Youngest on Top - Chapter 201

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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 201

It was true that my master had an unusual obsession with Ricardo.
He had spent years trying to find him, and even when they happened to meet by chance, he surprisingly let him go unharmed.

‘I thought he’d break Ricardo’s legs the moment he found him.’

Had their master, Kaishurit, ever been so concerned and anxious about someone, only to treat them with such generosity upon actually meeting them?
At first, I thought it was because Ricardo held the key to the Sea of Haze.
But seeing how he treated Ricardo, I realized it was more than that.

‘I thought he was treating him specially because he was his first and only friend….’

The Retainers exchanged meaningful glances.

‘No matter how you look at it….’

Love!

‘—It can only be love!’

The Retainers clenched their fists tightly.

“Whatever preferences our master has, I will respect and follow!”
“Right, no matter what hardships come, we must support our master’s love!!”
“The fact that our master can care for someone—that’s more than enough. We’re grateful!”

The Retainers, whose eyes had been shining with loyalty, hesitated.
They had just remembered the greatest victim of this love.

“…Poor Ricardo.”
“What a shame, truly.”
“How did he end up catching our master’s eye….”
“Should we lecture Ricardo about masculine charm? We need to make him fall for our master somehow….”
“But what exactly is masculine charm?”
….
….

A brief silence fell over the group.
The Retainers exchanged glances with one another.
They were dark, massive, and ruggedly built.

“…I really don’t understand this. Not at all.”

The atmosphere grew somewhat solemn.

“Ahem! We may not understand a man’s charm, but we understand our Master’s charm!”
“Our Master tears Monsters apart with his bare hands!”
“Woooah!”
“Ricardo would have no choice but to fall for him after seeing that!”

The Retainers nodded in agreement as they flexed their muscles against one another.

* * *

Meanwhile.
At that very moment, Roana was walking irritably through the Arcade Street.

‘Everyone worries about Sae being with the Crown Prince, but….’

Roana’s thoughts were different.
What was so wrong with Sacred Maiden Saelika having a little fun with one or two men?
Actually, she could even play around with about ten men for all Roana cared.
After all, Roana herself would always be Sacred Maiden Saelika’s closest friend.

‘I want to have heart-fluttering romance conversations with Sae too.’

This was why she walked so irritably—for a different reason entirely.

‘Being with the Crown Prince would be better. Being with Dolores is what annoys me the most.’

The position of Sacred Maiden Saelika’s best friend had belonged to Roana since childhood.
Ilay, Dmitri, and Edmund were all men, so they couldn’t truly understand Sacred Maiden Saelika.

‘Saelika and I have lain in our pajamas on a bed and exchanged secrets all night long.’

Those were happy times.
But then Dolores suddenly forced herself into a sister-like relationship with me.
Nelije kept taking Saelika away, saying she had matters to discuss.
And Princess Grizelda was using her status to keep Saelika by her side.

‘They said Dolores came to the filming location today too. If she’s stolen my best friend, I absolutely won’t forgive her.’

Dolores would definitely be winning Saelika’s favor at some pleasant dessert house right now.
It was the moment Roana exhaled sharply and amplified her sacred power.

“But what about the succession if the master is gay?”

A voice reached her enhanced hearing.
Intrigued by the fascinating topic, Roana found herself creeping closer without realizing it.

In the courtyard of the fenced dessert house, burly men were huddled together.
There wasn’t a single other customer.

‘Are those… the Crown Prince’s retainers?’

They were people who didn’t reveal themselves easily.

‘Is Crown Prince Kaishurit here? Then Sae is here— Wait, didn’t they just say he’s gay?’

Roana froze.

“He could just adopt an heir.”
“Is it that simple?”
“It won’t be easy. Still, we should support our master’s love.”
“All the more so since our master likes men!!”

Their master—Crown Prince Kaishurit likes men.

“…!!”

At this shocking secret, Roana clamped her hand over her mouth.
And immediately rushed to the Temple’s branch office.

* * *

Temple Priest System Branch.
The atmosphere was more tense than ever before.

A cunning fox might have taken away our precious youngest Sacred Maiden.
The interior had already entered a state of near-war readiness.

[What on earth was she doing there?]

Under the High Priest’s heavy rebuke, Sirius Elder lowered his head.

“I apologize, High Priest.”

Randel, standing beside the High Priest, furrowed his brow as he reproached Kaiser.

[Kaiser, you’re her father, yet you couldn’t even watch over your daughter properly?]
“…This mistake is mine to bear.”
[Admiral, why are you even here? Our youngest has nothing to do with you.]
“Of course I must help find my Sae.”
“This is not the time for such arguments.”
“Yes, the priority is to find our youngest quickly and rescue her from that fox.”
“That damnable fox—.”

Crash!
At that moment, the war room door burst open without warning.

“What is it!”
“Elder! There’s no need to worry!!”
“Did you find Sae?”
“Not exactly…”

The Temple Priest who brought the report swallowed hard.

“The Crown Prince is apparently gay?”
“…?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has a preference for men.”
“…?!?!??”

A moment of silence fell over the war room.
Kaiser was the first to regain his composure.

“That’s excellent news. I support the Crown Prince.”

This was a response I couldn’t have imagined coming from someone who, just moments ago, had called him “a fox bastard I wouldn’t mind devouring.”

[The Crown Prince carries many burdens. With his birth and position alone, his shoulders bear so much weight, and now he must fight against the world’s prejudices.]
“As one responsible for a pillar of the southern realm, I must support His Highness’s choice in love, whatever it may be.”
[I should offer him a blessing the next time we meet.]

The atmosphere in the situation room flipped in an instant.
Everyone began cheering for the Crown Prince’s love with warm smiles on their faces.

“But then, where is Sae?”
“Did Dolores take her?”

* * *

Shuri kept his promise.
When I finished the dessert, Shuri’s subordinates arrived with the item I had mentioned.

“Thanks.”
“When did you boldly demand I repay my debt? Yet you’re so polite with your thanks.”
“I’m not the kind of person who lacks manners.”
“You dare speak to the Empire’s Crown Prince this way?”
“Should I show proper respect then, Your Imperial Highness?”

The moment I laughed playfully and made to bow flat on the ground.
Tap.
Shuri’s hand grabbed my arm.

“Don’t.”
“…What?”
“Don’t do that.”

His eyes as he spoke were grave and serious.

[It was just a joke, why is he being so serious about it…]

Usually, the more someone bows before him, the more he seems to enjoy it.
In any case, Shuri was an unusual one.

‘Well, he definitely preferred it when I called him “Zasha!” and treated him casually like that.’

His tastes are truly unique.
Since he had genuinely helped me acquire what I needed, I decided to gladly play along with his preferences.

“Got it, Zasha!”
“….”
“I won’t show you any respect whatsoever! You hear me, Zasha!”
“….”

Look at him now.
He stares as if exasperated, yet the corners of his mouth twitch upward.

‘This guy really does have peculiar tastes.’

“I should get going. I have matters to attend to.”
“…When you meet Saelika, ask her how she plans to take responsibility now that I’ve already married.”
“….”

This bastard.
As I glared at him with an annoyed expression, Shuri chuckled and flicked my forehead.

“Saelika likes me, doesn’t she?”
“Fine, fine! What else can I say?”

I’m tired of denying it now.
I heard nothing but that all through dessert.
I spun around to leave but stopped short.

“Hey, Shuri.”

He lifted his eyes to look at me.

“…Was it delicious today?”

It was a simple question, yet for some reason I felt nervous and curled my toes.
Shuri, who couldn’t fully perceive color, fragrance, or taste—nothing at all.
A child who didn’t even know the small, everyday happiness of eating something delicious with a friend.
It was just like me before I regressed.
That’s why I wanted Shuri to—

“Yeah.”

Shuri, who had been looking at me, slowly moved his lips.

“It was delicious.”
“…! Yeah!”

I nodded with a bright smile.
And with a much lighter heart, I left the dessert house.

‘I spent more time than I thought. Everyone will be worried, so I should hurry back.’

When I rushed back to the Temple Priest branch, sure enough—
Chaos had erupted.

“Sae!”

The children who spotted me came running frantically.

“Sorry. I’m late, right? I was just talking with Dolores for a bit—.”
“You went on a date with Kaishurit!”
“…?!?!???!”

What?

* * *

“She rented out the entire dessert house and went on a date with some young man!”

No, I didn’t rent it out—the customers just left on their own and never came back.

“They were feeding each other and causing a scene, apparently.”

We certainly didn’t feed each other.

‘He just shoved something into my mouth while claiming he needed to check if I had been poisoned.’

“They say lovers’ quarrels are insane too? Apparently they were bickering back and forth, making a fuss.”

That’s because he keeps insisting that I like him!!

‘Wait.’

Do I like him, or is this just bickering—

‘Isn’t that exactly what a lovers’ quarrel is?’

Chills ran down my spine.
I pushed the thought away.
Shuri doesn’t even know I’m Ricardo!

“They were absolutely wild, apparently. Kissing and being all lovesick—it was unbearable to watch…!”
“That’s absolutely not true!!”

I finally couldn’t hold back and let out a sharp cry.
The girls’ eyes went wide in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”
“Why is the youngest getting so worked up and denying it?”
“Could it be that you—”
“W-what?! It’s not like I suddenly dressed as a man and met the Crown Prince!”
“…”
“…”
“…No one said that, youngest.”

Oh no!

Roana’s eyes narrowed.

“You met with Dolores, right?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.”

Roana seemed to be in an even worse mood.
Just then, Ilay grabbed my shoulder.

“Anyway, Sae, the Crown Prince is gay.”
“No—”
“The Crown Prince likes men.”
“That’s a misunderstanding—”
“The Crown Prince prefers men. He dislikes women.”
“…I got it.”

As I nodded, Ilay smiled sweetly.

‘Why do Shuri and Ilay keep drilling this nonsense into my head?’

Do kids these days hit puberty at this age?
As I tilted my head in confusion, I caught Ilay’s murmur.

“The Seodongyo technique really is the best.”
“…?”

What’s Seodongyo?

Then Dmitri asked.

“Anyway, as long as you were with that stone, it’s fine. Honeybread! How was the commercial shoot?”

How was it, you ask….
The moment I recalled the set, my expression hardened.

“…Honestly, it was so embarrassing.”

* * *

The Mananet site dedicated to the Grand Sacred Maiden Selection was bursting with activity.
The fervor ignited by the Crown Prince’s sudden appearance had not cooled for days.

As mentions of Kaishurit dominated the site, Saelika also drew considerable attention.
Most reactions toward Saelika were favorable.
But where there is light, there is also darkness.

-How exactly do Saelika and the Crown Prince fit together?
-There she goes again, getting special treatment. They even laid out rose vines to force some romance between her and the Crown Prince.
-Amelia’s skills are far superior, but Saelika draws all the attention with her provocations.
-She seems desperate to make Saelika the High Priestess.

“Do these people have brains made of decoration? Can’t they think?”

The young girl manipulating Manashell shouted irritably.

“Terese.”
“Be quiet. I can’t just leave these people alone.”

-Wasn’t Saelika originally positioned as bait to draw aggro, and she just gained popularity through her own skills and survival?
└That’s right. At first, there was a lot of talk about whether she was being abandoned as bait for the 7-seed reaction.
└Honestly, isn’t it Amelia who gets special treatment? But Amelia’s fans always say others get special treatment.
└My point exactly. Amelia’s fans would only be satisfied if all the other Sacred Maidens died except Amelia.
└Saelika’s fans are truly toxic. They’re even attacking Amelia, who saved so many people.
└You know Saelika didn’t save anyone, right?
└How can Saelika even be compared to Amelia? What has Saelika been doing these past few years? Oh, was she training in how to seduce men? Trying to seduce the Crown Prince?

Crunch, crunch!
Terese ground her teeth.

“It wasn’t Sae who seduced the Crown Prince—the Crown Prince seduced Sae!!”

Just then, new information appeared.

The advertisement filming footage had been released!

At that news, everyone fighting stopped their quarrel at once.
Terese quickly played the video.

-Wow, as expected of Amelia. Look how naturally the other Sacred Maidens gather around her.
-The way she makes the Sacred Maidens follow her like that—Amelia really does seem like High Priestess material.
-Amelia is so professional. Her poses are incredibly natural.

The responses pouring in were mostly about Amelia.
That made sense, since the video itself was focused on Amelia.

‘How in the world are those operations department fools handling the editing?’

Terese gnawed at her fingernails.

That was when it happened.

-Wow, that’s insane.
-Did Amelia’s supporters really sponsor that?
-Amelia’s always had plenty of backers, but this is seriously impressive.
-And this is just the first advertisement?

As comments flooded in rapidly, Terese examined the video.
A carriage plastered with messages of support for Amelia was distributing coffee.

‘What is this…?’

I’d never seen anything like it before.
A carriage handing out coffee!
I never would have thought of that.

‘…Honestly, that’s clever.’

Now I understood why such favorable editing had appeared.
That coffee was falling right into the operations department’s hands.
Of course they’d push Amelia harder.

‘Isn’t this bribery?!’

Even as I thought it unfair, I couldn’t help but acknowledge it in my heart.

‘I never thought of something like that. I lost.’

The thought that I’d lost to that shameless fandom infuriated me beyond measure.

That was when it happened.
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst from the video.

‘What, what is this?!’

Looking again, it was just sunlight reflecting off the brilliantly sparkling diamonds.

‘Diamonds? Why are diamonds suddenly appearing here?’

The question quickly vanished.

‘This is….’

Catering suddenly began being set up throughout the filming location.
In an instant, a grand party venue for nobles unfolded.
And it wasn’t just any noble’s party venue.
It was decorated entirely with precious items, resembling an imperial banquet from the palace itself.
The only problem was….

‘Is that all Sacred Maiden Saelika’s face?!’

Saelika’s face was engraved on the plates, forks, knives, and teacups.
Even the wine bottles had Saelika’s face attached as labels instead of the usual ones.

And proudly displayed text.

[The Perardin Noishurael Duke House supports Sacred Maiden Saelika.]

…What?!

—————
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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