The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 83

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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 83
* * *
That evening.
Liam Zebert sat at the library desk with a grave expression.
“Something troubles you.”
“What is it?”
“Ah, you startled me.”
Liam turned with a displeased look. It was his personal Attendant.
“Who gave you permission to enter the library?”
“Rubian said to come clean it up a bit.”
“It is about time.”
Watching the young master rise obediently, I couldn’t help but laugh. These days, Rubian worked on Liam like a universal password.
Even that difficult youth had yielded to her.
‘Truly, Rubian is something.’
The Attendant smiled inwardly and opened the window, saying he’d merely dust the books.
“But what were you pondering so intently?”
“Whether to participate in the Competition.”
“What? You’re entering the Competition?”
Liam nodded while flipping through a book.
“I want to give the youngest fairy the Competition’s grand prize as a gift. Her eyes gleamed with such ambition when she spoke of it.”
“That’s… quite unlike you, young master.”
At that, Liam raised an eyebrow sharply.
“What do you mean? Answer in introduction, body, and conclusion.”
“Well, you don’t really like people, young master. You prefer solitude, yet lately you seem to enjoy lingering beside Rubian more than anything…”
“Introduction, body.”
“In conclusion, I’m curious what about Rubian changed you so.”
The Attendant added quickly. Liam found something unsatisfying about it, but adjusted his glasses instead.
“Rubian is like a fairy. I like fairies. Therefore, I’ve always liked Rubian.”
“Ah, I see.”
The Attendant made a tired expression before tilting his head. “Huh?”
“‘Always’? Young master, you met Rubian in Ipson, didn’t you?”
Then Liam, who had been quietly observing the Attendant, suddenly yanked open his desk drawer and flipped it over.
Hastily folded letters tumbled out.
“What are these?”
“Void needs to curb his temperament.”
“Ah. So you’ve been exchanging letters with the second young master from the Southern Region…”
Liam picked up one of Void’s letters.
Void, being hasty by nature, frequently misspelled even words he knew. He had complained endlessly about how Rubian pointed out each mistake.
Most of the letters were like that.
Every single one revolved around Rubian.
Annoying. Loud. Weak. Sloppy….
But cute. Kind. Impressive. I like her.
The entire atmosphere of the house has completely changed.
My older brother will definitely like her too….
Void made no attempt to hide his excitement.
So even though Liam wasn’t in Zelocks, he felt as though he were there with them.
“Perhaps that’s why it felt so familiar.”
“Indeed, sir.”
“Besides, she… never called me strange.”
I watched the lamp’s light flicker dimly.
Liam loved studying magical beasts. Researching and delving into them was a deeply fulfilling pursuit.
And if I kept digging, kept searching… someday I would surely discover a way to erase those monsters forever.
Only the people in this house truly understood that.
‘But Rubian understood from the very beginning.’
On the first day, Liam was quite surprised to see his library so meticulously organized. Considering his poor sense of direction, footprint stickers were plastered all throughout the house.
And that wasn’t all.
She even accommodated his perfectionist nature about disheveled clothing by matching her hair pins on both sides whenever they met alone.
“So I simply cherish our youngest fairy just as she is.”
“Young Master… you’ve become remarkably dignified.”
Liam turned his head sharply as if he’d heard enough nonsense.
Knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the library door.
That knock sound!
Liam’s body sprang up instantly.
“Big brother….”
A small voice.
“Ha. Moving the library was a good call.”
Liam murmured to himself.
Of course, the move hadn’t been for entirely honorable reasons… but now it felt like the most satisfying location choice imaginable.
When I opened the door, Rubian stood there with a bright smile.
“What is it? Explain it as long and detailed and scattered as possible.”
The Attendant shook his head ruefully—he’d been told to use only introduction, body, and conclusion.
“You know, I’ve been thinking… would you like to enter the Competition with me?”
“The Competition?”
Liam lowered himself to meet Rubian’s gaze. He didn’t care if his clothes wrinkled.
“Void seems like he’ll definitely enter, but you don’t seem like you will. So I wanted to ask.”
“Hmm.”
“If we go together… um. Wouldn’t that make for a wonderful memory?”
“A wonderful memory, you say.”
I wanted to build so many of them.
“Let’s devise a strategy for the Competition right away.”
As if you weren’t planning to enter it anyway.
The Attendant’s lips pouted slightly.
“Squeal.”
Rubian hugged Liam’s neck lightly and rejoiced. So that’s what he wanted.
“First place candidate secured.”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s just how it works.”
When Rubian laughed, Liam smiled along. Then, struck by a sudden thought, he tilted his head.
“But you, youngest fairy….”
“Huh? What?”
“In your current state, you won’t be able to compete, will you?”
Crash and thunder.
Storm and lightning descended upon Rubian’s face.
“You’re lying!”
* * *
At that moment.
Three adults of the Zebert Duchy gathered in one place.
“Rose, Father.”
Leviathan’s quiet voice flowed forth.
“I’ve processed Rubian’s registration documents today.”
“But the investigation regarding Iosia….”
Rosetta murmured while narrowing her brow. Leviathan interlaced his fingers on his knees.
“Rubian is a citizen of the Babylon Empire. I had the Emperor approve it as such.”
“You’re saying you fabricated Rubian’s birth…?”
Ballock murmured blankly.
“Yes. I intend to put in place minimal safeguards so that the child’s past doesn’t become an obstacle in any way.”
“….”
“That way, the child can also receive the Empire’s protection.”
“Does that mean you won’t investigate Rubian’s past anymore?”
Rosetta asked carefully.
Leviathan fell silent for a moment.
The child’s face he had glimpsed before entering the Reception Room came to mind. He had meant to explain the adoption documents, but for some reason, he wanted to add these words.
“Rubian, if you ever have something you want to tell Dad, come anytime. Like this time… don’t agonize alone. Understood?”
“Um….”
Rubian drew out the words before adding more.
“I will, for sure.”
The child’s face as he answered seemed somehow incredibly resolute. It looked as though he had made a determination, yet also seemed to be wavering.
Leviathan thought that perhaps it was arrogance to believe he needed to know everything about the child.
The child has his own world. As that world grows and expands, perhaps he will experience things I don’t know of.
Then what was his role as a parent?
‘To trust and wait.’
But instead….
“I intend to continue investigating the Iosia matter. However, separate from that, I will give Rubian a perfect identity and family name.”
He would surround her with the broadest and most sturdy fence he could construct.
Thus, Leviathan resolved to become Rubian’s shield.
He had created the child’s past, and as the family head, he had proven it himself. Now that even the Emperor had recognized it, no one could raise objections.
Before long, Rubian’s name would be inscribed in the birth registry of the Southern Church of Babylon.
Based on that, her name would soon be added to the genealogy of the Zebert Duchy, making Rubian undeniably his daughter.
“I will protect that child so no one can ever lay a hand on her.”
The one and only daughter of Zebert, beyond anyone’s reach.
Rosetta, reading the resolve in those violet eyes, nodded in agreement.
“…Yes. We are Rubian’s parents.”
“Indeed, indeed. She is more precious than gold. Not a single hair on that child should be harmed.”
Ballock nodded so vigorously his neck nearly snapped.
“Which is why, regarding this year’s Shinrok Festival, Rubian….”
That was when it happened.
A knock sounded from beyond the door—not a gentle rap, but a booming voice.
“Knock knock knock. Say, is everyone busy?”

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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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