The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 102

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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 102
* * *
“Shh.”
Leviathan placed a finger gently against his lips.
Hazel and Adolf, who had been waiting at the entrance of the mansion, quickly caught on and softened their footsteps.
Leviathan carried the child up the stairs to the bedroom. The boy’s face was deeply asleep—he must have been exhausted.
“I suspect Asha Drucan and Rubian may have known each other from before.”
The young prince’s voice echoed in my ears. Leviathan laid Rubian on the bed and gazed at his sleeping face for a long time.
Truthfully, my memory of how I met Rubian and boarded the carriage was hazy.
“Does that mean Rubian is the mage the Mage Kingdom is searching for?”
Even hearing my own voice as I asked this, it trembled so badly it was pathetic. I didn’t even want to entertain such a possibility.
Licht quickly shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. Didn’t you just hear? The Kingdom Mage Order failed in their search.”
“….”
“So it must have been my mistake.”
Leviathan clenched his fist tightly.
Though the conversation ended there, I couldn’t shake off the unsettling sensation that lingered throughout the carriage ride.
‘If Rubian were a mage….’
The thought kept returning.
It was a dizzying possibility. Merely imagining it made my blood run cold.
He habitually reached into his pocket and fingered the smooth glass vial.
“Sigh….”
A long breath escaped him as he brushed the hair from the child’s forehead.
If Rubian were a mage….
‘That would be far too cruel.’
If he were a Kingdom Mage, he might have experienced that battlefield.
I knew the reality of that battlefield better than anyone.
For ten years, I fought relentlessly to keep my precious person from being driven into that terrible place.
But what if you had been there all along?
‘What did I draw my sword for?’
Everything would become meaningless. I didn’t think I could bear that truth.
“My lord. Perhaps it’s time to return….”
Hazel approached and whispered softly.
Leviathan nodded briefly and rose to his feet.
‘I’ve wasted enough time on pointless thoughts.’
This was merely a misunderstanding born from the prince’s speculation.
‘Tsk, I’ve only made the boy anxious for nothing.’
He pressed a long kiss to Rubian’s forehead in apology. Afterward, he lingered a moment longer to ensure the child wasn’t plagued by nightmares before turning to leave.
As he moved toward the door, his footsteps suddenly halted.
“….”
A familiar clothing rack placed in one corner of the room captured my attention with unusual intensity.
On the rack hung boys’ clothes and girls’ clothes in disorderly arrangement, though neatly folded.
‘Rubian hid her gender.’
At the sudden recollection of the past, Leviathan’s eyes deepened with intensity.
‘…Was that all?’
I startled myself with my own thoughts.
“Really, Star.”
Leviathan let out an incredulous snort and strode out of the Bedroom with long steps.
Once I indulge in fantasies, there’s no end to them.
‘I should go greet Rosetta.’
He brushed aside his musings and moved swiftly down the Corridor.
The dim moonlight trailed behind him like a long tail.
* * *
In the dark night, beneath the hazy moonlight.
‘Huh? What is this place?’
The atmosphere felt oddly familiar… I recognized this situation without difficulty.
It was a dream.
Moreover, a dream I’d seen before!
I widened my eyes as far as they could go with both index fingers and scanned my surroundings frantically.
But everything was shrouded in thick fog, and I couldn’t see anything at all.
‘What is this fog! Get out of the way!’
Then, two familiar silhouettes appeared.
“The price for standing against our King shall be severe…. …. ….”
A line I’d rehearsed countless times.
‘So? Who are you to say such a thing!’
But contrary to my desperate desire, all I could discern was the Kingdom Priest’s robes and the World Tree’s emblem visible through the sleeve gaps. It was exactly the same as before.
‘Is this person really the “fourth” one?’
That’s when it happened. My vision shifted as if the camera angle had rotated.
I was startled.
‘Father…?’
It was because the appearance of Father in the dream—that is, Leviathan from the original work—came into view directly ahead.
As if I had entered the body of the Mage who killed Leviathan… I was unmistakably facing him.
This was the first time I’d seen Leviathan’s face in detail. But his appearance seemed somehow very.
‘Worn down…’
It was distinctly different from how he looked now.
Setting aside things like his roughened skin, his eyes lacked vitality. His complexion also seemed somewhat darkened….
But why did it feel so familiar?
In that moment, Leviathan’s violet eyes met mine directly.
The man’s lips parted.
“Run away. Far, far away.”
‘Surely he wasn’t speaking to me just now…?’
Before I could even ask, a thick fog rolled in.
The dream ended there.
* * *
“Huh.”
I sat up in bed with a bewildered expression.
What was that dream about?
‘Did Leviathan in the dream just speak to me?’
Or was it just dialogue from the original story?
But it made no sense for Leviathan to tell a mage who came to kill him to run away.
‘What’s going on? Was it just my imagination?’
I crossed my arms and fell into serious contemplation.
Soft sunlight streamed brightly across the white bedsheet, and only then did I realize it was morning.
“Oh no, that’s right.”
I’d forgotten….
About using the herbs last night!
The moment I sprang from the bed, the door slid open smoothly.
“Miss, did you sleep well…? Huh? What are you doing under the bed? Playing hide-and-seek?”
“Hazel! Where are my herbs?”
“Goodness, calm down. They’re right here.”
Hazel pointed to the table. When I lifted the cloth draped over it, a transparent box came into view.
Only then did a long sigh of relief escape me.
“Phew. I thought I’d lost them.”
“My. Were the herbs really that precious to you?”
Hazel laughed as she swept open the curtains with a flourish.
‘Did I have that dream because I slept with these herbs?’
I gazed at the verdant leaves glistening with moisture and fell into thought.
Perhaps their mystical energy had subtly emanated and reacted with my mana?
‘Answer me! Wizeria!’
But the sea in my mind remained silent as always. By now I’d grown accustomed to her negligence.
I’d intended to use these herbs last night, but I’d fallen into a deep sleep in the carriage on the way back.
Of course, I’d been exhausted from dealing with so many things. Still, even so!
“Father brought me back?”
“Yes. He watched over you for quite some time before leaving.”
“I see….”
If Father had stayed by my side the whole time, I probably wouldn’t have been able to use the herbs even if I’d woken up midway.
I touched the box and carefully retraced yesterday’s events in my mind.
‘Yesterday was really shocking.’
I’d nearly been suspected of being a mage.
Fortunately, Father seemed to have reached his own conclusion, and somehow we’d gotten through it, but….
‘Ugh, I dodged the question again.’
I felt a bit deflated.
“But what are you going to do with these herbs? Should I ask Borbel to brew them for me this evening? Or would it be better on an empty stomach in the morning?”
“No!”
I hastily gathered the box into my arms.
“I’ll take care of it myself!”
“You’re going to eat them raw?”
“Yeah. I’ll chew them up thoroughly…. Well, this is how you’re supposed to eat these things.”
“Even though you hate bitter things so much?”
Hazel gave me a puzzled look but said nothing more.
After all, I was the Herbalism ace that even Borbel, the renowned physician of the Northern Region, had acknowledged, so she seemed to think I’d handle it properly.
I hid the box beneath my blanket.
Pat, pat. I’ll eat you later. Sleep well now.
Then I quickly washed up, changed clothes, and carefully put on the brown shoes Mother had given me. These were perfect for running.
“Where are you going?”
“To see Kalid!”
“Wait, what about breakfast!”
“Later! I’ll just grab brunch!”
“Young Master will be so pleased!”
Miss!
Hazel called out my name plaintively. But no one could stop the fastest child in the New Leaf Festival.
“Kaliiid!”
I ran toward the Training Ground.
On the way there, I encountered several Knight seniors. They congratulated me on my victory and pressed all sorts of gifts into my hands.
“You’re clumsy.”
Kalid, who had been training with a wooden sword since morning, furrowed his brow.
As I caught my breath in the shade, he came over and made a hand visor for me.
“Phew, it’s getting hot now.”
“Why are you carrying so much stuff?”
“Oh, puzzles and cookies and blocks and dolls and hair pins and….”
“…Did they all skip morning training and just raid the shops?”
Unbelievable. For seniors, no less.
Kalid, unexpectedly the model student type, clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Give them here.”
He took the armful of miscellaneous items from me instead. We headed toward the nearby shade of a tree.
I casually examined the seniors’ gifts and picked up the most eye-catching blocks.
As I stacked them neatly, Kalid helped from beside me.
“What about that mage? Did she leave?”
I lowered my voice as I asked. From a distance, it would just look like we were playing, right?
Kalid looked at me intently.
“Haven’t you heard the news yet?”
“What…?”
“The Northern Portal broke down. They say we’ll be staying here for at least three more days.”
“That can’t be right!”
Crash. The blocks I’d stacked up to the second level tumbled down.

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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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