The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 58

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: Spare Me

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"Spare me."

Turning around, there stood the Heroic Duke with dark circles under his eyes. He clutched a dessert tray in one hand like it was his lifeline.

"A sword is better than a pen. At least for me."

Watching the man shuffle toward me like a zombie, muttering something incomprehensible, a perfectly reasonable suspicion arose.

Hmm.

Did the male lead... perhaps die from overwork?

A dark alley.

A figure cloaked entirely in a black robe slipped into view. In one hand, he held a mana detection magic tool.

His sharp gaze turned toward the children browsing a nearby stall.

His footsteps moved in an instant.

"Good day, young ladies."

A polite greeting fit for a gentleman. The girls froze at the exaggerated, theatrical gesture.

"W-Who are you?"

"Pardon the intrusion."

The moment he held up the magic tool, the girls screamed.

"Kidnapper! It's a kidnapper!"

Tsk, should have gagged them first.

A rustling sound came from his other hand, the one not holding the magic tool.

It was only a split second, but fortunately, the tool activated.

Mana presence?

'XXXXXD-!'

Pffft! Next chance!

Along with the regrettable sound effect, a blue mark appeared over the dark red magic stone.

'Tch. Wrong answer.'

Spotting knights rushing from afar, he quickly vanished.

As he ducked into the tangled web of alleyways,

a dagger suddenly whizzed toward him from somewhere.

"I figured you'd be slow like a mudworm."

No...

A slow, murmuring voice.

'What the hell? That guy.'

Drurrk, drurrk.

Looking toward where the dagger came from, the first thing in sight was a cart piled high with books like a mountain.

Pulling it was a boy wearing gloves on both hands.

His spotlessly cleaned glasses and neatly combed black hair looked like they wouldn't allow even a single needle's space.

The boy, now close, pushed up his glasses with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Hey."

Coincidentally, it was his middle finger.

"Tch, an obstacle, huh..."

"You just called me 'hey.' Why are you backing away? And your attire is so sloppy."

He had the habit of pushing up his glasses with every word.

It was bizarre...

'Just adjusting his glasses, and yet...'

Why did it feel so irritating...?

After pushing up his glasses to his heart's content, the boy muttered, "No helping it," and turned toward the cart. A gleaming sword was stuck between the piles of books.

'Now!'

Whoosh! The mage hurled something he'd been holding with all his might and bolted while the boy dodged it.

"......"

The boy blankly stared at the thing splattered against the wall, trickling down. A bun stuffed full of strawberry cream.

"Ah, the smell of sweetness..."

He pulled out disinfectant, sprayed it all around him, and tossed the bottle away.

Because strawberry cream was one of the things he hated most.

The surroundings had gone completely quiet by then.

"Why is everyone running away?"

The boy left alone muttered stiffly.

He'd only been politely asking for directions, so why the mad dash? And a bun attack to boot.

Ipson was full of weirdos.

His glasses flashed as he resumed pulling the cart with a drurrk, drurrk.

"So... I'm curious how much knowledge my new little sister Rubian has about magic beasts."

If she's filthy or boring, no mercy.

Early education is key, so as her brother, I need to be strict.

One cart of books still feels too light.

"But what alley is this?"

Hmm. Back to the beginning...

It was Liam Jebert's long, arduous journey home.

Yawn. I stretched languidly and opened my eyes.

I'd just woken from a nap, buried in the fluffy sheets after a snack.

Must be the resort vibe. I'm turning into a sloth...

"Huh?"

But the mansion felt unusually hectic. I rushed into the hallway, grabbed the first servant I saw, and asked.

"What's going on?"

"Well..."

The maid leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

"His Highness the Prince has arrived."

"Huh?"

Suddenly?

Stunned by the out-of-the-blue news, I just blinked for a moment.

They'd said it would take days for the Emperor and imperial family to arrive.

With a sudden hunch, I asked,

"Not the 4th Prince, right?"

"How did you know?"

The blond from the capital, Licht Babylon, naturally came to mind.

He came all the way to the north alone?

That guy really loves going solo...

"And with Young Master Liam, too."

"Huh?"

What kind of situation was this?

I couldn't hold back and hurried off.

"Oops."

Need to check my outfit. Almost went out in pajamas.

I returned to my room, meticulously checked the mirror, then dashed to the lobby. It was already bustling with people.

I crouched on the landing, peeked my head over the stair railing, and observed the scene.

The first voice I heard was Dad's, laced with a sigh.

"You got lost in the alleys and were picked up by His Highness...?"

"Yes."

"This is driving me insane."

The Duke's broad back, hand pressed to his forehead, radiated utter disbelief.

Drurrk, creak. A cart sound followed and then stopped.

'Gasp, a mountain of books.'

I frowned, a bit queasy.

'Liam Jebert.'

True to House Jebert's bean sprout growth, the boy was tall for his age. Straight black hair neatly combed, pale purple eyes.

The sharp eyes visible under his clear glasses exuded a prickly sensitivity.

'Ugh... he kinda looks like Dad.'

If Void was the mild flavor, this one was the classic spicy.

The boy finally released his grip on the cart stacked higher than himself and removed his gloves.

"Long time no see, Father. Your shirt buttons are undone."

Liam pushed up his glasses with both index fingers, fixing his gaze on Dad's loosely undone shirt buttons.

Dad let out a long sigh.

"Liam, when exactly did you arrive in Ipson? Where are your escort knights?"

"Hmm... that's how it happened. Your buttons are undone, I said."

"That explains nothing. Pushing up your glasses with that smart face doesn't cut it."

"The but..."

"The buttons were undone on purpose. It's stuffy."

Liam's icy expression cracked.

"......Buttons exist to be buttoned."

Dad looked like he had a throbbing headache regardless.

"Where's Rose? Tell me Rose isn't in Ipson too."

"Mother probably hasn't arrived yet. I rode here partway with Sir Beth. It was tough studying in such poor conditions."

"I told you not to read while riding."

"What else is there to do on horseback if not read?"

His tone was like he'd heard the strangest thing.

Like asking a modern person what they'd do on the subway without their smartphone...

'What is this, spear versus shield?'

I squished my cheek against the railing, watching father and son with great interest.

The adult raised the white flag first.

"Fine, fine. Leon, send a messenger to the south gate. Check if Rose's carriage has passed."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Senior Leon vanished smoothly. Liam gave Leon a slight smile—probably pleased with his perfect attire.

"So."

Dad's gaze shifted behind Liam.

"What brings His Highness here this time? Please don't say you came alone."

Licht, casually having the servants help him remove his coat and sword, smiled.

"Sorry to disappoint, Duke."

"......"

"I couldn't resist when I heard the New Green Festival is in the north."

Fuuu. Another heavy sigh escaped.

'Oh no. What do we do? Is Dad going to get more white hairs?'

I gripped the railing tight, gazing pityingly at his handsome head.

Raising teens is tough... Fighting.

"......"

"......"

Midway through reaching out to pet the air, cerulean eyes locked onto me without hesitation.

"Hey, Rubian. What are you doing up there?"

His soft voice flowed out. Every gaze in the first-floor lobby stabbed toward me.