The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 201

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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 201
“Y-yes… How could you…”
“That’s enough now.”
“Sebelena!”
“Stop using the kingdom as an excuse to satisfy your own desires.”
With her came the Imperial Knights, materializing like wind from their hiding places. The sharp clatter of cold armor shattered the dawn’s silence in an instant.
“I had hoped you wouldn’t show your face here.”
The last to appear was the Emperor, his expression hardened.
He tossed down a thick letter with a flick of his wrist.
The same letter he had received. The King of Casalia understood too late.
It had been a trap.
Then who?
There was only one answer.
“Sebelena!”
The King’s eyes flickered wildly. His breath came in ragged gasps.
“You dare betray me!”
The Princess spoke slowly, her fists clenched tight.
“Am I truly the one who has betrayed?”
“You dare, you-! I made this choice for Casalia!”
“I know.”
Sebelena exhaled deeply.
“That’s why I made my choice for Casalia as well.”
The Emperor’s gaze fell upon the Princess’s pale cheeks.
The Knights seized the King’s arms.
“Take the King to the Annex.”
The Emperor ordered him confined to the Annex Bedroom. Until the Round Table Council convened.
This time, it was true imprisonment in every sense.
“There will be no party, no welcome, no festival.”
The King struggled in vain, but it was futile.
The King’s Attendants and guards who came running at the commotion offered mild resistance, but they retreated upon receiving the Princess’s icy gaze.
“Bring no further disgrace to our Casalia’s name.”
The Princess was a royal with legitimate succession rights.
Cleaning up after the King’s misdeeds was her responsibility as well.
The Attendants’ minds raced. What would change after this was over? Those who finished their calculations slipped away quietly and sent messenger birds to the kingdom. Sebelena did not stop them.
The escort resumed.
“Ah, wait a moment…”
Sebelena suddenly blocked the Knights’ path. She retrieved a vial of potion from the King’s possession.
“I had made a promise.”
I thought it would take time to procure the herbs, but now I can give it as a birthday gift right away.
Sebelena swallowed those words. Her clear green eyes held no emotion whatsoever.
The King of Casalia was dragged away, hurling every curse imaginable at Sebelena.
The Emperor furrowed his brow and turned to regard the Princess. Her face appeared composed, but what lay beneath?
In truth, the Emperor was deliberating how best to handle Sebelena.
If he failed to secure evidence of the King of Casalia’s collusion, he intended to present the Princess as a witness before the Round Table Council.
“Do not worry yourself, Your Majesty.”
Sebelena spoke calmly, as though she had read the Emperor’s very thoughts.
“I came here from the beginning with the intention of serving as a witness.”
“Princess.”
“Now that we have secured irrefutable evidence, there is no reason for me to hold back.”
Her expression was difficult to penetrate.
Did the Princess regret abandoning everything to find her family?
‘Absurdly hollow….’
The Emperor exhaled a shallow breath.
‘A tragedy, indeed.’
* * *
After the matter had been largely resolved.
The Emperor withdrew a letter he had been carrying and read it.
“Hmm. Our young lady’s penmanship is rather….”
No matter how many times he read it, he could not help but smile wryly.
For despite the delicate, meticulous handwriting, the content was decidedly severe from the very beginning.
Your Esteemed Majesty. This letter is approximately 51% blackmail and 49% a request.
In other words, semi-coercion.
I shall provide you with evidence to apprehend the King of Casalia. Princess Sebelena will gladly cooperate as well.
My compensation for this matter is as follows.
Had he read only that far, he might have rebuked her for her insolence.
But upon reading the next sentence, he found himself unable to do so.
No matter what may come to pass,
please protect
the Zebert Duchy and me.
The Emperor’s gaze lingered long upon the heavily crossed-out words.
* * *
Back to that night, moments earlier.
I threw open the door with a bang.
“How many times must I tell you not to open doors like that….”
“Are you in danger? Are you?!”
Kalid, who had just returned after sending the messenger bird, exhaled deeply.
We settled back onto the sofa.
“Did you send the letter to the Emperor successfully?”
“Yes. But are you certain it’s wise to involve the Emperor? He doesn’t know your true identity.”
Kalid was right—the Emperor still did not know I was a Mage. I had not told him.
But it was something I couldn’t hide forever.
And while I’d managed to contain it this time, if my identity were exposed again without warning….
Not only would I suffer, but the Zebert Duchy itself could take a blow.
‘I don’t mind suffering alone.’
But I absolutely refused to let my family be harmed because of me.
So I wanted to make the Emperor truly my ally.
‘His Majesty cares for me, but….’
Unlike my family, who loved me unconditionally, he was different.
“But why does Father distrust His Majesty so much? He’s your friend, isn’t he? And he treats me well too.”
“Dietrian is adequate as a person, but excellent as an Emperor.”
“What do you mean?”
“He calculates gains and losses carefully. So don’t carelessly reveal your weaknesses.”
In other words, I couldn’t demand anything from the Emperor without justification.
‘The King of Casalia turned out to be a perfect card.’
The Emperor wanted to suppress him, after all.
Beyond his collusion with the Mage Kingdom, there were various diplomatic reasons—disputes over the border regions between Casalia and Iosia, and more.
“In exchange for capturing the King of Casalia, I’ll ask him to support Father so my identity doesn’t cause him trouble.”
Then I felt a clear gaze from my right cheek. Kalid had somehow settled beside the sofa.
“You can’t be troubled either.”
I blinked for a moment, then laughed.
“I know.”
“Liar.”
How did he know.
Everyone carries a scale in their heart.
‘If I and my family members were to be placed on my scale….’
My weight would tilt toward my family without hesitation.
Perhaps that’s what it meant to have something precious. I was truly feeling it these days.
“Yawn, I’m getting sleepy now. I should rest.”
I changed the subject and stretched. Kalid, who likewise occupied a place on my scale, let out a short sigh.
A gesture saying he wouldn’t ask further since I was uncomfortable.
My grateful friend.
I was about to rise when something suddenly occurred to me, and I reached out my hand.
“You did well, soldier.”
On this cold night. Coming and going several times. Using your magic. You’re reliable.
I tried to pat his hair as if praising him while possessed by Father, when I suddenly realized our eyes were meeting from far too close.
When did he…. He was sitting right up against me.
“….”
My hand awkwardly froze in midair.
Kalid gazed at its trajectory, then brought his own head down to meet it.
“This is what you wanted to do, right.”
“…Uh… Uh-uh.”
I patted my own head.
“I… I really need to sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be busy too—ugh!”
“Ru…!”
I scrambled up from the sofa with a slight stumble, reaching for my slippers when suddenly I caught my foot on the fabric beneath me and slid backward.
Kalid caught me quickly enough that I didn’t fall.
“That was close. You nearly cracked your head open.”
His eyes were wide with genuine alarm. The hand gripping my waist was enormous and burning hot.
“Uh… Th-thank you. That’s enough now….”
“I’ll carry you to bed.”
Kalid lifted me effortlessly and laid me down gently on the bed, tucking the blanket around me with a soft pat.
I pulled the quilt up to my eyes out of habit and rolled only my eyeballs beneath it.
Kalid chuckled softly at the sight.
“That habit of yours never changes.”
“Kalid, you know….”
“Yeah.”
“My mana….”
I hesitated, my hands gripping the quilt, then raised only my pinky finger slightly.
“Could you… give me some mana before you go?”
“….”
“No, I mean, I just cast magic earlier and got a bit tired.”
My stammering excuses sounded pathetic even to my own ears.
But what could I do? That hand that had touched my waist earlier….
‘I want to hold it.’
Silence fell between us.
Bathed in moonlight, Kalid’s tongue flicked out to wet his lips slightly. He lowered himself and grasped my raised pinky finger with deliberate care.
A tingling sensation, like electricity coursing through me—but that was probably just me.
“Will one be enough?”
Kalid murmured slowly, very slowly intertwining his fingers with mine, one by one.
His mana surged in as if he’d been waiting for this moment. One corner of my eye twitched slightly.
Kalid settled gently on the edge of the bed, soft and painless, murmuring as he did.
‘His mana is truly deep and rich.’
It felt denser than when we were younger. Did this power even have limits?
‘The quality feels slightly different from before.’
Perhaps it was just my imagination.
I sat in a daze, feeling the mana flowing gently into me.
“Sleep if you’re tired. I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”
Kalid said this softly.
I nodded beneath the quilt, my flushed face hidden, and as his soothing mana enveloped my body, my eyes closed of their own accord, my racing heart gradually settling.
After all, my body was utterly exhausted.
“Oh, that’s right, Rubian.”
Kalid spoke suddenly, gazing beyond the window.
“…Hm?”
“Happy birthday.”
“Ah, thank you….”
I heard my eighteenth birthday greeting first from Kalid.
As the dense magical power surged in, I rapidly sank into slumber.
In the quiet darkness that enveloped me, Kalid hesitated slightly before continuing.
“…And to finish what I couldn’t say earlier.”
“…Mm.”
“I’m dangerous.”
“….”
“I’m serious. You need to be careful around me.”
“….”
“Look at this moment. How dare I….”
A deep exhale.
A sigh that ran profound and endless.
Damn bastard.
A voice laden with anguish spilled forth. And then, after a long while, something soft seemed to touch the back of my hand.
But lost in my drowsy state, I could not discern it.

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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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