I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 38

Chapter 38

As expected.

Reina, flustered by my direct hit, jumped up.

“Th-that can’t be true!”

Actually, Reina wasn’t the only problem.

The rumors surrounding me were generally like that.

Since I couldn’t learn swordsmanship, I’m focusing on other things as an alternative.

The fact that I’m participating in the Olympiad is also, in fact, because I’m struggling to survive.

It seems like many people think the way they want to think.

“Lady Reina, do you also think I’m struggling to survive as a Princess?”

“……”

Oh dear. You should at least say no outwardly.

Being that transparent is only bad for you.

“Why would I struggle for that reason? I only have fifteen years left.”

I had no desire to survive ‘as a Princess’.

I was just going to live the life given to me like a gift, like a gift.

I decided to live fiercely, not as a Princess, but as Isabel.

“I’m really just participating because I enjoy it. So please don’t give me the look of pity I don’t want. Because that’s insulting me.”

“……”

“If you insult me again next time, I won’t let it slide so peacefully.”

Reina bit her lip.

As people’s attention was focused, her face turned bright red.

“……So you’re really participating because you enjoy it.”

“That’s right. I’m really just participating because I enjoy it.”

I couldn’t help but enjoy it.

They give me money.

And it’s ten million Luden!

This will be my skyrocketing rocket.

I smiled brightly, feeling good.

I turned my gaze towards Sir Viaton and asked.

“Teacher, that’s okay, right?”

“Of course.”

Sir Viaton smiled at me too. It was a bright and warm smile like sunshine.

I felt like my heart was melting.

‘Huh?’

I didn’t mean to, but Reina was clenching her fists.

Oh, did I just stimulate the jealousy of a 10-year-old child in her first love?

‘Oh dear.’

Should I call this a mistake? Should I apologize?

Should I scold Sir Viaton for only giving me such a bright expression?

‘I have no prejudice, but I do have favoritism.’

Cheer up. It won’t work out anyway.

I just continued the conversation out of courtesy.

“I hope you get good results, Lady Reina.”

I also turned my gaze to Yuri.

For some reason, I was reminded of my childhood self.

I was so scared and lonely when I was young.

If it weren’t for the support of strangers, I wouldn’t have even lived to be 20.

I thought Yuri must be very scared and having a hard time now.

“Yuri-eonni, I sincerely support you.”

I was sick and could only lie in a hospital bed.

I was just a recipient of support, and Yuri was in a position to win support.

The fact that she continues to receive support from Rossild, who is so strict about money, means that Yuri is working that hard.

“I think people like you are really strong and cool.”

“……”

“If there’s anything I can help you with, come find me. It’s the Arena Palace of Bilotian. It will always be open to you.”

Isabel’s words were the first ray of sunshine to reach Yuri, who had lived a life where only grades proved her worth.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Yuri was a young girl supporting her family.

She received support from the Rossild Dukedom in return for studying hard.

Thanks to this, her mother was able to receive treatment, and her younger siblings were able to go to school.

‘This is my job.’

Although Yuri was only nine years old, she had a heavy sense of responsibility.

Math and studying had become her job.

Today, she was shocked.

‘I only have fifteen years left.’

As far as Yuri knew, Isabel was six years old.

This six-year-old was calm in the face of her own death.

‘I’m just participating because I enjoy it.’

Day by day, death would be approaching, but she didn’t seem to be afraid of it, but rather seemed to be enjoying today happily.

Actually, there was a time when Yuri enjoyed studying too.

‘I used to enjoy math too.’

After her father passed away and her mother became ill, math became a job, and she lost the fun in it.

A heavy sense of duty, rather than enjoyment, had dominated her.

But Isabel was different.

‘I hope you get good results, Lady Reina.’

Yuri admired her without realizing it.

‘There is someone who shines so brightly.’

She truly loves math.

Even though she’s living with a terminal illness, she can shine like that.

Even though she clearly knows her end, she can be so happy.

‘She’s really different from me.’

Reina always badmouthed Isabel.

Yuri only knew that Isabel was a bad person.

But Isabel, whom she met in person, was different.

She was a star-like person who smiled brightly even in front of that wicked Reina.

‘If there’s anything I can help you with, come find me. It’s the Arena Palace of Bilotian. It will always be open to you.’

Her animosity towards Isabel melted away like snow.

That warm expression warmed her heart.

It felt like her body was melting in the first ray of sunshine.

‘I can’t show it.’

If she showed it, Reina would hate it.

Whether she liked it or not, Rossild was her sponsoring family.

She couldn’t be hated by Reina.

Therefore, Yuri lowered her head.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The Olympiad was tomorrow.

Today, we were to stay overnight at the accommodation provided by the Mirotel Magic Federation.

Viaton, who insisted on accompanying me here, saying he wouldn’t feel comfortable unless he personally escorted me, smiled brightly.

“Your Highness’ eloquence, ah, no, your dignity is truly amazing.”

“Yes?”

Isabel didn’t understand what he meant.

“You acted like you knew all about the young girl from a commoner background, but you didn’t know anything about Lady Reina, did you? You politely called the girl ‘eonni’, but you drew a line with Lady Reina, just calling her ‘Lady’. Plus, the finishing touch of telling her not to insult you was perfect. How much her pride must have been hurt? She might even be crying her eyes out right now. Hehehe. You really trampled on her in an elegant way.”

Actually, I didn’t think that deeply and act differently towards Reina and Yuri, but it seemed to have been interpreted that way in the end.

Viaton smiled brightly, as if relieved.

Seeing that smile, Isabel thought.

‘Let’s just go with that.’

Viaton continued.

“Your Highness, just say the word.”

“Yes?”

“I’m also someone who’s known for amicable conversation and compromise.”

“Amicable conversation and compromise?”

“I can lead amicable conversation and compromise with the Rossild Dukedom. I feel like I want to have a deep and intimate exchange.”

Isabel tilted her head.

“Sir Viaton, are you angry?”

“Angry? I’m just someone who’s thirsty for deep intimacy.”

He must be angry.

Isabel thought so.

“I’m not upset at all. In fact, I even find Lady Reina cute.”

She was cute because she was ridiculous.

A little kid whose intentions are so obvious. A small fry who can’t even be considered a villain because she’s so transparent.

That’s all she was to Isabel.

“Lady Reina seems to like Sir Viaton.”

“Ugh.”

Viaton shuddered and made a disgusted face.

He shuddered and said, ‘Ugh, I hate it’, but I just pretended not to hear.

“Is it that disgusting?”

“The only child I like is Your Highness.”

Viaton hates children.

He especially hates whiny and fussy children.

And he hates whiny, fussy, and mean children like Reina even more.

“Sir Viaton, do you like me?”

“Of course. I like you very much.”

Isabel couldn’t help but giggle.

Although I don’t crave it as much as when I was a baby, love and attention are always right.

‘It’s thrilling.’

This is why I live the possessed life.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I’m happy!”

“It’s going to be difficult if you’re happy with just this much.”

Viaton waved his hands from side to side.

“I’ll make you happier.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Viaton realized that Isabel was genuinely happy.

His heart swelled with emotion.

“I hope Sir Viaton is always happy too.”

“……Yes?”

“So please don’t get too obsessed with deep exchange and intimacy. I’m really okay, I’m not upset at all.”

Viaton ended up admiring her.

How can she be so understanding?

“How can our Princess have such a broad heart? Lady Reina was the one who first wielded a tongue-made sword.”

“I don’t want to worry about such trivial things.”

“……”

“I have less time than others.”

So I didn’t want to worry about such trivial things.

Isabel’s time is short.

It’s too short compared to other people.

That’s why Isabel saves time.

That’s how Viaton saw Isabel.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

I like you so much that I’m already afraid of the farewell that will come someday.

He swallowed those words.

He braced himself.

‘Let’s not pity her.’

He decided not to feel sorry for her, even though it hurt.

He thought that was the way to truly care for Isabel, who was living in the present.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Can I hug you?”

His heart became earnest and affectionate.

“Me?”

OMG, jackpot. Hug me a hundred times. You can hug me a thousand times, Sir Viaton.

She didn’t say that.

Hiding her true feelings, she spoke with dignity.

“Do so if you wish, Sir Viaton.”

“Hehe, I’ll give you a ‘Round and Round Spin’ that you like.”

Round and Round Spin.

It meant Viaton holding Isabel and spinning her around.

It was thrilling yet safe because he used magic.

It was also Isabel’s favorite game.

The six-year-old body reacted honestly.

‘What do I do, I’m so excited.’

Isabel was greatly looking forward to the ‘Round and Round Spin’.

But then, something really strange happened.

“Kyaak!”

Something intervened between Isabel and Viaton.

A sweet honey scent began to waft through the air.