The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 43

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 43

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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The duke sat leaning against the headboard of the large bed, cradling and soothing the grunting child in his arms.

"......How."

It was a short question, but Leviathan seemed to understand fully.

"In the evenings, whenever she seems oddly low on energy, it's always like this."

A heavy, deep sigh escaped him. In that brief moment, the duke looked utterly exhausted, as if he'd aged years.

"Khalid."

His voice was hoarse and cracked. He pulled up the blanket covering Rubian.

"Did Ruby do this often in Iosiah too?"

"......"

On the battlefield, it happened frequently. Each time, Khalid would hold Rubian's hand and infuse her with mana.

In case she was having nightmares because her body felt weak.

It didn't have much effect. But since it was the only thing he could do, Khalid kept channeling mana into her, again and again.

"If you know anything, tell me. That way I can help."

"She seems to suffer whenever she's anxious. But I don't know the details."

An even deeper shadow fell over the duke's face.

"What on earth could be making her anxious......"

A large hand carefully stroked her face.

Rubian's complexion gradually improved. The child, who had been whimpering, soon fell into a deep sleep with steady breaths.

"How did Ruby live in Iosiah?"

Cal fell silent for a moment at the low question. He and Rubian had aligned their stories for times like this.

"Normally. It wasn't affluent, but with ordinary parents and ordinary neighbors."

"......Normally."

Purple eyes stared straight at him.

The gaze was so intense that Cal nearly turned his head away.

"I see."

Leviathan nodded slowly, with a pause between.

"......Your Grace. May I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you cherish Ruby?"

He felt the question was a bit pointless even as he asked. The answer was clear from everything he'd seen all day.

"Why do you ask?"

The duke carefully laid the sleeping Rubian down and sat on the nearby sofa. It looked like he planned to spend the night here.

"I was wondering if you'd protect her no matter what happens."

"It sounds like you're expecting something to happen."

A languid voice flowed out. Khalid didn't avoid the piercing gaze.

As a mercenary, he'd dealt with more adults than peers. He knew over a hundred ways to dodge situations like this.

"Because she's my friend. And I'm the worrying type."

"If only your mouth could keep up."

Leviathan turned his head to gaze at the sleeping Rubian.

"Yes. No matter what happens, I'll protect Ruby."

With those words, the duke tossed something over.

"So, you."

It was a small box filled with colorful candies.

"If you have something to say to your uncle, come anytime. About Ruby or about yourself."

Khalid blinked slowly.

"Is this a request or something?"

"A request? What."

Leviathan paused mid-sentence and furrowed his brow. He'd just remembered Khalid's mercenary background.

"Not a request—a favor. Kid."

"......"

Khalid gripped the candy box.

What was the difference between a favor and a request? He'd already been given payment, too.

"......Sure, whatever."

He answered with an ambiguous expression.

Leviathan sank back into the headrest and stared into space for a moment before squinting one eye.

"But your uncle doesn't have many friends, so maybe he wouldn't know—but do friends usually come all the way here looking for each other?"

"Because she's a precious friend like no other in the world."

A precious friend like no other...? Precious...?

Perplexity spread across the duke's face as he mulled over the answer. Khalid chuckled softly.

"Ah. You said you don't have friends."

"......"

"So you wouldn't know this feeling."

"Ah, that brat's really cheeky."

Irritated, Leviathan crumpled the wrapper from a candy he'd eaten and threw it.

Of course, it didn't even reach Khalid's feet and fell to the floor.

Cal walked over with heavy steps and placed the candy box on the windowsill framed with Rubian's magic stone. He meticulously rummaged through the contents.

"Apple, chocolate, cherry....... No strawberry."

"......"

"She likes strawberry the best. Bring some next time."

Leviathan snorted through his nose.

"Look at you, getting cocky. Of course I gave all the strawberry ones to Rubian."

Ah.

The cheeky boy merely lifted his chin indifferently.

"Then what about the milk flavor?"

"......"

Damn, shopping tomorrow.

A sparkling afternoon bathed in sunlight.

The familiar dessert time arrived. Uncle pushed a glass of cold juice in front of me. For some reason, the side was piled with strawberry- and milk-flavored candies.

"The juice color......?"

"Blended it with green veggies."

He answered before Hazel could even ask.

"Borvel said it's good for the body."

Uncle added firmly, acting like force-feeding me healthy snacks was his top priority these days.

'Looks like porridge a troll spat out......'

I stared at the thick, murky greenish liquid. When I slightly turned away, Uncle pushed it back toward me.

"Slurp."

"Visually, it's way too unappetizing."

But with so many eyes watching, I had no choice but to drink.

Gulp it down, then eat candy. With that in mind, I barely touched the tip of my tongue to it.

"Huh?"

"Better than it looks, right?"

A sweet apple flavor burst forth—no trace of bitter veggies! Totally opposite from the appearance.

I plunged the straw in and sucked vigorously.

"Ruby, you said you'd study with Borvel?"

"Ah, yeah!"

The duke's residence physician, Uncle Borvel, had come by last evening and offered to teach me herbology and healing arts. Of course I said yes.

"I'm gonna get smart!"

I already had a rough knowledge of herbology and healing arts. So this lesson was basically a smokescreen.

'If I whip something up later, I can just say I learned it in class!'

There were limits to claiming I was from Iosiah, so this was a necessary hassle, even if annoying.

"Don't push yourself too hard. And don't forget afternoon snack time."

"Well, if I'm busy sometimes, I might forget......"

"Don't forget."

What was with this desperation?

Puzzled, I nodded anyway.

From the window far off, Void's voice drifted in. He was diligently training with Grandpa—clack clack, the sound of wooden swords clashing.

I listened to it like music while sipping my juice.

"And...... there's something I've been wanting to ask."

Uncle set down his teacup and leaned in. His face was somehow serious.

"Yeah?"

"Next week, Rosetta and Liam will be back."

"Oh......"

Finally.

"That means you'll have met my whole family."

Leviathan awkwardly chose his words, which didn't suit him.

"......How is it? Living in Uncle's house. Satisfied?"

What was this? Some customer satisfaction survey?

I spread out one hand wide.

"Totally satisfied! Five stars!"

"......Only five?"

"Five's the max."

"Ah."

Uncle swallowed dryly once, then clasped his hands together.

"Then, Ruby. Want to keep living with Uncle?"

"That's what I'm doing?"

"I mean, will you really become the youngest of our house?"

In that instant, the surrounding air grew strangely tense.

A weird sense of discomfort made me turn my head, and there was Hazel quickly fake-coughing and looking away, along with the other servants.

"Of course, you can decide after meeting Rosetta and Liam."

"I......"

I slowly blinked.