14 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Chapter 14
The maids stood before the east room as if in reverence.
"……Something feels strange."
The maid who opened the door murmured.
The east room.
The most precious room, prepared in the best location within this Duchy Castle.
"Wait, I'm tearing up again……."
"Hey, don't……. I feel like crying too."
The maid pinched the bridge of her nose and tilted her head back.
Hazel also blinked her moist eyes.
It was a child's room.
A space personally decorated by the Duke and Duchess.
"Oh my goodness, they even bought an academy uniform."
One of the maids said, looking at the dressing room. Her voice was thick with emotion.
The room was filled with all sorts of things, from newborn items to those for a child around ten years old. Clothes, books, shoes, bags, toys……. It was truly disorganized.
What must Leviathan and Rosetta have felt as they filled this room with things?
And when they eventually had to close the room they had decorated so lovingly…….
What must their hearts have been like?
The atmosphere among the maids grew heavy.
"Found it."
Hazel, her eyes red, took out a small box from somewhere in the drawer. It was a box full of dainty hairpins and hair ties.
"They always said it would be a girl, and they really did buy a lot of girl's things……."
Rosetta would stroke her round belly and habitually say it would be a cute little girl.
And it was as Rosetta had said.
'If the young lady were here…… she'd be about this age now.'
Around the same age as Rubian.
'As the Jebert family values women, she would have been loved immensely.'
Hazel tried to shake off the thought.
"It's too sad, so I'll stop thinking about it."
She sniffled once more and left the room with the maids.
The way back was silent.
"But will Rubian continue to stay here?"
Someone asked.
"Isn't it obvious? The Lord cherishes him so much."
The only one in this castle who could open the east room, which had been locked in darkness for so long, was Rubian.
"But he hasn't been formally adopted yet. You never know."
"What? You never know? What do you mean, Hazel?"
"Rubian has to like this place."
Abruptly. As if by agreement, the maids stopped walking.
Shock slowly spread.
"Wow."
"So we have to do well."
"……."
"……I messed up today, though."
Hazel swallowed her bitter feelings and squeezed her eyes shut.
Tightly. Her hand, clutching the hairpin box, tightened.
Of course, she couldn't crush the box to powder…… so Hazel slammed her fist against the nearby wall.
A heavy vibration shook the wall.
"……."
The maids, who were former mercenary comrades, each slapped Hazel on the back as they passed her, who was leaning against the wall.
"Make it up with your life, Hazel."
Ugh, ugh, argh.
"We're watching you."
"Make amends. Okay?"
These girls' hands are still as rough as ever.
But Hazel, who was angry at herself, willingly endured the punishment.
\ \ \
"Oh."
I admired myself in the mirror.
It was because the bothersome bangs were neatly fixed in place. With a small strawberry-shaped pin.
"Hmph, it suits you perfectly!"
Hazel's eyes were completely softened.
But where did they even find such a tiny pin?
"Let me see."
Uncle, who had been standing quietly behind me, turned me around to face him.
"……."
Uncle was silent for a moment.
I couldn't read his expression well. His purple eyes seemed to have sunk deeply.
'Is it weird?'
Maybe.
Then, Uncle tapped my cheek.
"It suits you. You can have it."
I don't know why his slightly smiling face looked a little sad.
"But Ruby, were you scared of scissors?"
Uncle asked, as if suddenly remembering. I shook my head.
"It's not that I'm scared of scissors, but…… it's just that I'm a little…… uncomfortable with a stranger holding something dangerous near my neck."
I glanced at Hazel. She was biting her lip until it bled.
"I guess I was nervous because it felt awkward……."
It wasn't that I had any bad memories. It just seemed like my wariness of strangers had increased.
Perhaps it was because I was hiding my identity and being chased.
"I'm sorry, Rubian. I didn't even know……."
"Ah, no! It just takes some……."
I didn't want Hazel to misunderstand.
"I just need some time!"
Hazel nodded with a gloomy look.
"I'm sorry, Lord. I wasn't considerate enough."
"That's enough, just go out."
"Yes."
The sullen-faced maid disappeared.
Uncle stared at the pin in my hair for a long time, then stroked the back of my head.
"Your bangs are one thing, but the hair at the back is terribly tangled. Aren't you uncomfortable?"
"Uh-huh……."
Actually, I was.
My hair was particularly thin and tangled easily, but now it was beyond saving.
"How about I cut it for you?"
"Huh?"
I widened my eyes. I thought he was joking, but surprisingly, Uncle had a serious look on his face.
"Would that be okay?"
Looking at his face, which was cautiously watching me, I thought carefully.
If it's Leviathan…….
Of course…….
"It wouldn't be okay at all?"
Uncle blinked.
"Uncle, have you ever cut hair before?"
"No?"
Unless it's cutting off a Demon's head.
"See! No experience! Eliminated!"
"That was the reason?"
It was an important issue!
"Tsk, what does it matter to a boy anyway, since hair grows back……."
"Then I'll cut Uncle's hair too!"
"Suit yourself."
Wow. Just because he's handsome, he doesn't obsess over his hair.
Uncle chuckled and gently stroked the back of my head.
"It's okay. Don't do it if you don't want to."
He backed down so easily that I felt like I had lost.
I hesitated for a moment. It was a little uncomfortable every time I washed my hair anyway…….
"Then call Hazel back."
"Why?"
"It would be okay if Hazel directs and Uncle cuts."
"Hah, I'm her superior."
Uncle scoffed.
But he must have read my firm gaze, because he didn't add anything more.
"Bring Hazel."
At his short command, Hazel, who had been waiting nearby, quickly appeared.
The same chair and tools were set up in a flash.
I sat between Uncle's knees. His long legs stretched out on either side of my body.
Uncle, who was fiddling with the back of my head, muttered absentmindedly.
"Wouldn't it melt if I put it in my mouth?"
……Did I make the wrong choice after all?
I stealthily covered the back of my head.
Anyway, the only hair salon in the world was set up!
"Oh, Lord! You can't cut it there!"
"Why not? It seems like it would be cool."
This is becoming unsettling in a different way.
"Yes, fix it firmly with your fingers and cut along the line."
"It's nothing much."
"Ah! If you cut that part like that……!"
"……."
"……Gasp."
"……What?"
I clenched my fists on my lap. Really, I was sweating profusely in a different sense.
"What was that 'gasp' just now!"
"Ohoho. It's nothing, Rubian! It's nothing at all!"
The fact that Hazel was laughing in such an uncharacteristic way meant that it was definitely not nothing.
"……Ruby, you should cut my hair too."
I heard Uncle's voice from behind, sounding somehow determined.
"……Please do."
"Geez……."
It seems like everything is ruined!
But ridiculously, I fell asleep in the middle of it.
The whispering voices, the warm, large hands ruffling my hair, and the soft afternoon sunlight combined with the rustling sound of scissors made me feel strangely drowsy.
Just the fact that Leviathan was protecting me from behind made me like this.
It's quite a strange thing.
"Huh?"
I was a little surprised when I looked in the mirror.
"It's better than I thought……."
"Not bad, right?"
Uncle had a triumphant expression.
Contrary to my worries, my hair was impeccably neat.
'Perfectly.'
I became a boy!
"It suits you very well!"
Should I be happy?
Anyway, I felt relieved that my hair, which had been sticking out like a broom, was now neat. The bangs were also trimmed a little, making them even.
"Don't take off the pin, it suits you."
Uncle said, touching the pin that was gently placed on the right side of my head.
"Hmm."
Uncle covered his mouth with his hand and spun me around.
"I can feel the cuteness from every direction."
The maid sisters, including Hazel, nodded vigorously. They looked like they were collectively holding something back, with their fists clenched tightly.
"Thanks for cutting it so well!"
I willingly gave confidence to the novice hairdresser who was indulging in self-praise.
Uncle raised his eyebrows and bit the top of my head.
"What are you doing!"
"I guess it doesn't melt after all."
Did his head go crazy after becoming a hairdresser?!
I ran away with a horrified expression.
The hairdresser, who had kissed my head without a care, was just chuckling.
\ \ \
"……."
The next morning.
Void, who was entering the dining room, paused.
He nudged the attendant next to him and whispered.
"……Is it possible to become an elf's younger sibling?"
