The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 179

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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 179
* * *
I emerged from the Library and took a leisurely stroll through the Imperial Palace Garden with Licht.
Having been cooped up inside reading documents, I’d developed an inexplicable dizziness.
‘Just looking at letters makes me feel like I’m going to be sick.’
Still, the crisp air quickly revived my spirits.
In the distance, young nobles who had come to visit the Imperial Palace with their parents occupied individual Greenhouses, enjoying tea time.
My eyes widened instantly at the sight.
“Licht, Licht! Do you see that? That’s exactly it! Make sure to tell the person making the macarons that the filling should be precisely that texture and quantity!”
“…Those macarons really were terrible.”
“There was potential for improvement. Truly.”
I was just being polite about someone I knew, but for some reason, he pressed his lips together and his cheeks flushed red.
We walked through the quiet Garden, exchanging various conversations.
Licht listened well to everything and responded thoughtfully, making him an exceptionally comfortable companion to talk with.
I was chattering away about how I’d ended up performing in a play at the graduation academic festival when I felt his gaze fixed intently upon me from beside me.
“What is it?”
“Rubian, I’ve been thinking about this for a while now.”
Licht turned to face me directly and gazed at me earnestly.
“You look a bit tired today. Are you alright?”
“Oh, is it that obvious?”
I touched beneath my eyes.
“I stayed up all night chatting with Mother yesterday, so that must be it.”
“Ah…. Now that you mention it, the Duchess has returned.”
A low chuckle escaped from Licht.
“What on earth did you two have so much to talk about?”
“When I mentioned the confession letter, she got incredibly excited….”
“…Confession…?”
His laughter died as if it had never existed.
“Again…. You received one? Who is it this time?”
“It was anonymous, so I’m not entirely sure?”
“…Out of all the ones so far, hmm.”
Why did his voice suddenly sound strained?
“…Among everyone who’s confessed to you so far, is there anyone who appeals to you? Has there been anyone?”
“Hmm.”
It was quite a difficult question.
I recalled the yellow letter that had been in my locker a few days ago.
While some confession letters bore names, there were many anonymous ones like this recent one.
They said they wanted to confess before I graduated from the Academy after my coming-of-age ceremony, or something like that.
I found them fascinating in many ways.
I’d consulted Mother about similar matters just yesterday.
“How can you tell if you like someone? Is there some kind of certain indicator? I’m not sure myself…. What on earth gives them such confidence? What do they believe in to say they like me?”
“Hmm, the feeling of liking someone. It’s difficult to explain in words, but shall I tell you how your mother felt?”
“Yes!”
Mother stroked me gently beneath the blanket and chuckled softly.
“You see, I wanted to bite your father.”
“Bite…. What?”
“Chomp! And then I realized it was love.”
“…Huh?”
“Chomp!”
“Eek!”
And so my confusion only deepened further….
Sigh.
This truly is a difficult subject.
I don’t think I can possibly solve it.
My head felt like it was spinning.
* * *
Licht was anxious.
‘Why…. Is he thinking so long about this?’
Could it be that he had asked a foolish question?
Rubian didn’t seem to have any particular thoughts yet, so had he given him too much time to ponder, hoping he might gain some revelation? What should he do then?
He felt his heart burning intensely as he gently squeezed Rubian’s shoulder.
“Rubian. Why are you thinking so deeply about it?”
Then focus quickly returned to those blue eyes.
“Oh, sorry. But why are you sweating so much?”
Right.
Why am I sweating like this?
Rubian shrugged lightly.
“There was no one I had feelings for. I was grateful, but I politely declined everyone.”
Then he met his gaze and smiled brightly.
“It seems I still prefer my family more. Perhaps I always will.”
Licht’s hands clenched slightly at the fingertips.
His heart raced rapidly, and every blood vessel in his body felt engorged.
‘Just because he smiled slightly, I’m like this….’
He laughed at himself inwardly.
‘I’m in serious condition too.’
Licht resumed walking slowly, glancing at Rubian who was chattering away incessantly.
The Imperial Family must always maintain proper posture and an unwavering gaze.
Yet his body had long since lost control.
‘He smells so nice….’
Rubian always carried a clean, gentle fragrance—sometimes it seemed like a bright lemon scent, sometimes like a subtle floral aroma.
Silver hair tied high, a face with soft and gentle features, eyes sparkling with captured sunlight.
‘But her complexion keeps looking poor.’
Her unusually pale complexion kept nagging at me.
‘Did she really just miss one night of sleep?’
The moment such a thought crossed my mind, I was about to suggest she go home and rest today instead.
“My, my, what a shabby display… It’s Licht.”
At the familiar voice, Licht swallowed a small curse inwardly.
It was the First Prince.
I’d heard he was going hunting this morning.
‘So I have a spy in my circle.’
Licht concluded coldly and began formulating a plan to root them out.
“I heard some careless whispering and came to check, but what exactly are you—”
The First Prince’s steps, which had been approaching with mockery, came to an abrupt halt.
He had spotted Rubian, who had been hidden behind Licht’s body.
“Oh.”
Rubian poked her head out from behind Licht and quickly offered a respectful greeting.
“Greetings, Your Highness the First Prince.”
“Ahem! Yes, yes. Lady Rubian.”
At his reluctant response, Licht laughed inwardly.
This arrogant First Prince’s number one person he least wanted to encounter in the Imperial Palace was Rubian.
‘Though it wasn’t always like that, of course.’
To be honest, when Rubian first encountered the First Prince while coming and going from the Imperial Palace, Licht was deeply worried.
I couldn’t predict how the First Prince, with his cunning serpent’s tongue, would wound her.
But that was my needless concern.
“It seems you’re quite close with Licht, Lady Rubian.”
“Yes. We’re friends.”
“My, my… You’re not a child anymore, so you should be more deliberate when choosing your companions.”
His tone subtly mocked Rubian for being associated with Licht.
“If you keep something by your side that’s bound to rot soon, won’t the stench seep into you as well?”
“Pardon? I don’t use things until they rot.”
Of course, it didn’t work.
“Surely Your Highness doesn’t do that? Wow, you’re surprisingly frugal. Should I go spread the word about it?”
“…”
The First Prince’s expression became like that of someone who had punched a soft, gelatinous substance with all their might.
The other party felt no impact whatsoever, yet he alone felt as though he’d given his all…
“Ahem, ahem! You’re truly still so innocent, Lady Rubian! It seems the Zebert Duke was rather lenient with his children’s education. Even if you’re the youngest, it appears he simply raised you preciously!”
You seem to have received quite a haphazard home education.
He attacked again.
“Ah… Is it that obvious?”
“Huh? Why are your cheeks flushing here?”
“You can tell you were raised well. Nobility shows.”
“Wait, I didn’t say ‘well’….”
“Thank you. As you know, I’m adopted, so praise like this truly means everything to me. I’ll be sure to tell Father.”
The First Prince regarded Rubian—who stood with a bashful expression, tapping her toes—with an exhausted look.
It seemed he was only now realizing that quarrels required the other person to actually feel quarreled with.
After a few more such incidents, the First Prince began avoiding Rubian altogether.
Though today, they had happened to cross paths.
“Dismissing your attendants to be alone together….”
The First Prince’s gaze swept between Licht and Rubian.
“While I admire your free spirit, it would be wise to maintain proper decorum, my lady.”
“Pardon? This dress is brand new. It’s perfectly proper.”
“No, I mean—what business do a grown man and woman have in such a secluded place….”
“What? We’re in the Garden with open views in all four directions. What else would we be doing besides taking a walk and conversing?”
“Well, that is….”
“It seems Your Highness must do quite a lot of other things in secluded gardens besides walking and talking?”
The pointed emphasis in her voice drew the attention of passersby down the path.
The First Prince does other things in secluded places? What things? Who knows.
Whisper, whisper. Murmur, murmur.
“What are you doing? Playing breath-holding games?”
“….”
The First Prince’s face twitched convulsively. Licht, as always, pressed his thigh to stifle his laughter.
In the end, the First Prince—who had come to quarrel with Licht—turned and fled as if driven away by Rubian.
In the past, he would have pestered me with insults for quite some time before leaving.
‘Ah.’
Licht swallowed a short breath.
His gaze fell upon her delicate fingers, which had gently grasped the edge of his sleeve.
As if to say: don’t step forward, or perhaps: don’t be hurt.
Until now, no one in this Imperial Palace had ever taken his side without reason. He had thought it would remain that way.
‘…but she does this.’
Licht struggled to suppress the turmoil in his chest.
‘How could I not come to care for her?’
That confession letter Rubian had received.
Licht naturally recalled the letters of inquiry he had sent whenever Rubian stayed in the Northern Region.
He would carefully select the finest stationery, practice countless times, and write in his most beautiful hand.
Now, looking back, he wondered if those had been his first love letters.
* * *
Watching the First Prince stumble away, I dusted off my hands with a pat.
Perhaps I had been a bit excessive, but seeing Licht laugh so openly made me feel oddly proud.
‘Our future Crown Prince doesn’t need to step in for my sake.’
Besides, I truly despised the First Prince.
It was because when we first met, his intention to sway me and draw Father to his side felt far too transparent.
I absolutely despised being regarded as a “string” that could pull the Zebert Duchy into his camp.
‘What am I, some weakness of our house?!’
Truly, it was mortifying!
In any case, Licht had been meticulously gathering the First Prince’s weaknesses. He would expose them soon enough.
‘But in the original story, there seemed to be a more definitive catalyst for the First Prince’s downfall….’
“…Rubian.”
Hmm…. What was it again.
The original story had changed so drastically anyway.
I wasn’t sure what good it would do to recall it, but still, if there was meaningful information, I wanted to remember it.
“Rubian?”
‘I need to do my best too.’
I’m no longer a child—I’m an adult now.
Just as I was lost in thought like that.
“Rubian!”
“Huh?”
My consciousness snapped back at the sound of his low voice calling my name.
As my focus gradually sharpened, I felt Licht’s teal eyes and the firm grip of his hand holding mine.
What was that.
‘Did my vision just blur for a moment?’
“Are you alright? What’s wrong?”
“Ah, I think I was just thinking too hard.”
Or perhaps the First Prince had drained my energy without me realizing it.
“This won’t do. I think you should head back for today. I’ll take you.”
Just as I was shaking my head to clear it.
Pitter-patter.
“Oh.”
I felt something warm trickling down my nose.
Oh, good heavens.
“Rubian!”
I quickly pulled out a handkerchief and pinched my nose. Seeing the red stain spreading rapidly, I fell into a mild panic.
“Your Highness, what has happened?”
The Maids came rushing at the sound of the commotion.
“My Lady?!”
“No, I’m, I’m fine….”
In that moment, a familiar hand wrapped around my shoulders from behind. A large book simultaneously shielded my face.
“It’s alright. Keep your head down.”
The familiar scent of ink and paper.
“Brother?”
As I lifted my gaze, Liam stood looking down at me, his face drained of all color.

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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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