Youngest on Top - Chapter 214

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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 214

“She must have experienced quite the stalking to say something like that.”

Admiral Ekellan chuckled as if to lighten the mood.

“I could say the same thing. Since you’re the one stalking her.”
“…That’s not all.”
“What. Did she greet you with a simple ‘hello’? Don’t read too much into trivial things—.”
“It’s what Kaishurit said to the child.”
“…? Why is the Crown Prince coming up here? Don’t tell me that bastard was there when you met with her?! How dare he touch—!”

Admiral Ekellan straightened up in agitation.
Perardin Noishurael Duke, who would normally have rebuked the Crown Prince, remained silent.
Rather, it seemed he was in agreement.

“He was indeed reckless. I thought he had no interest in such matters since he’s never had any rumors with women.”
“The only scandal he had was with our Protagonist. But that wasn’t the truth. It was a broadcast fabrication.”

Admiral Ekellan ground his teeth.

“So what did that bastard say to our Protagonist?”
“He brazenly said he covered her somewhere other than a bedroom—.”

Perardin Noishurael Duke, who had been speaking in a low voice, faltered.
Admiral Ekellan stared at the Duke with eyes wide as saucers.

“….”
“….”

An awkward silence hung in the room.
Admiral Ekellan opened his mouth as if he absolutely did not want to know, yet could not help but ask.

“Surely our sister didn’t… No, no. Don’t answer.”
“….”
“Have you ever confronted our sister about it? Why did she cover you—No, no. Don’t answer. Don’t blink. That’s like confirming it. No, don’t look at me. Close your eyes. No, don’t breathe!!”

Admiral Ekellan’s face flushed crimson as he thrashed about in agitation.
Perardin Noishurael Duke, observing the Admiral with bewilderment, spoke a single sentence.

“Your obsession with my wife is pathological.”
“Before she’s your wife, she’s my sister!!”

Admiral Ekellan cried out sharply, clutching his head as though in anguish.

“No, why would you say such things to me…. Damn it, I don’t want to know.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Of course it isn’t!! My sister is so perfect, so noble, so extraordinary that the very idea of her marrying such a man is utterly absurd….”
“Serge Ekellan.”
“Damn it, if I’d only gone home early from that party, you and my sister would never have met.”
“….”
“Wait.”

Admiral Ekellan lifted his head, releasing his grip on his hair.

“The Crown Prince was harassing my Sae, saying this and that? You just stood there and watched?”
“…I drove him away.”
“Well, you did the right thing.”

Only then did Admiral Ekellan’s body relax.
For a moment, their gazes locked.
It was Admiral Ekellan who spoke first.

“When I first met her, I thought she was deliberately approaching me. Aiming for the position of Duchess.”
“….”
“But it was nothing like that. She told me, again and again. I’m not the Admiral’s daughter.”

Ha ha—Admiral Ekellan let out a hollow laugh.

“…I know what you’re thinking.”
“….”
“Because I’ve had that same thought before.”
“….”
“No, not just before. It’s a thought that lingered with me for a very long time.”
“….”
“I told myself that Saelika is a different child, that I shouldn’t project another person onto her. And yet, there were moments—rare moments—when my heart would suddenly sink.”
“….”
“Because she seemed too similar.”

When Saelika, who could barely speak, shared cookies with those small hands of hers.
Admiral Ekellan couldn’t help but be shaken.
The way she broke the cookies, the reason behind it—it was all too identical to her sister’s.

“But.”

The Admiral’s voice trembled in a way that made one doubt this was truly the always composed and glib Ekellan.
After a long silence with his head bowed, Admiral Ekellan finally looked up.
The eyes of this towering man, who commanded the vast seas beneath his feet and cut through the waves, appeared fragile enough to shatter.

“I’ve decided to accept that child for who she is.”
“….”
“Not as someone else, but as the Sacred Maiden Saelika of the Artemia Temple—as my sae.”
“….”
“Because I don’t want to hurt her.”
“….”
“Because Saelika is just as precious to me as the daughter of my lost sister would be.”

Perardin Noishurael Duke clenched his empty fist.
Admiral Ekellan, watching the taut tendons on the back of that hand, spoke.

“You already know this yourself. The orphanage records and the admission dates don’t align—there’s no room for such possibilities.”
“….”
“So don’t approach that child while harboring such thoughts.”
“….”
“She is not a replacement.”

Admiral Ekellan fixed a sharp gaze upon Perardin Noishurael Duke.

“If you hurt her, I won’t forgive you.”

In the Perardin Noishurael Duke’s blue eyes, a fierce tempest rose like the north wind.
Yet when he closed his eyes and opened them again, not a trace of emotion remained.
Only ice-like hardness, stillness, and coldness.

“There’s no need for such concern.”
“….”
“I’ve been disappointed too many times over the years to hold expectations on something so trivial.”

‘A lie.’

Admiral Ekellan smiled bitterly.
Shaken so thoroughly by this one trivial thing, he’d come all this way, uncharacteristically.
Even countless disappointments hadn’t destroyed his hope.

‘Because he yearns for it that desperately.’

Admiral Ekellan pretended not to notice and changed the subject.

“What, that sounds like you’re saying you’ll keep supporting my protagonist?”
“…There’s no particular reason.”

The Perardin Noishurael Duke turned his head to gaze out the window.
A blue sky that resembled Saelika’s eyes came into view.

“Simply because that child is worthy of it.”

* * *

A few days later.
The filming day of the Sacred Maiden Selection Tournament.

There would be no live broadcast today.
There were no missions, and this was a day to discuss past missions and upcoming schedules.

“Saelika.”

I heard a voice calling me from behind.
I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

‘If I ignore her… that won’t work.’

It wasn’t a live broadcast, but the broadcast cameras were rolling.
I turned around with a subtle smile.

“Amelia.”
“Have you been well? Congratulations again on taking first place in the last mission. You were truly impressive.”
“Thank you. You took first in the voting, didn’t you?”

The words of congratulation never left my lips.
Amelia laughed brightly.

“Haha, it seems you’ve taken a liking to me.”
“I see.”
“How did you think to find the Elves in that situation, Saelika?”
“Hmm?”
“I was so amazed and curious. How did you know the Elves were there?”

Look at that.
I glanced around and everyone had their ears perked up.

Of course they did.
Information about the Elves was extremely rare.

‘Powerful figures keep visiting our temple’s threshold, begging to bridge relations with the Elves.’

The reaction was far more intense than when I had stood out in the previous seed-based mission.
Even those who usually sat idle were stirring.

“Were you and the Elf King already acquainted?”

Amelia’s jade-green eyes simply sparkled with freshness.
Eyes that trusted without a doubt that I would naturally answer her.

‘She really hasn’t changed.’

I let out a soft chuckle.

“Which do you think it is?”
“Hm?”

Even at my on-air rejection, Amelia looked startled and turned to me.
As if she’d never met anyone who contradicted her before.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I upset you? It must have seemed like I was fishing for information. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Amelia quickly recognized her misstep and readily apologized to me.

“That’s not what I meant at all. It’s just that if we could cooperate with the Elves before the coming disaster, that would be ideal.”
“Right, the High Priestess will handle that well on her own.”

Amelia regarded me for a moment.
Then she grinned widely.

“That’s true.”

And she gave my shoulder an encouraging pat.

“Well, I got called to the meeting room because of the first-place prize. See you later.”

Amelia smiled brightly and moved away from me.

“What, that’s actually funny.”
“If she got summoned, she should just go quickly. Why did she have to make a point of telling you about it? Is she protesting that she’s the first-place the public wanted?”
“Am I twisted? Why can’t I see it in a good light?”

Before I knew it, the Sacred Maidens had quietly approached and murmured around me.
None other than Helene, Zabelina, and Eyrene.

I looked at the three of them with an incredulous expression.

‘Why are they suddenly acting so friendly? And taking my side at that—.’

“Why are you three suddenly acting so friendly?”

These aren’t even my words.

“She’s even taking Sae’s side.”

This one either.

Dolores and Nelije stared at the three with incredulous eyes.
Then they murmured.

“Well, it wasn’t wrong, though.”
“It was the truth, after all.”

Perhaps because they weren’t all from the 7th Seed.
Did they not realize a hidden camera was rolling?
Just as I was debating whether to stop them, Shuellina smoothed things over.

“Haha, everyone relax. I’m sure Amelia didn’t mean it maliciously. Sacred Maiden Saelika was truly impressive, after all.”
“Even compliments can have a sting to them.”

That was so very Helene of her.
Then Dolores spoke.

“But what’s the prize for ranking first in the vote?”
“The fact that they’re calling her to a separate meeting room makes it seem like something significant.”

Nelije nodded in agreement.

“Whatever it is, the next mission will definitely start in a way that favors Amelia.”
“It doesn’t matter.”

The Sacred Maidens said this while looking at me.

“Nothing could be greater than the Elf King and a branch of the World Tree in full bloom!”

* * *

The Imperial Palace State Council Chamber.
High officials sat with grave expressions, lost in contemplation.
Duke Makandor opened his mouth to lift the heavy atmosphere.

“Now that I think about it, today is when the Sacred Maidens gather.”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

At this different topic from the agenda, the nobles’ faces brightened considerably.

“I’m curious what the next mission will be.”
“I heard the privilege that Sacred Maiden Amelia received as the top vote-getter will be quite substantial….”
“I’m looking forward to it. What kind of performance she’ll show.”
“Well, if the voting had happened after all the broadcasts ended, that privilege might have gone to someone else, don’t you think? I personally….”
“Of course, Sacred Maiden Amelia is certainly a candidate for High Priestess and remarkable, but this time Sacred Maiden Saelika was truly extraordinary.”
“Ah yes, Sacred Maiden Saelika was truly extraordinary indeed.”
“She even made a covenant with the Elves!”

The atmosphere of the state council was particularly favorable toward Saelika.
Duke Mastebon, the father of Countess Agnes, furrowed his brow.

‘They’re all blinded by exchanges with the Elves….’

He was a typical noble with pro-Parmanase leanings.
The nobles were generally favorable toward the Parmanase Temple, a traditional prestigious and stable power.
There were many entangled relationships between the Parmanase Temple, the institution’s founding authority, and their families.

‘Yet they change their stance so readily for immediate gain….’

“The Elves’ resources are hardly abundant, are they?”
“And their unique technology?”
“Ahem! Isn’t our technology also excellent?”

Duke Mastebon raised an objection, but it was futile.

“What matters is that it’s a different system of technology. When we combine different technologies, remarkable results can emerge, can’t they?”
“What about the Elves’ military forces?”
“In any case, there’s no harm in exchanging with them.”
“We must secure this first in our Empire!”

The nobles spoke in unison.
Then, glancing at one another and gauging the mood, they spoke to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, if you entrust this matter to me, I shall forge great undertakings with the Artemia Temple!”
“The Count’s house is in the western territories! Surely our family, which holds lands in the east, would be better suited—.”
“I have cultivated favorable relations with the Artemia Temple since long ago.”
“Ha, calling a few donations favorable relations? I attend worship at the Artemia Temple every week, Your Majesty!”
“What good is that! What matters is being able to provide what the Artemia Temple desires. Your Majesty, I know what the Artemia Temple wants!”

The nobles vied with one another, each insisting they could grow closer to the Artemia Temple, their voices rising in cacophony.

‘These opportunistic wretches!’

Duke Makandor gazed at the Emperor with an expression of displeasure.

The Emperor, unmoved by the nobles’ clamor, studied Manashell with a grave countenance.
The occasional tap-tap-tapping of his fingers suggested this was no trivial matter.

‘What is happening?’

Duke Makandor quickly checked his own Manashell.
There, he discovered a message from his Adjutant.

[Traces of Elf movement detected.]

‘What?!’

Duke Makandor’s eyes widened in shock as he looked up.
The Emperor’s grave expression made it clear he had received this very report.

‘If we enter into relations with the Elves, Saelika will become the central figure.’

Then it would be better to prevent contact with the Elves altogether.

“Your Majesty, cooperation with the Elves is not necessarily a favorable course of action.”
“What do you mean, Duke Makandor? If we cooperate with the Elves—.”
“That applies only when cooperation is possible. Look at the Elves’ conduct. They clutch the World Tree as if it were theirs alone, and only now, when calamity approaches, do they come offering charity with a single branch!”
“That is an excessive leap in logic!”
“Your Majesty, rather than cooperate with the Elves, perhaps—.”
“Enough of this noise!”

The Emperor’s voice cut through the chamber.

“Are the Elves the problem right now?!”
“…Your Majesty?”

If the Elves aren’t the problem, then what in the world is?

“I had already claimed her, I had already marked her as mine, and now she’s about to be snatched right before my eyes!!”

…Excuse me?!
The Nobles stared at the Emperor with bewildered expressions.

The Emperor gazed at the Manashell screen with an anxious face.

Previous Search History
Polygyny
Polygyny vs. Monogamy Comparison
Benefits of Polygyny
Bride Abduction
Bride Abduction Romance

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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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