Youngest 266
by Cristae266
The elders murmured—long sighs and thoughtful hums—as each fell into their own contemplation. It didn’t seem to be a matter that would be easily resolved.
Before long, their conversation drifted to magical formulas.
Rubian lightly explained the method for breaking the Mage’s Crest.
Of course, it wasn’t something that could be understood in a single hearing, so she promised to adapt the magic circle so that even ordinary mages could comprehend it.
“Oh… Ohhhh! As expected!”
The mages exclaimed with faces full of emotion. Applause broke out here and there.
Beyond that, Rubian shared various other magic circles as well.
“Ha, ha! Haaa! With this formula, even ordinary mages will be able to save ninety percent of their mana!”
“To be exact, it’s 92.2345%…”
“You are the greatest mage in the history of the Mage Kingdom! Thank you!”
At that, Ideline abruptly rose to her feet.
“The greatest mage? Why use such a complicated term when there’s an even simpler one?”
“Excuse me?”
Before Rubian could say anything, Ideline dropped to her knees and declared in a booming voice:
“Archmage!”
Ah, truly.
The other elders quickly followed suit.
“We greet the Archmage!”
Rubian, who at first seemed a little flustered, soon blushed and muttered,
“Wow. The pinnacle of a mage’s career.”
It seemed she quite liked the title. Behind her, Leviathan chuckled, saying it was far better than ‘Crest Master.’
Rubian shyly tapped her toes.
“Oh, you really don’t have to flatter me so much…”
“Our great sage!”
“Agh, this is really too much…”
“Archmage Rubian!”
“Oh, goodness. If you insist…”
She tried to steady her twitching lips, putting on as dignified an expression as possible.
Then she stroked an imaginary beard and intoned,
“Hem-hem.”
After the commotion subsided.
Leviathan and Rosetta left to see the elders out, and Licht lingered with Rubian for a while longer.
“The Emperor sent this?”
“Yes. He must have heard that you were unwell while away from home.”
“Wow.”
Rubian’s eyes widened as she looked at the huge gift box Licht handed over.
It was so large she couldn’t have wrapped her arms around it.
Inside were all sorts of the very finest medicines, herbs, potions, and even snacks Rubian liked.
“Wait—‘Your Dashing Palace Uncle’?”
She frowned, reading the bold words written on the label.
“Well, I think His Majesty figured it would be a hassle to send it under the Emperor of Babylon’s name right now.”
“So like His Majesty.”
Rubian giggled as she peered into the box. Licht stood quietly, just watching her.
Thump, thump.
Just seeing her smile so brightly made his heart feel like it would burst.
In truth, Licht had come to Arcadia with this very moment in mind—to help Rubian achieve complete revenge.
‘And to me, that meant seeing you rise to the pinnacle of this land.’
Yet Rubian had shown an answer beyond what he could have imagined.
And so, once again—
He found himself falling for her.
“Listen.”
“Hmm?”
I like you, Rubian.
“Is there anything you want for dinner? His Majesty sent a mountain of ingredients along with everything else.”
Honestly, seeing you today, I like you even more.
“I don’t know, not really… But what kind of prince is always offering to prepare someone else’s meal~”
From the moment I first saw you at the city’s shelter—
I was drawn along by your brilliance and followed you all the way here.
“Maybe so. But who cares, it’s for you.”
But Licht didn’t say any of the things vibrating inside him.
There is a right time for everything.
He knew—painfully—that now was not the time for him and Rubian.
He’d heard roughly about what Khalid and Rubian had gone through together. He would be lying if he said he didn’t feel overwhelmed, or if he claimed he wasn’t daunted.
But regardless of their history, the thing that mattered to him was the present.
And what he knew he could never win against, right now—
“Hmm? Why is it so noisy outside? Did Khalid just come back after smashing up some dark beasts?”
—was Rubian’s heart, which belonged to Khalid.
“Seems so. I’ll tell Sir Khalid to come straight to you if I see him on my way out.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Still, what he was best at was waiting.
From childhood to now, step by step, he had hidden his feelings, held himself back, and bided his time. It had finally paid off.
So this time too, he decided to trust that someday, his moment would come.
For now, he would say nothing more.
Just like this, staying by Rubian’s side.
“I guess I won’t be seeing you often in the imperial archives anymore, Lady.”
He said playfully, and Rubian burst into a lovely giggle.
“You think dusty old tomes are all I have to research, Your Highness?”
“In that case, as always, I’ll provide you with a prince’s all-access pass to anywhere you like.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will.”
They exchanged their usual playful banter as they walked across the drawing room.
At the doorway, Licht said,
“Get some good rest. I really should get back to the Empire through the portal. My father messaged me to prepare for the Crown Prince’s investiture. That’s actually why I came today.”
“Wow!”
Rubian clapped with genuine joy.
“I’ll make sure to arrive before the ceremony! But I have to stay here to recover my mana, so I can’t go back with you yet.”
“I know.”
Smiling calmly, Licht summoned a rare surge of boldness and pulled Rubian into a hug.
“I’ll wait for you—always.”
He couldn’t embrace her tightly, could only pat her shoulder. Truthfully, even that made his fingers tremble.
“…? I won’t be long. I’ll be back soon.”
“Haha. I know. See you in the Empire, then.”
With that, Licht finished his farewell and left the drawing room.
Stifling his sense of regret, he turned to go, when in the distance, he saw Khalid running toward Rubian.
Meeting Khalid’s gaze, Licht gave him an even brighter smile.
“Tough luck, Sir Khalid.”
“What now.”
“Rubian was incredible just now, in front of all the elders. Too bad you weren’t there to see it.”
Khalid cocked his chin slightly.
His face, as always, was expressionless, but Licht took pleasure in the vein that pulsed ever so slightly at his brow.
“Never let your guard down, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Hah.”
Licht drew in close, wearing a rare mischievous look, and threatened,
“Just try being even a little careless as a footstool.”
“What?”
“If you do, I’ll have you executed for countless counts of lèse-majesté and lay myself at her feet instead.”
“…”
The prince turned away with a smile.
He seemed about to stride away, but suddenly wheeled back with the world’s most dazzling smile.
“Did you know? I hate you. Since the very beginning, actually.”
Rubian has liked you from the start.
It’s been so obvious anyone could tell, just watching her look at you.
‘Dull as a stone—not that you’ve noticed a thing.’
Maybe that’s why I always thought I might have a chance myself.
“So, why not just live alone for life, Sir Khalid?”
Licht tossed out his curse breezily and walked away with a lightened heart.
A few days later.
It was finally the day before our return.
Rosetta was alone in her bedroom packing. She didn’t have much of her own to bring, but there were so many gifts for Rubian to organize that she had plenty to do.
“Give it here.”
Suddenly, someone appeared and snatched the bundle from her hands.
Only one person would act like that.
Rosetta quietly watched her husband’s broad back, then hugged him from behind. The man’s body, tense at first, soon rumbled with a low vibration.
“Lucky me. To get such a luxury just for helping pack.”
Rosetta pressed her face against his firm, muscular back.
“Leviathan…”
“Mm.”
“If you die before I do, I’ll kill you.”
“That’s terrifying.”
Leviathan gently turned and stroked Rosetta’s face. She looked pale as a sheet.
It was something she hadn’t dared show in front of the children.
“That past…”
“…”
“It was truly horrifying.”
Leviathan knew all too well what “that past” meant.
The memories from before the regression, forced upon him by the Dragon God’s power—the story of the “hidden time.”
In that life, Leviathan had taken his own life, and Rosetta had clung to her dead husband’s body, wailing.
“All of that time is gone now, Rosetta.”
So now, we’re all right—Leviathan folded her, trembling, into his arms and soothed her.