11 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
11
“Uh……”
His eyes widened slightly as he spotted me.
His smooth lips twitched a little. Then, he whispered to the servant standing next to him.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“…It feels weird with her here, doesn’t it?”
He tried to cover his mouth with his hand, but I heard everything.
‘The new kid on the block is making him nervous!’
I need to get along with him if I want to adapt here safely!
I swallowed nervously.
‘Of course, I have a killer item for this.’
I’ve prepared something amazing for this moment.
Of course, I didn’t buy it with my own money!
“Uncle, I need to buy something over there!”
In the capital, I grabbed Uncle Leviathan’s hand and dragged him to the bustling market.
“Give me money.”
“Oh, so you’re extorting me now.”
“Hehe.”
I spread my hands and looked up, and Uncle Leviathan raised his lips with a mischievous look.
“Just be generous. I’ll pay you back later.”
“With what?”
“Um… by being a mercenary or something!”
“Don’t even think about it. A little thing like you, a mercenary? Leon, open the vault. All of it.”
Uncle Leviathan tilted his head and called out briefly, and Lord Leon appeared from somewhere. The knight took out a heavy bundle as if he were used to it.
With that, I grabbed a large money bag and went to a store in the capital to buy a card.
“Ta-da! Hero Collection Card!”
“…You’re buying something like that?”
“It looks fun.”
“My money is leaking like water.”
“It’s just a little splash of seawater, don’t make a fuss.”
“To think you came all the way here to buy such trashy toys.”
“Um, we’re still at the checkout. The merchant is crying.”
The <Hero Collection Card> was a crudely drawn game card featuring Leviathan Zebert and his war comrades. It was wildly popular with the children of the continent!
‘Void really wanted to have it in the original story, but he couldn’t.’
I should give it to him later when I get the chance. Maybe then we can get along a little better?
Hehe, I watched Void sit down with a dark smile.
“Good evening, Young Master. From today, you will be dining with Rubian.”
The servants carrying the food greeted us.
“Come to think of it, you must be the older brother, Young Master?”
“Huh? …Brother?”
He looked like he had heard a very unfamiliar word. Void stared at me with his mouth slightly open.
“Oh, that’s right. She’s under me, so…”
Mutter, mutter.
I waved my hand and said hello. Void sat down, fixing a strange gaze on me.
“But where’s Father?”
“The Lord is busy. He said he’ll take care of it in his office.”
“Ah, I see.”
He didn’t seem surprised at all.
“Come on, eat up. There are plenty of egg dishes that Young Master likes. The chef didn’t know what Rubian likes, so he made a variety of things…”
The servants spoke kindly and placed the food on the table. Void sat at one end of the large table and skillfully picked up his utensils.
I sucked on my spoon and rolled my eyes.
‘He seems surprisingly used to this.’
Eating alone there.
I thought he was a spoiled brat at first glance.
‘He’s not even sad that he can’t have dinner with his father, whom he hasn’t seen in a long time.’
He was acting like a puppy who needed to pee in the lobby?
Suddenly, I remembered what Butler Adolf had said, that the two of them were just starting to get over their awkwardness.
‘Ah, that means… there are still some awkward parts left.’
Just then, I heard a tapping sound on the table.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
I looked up and Void was staring at me.
“Ah, I’m going to eat…”
“Tsk, really. I can’t help it.”
“Huh?”
I blinked blankly.
Because a plate of steaming steak had been pushed in front of me.
Neatly cut pieces of steak on a large plate.
“Sigh, having a younger sibling is a lot of work.”
Void raised his chin and said. I can’t help it, shake, shake. He shook his head vigorously, but his face looked somehow satisfied.
“Oh, I have hands…”
I was about to say that I have hands… when Void suddenly snatched my plate back.
“Okay, okay, I get it.”
What?
“Ugh, do I have to do this every meal? It’s really annoying, annoying.”
Slice, slice, slice, slice.
He cut the slightly larger pieces of meat once more, and cut all the grilled vegetables that came as a garnish without leaving any.
“……”
I stared at the meal that had been perfectly prepared for one bite.
Void, who had become an older brother overnight, didn’t stop grumbling.
“Ugh. What should I do?”
Drizzle, drizzle with the lacking sauce.
“There are so many things to worry about every meal now.”
The slightly cold soup was replaced with a warm one.
“Be. Cause. Of. My. Young. Er. Sis. Ter.”
Chop, chop butter on the golden bread.
I blinked, surrounded by food.
So this is… does this mean he’s happy to eat with me?
‘Maybe I didn’t need the Hero Card after all?’
I picked up a piece of deliciously cut meat with my fork. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you, Orah… Brother! I’ll enjoy the meal!”
Then Void’s eyes widened. I could see the maids next to me covering their mouths and giggling.
“Ha, really…”
Void’s well-shaped lips rippled. But all that came out of his mouth was a long sigh.
“Ah~ It’s so annoying. A cute younger sister who calls me brother as soon as she sees me, eats with me, and says thank you is really, really annoying…!”
It was an incomprehensible mumble, but anyway, I was glad he seemed to be having fun.
\ \ *
After dinner, I was given a rough introduction to the Duchy Castle by Hazel.
Then I was led to my room.
“Where have you been!”
Void was there. He couldn’t wait and came to see me.
“I forgot to tell you something in the dining room earlier.”
The second son of this house scanned me with critical eyes. Soon, he started following me around as I looked around the room, chattering.
Wow, this room is huge!
“-So, you have to wake up early in the morning and come to my room to help me dress, and you can’t eat before me, and of course, after-meal tea…!”
The bed is also very fluffy.
What did they put in it as filling?
“Are you listening to me?”
“I’m not a maid… or a servant.”
When I said that, staring at him, Void’s shoulders stopped slightly.
“T, the youngest is supposed to do that!”
“Who said that?”
“Uncle Obron!”
I burst out laughing. Obron was one of the Zeberth Knights.
“The knights must cherish you a lot.”
“……”
Void frowned. He seemed to have hurt his pride, but he didn’t seem to know exactly what he was upset about.
‘Well, he looks like someone I’d want to tease.’
I took another look at Void.
Raven-like black hair and sparkling purple eyes.
Thanks to his slightly drooping eyes, he lacked the ferocity typical of the Zeberth direct line. His soft and smooth cheeks were flushed red.
‘Whose taste is that suspender?’
It’s a truly excellent choice.
I secretly adored Void with an indifferent face.
Of course, he was a head taller than me, and he would grow up to be scary soon…
‘But why isn’t he leaving? I’m getting sleepy now.’
I looked at Void, who was scurrying around in my bedroom.
Touching the bedding, checking the lamp, checking if the window was locked properly, if the curtains were thick enough, checking again and again.
…He’s doing the chores himself?
“Huh! Why am I doing this?”
Well, it seems like I can get along with Void.
Then, should I drive a wedge in at this point?
“What are you doing?”
I opened my bag, which was leaning against one wall.
“Here.”
“Huh?”
What I handed him was a crude bundle of cards.
“What is this…”
I expected his round eyes to widen like lanterns.
Void approached, staggering, with an unbelievable look on his face, and took the bundle of cards.
“Heok!”
I also expected him to swallow his breath.
“Hero Card Collection-! It’s a capital limited edition!”
Of course, I expected him to jump around and turn red.
“I’ll give it to you.”
“You’ll give it to me?!”
Void raised his head sharply.
I jumped back into bed. I lay on my side like Uncle Leviathan and nodded my head.
“It’s a gift.”
“……”
His beautiful purple eyes sparkled. It seemed like something similar to faith was spreading on his face as he looked up at me.
Heh, I smiled with satisfaction.
After all, there’s nothing better than game cards to seduce an 11-year-old boy.
