The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 19

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Strawberry Milk and Stubborn Grandpa

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Just as I pouted my lips silently, the Old Duke clicked his tongue with a "Tsk."

His sharp gaze suddenly turned toward the butler standing behind me.

"What is this, Morris! Didn't you say she was done with meals? You should've told me she was having a snack! Even dogs don't get bothered while eating!"

"I... didn't quite consider Lady Rubian's snack schedule."

Drip, drip. I could almost hear the sweat dropping from Butler Morris from here.

"What are you standing around for!"

I reached out with a screech of the fork.

I glanced sideways sneakily, but Uncle, who had been stroking his mouth, merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

'He's not going to save me, huh.'

I'll get revenge.

The more I eyed the snack table, the more my face crumpled into a frown.

"Why the long face?"

Having yelled at me fiercely until now, the Old Duke finally paused when I bit my lip and stared at the floor.

"Is... something not to your liking...?"

"The table..."

"Hm?"

"It's all split..."

Right in front of my eyes was a solid wood table cracked wide open.

"Huh? When did that happen?"

"How am I supposed to eat if it's gone..."

I felt a bit down.

A mug that had fallen into the crack. Pink liquid soaking the floor.

Truth be told, I liked strawberry milk more than cake. Sweet and cool, with chewy fruit bits...

"...I like it."

"Uh..."

"And I haven't even had a single sip yet..."

My shoulders slumped without me realizing.

I'd seen earlier that there were even more fresh strawberries than yesterday... What a waste...

'Hot.'

Could this be some Jebert-style mental fortitude test?

Don't cling to what's gone?

Of course not.

In the end, the Old Duke's booming voice had every strawberry in the castle ground up and dunked into milk...

'Who knows...'

I gazed at the massive tub of strawberry milk, sorting through my complicated feelings.

"That better?"

the Old Duke growled.

He took up so much space in the middle of the drawing room that his presence was overwhelming. The room felt stuffed full...

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

I fiddled with the mug and replied.

Honestly, I couldn't tell if it was going in my mouth or my nose.

"Hmph."

Only then did his fluffy-looking beard twitch in satisfaction.

I sneaked peeks at him before cautiously asking,

"What about Uncle?"

"He went to the northern outpost! They spotted traces of magic beasts."

"Gasp."

Did this grumpy old man ditch me and run off?

"Scared of magic beasts? Yeah, a rabbit like you would be a single bite."

The Old Duke seemed convinced I was frozen from fear of magic beasts.

'Magic beasts won't kick me out of this house!'

They don't burst through doors with fists either!

I set down the mug and declared boldly,

"Yes! A little scary!"

"..."

"So I can stay here, right?"

As desperately as possible. Sparkling eyes.

The Old Duke's shoulders, against the window, suddenly stiffened.

His expression was hard to see, but deep creases formed around his elegant wrinkles.

I recalled Uncle's voice.

"Just cling tight for now. Like you did with me earlier."

Does it really work?

Not just getting kicked for whining like a weakling?

"If... you're scared, you stay!"

Surprisingly, it worked.

"I ain't trash enough to kick out a crybaby!"

I never cried.

'Weakness is his weakness, huh.'

Uncle had a soft spot like that too. Is that the trait of people here?

I drove the wedge in.

I jumped up and squeezed into the spot next to the Old Duke on the huge sofa.

It's a two-seater, but way too cramped?

"Yeah. So I'll just stay put here. Outside's scary..."

Whoops!

An earthquake-like rumble came from beside me.

"You're squirming so much it's driving me nuts with itchiness!"

"Ah, if it's uncomfortable, I'll just..."

"No helping it!"

"Eek!"

My nape was grabbed. I landed on thighs hard as rock.

Our eyes met up close.

Bushy eyebrows arched at odd angles. Eyes lined with thick wrinkles. Cold, chilly purple irises. An old scar beneath his well-kept beard.

"...Even looks itchy."

Just as I'd observed him, the Old Duke scanned me thoroughly.

One eyebrow shot up higher.

"You really a boy? How're you so different from Void and Liam?"

Uh... because we are?

Of course, I couldn't say that, so I brushed it off with a vague smile.

"But what's that you're wearing? Potato sack?"

"It's clothes."

*Twang.*

A voice like he'd seen something awful.

The Old Duke nodded toward Hazel standing nearby.

"You! Count how many times those sleeves are rolled!"

Hazel replied calmly.

"Calm down, Lord Ballock. Madam Evelin is due to take measurements in three days anyway. She's on a business trip outside the territory right now."

"Three days? So this runt survives three days in a potato sack?!"

"It's not that bad. I'm fine!"

I jumped in quick, not wanting Hazel to get splashed. Of course, utterly ignored.

The sleeves were long and baggy, but wearable.

I wasn't planning to stay here forever anyway, so I didn't want to impose that much.

The Old Duke grumbled on and on.

My son this, that, if Rose were here this, that.

"Can't take it anymore! Morris! When's the new weapon from our forge done?"

"It's been a while since you handed over the blueprints... Should be soon."

"Good. Come with me tomorrow."

"Huh, why?"

The Old Duke rolled up my already four-times-folded sleeve once more and bellowed,

"How else to fix that potato sack getup!"

"You're buying me clothes? For me?"

"Any other runt around here?"

"You said you were kicking me out at first..."

"I should!"

"Huh? You said I could stay if scared!"

"Argh, cancel, cancel! Too itchy to look at!"

Man, what a hot-tempered flip-flopper.

This fiery grandpa was driving me insane.

Forget playing weak!

"Why buy clothes if kicking me out!"

"Dress you up nice and shiny before sending you off!"

"Where's that a thing!"

"Here!"

"Flip-flopper, stubborn mule!"

"Figured that out already? Quick and smart to boot!"

Onlookers watched with amused gazes.

'Damn, like father like son!'

I argued until my throat hurt. As I rose to grab the mug...

Suddenly, my head felt empty.

I turned to see a thick palm that had been fiddling with my hair retreating hastily.

"..."

The stubborn lion pretending nothing happened.

What's his deal...

Then it hit.

"...What's wrong?"

"Snot!"

I must've staggered a bit. The Old Duke shot up like lightning and grabbed my shoulder.

'Khalid?'

Pressing my ear cleared the static.

It was Khalid!

"M-My stomach hurts a bit..."

"What?"

"Bathroom break!"

I bolted from the drawing room.

I heard a babyish call from behind, but that wasn't important now.

"Lady Rubian?"

"J-Just a moment, leave me alone!"

Slam.

Shoving aside the startled Hazel who followed, I quickly shut the bedroom door.

Pressing the pattern again, the static cleared instantly.

'Khalid Riorc! You block me like that, wanna die?'

'Don't change the subject! Not telling.'

'Huh?'

What?

I froze in the middle of the room like ice.

The Magic King... had tracked my whereabouts?