The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 81

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 81
‘And look at that gaze of his.’
It was entirely different from what I’d witnessed in the Capital.
I couldn’t say what it was, but it was unmistakable—the child’s presence was wearing away at something sharp within the Duke.
This has genuinely piqued my curiosity.
The Emperor stifled his laughter, covering his mouth.
“So that Rubian child….”
“Next summer.”
Leviathan set down his teacup with a sharp clink.
Summer?
The Emperor slowly turned his head away.
He had a terrible feeling about what was coming next.
“I understand there is a Round Table Council meeting.”
“Well….”
“This time, you must absolutely exclude Arcadia from the Continental Alliance.”
Yes, I knew this was exactly what he’d say.
“Duke.”
A sigh escaped my lips.
“What exactly do you want? I understand you’ve harbored resentment toward mages because of that carriage accident, but….”
“….”
“The fugitive mage who was responsible was caught and executed long ago.”
The problem of fugitive mages from the Mage Kingdom was a recurring issue—a consequence of excessive control.
“Is that grudge still….”
“The mage who escaped this time.”
“….”
“I heard it was a young girl.”
A chill swept across the Duke’s composed face in an instant.
Leviathan recalled the voice of the Outpost Mage he’d met before coming here.
“She’s about ten years old. She possesses tremendous power, and…. Oh! Her eyes are as red as blood….”
The Emperor’s brow furrowed.
“So? You want to exclude the Mage Kingdom from the Alliance out of sympathy for a young mage? That’s not a valid justification.”
“Those children on the battlefield. Do you think they were there of their own accord?”
A long sigh escaped.
“…I know it was a problem. That’s why I’m ignoring the whining about sending tracking mages up there.”
“With just that?”
“Of course, at this Round Table meeting, I’ll have a new treaty drafted prohibiting child soldiers. We’ll hold them accountable too. We could increase the number of Outpost Mages, adjust the import tariffs on magical artifacts….”
“As long as Babylon profits?”
The Duke’s lips twisted upward in a sneer. His mockery was unmistakable.
“You’ve become nothing but a merchant.”
“Watch your tongue.”
The Emperor’s pupils narrowed sharply.
“I simply have no desire to ignite a new war across the Continent. Do you truly believe Arcadia will sit idle if we cast them out?”
The power of mages is formidable. Had the Mage King bowed his head to the Dark Mage first in this war….
‘The Continent would have been finished.’
The Emperor clenched his teeth.
“If Arcadia becomes our enemy, those young mages the Duke holds so dear…”
“….”
“You may find yourself having to strike them down instead.”
A sharp laugh burst from Leviathan’s lips.
“Why speak thus, Your Majesty? You sound as though you’ve never waged war before.”
His violet eyes flickered with an eerie gleam.
“Strike down the leader first, and it’s finished. Surely you know this.”
“You mean… to kill the King of Arcadia?”
“If necessary.”
“….”
Strangely, it sounded less like a conditional and more like an absolute certainty.
“So exclude Arcadia from the Alliance. That way, when I sever that cursed Mage King’s neck, the other Allied nations won’t bark. You dislike complications, don’t you?”
No, complications abound regardless….
The Emperor scratched his temple and exhaled deeply.
‘So that’s why he’s been so quiet all this time.’
It was Leviathan who first raised the issue of child soldiers.
He had insisted forcefully that the young mages be rescued first and the kingdom excluded from the Alliance. Eventually, the hesitant Mage Kingdom relented, moving them to the rear lines—a temporary resolution.
Leviathan, naturally, remained unsatisfied. Yet the war was escalating rapidly. He could no longer fixate on that single matter.
Still, he believed that ending this war swiftly was the best thing he could do for them. That was when his obsession with battle began.
Though it took a long time regardless.
He endured the years in his own way. The Emperor, knowing this, found his mind simply overwhelmed.
“…I understand, so wait a moment. I’ll consider whether there’s adequate justification. Leave this to me—I’ll handle it well.”
The Emperor waved the documents in his hand back and forth.
Leviathan was about to add more complaints but simply closed his mouth.
‘Well, that’s fine.’
Once the war ends, there’ll be nothing left to do—I should make tormenting this cunning Emperor my primary occupation, he thought.
He rose to his feet.
“Then I shall see you at the prayer ceremony the day after tomorrow.”
“…Wait, Duke.”
The Emperor, who had been glancing at the documents from behind, called him back.
“What is this?”
Turning around, he saw a face wearing an expression of utter bewilderment.
“A problem?”
“Rubian—wasn’t this child discovered in Iosia Village? Then we should have brought identification documents from Iosia.”
“No. That was my mistake. Rubian is…”
Leviathan replied without hesitation.
“The child was a national of Babylon.”
Southern Babylon, Marinvesta.
A sharp exhale escaped the Emperor.
Anyone could see it was fabricated.
“So you’re asking me to sign off on these forged documents?”
“Forged? I’m not sure what you mean, Your Majesty.”
….
“You said you’d handle it well enough yourself, so I’ll take my leave.”
The door shut with a heavy thud.
The Emperor clutched his forehead as if seized by a headache.
That damned hero…
What in the world was Rubian?!
Alone in the chamber, he let out a sharp cry and threw a punch at the empty air.
* * *
Leviathan turned to leave but stopped short.
“Good evening, Duke.”
“Your Highness.”
Licht stood before the door.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m… well enough. And Rubian?”
“The cold is rather severe, but… she’ll recover.”
“Oh dear. I should pay her a visit.”
The First Prince’s expression was genuinely sympathetic.
Leviathan moved to step aside and let Licht enter, but suddenly paused.
An odd instinct had seized him.
“Your Highness—did you know?”
“Know what?”
“About Rubian’s gender.”
….
His composed features wavered slightly.
That expression was answer enough.
A low sigh escaped Leviathan’s lips. Licht fidgeted with his fingertips.
“…I’m sorry, Duke. I was uncertain myself. Though I became certain in Ipson.”
“Hmm… There’s no need for apologies, Your Highness.”
He gazed down at the beautiful golden-haired boy. The Imperial Family’s silence carried weight—and Licht, more than anyone, understood that. Especially given his precarious position, one vulnerable to court intrigue, caution was never a fault.
Especially in his position, where political strife could so easily ensnare him… there was no harm in being careful.
“But Your Highness, from now on, I must ask that you not withhold information regarding Rubian from me.”
Licht lifted his gaze to meet his squarely. His lips, which had trembled moments before, curved into a soft smile.
“Yes. I understand.”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Leviathan moved without hesitation. With the New Leaf Festival and everything else, he was terribly busy.
Licht watched his broad back receding into the distance.
“…What should I do, my lord?”
This time too, I wasn’t certain, so I couldn’t speak carelessly….
“I’m sorry.”
The small murmur reached nowhere.
* * *
Licht Babylon was an orderly young boy.
Sleeping and waking at set times. Eating, studying, and training at set times.
But lately, the boy’s routine had become somewhat disrupted.
“…Rubian….”
That single word dominated my entire mind.
What could that child be?
“Rubian!”
The cheerful voice of the Outpost Mage calling out to Rubian.
“I was only trying to… you….”
Those voices—whether from dreams or reality—swirled endlessly through my thoughts.
Inside that carriage, being abducted and dragged away.
In truth, my consciousness had surfaced sporadically above the depths of sleep.
Of course, I was heavily intoxicated by the drug and deeply hazy, and later Asha Drucan’s magic had rendered me completely unconscious.
‘Were the Outpost Mage and Rubian… acquainted?’
Suspicion took root.
I hadn’t heard the detailed words, but somehow I’d gotten that impression.
“Hey. Runt.”
My steps halted.
As I entered the Dining Hall, the First Prince provoked me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————