Youngest 097

Episode 97

“Thank you for all your hard work, everyone.”

The grand hall sparkled brilliantly.

The awards ceremony began with an address from His Majesty the Emperor. Of course… we first had to sit through a very lengthy closing statement.

The children who participated in the competition had gathered in small clusters in front of the stage.

All the adults, resplendently dressed, looked on from behind with proud smiles.

I stood in the very front row, a little tense. On either side of me were my brothers and Khalid.

“Ruby, your face has turned white—like a loaf of white bread.”

“Please don’t talk to me right now. I feel like I’m going to be sick…”

“Ew. Better steer clear, then.”

Void smirked and teased me spitefully.

“Well, it’s time to announce the results of the competition, isn’t it? Principal Odely.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Emperor’s words, a stern-looking middle-aged woman, who had been standing a little to the side, stepped forward.

Apparently, she was the head judge of this year’s competition.

The pince-nez glasses Principal Odely wore caught the chandelier’s light, gleaming as they reflected it. Her sharp eyes swept over me from atop the stage.

More precisely, they scrutinized the gold badges pinned to my chest and the handful of star sticker cards I held.

At last, a gentle smile crossed her face.

“It’s clear even without saying who the winner of this year’s competition is.”

As expected. Wow. There was a small stir among the children. My heart pounded so hard from the glances I received, it threatened to leap right up my throat.

Even so, I squared my shoulders proudly.

Pinned to my chest were four sparkling gold badges. And I had a staggering fifty-five star stickers!

“Little fairy, you can have mine.”

“Ruby, lend me the hero card for an hour a day, please…”

Thanks to my brothers, and even Void except for Khalid, handing over everything they’d won to me.

Each of them had earned one gold badge. As for the star stickers: I had eleven, Khalid thirty, Liam fourteen, and Void had none.

“A total score of 675 points! Lady Rubian Zevert, you are the overall winner of this year’s Festival of New Leaves!”

“Waaaah!”

Thunderous applause filled the hall.

Of course, my family’s applause was loudest—topped off by Grandfather’s booming roar.

“Oh, but it’s not quite the highest score. The competition record for the Festival of New Leaves is 680 points.”

Someone whispered with a hint of regret, but I didn’t mind at all.

A win is a win, after all!

But just then—

“Ah, just a moment.”

Someone’s hand shot up.

“The Fourth Prince?”

It was Licht’s hand, raised from a spot not far from me.

“Is there an objection?”

“No, no objections… I just forgot something.”

Licht, who had been standing quietly, walked toward me. In one hand, he held a shiny star sticker card.

“The last match was amazing.”

He wore a relieved expression, as if he’d had a worthy showdown with a lifelong rival.

Then, he offered me the card.

“Gasp, His Highness the Prince!”

A murmur rose around us.

“Would you accept it? There aren’t many, so it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“…Really?”

“Mm. Really.”

“Wow! Thank you, Licht!”

As I grabbed it quickly, Licht flashed me a broad grin.

“What is this? Too close—back off.”

Khalid and my brothers shot him sharp looks of warning, but Licht stood firm at my side. Incredulous, I counted the star stickers again.

That made sixty star stickers.

Which brought my score up to 700!

“The highest Festival score yet!”

Principal Odely shouted in amazement.

“It’s the highest score ever in Babylon’s Festival of New Leaves!”

Exclamations of awe echoed around us.

A little embarrassed, I tried to hide my face behind the card, but the excited chatter wouldn’t stop.

“Heavens! She’s the youngest-ever winner, and she’s broken the record too!”

“A true display of Northland tactics befitting a power-holder.”

“How did she even win over both young lords?”

“I think Licht is even more surprising.”

“The one in the knight’s uniform is so handsome…”

Fweee! Bang! Bang!

Indoor fireworks went off enthusiastically, sending colorful, dazzling confetti fluttering gently from above.

Wow!

I turned to see Asha beaming as she flaunted her magic.

“Rubian!”

“Booger! That’s my booger!”

“Our baby… damn it! I think I might cry… Sniffle…”

“She’s my daughter. Did you see that?”

My family and the older knights created a cheerful commotion. Following the guide’s lead, I boldly climbed up onto the stage.

His Majesty, who watched with a gentle face, smiled at me. Draped in a crimson cloak and dressed impeccably, the Emperor looked splendid—his age inconsequential amid his dignity.

“Congratulations, Lady.”

“Thank you…!”

“Come here.”

“Ah, yes.”

My arms and legs moved stiffly all at once.

I felt a bit overwhelmed by so many gazes on me.

I turned my eyes shyly to the side and met Father’s warm gaze. Soft, glowing confetti showered down across the hall.

Anxiety and nervousness melted away in an instant.

“The first prize. Here you go.”

“Wow.”

I beamed as I accepted the Emperor’s herb and hero card.

At last!

I gripped the herb tightly.

‘Finally, I have a clue!’

My heart pounded harder than ever.

‘And… I did it!’

Pride welled up inside me, filling my whole body.

Buoyed by the support of my beloved family, I achieved something through my own strength. I was truly, truly proud of myself.

Radiant, smiling faces filled my eyes—Father, Mother, Grandfather, my brothers, all waving at me in happiness.

Standing beside me, His Majesty gently patted my head. When I looked up at him, he winked with warm eyes.

“You’ll be the pride of Zevert, Lady.”

I smiled joyfully.

“Yes, sir!”

That, to me, was the true prize of winning!

---

Afterwards, the real noble party began in earnest.

The nobles, without exception, looked on with the predatory gleam of hungry hyenas, their attention focused mostly on the elders of House Zevert—notably my father and grandfather.

Especially Father…

Mother aside, Father was truly a rare creature at events like these, almost never seen at parties.

Elegant black hair, slicked back and immaculate; his dress uniform glittered with imperial medals. Even from a distance, the aura he gave off was unmistakable—the true centerpiece of the night.

With his stern, cold eyes beneath strong brows and a chilly air swirling around him, no one dared approach easily… yet the crowd around him swelled with people desperate to speak with him, no matter what it took.

‘Wow. The world of adults is something else.’

With the children’s award ceremony over, it was now truly the adults’ time.

Everywhere, smiling faces masked yet another attack, sly attempts at control—a true scene of political and social intrigue…

“Now, young ladies and gentlemen, please this way. A separate banquet has been prepared for you.”

Of course, none of this concerned me!

“Let’s go!”

A palace attendant gathered the children and guided us to a different hall. Out of consideration from His Majesty, there was to be a separate party for the children.

“Dad! Is it alright if I go?”

“…Of course.”

Father’s weary eyes seemed to say “I wish I could go too,” but surely not…

As I moved away, hand in hand with my brothers, Father called out from behind.

“Khalid, go with them.”

So Khalid, who had attended the party as a contestant, silently fell in behind me.

‘Wow. Asha really worked hard.’

I looked around at the children’s party venue, festooned with charming decorations.

It might not look like much, but all of it was magical equipment.

‘No wonder she’d call for SOS.’

A wall decoration giving off a sweet scent, lamps scattering colorful confetti…

Because of all that, there was a faint sense of magic in the very air.

“Lady Zevert! Hello!”

As soon as I entered the hall, a group of children hurried over.

“Lady, you were amazing! Congratulations on winning!”

“Um… thank you.”

I answered awkwardly. No matter how much I tried to get used to it, attention from unfamiliar children still felt strange and uncomfortable.

‘Titi… and Olivia… of course they aren’t here.’

I clicked my tongue regretfully.

“But, Lady, why are you wearing that cloth over your face?”

With friendly, curious eyes, the children asked.

Hesitant but polite, I replied.

“I’ve caught a cold. Cough. If I cough, it might spray everywhere, you know.”

“Oh, my… how considerate.”

“You must have been very frightened during the kidnapping. I heard Lady Camelran is still unwell.”

“Yes, it was scary… I sent Lady Camelran a letter, but she said she’s all better now. She’s sorry she couldn’t come…”

“Oh, dear.”

Before I realized it, children had clustered around me in a circle, much as they had around Father earlier…

But where had my brothers and Khalid gone?

“Lady.”

Just then, a maid approached.