The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 266

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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 266
The elders fell into thought, uttering soft hums and murmurs. It seemed this was not a matter that would be resolved easily.
Before long, their conversation had shifted to the subject of magical formulas.
Rubian explained the theory behind breaking the curse mark with casual elegance.
Of course, simply hearing it didn’t guarantee immediate understanding, so she offered to refine the magical circle so that even ordinary mages could comprehend it.
“Ohhh… Ohhhhh! As expected!”
The mages exclaimed with expressions of admiration. Applause erupted from various corners.
Beyond that, Rubian shared various other magical circles.
“Ha, ha! Haaah! With formulas like these, ordinary mages could conserve 90% of their magical power!”
“To be precise, 92.2345%…”
“You are the greatest mage in the history of the Mage Kingdom! Thank you!”
At that moment, Idelaine suddenly sprang to her feet.
“Greatest mage? There’s a far simpler word for that—why use something so complicated?”
“Pardon?”
Before Rubian could even respond, Idelaine prostrated herself and shouted in a tremendous voice.
“Grand Mage!”
Ah, indeed.
The remaining elders quickly followed her lead.
“We pay our respects to the Grand Mage!”
Rubian, who initially appeared somewhat flustered, soon flushed deeply and murmured to herself.
“Wow, the pinnacle of a mage’s career.”
She seemed quite pleased with the title. Leviathan chuckled from behind, saying it was far better than something like “Curse Mark Master.”
Rubian shyly tapped her toes against the ground.
“Ah, there’s no need to praise me so much…”
“Our great sage and—”
“Oh my, this is really embarrassing…”
“Grand Mage Rubian!”
“Goodness, I suppose there’s no helping it.”
She composed her quivering lips and assumed a dignified expression.
Then, stroking an imaginary beard, she spoke.
“Ahem, ahem.”
* * *
After the commotion had settled.
Leviathan and Rosetta excused themselves to see the elders out, while Licht remained behind with Rubian to continue their conversation.
“The Emperor sent this?”
“Yes. He must have heard that you were ill while away.”
“Wow.”
Rubian’s eyes widened as she gazed at the large gift box Licht handed her.
It was so large that even her two arms couldn’t fully embrace it.
Inside were the finest medicinal ingredients, herbs, potions, and snacks that Rubian loved.
“Huh? ‘The Dashing Imperial Uncle’?”
She furrowed her brow at the sender’s name written in large letters across the box’s surface.
“I suppose he thought it would be rather troublesome to send it under the name of the Emperor of Babylon.”
“How very like His Majesty.”
Rubian chuckled softly and peered inside the box. Licht watched her intently.
Thump, thump.
Merely seeing that radiant smile made his heart feel as though it might burst.
In truth, Licht had come to Arcadia with this very intention from the beginning—to aid Rubian in achieving her complete revenge.
‘And by my measure, that meant you standing at the pinnacle of this place.’
Yet Rubian had boldly demonstrated an answer far greater than what he had envisioned.
And so, once more.
He found himself captivated by her all over again.
“You know something?”
“What?”
I love you, Rubian.
“Is there anything you’d like for dinner? The Father Emperor sent quite a lot of provisions as well.”
And seeing you like this today has only deepened that feeling.
“I’m not sure… but why does an Imperial Prince always insist on preparing meals for others?”
Ever since I first saw you in that orphanage in the Capital.
I’ve been drawn here by your brilliance.
“Is that so? Well, what does it matter to you?”
Yet Licht kept all the words floating within him locked away.
Everything has its proper timing.
He had to painfully accept that now was not the time for him and Rubian.
He had heard roughly what kind of past Kalid and Rubian had endured together. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t overwhelmed, and a boast to claim he wasn’t intimidated.
But regardless of their shared history, what mattered to him was the present.
And what he believed he could not overcome above all else right now.
“What? Why is it so noisy outside? Did Kalid come back after destroying some dark creatures?”
Was Rubian’s affection for Kalid.
“It seems so. I’ll tell Kalid to come see you right away when I head out.”
“Oh, thank you.”
But what was he good at?
Waiting, was it not?
From childhood until reaching this position, he had advanced step by step. He had concealed his emotions, humbled himself, and bided his time—and ultimately succeeded.
So Licht chose to believe that his own ‘moment’ would come someday, however distant.
And so for now, he resolved to speak none of those words.
Simply remaining here, by Rubian’s side.
“I suppose we won’t see each other as often in the Imperial Palace Archives anymore, my lady.”
He spoke with feigned nonchalance, and Rubian laughed sweetly in response.
“Surely my research extends beyond ancient texts alone, Your Highness.”
“Very well. As always, I shall escort you with the Imperial Prince’s personal pass—one that grants access anywhere within the Empire.”
“Of course.”
They exchanged light banter as they had always done, crossing the Reception Room together.
Licht spoke as they reached the door.
“Rest well. I think I need to return to the Empire through the portal first. The Father Emperor sent word asking me to prepare for the Crown Prince Investiture Ceremony. That’s actually why I came.”
“Wow!”
Rubian clapped her hands together, genuinely delighted.
“I’ll make sure not to miss the ceremony! I still need to recover my mana here, so I can’t return with you right now.”
“I understand.”
Licht smiled quietly, then mustered all his courage one final time and pulled Rubian into an embrace.
“I’ll wait for you. Always.”
He couldn’t bring himself to hold her tightly—only a gentle tap on her shoulder. Even that much made his fingertips tremble slightly.
“…? I’ll be back soon.”
“Ha. I know. See you in the Empire then.”
With that, Licht bid Rubian farewell and left the Reception Room.
As he turned to leave, swallowing down his reluctance, he caught sight of Kalid rushing toward Rubian in the distance.
Licht faced him with an even brighter smile.
“What a shame, Lord Kalid.”
“What is it now?”
“Just a moment ago, Rubian was incredibly impressive before the elders. You missed it.”
Kalid tilted his chin slightly.
His expression remained as indifferent as ever, but Licht found himself delighting in the faint vein that rose on his forehead.
“Consider it a reminder never to let your guard down.”
“Hm.”
Licht’s face took on a rare, mischievous edge as he pressed close to Kalid. Then he threatened him.
“If you slack off even slightly in your duties as a doormat…”
“What?”
“I’ll strip you of your rank for all the accumulated insults to the Imperial Family, and I’ll prostrate myself at her feet instead.”
“…”
The Imperial Prince turned with a laughing face.
Just as he seemed to be walking away smoothly, he suddenly spun back around with the most radiant smile in the world.
“You know what? I hate you. I always have, from the very beginning.”
Rubian liked you from the start.
It was so obvious, watching her—painfully, transparently obvious.
‘You were too dense to notice even now.’
Well, that’s why I thought I might still have a chance.
“So why don’t you just live alone for the rest of your life? Lord Kalid.”
Licht cursed Kalid cheerfully before walking away with a somewhat lighter expression.
* * *
A few days later.
At last, tomorrow was the day I would return.
Rosetta packed her belongings alone in the bedroom. She had few possessions of her own, but gifts that had come to Rubian accumulated to quite a collection.
“Give it here.”
Just then, someone appeared abruptly and snatched the bundle of luggage from her hands.
Only one person would do such a thing.
Rosetta gazed quietly at her husband’s broad back before suddenly embracing him. The man’s body, which had stiffened slightly, soon trembled softly.
“How fortunate. Such luxury for merely helping me pack.”
Rosetta buried her face against the back carved from solid muscle.
“Leviathan….”
“Yes.”
“If you die before me, I’ll kill you.”
“How terrifying.”
Leviathan turned his body gently and caressed Rosetta’s face. Her expression had grown pallid.
It was a truth she could never reveal before the children.
“That past….”
“….”
“It was truly horrific.”
Leviathan understood well what ‘that past’ meant.
Memories from before the regression, forcibly glimpsed through the Dragon God’s power. The story of ‘the time I had hidden away’.
In that life, Leviathan had taken his own life, and Rosetta had clung to her dead husband’s corpse and wailed.
“That is all time that has vanished, Rosetta.”
So we are all well now, Leviathan whispered, drawing her trembling form close.

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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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