The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 21

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 21

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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“Void!”

I burst right into Void's room.

“Gah! You scared me!”

Void was sitting at his desk, scribbling away at something.

“Wh-what?”

Void hurriedly covered his notebook. A diary...? Or something like that.

“Got a map around here?”

“A map?”

“Yeah!”

“Of course I do, but...”

Void rummaged through his bookshelf and easily pulled out a map of the territory. It was marked up with shops, amenities, inns, and all sorts of other spots.

“Whoa, thanks!”

“But why do you need a map?”

“Oh, the Old Duke invited me to go out with him tomorrow. Figured I'd study up ahead of time.”

“Grand...father? You've met Grandfather?”

Void turned his head with a creaky, jerky motion, like a broken machine.

“You look pale. What's wrong?”

“Grandfather... he's a bit much...”

“What do you mean, a bit much...? I mean, he seemed pretty refined, actually.”

“...He said he'd train me and Liam, so in the middle of the night he dragged us up to the northern mountains...”

Aaaah.

Void slumped over his desk like someone haunted by nightmares.

What the heck happened up in those northern mountains...?

I was curious, but it felt like one of those boxes best left unopened, so I didn't ask.

“Anyway, be careful.”

Void gave me unusually solemn advice, his face stern.

Then he spread out his books on the desk again.

“If you're gonna look at the map, sit over there. I still have studying to do...”

“But what were you writing so furiously just now?”

“Just now? Oh, my diary.”

Void answered with dead seriousness.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing. A diary! I always figured he was just plotting card games all day!

“A diary? You're way more diligent than I thought, bro.”

“...Don't even think about peeking.”

The more you're told not to, the more you want to.

As I slinked closer, Void hugged his diary to his chest with both arms.

“But I swear I saw the word 'Ruby' earlier. What'd you write?”

“I said don't look!”

“Just tell me what you wrote!”

“No way!”

“You said something mean about me!”

“No! I didn't!”

“You did!”

“I didn't... Fine, I did!”

“Ha! I'm totally gonna see it someday.”

We bickered back and forth.

Evening deepened.

In the end, I didn't get to peek at the diary.

Round two next time...

“Uwaaah, so fluffy~.”

Late at night.

After a nice bath, I dove into bed. Clean body, fresh sheets. Perfection!

Hazel chuckled as she drew the curtains.

“You shouldn't stay up too late, you know?”

“Yeah!”

“If you need anything, just ring the bell anytime.”

“Got it! Night, Hazel.”

“Eeeek.”

Unable to hold back, Hazel pulled me into a tight hug. Hehe. A bit awkward, but warm.

“You're going out tomorrow, right? I should pack some snacks.”

“Thanks!”

Hazel smiled and slipped out of the bedroom.

I sprawled out on the sun-scented blankets and pored over the map.

For quite a while.

Then the firmly shut door creaked open stealthily.

“...What're you doing up?”

Uncle froze mid-sneak, straightening his hunched posture.

Uncle smelled like the incense from Void's room. He'd clearly stopped by there first.

Coming home at dawn to check on the kids' rooms. What a dad.

“Heard your stomach was hurting?”

“Huh?”

“They said you holed up in your room all day.”

Uncle shut the door with a click and strode right over.

Oh, right. Yeah.

“Your face says otherwise.”

The bed dipped heavily on one side.

“So, headache then?”

Uncle brushed my forehead with a grin.

His loosely unbuttoned shirt carried the chill unique to the outdoors.

“Who bullied you? Tell me.”

“No one bullied me... Oh.”

Gasp.

I suddenly remembered what happened with the Old Duke. Come to think of it... I'd just stormed out and that was it?

The real thing bothering me was the news from the Magic Kingdom that Khalid relayed, but I sure couldn't say that.

Instead, I pulled out a smokescreen worry.

“Does the Old Duke hate me? What if he keeps opposing me being here? Will he kick me out?”

“Yeah. Guess we need to seal off the passage to the northern annex.”

“Stop joking.”

I smacked Uncle's arm playfully.

Uncle swept the hair stuck to my forehead. His rough, callused hand felt just right.

“I told you, right? No one can force you to do what you hate.”

“...”

“Do what you want. Stay if you want to stay.”

It was weird. Whenever Uncle said stuff like this, my words just stuck in my throat.

My toes kept twitching... My chest itched like I might sneeze.

I always felt good when Uncle said things like that.

Gruff and blunt, but like he was handling something precious—my heart would warm right up.

But on the other hand...

'It kinda stings.'

I was a liar.

I hadn't told Uncle a single truth.

If my secrets came out... Would Uncle still say things like this to me?

The itch in my heart turned into a sharp prick.

Leviathan headed straight to Rubian's bedroom after checking on Void's sleeping face, having received the servants' reports the moment he returned from the northern outpost.

Most of the reports were about Void and Rubian.

He'd left the castle with that ornery old man, and it nagged at him.

Of course, Rubian was guarded by those fierce mercenary maids, and Sir Morris, the Old Duke's aide, wasn't one to trifle with either.

Still.

“What're you doing up?”

He'd assumed she'd be asleep, but Rubian was rolling around on the bed.

Her clear eyes turned to him.

Her face lit up with delight.

'She looks fine.'

She'd suddenly run up to her room and not come out all day, so he'd worried.

But he couldn't let his guard down. Rubian was good at hiding her feelings.

“Does the Old Duke hate me? What if he keeps opposing me being here? Will he kick me out?”

That old geezer, as expected.

Leviathan clenched his fist subtly.

From what he'd glimpsed earlier, the old man was already head over heels for Rubian. Why'd he have to be so stubborn?

His iron-willed stubbornness had left a bad first impression on Void and Liam, and they still didn't get along...

'Not that I can talk.'

Damn it. This is why family education matters.

Leviathan stroked the forehead of Rubian, who gazed up at him quietly. Her skin was warm to the touch.

Her blue eyes wavered unsteadily. It made his gut twist for no reason.

“I told you, right? No one can force you to do what you hate. Do what you want. Stay if you want to stay. Leave...”

He stopped there, lips pressing shut. The words had nearly slipped out unbidden.

Leave if you want?

Would it really be okay if she did?

...No, it wouldn't.

Not if that's what Rubian wanted.

“...”

But somehow, the words wouldn't come easily.

The thought of that fluffy silver hair under his fingertips vanishing before his eyes...

It felt like his heart plummeted straight to his toes with a thud.

Rubian made him anxious.

Like gazing at a mirage.

He kept feeling like she'd suddenly abandon him and disappear somewhere.

It was strange. This was the kid who'd insisted on sticking to him and followed him all the way north no matter what.

“Uncle?”

Her clear voice snapped him out of it.

“You okay?”

The girl had propped herself up halfway, looking at him with worried eyes.