The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 88

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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 88
“Rubian, let’s pack this up and go. The atmosphere in this dining hall is rather unpleasant.”
Father rose with a cool smile, but I quickly grabbed the hem of the irreverent Duke’s garment.
“Father, it tastes better when we eat here….”
Who on earth taught this Duke such manners?
Ah. It must have been Grandfather.
“Haha. I can’t even joke around.”
The Emperor laughed pleasantly.
“To think I’d see such a Duke. Very well. I understand, so eat slowly.”
Licht seemed embarrassed, keeping his lips firmly pressed together as he merely fiddled with his teacup.
That was when it happened.
“Your Majesty.”
An Attendant approached hurriedly. The Emperor’s gaze grew noticeably colder.
“What is the matter?”
The Attendant bowed respectfully before whispering softly.
“There’s been a minor accident at the Southern Mines….”
“Because Arcadia has halted the supply of magical artifacts?”
“Yes. It appears to be retaliation for not continuing to permit the Tracking Mage’s search.”
“So, in the end.”
A deep furrow etched itself between the Emperor’s brows.
I quietly set down my fork.
‘This is….’
My appetite vanished entirely.
So because the Babylon Imperial Court continued to refuse my pursuit, the Mage Kingdom had cut off their magical artifact supply in retaliation.
‘In the end….’
My fist resting on my thigh tightened slightly. I could feel Licht’s piercing gaze upon me.
“Cough, cough.”
Perhaps because I’d suddenly become aware of it.
The cough I’d been suppressing returned. Father clicked his tongue briefly.
“Your Majesty. I’m afraid we must take our leave. The child’s condition is still not fully recovered.”
The Emperor, who had been wearing a deeply contemplative expression, suddenly snapped back to attention.
“Ah, yes. I should be getting back as well.”
The Emperor ordered all the remaining cake to be carefully packaged. He gently stroked my head, his eyes warm and kind as he spoke.
“My apologies, young lady. I wished we could have stayed longer. Next time, I shall invite you to the Imperial Palace. Oh, and you’re participating in the Competition, I hear?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll cheer you on.”
Somehow he felt like a kind uncle….
Of course, I don’t actually have a real uncle.
“Yes. Your Majesty….”
For some reason, I felt apologetic, so I gently squeezed the Emperor’s fingertips.
“Huh?”
“You can do this…!”
“….”
My mint-green eyes wavered slightly.
Oh no, had I overstepped by touching the imperial person?
A long sigh escaped.
The breath came out in a prolonged exhale.
The Emperor regarded Father with a somewhat resentful gaze.
“Truly. This is the first time I’ve envied the Duke.”
Click.
The door closed.
Farewell to you.
The child bowed with impeccable courtesy until the very end and departed. Licht followed, offering to see them off.
The Emperor chuckled softly and scanned the letter the Attendant had brought.
Truly.
That such a child could emerge from ‘that’ Zebert Duke.
‘Things will only get more chaotic from here on.’
Once that pale complexion is fully revealed, wouldn’t she become even more the center of attention?
The Emperor recalled the soft touch of the child’s skin lingering on his hand and that earnest voice looking directly into his eyes, telling him to hang in there.
Mmm. Daughters truly are different.
He let out a small groan and set down the letter he had been reading.
“Summon the Outpost Mage.”
Once again, he donned the Emperor’s mask.
Not long after, Asha Drucan appeared in a flustered state.
“Y-you called for me?”
The Emperor, seated in the high chair with legs crossed, spoke.
“I’ll ask directly—do you know anything about the mage who fled from Arcadia?”
“Gasp, no. I know nothing at all.”
The answer came instantly. The woman with her cheerful short hair fidgeted nervously, gauging the Emperor’s mood.
Her loosely fitted clothes were covered with flower petals and confetti. And those gentle, innocent eyes—what could one say?
She was truly an unmage-like figure.
“Could there be… some sort of problem?”
The Emperor studied that carefree face and let out a deep sigh.
“Because I prevented the search for the escaped mage, the Kingdom has cut off the supply of magical artifacts.”
Asha let out a groan of distress.
“If it’s an urgent magical artifact, I could try to craft one.”
Whether the materials would be sufficient….
Asha Drucan muttered on about mana stones and magical circles.
Thinking that this, at least, seemed befitting of a mage, the Emperor quietly recalled the contents of the letter.
‘Negotiations regarding magical artifacts? It’s obvious—she’s using that as a pretext to investigate this place.’
The letter stated that they would send one mage for negotiations.
‘They seem to believe I’m harboring the fugitive mage.’
How unfortunate.
I was genuinely curious about the whereabouts of that young mage myself.
And so.
‘Should I allow the Tracking Mage entry?’
The Tracking Mages remained stationed only in the Southern Border Town of Babylon.
The Emperor had refused to authorize searches of the Empire’s mainland beyond that location.
‘I had intended to hold firm, but in the end.’
The Emperor gripped the armrest tightly.
For some reason, the face of Zebert Duke kept surfacing in his mind, but he deliberately pushed it away.
After all, he wore the crown of the Babylon Empire.
“Ah, no. I know nothing of it.”
Had there truly been a fugitive mage in this place, Asha Drucan would have discovered it first.
The Emperor exhaled a weary sigh.
‘Hide well, little one whose name I do not know.’
You may be anywhere in Babylon—just please, not here, not today.
He summoned an Attendant.
“Grant permission to use the Gate Portal. However, only one mage may set foot in Babylon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He hesitated briefly before adding.
“And one more thing… keep this matter secret. Especially from Zebert Duke.”
“Your Majesty?”
The Attendant’s eyes widened in surprise.
“So long as Babylon profits, that’s all that matters? You’ve become quite the merchant.”
“…My ears ache from hearing nothing but righteous words of late.”
A weary sigh, tinged with lament, escaped him.
* * *
“Goodbye, Licht! See you at the Competition!”
I hurriedly waved my hand in farewell.
Licht, who had insisted on seeing me off, was staring at me with an unusual intensity.
His lips were moving uncertainly, as though he had something to say… and sure enough, he caught my arm.
“Rubian, I… could we talk for a moment?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m a bit busy… and not feeling well.”
I’m sorry, Licht.
My circumstances are rather urgent at the moment.
“Ah.”
Licht smiled faintly and stepped back slightly.
“I’m the one who should apologize. You must still be recovering. Then… could we talk briefly after the Competition?”
“Of course!”
I nodded quickly.
An Attendant brought Father’s message from afar, and I urged him on eagerly.
“Let’s go home right away, Father!”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Well… it’s just one of those things!”
I had to meet Kalid as soon as possible!
Kalid set down his wooden sword.
When I lifted my head, I spotted a hawk circling overhead.
“I’ve been wondering about that since earlier.”
He carefully exited the Training Ground and made his way to the Back Garden, where prying eyes couldn’t reach.
As he extended his hand, the hawk gliding through the air dove sharply toward him.
It was a carrier hawk sent by the Allen Mercenary Company.
Kalid untied the small note bound to the hawk’s leg and read it.
One tracker passed through the Southern Portal. Destination presumed to be Northern Region.
It was a brief message. Kalid’s brow furrowed sharply.
‘They crossed the Gate?’
Those who had barely skimmed the southern edge?
Of all times, a Tracking Mage was heading north during the New Leaf Festival, the Empire’s grandest celebration.
My premonition felt ominous.
‘What in the world is he plotting?’
Kalid clenched his jaw tightly. But without further hesitation, he moved forward.
‘Rubian is out right now—should I go meet her?’
As he turned toward the Stables with that thought, he spotted a girl running toward him in the distance, calling his name.
“Kaaaal!”
It was Rubian, sprinting with such abandon that her hair flew behind her.
Kalid unconsciously furrowed his brow. What if she fell at this rate…? Her confidence in running had become far too reckless.
Kalid quickly closed the distance between them.
“Rubian, you’ve arrived at just the right moment. My animal friend just brought—”
He rapidly recounted the contents of the carrier message.
“Ah, as I suspected.”
“As you suspected?”
“The Emperor’s behavior seemed unusual…”
Rubian bit her lip anxiously. As a faint shadow crossed the girl’s face, Kalid gripped his sword and stepped closer.
“What should I do, Rubian?”
“Hmm…”
“I could guard the Portal with my animal friends and deal with them…”
“Didn’t I tell you not to make scary jokes like that?”
Rubian narrowed her eyes slightly. Kalid fell silent. It wasn’t a joke, though.
After pondering a moment longer, she lifted her head and fixed an unwavering gaze upon Kalid.
Rubian stepped forward with purpose.
Kalid flinched. At moments like these, his composure simply crumbled.
“You know, Kalid, when I used to play hide-and-seek with my older brothers…”
Out of nowhere?
At this abrupt opening, he raised an eyebrow.
“Once they confirmed I wasn’t in a place, they rarely came back to search it again.”
“….”
“But the truth is, I was hiding there all along.”
Rubian’s voice dropped low.
“Of course, if they searched the entire mansion and still found nothing, they’d come back to check. Isn’t that the situation we’re in now?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I don’t think I can evade my pursuers forever. So… don’t you think I should make absolutely certain they confirm my absence at least once?”
Kalid’s jaw tightened involuntarily. What on earth was he thinking?
“So the conclusion is….”
Rather than answering the question forming in Kalid’s mind, Rubian simply grinned.
Then two pale hands suddenly thrust forward.
“Give it to me!”

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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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