The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 183

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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 183
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“Casalia’s procession has changed direction toward a village near the Border instead of the Gate? Is that right?”
I lifted my head sharply while hastily packing my belongings.
“Yes. Apparently the Princess suddenly expressed a desire to see the village festival.”
After pushing my bag aside and sitting before the mirror, Hazel began curling my hair as she spoke.
“A festival?”
“You know, the modest winter festival they hold near the Babylon Border Village.”
“Ah….”
The Maid’s expression in the mirror grew slightly sharp.
“The Princess seems quite capricious. No matter how flexible her schedule is, isn’t she being rather willful?”
Instead of responding, I simply blinked silently.
So the Princess was that type of character.
But more than that….
“A festival and young men and women….”
What is this?
Could it be that event which supposedly awakens feelings that weren’t there before?
“Miss, what did you say?”
“…Nothing!”
I shook my head vigorously and finished dressing.
When I turned back to the mirror, my eyes met those of a woman with a sullen expression.
Hmm. It’s been ages since I’ve worn this functional attire!
“Adorable little Knight!”
“Oof!”
Hazel pulled me into a tight embrace. It seemed I would never escape being treated like a child in this household….
“Just say the last three syllables.”
“Adorable?”
“I said the last ones!”
I struggled free after some effort. Hazel laughed softly.
“Now, put your hood on properly. Don’t let anyone discover you’re a noble lady, and have a good time, yes?”
“Yes.”
That was right. I remained disguised as a low-ranking Knight of ambiguous gender and identity.
It was the condition Father had set for permitting my outing.
After hearing Allen’s words and seized by an inexplicable sense of urgency, I went straight to Father and told him I would accompany Casalia’s escort support procession.
The support unit was to be composed of personnel from our Knight Order anyway, and it was merely a matter of leaving the Capital and traveling to the Babylon Border—nothing particularly dangerous.
“I’ll permit it, but don’t reveal your identity. If you move about as a noble lady, attention will naturally focus on you and it will become tedious. You’d have to meet the King before you even encountered Kalid.”
“Ugh, I hate that.”
Hiding my identity was my specialty.
“But why do you need to verify the stone tablet inscription so urgently? Is something weighing on your mind? Something you can’t wait even a few days for?”
“…W-well, there is something like that.”
“….”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak because of the Princess and Kalid….
Of course, I needed another full day of rest due to my condition.
Regardless, today was the day!
With my hair perfectly pinned up and hidden, and decorative arrows slung across my back, I strode forward with confidence.
As I stepped outside the Zebert Mansion and caught sight of the procession being prepared in the distance, my heart couldn’t help but flutter slightly.
‘I’m meeting Kalid!’
After two years, finally!
‘Will he be surprised?’
I recalled the face of Kalid the last time I’d seen him.
“….”
What’s wrong?
I only remember clearly how he looked as a child; the rest is fuzzy….
Now that I think about it, he was incredibly busy around the time he left to search for the monument, so we barely saw each other.
‘Ah, right. That’s why I was so annoyed.’
And then he just disappeared after leaving a single note!
‘Fine. When we meet again, I’ll kick him in the shins first.’
I laughed to myself and dashed toward my sleek white horse visible in the distance—my beloved companion adopted a year ago!
“Come now, Arherkalberominia the Third!”
With a soft whinny, the elegant horse blinked her long lashes and turned away haughtily.
“I’ve told you countless times—shorten that name. Father gets embarrassed often.”
“Heh.”
Father, who had come out to see me off, scolded me.
“And why attach ‘the Third’ to a horse with no pedigree?”
“Why not? It sounds impressive.”
Father stroked my white horse with a reluctant expression.
“Arherber…. What?”
Unfortunately, no one had ever managed to memorize my beloved horse’s name in one go.
Would Kalid be able to?
* * *
The procession moved swiftly.
‘Hmm, the new acceleration artifact’s performance is quite good!’
Thanks to the artifact embedded in the horse’s horseshoes, the surrounding landscape blurred past. Though I remained perfectly calm atop the horse.
I habitually reached into my pocket and checked the paper imbued with blue mana.
‘Why haven’t I heard from Second?’
Second—who had his body stolen by the Mage King at the Academy and barely survived.
Until a few years ago, I’d communicated with him occasionally through this artifact, but recently, no matter how many messages I sent, I received no replies.
‘Once the mana embedded in the paper is depleted, it’s finished, so I can’t use it recklessly.’
A short sigh escaped me.
‘Well, there could be various reasons why contact has been lost.’
I shook my head and tucked the paper away again.
By now, the procession had left Babylon Capital and entered the Gorge that led to the Border Village.
‘But….’
As the cold wind of the Gorge struck me, a sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me.
‘…Was chasing after him like this a bit much?’
A moment of harsh self-awareness had arrived.
Kalid wasn’t about to marry the Princess or anything, so hadn’t I acted far too impulsively?
‘No, but does Kalid even have any interest in marriage or romance in the first place?’
The only things he seemed interested in were his sword and the Squirrel.
‘But he was always popular when he attended the Academy.’
Kalid had transferred to the Academy at a higher grade than me, so we didn’t attend together for long.
Yet I’d seen him confessed to more times than I could count.
“Kalid, I’ve liked you for such a long time!”
“Who are you?”
“…I’m Lina. We were in the same class for 2 years.”
“…?”
See? Just from what I could recall off the top of my head.
“K-Kalid. Could we meet behind the Dormitory for a moment later?”
“I don’t duel on school grounds.”
“….”
Really, how many times….
I watched Kalid get accosted by girls day after day, and one day I grew curious and asked him.
“Hey. You must have someone you like.”
“….”
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Rubian.”
“Huh?”
“Is that cookie tasty? Just one bite.”
“Here…. Ah, why are you eating it straight from my mouth!”
“It’s delicious.”
He always dodged the question like that, so I could never figure out what Kalid was actually thinking.
‘If he ever develops feelings for someone….’
I glanced up at the blue sky and pondered.
‘…I should support him, right?’
We were best friends who’d shared life and death together since childhood.
But something strange happened. The moment I thought that, my grip on the reins suddenly went slack, and all strength drained from both my hands.
Support….
‘Support?’
Me? Why…?
‘…I really don’t want to.’
At that moment, a familiar nagging voice flowed from the figure running alongside me.
“Rubian, I told you to hold the reins properly. Where on earth did you learn horsemanship?”
I slowly turned my head to look at the person beside me.
“…? Horsemanship is naturally learned through practice.”
“How impressive, truly.”
“But I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier….”
“What.”
“Why did Father follow along? Wasn’t it supposed to be just me?”
And wasn’t it Father who said revealing his identity would cause trouble?
At that, the Duke mounted on a black military horse bearing the Zebert crest averted his gaze and straightened his posture.
“Father wanted to see Kalid too.”
“You saw him at the Frontline last time.”
“It’s been a while.”
“…It hasn’t even been a few months.”
A low, hollow laugh escaped from Father, who had been staring straight ahead stubbornly.
“Rubian. Is a few months short to you? Doesn’t Father want to see you even if it’s been months?”
“Of course not!”
“There you have it.”
So they were that affectionate with each other?
Enough to chase after me in a single bound when I said I was going to meet him?
I glanced back at the senior Knights following nearby, but they only shrugged their shoulders without adding a word.
Father approached with an unbothered expression and pulled my cloak’s hood deeper over my head.
‘Perhaps it’s because of the affection from raising him.’
That made sense.
Father had been teaching Kalid since he was small.
Then a certain thought suddenly occurred to me.
“Father…. I have a question.”
“Yes.”
“What would you think if Kalid got a girlfriend?”
In that moment, Father, who had been leisurely checking my words, opened his mouth a beat too late.
“…What?”
“Father, you need to hold the reins properly.”
“He’s supposed to get a girlfriend…? Who…?”
“Well, I wouldn’t know.”
Still, it was his private matter, so I didn’t want to reveal everything. I wasn’t even certain.
So I decided to just casually mention what I’d heard from Allen.
“Just something…. She’s about my age.”
“….”
“Is she pretty? She’s probably pretty?”
“….”
“And Kalid always hovering nearby, protecting you?”
Well, he’s on escort duty right now, so that makes sense.
I’d only said that much when I heard Father’s teeth grinding together with a sharp crunch.
“…I should kill him.”
“Father?”
“No, no, no. I mean, I should stop him.”
Didn’t he just say he’d kill him?
“That bone-thin bastard, no. That dog-boned, no, that’s not it, this damn dog…. Huh?”
“Father, are you alright?”
This is bad.
Father’s broken!

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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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