The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 77

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 77

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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"B-Blanket! Coat! Quilt!"

The young master had dashed off somewhere and returned lugging a bundle of his own fluffy coat, a quilt, and blankets.

But then he couldn't even bring himself to drape them over me and just stood there trembling, hands flapping helplessly.

"W-What if the coat's too heavy and my little sister wastes away?"

Why is he like this?

"I'm not faking it."

"Gasp, I didn't know! Liam, you hear that?"

Is Void... just incapable of normal conversation?

I shot him a dissatisfied glare.

"We were playing windmill spins just a few days ago! What's your deal?!"

"Right... What have I done..."

Void staggered back, his face crumpling like the world was ending.

'No hope for that one.'

It's terminal.

I shook my head firmly and turned away without a second thought.

But as I took a single step...

"Where do you think you're going?"

"......"

Two broad, dark backs loomed right in front of me, side by side.

"I'll guarantee comfort with my ample surface area, Little Fairy."

"Ruby's used to my back!"

"Whoa, epic!"

This is annoying!

Of course, I ignored both backs completely and headed outside. Sparks flew from the brothers' eyes, while Hazel, watching from the side, covered her mouth and giggled.

Hmph. Time to find my auxiliary battery!

Where the heck is he?

"Caaaal...! Whoa, you scared me!"

I flung the door open and nearly tripped over my own feet.

There was a shadowy figure standing by the door like a gnarled old tree.

"Careful."

Cal grabbed me as I stumbled wildly. I blinked up at him.

"You're right here... why didn't you come in...?"

Looking at his dim, shadowed face made my brow furrow on instinct.

A suspicion crept in.

"You weren't standing out here the whole time, were you...?"

Cal, who rarely avoided my eyes, slyly looked away.

"Don't tell me you've been guarding this door for days!"

"......"

I told him not to say it, and he really didn't.

Cal even released his grip on my shoulder and took a step back.

Thud. I was pretty shocked. Cal had never pushed me away first!

It felt like thunder and lightning crashing in my heart.

"You, you, you! Why won't you look at me?"

"......"

"You said not to speak, so you're really not gonna? Were you out here the whole time?"

"......I'd have to lie if I answered, so I'm not saying anything. Don't ask."

Cal replied coolly, then pressed his lips into a thin line. He cast his gaze obliquely downward, not meeting my eyes.

"He's reflecting on it,"

said a voice from behind me.

Two black heads poked out side by side through the door crack like peas in a pod.

"Reflecting? On what?"

I didn't even need to ask. Their drenched-puppy looks told me everything.

I bit my lip and glared at Cal.

"Look at me... Cough, cough!"

My coughing fit made Cal whip his head around. His face shifted from blue to yellow, then drained to white.

"S-See? I'm hopeless..."

Cal staggered backward.

"That's not it! You idiot!"

What am I gonna do with him?

I hesitated a moment, then made up my mind.

I grabbed Cal's wrist as he tried to retreat down the hall.

The onlookers all flinched, but that was none of my business.

"Ruby? Rubyrubyruby? You're too close to him..."

"Cal, run!"

I bolted down the empty opposite hallway.

"H-Hand, why the hand..."

Cal stiffened and stammered incoherently.

Hmph. He always grabs my hand casually, but when I do it first, he gets like this?

"Let's escape! From those annoying big brothers!"

"Gah, Rubyyyy! Where are you going?!"

Void wailed despairingly from behind.

"Void, come on. We have to catch her."

"Bro! Why are you running the wrong way?! Argh, you have no sense of direction!"

"...? No way."

"What do you mean no way... Ah, I told you not to look at me like thaaat!"

Their bickering faded into the distance.

"Ugh, where to?!"

"......Follow me."

Cal's loosely hanging fingers suddenly gripped mine tight. I'd started by dragging him, but somehow he'd taken the lead.

I could see his straight profile just ahead.

He's not shaking me off, at least.

The corners of my pouting lips twitched upward.

"Knew you'd come around."

My good little Pooch, after all.

My heart pounded pleasantly.

* * *

We arrived at the greenhouse behind the ducal residence.

"Three and a half laps around the training grounds' worth of power!"

I panted, flashing a V-sign. Cal chuckled, looking refreshed.

The greenhouse was vast and warm. Peeking at the flowerbeds with colorful blooms poking out, I wriggled out of my outer coat.

"Your cold hasn't fully gone, has it? Don't take it off."

"Nah, I'm all better! Coughing's almost gone too."

It's so hot in here! I fanned myself and finally shed the coat. Cal looked reluctant but took it anyway.

"I had no idea this place was here!"

"There's a tea table by the pond over there."

"Awesome. Wanna have tea?"

Tea time while admiring pretty flowers and the pond!

But Cal just shook his head briefly.

"No. I'll keep guarding this spot and reflect some more."

"Enough already."

Wow, that stubborn streak.

"Why's it your fault I ran off and got caught up in that mess? It was mine!"

"......It's never your fault."

"Right? So let's say it's 100% those criminal uncles' fault!"

Cal seemed utterly traumatized from letting me slip away at the hot springs.

Angry, frustrated, wronged. I could feel his jumbled emotions plainly.

'Damn... So why punish yourself?!'

I couldn't name this surging feeling in my chest.

Anger? Pity?

Cal bit his lip and stared straight at me. His eyes were a bit red, like he hadn't slept.

"I know, I get it. But I can't help getting mad."

"......"

"Just leave me be for now."

The stubborn Pooch grumbled curtly and turned away again.

I thrust my hand out at him without warning.

"Gimme."

"What...?"

"Don't play dumb. Hurry up."

"......You don't look low on mana."

"How can you tell from my face? My vision's all wobbly right now."

He knew I was exaggerating, but sweet Cal slowly unclasped his bracelet. His hesitant fingers reached toward me.

I seized his hand.

"There, forgiveness handshake! We're good?"

I slipped a bit of my mana into him. His mana, trickling cautiously toward me, paused.

"What're you doing? With that piddly amount of mana."

He instinctively tried to pull away, so I gripped tighter and shook his hand vigorously like a proper shake.

"I forgive you! I don't even know what for! No, there's someone else at fault, so why're you beating yourself up? It upsets me too!"

His gaze turned back to me. After a brief silence, Cal spoke.

"......You're upset? When I'm feeling down?"

I don't know why that hooked him, but I nodded vigorously.

"Of course!"

The boy's lips twitched.

A faint crease formed on his smooth brow.

"......Me too."

"Huh?"

"When you're upset, I'm upset too."

"Oh... Really?"

Cal's eyelids fluttered slowly.

Captured by his fluttering lashes, I met his intense gray eyes and suddenly felt my throat tighten.

"That tickles... Stop."

Cal chuckled. I'd been unconsciously trickling mana nonstop.

"Sorry."

I reflexively tried to pull back, but his long fingers clamped down.

"But it feels good, so a little more."

Bright light poured through the transparent greenhouse panes. His ash-gray eyes sparkled like polished glass in the sunlight.

"You said you feel good when I do."

"I don't think I said it that way...?"

"You did."

In that moment, my head tilted instinctively.

'What's this?'

Thump thump.

I pressed my free hand to my left chest.

Why was my heart racing like I'd been running?

It was a mystery.