The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 98

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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 98
“Your seat has been prepared over there.”
I peeked at the Maid’s fingertips.
My older brothers and Kalid were sitting at a round table with shameless expressions on their faces. When did they escape all the way over there!
“They left me behind!”
I grabbed my skirt to hurry over with thundering footsteps, but several girls caught hold of me.
“Oh, you’re not sitting with us….”
“I’m sorry. I promised to sit with my older brothers….”
“Ah, I see. What a shame…. Gasp!”
At that moment, the eyes of the girls surveying the table grew as wide as lanterns.
“Th, that person next to the young masters…! The one from the equestrian tournament…?”
That person? What’s the big deal about Kalid?
My ears perked up and I crept closer, but the girls didn’t include me in their conversation since I wasn’t sitting at their table….
“Well then, young lady. Let’s chat again next time!”
The girls vanished as sharply as a blade.
Sigh, what a shame.
In any case, I followed the Maids’ guidance and walked to the table, taking my seat.
It was right next to Kalid.
He glanced at me, then clenched and unclenched his fists beneath the table. His ears were still slightly flushed—was his heart still aching….
“Rubian, you’re quite the sensation?”
Void chuckled.
“It’s because my older brothers ran away!”
“To see through that… impressive.”
“Liam, don’t dodge by acting clever.”
“A voice that squawks like a beast? Annoying, annoying.”
Liam turned his head toward Pax.
Well… Liam’s mere presence here was already a miracle.
The banquet had a moderately festive atmosphere, and it was moderately enjoyable. Musicians played lively music. As the prepared food was served, the mood grew even more vibrant.
But as time passed, my energy gradually drained away for some reason. Was this the lingering effect of the New Leaf Festival….
“Rubian, eat quickly!”
“Mm.”
The surrounding children who had been glancing at us soon began chattering among themselves and eating.
I poked at a piece of meat that Void had cut for me, then eventually placed it on Kalid’s plate. I had no appetite.
“Kalid, eat mine.”
“You eat more.”
Whoosh. The single piece of meat I gave to Kalid came back as two.
At that moment, Void sitting across from me narrowed his eyes thinly.
“Aren’t you two getting a bit close?”
He stretched his arm and pushed Kalid’s and my plates far apart.
Kalid’s expression turned displeased.
“What’s the problem?”
“What do you mean, what’s the problem?”
“Yes.”
Somehow, I felt like I’d heard this conversation before.
“My sister is….”
But this time, Void’s words didn’t falter.
“Because she’s a girl, that’s the problem! You empty-headed night sky!”
The young boy rushed forward with a shout.
Naturally, Kalid laughed it off through his nose. Liam, who had been watching, adjusted his glasses once.
“Chestnut, stop bothering Void.”
“…Chestnut?”
He pulled one corner of his mouth up wickedly.
“Here.”
As he transferred all the meat from his plate to Kalid’s plate.
“Eat plenty and fall asleep on a full stomach.”
“Brother…. That’s only supposed to be a punishment for you!”
I should give him vegetables! Vegetables!
Void bristled and dumped his vegetables in a heap.
“….”
As a result, Kalid, who had consumed twice his usual nutrition, stared down at his plate in disbelief.
“Everyone, stop spoiling Kalid! I understand your hearts, but if I overeat…. Ugh…I’m….”
I slumped over the table limply.
“Rubian?”
“Ah, I have no energy….”
“What is it. Is it because of a cold? You should rest at home then. If you keep this up, you’ll never get over that cold.”
Void scolded him briefly. Yet he didn’t let go of his worried gaze.
“Why do you have to say it like that….”
My body grew heavy as lead, and my tongue stretched along with it.
So sleepy….
As I rubbed my eyes, Liam clicked his tongue and set down his utensils.
“This really isn’t the time to eat. Let me find a rest room or something….”
It was just as I was about to stop my brother from lifting me up.
Suddenly, the entrance to the Banquet Hall grew noisy.
“Well, is everyone enjoying the party? We’ve prepared a special event to commemorate today further.”
It was a middle-aged man who appeared to be an Imperial Palace official.
“What is it? An event?”
The children whispered among themselves.
“A Mage from the Allied Kingdom has come to distribute special gifts to all of you in celebration of the festival!”
“What?”
Void and Liam’s faces crumpled. Suddenly, what’s this about a Mage. The two boys grumbled briefly.
‘Ah, so it comes to this after all….’
I slowly lifted my body from where it had been sprawled across the table.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine. This wasn’t a matter of physical condition. My hand moved reflexively, and I touched the mask covering my face.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
At that moment, a man in white priestly robes appeared. His collar was raised to the tip of his nose, so unlike in the Maze Garden, his face wasn’t fully visible.
Thump, thump.
Red hair. Brown eyes.
The Mage swept his gaze across the expansive hall. I felt Kalid, sitting beside me, clench his fists tightly.
“I wish to congratulate you on the joyous Babylon Spring Festival. I hope you will graciously accept the gifts our Kingdom has prepared.”
Speaking kindly, he placed a box on the podium set before the Banquet Hall.
Inside the box were round pendants embedded with small jewels, packed tightly together.
“What are those?”
Someone asked, and the Mage answered politely.
“They are magical artifacts. If you grip them with force like this….”
“Wow!”
A burst of yellow light erupted.
It soon transformed into an adorable rabbit that bounded about before vanishing. Some became birds, others tigers, still others fish….
It was more than enough to capture the children’s attention.
“Come now. Please step forward one by one and take one.”
The children rushed forward in a crowd.
I bit my lips hard and clasped my hands together.
‘The Kingdom Mage Order….’
They hadn’t given up after all.
As I’d anticipated, the Maze had merely been a time for reconnaissance.
I realized that this was the true moment the Mage had been aiming for.
Inevitably, my hands and feet grew cold, and tension flooded through me. Then, someone gripped my hand firmly.
“It’s alright.”
Kalid whispered softly. I nodded.
‘There’s no running away now anyway.’
I had prepared countermeasures with Kalid in advance for this moment, and if I were to slip out of the Banquet Hall now, that might be exactly what the Mage was hoping for.
“The young princes and princesses of Zebert aren’t coming out?”
The Attendant spoke, looking at our table.
“I’ll pass. Not particularly amusing toys.”
Liam refused. Just as expected, the Mage’s cold gaze turned and fixed upon us.
Disliking the attention, I hurriedly turned my head and dragged Liam along.
“Oh, brother. Let’s get in line too.”
“What? You wanted one that badly?”
I nodded so subtly it was unclear whether I meant yes or no, and Void and Liam exchanged glances before joining the line together.
I carefully directed my gaze toward the pendants.
‘That’s definitely… a mana-detection magical artifact disguised as a toy.’
It was a different form from the magical artifact that Asha used, which I had created.
“Ah! Shall we have the young ladies aged ten and under line up first? Out of consideration, you understand.”
The Mage smiled, creasing his eyes in a way that made my skin crawl.
Of course, that was only how it appeared to me. The children my age rushed forward with excited faces.
“Come now, you as well, young lady.”
At the Mage’s gesture, I moved forward with them.
Kalid cast a worried glance my way, but I straightened my posture and fixed my gaze ahead.
“Huh? Mage, why is yours a blue jewel? Mine is red.”
At that moment, a child who had received a magical artifact asked the question.
“Ah. That’s because I possess magical power in my body. When one has magical power, the color of the magic stone changes, you see.”
“I see. So mages have blue, and ordinary people have red. Is that right?”
“Yes. However, do not worry. Even without magical power, you will be able to interact with the light creatures until the magical power contained within the stone itself is depleted.”
“Wow! Thank you so much!”
The child scampered away.
The Mage distributed pendants one by one, checking the color of each magic stone. The line shortened at a rapid pace, and my own nerves frayed with each passing moment.
Finally, it was my turn.
As I climbed the steps, the Mage standing across a small table bowed respectfully.
“Ah. You must be the young lady of Zebert.”
His tone was utterly theatrical.
Though we had crossed paths in that maze, naturally he acted as though he were seeing me for the first time.
“Hello.”
I too returned his greeting with a curtsy, refusing to be outdone.
‘The fourth time. It’s been a while.’
So I’ve come this far after all.
“You truly do have such beautiful… hair.”
A glimmer of exhilaration flashed across the Mage’s face.
“But what lies beneath that mask, I wonder?”
In that instant, without warning, the Mage’s hand suddenly reached out toward me.
‘This is…!’
My eyes widened in shock.

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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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