The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 274

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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 274
Epilogue.
“Well then, shall we begin the meeting?”
Seated in my study, I activated the video communication artifact.
Shortened to “video artifact” in common parlance, it was one of the newly developed creations from the Mage Tower.
Before the embedded mana depleted entirely, I could conduct face-to-face conversations remotely in this manner.
“Yes, Grand Mage. Video conferences have become quite routine now, hehehehe.”
Idelaine laughed with a remarkably bright expression.
Today was the Arcadia Council meeting day.
Familiar figures of the elders materialized in the empty space like holograms, blinking into view. I scanned through them all before asking.
“Hmm? But I don’t see Daren?”
“Oh, Daren requested flexible work arrangements this week. He’s out getting his staff repaired today.”
“Ah, I see. A staff is certainly important.”
The Arcadia Royal Palace had been reborn as an organization that prioritized employee welfare.
“By the way, Grand Mage, have you eaten?”
Idelaine asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you receive the braised bell peppers I sent? You threw them away again, didn’t you?”
“No, please don’t send things like that.”
“My goodness. It’s good for your health.”
In truth, the pre-meeting chatter consumed far more time than the actual meeting itself.
This made sense, as the elders were all quite elderly, and I was the youngest among them.
“Goodness, look at how thin you are. I told you to eat five plates of rice, but you’re only eating bird seed portions again, aren’t you? I’ll have to make you some nutritional pudding and send it over. This simply won’t do.”
“No, really… how could anyone possibly eat five plates…?”
“That’s exactly why you’re not gaining weight! Look at those wrists!”
Well, it wasn’t so bad being doted upon like a young child who’d finally met their grandparents after a long time.
“By the way, Grand Mage, your expression has been absolutely radiant lately. You look like someone who’s excited and happy every single day…”
“R-really?”
“Something good must have happened recently.”
Idelaine narrowed her eyes knowingly.
“Oh my, no. Hehehehe.”
“Come now, tell us about it.”
Their greatest interest, as always, was my recently begun romantic relationship.
Of course, since it was still a secret from my family, I took the opportunity to boast about my boyfriend here—things I couldn’t share with them at home.
“No, no, no. The other day when we went out… he brought me this absolutely enormous bouquet of flowers…”
“Oh my goodness. Young love is so delightful.”
In any case, after about three hours passed in this manner, we finally began the meeting.
It was a meeting that should have taken less than thirty minutes, but we’d spent the entire morning chatting.
“Ahem. Well then, let’s begin the meeting now. Shall we first hear about how the theme park development in Ostavia Plains is progressing?”
“It’s proceeding quite smoothly. If we review the cruise-based travel routes currently under development, the full-scale tourism complex will bring significant benefits to Arcadia… Hmm? Grand Mage. Has the artifact’s mana depleted? It’s flickering.”
“Huh?”
I quickly grabbed my communication crystal. The screen cleared, and moments later, my jaw dropped.
After finishing the meeting, I hurried outside.
‘I was supposed to go on a date with Kalid!’
I was late because of work!
“Princess!”
Just then, Allen came running from afar.
“If you use the east gate of the mansion now, your family won’t notice. Target location confirmed.”
“Wow, long live the information broker.”
Allen had completely abandoned his work as a dirty back-alley mercenary and fully transitioned into being an information broker.
After dropping the cryptic name “Alpeon,” he’d even changed his guild name to “People’s Errand Guild” to project a clearer, brighter image.
‘Though it does feel like he should be running for office.’
Well, whatever works is fine.
“Then I’m off!”
“Miss! Be careful. All men are beasts, you know. You must never be left alone with one. Understood?”
Allen whispered.
I, who was secretly planning to sneak out and meet Kalid at the Marquis Residence, played innocent.
“What? No, I’m really just going to work! At the Mage Tower!”
“But why sneak around your family?”
“Well, Father would be heartbroken seeing my precious labor scattered here and there.”
Allen laughed with a look that said he didn’t believe a word.
‘Damn it.’
Allen really is impossible to fool.
“I’ll tell him everything when the time comes!”
I quickly changed the subject.
“But why are you dressed up so nicely today?”
“Oh, I’m going to confess today!”
“Wow, you’re finally getting a girlfriend? Please do better this time.”
Allen nodded and cleared his throat with a cough.
“So, I’ve prepared some jokes. Would you mind listening?”
“Jokes?”
The fact that he’d “prepared” jokes didn’t bode well, but I nodded without showing it.
I desperately hoped Allen would finally succeed in his confession so he’d stop bothering Kalid.
“This one’s hilarious. Ahem! I’m already laughing. Listen carefully. What happens when an almond dies?”
Oh no. It’s already terrible.
“A diamond! Puhahahaha! Next!”
“….”
“What’s a thief’s walk like?”
“….”
“Tiptoe~ Tiptoe~”
“Ugh, that old-man humor is so annoying….”
Without thinking, my slip of the tongue made Allen’s expression crumble as if the world had ended.
“I’m not old! Damn it. So what’s the trendy thing to say these days!”
“I don’t know!”
I left the shocked Allen behind and quickly fled through the east gate.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside the Duke’s Residence.
“Rubian has been….”
Leviathan rested his chin in his hand with a serious expression.
“Definitely hiding something from me.”
Void then nodded, similarly resting his chin in his hand with an equally serious face.
“I agree. Look at this meal right now. How does it make sense that Rubian isn’t here?”
Next came a grave Liam.
“Got lost, maybe.”
“Rubian isn’t your brother.”
While Void and Liam bickered, Rosetta, who had been meticulously sharpening a dining knife, smiled gently.
“Hmm, and Kalid is nowhere to be found either? How many days has it been?”
“….”
“….”
An ominous silence descended.
Just as Leviathan was about to say something while moistening his dry lips, CRASH! The Dining Room door flew open.
“Grandfather?”
“Ugh, why are you doing this, Ballock? I’m busy!”
“Now, tell me the truth.”
Ballock dropped Allen’s collar, whom he’d dragged in from outside.
“What’s our youngest brat hiding these days? You’d know!”
“Tsk.”
Princess, you see? There really is no perfect secret in this world.
“I’ll tell! I’ll tell! I’ll spill what I know!”
He was already terrified that Kalid would devour Rubian. (Though it was already too late….) But since he had loyalty to Rubian, he decided to only give hints.
“These days, the Princess has been coming home late, hasn’t she? The Mage Tower operates on a voluntary attendance system, so there’s no real need to go, yet she goes every single day.”
“That’s right.”
“Prince Void, how has Kalid’s attendance at the Zebert Knight Order been lately?”
Kalid had received a Marquis title but found it lonely being alone at the Marquis Residence, so he was always training at the Zebert Knight Order.
“Every single day he volunteers to go on Capital inspections…. Wait.”
Void’s face showed he’d realized something.
“There! That’s all the information I have!”
Just then, Hazel entered the Dining Room with the maids, carrying food. Allen’s cheeks were slightly flushed. He muttered without thinking.
“Well, they did say they’d reveal everything soon. I suppose they’re trying to get formal approval.”
“Approval…?”
The spoon in Leviathan’s grip bent comically.
“Ah, I shouldn’t be doing this to Kalid….”
I knew what he’d done for his daughter.
Hold it in, hold it in. We haven’t even gotten official permission yet anyway.
Rosetta seemed to share the sentiment, quietly gathering the powdered knife fragments.
“Ah, what! What on earth!”
Ballock tapped the table. Allen struck his chest in exasperation.
“No, so the youngest Princess is hiding her boyfri——.”
Allen froze mid-sentence.
‘Ah!’
He finally got it. How modern people speak!
Come to think of it, communication artifacts had become all the rage among young people in Babylon lately.
There were artifacts that could exchange not just images but short text messages too, and since there was a character limit, he’d heard that young people these days often shortened their words.
“So the youngest Princess….”
He cleared his throat with a cough and glanced at Hazel. He’d look like a man with both wit and sense. He was confident.
“The youngest Princess is hiding her boyfriend!”
“….”
“How’s that, hahahaha!”
Allen laughed heartily at Hazel. She lightly raised her middle finger. Huh?
That was when it happened.
“Sigh…. I was trying to ignore it.”
The table trembled violently, and Leviathan slowly rose his massive frame like a beast.
“Bury that bastard.”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Allen, rest in peace in this place.
* * *
“Wow! The breeze is sooooo nice!”
One summer.
Above the dazzlingly glittering Southern Sea.
I stood on a massive cruise ship with my family.
“A ship bigger than an exploration vessel can actually float? That’s amazing!”
“The artifact using buoyancy stones has been incredibly successful. It’s still a test run, but I’m so excited!”
“I see.”
Kalid tossed bread crumbs to the seagulls flocking noisily around.
“I feel good.”
I chuckled and looked around.
Grandfather was sprawled out on a beach chair wearing a shirt covered in flower and palm tree prints, while Mother was having a cocktail—no, two, three, four…(continued)
Uncle Void was writing a surprisingly sentimental diary while gazing at the vast sky. Uncle Liam…. Where did he go? He did board, right?
Of course, the Emperor and Licht were there too. Sortie and Olivier as well.
This cruise was actually our graduation commemoration (Liam excluded) and also a celebration of Licht’s appointment as Crown Prince.
“Wow, a cruise vacation with family!”
I’ve succeeded, Rubian!
I’ve made it on my own(?), Rubian!
‘Good. If it’s here.’
I clenched both my fists tightly.
‘I think it’s time to reveal the last secret I’ve been keeping.’
After all, this cruise ship was scheduled to circumnavigate for thirty days, starting from Arcadia and traveling through Iosia and other regions of the Western Continent—there was no way to hide it any longer.
I let out a small cough.
Just then, Father came down from the second floor with Liam by the scruff of his neck.
“Come now, the sun will be setting soon! The most spectacular sunset viewing point is this way!”
A specially hired crew member guided us.
I rescued Kalid, who had nearly had his hair plucked out by seagulls, and stepped forward hesitantly before my family and acquaintances gathered cozily on the deck.
As always, holding Kalid’s hand firmly.
A cool magical energy flowed gently through my entire body.
“What are those?”
Grandfather straightened up, his face filled with alarm.
“Everyone, there’s actually something I need to tell you.”
A gulp—the sound of swallowing reached even here.
Liam adjusted his glasses slowly while looking at Kalid, and Void was already tearing up, contemplating how to kill Kalid.
Licht laughed and tore apart the plush toy he’d been holding. It was terrifying.
‘No, why?’
Kalid and I are still supposed to be a secret.
‘Everyone should know that holding hands is because of the magical energy.’
But why do they all act like they know about us?
In any case, I had decided to reveal this secret today.
I continued speaking.
“Actually, I’ve been a bit anxious about hiding this until now, but since we’ll be spending approximately a month together in this sealed space on the sea, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t hide it any longer….”
Then Father swayed slightly. Mother quickly steadied him.
‘Leviathan, get it together. Stay composed.’
‘Ah. I was confused.’
Of course, I didn’t catch the meaningful glance they exchanged.
In that moment, I released Kalid’s hand and threw both arms up.
“…?”
“Behold!”
Whoosh, a brilliant flash!
A beautiful azure magic circle embroidered across the sunset sky!
“I have once again….”
“Rubian!”
“Regained the ability to use magic!”
Boom! Bang! Bang!
Brilliant fireworks of five colors burst into the sky, as if celebrating our journey!
“Rubian! Oh my goodness! Your Core has returned to normal!”
Void rushed over and spun me around in circles.
“It’s been like this for days, and I nearly died keeping it secret!”
“Ahhhhh! My precious youngest!”
Grandfather howled like a beast and clapped enthusiastically alongside Liam, while Mother’s eyes glistened with tears as she pulled me from Void’s embrace and hugged me with all her strength.
Father came last, smiling as he approached and stretched both my cheeks.
“You’ve been hiding this perfectly all this time.”
“Secrets are always most fun when they’re revealed, you know.”
“If you can’t even speak properly, you’ll be punished for insolence.”
“Oof.”
I quickly escaped from the clutches of this wicked villain.
“So you don’t like it?”
“My cute youngest is the best. A mage’s daughter—how thrilling.”
“Tee-hee.”
I wrapped my arms tightly around Father’s waist, and he planted a kiss on the top of my head.
Moments like these made me feel like a child again, which was a bit embarrassing in front of everyone, but truthfully, this was my favorite moment.
No matter how old I became, I would always be Mother and Father’s little one!
Whoooosh, boom! Boom!
The darkening sky became embroidered with endless brilliant lights.
“A cruise really calls for fireworks! Kalid, charge!”
I extended my hand, and Kalid grasped it at once.
“I’m so happy!”
Boom! Boom!
Happiness explodes.
Endlessly, infinitely!
Though the beginning may have been somewhat unfortunate, at the end of the path I finally reached, there was such overflowing happiness. That was what mattered.
It was difficult and painful.
There were times when everything was so uncertain and hard that I couldn’t even cry freely.
But by not giving up, by not collapsing, by running forward, I arrived at this moment of absolute fulfillment.
Filled with joy and love enough to give back to others!
I turned around swiftly.
“Everyone!”
So I had to share these words, brimming to the brim of my heart, with my family right now.
Just then, a large heart-shaped firework burst across the night sky with a boom!, and I drew the biggest heart I could with both arms spread wide and smiled brilliantly.
“I love you all so much!”
【The youngest was hiding quite a lot】
完

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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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