Youngest 205
by CristaeEpisode 205
Khalid was perched atop his horse.
A long procession was leaving the ducal residence, heading toward the imperial palace.
People who recognized the crest on the carriage each paid their respects, bowing their heads or prostrating themselves on the ground. Some betrayed their curiosity about the princess presumed to be riding inside.
Kal stayed alert, sharpening his senses as he guarded the surroundings, wary of any potential threat.
“Ugh, it’s getting chilly.”
A senior knight beside him muttered briefly, almost to himself. Kal, as if stifled, pulled at his collar.
‘Chilly? I’m dying of heat in here.’
His face was still burning.
‘Ruby…’
Just a moment ago.
The image of Rubian descending the second-floor staircase of the duke’s manor lingered vividly in his mind.
With a slightly flushed face, she leaned close and whispered to him.
He exaggerated to himself that he’d almost needed to close himself up in a coffin right then and there.
“Hey. You know, this really is a potion, right? Dad and I tried mixing it with a tiny bit of other things, but it didn’t mix.”
He hadn’t understood a word.
She’s just so beautiful.
Nothing else occurred to him.
Her blue dress flowed like water. Half her exquisite silver hair was elegantly pinned up, the rest cascading down, and her skin gleamed with an unnatural smoothness. The sapphire eyes that looked up at him with gentle innocence nearly made him lose himself completely.
‘Was that dress always so beautiful?’
Khalid rubbed his cheek with his fist while holding the reins.
He’d seen the dress Rubian would wear for her coming-of-age ceremony several times; it had been prepared long ago.
He’d never felt much about it.
He’d only thought, “Well, it’s fancier than her usual clothes.”
But today, seeing Rubian wear it…
‘A masterpiece.’
He didn’t know who the designer was, but surely they’d created an unmatched magnum opus in their entire career.
It was the very definition of perfection.
Kal surreptitiously glanced back at the ornate carriage behind him. Through its large window, Rubian’s round silver crown appeared now and then before vanishing from sight.
‘Her coming-of-age ceremony… I wish it weren’t happening.’
Kal knew very well.
What was beautiful or pleasing in his eyes would look so to others, too.
In that sense, today was dangerous. Every sort of mud-dwelling magical beast in the capital would be gathering here.
‘How many confession letters did she get again?’
The thought made his stomach clench.
Rubian was vulnerable to heartfelt words.
What if, among the many letters, one managed to touch her heart…?
‘I’m miserable.’
With a vague sense of gloom, Khalid nudged his horse forward.
Just then, glancing back at the carriage, his eyes met Rubian’s as she peeked out. She smiled, her eyes crinkling gently.
[ Look ahead! ]
Rarely, Rubian opened their private channel to whisper to him.
“……”
Kal turned his head slowly and fiddled with his lips.
[ What’s that? Ignoring me again? Hey! Yoo-hoo! ]
If I answer, she’ll just stop talking anyway.
He thought to himself.
Still, this voice is mine.
Whatever gloom he’d felt disappeared in an instant, lifting his mood.
“Hmm, it doesn’t mix.”
The potion did not combine.
It was the expected outcome, so she wasn’t much surprised.
“Are you satisfied now? Go fix your hair. You look a bit scary right now.”
“Raaawr!”
Her father clicked his tongue, saying she didn’t need to take her hair down entirely just to pluck a strand for her experiment.
‘Still, it feels good to have checked for myself!’
It was partly for the fun of it, too.
‘…But why did Sevelleyna send that letter?’
I gazed out the window, puzzled. The carriage glided gently through the palace gates toward the ballroom.
In fact, before departure, I had received a letter—one that looked as if it had been scrawled in great haste.
< Princess, this is Sevel. Don’t use the potion yet. >
Whether she was still clumsy with the imperial tongue or simply rushed, she’d even misspelled her own name and generally made a mess of it.
Was there some kind of misunderstanding?
‘There was no problem, though.’
In any case, since I hadn’t used it on a mage as originally planned, I thought little of it.
I would meet Sevelleyna at the ball anyway. The truth would come out then.
“We’re finally here!”
The carriage stopped and the door opened. Khalid took my hand to escort me.
The adults were summoned to His Majesty as soon as we arrived, so I set off for the ballroom with Khalid and a few guards.
“But Ruby, did you have a nightmare last night?”
I flinched.
“Are there dark circles under my eyes? There can’t be.”
“No, it’s just a feeling.”
‘That psychic…’
I glared at Khalid, biting my lower lip.
‘But why did he dress up so much?’
Is this his own coming-of-age ceremony? Even his hair is perfectly styled—did he really need to look this good?
Of course, I swallowed those words and answered calmly.
“I was nervous about dancing, so I had uneasy dreams.”
The word “dream” brought back Khalid’s harsh, metallic voice.
“A rotting corpse stinks like a dog.”
‘A wild animal like you appeared. Looked absolutely vicious.’
Indeed, Part 2 male lead Kal was as much a formidable adult as ever.
Of course, I couldn’t say that.
“Hey. Do you really say things ‘stink like a dog’?”
At this, Khalid frowned.
“Why would I say that? That’s so crude.”
“Right. As I thought.”
“There are much more refined, infuriating insults in the world…”
“I get it. You’re the better man.”
Shaking my head, I strode ahead. Then, Khalid overtook me and stopped.
“What now?”
“You’re not running a fever, are you? Your face is a bit pale. Another nosebleed or something?”
“No fever. Perfectly normal…”
I paused, about to touch my forehead.
“Let me check.”
A hand reached out from ahead and gently cupped my brow.
“You’re warm.”
Suddenly my face flushed. As if to cool me, a faint flow of magic seeped in, pleasantly.
“Uh… th-that’s, body… body te…”
One corner of his mouth quirked up, indifferent.
“It’s just your normal body temperature.”
“……”
“I know.”
Kal glanced around, then whispered low in my ear.
“You seemed on edge. I said it so I’d have an excuse to give you some magic. Sounded natural, didn’t it?”
His low baritone swirled in my ear.
“There’s no way I wouldn’t know your body temperature.”
My mind spun, dazed. Kal’s scent was overwhelming.
‘A-as expected, I—’
“Ruby! Aren’t you coming?”
Then, from far ahead, Void and Liam turned and called out.
“Uh, coming!”
I grabbed my dress and ran over. Kal glanced at me, puzzled, then rejoined the other guards.
“Fairy. Why is your face so red?”
“BODY TEMPERATURE! Body temp! Body temp!”
“Are you saying it’s an emergency?”
Hearing Liam’s bewildered voice, I clapped both hands over my mouth.
‘Of course it’s him, for me…!’
“Rube! Wait for me! You can’t run like that in your dress!”
I don’t care! What am I going to do with myself!
The birthday ball was utterly delightful.
It was a grand occasion, but since invitations had not been handed out indiscriminately, no complete strangers among the nobility attended.
Even so, there were plenty of people.
I cut an enormous five-tier cake and received an overwhelming number of congratulations.
I got to meet my old academy friend Sortie, and saw Jerdin and Olivia too, laughing together in a flurry. I was happy!
Delicious food appeared without end. Upbeat music filled the air, and now and then Asha set off special fireworks she’d made, shooting excitement to new heights.
“My lady, happy eighteenth birthday.”
As the festivities reached their peak,
His Majesty the Emperor approached me.
Watching him, I bowed deeply after a moment’s hesitation.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m happy you’re here!”
‘About that letter I sent at dawn…’
Would the Emperor bring it up?
His eyes grew gently affectionate.
“So, you’re finally an adult. I remember when you were just a little peanut.”
He gestured around his waist.
“I wasn’t that small…”
“Oh, right. You were more like a booger? Of course.”
Ugh.
I shot a sideways glare at Grandfather. He was enjoying some pale rose wine, and pretended not to notice.
The Emperor whispered to me quietly.
“Anyway, we have unfinished business, don’t we? Let’s talk after the party. I need to give a congratulatory speech now.”
I froze. All was well—except for that last sentence, like a bolt from the blue.
“A… speech?”
“Yes. We prepared a special address for the occasion. Why?”
“Oh… no. I’m honored! His Majesty’s speech! Oh! Wow!”
Wait a second.
Was this coordinated with the organizers?
This time I shot a sharp look toward Father, who was thoroughly engrossed in Mother and paid me no heed.
In the end, I glanced over to a table nearby and whispered to Hazel.
“Hazel, can you get me fifteen seat cushions?”
Just how long would the speech be today?
“Shall I draw an eye on your eyelids for you?”
“Ugh. I should have brought the artist mister.”
“Unfortunate, truly.”
“Don’t worry. Today I’ll try to stop him.”
Just then, a low chuckle sounded from beside us.
A tall man approached with a gentle smile.
The Fourth Prince. From around us, I heard sharp inhales. He was stunning—his looks drew equal admiration from men and women alike.
“It’s your special day. I can’t let my father’s speech waste your time.”
“Licht…!”
“…What’s wrong?”
“I almost addressed you informally just out of habit.”
With a smile lingering on his lips, Licht leaned in a bit.
“I already did, Princess. What will we do about it?”
Then, as if natural, he took my hand and brushed a kiss over the back.
“My apologies for the rudeness.”
At that moment, a small commotion broke out in the distance. Clatter! Thud!
Calm down! Lord Void, please!
Ru-u-ube! Olivia, I can’t—can’t breathe…!
‘An assassination…?’
No, surely not?