waiting? Why didn’t you send a message inside? I would have hurried a little more if you had.”

“I just arrived. You don’t have to worry about it.”

The current time is 8:30 a.m.

The 5 hours and 30 minutes waiting for Isabel were a blink of an eye to Arun.

Arun held out his hand.

Isabel took his hand and began to walk carefully.

“Wouldn’t this be disobeying the Imperial order again? You’re talking to me again.”

“I’ve been granted permission to talk during the trip.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and even if that wasn’t the case, I intended to disobey the Imperial order as much as possible.”

“What?”

Isabel burst out laughing.

“Is it okay to say that in front of the Princess?”

“I believe Your Highness will keep it a secret.”

“Why? Why should I keep it a secret?”

“To be precise, I’m asking you a favor. I want to talk to Your Highness.”

“So, why?”

“Because you’re my first love.”

“Yes?”

Arun raised his head without realizing it.

‘What did I just say?’

He felt like he had just said something, but he couldn’t remember it well.

As he was busy calculating in his head, ‘What would I say if I were Viaton?’, the words instinctively popped out.

‘It’s because of Honey Badger’s ego.’

Honey Badger was the type to act before he spoke.

That ego was so strong that it caused these kinds of mistakes.

Isabel slightly pouted and narrowed her eyes.

“When did you see me to call me your first love?”

It was a bit absurd from Isabel’s point of view.

Narmore’s words suddenly came to mind.

‘Yes. The rumors about him being a playboy are widespread.’

It seemed like his character setting was a playboy.

Isabel’s heart went cold.

‘I guess he’s just beautiful to look at.’

The characters in the novel might have answered, ‘Eek! Yes! I love you too!’ when Arun said, ‘I like you.’

But Isabel was different.

It was only natural for her to find it strange when he suddenly confessed his first love, especially since she was already a little wary of Arun.

It didn’t resonate with her at all.

Arun was also flustered.

He had just shouted instinctively, he didn’t even remember what he had said.

“I think I made a slip of the tongue.”

“Yes, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t make that kind of joke to me in the future.”

“I apologize.”

A while later, the carriage carrying Ron arrived in front of Isabel.

Isabel and Arun boarded the carriage.

Inside the carriage.

Ron, who was already seated, opened his mouth. His gaze was directed at Arun.

“Actually, this is a journey that doesn’t require a guide.”

“I’m confident that I know Sky Island better than anyone else.”

“I’m sure you do. How much did you roam around to learn how to steal?”

“…I’ve never stolen anything.”

“It seems you’re planning to do so in the future.”

“Are you perhaps uncomfortable because I’m intruding on your private journey with the Princess? If so, I apologize, but I don’t think you have any other grounds to persecute me, Your Majesty. I was born on Sky Island and I know it better than anyone else.”

“The way you talk is like Viaton pretending to be sane.”

“I’m still far behind the Chief Aide. However, I’ll take it as a compliment and strive to improve.”

“We’ll see.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It would be wise to be careful with all your actions from now on.”

An awkward silence fell as Ron glared at Arun.

Isabel, caught in the middle, became very uncomfortable.

Only a fool wouldn’t notice the strange atmosphere flowing between the two.

“Father, why are you being so mean to Arun-gongja?”

“Mean?”

“It’s so uncomfortable that I feel like I can’t breathe.”

“…”

“The Emperor of Bilotian is weak to the strong and strong to the weak, right? But why are you persecuting someone weak like this?”

“Weak? Are you saying that he’s weak?”

“Yes. Father is the Emperor of the Empire, and Arun-gongja is just a trainee knight right now.”

Ron let out a small sigh and continued.

“Isabel. That guy is not that weak.”