The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 191

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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 191
A moment later.
After hearing my entire account, Father stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“So the King of Casalia is a traitor.”
“Yeah. But the Princess is on my side. She’s telling me because she wants to help.”
“Hmm.”
Father fell silent for a moment. I sat beside him and casually reached for a chocolate chip cookie from the table.
“What should we do? To fully trust the Princess, it might be best to observe for a while, but Kalid says he’s busy.”
“Busy? That boy has nothing to be busy with…. Anyway, I’ll handle this.”
“What about the Emperor? Will you tell him?”
“I should give him a heads-up.”
Father snatched the cookie from my hand and produced a vegetable juice from somewhere, pressing it into my palm.
“If…. the King of Casalia’s collusion with the Mage Kingdom becomes known, what happens?”
“We’d have to hold the King accountable. Conveniently, the Round Table convenes in spring….”
Father twisted his lips into a smile.
“There will be endless matters to discuss.”
“Sigh.”
Casalia was a nation with high dependence on magic.
‘It’s obvious the Mage Kingdom exploited that as leverage to blackmail him.’
But that couldn’t excuse his wrongdoing.
‘Still, the King might become a clue to tracking down the hidden Mage Kingdom.’
I didn’t bother mentioning that aloud.
I gulped down the juice and rubbed my eyes. My body felt exhausted from wandering around all day.
I hoped my nose wouldn’t bleed again. Worried for no reason, I wiped beneath my nose and opened my mouth once more.
“What about the Princess?”
“Well….”
Father glanced at me and stroked his chin in response.
“It depends on what the Princess’s true intentions are, but since she did provide us with information, we can take that into consideration.”
I nodded and finished my drink.
“By the way, how was the tombstone formula Kalid gave you?”
Father lightly changed the subject.
“Oh, but some parts were missing. I was actually meaning to ask about that….”
I leaned forward slightly, peering past Father’s massive frame.
That’s right.
Surprisingly, Kalid was in this room.
He sat quietly, observing the desserts on the table with hawk-like intensity. Why was he staring so intently?
It didn’t seem like he’d eaten the chocolate chip cookie…. Muttering to himself. Where was it…. Muttering.
He seemed to be muttering for quite some time, but Father blocked my view like a wall, so I couldn’t hear well.
“Kalid, about the tombstone formula….”
I stretched my body with effort and asked.
“Was that all the inscription contained?”
“Yeah.”
As I thought.
It seemed I’d need to refine and complete the formula once I returned home, just as I’d been doing. But still.
“It does seem like magic for unsealing something. The problem is the formula is missing what that ‘something’ actually is. Kalid. Did you really not find any other inscriptions nearby that might hint at it…?”
As I straightened my upper body to speak to Kalid again, irritation suddenly welled up inside me.
“Hey, Father.”
“What.”
“Why have you been sitting between me and Kalid this whole time? You were sitting across from us before. It’s uncomfortable. Move.”
At that, Father, who had been calmly sipping his black tea, blinked slowly.
Then he gazed down at his own body and murmured thoughtfully.
“Strange. My body keeps moving on its own these days.”
My brow furrowed with concern. What am I going to do with my father?
Alright. When I get home, I’m booking Borbel’s premium filial piety checkup course.
Father, who had been rising to return to his original seat, suddenly seemed to remember something and asked.
“By the way, when did you two meet? You came back so late.”
“We met during the day!”
“You met during the day…. But came back at night?”
“It’s not night. We just got back after evening time.”
“What were you doing out?”
“Well, we met in the Dark Alley and went to the Garden Cafe, then watched a play, wandered around Festival Street sharing food. It was fun!”
Father’s body suddenly planted itself back in place like a stake being driven into the ground.
Then, with an extremely benevolent expression, he placed a hand firmly on Kalid’s shoulder.
“You rascal. You, Kalid, you rascal.”
“Ow, that hurts.”
“Now that I think about it, I’m late with my greetings. You’ve been through quite a lot all this time.”
Crunch.
Kalid blinked slowly, his expression bewildered.
“I’ve worked hard…. But why are you punishing me?”
“I’m praising you. Praise tends to hurt a bit, you know. It creates pressure and all.”
“I don’t quite…. understand what you mean.”
“Yeah, neither do I.”
“…?”
Sigh.
Borbel’s premium course.
It’s definitely getting booked.
* * *
Late at night.
Kalid walked carefully down the Corridor.
When he opened the assigned Bedroom, there was already an occupant.
‘…Teleportation?’
Wasn’t that what I saw in the Reception Room just now?
“Do you really not have any baggage? All you need is a sword?”
“Well….”
Kalid closed the door and answered.
“Is there something else you require?”
“I don’t know whether to say you’ve grown well, or what….”
Leviathan chuckled softly and gestured with a wave of his hand.
He sat on the bed in comfortable clothes. Despite having dealt with the King all day and handled trivial matters, he showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
“Bow your head.”
“…Yes?”
“Your head.”
At the brief command, Kalid lowered his head with his hands clasped behind his back. After all, he was still the commander.
A moment later.
“…?”
At the gentle stroking of his hair, Kalid’s expression grew bewildered.
“…Is there something on my head?”
“Praise, you fool. The kind I couldn’t give you while I was being difficult earlier.”
“….”
Ah.
He was stroking it.
Like when I was young.
‘He still sees me as a child, it seems.’
Kalid accepted the praise without complaint, his thoughts turning indifferent.
“You’ve worked hard. Two years in that harsh land for Rubian.”
“Thanks to that, I’ve grown stronger.”
“When will you stop being so presumptuous?”
“I’m being respectful right now.”
“It’s sad that I can’t even nag you now that you’ve grown up.”
Leviathan grumbled.
In truth, Kalid felt somewhat pleased. If he were to name someone he wanted recognition from besides Rubian, it would naturally be Leviathan.
“Rest well when you return. For a while, at least.”
“It’s fine….”
“Listen when I speak, will you?”
A large hand came down on his head with a soft tap.
“Yes…. Understood.”
Leviathan continued to meddle in various matters before rising to his feet.
“Oh, and.”
Leviathan hesitated unusually as he opened the door to leave, his words catching.
“Yes.”
“Rubian….”
The moment I heard that familiar name, Kalid’s entire body went rigid.
“Talk with Rubian. Talk a lot.”
What did that mean?
“She pretends everything’s fine, but lately she seems troubled. I think it started when Delmon died.”
A quiet, low sigh escaped into the air.
“She only tells me she’s okay.”
The moment Kalid heard that much, he didn’t hesitate—he moved.
At the same time, Leviathan’s massive form blocked the doorway with a decisive thud.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
His violet eyes flashed with something akin to murderous intent.
“During the day. When the sun is up. You fool.”
“…Oh.”
It was the dead of night—deep, impenetrable darkness.
Resenting the shadows beyond the window, Kalid reluctantly bit back his frustration.
Of course, only Leviathan saw him bite back anything.
Knock, knock.
When I tapped the door cautiously, I heard movement from within.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
Kalid waited quietly, the Squirrel perched on his shoulder.
After hearing that from Leviathan, he had no reason to hesitate.
‘I need to cheer her up.’
Listen to what she has to say.
Besides, he visited Rubian’s room often enough that there was nothing particularly awkward about it.
But the moment the door opened and Rubian appeared, Kalid froze solid.
“Kalid! Oh, Squirrel! It’s been forever!”
“…You.”
What was she wearing right now?
A thin chemise…?
Where had that strawberry-patterned pajamas gone—the one that covered her completely from all directions?
No, more than that, she had thrown something over it, but the Squirrel had climbed up and knocked it all askew, leaving her white forearms exposed, her smooth shoulders bare, her elegant neckline revealed in succession….
“What?”
Rubian frowned at the oversized jacket cascading down her frame.
Her hair was still slightly damp, as if she’d just stepped out of the bath—the sight was nothing short of shocking.
“Hey. I’m hot. The fireplace in here is blazing.”
“Wear it. Please….”
Kalid hoped his flushed face looked like nothing more than the reflection of the firelight, as he carefully wrapped the jacket around Rubian’s body.
And in that moment, he understood.
This late-night visit was going very, very wrong.

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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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