The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 71

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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 71
Ch.8
By the time I emerged from the cave carrying Rubian, a considerable crowd had already gathered outside.
Among them, the most visibly anxious were undoubtedly the knights bearing the Zebert insignia.
“Your Excellency, Rubian is….”
Leon stepped forward with an uncharacteristic urgency, his usual composure shaken.
He maintained a respectful distance out of consideration for Rubian, yet his gaze upon the child was sharper than anyone else’s.
“Shh.”
Leviathan silently shook his head. Then, accepting a dry outer robe from another aide, he draped it over the child.
“Is she asleep?”
Rubian in my arms trembled intermittently.
She didn’t appear to be sleeping, though….
She simply seemed to have exhausted all her strength.
“We need to let her rest as soon as possible.”
He pulled the heavy cloak covering Rubian up to her head. A misty rain continued to fall from the overcast sky.
Leon nodded in understanding and withdrew.
“Lady Rosetta has restrained all the perpetrators. They’re all hanging upside down from trees, so there’s hardly any restraint work to speak of….”
How did she manage seven men?
Leviathan instinctively caught fragments of conversation drifting through the air around him.
The imperial prince and the other young ladies had regained consciousness in the cave, while Rubian and the short-haired girl seemed to have come to their senses earlier…. Murmur, murmur.
He turned his head sharply.
His eyes met those of a youthful woman who had been glancing in this direction.
“Was it you?”
“Pardon?”
“You appear to be a mage from the Babylon Outpost.”
At that, Rubian in my arms stirred slightly. A large hand gently swept across her small, delicate back in a soothing motion.
“Ah, y-yes. I’m Asha….”
“I see. Asha.”
An impassive gaze fixed upon the mage.
“Thank you for protecting Rubian.”
Asha’s eyes widened in surprise at the courteous gratitude.
Didn’t Zebert Duke dislike mages? She never expected to receive thanks so readily….
Then her gaze shifted to the limp Rubian. Though she couldn’t discern all the details, Asha understood well enough.
“Well…. I don’t think I deserve much praise for it. Anyway, um.”
“Leviathan.”
Just then, a woman with pink hair appeared in the distance, her footsteps rapid. Leviathan quickly moved toward his wife.
“The perpetrators have been taken away by Sir Obron. Let’s head down as well.”
Watching the thoroughly drenched Rosetta, a complex sigh escaped Leviathan’s lips.
“…We should hurry. Your complexion is concerning.”
“Really now. Is there anyone here with a good complexion?”
To be honest, Leviathan was the one who had gone the palest in this entire situation. Rosetta had considered pointing it out but decided against it.
“But Rubian is….”
The silhouette of a child wrapped entirely in a black cloak was visible. Rubian stubbornly clung to Leviathan’s neck, her face buried against him.
“…It would be better to talk about this later.”
The fine drizzle that had been falling completely stopped.
Leviathan took hold of the reins. In that moment, the presence of a group of people was felt.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
“I am Sir Lutus of the First Imperial Guard.”
They were the escort knights of the imperial prince who had arrived late.
A clear sneer crossed Leviathan’s face.
“How pathetic that the Imperial Palace’s knights would bear such a title.”
The knights, having paid their respects with a brief bow, turned their gaze toward the child in the duke’s arms. The tendons in Leviathan’s hands became visibly taut.
“We would like to question those involved in the incident. Would it be possible to have a brief conversation with that child?”
“Sir Lutus, stop.”
It was Leon who had spoken. The two men had met before in the Capital.
When the man, whose emotional expressions were typically restrained, made his displeasure plainly evident, Lutus raised his eyebrows in surprise. However, he did not drop his cold expression.
“I apologize, but it is procedure. That child was the only one who remained conscious throughout the abduction.”
“There is the Outpost mage.”
Leon objected once more.
“He is also a suspect in another attempted abduction case. You know that the words of someone under suspicion cannot be trusted.”
Lutus replied coldly, looking at Leon.
“Therefore, Your Grace, if that child could just….”
“Child.”
Leviathan, who had been silent until now, murmured softly. Lutus unconsciously took a step backward.
“Pardon?”
“That child?”
With just a single step forward, an overwhelming pressure descended. A dark and ominous shadow fell over Lutus.
“Y-Your Grace. I do not understand why you are suddenly acting this way… I was merely explaining the proper procedure.”
“Since when has a mere knight been able to presume to advise me?”
The gazes of those around them, including Count Camelan, had already turned toward this scene.
“And to dare speak thus to the princess of Zebert, no less.”
“…Pardon?”
The expressions of Lutus and everyone present froze in shock.
“Prin…cess?”
It was at that very moment.
A sharp gust of wind swept past Lutus’s ear.
With a sickening thud, a greatsword so terrifying to behold embedded itself in the tree behind Lutus.
“Ahhhhh!”
Lutus collapsed to the ground.
My ears, my ears!
“Phew, that was filthy.”
“D-did you just throw your sword at me?! Old Master!”
The beast astride the horse let out a snort and shook its head.
“No. My hand just slipped.”
It was obviously a lie. But no one possessed the audacity to point it out.
Ballock leaped from his horse with an unbothered expression and drew his sword with a sharp ring.
“So? What’s this pathetic wretch doing here?”
The elderly man, standing firm as a mountain, asked while looking down.
Lutus felt genuinely wronged.
“I was merely conducting an investigation… or rather, following procedure.”
It wasn’t as though I intended to do anything extraordinary. I simply wanted to ask what had happened…
Was there really a need for such excessive protection?
“Your arrival is timely. I would appreciate your assistance with the cleanup.”
Leviathan spoke while gripping the reins once more.
“Hmm.”
Ballock’s gaze fixed upon the small bundle cradled in his arms.
After confirming that Rubian was unharmed through his worried examination, Ballock finally released the tension from his rigid shoulders.
He cracked his neck and surveyed the surroundings before speaking with a sinister tone.
“Right then. Be on your way. I need to have a word with these bastards.”
“That would be problematic…!”
“Knight Lutus!”
At that moment, Licht, who had been conversing with Count Olson in the distance, came rushing over belatedly.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
“Do you know whose presence you stand before?”
The prince, brushing back his soaked hair, fixed Lutus with a frigid gaze. Seeing a face that was the spitting image of the Emperor, my mouth shut of its own accord.
Licht turned toward Leviathan with a low sigh.
“I apologize for the discourtesy, Duke. Please depart at once. I shall handle the Imperial Palace knights myself.”
Leviathan paid no further attention.
The horse lifted its front hooves and galloped away swiftly.
Rosetta and Leon, along with the knights of Zebert, formed a protective shield around the child.
“…”
Kalid, who followed behind, glanced back sharply. His eyes met Licht’s, but only for an instant.
Ahhh! Aaahhh! Suddenly, rats from somewhere! Get away!
The knights’ shouts rang out.
At the brief commotion, Rubian attempted to lift his face quietly.
Leviathan pressed the child’s back of the head down gently with his large hand.
“Keep your eyes closed.”
The child, who had remained silent all along, then turned his head slightly to gaze at the side of his face.
Leviathan kept his gaze fixed forward, his voice firm and resolute.
“It’s all over now.”
“….”
“So everything is fine now.”
With a sound that was neither an answer nor a sigh, the child buried his head 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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