The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 49

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 49

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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"...I have an umbrella. I bought it the day before yesterday."

"Puhaha! Good job. That's perfect too!"

Grandfather laughed heartily and patted my head.

"Then just order the little punk around! Make him do all the dangerous stuff!"

I quietly pondered his words before just grinning. Grandfather couldn't hold back anymore and rubbed his face against my cheek.

"It tickles, it tickles!"

As the beard assault continued, a sudden thought struck me.

"Hah, but Grandfather."

"Yeah?"

"You said titles are important, so why do you call me booger?"

His thick eyebrows shot up. Somehow, an inexplicable sense of injustice welled up as I spoke.

"Boogers are dirty! And insignificant!"

Grandfather answered off the cuff.

"It sticks right to your mouth. It's cute."

"Eek."

Is this the same person who lectured me on the importance of titles and relationships?

Zero credibility!

I'm going to ask Borvel to teach me how to make the world's most bitter medicine!

Rubian shouted and stormed off.

Ballock scratched the back of his head as he watched her hurried figure crossing the lobby.

"Was that not it?"

Morris, who had been standing in one corner of the lobby, approached.

"For once, it seemed like proper grandfatherly talk. Isn't that right?"

His massive shoulders slumped. The Old Duke's butler spoke coldly.

"Did you say it exactly as I advised?"

"Something like that."

"Then you should have gained some points for showing a warm, affectionate grandfatherly side. That's strange."

"Right?"

The two masters' heads tilted simultaneously. Wrinkles deepened between Ballock's brows.

"It's all that Leviathan guy's fault for messing up!"

Bam! Unable to contain his anxiety, Ballock punched the door. Crack—the thick door split comically.

"If Ruby rejects Jebert Castle too, then what..."

Hng. His fiery anger quickly turned sullen.

Morris comforted the restless Old Duke.

"If so, why not have Lady Rubian stay in our annex for the time being?"

"Huh?"

"You're 'Grandfather,' after all. Isn't that closer in title?"

"Oh ho."

Seeing the sly smile on the butler's face, the Old Duke grinned darkly as well.

"I see... I'll have no choice but to take her in and live with her calling me 'Grandfather'... Hm! Problem solved!"

What exactly was solved?

The main residence servants, who had been listening quietly, thought with a surge of frustration.

On my way back to my room, I ran into Uncle in the hallway.

"Ah!"

Hey, Uncle. Nice weather today. I ran three and a half laps around the training grounds. My stamina's growing as tall as Cal and Void...

I condensed all those words into a pathetic exclamation.

As I stood there like a statue, Uncle approached with steady steps and crouched down.

"Why's your face all puffy like burst pudding again?"

"I'm not pudding... Sorry..."

I added glumly, and Uncle stroked my head gently.

"You don't have to call me."

"Huh?"

"Call me when you feel like it, Ruby. I'll wait. And don't apologize."

"Ugh..."

For some reason, my heart tingled.

As I just pursed my lips under his kind gaze, Uncle chuckled.

"But what if I want to call you?"

"Hm."

Uncle glanced around, then untied the curtain decoration hanging on the hallway wall. A small bell-shaped ornament dangled from the end of the cord.

"Just shake this."

"...Ring the Duke like a bell?"

"Shake the bell to call me. Treating me like a bell would be problematic."

Ah. I quickly shut my mouth.

The small golden bell in my hand. A light shake produced a clear tinkling sound.

"Like this?"

"Yeah. Shake the bell when you want to call Uncle. I'll hear it."

Does he think I'm a cat? Or does he want to be the cat?

Tinkle tinkle tinkle tinkle.

I shook the bell like mad.

"Yes."

Uncle replied. Seeing his nonchalant face made me choke up. I pounded his solid shoulder and yelled.

"I called four times, but you only answered once!"

Dang, this won't do!

As dusk began to settle faintly.

I snuck out of the castle. It was the same path I'd taken before chasing Khalid's squirrel.

"Whew, this is tough."

I had returned to the Jebert Memorial Garden.

'For some reason, this place came to mind.'

Borvel said it was a problem with my heart. So it felt like I needed to confide in someone.

I started to place my hand on my earlobe naturally but hesitated.

'Cal... doesn't have parents.'

He said he doesn't even remember them.

'What if I hurt him?'

And he'd probably say something heartless like, "Just shake the bell. What's the problem if it's fine?"

'Grandfather?'

After our recent conversation... Pass.

'Hazel?'

But Hazel hadn't been seen since morning. Probably busy, so pass.

'Void?'

Just pass.

'No one...'

Then this place came to mind.

The nameless grave.

"..."

I crept carefully so the gravekeeper wouldn't notice, gently pushing open the white fence.

The Memorial Garden, located deepest within Jebert Castle.

And in its innermost part, a nameless baby's grave.

A place that emanated a fierce will to allow no more storms.

"Ah, all I have to give is this."

Seeing the flowers placed under the tombstone snapped me back to reality.

Unknowingly, I removed the pin from my hair and set it down.

"Sorry, baby. This was originally yours, right?"

I'd heard a bit about its origin from Hazel.

"I don't even know why I came... I just wanted to."

Words spilled out naturally.

It was strange. To feel an odd sense of peace in a place I'd never visited before.

The black tombstone bore no name. Just the family name 'Jebert' stood alone.

"I have no family name, but you have no given name."

Hehe. Something's off.

The wind blew. I stared piercingly at the word 'Jebert' before hanging my head.

"Hey. Do you know why I'm like this?"

Of course, no answer came.

"No. Actually, more than that..."

Yeah.

There was something I'd always wanted to ask this grave.

"Um, is it really okay if I borrow it? That name... Just for a little while... I'll give it back."

I wondered if I was qualified.

Honestly, I was starting to regret my knee-jerk "Sure" to Uncle's question about becoming the real youngest.

'Did I mess up something huge?'

I'd just thoughtlessly said I'd become part of this family to prevent the original ending.

But experiencing Jebert for real, it was warmer and better than I imagined... and that made me scared.

'I planned to leave without regrets once I achieved my goal.'

But what if I grew even closer to Uncle? Could I leave?

What if we became a real family?

'I'm a liar, though...'

That doubt lingered like a stain in my heart.

Then, a leaf flew in from somewhere, spinning and landing softly on my head. I removed it with a bashful smile.

"Not sure if that's permission or rejection."

Through my narrowed vision, I saw a dry leaf on the tombstone. As I reached out absentmindedly to brush it away.

"Hm?"

An odd incongruity lingered at my fingertips. I bent down and placed both hands on the ground.

'An illusion?'

I'd felt mana... but when I pressed my palms down, nothing was there. Maybe I mistook the ambient mana.

'Well, graves overlap with all sorts of energies...'

For some reason, chills ran down my spine. As I rubbed my arms and tried to stand.

"Who's there?"

"...!"

A stranger's voice pierced like an arrow from behind.

I was so startled I plopped down on the spot.

Turning around, I saw a gravekeeper with auburn hair tied back, sleeves rolled up on her gray robe.

"Yikes!"

Cold sweat trickled down my neck.

'G-Ghost...'

A woman's voice in a graveyard the moment I realized where I was!

"The Memorial Garden is off-limits at this hour."

"Yes. I'll leave right now..."

I pushed off the ground to stand but slipped again. My strength hadn't returned properly.

"Oh my."

The gravekeeper approached in surprise, setting down her scythe and weeds to help me up.

"I didn't mean to rush you. I should call someone."

"No. I'm fine... fine..."

Maybe from the sudden shock. My habitual "I'm fine" caught in my throat.

I need to say I'm fine quickly.

And run away fast.

But as always, my body betrayed me, and something else came out...

"I'm... not fine. Waaah."

It was a totally out-of-the-blue wail.