Youngest on Top - Chapter 216

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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 216

* * *

Even with the Attendant’s guidance to their seats, Kaiser, Admiral Ekellan, Demian, and Mikhail didn’t budge an inch.

“Leave my daughter behind and go elsewhere?”
“Protagonist is one with me.”
“I think this is more interesting anyway.”
“Saelika, you have flower petals in your hair.”

It was clear they had no intention of taking their seats, so I finally stepped in.

“There aren’t only people from our temple here, you know.”
“What does that matter?”
“There are people from other temples too, and there are many eyes watching.”
“Ah, if Protagonist is bothered by the stares, I’ll make sure you can’t see anything at all.”
“….”

Mikhail looked like he actually meant it, which terrified me.

“Besides, we’ll only sit during the meal at first, and then we’ll be free to move around, so for now….”
“I must stay by your side. To feed my daughter the meat she loves.”
“….”

I was wrong.
These men have no intention of moving at all.
There’s no helping it.

“I’ll go shopping tomorrow with whoever finds their seat properly.”
“…!”
“Just one person.”

The four men flinched.
But strangely, none of them moved.
What’s this?

“Ugh, I really, really want to go shopping with Protagonist, but…”
“We can’t leave a risk factor behind.”
“A risk factor?”

At my words, the Four Men’s gazes turned toward one place.
It was a name card with Kaishurit’s name written on it.

“Come on, the Crown Prince doesn’t usually attend formal events like this anyway. His name’s just listed, and he’ll probably skip it.”
“I don’t think he’ll skip it.”
“He’ll definitely attend.”
“Father’s intuition is telling me so.”
“Yes, Father Serge thinks the same thing.”
“…I’ll have to go shopping tomorrow and eat strawberry cake. I’ll share it nicely with whoever goes with me.”
“…!”
“I’ll have to take photos too. I’ll draw hearts on the pictures.”

Mikhail’s pupils suddenly narrowed sharply.
Whoosh!
He moved like the wind.

“That sneaky bastard!”
“Trying to monopolize her!”
“Do you think I’d hand my daughter over to someone else?”

The other three quickly followed Mikhail and threw themselves forward.
Watching their retreating figures, a sudden sense of reality struck me.

‘…This is how I’m manipulating them, and the fact that it actually works is even more…’

No one’s around, right?
As I looked around, I heard a “pfft!” of laughter.
Looking to the side, Shuellina was suppressing her laughter while looking at me.

“…You saw?”
“No.”
“You can say you saw. You can laugh too.”
“Ahahaha, so Sacred Maiden Saelika struggles like this sometimes. I had no idea during the mission.”
“…It’s really tough. Much harder than the Grand Priestess mission.”
“Still, you’re being loved, aren’t you?”

Shuellina giggled with a hehe sound.

“I’m so incredibly envious. Being loved and cared for like that.”
“But you’re also cherished and valued as the most precious Sacred Maiden at the Perpidian Temple, aren’t you?”
“Oh, come on. Am I the same as Sacred Maiden Saelika?”

What could be different about it?
I looked puzzled, and Shuellina’s smile turned bitter.

‘Is there some problem at the temple?’

I grew concerned, but it didn’t seem like the right moment to bring it up, so I kept quiet.

“How could someone like me dare to compare myself to Sacred Maiden Saelika… Oh!”

Shuellina suddenly looked startled, her gaze shifting behind me.
Following her line of sight, I turned my head.

“Your Grace, the Duke?”

Perardin Noishurael Duke stood there like a colossal stone statue.

‘Didn’t the attendant guide the Duke to his seat earlier?’

Why was he standing here instead of going to his own seat?
Had he been here all along?

Perardin Noishurael Duke gazed down at me intently before opening his mouth.

“…Do you need anything for shopping?”
“Pardon?”
“Is your allowance sufficient?”
“Yes…?”
“Do you like strawberry cake? Last time you seemed to enjoy chocolate cake quite well.”
“…?”
“…I know a good place for strawberry cake.”

Wow, that’s really something.

“That must be quite pleasant for you?”
“….”

For some reason, the Perardin Noishurael Duke’s broad shoulders seemed to slump slightly.

* * *

“They call our Sae a blessing at the Artemia Temple, I hear. I understand perfectly well why they do.”
“Hehe, does Your Majesty feel the same? I understand it too.”
“How could we not call such a lovely blessing a blessing?”

The Emperor and his two Empresses gazed at Sacred Maiden Saelika with eyes dripping with honey.

“Now then, I shall cut our blessing’s meat— no, wait. Ahem, the Crown Prince shall cut it for her.”

The Emperor urged Kaishurit forward.
I could see a tremendous aura rising from somewhere in the distance, but the Emperor paid it no mind.
After all, ruling a nation comes with its own (?) dangers!

“That’s quite alright, Your Majesty. I can manage—.”

Just then, an elongated, elegant hand holding a knife rose above Saelika’s plate.
It was Kaishurit’s hand.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince…!”
“It’s a royal command.”
“But surely—.”
“Why. Do you dislike it if I cut for you?”

How could she possibly say no in this situation?
Saelika clamped her mouth shut.
Then Kaishurit smiled wickedly.

“Ah, perhaps it’s the opposite.”

At the low voice that whispered softly near her ear, Saelika flinched.

‘No, he could just take the plate and cut it elsewhere. Why does he have to stand so close like this….’

But more than that, she rarely appears at official events, so why did she come here?

Sacred Maiden Saelika whispered with a sullen expression.

“That’s not it at all.”
“Really?”
“I’m serious, it’s not.”
“Sure.”
“Your expression doesn’t look like you believe me at all.”
“Does my expression bother you?”
….

That’s enough.
Let me stop talking.

Sacred Maiden Saelika pressed her lips firmly shut.
Then she opened her mouth slightly and accepted a piece of steak being offered in front of her.

“You’re eating well.”
…!

At Kaishurit’s words, Sacred Maiden Saelika’s eyes widened like saucers.

‘Oh no, it’s become such a habit….’

Shuri let out a quiet laugh seeing Sacred Maiden Saelika’s eyes darting around.
And all five hundred people’s gazes were fixed on those two.

‘Oho, look at those two?’

The Emperor’s smile stretched toward the heavens.

‘No matter how I look at it, they’re definitely flirting.’

The two of them whispering and being affectionate like that.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen that fellow act this way toward a human.’

That Kaishurit harbored feelings for someone was still surprising in itself.
But seeing him now, I couldn’t deny it.

‘This might be….’

The Emperor’s playful eyes grew serious in that moment.

“By the way, Crown Prince.”

Amelia spoke to Kaishurit with a bright smile.

“I received the gift you gave me last time.”

Kaishurit, who had been watching Sacred Maiden Saelika, lifted his head to look at Amelia.
His lips curved upward.

“I’m glad you received it well.”

The onlookers tilted their heads at the exchange.

‘What’s this?’
‘Did something happen between the Crown Prince and Sacred Maiden Amelia?’
‘The Crown Prince isn’t the type to give gifts to people….’

Their gazes weighed back and forth between Amelia, Sacred Maiden Saelika, and Kaishurit.
Then, Amelia spoke to Saelika.

“Saelika, it tastes even better when you dip it in this sauce.”
“…Thank you.”
“You look really beautiful today. That lace suits you perfectly. You truly look like the protagonist.”
“Huh?”
“Hehe, everyone’s been fidgeting since earlier wanting to talk with you. You didn’t notice?”

Amelia winked playfully.

“You were so cool in the last mission.”

She was referring to the matter with the Elves.
It was when Saelika was about to respond.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…!”

The Emperor’s attendant rushed into the banquet hall with an urgent expression.
As all eyes turned toward him, the attendant composed himself and whispered something into the Emperor’s ear.

“…!”

The Emperor’s face visibly changed.
The Emperor immediately looked toward Saelika.

“Saelika.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Did you summon them?”
“Pardon?”
“The Elves have arrived here.”
“…!”
“…!!”

A silent wave of shock rippled through the banquet hall.
Every eye—nobles, priestesses, priests, and attendants alike—fixed upon Saelika.

‘The Elves actually came all the way here?’

Saelika’s hands clenched into fists.
The Elf King she knew would never do such a thing.

‘To come so recklessly into human territory, and to the very heart of the Empire’s palace at that—.’

In that moment, her eyes met Beatrix’s.
Beatrix’s crimson lips curved into a dizzying smile that spread across her face.

“…?”

Before Saelika could comprehend the meaning of that smile, the banquet hall doors opened.
The Emperor had granted them entry.

“R-really… they’re actual Elves…!”
“By the heavens…! Elves appearing at the Empire’s banquet!”
“Does this mean our Empire surpassed other nations?”
“Well, the Temple of Artemia is within Imperial territory, so it’s only natural! Isn’t it all thanks to Sacred Maiden Saelika?”

As the crowd stirred with excitement, the Elves walked forward.
Their gait was nimble yet weighted, as if treading lightly through a forest path.
The High Elf leading at the front was dressed as a captain.
An Elf Captain, to be precise.

“…?”

Saelika flinched upon seeing the High Elf’s face.

‘Why is that bastard acting as a captain? That one is definitely…’

The Elf Captain stopped before Saelika.

“It seems they came because of Sacred Maiden Artemia after all.”
“Incredible. Elves attending the banquet. This is practically confirmation of diplomatic relations.”

The murmurs gradually died down.
Soon the banquet hall fell silent.

The Elf Captain gazed intently at Saelika without speaking.
Just as he was about to say something.

“At last we meet like this.”

Amelia spoke with a bright smile.

“You’re far more impressive in person.”

The Elf Captain’s gaze shifted toward Amelia.

“…Sacred Maiden Amelia of Parmanase.”
“Hehe, perhaps it’s because we’ve seen each other so often through the mirror. Meeting you for the first time feels like reuniting with an old friend.”

I saw her frequently.
An old friend.
And her manner was warm and affectionate.

All eyes and attention converged on Amelia’s words and actions.

* * *

“What? You came to see Amelia, not Sacred Maiden Saelika?”
“I had no idea either…”
“An Elf… and a High Elf at that coming in person means Amelia must be incredibly close to them, doesn’t it?”

The banquet hall erupted into chaos in an instant.

“Well, it seems Sacred Maiden Amelia has been exchanging with the Elves for quite some time.”
“Indeed, she must be a remarkable Sacred Maiden to captivate even the Elves.”
“Given Amelia’s abilities, it’s only natural the Elves would extend their hand to her.”

The nobles who had maintained friendly relations with Parmanase for a long time nodded in agreement.

“But as for Sacred Maiden Saelika…”

And those gazes shifted like arrows, turning toward Saelika.

“Didn’t she actually have little connection with the Elves?”
“The Elf Captain didn’t even acknowledge Sacred Maiden Saelika.”
“Still, it’s true she brought back a branch of the World Tree.”
“But we don’t know what happened between her and the Elves back then.”
“Frankly, they might have given the World Tree’s branch to humans with Amelia in mind.”
“And Sacred Maiden Saelika was merely the courier?”

It was far more than simply expressing disappointment.
The words carried a malicious intent to diminish her.

‘Well, that’s only natural.’

Saelika accepted it readily.

‘They were all praising me hoping to gain connections with the Elves.’

So there was someone else who was close to the Elves?
It was only natural that a backlash would come as high as I had risen.

‘I must feel like a fake.’

The real one was Amelia.

And people treated the real one coldly just to make the fake one look good.
Considering the treatment Amelia usually received from people, this was no different from being treated coldly.

‘So now they’re trying to tear down the fake and curse her while making the real one look good.’

Indeed, people were glancing and gesturing toward one place.
Where Beatrix was.

“—So you’ve maintained a deep relationship with this child Amelia all this time?”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Elf Captain nodded at the Emperor’s question.
The Emperor gazed at Amelia as if impressed.

“How disappointing. Why didn’t you inform me?”
“Not all efforts bear fruit. I hesitated to speak of my efforts when they might not yield results, fearing shame.”
“How admirable! You’ve made many efforts behind the scenes all this time!”

The Emperor chuckled warmly and took Amelia’s hand.
Then he asked the Elf Captain.

“Then may I assume the Elves now stand with us?”
“The King is thinking positively about it.”
“Our representative shall be this Amelia here.”

The Emperor’s words were essentially making Amelia the representative of the delegation.
A bridgehead between humans and Elves.
An existence that communicates and unites across species.
The symbolism was immeasurable.

“Wait a moment, please.”

Kaiser hastily opened his mouth.

“Tch, why is Sacred Maiden Artemia getting involved again?”
“Isn’t it enough that this fake has been stealing Lady Amelia’s accomplishments all this time?”

The nobles sneered mockingly.
That was when it happened.

“Who is fake?”

Perardin Noishurael Duke spoke in a chilling voice.
Even in that low tone, the entire assembly was instantly overwhelmed.
Everyone who had been gossiping held their breath and watched the Duke’s expression carefully.

‘Why is the Duke even…?’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————