Youngest 274
by CristaeEpisode 274
Epilogue.
“Alright, let’s begin the meeting.”
Seated in my office, I activated the video communication magic device.
It’s often called a “video orb” for short; this was one of the latest developments from the Mage Tower.
As long as its internal mana held out, we could meet face-to-face and talk remotely like this.
“Yes, Grand Mage. I’m quite used to these video meetings by now, hohoho.”
Edelain grinned brightly.
Today was the day of the Arcadia meeting.
The familiar elder council members appeared one by one, their images flickering like holograms in the air. After surveying them, I spoke up.
“Hm? But I don’t see Lord Derren?”
“Oh, Derren requested flexible work hours this week. I hear his staff broke, so he’s having it repaired today.”
“Ah, yes. The staff is important.”
The Arcadia royal palace had been reborn as an excellent organization that prioritized staff welfare.
“But Grand Mage, have you eaten?”
Edelain asked.
“Yes.”
“And the stewed peppers I sent? Did you get them? You didn’t throw them away again, did you?”
“Please, don’t send things like that.”
“Oh, but they’re good for your health.”
To be honest, our chats before the meeting always lasted longer than the meeting itself.
Maybe it was because the elders were all advanced in age and I was by far the youngest among them.
“Oh my, look how thin you are! I told you to eat five bowls of rice, but I bet you only pecked at a handful again? I’ll have to whip up some nutrition pudding next time, that’s the only way.”
“Nooo… how can anyone eat five bowls…?”
“You see! That’s why you’re not gaining any weight! Look at those wrists!”
Well, it felt like I was a child getting doted on by grandparents I hadn’t seen for a while, and I didn’t mind the attention.
“But Grand Mage, your expression these days is so bright—you look like someone happy and giddy every single day…”
“I-I do?”
“Something good must have happened.”
Edelain narrowed her eyes shrewdly.
“Oh, no, nothing at all. Ohohohoho.”
“Come on, tell us the story.”
Of course, what interested them most was the romance I’d recently started.
Since it was still a secret from my family, I relished this chance to boast about my boyfriend as much as I wanted—something I couldn’t do at home.
“Anywayyy, I went out not long ago… and he gave me a huge bouquet of flowers…”
“Heavens, young people’s romances are so entertaining.”
And so, after nearly three hours, the actual meeting finally began.
A meeting that should have taken less than thirty minutes had eaten up my entire morning thanks to all our chatting.
“Ahem. Let’s start, then. First, what’s the status of the theme park development in the Ostavia Plains?”
“Very smoothly. If you consider the cruise itinerary we’re developing, the full-scale tourism district will bring major benefits to Arcadia. Um? Grand Mage, is your magic device running out of mana? The screen is flickering?”
“Oh—”
I hurried to grab my video orb. The screen cleared just in time, and a moment later, my mouth dropped open.
With the meeting done, I rushed outside.
‘I was supposed to go on a date with Khalid!’
Late because of work!
“Young Lady!”
Just then, Allen came running from a distance.
“If you use the mansion’s east gate now, the family won’t notice. Target location confirmed.”
“Hooray for information dealers.”
Allen had quit the dirty back-alley mercenary jobs for good and was a full-time info broker now.
He’d also ditched those ambiguous names like “Alpheon,” choosing “Errand Runner for the People” as his new guild title for a fresher and friendlier image.
‘It almost sounds like he’s running for office.’
But, well, what’s the harm in that?
“See you!”
“Young Lady! Please be careful—men are all beasts, remember! Never, ever be alone with one, you understand?”
Allen whispered.
I feigned innocence while sneaking out to meet Khalid at the marquisate.
“Eh? It’s nothing like that. I really am working! At the Mage Tower!”
“But why the secrecy from your family?”
“It’s just… if my dad saw his precious labor force scattered like this, he’d be heartsick.”
Allen looked at me with a face that said, “Not a chance.”
‘Pfft.’
You can’t fool Allen.
“Alright, I’ll tell everyone when the time is right!”
I hurriedly changed the subject.
“So, why are you so dressed up today?”
“Ah! Today, I’m going to confess to her!”
“Gasp. You’re finally getting a girlfriend? Good luck this time.”
Allen nodded and cleared his throat.
“So, I prepared some jokes. Could you give me your opinion?”
“Jokes?”
The fact that he’d “prepared” jokes already didn’t bode well, but I nodded, hiding my misgivings.
I wanted nothing more than for Allen—the perpetually unsuccessful confessor—to finally succeed and stop pestering Khalid.
“This one’s a killer. Ha! I’m already cracking up. Listen: what happens when an almond dies?”
Oh no, it’s off to a bad start.
“Diamonde! Pwahahaha! Next!”
“….”
“What do you call a thief with a guilty walk?”
“….”
“Furt-tive~ furt-tive~”
“Ugh, uncle jokes are the worst…”
The words slipped out, and Allen’s face collapsed as if the world had ended.
“I’m not an old man! Then, what are the trendy expressions these days?!”
“I don’t know!”
Leaving a shocked Allen behind, I darted for the east gate.
Meanwhile, inside the duke’s residence.
“Ruby these days…”
Leviathan rested his chin on his hand, face grave.
“She’s definitely hiding something from me.”
Void struck a similar pose, nodding with equal seriousness.
“I agree. Even now—how does it make sense that Ruby’s missing from this meal?”
Next came Liam, every bit as serious.
“Did she get lost?”
“Ruby isn’t you, brother.”
While Void and Liam bickered, Rosetta polished a dinner knife with delicate care and smiled gently.
“Hm, and Khalid’s missing too? How many days has it been now?”
“….”
“….”
A dense silence filled the air.
As Leviathan moistened his lips, about to say something—bang! The dining room door exploded inward.
“Grandfather?”
“Uwaaah! What are you doing, Balok sir? I’m busy!”
“Out with it. The truth.”
Balok released Allen, whom he’d dragged in by the scruff of the neck.
“What’s our youngest hiding these days? You must know!”
“Eep.”
Princess, see? There’s no such thing as a perfect secret in this world.
“Alright! Alright! I’ll tell you what I know!”
He had already been afraid Khalid would devour Rubian whole (though, by now, it was much too late…), but loyal to Rubian as well, so he only intended to give them hints.
“Her Highness has been coming home late lately, right? And even though the Mage Tower has a flexible schedule and she doesn’t need to go in, she’s been reporting every single day.”
“That’s true.”
“Lord Void, how’s Khalid’s attendance in the knights these days?”
Khalid had been made a marquis, but he was bored alone at the marquisate, so he always went back to train with the Zevert knights.
“He volunteers every single day to do city patrols… Oh.”
Void seemed to realize something.
“There! You see? I’ve given you all the information!”
Just then, Hazel entered the dining room with the maids, bringing in the food. Allen’s cheeks flushed a little. He muttered under his breath.
“She said she’d explain everything soon. I suppose she wants to get formal approval.”
“Approval…?”
The spoon in Leviathan’s grip bent with a snap.
“Ah, I shouldn’t be like this with Khalid…”
He knew what that boy had done for his daughter.
Endure it, just endure it. It’s not like they’ve come to ask for formal permission yet.
Rosetta seemed to have similar thoughts as she quietly gathered the knife shavings.
“Oh, what! What’s going on, anyway?”
Balok pounded the table. Allen thumped his chest in frustration.
“Just—our youngest princess is hiding a boyfr…”
Allen stopped mid-sentence.
‘Ah!’
Finally, he realized how to talk like today’s youth!
Come to think of it, among Babylon’s youngsters, communicator devices were all the rage these days.
There were magic tools that could send not only video but short texts, though since there was a character limit, young people often abbreviated their speech.
“So, the youngest princess…”
He cleared his throat, glancing at Hazel. He’d seem witty and charming—that was his goal.
“The youngest princess is hiding a boyfriend!”
“….”
“So, how’s that? Hahahahahaha!”
Allen gave Hazel a huge grin. She raised her middle finger lightly. Eh?
Just then—
“Haaah… I tried to ignore it, but…”
The table started to shake as Leviathan’s massive frame slowly rose like a beast.
“Bury him.”
“Waaah!”
Here lies Allen.
“Wow! The breeze feels amazing!”
One summer day.
On the brilliantly sparkling southern sea.
I stood on a grand cruise ship with my family.
“I can’t believe a ship bigger than our expedition vessel can float. It’s amazing.”
“The magic device using buoyant stones is a huge success. It’s still a trial run, but I have high hopes!”
“It really is.”
Khalid tossed bread crumbs to shrieking gulls.
“Feels great.”
I giggled and looked around.
Grandfather reclined on a beach chair, wearing a shirt covered in flowers and palm trees. Mother had one cocktail—no, two, three, four… (and so on).
Void stood gazing at the boundless sky, for once lost in writing a sentimental diary. Liam, meanwhile… Where did he go? He did get on board, right?
Of course His Majesty the Emperor, and Licht, were present as well. Sortie and Olivia, too.
This was our graduation trip (except for Liam) and a cruise celebrating Licht’s appointment as crown prince.
“A cruise trip with the family—amazing!”
You did it, Rubian!
Self-made and self-sufficient, Rubian!
‘Good. If anywhere…’
I clenched my fists tightly.
‘I think it’s time to reveal my last secret.’
In any case, the cruise was scheduled to tour for thirty days—starting from Arcadia, moving through Eosia, and on through the Western Continent—so I couldn’t hide it any longer.
I cleared my throat.
Just then, Father dragged Liam in by the back of the neck and came down from the second floor.
“The sun’s about to set, everyone! The best sunset viewpoint is this way!”
A specially hired cruise staff member led the way.
I saved Khalid from having his hair yanked by a seagull and crept nervously to the front of my family and friends gathered on the deck.
As always, I held Khalid’s hand tight.
Cool mana gently flowed through me.
“What’s going on there?”
Grandfather straightened up, his face full of wariness.
“Everyone, I actually have something to say.”
Gulp—a swallow was audible even here.
Liam adjusted his glasses, eyeing Khalid; Void was already teary, no doubt plotting the many ways to kill Khalid.
Licht, smiling, was tearing his cotton doll to shreds. Terrifying.
‘Why? Seriously, why?’
Khalid and I were still a secret.
‘Everyone knows we’re holding hands for the mana, right?’
But why do they all look like they know everything?
Regardless, today I decided to reveal at least this one secret.
I continued.
“To be honest, I’ve been so nervous hiding this, but since we’ll be together in this locked room at sea for about a month, I realized I can’t hide it anymore…”
At that, Father swayed a little. Mother rushed to keep him upright.
‘Leviathan, hold it together. Be dignified.’
‘Ugh. I almost blacked out.’
Of course, I didn’t see them exchange these meaningful glances.
Then I released Khalid’s hand and threw my arms wide.
“…?”
“Tadaaa!”
Shoo—flash!
A blue magic circle bloomed across the sunset sky.
“I can once again—”
“Ruby!”
“—use magic!”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
As if to commemorate our trip, fireworks burst in showers of color!
“Ruby! Unbelievable! Your core is back to normal!”
Void immediately swept me up and spun me around.
“It’s been several days already, and hiding it nearly killed me!”
“Waaah! My precious little sprout!”
Grandfather howled and clapped along with Liam. Mother, slightly teary, pulled me from Void’s arms and squeezed me in the fiercest hug ever.
Father was last to approach, smiling as he tugged gently at both my cheeks.
“You managed to hide this from us all this time.”
“Secrets are most fun when finally revealed, you know.”
“Careful. You’ll be next in line for the punishment duck.”
“Uwahp.”
I quickly escaped the villain’s hands.
“So, you don’t hate me?”
“My adorable youngest is the best. Having a mage daughter is electrifying.”
“Ehehe.”
I hugged Father’s waist tightly, and he kissed the crown of my head.
At times like this I truly felt like a child again, a bit embarrassed with everyone watching—but honestly, these were my favorite moments of all.
No matter how old I got, I’d always be Mom and Dad’s little one!
Whooosh, pop! pop!
The sky, darkening now, was painted endlessly with dazzling lights.
“Fireworks are a must on a cruise! Khalid, recharge me!”
I held out my hand and Khalid grabbed it right away.
“I’m so happy!”
Bang! Bang!
Happiness explodes.
Endlessly, infinitely!
Even if the beginning was a bit unhappy, the final road I arrived at was filled with such happiness—and that was what mattered.
It had been hard, so hard.
There were times so uncertain and difficult that I couldn’t even cry as I wanted.
But because I didn’t give up, because I didn’t falter or stop running, now I was more fulfilled than ever before.
Full of joy and love, enough to return it to others!
I spun around.
“Everyone!”
So the words surging to the tip of my tongue—I’d share them with my family, right here and now.
Just then, a huge heart-shaped firework burst in the night sky, and spreading my arms, I grinned in the biggest heart I could make.
“I love you all!”
The End