The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 122

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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 122
Blue hydrangeas filled the window frame, their moisture-laden petals trembling intermittently as if greeting me.
What…? So that’s why they were outside my door?
“I’ll have them removed.”
“Huh?”
My scattered thoughts snapped back into focus.
Kalid muttered dejectedly from behind me.
“I didn’t realize you were upset. I overstepped. I’m sorry.”
“No… why flowers all of a sudden?”
“The magic stones all disappeared, so the windowsill was empty. You seemed lonely, so I brought these.”
I found myself at a loss for words.
Once I’d used all the neatly arranged lavender-tinted magic stones, naturally that space had become vacant.
I’d thought something felt a bit empty, but honestly, I never expected Kalid to pay attention to such details.
“I’ll remove them right now.”
“Damn it… you!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I grabbed the hem of Kalid’s clothes as he turned to leave.
“Why aren’t you angry with me?!”
“…What?”
The boy faltered slightly at my sudden outburst.
“You should be mad! I left without saying anything, but you left me a note and brought gifts—you should have called me out for being awful!”
“But I’m not angry… I’m not.”
“Damn it. I was completely in the wrong just now! I had no right to be upset!”
“You’re using some difficult words today…”
I felt both indignant and ashamed. He was paying attention to my smallest concerns, yet here I was, sulking alone and venting my frustration.
“It’s infuriating! You’re too kind!”
“Only to you.”
A large shadow fell over my head. Kalid hesitated but spoke through to the end.
“I want to seem kind. Only to you.”
“…”
My lips, which had been pouting stubbornly, froze solid.
I stared blankly at Kalid’s retreating figure as he passed by me. The arrow and bow slipped from his limp hands and clattered to the ground.
Thump, thump. It felt as though someone were striking my heart repeatedly with a small hammer.
“Rubian, but I also wanted to go to the Capital with you in autumn… what are you doing?”
Kalid touched the suction arrow embedded in the back of his head.
“Uh, um?”
Slightly flustered, I lowered the hand that had been gripping the arrow.
“I caught something…”
“What.”
“A handsome insect…”
Kalid’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Tell me about it….
I don’t even know what I’m doing.
* * *
That evening.
The Castle was brimming with vitality for the first time in ages.
The senior Knights had returned safely, and the atmosphere was nothing short of festive.
Caught up in the excitement, I wandered about, but every Knight I encountered lifted me up and spun me around, forcing me to eventually flee from them.
‘There’s no way the magic stone’s performance was that impressive!’
With a grimace, I crept out from behind a decoration.
Listening to them, it sounded as though my decorations and cheers were some invincible artifact that could split heaven and earth, move mountains, and make one fearless of fire and water.
“Miss, what are you doing here? You should head to the Dining Room at once.”
“Ah, Hazel…. Save me.”
I reached out my hand to Hazel.
After hearing the gist of the situation, Hazel tilted her eyebrows sympathetically and pulled me into an embrace.
“Our young lady will certainly be busy every year from now on.”
“This year is the first and last…. I’m going on strike!”
“I support you.”
Protected by Hazel’s iron-clad care, I entered the Dining Room to find Father, Mother, and Grandfather already gathered.
Seeing Father’s usually empty seat now filled made me feel inexplicably happy.
“You’re late.”
“Hehe. In exchange, I’ll eat two bell peppers.”
Father raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“You’re supposed to eat four. You’re sneakily reducing the number.”
“Gasp, how did you know?”
Who is it?
Who told him about my bell pepper quota?
I shot a sharp glare at Mother and Grandfather.
Both of them seemed guilty and deliberately avoided meeting my eyes.
“Well then, we’ve prepared various dishes to celebrate the Lord’s return!”
The Chef appeared with a pleased expression, personally wheeling out the trolley. Soon, an elaborate feast was laid upon the table.
“Delicious….”
I savored the meat dripping with cream sauce. Father chuckled softly and placed a generous chunk of meat on my plate.
As the feast reached its height.
Once I’d eaten my fill, I carefully gauged the atmosphere around me.
‘Should I say it now? When should I say it?’
As my fork movements slowed noticeably, Mother tilted her head.
“Rubian, are you full?”
“It’s not that…. Actually, I have something to tell you.”
“Something to tell? What is it that you’re being so hesitant about? Out with it!”
At Grandfather’s words, I set down my utensils with deliberate composure.
All eyes turned toward me.
“Esteemed family members, I, Rubian….”
“….”
“I wish to attend the Academy!”
Clatter.
Father and Grandfather’s utensils fell with an almost comical clang. Mother, maintaining her composure, picked up her napkin and dabbed her lips.
“The Academy? But you told Father you’d study at home.”
I felt a twinge of embarrassment. That was true.
When I’d received the Academy pamphlet, I’d been quite haughty about it.
“The Academy? Hmm, I believe I require more personalized instruction. Of course, in the Northern Region with its pristine waters and pure air…. What do you think, Father?”
“That’s quite clever, actually—Liam, give back your glasses. He’s talking to a tree again.”
In any case, that’s how Father decided to hire a private tutor for me, and the matter was settled then and there.
“I apologize for changing my mind, but I’d like to attend this camp first and then decide.”
I pointed to a paper attached to one side of the pamphlet.
“An autumn camp?”
“Yes. So if you’ll sponsor the participation fee, I’ll become a greater person and repay your kindness.”
“Money isn’t the issue, Rubian. Can you really live away from home? It’s nearly ten days!”
When I stared at him wondering what the problem was, Father clamped his mouth shut.
“Right, right. Does that even make sense? Let’s just… invite the Academy students to the Northern Region instead! Yes! That would be perfect!”
“No, I dislike that.”
I shook my head while looking at Grandfather’s face.
The whole point is to visit the Capital Academy itself!
Sensing the atmosphere wasn’t going to be easy, my shoulders sagged. I tapped the crème brûlée in front of me absently and murmured.
“It won’t work…? Because I changed my mind…?”
Father released a long sigh.
“There’s no reason it shouldn’t work.”
Then, as if conceding defeat, he relaxed his shoulders and spoke.
“Fine. Then let’s all go to the Capital together in autumn.”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Mother also responded lightly.
I slowly lifted my head and blinked.
“All of us together?”
“Send a troublemaker alone? Absolutely not.”
“I’m not going to cause trouble!”
Though admittedly, I wasn’t going just to enjoy the camp either!
Father laughed off my protest.
“Your cheeks right now are exactly the cheeks of someone planning mischief.”
A long arm stretched out and poked my cheek.
I tensed both cheeks, making them hollow.
“…you…”
How did you know?
Regardless, your intuition is eerily sharp!
Ch.122
Time flowed onward until autumn of that year arrived.
The Capital Rieta Academy was in a tremendous uproar.
It was the beginning of the autumn semester, and more importantly, it marked the start of the preparatory camp for prospective students.
The atmosphere this year was particularly charged with excitement, and the reason was…
“I heard the Zebert Duchy’s daughter came to the Capital? To participate in the camp?”
Rumors had spread that the very “Northern Duchess” who commanded everyone’s attention would be participating.
The duchess who swept through last year’s New Leaf Festival like a comet.
The very same duchess who not only survived the harsh Northern Region but commands the terrifying Zebert Duchy with a mere gesture of her chin.
They said that upon seeing her pristine silver hair and those cold blue eyes, everyone’s bodies would stiffen. Though still young, she was undoubtedly a girl possessed of such austere majesty as to pacify the Zebert itself.
“But why isn’t she here?”
The camp opening ceremony, where crimson autumn leaves fell with elegant grace.
People’s eyes darted restlessly about the surroundings.
“That’s strange. She should have arrived by now…”
Both the enrolling students and the parents who had come to observe searched intently for the duchess.
But…
“-Very well, this concludes the opening ceremony.”
Until the event ended, not a trace of the silver-haired, blue-eyed girl appeared. It seemed the Zebert Duchy hadn’t even attended the ceremony.
“…Could it have been a false rumor?”
“I thought I heard that the Zebert Duke himself, along with the Duchess and the Grandfather, came in person to complete the registration.”
“That’s true. And aren’t they staying at the Town House right now? Could we have misunderstood and she’s participating next year’s camp instead?”
“Surely not.”
People’s heads tilted in confusion.
Then someone pointed with their fingertip toward something.
“But who is that young boy standing over there?”
“Oh, that’s transfer student Liam. Wait—isn’t he the one who won the equestrian competition at this year’s New Leaf Festival?”
“Ah, I remember now! I heard the Jebert Family is sponsoring him!”
People let out sighs of admiration.
“There’s something distinctly different about him from the start…”
The young boy possessed an undeniably captivating quality.
Dark blue-green hair and sharply upturned eyes. A face that appeared indifferent, as though uninterested in all things.
Though he wore the same Academy uniform as everyone else, his angular features somehow stood out distinctly. Could that mysteriously alluring aura stem from the two tear marks beneath his eyes?
“The duchess may not have come, but this year’s Academy should prove quite entertaining.”
“Indeed it will… Oh my, you there. What are you doing?”
At that moment, one of those conversing suddenly furrowed their brow sharply.
“Ah, I-I apologize!”
“A maid shouldn’t be in this area.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
The Maid bowed deeply and hurried away, her body trembling. She slipped out of the Assembly Hall without another word.
The Academy Grounds lay eerily quiet.
She found a secluded spot and swiftly shed the Maid’s uniform.
“Ugh, the stench.”
She’d heard that a certain noble house had dismissed its servants en masse, so she’d searched the area and, sure enough, discovered this discarded uniform. It was filthy, of course.
Beneath it, her ordinary clothes emerged—a black turtleneck pulled up to her chin.
“So the Academy isn’t it, then…”
Round heads flashed through her mind.
“The Capital… it’s difficult to sense mana here.”
She wiped the sweat from her brow.

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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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