The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 76

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 76

Chapter Title: Guarding the Little Sister

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Far off in the distance, the faint sound of carriage wheels could be heard. The woman's wide-open eyes visible through the window. Himself leaping toward her...

What kind of memory is this...

At that moment, shouts erupted from the people around.

"It's a kidnapping! Noble kids got snatched!"

"...!"

Khalid jerked his head up. The power that had been crumbling away snapped back into balance in an instant.

"Ruby!"

His staggering steps turned into a full sprint.

Rubian.

The boy was certain.

Rubian is definitely in trouble!

Warning bells clanged loudly in his head. With no time to mull over the faintly resurfacing memory, Khalid just ran.

"..."

Cal slowly opened his eyes.

The surroundings were shrouded in darkness.

His eyes, which had been retracing the past, were pitch black.

"Hey."

Someone poked him.

Turning around, it was the senior knight who had been standing guard with him in front of Rubian's bedroom.

"Go get some sleep."

Cal shook his head vigorously. His hand was numb—he must have been gripping his sword without realizing it.

"I'm fine."

"Sigh, you stubborn pooch. Staying here again today?"

"Yes."

"If you're that worried, at least go talk to her..."

The grumbling knight tossed something over.

"Fine. Won't try to stop you. But eat something while you're camping out, huh?"

Bread and a bottle of milk landed between Cal's legs as he leaned against the wall. Khalid looked up at the knight, struck by a strange feeling.

What're you staring at? the knight mouthed. His face radiated a rough kind of affection.

"...Thanks."

Gripping the cold milk bottle sharpened his mind.

Thud, thud. The knight walked away.

He stared blankly into the darkness.

'The price for touching a person's soul is harsh.'

Only those words lingered in his mind.

'Have I touched someone's soul before?'

A spark of light flashed in the boy's eyes.

'Is that why I was trapped in the cave—as the price?'

Nothing was certain. It could have been a hallucination from the mana overload on the verge of rampage.

Khalid clenched his molars.

"I need to find out more."

Starting from the cave where he'd been imprisoned, step by step.

The boy murmured lowly and raised his head.

"For now."

Reflect a little more...

His deeply sullen eyes shifted sideways.

The ornate bedroom door stood firmly shut. Rubian's hacking coughs leaked through the crack.

Cal bit his lip and sat up straight.

He intended to punish himself harshly for failing to protect his master.

I stretched amid the chirping of birds, my body feeling light and refreshed.

"Ugh ugh. It was the young lady. Young lady..."

The moment I opened my eyes, there was Hazel, sobbing and soaking the bedspread with tears and snot.

"Hazel? How'd you get here?"

I startled and yanked the sheet closer.

I wanted to rescue my precious blanket from her fluids, but Hazel had even blown her nose on the bedspread...

"I brought stacks of your favorite blankets... Don't worry, young ladyyyy."

"Use as many as you need."

I flashed a generous smile and let go of the sheet.

"But seriously, why are you here?"

"Our young lady... Do you know how long I've wanted to say that?"

"It's not official yet... How'd you even get here?"

"Who cares about imperial or church approval? The Family Head, the Madam, even Old Duke Excellency acknowledged it. Ugh ugh."

"I see. But why keep dodging my question? How'd you get here..."

Before I could finish, Hazel pulled me into a tight hug. My shoulder began to grow damp.

"So that's why you wouldn't let me help with your bath? Washing all brave and alone? Everything's fine now. This Hazel will take proper care of you."

"No, really, I'm okay..."

"I'm okay too. How tough it must've been, thinking you were our young master..."

Her words pinged right off me.

'She must've gotten here somehow.'

I gave up and patted her sturdy shoulder.

"Any pain? Anything uncomfortable? What about your wrist bandage?"

"Ah, this? It's fine. Borvel said it'd heal up completely soon!"

I smiled, but Hazel pouted her lips.

"That's a relief... You must've been so scared. Those scum who dared touch our young lady—should've ripped them apart. Ah, we really should've just shot them all!"

Killing intent layered into her prim eyes like a gradient. Afraid of awakening the sword-wielding maid within, I waved my hands frantically.

"Dad avenged me! Calm down, Hazel!"

"Whew. Right... Yeah, they were hauled off to the capital prison in pretty pathetic shape."

"Really?"

"Can't give a kid the gory details... Just say they couldn't chain both wrists, okay?"

What did that mean? I tilted my head.

But it sounded gruesomely brutal, so best not to ask.

'Dad would've punished the bad guys properly anyway.'

What I was really curious about was something else.

The person who should've been lurking nearby hadn't shown his face at all.

'Thought I saw him half-asleep.'

Was it a dream?

"But maybe Cal..."

"But."

Hazel's voice drowned mine out. Her gaze flicked to the slightly ajar bedroom door.

"Those two hiding out there since earlier—are they guests or just decor?"

"Ah, right."

I'd completely forgotten while salvaging the blanket.

Two familiar shadows had been lurking behind the door since Hazel started bawling.

I cleared my throat loudly.

"You two planning to come in anytime soon?"

The door panel twitched.

"Uh, well..."

I mulled over my words, then tossed them out playfully.

"Big... brothers?"

Bang!

The door flew open as if it might come off its hinges.

Liam strode in with grand flair. He polished his glasses with a crisp sound as he approached.

"Finally, the awkwardness is gone, Little Fairy. Stick that title on your lips from now on."

"Hm, I'll think about it..."

"Practice. Practice makes a good kid."

"Not going to read your books?"

"Not going to read your books, Big Brother? That's the proper sentence. And I moved every library right next to your room."

"Why?!"

He hated noise, yet went through all that hassle?

At that moment, Liam—who'd been unleashing words like a storm—faltered slightly. Uncharacteristically, he cast his eyes down with a gloomy air.

"I was in the annex and didn't even notice my sibling leaving. I'm no better than troll trash..."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"I'm sorry."

His crisp apology made my eyes go wide. Whoa, that was surprisingly decent.

"Why so shocked?"

"Didn't expect you'd say sorry so straightforwardly."

Not his fault anyway.

Still, more human than I'd thought? Figured a prickly weirdo like him wouldn't know the word.

"Obviously my first time. Sorry."

"..."

"Never messed up before."

"For real? Take a good look at yourself."

The handsome boy raised a brow like what're you on about.

'Arrogant weirdo confirmed.'

I shook my head and reflexively buttoned up to my neck. A smile bloomed on Liam's face.

"But..."

I glanced at Void beside him.

Arms dangling limp, mouth agape. He looked like his soul had fled so completely he'd been reborn a ghost.

"Why's Void Big Brother like that?"

"My sibling... little sister."

A dazed mumble escaped him.

"...The one supposedly a hundred times more annoying than a little brother... little sister."

I pouted a little.

"What... I won't be annoying..."

Liam was one thing, but Void had been avoiding me since earlier.

"And sorry for the deception, both of you."

Their faces twitched subtly.

Some distance crept in, making my nose itch for no reason.

"Cough!"

Ah, Borvel did say the cough would linger.

"...!"

In that instant, Void shot up like he'd been struck by lightning.