The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 119

“They say it’s from the Fourth Prince?”

 

“Oh?”

 

Come to think of it, I had asked if I could write a letter. 

 

I reached out to pick up the letter, but stopped.

 

“No, but…”

 

Why is it so fancy?! 

 

The gold foil was just the beginning; as soon as I opened the envelope, a pleasant fragrance wafted out. When I unfolded the slightly creased paper, it was a celebration of all kinds of floral scents… 

 

It was truly spring.

 

Hello, Rubian. It’s Richt. 

 

How are you?

 

The letter paper feels so shabby that I’m embarrassed. 

 

What’s going on? Is there something wrong with my comprehension of the Imperial language? 

 

It seems that the standards of royalty are indeed a bit different. 

 

The academy semester is about to start here. I’ve moved up to the middle school division, but I’m not sure if I’ll register for the fall semester yet. My father always hopes that I’ll take classes at the royal palace. 

 

So, I wanted to ask… Rubian, are you planning to come to the autumn camp?

 

This is an important matter regarding my registration for the next semester, so I hope you’ll respond.

 

Whatever it is, I want to meet you soon.

 

Actually, I’m a little worried that you’ll forget me.

 

– Richt (12 years old, blonde, met in the capital and Ipson.)

 

The last line, written with unusual pressure, caught my attention. I tilted my head in curiosity. 

 

“Why forget? He’s about to become the Crown Prince.”

 

Aren’t you underestimating yourself too much…

 

Besides, I’ve never forgotten the original story even once. 

 

After thinking for a while, I opened the drawer and pulled out a piece of paper.

 

Hi, Richt! 

 

Thanks for letting me know.

 

I’m not sure about the autumn camp. 

 

Then…Fighting!

 

– Rubian

 

1. I’ve never forgotten you for a single moment. I probably won’t in the future either…

 

“Is it a little short?” 

 

I tilted my chin with the pen’s tip resting in my mouth.  

 

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time having a pen pal.’

 

But I can’t think of anything else to say.

 

“I guess it’s clear that I have no talent for writing…”

 

As I pondered whether I should write a diary regularly like Voyd, I placed the letter into the envelope. 

 

After calling Hazel and asking her to send it, I finished drinking the milk.

 

Then, the door slowly opened again.

 

“Daughter, what are you doing?”

 

My face brightened up all of a sudden.

 

This voice!

 

“Mom…!”

 

But I couldn’t finish the words. 

 

“Who are you?”

 

The pink hair was nowhere to be found, and instead there was a woman with black hair…

 

“What do you mean by who are you? It’s too much!” 

 

Mom playfully laughed as she squished my cheeks like dough.

 

“Mom’s cotton candy hair is gone…”

 

“How is it? Is it not good?” 

 

I shook my head.

 

Mom, who had half of her hair elegantly tied up, looked a little unfamiliar, but she was so beautiful! She felt completely different from the cotton candy mom!

 

“You really look like Dad. You’re pretty!” 

 

“Hahaha. As expected from our daughter.”

 

“Are you going to play hide and seek again?”

 

“No, it’s not that. Just a change of pace!” 

 

“Oh…”

 

However, Mom had a track record, so I couldn’t say I fully trusted her. 

 

Since Dad isn’t here… is Mom feeling the urge to cause some trouble too?

 

I decided to keep a watchful and sharp-eyed gaze on Mom. 

 

“What do you think? Shall we go out and play together?” 

 

“Wow, let’s go play!”

 

If I’m going to keep an eye on her, I need to stay close! 

 

I’m definitely not excited! 

 

“By the way, Rubian, I’ve heard you’ve been visiting the magic stone shop often lately?” 

 

As my mom dressed me in my outing clothes, she asked.

 

I wore a yellow dress with a large collar and covered my hair with a white bonnet that had a brim. 

 

“Yess. I’m bored…”

 

“Oh my. What about Carl? You haven’t played with him lately?” 

 

“….”

 

My lower lip popped out as soon as I heard the word ‘Carl.’ 

 

“You’ve become a yellow duck.”

 

“Carl is…”

 

Mom pressed my cheek. 

 

In Mom’s blue eyes, I reflected the face of someone clearly sulking. 

 

< I’ll be back. >

 

At dawn, when all the watchtower bells had been installed. 

 

He left without a word, leaving behind just a single note. 

 

‘Tsk. If he writes as long as Richt, will it be too much?’ 

 

Does he really have nothing to say? 

 

No, you could have just said hello and left without any fuss! 

 

For some reason, I felt a mix of frustration, disappointment, and resentment. 

 

I pouted my lips resentfully.

 

“He abandoned me and left! Coldly! Indifferently! So heartlessly!” 

 

“Oh my.” 

 

When he comes back, I won’t even speak to him! 

 

‘Of course, it’s always been like that…’ 

 

He had that side.

 

He would act like we’re the closest of friends on the surface, but when it’s really important, he’d draw a clear line. 

 

It’s strange.

 

I knew it.

 

“Mom! I’m going to eat 15 cotton candies today! I also want to drink 30 strawberry sodas! I’m going to go wild!” 

 

“Oh my. Our wild daughter is certainly charming, but that won’t do.” 

 

His indifference has been so disappointing lately! 

 

* * * 

 

Carl was standing at the edge of the cliff. 

 

The desolate, cracked land filled his vision. The boy stared at the dry land with an expressionless face and turned his head. 

 

“What’s this? I thought you looked a bit better since Zibert, but you’re the same as always?” 

 

The mercenary Allen casually tapped Carl on the shoulder. Carl brushed off the spot where Allen’s hand had touched and continued walking. 

 

“Oh, that brat.” 

 

Carl was wearing the same old cloak he had when he came to the North. With the sword in one hand, he looked like a wandering mercenary. 

 

‘Is there some kind of territoriality going on?’

 

Well, considering how arrogant and prickly he is, he might be getting bullied. 

 

Allen chuckled and followed behind the boy. 

 

“Hey, just come back to the mercenary group. It suits you no matter how I look at it.”

 

“Did you understand what I just said?” 

 

“Phew. What’s the point of saying it? I get it, but it’s not something simple. Even your so-called smart princess doesn’t know about it.”  

 

A cold wind blew.

 

At the northeastern edge of the continent, the season here was always a chilly winter. 

 

Allen grumbled, buttoning up his collar. 

 

“Why are you entrusting something like the wizard mark to a commoner like me…”

 

The way to erase the mark that Rubian had mentioned. 

 

He mentioned looking for similar examples, but honestly, he didn’t have high expectations. 

 

‘I have no choice but to find out myself.’

 

To be honest, even if Allen found out something that Rubian didn’t know, it would still feel unpleasant in its own way.

 

At that moment, Allen suddenly widened his eyes and asked. 

 

“But… How’s our princess doing?”

 

Our…?

 

Calid’s eyebrow raised slightly. 

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.” 

 

“Which part of what I said sounded disrespectful? Hey, I was 100% threatened, but I’m still one of the people who protects the princess from behind? Huh? So, come on, don’t you think I deserve to meet her at least once?” 

 

Carl laughed coldly.

 

“You’ll never see her in your life, so don’t even think about it. Don’t mention her. Actually, just.”

 

“….”

 

“Don’t open your mouth.”

 

“Ugh, you little… Fine, then don’t ask me any questions either!” 

 

In their childish argument, Calid turned his back and started walking away. 

 

The sharply rising rocky mountain had very rugged terrain. 

 

They chose the most difficult path among them. There was no particular reason for it; it was simply the shortest route to the summit. 

 

Carl thought as he walked. 

 

‘Did she see the note?’

 

Since he said he was leaving, she probably read it and brushed it off as insignificant. 

 

Anyway, Rubian is always busy, and there were always people around her, so it would soon go back to normal… 

 

“….”

 

He felt a little depressed for some reason. 

 

He left a note, gritted his teeth to avoid getting reluctant to leave when he saw her face. The thing is, Rubian won’t care whether he’s there or not… 

 

“H, heuk. Hey. Wait for me…” 

 

Allen followed behind, panting as he struggled to keep up. 

 

“…You’re getting more and more pathetic.” 

 

“What! You think I’m pathetic?! Why on earth!” 

 

Carl started walking again with an indifferent expression. He heard a voice cursing loudly, but he lightly ignored it.

 

The cave hadn’t changed at all.

 

Somewhere along the sheer cliff just below the desolate mountain peak. 

 

“Wow, what is it? Here.” 

 

Allen frowned and shivered, as the chill in this place was particularly intense.

 

“…A prison? What are these bars?” 

 

Rattling rattling.

 

Inside the cave, a short distance in, thick and sturdy bars were tightly installed from the floor to the ceiling. 

 

Carl opened the door and went into the prison. 

 

It was the first time he had come back since leaving here with Rubian.

 

“Hey, hey. Where are you going? It’s too dark there… I’m getting goosebumps. What if a monster comes out? You’re going to protect me, right?”

 

“Be quiet.”

 

The resonating sound was making him dizzy.

 

Carl lightly channeled his magic. It was basic magic he had learned from Rubian… A blue light burst forth and attached itself to the wall. 

 

The room became a little brighter.

 

“Oh…”

 

Only then did Allen look somewhat relieved.

 

Carl slowly scanned the cave.

 

‘Nothing particularly… stands out.’

 

Srrrnk.

 

At that moment, an old shackle brushed against the tip of his foot.

 

“What is this? It’s incredibly rusty. Did someone get locked up here?”

 

Allen looked at the shackle casually and froze.

 

“Hey… but those shackles look really old. There’s no way there’s a skeleton…here, right?” 

 

“I didn’t know you were afraid of seeing corpses.”

 

“A corpse and bones are different!”

 

What’s the difference?

 

Calid was about to ask that but closed his mouth.

 

‘They look really old…?’ 

 

It was because Allen’s words were on his mind.

 

Now that he thinks about it, the shackles and chains do look excessively worn. Almost like ancient… artifacts.  

 

The boy’s blue-gray eyes darkened.

 

As expected, I…

 

‘The price for touching a person’s soul will be harsh.’

 

Maybe I broke a taboo.

 

That’s why I was punished for such a long time.

 

‘What on earth am I?’