Youngest 265
by CristaeEpisode 265
“In Arcadia, the throne has always gone to the strongest mage among the royal family. Lady Rubian, you are the last remaining royal here and also the most brilliant mage. You have more than enough qualifications. You rightfully ought to ascend the throne!”
“For reference, I accidentally cut down the Mage King’s ‘sixth’—he tried to disguise himself in a crimson-embroidered priest’s robe and flee to the continent like a rat.”
Licht added this with a smile that betrayed not the slightest hint of a mistake.
“Oh…”
So.
That’s the kind of gift he brings…
‘He brought me the throne?’
What? Prince scale, what even is this?
The Mage Kingdom had no successor.
This was only natural, since the late Mage King had intended to rule as king for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
“According to the law of the kingdom, when the king is absent, the thirteen palace elders make decisions by majority vote.”
Six of the thirteen had acted as the Mage King’s lackeys and were either dead or awaiting execution in prison.
“The remaining seven palace elders have unanimously decided to support Lady Rubian.”
Ideline continued resolutely.
“Of course, we know all too well how shameless it is to entrust you with a place in such shambles…”
“…”
“But we are in need of a new master. One completely different from the former Mage King, a wise and compassionate leader.”
“But I don’t have the ability to use magic anymore.”
“But no one can rival your knowledge of magic, Lady Rubian.”
Another elder interjected after listening quietly.
“That’s right. And you’re also the only one who knows the way to break the Mage’s Crest. Ah, I wept for ten nights and days when I heard! I was so moved!”
“Um, sorry, but it hasn’t even been ten days yet.”
“In any case, from justification to ability, no one can compare to Lady Rubian!”
One after another, the elders were lifting me up with their praises.
But to suddenly become a queen—
“I’m just an ordinary citizen…”
Then my father, standing behind me, chuckled softly.
“You seem to forget, you’re a high-ranking noble in your own right. It’s your blood.”
“Oh.”
Right.
‘What do I do?’
I hadn’t meant to find employment quite so soon, and the prospect of suddenly being scouted for the CEO position had me completely off balance.
“What should I do?”
I whispered to my parents. As always, my father replied offhandedly, as if it was no big deal.
“You do exactly as you wish. Not a bad title, really. Queen Ruby Zevert.”
“…That’s the worst thing I ever heard.”
He smirked, and I realized he was teasing. I gave his solid arm a series of light punches, but he only patted my head, saying the massage felt good.
He was really, really infuriating…
Mother’s opinion seemed much the same.
“If you’re my daughter, you’re more than fit to have a kingdom.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Easy acceptance.
In any event, both of them respected my wishes.
‘Well…’
Maybe, just once in my life, I could try being a queen.
And this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put Mage Kingdom beneath my feet—a kingdom that had tormented me since childhood.
I had always fled as a fugitive mage, running from the kingdom’s pursuit, and now I’d have it under my control.
Revenge didn’t get any sweeter than this.
‘And Mage Kingdom isn’t that large; if I rely on the elders, I might muddle through somehow.’
But…
‘Can I really do this?’
“Sorry, but I’m too much of a coward, so I don’t think I can.”
“Lady Rubian!”
Ideline’s brows drew together in dismay.
“Could you… Could you tell us your reason?”
“Well, I’m afraid I might make the people of Mage Kingdom suffer in a different way than the late Mage King did.”
My gaze lingered on Licht.
I knew how hard Licht had worked to become Crown Prince—and then Emperor.
He smiled gently, as though he had already anticipated this while gathering the elders.
“I think it’s very, very important who becomes king. Just remember the late Mage King.”
“But Lady Rubian—!”
“Well, of course I wouldn’t be like the Mage King, but I’ve been away from the Mage Kingdom for so long… I don’t really know much about it. Not knowing isn’t an excuse for someone who sits in such a high position.”
And, more than anything, Mother and Father told me to do what I wanted.
‘The truth is, what I want now—’
It was almost funny, but all I wanted was to go home.
To spend quiet, peaceful days in the place I loved, surrounded by the people I loved.
Causing trouble now and then, getting scolded by Dad—just that sort of life.
“Most of all, my real home is the Zevert estate.”
Saying it out loud made it more certain than ever.
What I could do, and what I wanted to do.
“Oh, but! That doesn’t mean I’ll just turn my back on all of this. Just as the elders have come back to help rebuild Mage Kingdom, I too, as a mage and as royalty, will make any decisions I can and offer magical advice whenever it’s needed. That’s the very best I can do!”
Ideline listened in silence, as if searching for something to add, but then bit her lip and stepped back.
“…Understood. Seeing that resolve in your eyes, I can’t insist any further. I understand your wishes, Lady Rubian.”
One of the elders tried to interject, but she stopped him, saying it would be disrespectful to press this further.
“But, Ideline. Can we really leave the throne vacant…”
“Hmm. This is just my opinion, but…”
I paused to think, then spoke.
The truth was, this was something I’d long wanted to suggest to Ideline.
“Do mages really need a king?”
At my words, a hush fell over the room—a silence unlike any before.
Licht watched Rubian, who was now meeting the elders’ gaze with clear, unwavering eyes.
At first she’d seemed a little awkward, but soon enough, she was in command of the entire room.
‘She really is impressive.’
His heart thudded with excitement.
“I actually think the way things are now suits Mage Kingdom much better.”
Her clear voice sent a gentle vibration through the air.
“You mean… to restore the Council of Elders?”
“Well, yes. I’m not an expert, but you could put all major decisions to a vote, fill any vacancies with mages chosen from the general mage population. If there are other procedures, then follow those.”
“But then, Lady Rubian…”
Rubian shrank a little under the weight of everyone’s attention but pressed on.
“I, um, I don’t need to be queen. Maybe, just, well—a sort of honorary president who pops up every now and then with a ‘hem-hem!’—that would do.”
“So in other words, you’re suggesting we take this opportunity to sharply curtail the king’s authority and reduce the role to an honorary one. We’ve all seen how far a mage on the throne can go out of control, just because they have the power, so we need a body to keep that in check…”
Ideline muttered, quick to catch on.
“Well, yes. And most of all…”
Rubian hesitated, then looked up, her eyes shining brighter than ever.
“I hope that, from here on, Arcadia’s mages can live wherever they wish, however they wish—freely. Of course, they can even renounce their citizenship if they like.”
“In other words, you mean Mage Kingdom should serve as a haven for mages who need the protection of a nation, and otherwise exist only to prevent the potential misdeeds of mages.”
Ideline quickly caught on again and murmured the words.
“Yes. To put it simply…”
Rubian smiled broadly.
“Let’s all live freely, doing what we want to do!”
“Do what you want.”
That was what Leviathan had always told Rubian, more than anything else. His words had guided the child this far and shaped her growth.
‘Hearing her speak so openly now—it’s clear Rubian must have been thinking this for a very long time.’
Licht, standing quietly, watched Rubian shine.
She smiled, looking more at ease than ever before.
“That’s the Arcadia I dream of.”