The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 23

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: What Did You Say?

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"What did you say?"

"I think your words got a bit twisted there."

"Ugh."

He looked utterly flustered.

It felt strangely unfamiliar and novel to see an adult squirming because they thought I was angry.

Looking up at his suddenly pitiful frame, I continued clearly and deliberately.

"I'm not angry. I was surprised yesterday, but it didn't upset me. If anything, I'm sorry for yelling so rudely."

I even bowed deeply from the waist.

A prickling gaze stabbed into the top of my head.

Crackle. Chunks of the statue crumbled away.

A quick glance revealed that half of the founding family head's face had crumbled away pathetically...

"So it wasn't me you hated?"

"Why would I hate you, Old Duke? If anything, I thought you hated me."

"Who in their right mind hates a little booger like you?!"

Was that an insult or an attempt at reconciliation?

By now, though, I'd figured out the Old Duke's patterns.

His words and actions were so grand and rough, but when you chewed on them, most of it was praise for me.

"Where'd you pick up such manners from?!"

Like that.

"Please don't rub your cheek on me..."

Before I knew it, the Old Duke had scooped me up and was pressing his prickly chin against me. I gently pushed his face away.

"Enough of that. Let's go!"

"Yes!"

We crossed the lobby and stepped outside.

Ah, what nice weather.

In front of the castle stood an open carriage with no roof, completely exposed on all sides.

"You said you don't like enclosed ones, right? Hmm, at least the weather's a bit warmer today."

At the Old Duke's gesture, Morris fetched an extra coat from somewhere. Ack, so stuffy.

I climbed into the carriage, my body now puffed up and plump.

"...A chick today?"

"Pardon?"

The Old Duke, who had sat beside me, poked at a pin with his thick finger.

"When did you manage to stick on so many of these pins...?"

His gruff voice suddenly trailed off.

The Old Duke turned his head toward Hazel, who stood quietly near the carriage.

"Hazel."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Did that guy give you the key to the east room?"

Hazel gave a small nod of affirmation.

"...I see."

A dark, chilling shadow passed over the Old Duke's wrinkled face.

It was an emotion that seemed like sorrow, anger, or longing.

What on earth was in that east room?

'I'll explore it later.'

I made a quiet resolution as I gazed at the scenery outside the slowly moving carriage.

Rumble rumble.

The carriage shook.

The ducal castle's main gate had been wide open for a while.

"Wow! It's my first time in Zelox city proper, so I'm super excited!"

Unable to hide my thrill, I spoke up, and his thick eyebrows twitched.

"Can we look around places other than the clothing store?"

Rumble rumble.

"No?"

"Pfft, of course we can! Quit yapping! You're gonna make me bite my tongue!"

A large, thick hand firmly grabbed hold of me.

I might have misunderstood the Old Duke a bit.

Given his overwhelming presence, I figured ordinary people would naturally fear and avoid him... something like that.

Wherever he went, people parted like the Red Sea, sending admiring gazes but too awed to approach easily...

'That's the image of the Northern Duke, right?'

At least, that's how the capital folk reacted to Uncle Leviathan.

But.

"Your Excellency! Long time no see!"

"Lord Ballock! How have you been? Your beard looks magnificent as ever today!"

"Your Excellency, check out some ore before you go! I'll give you a deal!"

I calmly turned to him and asked.

"...Old Duke, are you a celebrity?"

"What's that?"

"Like, super popular."

"Hmph! Popular, my foot."

Indeed.

The former head of House Jebert was truly a grandfather beloved by all!

We parked the carriage at the entrance to the shopping district and walked the streets. People's gazes toward the Old Duke were filled purely with fondness.

'Come to think of it, it was the same with Uncle Leviathan.'

I recalled our first time entering Zelox with him.

Of course, I was too tense back then to notice details...

'Zelox folks must really like the ducal family.'

It was trust and affection built up over years, not something formed overnight.

It felt like the camaraderie unique to those who faced hardships together.

'Wow, this feels nice.'

Unaware that the attention on the Old Duke was spilling over to me, I walked lost in thought.

"Welcome... Oh my. Your Excellency, what brings you here?"

We arrived at a large, splendid clothing store.

"I'm here to buy clothes that fit this child."

"And this one is... could it be."

The place smelled wonderfully inviting. A beauty in an elegant dress looked down at me.

Suddenly shy, I slipped behind the Old Duke's cloak.

"H-hello?"

"Hello! I've heard so much about you. I'm Yusana, the designer here!"

The beauty's face lit up instantly. Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. But...

'Heard about me?'

What rumors?

"Lady Evelin won't be back for a few days, though. What should we do?"

I recalled the 'Evelin Boutique' sign at the entrance. I'd assumed this beauty was the owner, Evelin, but apparently not.

"We need ready-made clothes to fit her for now! Look at this mess!"

The Old Duke dragged me out from behind him.

My son is hopeless at this stuff, blah blah blah.

The Old Duke started griping about his son again, but no one paid attention.

"Hmm. You need something temporary to wear, right?"

Yusana's eyebrows tilted sympathetically as she eyed my drooping sleeves.

"Alright. I'll help by altering existing clothes. Give me three hours."

"Y-yeah..."

I mumbled awkwardly. Honestly, clothes weren't really my thing...

"Shall we take your measurements first?"

That snapped me to attention.

"I don't wanna take my clothes off!"

"But for accuracy, it'd be better to change into something thinner."

"N-no..."

I reflexively clung to the Old Duke's leg.

The Old Duke glanced down with a 'huh?' before bellowing.

"Argh, the booger says no!"

My loud ally, the best!

"Then we'll measure over your clothes. Is it okay to remove just the outer layer?"

"Yes! That's fine!"

I quickly shed my outer coat and got measured.

Snap! With Yusana's finger snap, the maids moved in perfect sync. Rack after rack poured in.

No way all those were for me? Lady Evelin was coming back in a few days to custom-make more?

"Bring out ready-made tailored clothes! Alright, I'm off!"

The Old Duke spun around like a thug. I missed my chance to ask.

"Wait for me!"

"Ugh, such a pest. Go stuff your face with cake or something and stay put!"

"Hehe, I'm curious about the blacksmith too..."

I gripped his cloak tightly, and the Old Duke stared down at me before yelling, "Aaaah, that tickles, it tickles!"

Did he have bugs on him or something?

Meanwhile, at Evelin Boutique.

"That's weird. Did I hear wrong?"

Yusana tilted her head, scanning the meticulously noted measurements. A junior designer unfolding boy's shorts asked.

"Miss Yusana, what's wrong?"

"I could've sworn it was a sturdy young master..."

Somehow...

Yusana couldn't finish the thought. It was a designer's intuition, an aesthetic sense, something like that.

"Am I the only one feeling it?"

The people in the boutique exchanged glances. Some had thought the same but hadn't voiced it.

The junior designer waved it off.

"Nah, no way. Probably just an incredibly, incredibly pretty person. Like, even His Highness the 4th Prince is prettier than most girls."

True. Assuming pretty and cute meant girl would be rude in itself.

"Yeah... you're right."

"Even our stoic Duke, who only knows swords."

"Right?"

"He's not such a ditz that he'd mistake a kid's gender."

"Exactly."

Hahaha, yeah, yeah. Laughter spread brightly.

Yusana felt a bit relieved as she picked up a boy's top with a large collar.

Ah, so cute. The color would match that darling's eyes perfectly.

"..."

Yet why couldn't she shake the nagging feeling?