Youngest on Top - Chapter 237

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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 237

Perardin Noishurael Duke spoke in a voice that was somehow even more frightening because of how composed he remained.

“We’ll need to revise the plan.”
“A more serious matter has arisen than simply being unable to enter the temple.”
“This is an important issue that will determine our fate going forward.”
“Perhaps this time I should get serious too.”

Admiral Ekellan, Demian, and Mikhail also spoke with grave expressions.

“Anyone who touches our youngest will be executed immediately. Any objections?”
“None. Of course not.”
“I’ll handle the execution.”
“Hmm, but I want to be the one to kill them?”
“Everyone agrees then. Gentlemen, let’s devise the detailed strategy.”

The four men began formulating their strategy with serious expressions.
The butler and aide watched them with bewildered faces.

‘What on earth…? You’d think a war had broken out.’
‘Military strategy seems less serious than this…’

The two of them shook their heads in disbelief.

* * *

A few days later.
The banquet hall of the Artemia Temple branch.
The invited guests laughed and chatted merrily among themselves.

“The Artemia Temple branch is truly beautiful.”
“Ah, this painting is the sacred artwork that Empress Adelin gifted, isn’t it?”
“They say it was painted by Botiaffe himself. It’s absolutely mesmerizing.”
“Look at this statue. With gold and diamonds— Wow! Such a large ruby with such deep and clear light!”
“I heard it was a gift from Empress Maxina?”

Empress Adelin and Empress Maxina held their heads high upon hearing the people’s voices.

“Welcome, Your Majesties. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

Saelika noticed the two of them and offered a respectful greeting.
Maxina, who had been watching with satisfaction, spoke first before Adelin could.

“Hehe, of course we had to come to our Sae’s invitation. So, how are you feeling?”
“I’m well, thanks to your concern, Your Majesty.”

Adelin, not to be outdone, broke in with a radiant smile.

“My, why so formal? There’s no need for such courtesy between Sae and me.”

Adelin grasped Saelika’s hand firmly.
Maxina, seeing this, took hold of the other hand and spoke.

“Sae, did you receive the medicinal herbs I sent? I carefully selected ones that are excellent for recovery.”
“And how did you like the aromatic herbs I sent? They have magic to clear your mind and relieve fatigue.”
“Never mind that—when will you visit my palace? I’ve prepared plenty of that cake you enjoyed last time.”
“My goodness? Asking a child who just recovered to come all the way to the imperial palace? Have you no consideration?”
“What?”

Maxina’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Adelin.
Adelin let out an amused laugh.

Sparks flew between the eyes of the two empresses.
Caught between them with each hand held, Saelika let out a deep sigh.
And there were those watching this scene from a distance….

.
.

“Still in the clear so far.”
“Empress Adelin and Empress Maxina have no sons.”
“Don’t let your guard down. You haven’t forgotten that they each have grown nephews, have you?”
“…!”

They were none other than Perardin Noishurael Duke, Admiral Ekellan, Demian, and Mikhail.

Four men crouched behind a pile of shrubbery outside the banquet hall, observing the movements within.
Anyone watching would have thought they were conducting some covert operation.

“Wait. Movement detected approaching Sae from the three o’clock direction.”
“It’s Sacred Maiden Dolores and Petrea.”
“Hm? Someone’s charging rapidly at the protagonist from the seven o’clock direction?”
“From the twelve o’clock direction as well.”
“It’s Sacred Maiden Nelije and Princess Grizelda from Balotelo.”
“All three are green. You can lower your weapons, but maintain your guard.”
“Roger.”

The moment Dolores spoke to Saelika, Nelije and Grizelda rushed over and wedged themselves into the conversation.
Perardin Noishurael Duke spoke as he watched the three women engage in a silent battle of nerves with Saelika between them.

“Everyone, conceal your presence as much as possible. The moment Saelika realizes we’re here, everything is over.”
“Understood. I have no desire to receive her contemptuous gaze either.”
“Confirmed. If you spot anyone approaching Saelika?”
“Immediate execution.”

At Mikhail’s response, Perardin Noishurael Duke let out a sigh.

“For now, we observe. We’ll handle any issues without Saelika’s knowledge.”
….
“Do you understand?”
…I understand.

Mikhail pouted his lips and nodded.
Perardin Noishurael Duke gazed at his son with anxious eyes.

‘Serge has his own sense of judgment, and Demian is patient enough that he won’t act rashly.’

The problem was Mikhail.

‘As long as I keep a close watch on Mikhail, we should be fine.’

It was at that very moment.

“Goodness, isn’t it?”
“Really?”
“Wow… I wish I could hang from those arms.”
“You should be held in them, not hang from them!”

I felt the banquet hall stir with the developed sense of touch.
And then.

“At last we meet, Sacred Maiden Saelika.”

A towering frame.
Broad shoulders.
A man built of taut muscle approached Saelika with a grin.

He shot to his feet!
Perardin Noishurael Duke rose from his seat.
His blade was already wreathed in a vivid blue aura.
He looked ready to strike the man’s neck!

Mikhail regarded his father with an exasperated expression.

“…You said to wait without letting the Protagonist find out?”
“Ah.”
“Yet you scolded me so harshly.”

Hearing his son’s grumbling voice, Perardin Noishurael Duke shrank back sheepishly.

* * *

“You have no idea how much I’ve longed to meet you!”

At his spirited greeting, I bent my knee.
The other party was a Crown Prince of a nation.
Of course I had to show proper courtesy.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness Decaren.”
“Decaren alone will suffice.”

Decaren broke into a grin.
He was extraordinarily tall, with shoulders to match.
His massive frame could have been intimidating up close, but it wasn’t.

‘Is it his face?’

His smile was as gentle as a friendly large dog’s.
The diplomat beside me gazed at me with proud eyes.

‘What do you think! Our Crown Prince! Incredible, right? Popular, isn’t he?!’

I could read those words in his gaze.
He certainly seemed popular.
Though he appeared gentle, the assertive definition of his chest and thigh muscles told a different story.

‘I envy him. If I had muscles like those, I could hit so much more efficiently…’

Then Decaren extended his hand.
Thinking it was for a handshake, I reached out my hand in return.

“…!”

My body lifted off the ground.

I blinked at the sudden turn of events.
Only then did I understand.
Decaren had scooped me up into his arms.

“Um, Your Highness?”
“You’re so light. Have you been eating?”
“No, well, I have been eating.”
“Even so? Then you need to eat more.”

Decaren’s frown melted into a bright smile as he looked down at me.

“Don’t worry. I’m skilled at hunting and cooking both. You just focus on eating well.”

The diplomat beside us whispered to Decaren with a pale expression.

“Your Majesty, according to imperial law, it’s improper to embrace a lady you’ve just met in such a manner. Haven’t I mentioned this?”
“Hmm, what does imperial law matter? If we both desire it. And—.”

Decaren’s gaze turned toward me.

“Even if we’ve just met, we’re to be married. Of course I must sweep you into my arms and demonstrate my charm.”

What?
What marriage are you talking about?

Decaren broke into a radiant smile.

“I’ve studied thoroughly how to bring you joy! It’s only natural that I prepare myself to dedicate everything to my wife.”

While I stood frozen in bewilderment, chaos erupted around us.

“Oh my, oh my! Did you hear that?”
“How to bring her joy, you say! What on earth could he mean? Ohhh, ohhhhh!”

The noble ladies’ eyes swept across Decaren’s muscular frame with unmistakable
intrigue.
Witnessing their expressions, my senses returned to me.
I exhaled a deep sigh.

“Please put me down, Your Majesty Decaren.”
“You’re not heavy at all. If anything, you’re wonderfully light. I could carry you continuously for three days and nights without rest.”

At those words, the noble ladies fanned themselves again with fervent fluttering.

“Oh my goodness! Three days and nights, he says!”
“If only my husband had heard such words. Instead of showing strength, he can’t even lift me off my feet…”

Decaren himself gazed up at me with an innocent expression, as if questioning what the problem could be.

“Please put me down.”
“If that is your wish.”

Decaren lowered me to the ground.

“And Your Majesty, it would be best not to say things that might cause misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings? Ah.”
“You understand, don’t you?”
“In our country, it’s only natural for a husband to strive to be someone others envy. That too becomes the lady’s joy.”

Decaren himself was the one misunderstanding.
The diplomat standing beside him avoided my gaze with a guilty expression.

‘Now I understand what’s happening.’

Decaren spoke.

“Even if you become twice as heavy, there’s no problem with abduction, so eat well and gain weight.”
“I didn’t invite Your Majesty because I wanted to get married.”
“Hmm? Ah, I suppose I was too blunt about the abduction marriage. Understood!”
“No, really not.”
“I’ll abduct you without your knowledge!”

It was the moment Decaren broke into a wide smile.

“Did I not say no?”

A voice like flowing water cut between me and Decaren.
Men with similar features pulled me away from Decaren’s side.

“This is why barbarians who still practice abduction customs won’t do.”
“There’s no reasoning with them.”
“Now then, Sacred Maiden Saelika.”

The three men smiled and kissed the back of my hand.

“You said you wanted to see us, so we rushed over.”
“It’s our joy to welcome such a beautiful bride as yourself.”
“Surely more is better than one. Husbands are no exception.”

Decaren raised his eyebrows.

“What? What use is a frail body like that, even if there are multiple of them!”
“Well? That decision rests with our Sacred Maiden Saelika, does it not?”

A whisper reached my ear accompanied by warm breath.

‘Why do they keep misunderstanding…?’

When I glanced at the diplomat who had come with the princes, he too quickly averted his gaze with a guilty expression.

‘…What is it with all these diplomats?’

That was when it happened.

“If I had to decide, I’d say it looks like something meant to be rolled around a lot.”

A familiar voice reached me.
I turned my head toward the source.

“Right, Elah?”
“Ryubik!”

Ryubik let out a soft laugh in response to my call.

“It’s been a while.”
“Tell me about it. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other in person. I didn’t expect you to come.”
“Why wouldn’t I? You sent an invitation.”
“I thought you’d send a representative. Aren’t you busy? Last time we communicated, it seemed like you weren’t even sleeping properly.”
“Still, I had to come in person. Look at this mess.”

Ryubik glanced around at the princes, including Decaren, as he spoke.
I nodded and said, “Ah, I see.”

“Besides, other nations sent their royal families in person, so if only Bennayser Kingdom sent a representative, it could put us at a disadvantage in negotiations. I would have understood either way, though.”
“No, that’s not—”
“…?”
“Never mind.”

Ryubik shook his head.
I spotted the young boy clinging right behind him and grinned.

“Wow, Habid. You’ve grown so much.”
“U-uh, yes!”

Habid nodded with a beet-red face.
Yet I couldn’t help but laugh at how he remained hidden behind his brother, his shy demeanor unmistakable.

“What, are you embarrassed?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Where did that audacity go? The one where you screamed at me the moment we met, asking if you could become my concubine?”
“Th-that was—!”

Habid shuffled his feet, at a complete loss for words.
Perhaps because I rarely had the chance to see someone younger than myself.
Teasing children was the most entertaining thing.

“In any case, welcome to you all.”

I surveyed my surroundings.
Now all the players had assembled.

The Empresses and the Princess, along with the Empire’s most distinguished nobles.
And even the royal family of a nation that had been seeking to form ties with me through talk of bride-capture marriages, polygamous arrangements, and the like.

‘Of course, they didn’t bring up marriage simply because they fancied me for no reason.’

For them, marriage was a political tool.

‘In other words, they wanted to forge an unbreakable pact because the conditions I possessed were attractive.’

The Empresses were no different.
They hadn’t treated me well simply because I was cute and pretty.

‘They all saw the benefits I could bring them.’

And today, I intended to put up for auction the very thing these people desired most.

“Not long ago, I received an invitation to a very, very special tea time in the forest.”

A tea time in the forest.
In other words, Wiridian’s tea time.
There was no one in this room who wouldn’t understand what that meant.

“I need a partner to go with me. Would any of you be willing to become my partner?”

At these words, the princes’ eyes gleamed with a different light.
Of course they did.
This was essentially offering to forge a bond with the Elves.

* * *

“Pa… partner?”

A sound like a groan escaped from Perardin Noishurael Duke’s lips.

“Right now… she’s looking for a different partner while I’m here?!”
“…I’m right here, so why.”
“Well, if I just kill them all, then eventually I’d become her partner anyway, wouldn’t I?”

Mikhail, who had flowers adorning his hair from all the commotion, spoke with a bright smile.
Perardin Noishurael Duke didn’t stop him.
They were all just a bunch of scheming fools.
What was wrong with cleaning up the trash?

The need to move secretly from Sacred Maiden Saelika had already vanished from his mind.

“Go right now—.”

The Duke, who had been muttering, flinched.
He wasn’t alone.
The Four Men who had been causing chaos suddenly froze in unison.

A sinister, vicious, and ominous aura.
Something wicked was hurtling toward them from far away.

“What on earth—.”

The moment Demian muttered those words.

BOOM!
A man landed in the garden with a thunderous crash.
The man who had created a crater in the earth straightened his clothes without concern and headed toward the ballroom.

“Just now—.”
“Kaishurit?!”

The four men locked eyes with one another.
They all wore identical expressions.

If other royals were merely nuisances scattered along the roadside,
then Kaishurit was….

‘A calamity!’

The four men threw themselves into action without hesitation.

—————
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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