The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 60

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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 60
Before I could stop myself, my words came out with an unintended sharpness.
Licht’s eyelids fluttered blankly. A flicker of bewilderment crossed his downturned face, and the mask-like composure he wore cracked away.
For a moment, the prince covered his mouth and lowered his head.
“…What am I doing?”
A soft groan escaped him as the young boy raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“I’m sorry.”
When the prince looked up, his face was smeared with embarrassment and distress. Without the picturesque smile he always wore, he finally looked his age.
“I’m sorry, Rubian.”
“….”
“This is a really bad habit of mine… testing people with my questions.”
I never thought I’d do it to you….
The prince let out a short groan.
“I am curious about the movements of the Zebert Duke. But I wasn’t trying to pry through you.”
I swallowed a sigh internally.
In the original story, Licht was a flower concealing a blade. He hid his true intentions behind clever words while extracting exactly the information he wanted from others.
‘He was truly the schemer type, optimized for power struggles.’
Yet he’d been this way since childhood.
‘…He probably had no choice but to become this way to survive.’
Licht shifted restlessly, watching my expression carefully. Seeing him so utterly dejected didn’t sit well with me.
“If I upset you, I’ll apologize sincerely….”
I let out a sigh.
There was no helping it.
“It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.”
“Yes. Yes!”
Licht’s head snapped up immediately. For a moment, I could almost imagine ears perking up on top of his head.
‘After all, he’s the crown prince, so I can’t exactly tell him not to worry.’
Or can I?
‘Did he become crown prince precisely because he’s been like this since childhood?’
Which came first—the chicken or the egg?
That was the question.
“But where are you staying then?”
I brushed aside my thoughts and changed the subject.
“The mansion the Camelan Count prepared for me.”
“….”
My gaze pierced through Licht. The prince averted his eyes and scratched his chin.
“…Yes, I came ahead to assess the movements of the nobles.”
I thought the New Leaf Festival was supposed to be a celebration….
The life of a prince who could never let his guard down.
“I’m not one to talk, but you really don’t know how to enjoy yourself, do you?”
Looking up at the sky, a simple solution suddenly occurred to me. So… I just needed to have fun?
I leaned toward Licht. A delicate blush lingered on his pale face.
“Hey. Do you have time tomorrow?”
* * *
“I can’t believe Licht actually came…”
Olivia murmured in a dazed voice.
“Hehe, I knew he would.”
“It’s been a while, Miss Olson. Miss Camellan.”
Licht greeted them with a handsome smile.
“So that’s why you invited us to Jake Tea Salon, Rubian?”
I nodded at Olivia’s words.
“Yes. I thought it would be nice if Miss Camellan, Miss Olson, Licht, and I all went together.”
The afternoon sun blazed brightly.
I went out with Licht.
I had planned to go to that famous tea salon, but since it was my first time and I didn’t know much about it, I gently coaxed the two young ladies to come along.
“But who is that dark-haired person standing behind you…?”
Olivia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Kalid, who stood a step back.
I puffed out my chest as if I’d been waiting for this moment.
“He’s Kalid, my escort and friend! Despite his appearance, he’s a master swordsman, an animal lover, intelligent, and possesses a variety of powerful abilities…”
“…Stop.”
Kalid cut me off curtly. His ears were slightly flushed with embarrassment.
Oops. I couldn’t help myself.
“An escort…you say?”
Olivia stared blankly at Kalid.
“…Plus 1,000 points.”
Huh?
“Oh my. What did I just say?”
Olivia jumped in surprise and hurriedly averted her gaze.
Ah. So she’s the type who judges by appearance.
“Um, but how did you make a reservation at the tea salon? I thought reservations were impossible less than a day in advance.”
At Sortie’s question, I chuckled.
“The power of influence.”
“My.”
At the end of my pointed finger stood Licht.
“Ufufu.”
“I’ve never used my position as a prince for something like this before…”
Unable to bear the flood of gazes, Licht buried his face in his hands.
“Tell me this was worth the self-loathing, Rubian.”
“Mind control is self-service! Come on, everyone! Let’s go, children!”
I grinned and raised my hand high. Sortie responded with a cheerful “Yes!”
“Then I’ll be going, Rubian.”
“No way, Kalid!”
I grabbed his arm without hesitation.
Father had stationed Leon and other guards nearby.
Kalid seemed eager to join them, but that wasn’t going to happen.
“We need to develop our social skills a bit.”
As I whispered softly, his thick brows slanted sharply downward.
Oh dear. That displeased expression.
“Like normal children!”
To fit in at Zebert without issue, I had to become an ordinary child. And now that I’d met someone my age, there couldn’t be a better opportunity than this!
“I don’t need it.”
Kalid, who scored zero in both sociability and social grace, replied coldly.
“Ugh, you’re so stubborn….”
“It seems your friend isn’t interested. Let’s go, Rubian.”
A gentle voice made me turn around—it was Licht, smiling softly. He naturally extended his hand toward me.
“…I suppose there’s no helping it.”
I turned my body toward Licht. And just as I was about to take his outstretched hand.
“Wait.”
In that instant, my shoulder was grabbed again.
“Kalid?”
“I’ll come.”
“But you said you wouldn’t?”
“I’ll come.”
What was this sudden reversal?
Kalid stood behind me, his gaze fixed like an arrow. I nodded awkwardly.
‘For some reason… my temples feel like they’re burning.’
It must be my imagination.
“Wow. I want to take a picture of this.”
I stared blankly at the cake, which boasted an impressive three-tiered visual spectacle.
Elaborate marbling adorned the sponge layers, with intricately crafted cream and fruit decorations arranged artfully. The finishing touches were shimmering gold dust and delicate sprinkles.
“What’s a picture, Rubian?”
“It’s something like that.”
I brushed it off vaguely, blinking my eyes—blink, blink.
Saved to memory!
“How are your knot-tying lessons progressing?”
Sortie asked as she cut a small piece of cake.
“Well. Not as well as you, but… this tastes amazing.”
“Hehe, please call me Titi. I’ll teach you other knots next time.”
“Sure. If possible, I’d love to learn knots that can incorporate jeweled decorations. This really is delicious!”
“Kyaa, I’m so glad!”
The sky-blue croissant-shaped hair bounced softly. I gazed down at the plate in genuine admiration.
The Chef’s skills were exceptional, but this place was no joke either!
Olivia let out a satisfied laugh.
“Delicious, isn’t it? It’s become the must-visit hot spot for noble children these days.”
Oh, I love trendy places!
‘Father would absolutely adore this too.’
The sweetness, the richness, the layered flavors—everything was extraordinary.
“We should order more. What kind of cream do you prefer, Rubian?”
“Um… strawberry cream and milk cream.”
“Ah, our tastes align perfectly.”
Olivia smiled and placed an additional order. I reached for the cake again when I suddenly realized something.
‘Wait, wasn’t I just being… natural?’
I’d conversed with the two of them like an ordinary child. In the past, I wouldn’t have managed a single word!
“This is working.”
“What is?”
“Things like that.”
Delighted, I devoured the cake eagerly.
“So… why have those two been fighting with the cake this whole time?”
Titi asked, reaching for a fresh slice.
I turned my head and spotted two dark-haired boys sitting across from each other at the end of the table.
‘There’s definitely a dark cloud hovering over that spot.’
The black-haired one sat with arms crossed, deliberately turned away, while the yellow-haired one wore a serene smile as he methodically dismantled his cake.
“Seems it’s not to their taste.”
“My, but this place has flavors that transcend preference.”
Olivia gazed sadly at the cake being systematically destroyed in real time.
“By the way, have you heard the recent rumors? Apparently, there have been frequent kidnapping attempts.”

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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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