Youngest 085
by Cristae85
He stroked his chin, then suddenly lifted his head. Something felt just out of reach, almost within his grasp.
“Come to think of it, isn’t there a festival in the northern part of Babylon around this time?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“I recall hearing it’s… a festival where many children gather.”
A sinister smile crept onto the Mage King’s lips.
“It’s worth looking into.”
“What should I do?”
Putting on a deliberately stern expression, he gave the order.
“Send word to the tracking mage… to my ‘Fourth.’ Tell them this father will make sure they get through the northern gate one way or another—so bring back my Red Gem at any cost.”
“Yes, father.”
Looking utterly affectionate, the Mage King withdrew something from his inner pocket and handed it over.
“Here. Send this along as well.”
“What is it?”
“A teleportation artifact.”
The female mage’s eyes widened in shock.
“Such a thing… exist?”
Teleportation magic was a high-level spell requiring immense magical power. At best, it could only be used in the Mage Kingdom or certain other regions with abundant magic on the continent.
‘Is that even possible as an artifact?’
The king’s lips stretched in a long, twisted smile.
“Shouldn’t I prepare an escape route for my precious child?”
“……”
“Leviathan Zevert will be there. Tell my child to use it if things turn dangerous.”
His eyes gleamed with greed.
Soon, a blue magical carrier pigeon was soaring above Arcadia, heading for the Babylon imperial court.
Chirp-chirp. Morning had dawned.
Of course, the sun hadn’t quite risen yet, so I was still off in dreamland…
“Time to wake up, Rubian.”
Mwah-mwah.
Soft lips pressed against my cheek and forehead, and my eyes opened of their own accord. I found myself staring blankly at the room softly lit by a lamp and the woman standing nearby.
Rosetta smirked and gently pulled down my covers.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Your wake-up call is just too sweet…”
“Haha. How adorable.”
Do other children’s mothers wake them like this, too?
All at once, I felt so grateful for this.
As I sat up with a rustle, Rosetta began running her fingers through my messy hair, gently smoothing it out.
“But the sun isn’t even fully up…”
The first rays had just begun to peek over the horizon.
“Don’t you want to get ready and go to the morning prayer?”
Blink, blink. With every flutter of my eyelids, my drowsiness faded.
Now that I thought about it, today was the beginning of the Spring Festival!
Rosetta rose slightly and offered me her hand.
“Let’s go! It’ll be tight if we want to soak in the hot springs and get ready.”
“Gasp. Hot…”
I threw off the covers and tumbled from the large bed.
“- springs!”
A perfect landing on the floor!
Rosetta clapped, looking as if I’d earned a perfect technical score.
“My daughter is amazing…”
“Hurry, hurry!”
I bounced up and down, urging her on. Now that everyone knew I was a girl, I no longer had to worry, and could go to the hot springs whenever I wanted!
‘I’ve hidden the mage’s crest on my back well, anyway!’
Without realizing it, I hummed a little tune as I took Rosetta’s hand. Together, we left the ducal manor and headed to the hot springs, perfectly in sync.
The open-air bath, filled with sweet, white steam, looked just as I remembered.
“Be careful.”
I quickly eased myself into the warm water.
A hot spring enjoyed in the early morning far surpassed my expectations. This was paradise!
“Who cut your hair? Hazel?”
Rosetta asked, playing with my hair as I splashed.
“No, Dad did.”
“Leviathan?”
She looked genuinely surprised.
“Yes. I promised that when I earn a lot of money, I’ll open a salon for him…”
“Wow, that’ll go out of business so fast…”
“What?”
“I mean, I think it’ll be a real success. Here, come here. Blow your nose.”
“Hnk.”
Actually, Dad’s not bad at it…
‘Ah, but his expression might not suit customer service.’
I nodded, conceding the point.
Rosetta lathered my hair and scrubbed it squeaky clean.
Looking over my towel-wrapped body, she hesitated, then finally spoke.
“Rubian, I heard you had a scar on your body.”
“……”
“Is it still hard for you to show it?”
I slowly shook my head.
The scar I’d kept hidden, just in case, was now in plain view. I’d pretended to have a wound as an excuse for hiding my body. Without it, it would seem suspicious.
Rosetta was extremely careful in her actions.
Honestly, I didn’t mind if anyone saw an old scar like that. It was just… a little embarrassing.
“……”
When her grip loosened on the towel in her hand, Rosetta bit her lip.
“You…”
The wound at my side wasn’t huge, but it had been deep enough to leave a mark. As if something sharp had cut it.
Her long, pale fingers gently covered my side.
Startled by the gesture, I looked up.
“A-are you crying?”
Rosetta’s tears were falling in big drops.
“No, I’m not crying.”
“But you have tears…”
Rosetta rubbed her eyes angrily.
“Who could have hurt you like this…”
There was the sound of water being parted, and then I felt her arms pulling me into a tight hug.
“How much it must have hurt…”
My shoulder grew damp again—it could have been the hot spring, but…
I was a little dazed.
Never had I imagined someone would look at an old scar like that and cry for me. But, somehow, her tears felt like a salve spreading over my wound.
Her gentle patting made me feel ticklish, nearly unbearably so.
It was the strangest sensation.
“We’re ready, Lady Rosetta.”
When we finished bathing and returned, Hazel and a crowd of housemaids and ladies-in-waiting were waiting in my bedroom.
Accompanied by all sorts of perfumes and colorful dresses.
“Wow. Are all these for me?”
I was surrounded by dresses obviously tailored to fit me.
“Why? Don’t you like them?”
Rosetta seemed slightly tense.
“It’s not that…”
They were clearly expensive, well-made children’s dresses.
Where on earth had she gotten these in only a few days?
And they fit me perfectly.
‘Ah.’
Suddenly, realization dawned. The source of these dresses.
The east room of the manor.
Had she sent people to fetch these from there?
I toyed with the tip of a ribbon and turned my head.
“They’re so pretty. But I don’t think they’ll suit me…”
The pale blue dress was tastefully decorated and not overly so. As it wasn’t too long, it seemed easy to move in; the embroidery and frills here and there were exquisite.
“Nonsense. All you have to do is stand next to me, and you’ll look perfect.”
“Wow…”
As I watched Rosetta smile, I thought, maybe so. Needless to say, I had never worn anything so luxurious before.
“Oh, for shoes, um, these.”
As I looked at the ribbon shoes placed under the dress, I pointed at my leather shoes near the bed.
“They won’t look good together.”
“Even so…”
These were a gift I had received…
When I hesitated, Rosetta straightened her back with a little huff.
“Well, if we must, we must.”
When she smiled brightly, I answered with a matching smile.
“All right then, madam, young lady…”
At that moment, behind us loomed the shadow of a giant bear—no, it was Hazel.
“I’ve been waiting for today. Shall we begin the preparations?”
“Hazel, wait. Your eyes…”
“Fufufufufu.”
The invincible maid’s eyes flashed with insanity. The other maids shut the door and joined in with an ominous laugh.
“Now, let’s see this to the end.”
See what?
The end of me?
“There! All done!”
Rosetta tied a ribbon beneath Rubian’s chin.
It was a bonnet trimmed with white lace and a sky-blue ribbon.
Even though Rubian’s hair was short, the style wasn’t overdone, and it matched her blue eyes perfectly.
Rosetta marveled at her own taste.
“I love you, Rubian…”
Overcome with affection, she drew Rubian into an embrace, though she squirmed a little.
“She’s a young lady—a proper young lady!”
“This is it…! This is exactly what I meant!”
Hazel and the other servants covered their mouths to stifle squeals of delight.
Why buy dolls when we have our own lady! Hooray! We finally have our lady!
Rubian herself seemed awkward about her reflection in the mirror.
“Won’t everyone laugh at me?”
Her snowy cheeks were tinged with a bashful flush. In her dress that came just above the ankles, Rubian looked absolutely darling.
“Who would dare?”
Rosetta gently reassured her.
“If anyone tries, I’ll shoot them myself. So don’t worry.”
Shoot who?!
Rubian looked as if she wanted to protest, but Rosetta played innocent and ignored her.
With practiced hands, Rosetta finished the last of the accessories and waited for Rubian to put on her shoes. She herself wore a dress in a similar pale blue to Rubian’s.
‘I’m so happy.’
Isn’t this a bit too much like a mother and daughter?
Grinning, Rosetta reached out for Rubian’s hand—just as a soft knock sounded and the door opened.
“Ruby. The duke says it’s nearly time to depar—”
A boy with dark blue hair neatly combed entered. As he stepped in, face impassive, he came to a dead stop.