The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 204

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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 204
“Come now, call the maidservants and maids to the Dressing Room! You have the banquet later, don’t you? Go make yourself even more radiant—polish yourself until you shine! I must clean the Bedroom!”
Licht was practically driven out of the Bedroom.
‘Perhaps I should freshen up a bit.’
Today was Rubian’s coming-of-age ceremony.
A special party was to be held at the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor had graciously offered the Sapphire Hall, one of the Imperial Palace’s grand Banquet Halls, for the occasion.
I found myself growing inexplicably nervous.
Because…
‘I’m going to ask her to dance at the banquet.’
There was a rumor in the Babylon Empire.
At a coming-of-age banquet, whoever dances with you for the first time outside of family has a high probability of becoming bound to you.
‘I’ve never paid it any mind until now.’
Licht touched the back of his reddened neck. Even if it was mere gossip, right now it felt desperately important.
‘I want to see her soon.’
He quickened his pace.
He thought he might at least tidy up this disheveled hair of his.
That was when it happened.
“Damn, bad luck from the morning.”
Rounding the corner, he collided directly with the First Prince.
‘Ah, really.’
Licht smiled smoothly.
Terribly unlucky indeed.
“Good morning, brother.”
“Good morning my foot!”
The First Prince kicked over a nearby decorative object. He appeared to be in a foul mood today.
The crash of breaking porcelain echoed, but Licht’s smile remained unshaken.
He knew exactly why the First Prince was upset.
‘He must have discovered the problem at the gambling den.’
The illegal operations the First Prince had been quietly involved in—Licht had been systematically dismantling them from the shadows. The gambling den was merely the beginning.
‘At the right moment, all at once.’
Licht was waiting for the perfect time to expose everything in one devastating blow, dealing the First Prince his greatest defeat.
Everything was a matter of timing.
Until then, he had to remain the gentle prince, concealing his claws like a hidden hand.
“It seems my appearance has troubled your mood. My apologies.”
Licht bowed briefly and withdrew.
“That cunning fox…”
The sound of grinding teeth followed behind him, but to Licht it was like music.
An aide approached upon spotting Licht nearby. Licht spoke in a low voice.
“Next, give it time, then strike the gambling establishment we discussed before. Secure evidence of the First Prince’s illegal smuggling of slaves for funds, and if any resist during the process, eliminate them. Leave no loose ends.”
“Yes.”
A smile never faded from those cold, teal eyes.
The position of Crown Prince.
There was truly so little left now.
‘…Ah. I see.’
Licht suddenly understood. The reason he had felt dissatisfied looking in the mirror this morning.
Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t anything special.
He had never once regarded himself as acceptable.
But if he became Crown Prince, perhaps things would change slightly.
The position he had prepared for so very long.
Once he grasped something with his own hands like that, then.
Wouldn’t everything finally become acceptable? Perhaps even he himself might become worthy of regard, at least more than now.
He had clawed his way here to deny the words “worthless Fourth Prince.” It had begun to fill his own deficiency, but now it was different.
He wanted to fill it to give.
If he became complete without lack like that, he could bestow upon you only the finest things in this Empire.
Licht scratched his cheek awkwardly. It was his own thought, but it felt somewhat embarrassing and ticklish. Yet he had no intention of denying it.
He composed his expression and resumed walking.
“Speaking of which, I heard there was commotion in the Palace at dawn. What happened?”
“Ah, His Majesty… the King of Casalia… Princess Sebelena…”
Now it was just one step away.
“It seems that brat Licht is causing trouble again.”
The First Prince ground his teeth in frustration.
“Why is the Palace so noisy since this morning!”
At his irritation, the Attendant bowed his head.
“S-sir, actually today in the Sapphire Hall, the coming-of-age ceremony of the Duke Zebert’s youngest daughter…”
“Tch.”
It was not uncommon for the Imperial Palace’s banquet hall to be opened to high-ranking nobles. Moreover, it was for the youngest daughter of the Zebert Duchy.
‘Ugh, how irritating.’
The Duke Zebert’s daughter was terribly annoying. Despite her gentle appearance, she possessed a strange talent for getting under people’s skin.
‘Sapphire Hall, no less. It seems Father Emperor has also fallen completely for that cunning girl.’
That was an ultra-luxurious banquet hall rarely opened even to the Imperial Family.
Sapphire Hall was a nickname.
The building was a water structure surrounded by a luminous blue lake, renowned for its brilliant and beautiful scenery. It was said that an Empress from generations past had fallen so in love with its charm that she moved her residence there entirely.
‘Wait, hold on. Sapphire Hall?’
The First Prince’s eyes narrowed.
“Licht will be attending as well, won’t he?”
“Yes, of course.”
The First Prince wore a crooked smile.
His ventures falling into ruin. Whether this was truly because of Licht or not.
‘Let me verify it.’
The duchess was…
‘Once I get caught up in it, there’s no turning back.’
* * *
I was bored out of my mind.
“How much longer are you going to do my hair?”
How many times had they applied fragrant oil? Why did they keep putting cream on my face and then wiping it off?
“I even had a cucumber massage!”
“A cucumber massage? But there were no cucumbers left…”
I patted my round belly.
“I have one right here.”
“A cucumber massage… on your insides?”
Hazel’s brow furrowed deeply.
Well, with nothing left to say, I sat perfectly still like a doll again. That was my job while the maids bustled about everywhere.
‘So boring.’
As I twisted my entire body restlessly, my gaze suddenly fixed on a potion bottle sitting on the vanity.
A sudden doubt crept in.
‘But… is this really the genuine article? Could it be tampered with?’
Perhaps because it came from the King of Casalia’s pocket, something felt off about it.
‘The appearance is exactly the same as the fake I made.’
That’s when I started playing with the medicine bottle.
“Save me.”
Father trudged in with a vacant expression, carrying a mountain of documents.
“Ugh. Another work avalanche.”
I habitually offered him the sofa.
“To make it to your birthday party, I need to review three documents every minute from now on. Is that right?”
“Are you secretly running a kingdom without my knowing?”
Father twisted his lips into a smile.
“Rubian, this is the reality of adulthood. Still want to grow up?”
This was serious. My father the Duke had become completely warped.
‘That’s why he hates the Emperor.’
Whenever he stays in the Capital, the Emperor dumps work on him.
“But if you’re busy, why don’t you work in your study instead of here?”
“It’s your father’s prerogative.”
His hands moved steadily.
Anyway, it wasn’t the first or second time Father had wandered around the entire mansion like a digital nomad, working everywhere, so I turned back to the mirror without much concern.
My gaze returned to the potion bottle.
‘Ah.’
A fun idea suddenly occurred to me.
“Dad.”
“What.”
“Shall we verify whether this is genuine?”
Shake, shake.
I laughed playfully and swirled the vial in my hand. Father raised an eyebrow slightly.
Of course, Father already knew how this potion had come into my possession.
“Do you need verification?”
“Well, just in case, you know.”
I was getting a bit bored, after all.
“If there’s a problem with this potion, Father’s and my hair would get all mixed together, right? Since we’re not actually father and daughter.”
“And if it’s a real potion, they won’t mix?”
“That’s how it should work, right?”
At that, Father fell silent in thought for a moment.
“But why do you say we’re ‘not actually’ father and daughter?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t we truly father and daughter? Are we fake?”
….
“Do you know how much I cherish you….”
Muttering, muttering, muttering.
‘I’ve done it now.’
Father was sulking.
“Come on, that’s just a figure of speech. Why are you getting hung up on one word…. We’re real blood relatives! We’re genuinely, truly, absolutely father and daughter! Okay?”
Father then let out a hum and sank back into his chair. Really. He grows more childish by the day.
“Forgive me, but I’m a bit on edge right now. Being under the same roof with someone who might be your biological father.”
Ah, I see.
“So, are you going to do it or not!”
Father picked up his documents again. He signed with quick strokes and stamped them with heavy thuds before speaking slowly.
Sharp violet eyes turned toward me.
“If you’re that curious, go ahead and mix them.”

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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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