The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 203

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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 203
* * *
I bolted upright.
My body jerked awake.
“What the—”
What was that?
I kicked off the blankets and rushed to the window, sweeping the curtains open with a sharp rustle.
The sun crept across the horizon in pale amber light, birds chirped peacefully in the distance, and the spirited shouts of senior knights echoed from the training grounds—they were already at their morning drills.
It was an ordinary morning at Zebert Duke’s Mansion, nothing out of the ordinary.
“What kind of dream was that…?”
My body sank heavily to the floor.
Why was the dream so vivid and grotesque?
‘What on earth was it?’
My fingertips had gone cold.
‘It felt like a dream from the original work…’
In other words… the perspective of Seventh after Leviathan was killed?
And that bald man who appeared at the end.
‘That voice unmistakably belonged to Kalid.’
Did I absorb Kalid’s mana before sleep? Why would I suddenly have such a dream?
‘Could this dream be the content of Part 2 of the original “Sword Planted on Ruins”?’
In my past life, I only watched the first episode of Part 2 before I died, so I never learned what came after.
‘But why would the perspective be Seventh’s?’
Could an unread original work surface in my mind like this?
‘…Maybe it was just a meaningless dream.’
I couldn’t make sense of it. As I rubbed my tired face, my gaze suddenly fell on the back of my hand.
The Mage Kingdom’s mark, grown long and pronounced.
Anxiety seized me, so I hurried to the mirror and checked the mark on my lower back once more.
Its size and shape remained unchanged.
I swallowed hard.
‘Once I complete the coming-of-age ceremony today, I’ll head to Zelocks Memorial.’
The final clue must be there.
My suspicion had crystallized into certainty.
In the dream.
Leviathan had died at the Memorial.
The formula Kalid brought was incomplete in some way, and no matter how I thought about it, there was nowhere else to turn.
Anyway.
“Ugh, what a terrible mood! On a day like today!”
It’s my birthday!
I recalled the crumbled slice of cake that Seventh had in the dream. In the original work, Seventh had never eaten cake even once.
For some reason, a strange sense of defiance welled up inside me.
‘I’m going to crush them all to pieces.’
Whether they’re second-tier or third-tier, I’ll obliterate them!
With that resolve, I tapped my cheeks with a firm pat.
Then I composed my expression, pulled on my outer robe, and took a couple of deep breaths.
Truth be told, there had been bustling sounds outside my door since earlier. It was something I had to endure every year on my birthday morning.
I calmly opened the door. And then,
Boom, bang!
Confetti erupted as if everyone had been waiting for this moment.
“Rubian! Happy birthday!”
My family’s beaming faces!
I deliberately erased the dark and gloomy image of Zebert Castle that I had seen in my dream.
Along with the face of Seventh, who had looked as though she were about to die.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to blow them out?”
Father spoke curtly, holding a mini cake. For a moment, I froze as the memory of that eerie black blood dripping from his hand flashed through my mind, but of course, I erased that too with the mental eraser in my head.
“It’s your favorite strawberry cream.”
Once I had shaken off all the filthy nightmares, a genuine smile finally bloomed across my face.
“Ahem. Dear family.”
I cleared my throat and lifted my chin.
As an eighteen-year-old adult who had come of age, I knew I should respond with elegance and dignity… but
What did it matter in front of my family!
“Hehe, thank you so much!”
I simply bounced around with joy!
* * *
As always, my birthday morning was bustling with activity.
I blew out the candles, embraced Mother and Father as one, comforted my sentimental Grandfather who shed tears at my growth, rode in Liam’s flower-decorated carriage, and even had to parade through the mansion with my older brothers… well, I really need to stop the parade starting next year.
In any case, after finishing the meal properly, I began preparing for the afternoon banquet.
“Miss, this one.”
Hazel handed me something as I sat before the mirror.
It was a small potion bottle.
“Someone came from the Imperial Palace this morning. They seemed to be from Casalia…?”
‘Sebelena sent it.’
The fact that she sent this meant everything had gone well.
I shook the potion bottle once. Luminous opal-colored sparkles swirled like a whirlwind inside.
“So it’s real.”
A paternity verification potion.
“Will you use it right away? On that mage?”
Hazel, who had immediately recognized what the potion was, asked quietly, then suddenly wore a sorrowful expression.
“But if he really is your biological father… what then? That would make it even worse. He came all this way to offer his own daughter to the Mage King…”
Hazel stopped there and pressed her lips together firmly.
“There’s nothing we can do about it.”
I laughed with a wry smile.
“I suppose I’m not entirely without parental fortune! Let’s just move past it.”
After saying so, I tilted my head curiously.
Or was I?
Still, having met Father and Mother here meant I wasn’t completely devoid of parental blessings, was I?
Hazel embraced me tightly, then resumed brushing my hair with renewed enthusiasm.
“When will you be using the potion, then?”
“After the party ends today. Besides, I’ve already locked him away securely.”
“Yes. He requested to go out this morning, but I silenced him with a three-hour breakfast. He’s probably still eating now.”
Oh.
A truly literal form of keeping someone’s mouth shut.
“He’ll probably request to go out again this evening, claiming he wants to attend the young lady’s party…”
Hazel’s lips curved into a thin smile.
“In the afternoon, I’m planning to treat him to a high-grade Northern-style spa massage. Thorough enough to cloud his mind completely.”
Crack. Veins bulged prominently across the muscular maidservant’s hands.
“H-hey, keep him alive. And his joints too.”
“Of course. Temporarily disassembling and reassembling them should be fine, right?”
As if that were acceptable.
‘The Mage already knows about the letter anyway, so he won’t be anxious. He’ll assume the King of Casalia will follow orders as commanded.’
Unaware that everything now rested on the Emperor.
‘Regardless.’
I turned back to the mirror.
“Please style me as an elegant noblewoman today.”
In any case, the birthday party came first, so I decided to focus entirely on the task at hand.
Hazel began showcasing every technique in her arsenal—twisting, curling, turning, braiding, and cascading my hair—while chattering away about the dress I’d be wearing today.
While other noble ladies typically employed one or two maidservants, I found Hazel alone—a versatile, multitasking talent—more than sufficient.
‘I haven’t had many occasions to attend parties until now, anyway.’
Today was my coming-of-age ceremony and debutante ball.
Now that I thought about it, I felt a sudden flutter of anxiety.
“What if I step on Father’s feet while dancing?”
I had a track record. At the Academy presentation…
I’d bought Father thick shoes just in case of unforeseen disasters.
“Come now, you practiced so hard. Surely not?”
“Hazel. Don’t underestimate my lack of rhythm.”
No matter how thoroughly I memorized the choreography, I could stumble at any moment—that was simply who I was.
Keep rhythm? How does one keep rhythm, as if it were a carriage?
‘Just don’t embarrass myself.’
I mentally rehearsed the dance steps once more.
“Well, your hair is nearly set. Shall we go put on the dress and finish with the final touches? Girls!”
The maidservants appeared with eager, gleaming eyes, as if they’d been waiting.
“Hehehehe. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
Why are you breaking my neck when you’re supposed to be grooming me?
Huh? Why are my arm muscles suddenly going slack?
Crack, crackle.
No, that sound shouldn’t be happening?
“….”
That question!
Do the maids from other households also come to groom someone like they’re preparing a body for burial every single time?
* * *
Licht stood before a mirror.
“…My face….”
Why do I look so ugly today?
He rarely furrowed his brow, staring intently at his reflection.
“Oh my, Your Highness. Did something get in your eye? Why are you suddenly looking at the mirror?”
A maid who had entered to clean asked. She had served him since childhood, so she was someone Licht felt relatively comfortable with.
“Emma. Can you be objective with me?”
“Yes, of course. What is it?”
“I’m getting uglier, aren’t I?”
“….”
Emma was momentarily dumbfounded.
“…Pardon?”
“It seems especially so today.”
What was he talking about—this prince with the visage of an angel who had mistakenly fallen to the mortal realm, lacking only wings.
“Is it because of my hairstyle….”
Licht murmured, running his fingers through his soft golden hair. Emma suddenly burst into laughter.
‘Goodness, even our sharp-edged prince is helpless when it comes to matters of the heart.’
To think he’d fuss over his appearance like this.
“You still look absolutely dazzling, beautiful, and perfect, so please don’t worry!”
“I suppose.”
Licht smiled faintly in the mirror. It was a smile that seemed to scatter radiant light in all directions like a blessing, though he himself seemed unaware of it.
“It won’t do if I only look beautiful to Emma.”
Emma swallowed her laughter once more.

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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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