The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 82

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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 82
“Lucky bastard. Fortune smiles on him too.”
The imperial princes sneered. It was a familiar refrain.
Licht was the Emperor’s illegitimate son, fortunate enough to have his status as a prince acknowledged.
That fact was classified as top secret. Yet, as with all perfect secrets, it had become common knowledge throughout the Imperial Palace.
“Why did you come all the way here alone anyway? Does drawing Father’s attention make you feel special?”
Licht sat down with a composed smile.
“Brother, what a pleasant lunch.”
“Tch. Look at him—not even bristling.”
Well. There would need to be something worth bristling over.
The young boy swallowed his true thoughts and turned his head away.
Attendants brought the meal.
Asha Drucan’s voice echoed in his mind like a phantom sound.
‘Was that merely my imagination?’
But if it wasn’t a mistake.
If Rubian’s reason for hiding her gender stemmed from something far more complex, and if she had known Asha Drucan from the beginning….
Perhaps Rubian was.
‘A mage….’
She might be a mage.
One the Mage Kingdom was desperately searching for.
‘But the characteristics don’t match at all.’
The fugitive mage had red eyes.
Rubian had blue eyes.
‘I don’t know.’
There was nothing he could be certain of. That’s why he couldn’t easily speak of it to Zebert Duke either.
But what if Rubian truly was a mage.
“Ha. Seeing that half-breed’s face ruined my appetite.”
Perhaps this was… a weapon I could wield?
“By the way, is Father still occupied?”
“He’s dealing with those Arcan bastards, apparently. He seemed quite troubled over some fugitive mage matter.”
Licht’s eyes darkened as he watched the cackling princes.
‘For now… I need to observe more.’
The young boy kept his posture low and continued eating without disturbance.
This was the time for it.
* * *
I failed!
I thought if I braided Grandfather’s beard, he would push me away with a stern face like Camelan Count.
‘A complete failure!’
Late afternoon.
I lay on the bed, breathing heavily.
I had exhausted every ounce of my strength fleeing from Grandfather’s embrace. I couldn’t even remember how I’d managed to eat or take my medicine.
He had truly upgraded from a persistent block of cheese to an insufferable piece of gum stuck to my shoe!
“My goodness, you look absolutely exhausted. Why don’t you take a nap?”
Hazel spoke while suppressing a smile.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
I dragged myself sluggishly onto the bed, my vitality completely drained.
The truth was, my exhaustion wasn’t solely due to Grandfather.
“By the way, how long have you known the Fourth Prince?”
Hazel suddenly lowered her voice and asked.
“Ah. It just… happened that way.”
“I see.”
I carefully averted my gaze.
That was right.
Not long after lunch, the Fourth Prince had arrived unexpectedly.
“Hello, Rubian.”
“Licht?”
He had come bearing a mountain of get-well gifts.
“So you were a girl. Camelan Young Lady and the Young Lady Olson were absolutely shocked.”
“Ah… um. The situation got a bit… complicated. But… weren’t you surprised?”
“…Ah. Of course I was surprised too.”
“…I’m sorry. For deceiving you.”
Licht shook his head in denial.
“What about the other two?”
“Count Olson returned to his territory first because of the kidnapping incident… and I heard Camelan Young Lady is still unwell.”
“Oh no. Titi…”
I decided I should send Titi a comfort gift and a letter, just as Licht had done.
“Are you alright? You’re coughing.”
“Yes. It’s just my throat that hurts; everything else is fine. But you don’t look well either. You’re not sick, are you?”
“Ah. It’s just… I haven’t been sleeping well. I’ve been worrying about something.”
“What are you worried about?”
Licht stared at me intently, then smiled faintly.
“Actually, the atmosphere of the New Leaf Festival has been ruined, so the Crown Prince is very concerned. Some nobles like Count Olson have already left. I’ve been thinking about what I could do.”
“Ha. Licht. If you keep living like that…”
You’ll only ever become Crown Prince.
I deliberately swallowed my words.
No, you’re worried about the national festival right after being kidnapped?
I paused briefly before adding.
“Then… wouldn’t it help to add more prizes?”
“Prizes?”
“Yes. I thought prizes might be the best way to revive the atmosphere of a failing festival.”
“Hmm….”
Licht listened to my explanation, then seemed to grasp something and hurried away. That had been just moments ago.
‘She really does live diligently.’
After finishing my recollection, I chuckled softly to myself and slipped beneath the blankets.
“I need to take a nap now.”
“Oh my, how admirable.”
After all, a child with a cold must rest properly.
Hazel firmly shut the window and tidied the blankets before leaving.
“Sigh. Please, let me remember the original’s next memory in this dream!”
I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed, but I couldn’t shake a nagging sense of unease.
“Please, give me at least a hint to recall the next truth…. Wait?”
In that moment, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
Hold on.
The New Leaf Festival…. New Leaf Festival prizes. And Licht.
Like a lightbulb switching on, a hypothesis suddenly illuminated my mind.
‘Now that I think about it, didn’t they say the Herbalism Professor frequented the Imperial Palace?’
Could it be that she delivered ‘that’ to me?
I kicked off the blankets and hastily scribbled a note.
I tugged my earlobe to summon Kalid urgently, borrowed the squirrel to complete my task, then drifted off to sleep.
“Miss, miss.”
Someone shook me awake.
“Ughhhh….”
“You must wake up now. If you sleep any longer, you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
I blinked my eyes open drowsily.
Thanks to the medicine, I had slept deeply and soundly.
I sprang up and stretched with a long yawn, and Hazel handed me something.
“And a letter just arrived for you.”
“Huh? A letter?”
“It’s from someone called Asha Drucan.”
“Gasp.”
That was fast.
I quickly accepted the letter Hazel offered.
“You seem to have become quite close. How about inviting her to the mansion sometime?”
“But Asha is a mage…. Is that okay?”
Hazel laughed as if she’d heard it all before.
“She’s the one who saved you, miss. The master will naturally approve.”
I suppose that’s true….
Hazel mentioned it was time to prepare dinner.
“Hazel, but…. Can’t I just have one apple jelly before eating?”
“Mm-mm. No snacks before meals….”
“Cough, cough.”
“I’ll grab something for you right away!”
I lowered my hand from my mouth as I watched Hazel dash away. Once alone again, I felt the urge to open Asha’s letter.
It appeared to be an ordinary letter of greetings, but when I infused it with a trace of mana, the hidden text revealed itself.
Hello, Rubian. I am being exploited for labor at the New Leaf Festival in Babylon.
What is this? An SOS signal?
I nearly reported it on the spot. If only the next sentence hadn’t existed.
Thanks to that, I’ve just obtained this information—apparently, His Majesty the Emperor plans to add an Imperial treasure as the first-place prize for this year’s New Leaf Festival competition.
It was originally supposed to be the prize for the adults’ martial arts tournament, but given the unfortunate kidnapping incident, they say it’s to boost the children’s morale!
Ah, so the Emperor accepted Licht’s suggestion.
I quickly read the next line.
And just as you mentioned, that ‘herb’ was there. The Herbalism Professor at the Academy presented it? How did you know?
My grip tightened slightly. The paper crackled beneath my fingers.
‘Perhaps there’s a way to recall the original story’s memories.’
The identity of the sorcerer who kills Father. A clue to unraveling that mystery!
My eyes sparkled with excitement.
So Rubian, if you want to obtain the prize, you’ll need to place first in the New Leaf Festival competition. I’d love to rig the match for you, but that’s beyond my capabilities…
The postscript that followed was more of a lament and far too long, so I gave up reading it.
“Fine. I was planning to enter the competition anyway…”
I folded the letter decisively.
What had started as half a joke now gave me a genuine reason to aim for first place.
To do that…
I bit my lip firmly.
Just then, Hazel burst through the door.
“Miss, you must be hungry! I brought jelly!”
“I’m sorry, Hazel. I no longer need apple jelly.”
“Huh? Then what do you need?”
“What I need right now is…”
I clenched both fists with determination.
“A strategy to win the New Leaf Festival!”
That was all that mattered!

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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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