The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 47

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: The Nameless Jebert Garden

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A secluded space enclosed by a high fence, watched over by towering evergreens that bent like vigilant guardians, exuding an eerie atmosphere.

"Ah. That's......"

Void's face twisted in utter distress.

"......The Nameless Jebert Garden."

"What......"

She started to ask but stopped short.

Nameless Jebert.

The meaning was obvious.

Uncle Leviathan's baby's grave.

I stood on tiptoe and peeked through the fence. Far off, brilliant sunlight poured down onto a black tombstone.

"There are flowers. Uncle?"

"Father... never comes to this grave. Probably Grandfather."

"Why doesn't Uncle come?"

"Who knows."

His wounds haven't fully healed yet.

I mused blankly.

Well, adults aren't invincible, after all.

"Gasp, the gravekeeper's coming! If we're caught, it'll be a hassle."

"Why?"

"She's a witch granny. Rumors say she doesn't talk to anyone and eats kids who come to the memorial garden."

"Ehh?"

Anyone could tell someone spread that nonsense to keep people away.

A woman with chestnut hair hanging down wore a gray robe pulled low over her face, holding a sickle in one hand as she approached. She did look somewhat sinister.

"Let's go, Ruby! Hop on quick."

"Okay."

I took one last look at the small tombstone, etching it into my memory.

"......"

My hand instinctively rose to the pin in my hair.

Just a little... a little more.

I prayed silently, not even sure what I wanted to say.

The black tombstone stretched like a shadow, tugging at my ankles.

After finishing field training and returning to the mansion, Uncle and Grandfather summoned me right away. Void was there too, of course.

"Wow! Whoaaa!"

The moment we entered the drawing room, Void bounced around like a frisky colt.

Grandfather puffed out his chest with a hmph.

"Like it?"

"Y-Yeah, it's amazing!"

The gleaming, crystalline sword embedded with small blue gems was more than enough to captivate Void.

"What about you, booger?"

"......"

I was momentarily speechless.

Because of the sword right in front of me.

So... this is mine?

"Oh, this. Oh....... I mean."

I repeated myself like an idiot. Because this was...

One of the heirloom swords of House Jebert!

It looked a bit older and cruder than Void's, but the eerie green aura enveloping it radiated tremendous power.

The Jebert family crest engraved on the hilt.

An intricately carved lion motif with a massive red gem embedded in the center.

"Oh....... Why give something like this to me."

"Everything I made just didn't feel right. Tsk. I'm still lacking."

Grandfather looked genuinely offended by his own work.

"Even so... a treasure? To me?"

Don't family heads usually keep these?!

I whipped around to Uncle, but the esteemed family head just tilted his head nonchalantly. What was with that satisfied look?

"The family head's sword is separate. Technically, it's for the official heir."

So why give it to me?

"Pfft, who cares about that? These days, obsessing over tradition is pointless. You use what suits you!"

House Jebert's old fogey added...

"Keep it safe and use it well. Don't carry it too close for now—it's dangerous. Got it?"

While listening to Grandfather's nagging, I shyly eyed the Jebert sword on the table.

He'd said it was for the heir, and sure enough, it was smaller than Uncle's.

Lost for words and sitting there dazed, Uncle spoke in a deliberately stern tone.

"Both of you need to take responsibility and care for them properly. Understood?"

"Yes, Father!"

Void already seemed head over heels for his sword.

"Look at it every day, polish it well, air it out in the sun sometimes. It's not just about keeping it around."

Pet... no, pet sword?

"Yes, yes! I'll keep that in mind!"

"Ruby?"

"Y-Yeah......"

I couldn't keep playing along with these fools anymore and just answered.

Fine, I'll hold onto it for now and return it later.

"Grandfather, I want to train right now! I'll become a cool guy worthy of this sword!"

"Hah! Finally saying something I like! Bring that sword brat too!"

"Yes sir!"

Void and Grandfather, hitting it off for once, vanished like the wind.

I stared at their retreating backs before slumping into my chair.

Uncle glanced at my face.

"Don't like it? It's old, but quite valuable."

Whoa. I was dumbfounded.

"It's not about liking it or not—why hand such a precious thing to someone else so casually......"

"Who says you're someone else?"

Uncle unfolded his arms and leaned toward me. His low voice followed.

"You're going to bear the Jebert name."

Ah.

A profound realization washed over me, and I blinked slowly.

"Aren't you?"

"Y-Yeah......"

So that's how it is.

Well, yeah.

Becoming the true youngest of this house means taking the Jebert name, which means becoming real family with Uncle Leviathan...

Wait. Hold on.

Suddenly... it hit me hard...

An inexplicable feeling gripped me. The sword on the table now felt heavier, bulkier than before. The small black tombstone from the memorial garden kept flickering in my mind oddly.

Really, out of nowhere.

"The title too, Ruby."

"Huh?"

"How about changing it soon?"

Uncle Leviathan crossed his long legs casually. A subtle anticipation lit his straight features.

So that's...

'Call me... Dad?'

I ignored the uneasy steam rising inside me and nodded slowly.

Well, just a title change.

Shouldn't be hard, right?

"Da......"

"Da?"

"Da......"

His eyebrow arched at my endless da-da-da chorus.

"Da?"

"Da...... D-Dad, the night pie was delicious!"

At my random outburst, Uncle glanced at the table.

"None here."

I quickly added,

"The one from yesterday!"

"Ruby."

Hiss. Why am I like this?

Something was stuck in my throat, words refusing to come out properly. My mind had already gone blank.

Unable to bear it, I shot up from my seat.

"Sorry, U-"

-ncle. My mouth snapped shut before I could finish.

Oh no.

I can't even say Uncle anymore!

Panicking at my sudden malfunction, I blurted,

"I-I'm busy, so I'll go now!"

Whoosh.

I knew I shouldn't, but I fled the drawing room, leaving the stunned duke behind.

What do I do? Words won't come out!

Someone fix me!

My antics didn't stop there.

"Da!"

"......"

"......Want some bread?"

"Gotta have it first."

Saying that to Uncle buried in paperwork, or

"Ruby, where you off to?"

"Yeah! Da!"

"......"

"Gotta hurry to the market! Sorry!"

bolting away, or

"Good morning! Da!"

"......"

"Da-dnight. New hair pin, right?"

showing off the butterfly pin in my hair... (Worst one yet.)

Because of this, Uncle had no choice but to summon the northern region's famed physician, Borvel.

"Looks like my youngest is properly broken."

Fix her.

Uncle barged into the physician's office with me tucked under his arm like a sack and ordered like a thug.