The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 58

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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 58
“Save me.”
I turned to find the Hero Duke with dark circles shadowing his eyes, clutching a dessert tray like a lifeline.
“The sword is mightier than the pen. At least, it is for me.”
Watching this man shuffle toward me like a zombie, muttering incomprehensible words, a most rational suspicion took root in my mind.
Hmm.
Could the male lead have actually died from overwork?
* * *
A dark alley.
A figure cloaked entirely in black robes suddenly emerged. In one hand was a mana-detection magical artifact.
Sharp eyes fixed upon the children browsing nearby stalls.
Movement came in an instant.
“Greetings, young ladies.”
A courteous bow befitting a gentleman. The exaggerated, theatrical gestures made the girls stiffen in fear.
“W-who are you?”
“Pardon the intrusion.”
The moment he raised the magical artifact, the girls shrieked.
“A kidnapper! A kidnapper!”
Tsk, I should have silenced them first.
A rustling sound came from his other hand, the one not holding the artifact.
It was but a fleeting moment, yet fortunately the artifact activated.
Presence of mana?
‘XXXXXD-!’
Beep beep! Next time!
With a regrettable sound effect, a blue mark appeared above the dark red magical stone.
‘Damn. Wrong answer.’
Watching knights rush toward him in the distance, he quickly concealed himself.
When he turned into the alley, tangled like a spider’s web.
A short dagger suddenly flew at him from somewhere.
“I thought you’d be as slow as a Mudworm.”
Apparently not.
A slow, muttering voice.
‘What is this bastard?’
Creak, creak.
Looking toward where the dagger came from, the first thing visible was a cart piled high with books like a mountain.
Pulling it was a young boy wearing gloves on both hands.
His black hair, neatly combed and gleaming as if polished, seemed to allow not even a needle’s breadth of disorder.
The boy, who had approached unnoticed, pushed up his spotless glasses with sharp, gleaming eyes.
“Listen here.”
Coincidentally, it was his middle finger.
“Tch, a nuisance….”
“I just called out to you. Why do you keep backing away? And your clothes aren’t even presentable.”
He had a habit of pushing his glasses up every time he spoke a phrase.
How strange….
‘It’s just pushing up his glasses, but….’
Why did it feel so irritating…?
The young boy, having adjusted his glasses to his satisfaction, muttered “I suppose there’s no helping it” and turned toward the cart. A gleaming sword was planted among the stacks of books.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Whoosh! The mage hurled something he’d been holding with all his might, and while the young boy dodged it, he made a hasty escape.
“….”
The young boy stared blankly at what was dripping down the wall. A pastry filled with strawberry cream.
“Ugh, the sweetness really….”
He pulled out disinfectant and sprayed it around himself before tossing it aside.
Strawberry cream was one of the things he despised most.
The surroundings had fallen silent.
“Why does everyone run away.”
The boy left alone muttered flatly.
He’d only been trying to politely ask for directions, so why did they suddenly flee? And then a bread attack on top of it.
Ipson certainly had strange people.
The boy, his glasses gleaming, dragged the cart again with a scraping sound.
“So… I’m curious about how much knowledge my new sister Rubian has regarding magical beasts.”
If she’s slovenly or mediocre, I won’t go easy on her.
After all, early education is important, so as her older brother, I should teach her strictly.
One cart of books really isn’t enough.
“But what alley is this anyway.”
Hmm. Starting over from the beginning….
It was Liam Zebert’s long journey home.
* * *
Yawwwn. I stretched languidly and opened my eyes.
I’d just finished eating a snack, napped buried in crisp sheets, and woken up.
Perhaps it’s because this is a resort. I’m becoming as sluggish as a sloth….
“Hmm?”
But the atmosphere of the mansion seemed somehow unsettled. I quickly stepped into the hallway and grabbed the first servant I saw.
“What’s happened?”
“Well….”
The maid leaned close and whispered secretively to me.
“The Imperial Prince has arrived.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly?
At the unexpected news, I simply stood blinking for a moment.
The Emperor and the Imperial Family would take several more days to arrive, or so I’d been told.
I couldn’t help but ask, wondering if perhaps—
“It’s not the Fourth Prince, is it?”
“How did you know?”
The blond-haired man I’d met in the Capital naturally came to mind—Licht Babylon.
He’d come all the way to the Northern Region alone?
That guy really does love acting independently….
“He came with Young Master Liam as well.”
“Huh?”
What on earth was this situation?
I couldn’t contain myself and quickly moved my feet.
“Oh no.”
I need to check my appearance. I almost went out in my nightclothes.
I returned to my room, carefully checked myself in the mirror, then rushed down to the Lobby. It was already crowded with people.
I crouched at the landing and peeked my head over the stair railing to observe the situation first.
The first thing I heard was Father’s voice tinged with a sigh.
“He was picked up by the Prince while wandering through the Dark Alley, you say…?”
“Yes.”
“This is absolutely maddening.”
From the Duke’s broad shoulders, his hand pressed to his forehead, I could keenly sense his exasperation.
Creak, squeak. The sound of some cart continued before stopping.
‘Goodness, a mountain of books.’
I furrowed my brow with a slightly weary expression.
‘It’s Liam Zebert.’
True to the Zebert bloodline that grew like bean sprouts, the young boy was taller than his peers. His black hair was neatly arranged, and his eyes held a faint violet hue.
Beneath the transparent lenses of his glasses, his sharp gaze carried an inexplicable keenness.
‘He seems somewhat similar to Father….’
If Void were the mild version, this one was the standard spicy version.
The boy finally removed his hands from the book cart stacked far higher than himself and took off his gloves.
“It has been a while, Father. Your shirt button is undone.”
Liam pushed his glasses up with both index fingers, fixing his gaze on Father’s loosely unfastened shirt button.
Father let out a long sigh.
“Liam, when exactly have you been in Ipson? Where did you abandon all your escort knights?”
“Well…. It seems it turned out this way. You said your button was undone.”
“That makes no sense whatsoever. You just push your glasses up with that intelligent face and think that’s all.”
“But….”
“I deliberately left the button undone. It was suffocating.”
Liam’s icy expression cracked slightly.
“…Buttons exist to be fastened.”
Regardless, Father’s face showed clear signs of his head throbbing.
“Rose? Don’t tell me Rose is in Ipson too?”
“Mother hasn’t arrived yet, I believe. I rode here with Beth Knight on horseback. It was quite difficult to read in such conditions.”
“I told you not to read while riding.”
“What else am I supposed to do if I don’t read while riding?”
His tone suggested he’d heard every absurd excuse imaginable.
It was rather like a modern person asking what one does on the subway if they’re not looking at their phone.
‘What is this, some kind of unstoppable force meeting an immovable object?’
I pressed my cheek against the railing, watching the father and son exchange with keen interest.
The adult was the first to wave the white flag.
“Enough, enough. Leon, send a messenger to the South Gate. Check if Rose’s carriage has passed through.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leon promptly vanished from sight. Liam smiled slightly as he watched Leon leave, apparently quite pleased with his impeccable appearance.
“So then.”
Father’s gaze shifted behind Liam.
“And what of the Crown Prince? Please don’t tell me His Highness came alone.”
Licht Babylon laughed as servants naturally attended to him, removing his coat and sword.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Duke.”
“….”
“But when I heard the New Leaf Festival would be held in the Northern Region, I simply couldn’t resist.”
A heavy sigh escaped once more.
‘Oh no. What do I do? Is Father getting gray hair because of us?’
I gripped the railing tightly, gazing at that handsome back of his head with pitiful eyes.
Raising teenagers is difficult, isn’t it? You’ve got this.
“….”
“….”
As I reached out to gently stroke the empty air, those jade-green eyes found me without a moment’s hesitation, and our gazes locked.
“Hello, Rubian. What are you doing up there?”
His soft voice drifted upward. Every eye in the lobby below snapped toward me.

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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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