The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 193

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 193
‘No, no, no.’
A crash—but not quite that severe?
Just… just…
“Wa, waaah?”
“What did you say?”
“Huh? No, that’s not…!”
I swallowed down the confusion churning inside me. The sudden contact of our hands was so distracting I felt I might lose my mind.
‘Mother.’
I felt as though I were falling endlessly into some abyss, spinning round and round.
What do I do?
‘Right now…’
I might be on the verge of falling completely.
* * *
The next day.
The procession resumed.
The Casalia royal family and the Zebert knights escorting them swiftly departed the Border Village and arrived at the Capital, Bamiless.
Thanks to the acceleration artifact Father had brought, our pace was remarkably swift.
Monsters lurking beneath the earth emerged twice along the way, but fortunately, the knights led by Kalid stepped forward to handle them without significant delay to our journey.
“We have arrived safely thanks to you!”
Before the Imperial Palace.
The King of Casalia, standing at the head of the long procession, called out loudly toward Father.
He was a short, stout middle-aged man. At first glance, I thought he resembled a plump potato.
“I shall not forget this hospitality!”
“You are too kind.”
Father replied with indifference. Judging by the direction of his eyebrows, the angle of his mouth, and his slanted posture.
‘He clearly has no desire to converse.’
The King of Casalia must have made a poor impression at the banquet.
“Come now, Sebelena. Why do you stand idle? Greet the Duke at once!”
“We have arrived safely thanks to your protection. I am grateful for your noble kindness, Duke.”
Sebelena lifted her head with a flawless, impeccable greeting. In that moment, our eyes met briefly.
“Should anything arise, I shall contact you. And if you have need of my assistance, Princess, please reach out at any time.”
As we rode along, Sebelena approached me discreetly and whispered those words.
To the words of the Princess, lovely as a dawn rose, I gave a vague acknowledgment.
But truthfully, I thought there would be little occasion to seek the Princess’s aid, even if the Mage Kingdom were to attack me.
That evening, a victory banquet was held.
Kalid was recognized for his achievement in clearing the Western Canyon, a major continental menace and one of the primary Monster Habitats, and was granted the rank of Baron.
Though it was a title of name and honor without lands—a noble rank for a commoner-born knight—Kalid’s name swept through the Capital and the Imperial Palace alike.
Yet he himself wore his usual impassive expression, not even raising an eyebrow.
Rather, it was I who felt the greater joy.
I had spent quite a while teasing Kalid with my older brothers, calling out “Kalid~” in a playful sing-song voice, but since he barely reacted, I was disappointed we gave up after just three attempts.
“Sebelena! Our Princess Sebelena!”
“Your Majesty the Emperor, I pay my respects.”
During the welcoming ceremony that followed, the King of Casalia spent the entire banquet shamelessly pushing Sebelena forward.
He was desperate.
The King of Casalia had married off all his daughters to foreign lands, and Babylon was the only place where he had failed to establish a connection.
“Haha! Though she is my daughter, is she not beautiful? Her singing is excellent, and while her embroidery could use some work, her cooking is superb. Among the princes, perhaps one of you might….”
Sebelena stood guard over the banquet hall, smiling like a perfectly displayed commodity.
‘She seemed more lively when we were exploring the festival together.’
“To survive in the forest, one must build strength. That applies to everything!”
Perhaps the Casalia Royal Palace was a second forest for Sebelena.
‘So she’s in the stage of gathering her strength right now….’
Is that why she came to see me?
In any case.
The King of Casalia might have wanted his daughter not as family, but as merchandise.
“I thought finding my real family would make me happier…. Who should I choose? A family connected only by blood? Or…. A family that embraced my soul?”
‘I was curious about my real family for a while too.’
When I was ten years old.
On the way back from the Academy camp.
While exchanging magical letters with “Second,” who had fled beyond the Empire’s borders, I had casually asked once.
【 Do you… remember what I looked like before I went to war? Like, when I was very young… Or the person who gave birth to me? 】
“Second” said they didn’t know. So I didn’t pursue it any further.
To be honest, it would be a lie to say I still wasn’t curious about who my biological parents were.
I was bothered by where this body was born and how it ended up with the Mage King. Most of all, I wanted to know how I came to possess Wizeria’s power.
‘Did the Princess feel the same way?’
The desire to know one’s origins.
So she struggled to return to the Royal Palace, only to find that her life’s grain had become far too different from her biological parents….
“Sigh.”
I shook my head alone.
‘Seeing things like that, perhaps it’s better not to know one’s biological parents.’
Indeed.
If some strange person suddenly appeared and said “I’m your father!”, honestly, I don’t think I could manage my expression.
“Mm.”
In this world, sometimes ignorance is a blessing.
“Rubian, what are you doing here?”
“Faaaaaather!”
“What is it.”
I, who had been crouching near the statue in front of the Imperial Palace banquet hall, quickly ran over and clung to Father’s arm.
Father chuckled and gently pinched and shook my cheek.
“What trouble have you caused now. Your tongue is hanging out, so you’ve definitely done something serious, you little troublemaker.”
“No, that’s not it. There were too many people crowding the Banquet Hall, so I was making my escape. It was annoying—well, exhausting, really.”
And I clung to Father because I suddenly adored him so much!
‘Unlike the King of Casalia, he doesn’t force anything on me, and he always cherishes me!’
I felt a surge of affection rising within me, and I desperately wanted to deploy my most winning charm.
After thinking it over, I smiled and fluttered my eyes playfully.
“You know what? What’s my absolute favorite bread in the whole world?”
At that, Father twisted one corner of his mouth upward and spoke.
“Bread shaped like Father.”
“….”
…?
What! My trump card skill!
“Who was it? Who beat me to it? Brother Void? Brother Liam?!”
As I spoke and imagined it… it felt a bit awkward.
Those dark, imposing brothers saying “bread shaped like Father?”
Sorry, brothers. But I mean it sincerely.
Father gave my forehead a light push.
“What are you talking about? That was ages ago. It was all the rage among Father’s circle back then.”
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
“Ah, it’s a bit of a classic, isn’t it? Anyway, that group sure does trend over everything….”
Then I froze in place.
Huh?
‘It was trending?’
I never did that for him.
‘Then our Father….’
I carefully lifted my eyes to gauge his expression, and there was Father, still wearing that twisted smile.
“A long time ago, back then. About ten years ago? Those guys wouldn’t stop bragging about it.”
“Wait, Father and I haven’t even known each other for ten years. Actually, more than that….”
“That’s enough.”
“Could it be…. Father fell behind on the trend? Because I didn’t do it for you? What do I do….”
I tilted my eyebrows down sadly.
I had no idea such a thing was trending….
“It’s fine. Father isn’t the type to envy such things.”
He was envious.
“It didn’t bother me one bit.”
It bothered him….
“Faaather. But why are you walking away so quickly? Are you remembering sorrowful memories from the past and trying to hide your expression? Is that it?”
I suppressed my laughter and quickly ran after him.
“Bread shaped like Father!”
As I playfully clung to his arm, Father glanced back at me, then quickly turned his head away again.
“The best bread in the whole world? Of course it’s Rubian’s Father!”
Father’s cheekbones lifted slightly as a smile threatened to break through.
“Pffft, pffft, pffft, pffft.”
“Alright, alright, Rubian.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Father ruffled my hair vigorously and squeezed my hand firmly.
This familiar warmth and touch!
This was truly where I belonged—right here beside my beloved Father. Nothing else mattered.
“Why not? Go brag about it at your gathering! Let out everything you’ve been holding in! Pffft, pffft….”
“Alright. Then…. let’s do this about 2,000 more times and call it even.”
“Huh?”
Just how much have I been bottling up?

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————