Youngest on Top - Chapter 135

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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 135

“Someone else?”
“Um…”
“Who? Have you decided?”

Ilay’s smile deepened further.
Now even the corners of his eyes curved beautifully.

‘…This is terrifying!’

“Hmm? Sae, tell me.”

Ilay drew closer to me.
His gentle hand softly brushed my hair aside.
Like luring a small child with sweet candy.

“I haven’t decided yet…”
“Is that so? Do you have any candidates?”
“Not yet.”
“Really none at all?”
“Yes.”

I nodded quickly.
How could I name potential partners when I barely knew those young men?

‘I couldn’t even have a proper conversation with the young men I met in the garden last time.’

It was because of the young boy who appeared at the end and sprayed water.
The boys drenched by the downpour left reluctantly.
The one who sprayed the water was dragged away by the other two.

“…It seems like you’re thinking of someone right now.”
“…!”

I was truly startled.

“How did you know?”
“How did I know? How long have we been through everything together?”
“Just because you’ve known someone a long time doesn’t mean you know everything about them.”
“I do.”

Ilay smiled.

“Sae, I know everything about you.”
“…”
“So, who did you think of?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Just some young men I happened to run into.”
“You happened to meet them and talked about partners?”
“It’s the opposite. We didn’t even properly exchange names.”
“Then why did you think of them when I asked about partner candidates?”
“The young men I’m acquainted with aren’t even at that level, so I didn’t think they qualified as partner candidates.”
“Hmm, I see.”

Ilay nodded with a satisfied expression.
The smile that had been terrifyingly radiant also faded.

“But how did you meet them?”
“Oh, it was such a strange coincidence!”
“A strange coincidence?”
“Yeah, I was crossing through the garden when a handkerchief suddenly fell right in front of me.”
“…A handkerchief fell right in front of you.”
“It was a handkerchief with an incredibly lovely fragrance.”
“Really?”
“Then suddenly some young boy collapsed into my arms.”
“…Into your arms.”
“And then another one appeared who splashed water on me.”
“Water?”
“Yeah, he said he was watering the flowers.”
“…”

Ilay’s expression became subtle.
He grasped both my shoulders and spoke with a serious face.

“Do you remember what Edmund said before we came here?”
“Yeah. He said the imperial palace food was delicious.”
“…That’s not what I meant.”

What else had he said besides that?
It seemed like that was all the important information he’d given me.

“He said the imperial palace was a jungle. That all sorts of factions would be at play, and they’d try to manipulate you.”
“That’s right.”

That was far too obvious to need mentioning.
Was there really a need to remind myself of it?

Ilay, seeing my expression, let out a sigh. “Fine, that’s enough.”

“There’s something even more surprising.”

I lowered my voice and whispered to Ilay.

“Dolores predicted all of it beforehand.”
“…She told you everything in advance? And you still didn’t feel anything?”
“Of course I felt plenty!”

What does he take me for?

“Dolores is truly remarkable. She didn’t know through divine revelation—she judged it through her insight into life itself. Isn’t that extraordinary?”

Dolores had only lived fourteen or fifteen years at most, just a little thing born recently.
In contrast, I was an angel who had lived over a thousand years.

“Humans are truly profound.”

When I spoke seriously, Ilay’s eyes narrowed.

“An angel’s sensibilities are what’s truly profound. I wonder if it’s even possible to be this profound.”
“…?”
“It’s truly an unsolvable mystery.”
“…Is that a compliment?”
“Of course.”

…But why does this feel so unpleasant?
Surely this Priest wouldn’t curse at an angel right in front of her?

* * *

After hearing from Saelika about their “chance” encounter.
Ilay never left Saelika’s side.

Since she was so accustomed to being together with him constantly, Saelika seemed unaware that he wasn’t stepping away from her.
However.

“Ilay, I told you to contact Edmund.”

Communication stones couldn’t be used freely within the room.
Even in the outer palace, it was still within the imperial palace.
One had to move to an authorized communication location for it to work.

“Do you really need to contact him right now?”
“I even received an invitation. I need to find three angel statues for the Princess.”
“…”
“What, did you fight with Edmund? Don’t want to contact him?”

Ilay gazed at Saelika before letting out a long sigh.

“I’ll be back soon, so don’t go anywhere and just wait here.”
“Am I some child?”
“You’re exactly a child.”

Ilay chuckled softly and rose from his seat.

‘Nothing should go wrong. I’ll just make the call and come right back.’

As he walked through the corridor after leaving the room, he encountered Randel coming from the opposite direction.

“Randel.”
“Ah, Ilay. Where are you headed?”
“I have something to contact Edmund about. And you, Randel…”
“I’m heading to the Aject Club.”

Ilay asked in surprise.

“They made contact from Aject? That’s not a place where someone would move around with a Caston trade pass.”

Aject Club.
It was a gentlemen’s club where the most prestigious nobles of the empire belonged.
It was famous for being so exclusive that even non-members rarely received invitations.

“But if there are other baits as well, things would be different.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been busy. Sae will be pleased.”

Randel smiled.

“Is Sae in her room?”
“Yes, I told her not to come out.”
“Why?”

Ilay explained what had happened with Saelika.
Randel’s usually gentle face turned cold and rigid.

“Those pathetic fools dare to lay hands on my daughter…”
“We cannot leave Sae alone from now on.”
“Right, that’s a good idea. Those young things have eyes to see… We need to prevent them from approaching her altogether.”
“Yes, we must cut off the problem at its source.”

The two men nodded solemnly, as if planning a covert operation.

“But Sae must be alone in her room right now…”
“It should be fine. She said she would stay in her room and not go outside.”
“Right, nothing should happen in just the brief moment we make contact and return.”

Randel and Ilay tried to think positively.
But why did they feel so uneasy?

* * *

Inside Saelika’s room.

“I’m truly delighted to meet you again like this.”

A delicate young man with water-blue eyes—so ethereal that even sunlight seemed to pass through him—greeted her with both cheeks flushed a rosy pink.
Saelika recognized him as the young man who had collapsed so suddenly before.

“Ah… that time, you—.”
“I am Serhi Earin, Sacred Maiden. Please, just call me Serhi.”
“Serhi, Young Man.”

At Saelika’s words, Serhi smiled plumply, like ripe fruit.

“Would it be alright if I came in, Sacred Maiden?”
“Oh, please do. I’ve left my guest standing outside.”

Saelika stepped aside to let him pass.

“I didn’t expect a visitor, so I’m afraid I haven’t prepared properly…”
“It’s my fault for arriving so abruptly. But I wanted so desperately to see you again, Sacred Maiden…”

Serhi gazed at Saelika with those transparent water-blue eyes, his expression pitiful.

“You are my savior, aren’t you, Sacred Maiden?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself that…”
“No, I owe my life to you—twice over.”

Serhi gently took hold of Saelika’s hand.

“That day, you caught me with these hands.”
“…”
“You are strong, yet so tender.”
“Serhi, Young Man…”

That was when it happened.

Bang, bang!
At the rough sound of someone pounding on the door, Saelika jumped in surprise and turned her head.
Serhi’s brow furrowed.

Saelika released his hand and opened the door.

‘Isn’t that the watering can from before?’

The second visitor was the young boy who had sprinkled water while tending to the flowers.
Saelika greeted him first.

“Hello.”
“Oh, hey.”
“…?”
“Ahem! That is, I think I was rude that day.”

The young boy spoke while averting his gaze slightly, looking embarrassed.
Seohi interjected.

“How remarkable. A fool actually knows what rudeness is.”
“Why are you here?!”
“Coming here so abruptly is itself rude. Apologizing for rudeness while committing another act of rudeness—how ironic. Or perhaps it’s simply the limit of a fool’s comprehension?”
“What? You! Were you even invited? …No, right? Surely not?”
“I came to express my gratitude to my benefactor.”
“I came to apologize for my rudeness too! What’s the difference?”

The grumbling young boy spoke to Saelika.

“Ahem! Back then, I’m sorry for spraying water so suddenly.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t even the one who got wet.”

The young boy hesitated for a moment, then produced a bouquet of flowers he had hidden behind his back.

“Here, flowers.”

Saelika accepted the flowers.
Did he bring them as an apology?

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“…They remind me a bit of you.”

The young boy murmured softly.
His brow was furrowed and his gaze turned away, but both his cheeks were flushed red.

“I’m Curtis of House Zylax. Those flowers bloom in our garden, and if you like them—.”
“How classical for a flirtation.”

A voice suddenly cut off Curtis’s words.
It was Ranierre of House Setrahim.
Curtis immediately furrowed his brow.

“I’d rather not hear such things from someone who goes around dropping handkerchiefs.”
“When did I ever drop a handkerchief? It simply fell, and the breeze guided it toward the Sacred Maiden.”

Ranierre gazed at Saelika with a refreshing smile.

“I’ve come to express my gratitude, Sacred Maiden.”
“Yes, well…”

Saelika nodded with a slightly reluctant feeling.
It was because she recalled what Dolores had said during their evening meal together.

“Just wait and see. You’ll run into those three people again by coincidence.”
“Surely not.”
“If there’s no chance to meet by coincidence, they’ll come find you.”
“…”
“Directly to your room.”

Saelika wasn’t a fool either.
Dolores’s words, the three men’s visit, and even Ilay’s reaction.
I was beginning to understand what was happening.

‘Our first meeting wasn’t a coincidence. There was a purpose behind it.’

Saelika guided the three men to the reception room.
Even if they had a purpose, it didn’t matter.
After all, I had developed my own purpose after learning about the three young men’s houses.

‘Setrahim, Earin, Zairax. There’s nothing wrong with allying with all three houses.’

Seohi quickly sat down beside Saelika and asked.

“Sacred Maiden, what were you about to say to me before these two interrupted?”
“What I was about to say?”
“You held my hand tightly and called my name. What were you going to say then?”
“Ah…”

As if recalling that moment, Saelika let out an exclamation.
Seohi smiled.
The atmosphere back then had been quite pleasant.
Glancing to the side, I saw two young men watching me with anxious eyes.

Soon, Saelika’s lips parted.

“Discounts aren’t possible.”
“…Pardon?”
“You said your body was frail, didn’t you? There’s nothing to heal. There’s no actual illness. Then you must be seeking the Sacred Maiden’s blessing, right?”
“No, well, Sacred Maiden…”
“The Debon Elder said blessings absolutely cannot be discounted. Even though Earin has plenty of money…”
“That’s not it—”
“It’s the same for Ranierre as well.”
“Me?”
“You want a blessing too, don’t you, Ranierre?”
“Do I?”
“You said the handkerchief my touch blessed was precious. A handkerchief touched by the Sacred Maiden—the implication is clear. A blessing.”
“…”
“…”

Ranierre and Seohi closed their mouths.

Similar families, similar ages.
And personalities that seemed similar yet differed.
It was reason enough for the two young men to dislike each other.

Yet in this very moment, both young men shared the same sentiment.
Saelika was truly a formidable young woman!

Then Curtis’s brow furrowed sharply.

“You two approached her with such intentions!”

As if they would!

* * *

It was while I was trying to persuade Saelika that the two of us absolutely did not desire a blessing.
A commotion erupted outside the window.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you alright?!”

The Crown Prince?
Saelika lifted her head.

“Oh! My! Goodness! This is truly dire! Your body is so injured from the battle with the Demon King!”
“You’ve been hurt so badly while rescuing the Sacred Maiden Saelika!”
“This is truly a grave matter!”

They were shouting as if reciting from a script, but the content was genuinely serious.

“Shouldn’t you sit down and rest somewhere!”
“Is there nowhere comfortable for you to rest?”

‘Is Shuri really injured? And because of me?’

Saelika sprang to her feet.
And immediately opened the window.

“If you’re well enough, would you like to rest here for a moment?”
“Oh! My! Goodness! Such kindness! Then I humbly accept.”

The men grinned widely.
They gazed upon their master with proud eyes, their faces seeking praise.
Shuri furrowed his brow.

“That was unnecessary.”
“Then why did you come here in the first place?”
“Because I heard that other young men had arrived.”
“…That’s not why I came. I was merely passing by.”

Then, Saelika asked while looking down at the garden.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you alright?”

Her bright face was filled with worry.
Shuri clicked his tongue and leaped through the window without a sound.

“Ah…!”

He landed silently on the windowsill.
Saelika, who had been leaning against the windowsill and gazing outside, blinked as Shuri suddenly drew near.
Their eyes met at a distance so close their faces nearly touched.

Shuri smiled.

“Thank you for your kindness, Sacred Maiden.”

Saelika finally came to her senses and pulled her body back.

“Are you injured? Are you alright? It didn’t seem like you were hurt at the time.”
“…The demon’s resistance was too powerful.”
“Didn’t you slaughter it before it could even resist?”
“There were other demons remaining.”
“Hmm, you seem perfectly fine though…”

Saelika tilted her head in confusion.
The arthropod-type demon that had attacked the banquet hall was not particularly powerful, having only been forced into an adult form in appearance.
It was a demon that couldn’t even match Shuri.

But no matter how much I thought about it, Shuri wasn’t the type to feign illness.

‘If anything, he would have hidden his pain rather than show it.’

At that thought, my heart sank with a thud.
If Shuri was showing signs of pain, it must be quite serious.

‘Where does it hurt and how badly? If I had Ricardo’s appearance, I could ask more directly.’

While Saelika examined Shuri, he slowly lifted his gaze.
His messengers had caused unnecessary trouble, but his mood wasn’t particularly bad.

The three young men flinched under his gaze.
The killing intent behind that stare spoke volumes.
Get out.

“W-we shall take our leave now.”
“Until next time, Sacred Maiden.”
“Let’s meet again soon.”

Saelika turned her head in surprise.
All three young men brimmed with potential to become excellent clients.
And on top of that—

‘I was planning to establish a connection and ask them to become partners this time!’

It seemed best to arrange another meeting from this encounter.

“Ah, yes. Then allow me to see you—.”

The moment Saelika moved to approach them.
Shuri stumbled.

“Ugh….”
“…!”

Saelika rushed to support Shuri in alarm.

“Are you alright?!”
“…sigh.”

Shuri leaned against Saelika and exhaled a weary breath.
Saelika carefully embraced him.
Shuri lifted his head and gazed at the three young men.

“It appears the Sacred Maiden will be unable to see you out.”

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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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