The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 6

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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 6
“Yes.”
The answer came without a shred of hesitation.
“….”
I peeked out from beneath the rustling blanket, showing only my eyes, and he let out a long sigh as he looked at me.
“There’s definitely something wrong with your eyes and the back of your head.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Neither do I.”
His voice stretched out as if in resignation.
Even as fever burned through my body, laughter kept bubbling up unbidden. It was simply because he had come looking for me.
I gripped a handful of blanket and pulled it up so my smile wouldn’t show.
“Stop laughing and go to sleep. You have a fever.”
A cool hand swept across my forehead.
“Now I see—you’re nothing but trouble, you little brat. I picked up something useless.”
“I’ll consider it karma.”
“Your speech pattern is too old for your age.”
Hah, so he’s trying to get rid of me now?
“I’ll consider it kar….”
“Being cute won’t help. The problem was your word choice.”
Ah, I see.
“I wanted to get an adorable youngest member, but it didn’t work out. Dreams really don’t come true.”
That single remark shattered through my hazy consciousness like a bell.
“Are you taking me with you? To the Northern Region?!”
I bolted upright before I could stop myself. The world flashed white for a moment, but that didn’t matter anymore!
“If you suddenly sit up like that…! Come on, have some mercy. This old man’s heart can’t take it.”
“You can’t die! But… why? Why did you suddenly change your mind? You hated the idea so much…!”
He sighed deeply and carefully laid me back down. His clumsy patting hand soon brought me a strange sense of calm.
“I didn’t hate you.”
Another deep sigh.
“I truly wanted you to live well.”
“….”
“At least the world is quiet now.”
I closed my mouth.
If the face of the hero who returned victorious from war seemed somehow diminished in this moment… was that merely my illusion?
Where the sword is swung, only ruins remain.
Perhaps Leviathan understood that emptiness better than anyone.
His refusal to take me with him stemmed not only from the fact that caring for a child was no simple matter….
‘Perhaps he didn’t want to increase the number of people staying by his side.’
Because he believed his side was nothing but ruins.
“Sir, I….”
I whispered softly, feeling my eyelids grow heavier by the moment. The tide of sleep washing over me was no longer something I could resist.
“It seems quietest next to you, mister.”
Leviathan fell silent for a moment.
“Is that so.”
A large, warm hand covered my eyelids.
* * *
Several days had passed.
I had completely recovered my condition.
Of course, a slight fever still lingered, so I remained bedridden… but I felt like it would all be gone by today!
“Hehehehe….”
I lay in bed, letting out a dark chuckle.
The Zebert Knight Order building prepared in the Capital was, befitting its reputation, remarkably grand and imposing.
I was occupying the inner chamber there, lying down and flailing my limbs about, tracing butterfly patterns in the air.
“You seem to be in a good mood today?”
I heard a knock, and a familiar face appeared.
“Oh, blondie?”
What was he doing here?
“Hello.”
Eyes peeking through the doorway crinkled softly.
“May I intrude for a moment?”
It was a polite question. I sat up in bed and straightened my posture somewhat self-consciously.
“How did you get here?”
“Well, I walked.”
“….”
So he was asking as if I might have flown here instead.
“It looks like the matter you were worried about worked out well. That’s fortunate.”
“Yeah. Well….”
I answered somewhat reluctantly while examining the boy before me. He was no longer wearing the clothes distributed by the Orphanage.
I’d sensed it from the first time I saw him, but as expected, this guy….
“I heard on the way here that you’re going to the Jebert Family?”
“Huh? Y-yeah. That’s how it turned out.”
“So you’re being adopted into Zebert?”
“I guess…maybe?”
“Ahahaha. Why do you sound so uncertain.”
Well, the documents haven’t been stamped yet.
Who knows how that stubborn old man might change his mind again.
At that moment, the blonde who had been staring at me suddenly bent at the waist.
“What, what is it? All of a sudden.”
Sparkling mint-colored eyes filled my vision.
“…So it really is true.”
You’re too close! Way too close!
“W-what did you say?”
“Oh, never mind. …I suppose you have your reasons too.”
The blond-haired boy muttered something incomprehensible before rising to his feet.
“Sorry for disturbing your rest. I’ll be going now.”
“Ah….”
“See you next time.”
It seemed he had never intended to stay long in the first place, departing without hesitation. His gait was graceful, refined by years of courtly etiquette.
‘What on earth did he come here for?’
I stared after the boy with an uneasy expression.
‘More importantly… he really is the Fourth Prince, isn’t he?’
The Fourth Prince of the Babylon Empire.
Licht Babylon.
‘The future Crown Prince.’
In the original story, Licht methodically defeats his rivals and becomes Crown Prince.
Beneath that gentle, fragile appearance lies an ambition no one could have imagined.
‘Why on earth was that prince at the Orphanage?’
The more I dug into it, the more bewildering it became.
“I have no idea.”
I sprawled back across the bed.
Besides, matters of imperial succession were far removed from my concerns.
“Well then, I should just savor this peace!”
* * *
Several more days passed, and finally the day of departure arrived!
The Duke had been absent since morning. Word was he swept through the Imperial Palace like a tempest.
“So he’s really going to open a daycare!”
I learned much later that the Emperor had clutched the back of his neck in exasperation.
The mana examination matter was completely overshadowed by the Duke’s sudden return.
The fact that none of the escaped mage’s characteristics matched mine helped considerably.
“How’s your head?”
“It’s fine.”
“Any nausea?”
“No.”
“Coughing….”
“Stop stalling already!”
I patted his solid shoulders repeatedly. It felt like punching a stone wall.
We had stopped by the Central Church in the Capital.
“Who’s stalling?”
The Duke fixed me with a piercing gaze.
Before us lay a single document bearing the Imperial seal.
The content was straightforward: Leviathan would verify my identity and protect and support me until I came of age.
In other words, he was becoming my guardian.
‘I knew this would happen.’
Of course.
It wasn’t a simple matter for a high-ranking duke’s household to take in an adopted daughter of unknown origin.
‘Well, I don’t mind.’
After all, I could stay by his side now!
Since I’d planned to leave once I achieved my goal anyway, this cleaner method might actually work out better.
‘It reminds me of the orphanage days…’
In my previous life, I grew up in an orphanage.
I had to become independent once I reached adulthood, and honestly, that felt daunting back then.
The world was harsh and I had nothing to my name—maybe getting hit by that reincarnation truck was a blessing in disguise.
‘This time, I’ll prepare thoroughly and gain my independence!’
But first, I need to prevent that ending.
I clenched both fists tightly, steeling my resolve.
He held me in one arm while signing his name in elegant script. My bottom kept squirming restlessly.
I wanted to sign too! I wanted to finish those documents already!
“Impatient, aren’t you.”
He chuckled softly and set me down on the floor. I quickly grabbed a pen and rushed toward the paper.
R-u-b-i.
I wrote my name carefully in crooked letters, even adding the diacritical mark with precision.
“…Earthworm? Is that Iosia script?”
“It’s the Empire’s language!”
He folded his arms and stared at the paper as if deciphering some cryptic code. Regardless, I handed the documents to the Priest who had been waiting nearby.
The moment the Church’s seal was stamped on the blank space with a resounding thud—
“Legal effect established!”
Delighted, I bounced up and down holding the papers.
“You really do know all sorts of strange things.”
“Hehe.”
“Arms.”
I spread them wide open on both sides, and he skillfully lifted me up.
I handed the documents I’d been holding to the Priest, and we left the church.
He reminded me once more as we walked.
“As I mentioned before, Ruby. The choice is yours.”
I recalled the conversation we’d had before going to the church.
“Whether you think you can live with me in the Northern Region—see it for yourself and decide. That’s why I’m not adopting you right away.”
That meant he was giving me the choice to refuse anytime, in case his home didn’t suit me.
“But I’m going to stay by your side anyway…”
As I trailed off and wrapped my arms around his neck, I heard a low chuckle.
“Yeah. I honestly don’t understand why you’re so fixated on me.”
I wasn’t some imprinted chick, yet the warmth of his hand as he murmured and stroked the back of my head had already become familiar.
“Anyway…”
“…”
“For now, you’re the youngest in our household.”
A campfire suddenly ignited in my heart.
“Hehe.”
Laughter escaped me unbidden. He tapped the tip of my nose.
“Let’s go. To Zebert Territory.”
At last, I’m leaving this Capital. With a hero!
“Yes!”
I’ll definitely save you, sir. So please save this world too!

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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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