The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 104
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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 104
He scratched his eyebrow awkwardly before offering a polite bow.
“I’m sorry, Rubian.”
“Hm?”
“I was caught up in a misunderstanding. Yesterday must have been difficult for you, wasn’t it?”
Ah. Yesterday’s incident.
I shook my head quietly. After all, it wasn’t Licht’s fault.
“No, that’s why you wanted to keep talking with me.”
“Yeah. I had too many thoughts running through my head. If I caused you any trouble… I’m truly sorry.”
The fact that Zebert despised mages was something even a pebble rolling around would know.
That’s why Licht seemed even more at a loss.
“It’s fine. I was pretty shocked, but well…”
I turned my gaze away as I replied.
“It was simply your misunderstanding. Don’t apologize any further.”
Only then did Licht break into a bright smile.
“Yeah, thank you.”
We crossed the Garden slowly, exchanging light remarks about yesterday. Licht laughed aloud several times at my trivial words, as if genuinely delighted.
‘He looks happy.’
Perhaps his lingering concern had been resolved.
‘But…’
I gazed at Licht for a moment before turning my head slightly, sensing a burning gaze from beside me.
‘Why didn’t he leave?’
I thought he’d make a hasty retreat as usual.
The young boy Kalid, with zero social skills and zero sociability, was today unusually keeping silent vigil at my side.
“Rubian! Over here!”
Sortie waved her hand from in front of the tea table.
The Pergola, with its white columns and arched roof, sat about five steps up.
Without thinking, my pace quickened as I hurried toward it.
“Be careful.”
Licht reflexively extended his hand toward me.
At that moment, a hand shot out from the opposite side and swatted the prince’s hand away.
“A stone.”
Kalid gently grasped my shoulder and pulled me toward him.
“Where?”
“I just cleared it.”
Oh, I see.
I nearly stumbled…
I was about to thank him, but this time I felt heat radiating from Licht’s temple.
When I glanced over, Licht was gently rubbing the reddened back of his hand while smiling.
“…You’ve been quite…”
His voice carried a thin layer of frost.
“How disrespectful.”
My eyelids fluttered rapidly.
What is this… this atmosphere?
“Why do you always wear such a dissatisfied expression? That’s probably why your name is…”
His well-formed lips curved into a short arc of amusement.
“What was it again.”
Kalid let out a light scoff.
“Your disagreeable tone hasn’t changed one bit.”
My head snapped around sharply.
Just then, Titi’s voice called down from above.
“Rubian! What are you doing down there?”
“Oh, coming!”
I moved my feet as though bewitched.
The two boys followed me up the stairs as well, though their gazes still burned with intensity.
…What is this atmosphere?
But that thought evaporated the moment I saw the elaborate tea pastries adorning the table.
“Wow! Did you bring these from House of Count Camelan?”
“Yes. Since you mentioned going to the Duke’s Residence, I pestered the Chef a bit…”
Titi said shyly.
I reached toward a chair with great excitement, ready to sit down…
“Don’t. Let go.”
“You let go.”
…but stopped short.
The two boys had both seized the white chair’s backrest firmly.
“Move. I grabbed it first.”
“Did you? Is the order really that important?”
“Yes. It’s important. Everything.”
“So that’s all you have to boast about.”
Licht laughed menacingly while Kalid stared at the prince without changing his expression.
Crackle. Crackle-crackle.
Sparks flew fiercely from both sides—my back felt like it might split open. Save me, poor shrimp Rubian.
“Rubian… What’s with those two people?”
Sortie whispered softly. I shrugged and pulled out the chair next to Titi to sit down.
“No idea. They must be coveting that chair.”
“My goodness. Boys will be boys.”
Kalid and Licht glanced over at us, then finally released their obsession with the chair.
‘But why has Kalid been speaking informally to the prince this whole time?’
And why is the prince accepting it?
I can’t tell if they’re on good terms or bad terms.
I shook my head firmly and reached for a delectable-looking mini tart.
As I glanced around searching for a plate to place the tart on, two gleaming plates appeared before me as if they had been waiting.
“….”
When I looked up, I discovered two young boys glaring at each other with murderous intent while clutching the plates.
“How about you refrain from butting in at every opportunity? It doesn’t seem befitting of that cloak you wear.”
Licht muttered in a soft tone. Kalid let out a snort and pushed the plate he held slightly forward.
“You’re the one who should stop giving me reasons to interfere.”
“Isn’t it embarrassing to resort to brute force like this?”
“I only gave it a slight push, so what force are you talking about….”
Kalid responded with slow sarcasm.
“Right. It must feel different for a delicate prince who was dragged away helplessly in Ipson Alley compared to someone like you.”
“Well, who knows? From what I hear, you weren’t in such a different position back then either.”
“At least I didn’t let go of what was right in front of me.”
“What’s the difference?”
“Th-th-that’s enoooough!”
Unable to watch any longer, I finally intervened. I stood up and positioned myself between the two with my arms spread wide.
“What’s this? Ridiculous! Why have you two been fighting like that since earlier?”
“….”
“….”
Crackle. Crackle.
“Huh? Huh huh?”
This isn’t just a staring contest! Electricity is literally sparking in this era!
“Stop the eye contact right now!”
Turn your heads. Turn them!
I forcibly turned both boys’ heads away.
“We weren’t fighting, Rubian. We were just having a conversation.”
“That’s a lie!”
Licht smiled gently and sat down composedly.
“I was definitely fighting.”
“How proud of you.”
Kalid merely turned his head away with a displeased expression.
What on earth happened to make things like this?
‘Kalid’s social skills are a complete disaster!’
He’s gone from zero to completely negative!
An awkward silence descended.
From somewhere came the delicious sound of a crunch.
“Titi…? What are you doing right now…?”
“Oh my, oh my.”
Sortie set down the caramel cookie she had been holding. Along with the maids around her, her eyes were sparkling with unmistakable excitement.
“It’s just so fascinating to watch…. It seems reality is more entertaining than the fairy tales the maids read to us….”
“Pardon?”
What kind of fairy tale was I reading?!
Yet Sortie merely murmured to herself, wiggling her little finger this way and that.
“Indeed. Like this and like that and so on…. Hmm. Hmm.”
“What arrows are you even drawing?! Argh, you two stop stacking tart towers on my plate right now!”
It was utterly chaotic tea time!
Stop fighting already! I’d rather you two went back to not knowing each other! Please! Rubian, I’m begging you!
Rubian cried out at the top of her voice.
‘What’s bothering her now that she’s chirping away like that?’
Leviathan chuckled softly as he caught a glimpse of the child’s back of the head through the window. She’d rushed off to the Training Ground this morning, and she certainly seemed energetic.
“You seem pleased, sir.”
Leviathan flinched at the sudden voice that intruded.
“What? When did you arrive?”
“…I have been here from the beginning, sir.”
Ah, that’s right.
Leviathan drew the curtains and returned to the Reception Room table.
Camelan Count stroked his beard with a triumphant expression.
“There you have it, sir. As I suspected, Rubian is indeed your daugh——”
“Adolf, bring some sandwiches and soup or something. She skipped breakfast.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Butler bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Camelan Count sat down and chuckled again.
“Indeed. I myself am quite smitten with daughters, but you seem even more so, sir. As I said back then, that she seemed like a girl——”
“Count. Drink your tea.”
Leviathan slid the teacup across. Camelan Count picked it up with a knowing smile.
“My prediction back then that she was like my daughter was correct——”
“The taste is rather astringent. Don’t drink it.”
“Come now, won’t you just acknowledge it!”
Finally, the Count exploded.
He’s doing this on purpose.
He’s deliberately acting like that because he feels awkward!
Leviathan raised his eyebrows with composure.
“I don’t understand why you’re getting heated alone.”
“That’s enough!”
“Are you short on work lately? You seem to have quite a bit of energy left. I could assign you something else——”
“This tea is truly fragrant, sir. Weighed down by work, I had forgotten the luxury of a single cup of tea. Hehe.”
Camelan Count praised the tea without even tasting it.
Watching him, Leviathan finally let out a snort of laughter. He picked up his teacup and murmured.
“Well…. Even you have your moments of being right.”
“Don’t I?”
The Count looked up with a half-smile.
But then his chin tilted slightly askew. Something about that phrasing felt odd.
“Does that mean everything I usually say is wrong…?”
“A misunderstanding. So, what happened?”
The teacup clinked softly as Leviathan set it down.
The Count scratched his chin awkwardly, then haltingly broached the main topic.
“Well, yes. As you instructed, I searched through the Mage’s Bedroom.”
Leviathan’s gaze darkened in an instant.
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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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