The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 322

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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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Special Side Story, Chapter 6
* * *
The next day.
“….”
Was that actually a meaningful conversation?
I set down my portable communication device after reviewing the message.
‘Kalid said he was resting well.’
I’d wanted to visit him the moment I woke up this morning, but I decided against it. It seemed he needed more time to accept this situation.
“Sigh. I was planning to have a careful conversation when he returned, but this came out of nowhere….”
Instead of a careful conversation, it looked like I’d be introducing myself first.
“Right. It’s all so sudden.”
“Tell me about it. I’m really unsettled… wait. Licht?!”
I startled as if I’d seen a ghost.
Because there stood a blonde-haired figure who absolutely should not be here!
“Hello, Rubian.”
“What are you doing here?!”
The Crown Prince in casual attire set down a tea tray with a soft smile.
“I’ve been knocking since earlier, but you didn’t seem to hear.”
“…?!”
“…Well, I was in Ipson too. You didn’t hear?”
“Oh!”
Now I belatedly remembered that the Crown Prince was supposed to visit the Northern Region to assess the current situation of the landslide that occurred on Ipson Mountain.
“The Duchess and Ballock left in a hurry for Zelocks. I wondered if something had happened.”
Licht added with a laugh that he’d followed after finishing his duties.
True to his reputation for excelling at both work and appearance, the atmosphere around him seemed to brighten.
“But… are you feeling better? I heard you fell into the Ice Lake.”
He stirred the tea and asked with concern.
“Oh, that’s completely fine now….”
“….”
Then Licht’s lips twitched slightly before he smiled brightly again.
“That’s good. I’m relieved.”
“But wait, Your Highness the Crown Prince shouldn’t be stirring tea!”
“Why not? I’m just a Crown Prince stirring tea.”
His pretty eyebrows creased slightly in an endearing way.
“And I’m not the Crown Prince right now anyway.”
This person treated his status like it was detachable.
“I left all my attendants behind. So… being here is just your old friend, nothing more. Isn’t that right?”
“Well. If that’s the case, then… I suppose it can’t be helped.”
He really did love sneaking around like this.
It hadn’t changed since we were children.
I sipped the tea Licht had prepared, slurping audibly, while rolling my eyes to steal a glance at him.
His lemon-colored hair fell loosely around his shoulders, and beneath it, his luminous jade-blue eyes remained as beautiful as ever.
‘He does seem more at ease than when he was younger.’
His expression carried far more composure now.
Though he’d always worn a smile back then, it had felt somewhat like a mask.
‘Perhaps it’s because he has everything now.’
That could be it.
“By the way, I heard something on my way here… It seems I have one more person to visit while they’re ill.”
“Ah. You heard about it.”
His information gathering was truly maxed out.
“How is Kalid doing? Is he alright?”
“Ugh, I don’t even know. That kid is completely…”
I explained the situation roughly.
Licht listened to my story with a serious expression.
Since he’s forgotten the fact that I care for him… I understand his awkwardness, so I’m trying to keep an appropriate distance without burdening him.
I’m planning to approach him slowly.
That message was my true feelings.
Because yesterday, when I explained the situation to Kalid, he clearly showed a reaction of rejection toward me.
“We’re… engaged, you say.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What have I done for you?”
“…?”
“I don’t really have any particular skills. So why would you become engaged to me?”
“What are you even talking about?”
“…You must have kept me by your side because I’m useful to you somehow.”
He looked confused.
His expression was one of absolute certainty that there was no way he’d be kept at my side without some practical value.
“…Anyway, he seemed to find my existence burdensome. So for now, I’m planning to keep some distance and approach him slowly.”
“…I see.”
Licht answered while covering his mouth with his teacup.
“I’ll look into whether the Imperial Palace has any medicinal herbs or prescriptions that might help restore his memories.”
“Yeah, thank you…”
“Don’t be too disheartened. Would you like some cake?”
“Thank you for that too…”
It was just as Licht was placing cake on my plate.
Knock, knock—a heavy knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it? Is it Hazel?”
But no matter how long I waited, no one entered.
Eventually, I rose from my seat and placed my hand on the doorknob. Just as I was about to open it, the door swung open from outside.
As if that knock had been the last bit of patience.
“Kalid?”
Only then did a refreshing surge of mana wash over me—mana I should have sensed long ago.
What was he doing here?
“….”
He gazed down at me, his brow slightly furrowed.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“I can feel it… your power.”
“Hmm?”
“Your mana… it’s the same as mine, and…”
That was when it happened.
“But.”
Kalid’s expression suddenly turned cold and sharp.
His gaze shifted diagonally behind me.
“What is that?”
A spark seemed to ignite in his eyes.
* * *
In truth, Kalid had spent the entire morning sitting on his bed, staring intently at the firmly closed door.
Three minutes, thirty minutes….
One hour, two hours….
‘What am I doing right now?’
Only then did Kalid realize he was waiting for someone to burst through that door, just as had happened yesterday.
He accepted his situation faster than expected.
‘Not only am I a Mage, but I’ve become a noble?’
Moreover, they said he had spent quite a long time in the Zebert Duchy since childhood.
It was an unbelievable reality.
His gaze drifted downward.
The clothes he wore were impossibly soft.
Though modest by noble standards, they were unimaginably luxurious to a boy who had once done menial labor.
‘Still… having a strong, sturdy body is nice.’
He likely wouldn’t take many hits. Even if he did, he could dodge them reasonably well.
He wasn’t sure how he’d escaped that life… but it was fortunate.
More importantly, was she really not coming?
His grayish-blue eyes fixed persistently on the bedroom door.
‘Why?’
She said they were engaged.
“Ah, could it be….”
Had she gotten angry because he’d been so rude yesterday…?
“Would you like me to call you ‘sister’?”
…She seemed to be older than him.
‘Maybe she found it presumptuous.’
My expression grew slightly downcast.
But suddenly, a fiancée?
Me, betrothed to that princess-like woman?
When I first heard those words, I experienced a faint ringing in my ears and dizziness. Or rather, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
No, wait. It seemed like my heart actually stopped for a moment, or perhaps I even fainted with my eyes open…
‘Look at me now.’
The moment I combined the words “princess” and “fiancée,” my heart began racing wildly.
It was a bodily reaction I couldn’t even understand myself.
‘Is my body warning me because this situation is too unreal?’
That might be it.
After all, she said she became betrothed to me even though I’m of little use.
I couldn’t believe it.
It felt awkward and uncomfortable, like wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
‘There must be some mistake.’
Where in this world would a princess marry a servant who warmed the bedroom fireplace?
The memory loss was just an excuse—I was beginning to suspect I’d fallen victim to some scheme of those mercenaries.
The reason my heart kept racing… it might even be because they used some kind of drug.
‘I need to be… careful.’
Thinking that way, disappointment inexplicably welled up in my chest.
‘Until I uncover their true intentions, I need to stay sharp and vigilant.’
With that resolve, I forcibly erased the image of the silver-haired woman shimmering before my eyes.
Then came a knock, and the door opened.
“…!”
My head snapped toward Pax. My vow to stay vigilant evaporated in 0.01 seconds, though I didn’t realize it.
“Kaaaal? What are you doing?”
‘…Ah, what?’
Why are you coming out from there?
Void paused.
“Why does your expression look like that? Don’t tell me… your memory came back?!”
“No, it didn’t.”
“Hmm, your eyes look the same as always though.”
Were we enemies?
“Anyway… aren’t you bored? Want to go out and play?”
“….”
“How about some sword practice? You know, that thing we used to do together intimately in the Training Ground. If you just do what you normally do, won’t your memories come flooding back?”
In short, he was suggesting a sparring match.
Though I wasn’t particularly keen, I followed Void to the Training Ground. Along the way, I found no trace of the woman.
We clacked our wooden swords together rather carelessly.
For some reason, my opponent’s expression looked disappointed.
“Are you mentally a little kid? What’s with this skill level…?”
My body feels light.
The explosive power radiating from my long, limbs stretched freely and taut muscles proved surprisingly useful.
And truthfully….
I could almost see the trajectory of where the blade would come from.
Kalid pressed his fingers to his temples, which throbbed slightly, and pondered this.
It seemed likely that his familiarity came from sparring with this person called Void.
‘…Familiar, isn’t it.’
This peaceful scene of trading wooden swords with someone and sweating together—I found it familiar.
Something felt strange about that.
But that wasn’t all.
“Kalid, your new shoes arrived. Would you come try them on? Oh! And while you’re at it, help me sharpen some arrowheads! Just about two hundred or so~”
The Duchess, casually roping me into her side projects(?).
“Brat, you! Come to the Annex and eat with us! I’ve prepared plenty, so pick at it like you always do!”
The Old Master, naturally trying to stuff something into my mouth.
“Kalid? Emergency. My library has vanished.”
And the First Young Master, just as naturally using me as his guide….
This is quite an odd household.
The Duchess handled crossbows like tableware, and the lion-faced Old Master had a fondness for brats.
As for the First Young Master, well. There was nothing more to say.
But the strangest thing was that I seemed to follow along as though accustomed to it all.
What had I been doing here?
The dull headache persisted.
“Excuse me, Sir Kalid? Are you feeling alright?”
Just then, after guiding the First Young Master to the library (which had been easy despite my lost memories….), the Maid approached me as I stood in the corridor.
Her polite address sent shivers down my spine, but hope surged even stronger.
‘…Is that person—no, is a woman looking for me?’
My heart began to pound steadily 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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