The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 248

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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 248
At that moment, Father tapped the map decisively.
“Not a bad idea. I approve.”
He then issued rapid orders to the Adjutant nearby.
“First, summon Leon and the Knights who are waiting by the Harbor, and reorganize our formations. Separate those who will remain here to protect the people from those who will accompany me to strike the Royal Palace. Let those who surrender or flee go free, but capture anyone wearing priestly robes marked with red embroidery to the end—kill them if they resist.”
“Understood.”
“Idelaine, what do you intend to do?”
The Elder Mage bowed deeply and answered.
“I will remain here to protect the people.”
Idelaine added that the mages who had exhausted their mana maintaining the barrier needed time to recover, and with so many children present, it would be reckless to move hastily.
Then Licht, who had been quietly wiping blood from his blade, stepped forward.
“In that case, I will remain here with the Knights.”
“Your Imperial Highness?”
“Guarding the portal connected to Babylon is also a duty I must fulfill as Imperial Prince. As for the Elder… there are some things I wish to discuss.”
“Pardon?”
Idelaine’s expression turned visibly uncomfortable.
“What business could the Imperial Prince of Babylon possibly have with me?”
“Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”
The Imperial Prince smiled brilliantly, radiant as the rising morning sun. Seeing that smile, Idelaine’s stern expression melted away, and she found herself smiling warmly despite herself.
‘Is he… trying to charm information about kingdom secrets out of Idelaine?’
This mere pretty-faced heir to the throne!
Worried that the Imperial Prince was overextending himself, I decided to stop him.
“Licht, are you sure about this? Why not just take the portal back to Babylon? Wouldn’t it be better to stay by the Emperor’s side, gain his protection, and build some showy accomplishments to be hailed as a hero? That seems like a faster and safer path to becoming heir than suffering here…”
“Mm. Rubian, just know that with those words, you’ve made it impossible for me to ever return.”
Those jade-green eyes I always found beautiful gazed at me softly.
I let out a short sigh.
“I meant it sincerely. If you get hurt or something, your goals would also…”
Then Licht laughed, a low chuckle.
“That’s exactly why I’m staying.”
“What?”
“For my precious goal.”
Did he… leave the heir’s seat of Arcadia behind?
He smiled enchantingly and gently grasped my fingertips.
For a moment, the air around us stirred noticeably, but the Imperial Prince paid it no mind and respectfully brought the back of my hand to his lips. It felt like a loyal oath.
“Don’t worry, Rubian. I’m simply doing what I must. Of course, being apart from you troubles me too…”
His smooth cheeks flushed slightly.
“I’ll bring you a gift when we meet again.”
“This isn’t a pleasure trip, you know…”
Licht laughed aloud and released my hand without hesitation.
Then he raised both arms toward the space behind me in a gesture of surrender.
“Very well, I’ve released you. …Ballock. Since I understand what you wish to do, please stop removing your clothes.”
“Ah, it’s hot. Ah, I’m irritated.”
“Mother, Father is suddenly gathering troops?”
“Ah, is he? Hazel!”
“Nooo! You should stop him, not call Hazel! What will happen now!”
What are they all doing?
That was when it happened.
A bone-chilling cry pierced the sky, accompanied by a sharp magical force that seemed to cut through skin.
“Elder Mage! It’s a flying-type!”
“Ahhhhh!”
From far away, in the direction where the Royal Palace stood, came a grotesque beast.
Idelaine hastily deployed a barrier magic circle against the bullet-like assault. Seasoned Knights loaded arrows and crossbows, quickly preparing cannons to meet the threat. Licht did the same.
“Tsk. Please go quickly…!”
“Kalid!”
“Yes.”
Kalid swept his languid gaze across the surroundings.
Countless magic circles materialized beneath the feet of my family members, now mounted on horses, and the Knights bearing the Zebert crest.
A transfer circle powered by Idelaine and Kalid’s magical force, moving near the Royal Capital.
I was about to boldly mount Archerkalberominia the Third when Father, standing nearby, reached out his hand.
“Rubian, come here. Come with Father.”
“But my Third….”
“You don’t have a Third yet. It’s dangerous, so come with Father for now.”
Sigh. I have no choice.
I was stroking the regretful warhorse that whinnied softly and turning toward Father when it happened.
“That’s not the way.”
Someone grabbed my shoulder from behind. The grip was incredibly strong.
“Uh, Kalid?”
“What are you?”
Father furrowed his brow as if asking what nonsense this was, but Kalid simply ignored him and moved his magical power.
“I will take Rubian with me, Duke Zebert.”
“What? No, what….”
Before Father could add anything more.
Whoooosh!
With a brief flash, the transfer magic circles of the others activated.
The surroundings emptied in an instant.
“Hey, what is this….”
And then my feet began to glow as well.
Wait….
Hold on.
‘But my magic circle.’
Wasn’t something different about them compared to others? Who modified it?
The moment I instinctively tried to examine Jin’s formula, a hand shot out from behind and covered my face, blocking my eyes.
“Don’t read it.”
Every hair on my body stood on end. A soft breath descended against my ear like a lick.
“Let’s go.”
Ch. 248
I glared at the man before me in silence.
“….”
Continued silence.
“….”
More silence.
“…I’m sorry.”
Unable to endure the quiet any longer, Kalid finally apologized hastily.
The dark basement.
Magical light cast across his face, revealing unmistakable distress.
“…What?”
“….”
“Say something. I’m scared.”
“Give me a moment. I’m deciding on a course of action.”
At my words, Kalid clenched and unclenched his fists anxiously.
“What course of action….”
I slowly looked around my surroundings.
A long corridor shrouded in pitch darkness came into view.
Huu, a deep breath.
“Should I thank you for teleporting me to this Palace Underground that even I—let alone the Mage King—seem unaware of?”
“….”
“Or should I demand to know what this sudden madness is about!”
“….”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
That was the situation.
Kalid had teleported everyone else near the Royal Capital, then suddenly grabbed me and brought me here instead.
At first, I had no idea where this place was.
But thanks to the coat of arms of Arcadia carved into the walls and a strangely familiar aura, I realized this was the Palace Underground.
‘Huh, a place like this existed. It seems teleportation magic restrictions don’t apply here.’
It was like another royal palace built beneath the earth.
‘Did someone important from the old royal family once stay here?’
Countless rooms of unknown purpose and an endless stretch of pitch-black corridors.
With no light penetrating, the atmosphere felt somewhat eerie, as if I’d entered a deep cave. Or perhaps it was like a bunker?
“I’m sorry. My mana suddenly went berserk.”
Kalid lit a lamp attached to the stone wall and apologized quietly.
“How in the world did you know about a teleportation spell leading to this place?”
“…It just came to me suddenly.”
I studied his face, bathed in the yellow glow of the flames.
What was it?
This sense of wrongness.
“This won’t do. Show me your mana for a moment….”
“Shh, wait.”
That was when it happened.
A massive form loomed closer, and my vision went black.
Only when the cold stone wall pressed against my back did I realize he had trapped me between himself and the wall.
“Hey, what are you——”
“Quiet.”
Along with his sharp-edged voice came a rumbling vibration from above my head.
Regardless, his intense, invasive scent assaulted me like an ambush, stealing my breath. My eyes widened at the firm, muscular chest hovering mere inches from my nose.
What do I do?
I’m about to sneeze.
Just for a moment.
“Ah, it was from above.”
Once the sound of footsteps faded, Kalid finally pulled his body back slightly. His smooth jawline tilted slowly toward me.
“…Did you pass out? Rubian.”
“Gasp——”
My breath, my breath!
I almost died again!
Kalid bent his waist slightly and looked down at my face. Realizing I was merely suffering from self-inflicted breathlessness, he seemed to bite back a smile.
“Now get angry again. Including the part where you couldn’t breathe.”
“Ha, enough!”
For some reason, I was furious!
I pushed Kalid away forcefully and turned my body.
“Phew…. First, I need to contact Father and let him know not to worry.”
It was fortunate that the flow of mana wasn’t blocked here.
I bit my lip, glanced at Kalid, and cast a messenger spell toward Father.
Ah, my situation.
I should have clung to Father from the start like a cicada on a dead tree…. That’s what I do best.
Just then, the ceiling above us trembled again.
Intruders! Those bearing the Zebert crest are advancing toward the Royal Palace!
Someone was shouting from the surface, and their voice reached us even here.
“Gasp. They’ve reached near the Royal Capital? They’ve already gotten to the Royal Palace?”
Kalid didn’t respond.
“Let’s get out of here, quickly.”
“Right.”
We decided to move forward for now.
Kalid took the lead, warning that something dangerous might emerge, while I followed at a distance down the corridor.
‘This isn’t the secret passage Second told me about either… I have no idea where we’re supposed to go.’
Should I ask him?
Is it okay to ask?
My heart pounded in my chest.
“….”
Just as I was about to bring my hand to my ear, Kalid suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Your footsteps.”
“Huh?”
“You seem to be dragging your feet oddly.”
The man muttered this and abruptly approached, lowering his body.
“Your calf wound has reopened.”
“No, it’s not that bad….”
“It’s reopened.”
“What….”
The wound from the magical beast appeared to have healed on the surface, but underneath it was still raw—whenever I overexerted myself, it throbbed with a dull ache.
And when he had grabbed and pulled me earlier, the pain had flared up sharply.
“It’s fine. Let’s just go. I can still walk.”
But despite my protest.
“Absolutely not.”
Kalid fearlessly opened the surrounding doors one by one until he found what looked like a lounge.
He scooped me up effortlessly and strode across the room.
It was a well-appointed space with a sofa and table, a large bed, and various tapestries and decorative items scattered throughout.
He carefully seated me on the sofa.
“Roll up your clothes and take off your shoes.”
“No, this isn’t the time to….”
Crack!
My shoulders flinched. I couldn’t understand why the sound of Kalid closing the door with magic felt like thunder.
“Ugh….”
He sat before me and placed my foot on his knee.
Goosebumps rose on my skin as he slowly lifted my skirt. My hand gripping the sofa cushion curled into a tight ball.
“The wound site is swollen. Your ankle too—why did you push yourself this hard.”
His large hand gently traced my calf.
“First, I need to cool down the inflammation.”
The man retrieved a glass bottle of cold water and a towel from somewhere, then carefully washed my foot and calf.
In the strange silence.
Only the sound of him washing my foot echoed oddly.
“Beautiful.”
He murmured softly.
Kalid’s gaze lingered on my ankle for an eternity.
He had been gently tracing the protruding bone, but suddenly his hand—a snare itself—closed softly around my ankle.
“Beautiful, Rubian.”
I watched the long lashes of Kalid’s lowered eyes in silence.
My heart raced and my mouth went dry. It wasn’t from the thrill of his touch caressing me as though I were under a spell.
“You know, holding it that clumsily won’t….”
“….”
“Break it.”
The man with unfamiliar eyes slowly lifted his head.
In the dim firelight of the room, grayish-blue eyes devoid of the warmth I knew stared directly at me.
When Kalid had pressed himself against me moments ago.
I had clearly sensed an alien mana.
“Who are you?”
Then the corners of his well-formed lips curved upward slightly.
“Why are you pretending to be Kalid?”

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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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