The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 97

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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 97
“You’ve all worked hard.”
The Grand Banquet Hall sparkled brilliantly with light.
The awards ceremony began with the Emperor’s words. Of course, I had to endure a rather lengthy closing address.
The children who participated in the Competition gathered in clusters before the Podium.
All the adults, dressed in elaborate finery, watched over the children from behind with satisfied expressions.
I stood in the very front row, my face tense with nerves. My brothers and Kalid flanked me on either side.
“Rubian, you’ve turned white as bread. Look at your face.”
“Please don’t talk to me right now. I think I’m going to be sick…”
“Yikes. Better move then.”
Void teased me mercilessly.
“Well then, shall we announce the Competition results? Odeli Principal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the Emperor’s words, a stern-looking middle-aged woman standing slightly to the side stepped forward.
It seemed she was indeed the head judge of this Competition.
Odeli Principal’s wire-rimmed glasses glinted as they reflected the chandelier’s light. Her sharp eyes on the Podium swept over me thoroughly.
More precisely, they fixed upon the gold badge pinned to my chest and the star sticker cards overflowing from both my hands.
Then a gentle smile emerged.
“This year’s Competition champion is obvious without saying.”
As expected. Wow. A brief stir rippled through the children. The gazes turning toward me made my heart feel as though it might leap straight up my throat.
But I held my chest high with confidence.
Four gleaming gold badges adorned my chest. And I had a full fifty-five star sticker cards!
“Youngest fairy, you take it.”
“Rubian, lend me your Hero Card for an hour each day…”
It was thanks to Liam and Void giving me everything they’d received, aside from Kalid’s.
Each of their individual scores was one gold badge each. For star stickers, I had eleven, Kalid had thirty, Liam had fourteen, and Void had zero.
“Total score: 675 points! Lady Rubian of the Zebert Duchy is this year’s overall first place in the Shinrok Festival!”
“Waaaaaah!”
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the Banquet Hall.
Of course, my family’s applause was the loudest. Even Grandfather’s booming roar…
“Ah, but it’s still not the highest score. The Shinrok Festival Competition’s highest score is 680 points.”
Someone whispered regretfully, but I didn’t mind much.
After all, first place is still first place!
But then it happened.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Someone’s hand shot up.
“Fourth Prince?”
It was Licht’s hand, standing some distance away from me.
“Do you have an objection?”
“No, no. Not an objection… I simply forgot.”
Licht, who had been standing quietly, walked toward me with steady steps. In one of his hands, he held a glittering star sticker card.
“That final match was incredible.”
His face bore the satisfied expression of someone who had just fought a worthy rival of the century.
Then he held out the card to me.
“Gasp, the Fourth Prince!”
A commotion rippled through the crowd around us.
“Will you take it? I don’t have many, so it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Wow! Thank you, Licht!”
As I eagerly accepted it, Licht grinned.
“What’s this? You’re too close. Back away.”
Kalid and my older brothers shot sharp warnings at him, but Licht stubbornly held his ground beside me. I recounted the star stickers with an expression of disbelief.
With this, sixty star stickers.
My score had become 700 points!
“Shinrok Festival highest score!”
Odeli Principal exclaimed with admiration.
“Babylon’s Shinrok Festival highest score!”
Voices filled with awe erupted from the crowd.
I felt a bit embarrassed and covered my face with the cards, but the surrounding noise showed no signs of stopping.
“Unbelievable! The youngest champion and breaking the highest score record too!”
“Truly mercenary arts befitting a Northern power holder.”
“How on earth did you manage both young princes?”
“I find the Fourth Prince even more impressive.”
“That knight in uniform is so handsome…”
Whoosh—bang! Bang!
Indoor celebratory fireworks exploded with tremendous excitement. Brilliant, radiant five-colored light dust drifted down gently from above.
Wow!
When I turned around, Asha was beaming widely, flaunting her magical power without restraint.
“Rubian!”
“That’s my booger! That’s my booger!”
“My youngest… Dammit! I think I’m going to cry…! Wahhh.”
“She’s my daughter. Did you see?”
My family and senior knights made quite a fuss. Following the announcer’s guidance, I climbed onto the podium with confidence.
The Emperor, who had been looking at me with a warm expression, smiled gently. Dressed magnificently in a red cloak, the Emperor was truly impressive, his age rendered meaningless by his bearing.
“Congratulations, young lady.”
“Thank you…!”
“Come over here.”
“Oh, yes.”
My arms and legs extended forward simultaneously.
The overwhelming flood of gazes weighed heavily upon me.
I quietly averted my eyes, but they met Father’s as he smiled at me. Warm specks of light cascaded throughout the hall.
My anxiety and tension melted away like snow.
“First place prize. Here.”
“Wow.”
I beamed with joy as I accepted the Emperor’s Herb and Hero Card.
Finally!
I clutched the herb tightly in my hand.
‘I finally found the clue!’
My heart raced with unbridled excitement.
‘And… I did it!’
A sense of accomplishment flooded through my entire being.
With the support of my precious family, I had achieved something through my own strength. I felt immensely, profoundly proud of myself.
Their radiant smiles filled my vision. Father, Mother, Grandfather, and my brothers all waved at me with joy.
The Emperor beside me gently stroked my head. When I looked up at him, his warm eyes winked at me affectionately.
“The young lady shall become the pride of Zebert.”
I smiled with delight.
“Hehe… Yes!”
Those words were the true prize for my victory!
* * *
After that, the formal aristocratic party began in earnest.
The nobles’ eyes gleamed like hyenas without exception, though most of their attention was directed toward the elders of the Zebert Duchy, particularly Father and Grandfather.
Especially Father…
Mother was one thing, but Father was truly a rare creature seldom seen at such gatherings.
With his jet-black hair neatly swept back and his dress uniform adorned with countless imperial medals, Father radiated an extraordinary aura even from a distance. He looked every bit the protagonist of this party.
The sharp gaze beneath his dark brows and the cold atmosphere surrounding him prevented anyone from approaching easily, yet people fidgeted about, desperate to engage him in conversation. The area was packed with admirers.
‘Wow. This is truly the world of adults.’
Now that the charming children’s awards ceremony had concluded, it had become the proper time for adults.
Attacking with smiling faces, subtly manipulating others—the genuine stage of political socializing unfolded everywhere…
“Come now, young ladies and young lords, this way please. A separate banquet hall has been prepared for you.”
Of course, that didn’t concern me!
“Let’s go!”
An Imperial Court Attendant organized the children and guided them to a separate hall. The Emperor had graciously arranged a separate party for the children.
“Father! Can I come back later?”
“…Of course.”
Father’s weary eyes seemed to say ‘I want to go too,’ but… surely not.
As I took my brothers’ hands and began to move, Father spoke from behind.
“Kalid, go with her.”
Without hesitation, Kalid, who had attended the party as a competition participant, followed behind me.
‘Wow. Asha really put in tremendous effort.’
I glanced around the Children’s Party Hall, which was adorned with an abundance of cute decorations, and contemplated.
They appeared trivial, but every single one of them was a magical artifact.
‘Enough to send an SOS.’
Wall decorations that emitted a sweet fragrance, lamps that scattered multicolored luminous powder….
Perhaps because of that, I could faintly sense magical energy emanating from the space itself.
“Young Lady of Zebert! Hello!”
The moment I stepped into the party hall, a group of children approached me.
“Young Lady, that’s amazing! Congratulations on your victory!”
“Oh… Thank you.”
I answered hesitantly. No matter how much I tried to grow accustomed to it, the attention of children I was meeting for the first time still felt awkward.
‘Titi… Olivia… Of course they’re not here.’
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
“But why are you wearing that cloth over your face?”
The children asked me with curious, well-meaning eyes.
I continued the conversation slowly, albeit a bit stiffly.
“I’ve caught a cold. *Cough cough.* If I cough like this, saliva sprays everywhere.”
“Indeed… How considerate of you.”
“You must have been quite frightened by the kidnapping incident. I heard the Camelan Young Lady is still unwell.”
“Yes, I was frightened… I sent a letter to the Camelan Young Lady, and she said she’s recovered now. She said she was sorry she couldn’t come….”
“My goodness.”
Before I knew it, children had swarmed around me, forming a circle. It reminded me somewhat of Father earlier….
But where did my older brothers and Kalid go?
“Young Lady.”
Then, the Maid approached.

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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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