Youngest on Top - Chapter 217

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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 217

“Who asked if I was fake?”
“….”

No one answered.
A thin, icy silence descended upon the banquet hall.

It was Kaishurit who broke that silence.

“It seems Your Majesty’s heart moved too hastily.”

In the frozen atmosphere, the nobles examined the Emperor’s face at this unexpected remark.
Yet the Emperor was laughing heartily, was he not?
As if he had known someone would step forward.

“Indeed, the Crown Prince speaks truly. My heart did move too quickly. To think I would already be selecting a representative.”

The Emperor placed an affectionate hand on Saelika’s shoulder.

“This Saelika here met with the Elves previously and received a branch of the World Tree directly from the Elf King.”

Though he smiled like a benevolent man, the Emperor’s eyes swept sharply across the Elf Captain.
The Elf Captain remained as unmoved as an ancient tree.
The Emperor smiled faintly.

“You saw it yourself, did you not? That this child received a branch of the World Tree.”
“I was not present at that occasion.”

The Elf Captain spoke bluntly.

“However, it is a fact that the King handed a branch of the World Tree to this Sacred Maiden.”

Then, Empress Maxina stepped forward.

“How about we proceed in that manner?”
“Does the Empress possess such insight?”
“Amelia has engaged in long-term exchanges with the Elves, and Saelika received a branch of the World Tree from the Elf King himself, so both possess sufficient qualifications as representatives.”
“Indeed.”
“What if Your Majesty were to appoint as representative whoever first brings back what you desire from the Elves?”
“Hmm.”

As the Emperor’s expression brightened, Empress Adelin chimed in as well.

“Now that I think about it, they said they view exchanges with us positively. But that doesn’t mean the exchange has been confirmed yet, does it?”
“That’s true.”
“If someone were to obtain what we desire from the Elves in this situation, wouldn’t that confirm the exchange? Whoever secures the exchange rights would be worthy of being appointed as our representative.”
“Well said. What is your opinion on this matter?”

The Elf Captain nodded at the Emperor’s question.

“The King has granted me full authority in this matter.”
“Then let us proceed accordingly!”
“Wait a moment, please.”

At that moment, one of the Sacred Maidens rose from her seat.
She was not a Sacred Maiden from the Empire, but a foreign one.

“It is unfair for only Sacred Maiden Amelia and Sacred Maiden Saelika to compete for exchanges with the Elves.”

If one of the two succeeded in securing the exchange, the Empire would naturally monopolize relations with the Elves.
That was her meaning.

The Emperor smiled.

“A fair point indeed. Any Sacred Maiden should have the opportunity to compete. What if we appoint as humanity’s representative whichever Sacred Maiden brings back the Arbor from the Elves?”
“An excellent idea.”
“Whoever among us can establish relations with the Elves should become our representative.”

The foreign Sacred Maidens and diplomats in the banquet hall nodded in agreement.

“Everyone will be tense and on edge due to the Grand Sacred Maiden Mission anyway, so this will serve as a pleasant diversion to ease the tension.”
“Then it is settled.”

The Emperor nodded in acknowledgment.
As the situation settled, Amelia naturally stepped forward.

“Hehe, Your Majesty truly does wish for exchange with the Elves, it seems.”
“Hmm?”
“This gentleman is a High Elf and the Captain of the Elf Knights—Wiridian.”
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself properly.”
“Wiridian, this is His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.”

Like a gracious host, Amelia introduced them to each other, then turned to an attendant.

“Please prepare seats for our Elf guests as well. We’ve had such a delightful occasion—we can’t possibly have them standing, can we?”
“I should be going—.”
“Please, stay a while longer. Wiridian mentioned to me that he thought it would be good to extend friendship with humans, didn’t you?”
“….”

Wiridian did not answer.
Yet he did not turn to leave the banquet hall either.

Under Amelia’s initiative, seats for the Elves were naturally arranged.
The most prominent seat—Wiridian’s—was placed beside Amelia.

“Look at that. Amelia really is orchestrating everything, isn’t she? And they seem quite close.”
“That High Elf said he thought it would be good to extend friendship with us to Amelia, didn’t he? Isn’t all of this Amelia’s doing?”
“But didn’t he say that full authority rests with Wiridian? So then, isn’t Amelia essentially representing him?”

The whispering nobles glanced sideways at Saelika.

“Wiridian doesn’t seem interested in Saelika at all.”
“They seem like complete strangers. Still, it’s strange—even after receiving a branch of the World Tree, he shows such indifference….”
“Could it be that he actually received it in Amelia’s name?”
“It must be fake.”
“I never trusted that an orphan could be a Sacred Maiden anyway.”

Mocking laughter pierced through Saelika’s expression.

* * *

After the banquet ended.
As I headed to the lounge, Nelije, Dolores, and Shuellina followed me.

“Are you alright?”
“Those bastards were fawning all over you before the banquet even started—it’s hilarious, seriously!”
“Don’t mind them. Spineless creatures like that exist everywhere.”

Their faces filled with concern.
Yet their voices remained gentle and comforting, even as anger flickered beneath the surface.
Seeing them like that made me smile.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing, really.”

Compared to the criticism and pointed fingers I’d endured in my past life, this barely scratched the surface.

“Nothing? I mean, sure, those idiots aren’t worth listening to, but still. Ugh, it infuriates me!”
“At least the Duke stepped in. That was a relief.”
“I was truly shocked. I never expected the Duke to intervene in that situation….”

Honestly, I was surprised too.
The Duke had maintained a cordial relationship with Parmanase for quite some time.
To find his daughter.

‘He openly took my side even though it could strain his relationship with Parmanase….’

Was that really alright?

“It was because you were worthy of such consideration.”

As if answering my unspoken thoughts, the Duke’s voice resonated in my ears.

“I did not wish for you to be treated unjustly.”

“….”

For some reason, I felt embarrassed.

“It seems Sacred Maiden Saelika is beloved by the Duke as well.”
“Huh?”
“If you ever need my help, please let me know. I’m not sure if I’ll be of use, but…”
“Shuellina should obtain 【Arbor】 too.”
“Oh, I can’t— Ah!”

Shuellina covered her mouth with a startled expression.
Then she hurriedly offered a greeting.

“Y-Your Grace the Duke, we greet you.”
“Your Grace the Duke, we greet you.”
“Your Grace the Duke.”

The other Sacred Maidens knelt as well.
When I turned around, sure enough, Perardin Noishurael Duke was there.
He was merely standing in the palace corridor, yet an overwhelming pressure washed over me as if gazing up at the heavens.

“Then we shall take our leave…”
“See you later, Sae.”
“We’ll see you at the temple branch later.”

The three of them vanished like a receding tide.
In an instant, only the Duke and I remained.

The Duke glanced at me, then walked ahead.

‘He wants me to follow, doesn’t he?’

I silently followed him.

How much time had passed?
As we climbed the quiet, empty staircase, the Duke spoke.

“Saelika.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“You’ll be able to obtain 【Arbor】.”

His indifferent blue eyes looked down at me.

‘Ah.’

Now I understood what the Duke meant.
It wasn’t that he was taking my side because he thought I would win the bet.
It was simply—.

“Why are you smiling?”

The Duke asked.
Just as he said, I had broken into a soft smile without realizing it.

I bounded up several steps at once.
When I turned back, my gaze met the tall Duke’s almost perfectly.
His blue eyes were right before mine.

“You just need to say that you’re not a fake, and that there’s no need to mind those who call you one.”
“….”
“That’s what you meant, right?”
“…Yes.”

The Duke nodded slowly.
His expression was blank.
But to my eyes, his face looked as bewildered as a child facing an impossibly difficult problem.

I turned and continued up the stairs.

“Say the same thing to Demian and Mikhail.”
“….”
“Don’t needlessly interfere. It’s not your concern.”
“….”
“Don’t say it like that.”

When I glanced to the side, the Duke was already walking beside me.

“Tell them that Father will find the youngest, so trust me and don’t worry—just live your own life. That your life is precious too. Say it like that.”
“….”
“That’s what you mean, right?”

Perardin Noishurael Duke’s head slowly lowered and then rose.

“Still, Demian would be delighted if you asked him to search together, wouldn’t he?”
“….”
“Just as the Duke doesn’t consider the time spent searching for the youngest Countess a waste, Demian would feel the same way.”
“….”
“Mikhael would be different, though.”

As I added the teasing remark with a smile, the Duke let out a soft chuckle.
During our walk up the stairs and along the corridor, he remained silent for quite some time.

“…There was someone who said something similar to you.”
“Someone like me?”
“She told me that if I was worried about Demian getting hurt, I should simply forbid him from wielding a real blade from the start.”

Ah.
It was about the Duchess.
I didn’t need to be told to understand.
The Duke’s eyes spoke clearly enough for anyone to grasp.

I realized for the first time that this stoic, clumsy man could possess such tender eyes.

“…What did the Duke actually say in response?”
“I told her that a real blade was too early for a weak boy.”

Wow.
Demian really did grow up right.
Now I understood why Mikhael turned out so differently.

The Duke opened the large door, apparently having reached our destination.
A crisp breeze swept in, brushing against my hair.
And.

“Wow….”

The imperial palace spread out beneath my feet.
The evening sky, where the sunset was beginning to paint itself, blended shades of blue, purple, red, and gold—beautiful as the halo surrounding Artemia.

We paused for a moment to share our appreciation of the breathtaking view.

“That chocolate shop over there has excellent pastries. They have an incredible variety of ganache.”
“….”
“Oh, that shop is where Randel took me when I first arrived at the island. He found it because I mentioned loving pudding.”
“….”
“That place is a hidden gem where commoners go—nobles rarely venture there. I sometimes sneak away with the children and visit. The meat melts so delicately on your tongue… We use meat from our temple, you see. Anyway, it’s delicious.”
“….”

Perardin Noishurael Duke gazed intently at me rather than the beautiful landscape spread before his eyes.
Perhaps he was impressed by my cultured remarks about appreciating the scenery.

I turned to face the Duke.
Our hair fluttered together in the wind.

“Tell Mikhael as well.”
“….”
“Even if it might not be very entertaining, tell him that if he ever wants to come back and live with his father later, he can return anytime.”
“….”

The Duke remained silent.
His gaze upon me was peculiar.
Those blue eyes were as cool and cold as snow.
Yet they were also as warm as snow.

He awkwardly reached out his hand.
His large hand moved as if to brush against my hair, then withdrew completely.
Perardin Noishurael Duke pointed to somewhere on the island.

“…The meat pie over there is delicious.”
“….”
“A hidden gem that nobles don’t frequent.”
“….”

And then we fall silent for a long while again.
When I stare at him intently, he finally opens his mouth.

“We could go together.”

I let out a quiet chuckle.
Now I understood where Demian picked up his manner of speech.
It was how he spoke when he was being affectionate in his own way.

“Since the Duke wishes to enjoy something delicious with me, shall we go together?”

As I grinned, the Duke’s gaze fixed upon my cheek.

“You’re smiling now.”
“I’ve been smiling since earlier, haven’t I?”
“No.”

The Duke shook his head firmly.

“This is the first time you’ve smiled.”
“…?”

His words made no sense.

* * *

Inside the banquet hall.
Mastebon Duke, the father of Agnes Countess, approached Beatrix.

“I received a report recently that there were traces of the Elves moving. I never expected they would be on our side.”
“You seem quite surprised?”
“How could I not be? That insufferable woman was thriving with the Elves backing her, and now this. You should have given me a heads-up about your connections with them beforehand.”
“I do enjoy surprises. And this way, I’ve planted the seed in everyone’s minds about who the true candidate for Sacred Maiden really is.”

Beatrix’s serpentine gaze swept across the nobles.
They were all the sort who had approached Saelika before turning to fawn over Amelia.

“The timing of the Elves’ arrival was perfect. They doused cold water on Artemia’s schemes at just the right moment.”

Beatrix smiled wickedly.
The eyes of Mastebon Duke gleamed as he beheld that expression.

“The timing seems rather fortuitous, wouldn’t you say? Is this your handiwork?”
“I merely did what I could to help prevent catastrophe.”
“Help prevent catastrophe, you say.”
“The Elves’ cooperation and our Amelia becoming the Grand Sacred Maiden—surely both serve humanity’s interests, do they not?”
“Hahaha! Well spoken, well spoken indeed!”

Mastebon Duke laughed heartily before lowering his voice.

“Then the victor of this wager is already decided, wouldn’t you say? Since you’re the one who brought her here.”
“Hehe, we shall see.”

Beatrix smiled as she gazed at Wiridian.

‘Yes, the victor is as good as decided—it will be our Amelia.’

That High Elf surely harbored the same conviction.
Otherwise, why would he have accepted her proposal and come all this way?
There had been so many words exchanged between them over the years.

Yet why.

‘Has he been watching Saelika this entire time?’

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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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