Youngest 071

Episode 71
Ch. 8

When Leviathan stepped out of the cave with Rubian in his arms, a crowd had already gathered.

Of them all, the knights bearing the Zevert crest were by far the most agitated.

“Your Grace, what about Rubian…?”

Leon, so unlike his usual self, strode forward with a tense expression.

He had stepped back, perhaps out of concern for Rubian, but his gaze as he checked on the child was sharper than anyone’s.

“Shh.”

Leviathan quietly shook his head. He then took a dry cloak from another lieutenant and gently draped it over the child.

“Is she asleep?”

Rubian, clutched in his arms, trembled intermittently.

It didn’t seem she was asleep…

It looked more as though she had simply exhausted her strength.

“She needs to rest right away,” he said.

He pulled the heavy cloak over Rubian’s head. From the overcast sky, a drizzling misty rain continued to fall.

Understanding, Leon nodded and stepped back.

“Lady Rosetta has bound all the culprits. Though, since they were all hanging upside down from trees, it’s hardly worth calling it a binding…”

How did she manage with seven grown men?

Leviathan instinctively picked up murmurs from the crowd.

The prince and the other young ladies had awakened in the cave; Rubian and the bob-haired girl seemed to have come to their senses even earlier… The crowd whispered and buzzed.

He turned his head slightly.

He met the eyes of a young woman who had been glancing his way for some time.

“Was it you?”

“Pardon?”

“You look to be a Babylon outpost mage.”

At that, Rubian stirred in his arms. His large hand soothingly stroked the small, delicate back.

“Ah, yes. My name is Asha…”

“I see. Asha.”

His dispassionate eyes fixed on the mage.

“Thank you for protecting Rubian.”

Asha’s eyes widened in surprise at the courteous words.

Didn’t the Duke of Zevert dislike mages? She hadn’t expected such a straightforward thank you…

Then her gaze dropped to the limp Rubian. She didn’t know the full story, but Asha could more or less grasp the situation.

“Well… I don’t think I deserve all that praise. But, sure.”

“Leviathan.”

Just then, with hurried footsteps, a pink-haired woman appeared from the distance. Leviathan hastened to his wife.

“Sir Oberon has taken away the culprits. Let’s head down, too.”

Looking at the drenched Rosetta, Leviathan breathed a complicated sigh.

“…We should hurry. You don’t look well.”

“My goodness. Do you see anyone here who looks well?”

Truth be told, Leviathan looked the most ashen of anyone there. Rosetta held back from pointing that out.

“More importantly, Rubian…”

The child, wrapped tight in a black cloak, clung stubbornly to Leviathan, her face buried in his neck.

“…It’s better to talk later.”

The scattered rain had completely stopped.

Leviathan took the reins. At that moment, he sensed a group approaching.

“Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“I am Lutus, a knight of the Royal Palace’s First Guard.”

They were the prince’s escort knights, who had arrived late.

A clear sneer flickered across Leviathan’s face.

“You call yourselves royal knights? What a joke.”

The knights, having shown their respects with brief bows, fixed their eyes on the child in the duke’s arms. Tendons stood taut on Leviathan’s hand.

“We would like to ask a few questions to those involved in the incident. May we speak briefly with that child?”

“Sir Lutus, enough.”

It was Leon who spoke. The two had met previously in the capital.

Though not known for emotional displays, Leon’s clear displeasure caught Lutus off guard, causing the latter to raise his brows, though his cool expression never wavered.

“My apologies, but it is procedure. That child was the only one conscious during the abduction.”

“There’s an outpost mage, isn’t there?”

Leon blocked him once more.

“He’s also a suspect in another attempted abduction. You know that testimony from a suspect can’t be trusted.”

Lutus answered Leon coldly.

“That is why, Your Grace, please let us speak to the child for a moment—”

“Child.”

Leviathan, silent until now, spoke in a low voice. Lutus found himself instinctively taking a step back.

“Pardon?”

“That child?”

Though Leviathan had only stepped forward, a formidable pressure filled the space. A dark, menacing shadow seemed to fall over Lutus.

“Y-your Grace, wh-why are you acting this way…? I am merely explaining official procedure.”

“Since when do common knights give me advice?”

By now, Count Camelan and the eyes of those around were all drawn to them.

“And to dare, even to the Zevert heiress.”

“…Pardon?”

All expressions, Lutus’s included, froze with shock.

“H-heiress…?”

At that moment—

A sharp gust of wind sliced past Lutus’s ear.

Thud. A massive, chilling greatsword struck the tree just behind Lutus.

“Argh!”

Lutus collapsed on the spot.

My ear, my ear!

“Phew, missed by a mile.”

“D-did you just throw a sword at me?! Lord Duke!”

The beast on horseback grinned and shook his head.

“Nope. My hand slipped.”

Anyone could tell it was a lie, but none dared to point it out.

Balok nimbly jumped from his horse and yanked his sword free.

“So? And what’s this sack of shit, then?”

The old man, looming like a mountain, asked with lowered eyes.

Lutus felt increasingly aggrieved.

“I was only investigating… I’m just talking about official procedure.”

It wasn’t as if he was about to do anything drastic. He just wanted to ask what had happened…

Was this level of overprotection necessary?

“Since you’re here, you can handle the cleanup.”

Leviathan spoke as he took the reins again.

“Hmm.”

Balok’s gaze locked on the small bundle in Leviathan’s arms.

Watching over Rubian with worried eyes, Balok only relaxed after confirming the child’s safety.

Cracking his neck, he looked around and spoke in a sinister tone.

“Very well, off with you. I’ll take care of these bastards myself.”

“That would be a problem…!”

“Sir Lutus!”

Just then, Licht, who had been talking to Count Olson, came running over.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“H-Highness…”

“Do you know in whose presence you’re behaving so?”

With drenched hair swept back, the prince fixed Lutus with an icy glare. Seeing the face so identical to the Emperor’s, Lutus had no choice but to fall silent.

With a deep sigh, Licht looked back at Leviathan.

“I apologize for the disrespect, Your Grace. Please, go ahead. I’ll take care of the palace knights.”

Leviathan paid them no further attention.

His horse rose up and charged ahead.

Rosetta, Leon, and the Zevert knights surrounded the child like a shield.

“…”

Following behind, Khalid glanced back. His eyes met Licht’s, but only for a fleeting instant.

Aagh! Augh! Out of nowhere, a swarm of rats! Get away!

The knights’ shouts echoed behind them.

At the brief commotion, Rubian cautiously tried to lift her head.

Leviathan pressed her head gently with his large hand, as if to reassure her.

“Keep your eyes closed.”

Then, the child who had been silent all along quietly turned her head and gazed at his profile.

Staring straight ahead, Leviathan spoke with resolve.

“It’s all over.”

“…”

“So there’s nothing to worry about now.”

With a sound that was either a reply or a sigh, the child nestled her head against him once more.