The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101
Ch.101
The eventful banquet had finally come to an end.
With the matter of the Tracking Mage resolved, I removed the bracelet and felt instantly lighter, indulging in a feast of food.
After competing with Liam and Void in a cake-eating contest—which I naturally won—I left the banquet hall.
As my older brothers and I exited the Banquet Hall, they were each waylaid by their Academy acquaintances.
Void was surrounded by mischievous-looking boys, while Liam was cornered by a rather demanding Academy research professor.
“Everyone’s busy, aren’t they.”
I struck up a conversation with Kalid.
We settled by the Fountain near the building to wait for the carriage.
‘Father should be coming out soon… so why hasn’t he?’
I’d even ventured to the adult’s banquet hall to search for him, but he wasn’t there either.
I’d considered checking where the Emperor was, wondering if Father was still arguing with him, but I decided against it.
The surroundings were quiet.
Leon had gone to prepare the carriage, and the guests were too absorbed in the party to pay attention to a dull fountain like this.
“Rubian.”
“Hmm?”
Kalid stared at me intently.
“Everything ended well, didn’t it. You’ve disposed of the pendant.”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“The Emperor told the Mage to leave tomorrow without delay.”
“I know…”
I turned my head away, evading the question slightly.
“But why does your expression look like that?”
Ugh. That uncanny fellow.
The truth was, I was troubled. If the “Fourth” really was that Mage from the original story, I should eliminate them immediately.
‘But something feels…’
It was unsettling.
Perhaps my memory wasn’t clear enough. I seemed to lack sufficient evidence to be certain…
At that moment, water suddenly surged from the fountain. The sound of water cascading down swallowed my voice.
“Kalid, could you attach an animal companion to that Mage?”
Kalid raised his handsome eyebrows slightly.
“Of course.”
I needed to observe for a while longer.
‘Besides, I was planning to use the herb tonight anyway.’
I recalled the transparent box I’d loaded into the carriage beforehand.
The Memorial Herb I’d received as a Competition reward.
Using it to glimpse what comes next in the original story would clarify everything.
We watched the refreshing fountain while waiting a bit longer for the carriage.
Not long after, Kalid gestured with his chin toward Father walking in the distance.
“The Duke has arrived. I’ll see you at the mansion then.”
Kalid whispered briefly before disappearing into the distance. He headed toward the Stables to retrieve his horse.
I sprang up from the Fountain and waved my hands frantically.
“Father!”
“Rubian.”
Night had fallen without my noticing. Attendants rushed about, lighting the lamps throughout the grounds.
‘Huh, why does Father’s gaze look like that?’
I felt a small jolt of surprise.
Perhaps it was because the lamps hadn’t all been lit yet.
He’d apparently gone to have words with the Emperor, and his eyes carried an unsettling intensity because of it.
‘Or… is it something else?’
Was he simply exhausted?
“Father, are you hurt somewhere?”
“I’m fine. What about you? I heard something happened at the Banquet Hall.”
“Oh, yes. A Mage suddenly offered to distribute toys to us.”
In that instant, Father’s jaw tightened visibly. The way he looked at me became strangely peculiar.
Peculiar, yet I couldn’t quite discern what that peculiarity meant.
‘Why is he like that?’
Unaccustomed to his intense gaze, I instinctively reached out both my hands toward him.
“Let’s go. The carriage is waiting.”
Father took my hand and began walking.
‘…Huh?’
What was this…?
Whenever I reached out both hands like this, he always used to lift me up.
Had he fought with the Emperor? Or had I been scolded for asking too many questions?
I tilted my head in bewilderment. Father’s grip on my hand felt oddly cold.
The moment we climbed into the carriage, Father habitually opened all the windows. It was a carriage specially designed with enlarged windows just for me.
My motion sickness had improved considerably, but Father always devoted his full attention to my comfort during travel.
‘Come to think of it… I’m quite a demanding child, aren’t I?’
I glanced sideways at him. Father rested his chin against the window, lost in deep contemplation.
As the carriage wheels clattered rhythmically, the night breeze drifted gently through the open windows.
‘Three wrinkles between his brows…’
Those creases appeared when he recalled something displeasing or infuriating.
My tightly clenched fist had grown damp with sweat.
To avoid disturbing Father’s troubled mood, I resolved to remain as quiet as possible. Even my breathing became shallow, my movements gentle.
But at that very moment, the carriage wheel caught on something and lurched violently.
“Oh!”
My body lifted off the seat.
“Careful.”
Father’s startled expression quickly transformed as he swiftly caught hold of me.
“Are you alright, sir and miss? It seems we couldn’t avoid the stones in the darkness.”
Leon, riding his horse behind us, spoke through the carriage window. The Coachman shouted from the front, “My apologies!”
Father answered by tapping the wall twice.
“Rubian, are you hurt? Come here….”
Upon discovering me, Father’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Why are you pressed against the wall like that?”
I quickly straightened my posture. My backside throbbed slightly, but it hardly mattered.
“The wall—I like the wall. When I press against it like this, it’s so cool and hard and….”
“What are you talking about?”
At my incomprehensible rambling, Father’s frown deepened further.
“Why are you so tense…. Ah.”
In that moment, as if understanding something, a long, low sigh escaped Father’s lips.
“I’m sorry.”
“….”
“I’ve been lost in my own thoughts.”
Come here. A large hand suddenly extended and placed me on his lap.
I fidgeted with my fingers nervously.
“I’ll stay quiet. So you can finish thinking….”
Father gazed at me intently, then shook his head.
“No. When I think about it, there’s nothing more to consider. Are you hurt anywhere?”
His voice was as gentle as always, yet somehow my nose stung. His warm hand swept across my rigid back in a soothing gesture.
I hesitated for a moment before gathering courage to ask.
“What were you thinking about… so deeply? Do you have a worry?”
“Mm.”
Father brushed my forehead.
“Actually, it was about you.”
“About me?”
“Yes. Rubian, you… you knew Asha Drucan from before, didn’t you?”
In that moment, the air seemed to freeze.
“…What?”
I asked back stupidly.
Father briefly explained what had happened in the Emperor’s Study.
My expression hardened in real time. It was fortunate the carriage wasn’t well-lit.
‘Licht… was slightly awake at that time?’
So that’s why he suggested we talk like that.
‘Good heavens.’
Only then did the puzzle pieces fall into place.
“After hearing the results of the Banquet Hall search, the Prince apparently realized he had made a grave misunderstanding.”
Father continued.
“His consciousness wavered in the carriage, and from the start, your physical features didn’t match… that escaped Mage’s at all.”
Soon after, a long, drawn-out sigh escaped him.
“…Yes, there was really no point dwelling on it.”
His tone suggested he’d been clinging to something unnecessary.
Just then, the glow of streetlights flooded through the window.
In that same instant, Father’s deep violet eyes—piercing straight through me—locked with mine.
In that moment, I felt compelled to say something.
“I….”
My mind was already a mess.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Father. It’s not.”
My lips moved mechanically.
“I understand. You heard something unnecessary, and it left your heart troubled.”
Father clicked his tongue softly, smoothed my hair with gentle strokes, and drew the curtain slightly closed.
I swallowed hard.
“So, you were upset?”
“Hm?”
“Because I’m a Mage.”
A brief silence fell.
“Yes.”
My hands clenched tightly.
“Just the thought of it… repulsed me.”
Hearing his quiet voice, I squeezed my eyes shut. Father, thinking I was trying to sleep, pulled a nearby blanket over my back.
Pat, pat. The familiar touch continued.
‘Father doesn’t hate me. Get a grip.’
I tried to comfort myself.
But against the darkness of my closed eyes, that earlier scene kept replaying.
Father’s face, unusually dark.
The cold temperature of his hand, like a stranger’s.
The wrinkles etched between his brows as if he were angry.
‘How pathetic… I promised to tell him everything truthfully.’
The memory of being rejected by someone is surprisingly powerful.
Even though I knew Father cherished me.
That dark past, suddenly appearing and crying out not to forget itself… was simply impossible to ignore.
You know. At first, everyone was kind.
But people are far more fickle than one imagines, and adults are generally harsh to children.
“Rubian, are you asleep?”
A low voice checking on me followed.
“…Leon, drive the carriage slowly.”
I didn’t want to fail.
‘In this life, I don’t want to lose anything.’
The warmth of this tender hand.
My family.
I truly didn’t want to be alone anymore.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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