Youngest on Top - Chapter 223

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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 223

Amelia’s eyes met mine, and she approached with a gentle smile.

“Hehe, I suppose I was staring too intently.”
“Do you have something to say?”
“No, it’s just… I was thinking how Saelika lives in such a happy world.”
“Happy… world?”
“Yes, everyone truly cherishes Saelika. You’ve grown up surrounded by tremendous love.”
“…”

I never thought the day would come when I’d hear such words from Amelia.

“A worm like you dares cling to Lady Amelia!!”
“You should consider it an honor just to breathe in Lady Amelia’s presence!”
“It’s revolting that a pathetic insect like you exists beside the precious and noble Lady Amelia!”

Everything noble, precious, and beloved belonged to Amelia.
I was treated as a parasite clinging to Amelia’s warmth.

“I’m a bit envious, actually.”

Yet now Amelia laughs at me—the parasite I once was—saying she envies me.

“Envious?”
“Yes.”

Amelia chuckled and spoke with a casual tone.

“I grew up in such a strict environment, you see.”
“Strict?”

That environment where everyone else was sacrificed for you—you call that strict?

“I can’t even imagine going years without attending official events or duties like you do.”
“….”
“Saelika lived freely, after all.”
“….”
“I’m not saying my life is unhappy. Every right comes with responsibility and obligation. As the Sacred Maiden of Parmanase, I must fulfill my duties.”
“….”
“But sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be free.”

I was astounded.
I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from rising in a crooked smile.
And I didn’t want to.

“Ah, so you’re curious about freedom.”
“Hm?”
“That’s strange. Your limbs look perfectly fine, so why would you be curious about freedom?”
“…What?”
“It’s not like they’re broken or bent, preventing you from going anywhere.”

Amelia smiled as if she were looking at someone simple-minded.

“Well, Saelika. Even with intact limbs, one can feel suffocated. Not everyone lives as freely as you do.”
“At least you shouldn’t say you envy your own freedom in front of someone whose limbs are broken.”
“Ha, Saelika. Would I say such things in front of someone with broken limbs?”
“Yes.”

Before the regression.
There was a time when my limbs were bound in chains.
When my sacred power was squeezed to its limit, I thrashed so violently that they had to restrain me.

It was all for nothing.
The pain of having my sacred power drained was far greater than the pain of being bound.
I thrashed so much that when it was all over, my limbs were broken.

The Temple Priests healed me carelessly, as if it were a bother.
It didn’t heal properly, and I couldn’t move for a long time.
I was lying there blankly when Amelia entered.

“Saelika, are you lying in bed again? Does that mean you can’t come to the party today?”
“….”
“You’re always getting sick, so you might get angry if I say this.”
“….”
“But I envy you.”
“…Envy, me?”
“Yes. You can rest without any interference by using sickness as an excuse.”

Amelia’s face, smiling brightly, was utterly innocent and free of malice.

“When I say I’m sick, everyone makes a fuss, so I can’t even say I’m ill.”
“….”
“If I go to today’s party, the Crown Prince and the Perardin Noishurael Duke will quarrel over me again.”
“….”
“They’re good people, but I’m already tired just thinking about it. Sigh, but I can’t skip it either.”

Amelia, wearing that same expression as before, laughed as if what I said was absurd.

“Did I make some mistake with you, Saelika? Why would you think that?”
“It’s obvious—you’re saying you wish you were free because you don’t know how I’ve lived.”

Amelia scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Well, Saelika. The signs of being loved can’t be hidden. How precious and treasured you are, how they’d fear you’d blow away if the wind blew—that can’t be concealed either.”

I agree with that.
When I look at Amelia, those signs are so obvious.
Disgustingly so.

“Even in the recent trial, it was the same. I’m used to stepping forward and protecting others myself.”
“….”
“I never even imagined having someone fight for me like you do. That’s why I couldn’t act the way you did.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.
So now, to put it in order—

‘Did I use a young elf as a shield for my own sake?’

You’re saying I didn’t want to fight upfront, so I pushed myself forward and told a child to protect me?
I was utterly speechless.

That’s when it happened.

“Of course, she couldn’t possibly act like our Honeybread.”

Dmitri stepped forward boldly, snorting through his nose.
It wasn’t just Dmitri.

“Right. Our youngest is one of a kind, after all.”
“My Apple is my Apple.”
“There will never be another existence like my daughter in this world.”

Randel offered gentle words of comfort to Amelia with a warm smile.

“Don’t be too upset. There’s no need to be disappointed in yourself for not acting like Saelika.”
“….”
“Comparing yourself to others only brings more suffering. You may never be like our Sae, but you must find strength in being yourself.”

It was comfort without equal in its tenderness.
The problem was that the underlying thought of “My daughter is far more magnificent than someone like Amelia!” was so deeply embedded that it didn’t sound like comfort at all.

‘…Amelia probably wasn’t genuinely upset.’

Sure enough, Amelia wore an ambiguous smile.
Even for someone who had met all sorts of people, this reaction must have been unprecedented.

“…Amelia.”
“Keiacsen.”

Amelia turned to Keiacsen with a brightened face.
There was a glimmer of hope that he would take her side.
After all, Keiacsen and the other Elves had always treated Amelia so well.

But.

“I’m disappointed.”

Keiacsen regarded Amelia with a stern expression.

“…Pardon?”
“We did not choose a cowardly person who demanded we protect ourselves while hiding behind others.”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant—.”
“Saelika didn’t protect herself. She pushed the Elves forward so they could protect themselves.”
“…”
“I never thought you’d fail to understand such a distinction. I’m quite disappointed.”

Amelia stared blankly at Keiacsen and the Elves standing behind him.
Reading the same sentiment in everyone’s faces, her complexion hardened visibly.

Amelia had even earned the nickname “Princess of the Elves.”
It would have been shocking enough that the Elves chose me, but to hear such words as well…

Amelia, who had been silent with her head bowed, suddenly looked up at me.

“Saelika.”

And she bowed her head deeply.

“I’m sorry!”

Amelia, having apologized, lifted her head and smiled brightly.

“My words must have sounded unpleasant. I didn’t think it through.”
“…”
“Good intentions don’t make actions and words good as well. Yes, I was certainly reckless.”
“…”
“You and the Elves have every right to feel upset. I’m sorry.”

Amelia apologized once more.
Her tone was gentle, yet carried unmistakable weight.
When she apologized, she even bowed respectfully again.

“As I’ve said before, I like you, Saelika.”
“…”
“I want us to get along well. Will my mistake today make that difficult?”

I gazed at Amelia for a moment, then smiled.
And I slowly approached her.

“Amelia, about what you said earlier. It made me feel good that you, of all people, said you envied me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”

I meant it sincerely.
Beatrix’s perfect terrarium, constructed from the life force of others as nourishment.
Amelia, who had lived happily within it, receiving only love.

“Long ago, I thought you lived a life where you wouldn’t envy anyone.”
“Come on, that’s not true. I envy people like everyone else and live ordinarily.”

Yes, that patronizing tone of yours.
I smiled faintly.

“I see, so that’s how it is.”

Whether in the past or now, your “envy” was never sincere.
But someday, it will be.
I never did like acting like an angel—I’ve always enjoyed revenge.

* * *

Tap!
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!
Fingers danced across the keyboard with a cheerful rhythm, as if performing a tap dance.

-Where did they go?
-Where did all those people go who said Sacred Maiden Saelika’s empty cart was making a fuss?
-They disappeared without a trace lol lol lol lol lol
-So deleting and running away solves everything?

Terese grinned as she read the comments she had posted in rapid succession.
When Perardin Noishurael Duke had sent that food cart covered in gold and photographs last time, Terese had merely enjoyed the comment reactions.
Through all the events that had transpired since then, she had evolved into a true aggressor.

“Ah, finally I get to have some real fun!”

Seeing Terese screaming, the man beside her furrowed his brow.

“Stop getting so immersed in this.”
“Nope~ Shut up. You don’t understand, oppa.”

Terese held up her middle finger and checked the screen.
As expected, her comrades didn’t disappoint and were responding to her words.

-So Amelia really does get special treatment from the Elves lolololol
-So who’s the loud empty cart now? lololololololololololololololololololololololol
-Ame… Mmph! Mmph!

Terese giggled at the comments and started typing again.

-Honestly, I knew from the start that the Elves would choose our Sae. That’s why I felt so wronged by the old reactions. Anyone can see that the Elves’ princess is our Sae, but only I noticed it!!

Comments came pouring in immediately.
Terese’s face, which had smiled expecting agreement, hardened like stone.

-Only you noticed? What nonsense is that. I was the first to notice!

“What? Huh? The first~?”

Terese rolled up her sleeves.

-That’s funny. I figured it out before the Elves even arrived at the academy?? I was first.
-I was certain from when our baby met the Elf King!!
-Oh, you only noticed after the Elf King appeared on screen? I figured it out when our sweet fluffy cream baby rode that magnificent divine beast and majestically brought the World Tree right there!! That’s when I knew!!
-I actually knew from the moment I saw our baby’s expression when she heard the mission!
-That’s hilarious. If you’re serious, drop that concept of pretending to be the Emperor! You concept-obsessed fool!!
-Me, a concept-obsessed fool!! I’ve learned what that means now! I thought it was praise hearing it so much, but you wicked creatures! How dare you speak such vulgar words to me, the Emperor of the Empire…!
-You’re the Emperor? lololololololol That’s actually hilarious. I’m the princess, you fool!!

Terese forgot her joy from moments before and furiously typed out her response.
It was truly a display befitting an attacker.

“Why are you seriously getting angry over something like this?”

Terese’s brother, who had thrust his face forward, let out a hollow laugh as he glanced at the screen.
Terese glared at him with eyes blazing like fire.

“Our little peach’s love for Gangangjyu cannot be surpassed by anyone!!?!?!!!!! Do you understand how important this is!!!!!”
“Ah…. Yeah…. Fighting….”

The man was pushed back helplessly by his sister’s overwhelming force.
Watching Terese’s back as she resumed typing with determination, he shrugged his shoulders.

‘What on earth is so special about Saelika that she’s acting so desperately obsessed….’

Now he was genuinely curious.

.
.

At the same moment.
In the Imperial Palace of the Empire, the Gratavia Grand Banquet Hall.
The Emperor was manipulating a portable Manashell with a serious expression.

‘What? A princess? A mere princess dares to defy me?!’

The Emperor was busily writing comments.

-What country’s princess are you? Tell me straight. I’ll double your tariffs!! Or better yet, I’ll lock the gates completely—

It was right in the middle of his focused writing.
An attendant called out to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, wait a moment. I’m busy right now.”
“But Your Majesty….”
“….”
“Your Majesty!”
“Tch! Even if it’s important! I, the Emperor of the Empire, cannot lose to a princess!!”

The Emperor snapped irritably at his attendant.

“This is a matter of national pride involving crucial diplomacy!!!”
“….”

The Attendant stared at the Emperor with narrowed eyes.

‘…So keyboard warrior antics constitute diplomacy involving national pride.’

No matter how he looked at it, the other party was clearly not a real princess.
The Attendant heaved a deep sigh and whispered.

“Sacred Maiden Saelika has arrived.”
“…!”

The Emperor sprang to his feet.
Indeed, Saelika was entering the hall.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner!”
“…Should I really submit my resignation.”
“Your true thoughts have spilled out.”

Oh dear.
Before the Attendant could react, the Emperor approached Saelika.

“Come here, my dear child.”

Since the Emperor’s fawning behavior was a long-standing habit, Saelika showed no surprise and offered a proper greeting.

“Your Majesty.”
“I hear our dear child has completely won over the hearts of those arrogant, proud Elves.”
“I merely did my best.”
“Now then, let me see. The Elves entrusted you with the Arbor?”

At the Emperor’s words, Saelika retrieved the Arbor from her clutch.
In an instant, people surged toward Saelika.
Shuellina, unable to bear the weight, stumbled and struck Saelika’s arm.

“Oh, my apologies.”

The contents threatened to spill from the wide-open clutch as it swayed.

“…!”

Perardin Noishurael Duke’s face turned rigid as he looked inside the clutch.
Admiral Ekellan, standing beside him, gazed at the Duke with confusion.
And when he followed the Duke’s gaze, his face too became rigid.

“That’s that child’s….”

Admiral Ekellan couldn’t bring himself to finish his words.
His voice trembled uncontrollably.

Just as Admiral Ekellan reached out his hand toward Saelika.

Snap!
The clutch snapped shut.

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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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