15 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 15
So even if it could all be heard.
I felt a bit awkward and pretended not to have heard.
“And Father?”
Void asked as he took his seat.
“He said he has many documents to review.”
“Ah, I see.”
A reply that sounded as if he hadn’t expected anything in the first place.
But by this point, it was impossible not to know.
Void asked about Uncle every mealtime.
Even though he knew Uncle wouldn’t appear, he still held onto a sliver of hope.
‘Hmm…….’
I stared intently at Void while biting my spoon.
No matter how I looked at it, his face seemed to want to eat with Uncle.
‘Hah, come to think of it, since I came here, I haven’t had a single meal with Uncle either.’
Could it be that he was avoiding the spot so Void and I could eat together?
I fiddled with a small hairpin.
“Hey, Hazel.”
Covering the corner of my mouth with a large piece of bread, I whispered.
“Yes. Lady Rubian.”
“……?”
Surprisingly, Hazel was skilled enough to whisper without moving her lips.
Keeping a calm face, I continued.
“By any chance, is Uncle intentionally avoiding meals with Void?”
At that, Hazel flinched slightly.
So that’s the answer.
“……No. The Family Head is truly busy today.”
“Today?”
“Well. Actually, the two of them sharing meals is quite rare. Over the past few years, the Family Head has stayed at the Duchy Castle only a handful of times, and…… Young Master Void was quite afraid of the Family Head when he was young.”
“Ah, I heard about that.”
“He used to get indigestion every time they ate…… So it just ended up like this.”
Hmm, I took a small bite of the bread corner. It was crispy.
“Was Void that scared of Uncle?”
“When the young masters first came to the castle…… the Family Head was truly, in a very poor state. To the point where no one could approach him.”
Ah. That must have been when he lost the baby and fell into despair.
I recalled Uncle Leviathan’s past.
‘He wandered for several years, I think.’
When the sorrow one faces is too great, sometimes the surroundings become invisible.
“Perhaps the first button was fastened wrong. Of course, he always regrets what happened back then…….”
Hazel, who had been murmuring softly, seemed to come to her senses as she exclaimed, “Oh my, what am I saying?” and quickly lifted her head.
“I’m sorry. Did I disturb your meal?”
“No.”
So this must be it.
A father who feels sorry for not treating his son well in the past and has become cautious.
A son who doesn’t want to appear the least bit displeasing to the father he respects.
‘But how long does he plan to go on like this?’
I speared a piece of meat that Void had cut at some point and put it in my mouth.
Chew chew.
The meat juice spread throughout my mouth, melting smoothly—it was the highest quality meat I had ever tasted in my life.
“Rubian, you should eat the bell peppers too.”
“Hmm…….”
Lost in thought, I replied vaguely and pushed the chopped bell peppers out of my plate.
“…….”
Naturally, I didn’t see the young master, shocked by this unheard-of dining etiquette, with his mouth agape.
Chew chew, gulp.
“You know.”
When I lifted my head, Void was staring at me with a very awkward expression.
‘What do I do, look at that. He seems a bit sad…….’
To be honest, it was a bit of a dilemma.
Was it okay for me to meddle in someone else’s family affairs?
Besides, as in the latter part of the original story, their relationship would improve slowly anyway. So even if I didn’t interfere, it would be fine, but…….
I fiddled with my hairpin again.
‘Because I’m grateful to both of them…….’
I thought maybe I could give them a little push.
“Should I ask Uncle to eat with us from now on?”
Void clattered, dropping his cutlery.
“Huh?”
“Why? Is that a problem?”
“No, it’s…… good.”
“By any chance, are you still scared of Uncle?”
“Of course not!”
I bet. He loves the Hero Card that much.
Void scratched his cheek as if embarrassed.
“I understand now that it was because something bad happened to Father in the past……. Of course, I’d like to eat together now.”
“You’d like to, but?”
“It’s just…… a bit awkward to bring it up now…….”
Aha. I narrowed my eyes.
“So you need an opportunity, you mean?”
“Well, not exactly that……. He might find it bothersome…….”
“Hmm.”
With Void digging his own grave in front of me, I pondered a method.
Then, suddenly, attendants busily passing by outside the dining room caught my eye. They were carrying stacks of documents. Probably on their way to Uncle’s office?
The corner of my mouth lifted slightly.
“Brother Void.”
“Huh?”
“I have a good idea.”
Hehehe. When I laughed with shining eyes, Void flinched slightly.
What’s this, my little sister seems a bit devil-like…….
I heard such a mutter.
But who cares?
\ \ \
Knock knock.
I knocked on the heavy office door.
“Come in.”
A low voice.
Entering cautiously, I saw Uncle sitting at his desk.
The silhouette sitting with his back to the sun was immensely large. Beside him on the table were traces of numerous coffees and hastily finished meals.
Ah, I can feel it.
The scent of an office worker buried in work.
“Leave the documents there and go. Why are there so many……. What brings you here?”
Uncle, who had been flipping through something, looked up. His eyes held a very surprised expression.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
“What?”
I bowed at a 90-degree angle. Uncle furrowed his brow and looked at me as if observing a strange creature.
Ignoring it, I approached briskly.
Placing the paper I was holding onto the desk cluttered with disordered stacks of documents.
“What is this?”
“Please review it, Duke!”
“……Huh?”
He looked utterly bewildered.
Uncle picked up the paper scribbled in crooked handwriting.
“A report?”
“Yep!”
To be precise, it was an approval document, ahem.
“……You plan to hold a welcome ceremony, so please sign?”
A hesitant voice rang out. I puffed out my chest and nodded in sync with Uncle’s voice.
“What on earth is this supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what it says.”
Feeling like a new employee going to the department head for the first approval, I spoke shyly.
“I’m thinking of holding my welcome ceremony. The venue is the central dining room!”
“……?”
“Please check the item list here and sign.”
Ever heard of a self-directed welcome ceremony?
“You really do all sorts of things.”
Uncle snorted with a disbelieving face.
“You won’t permit it?”
“No reason not to.”
Swish. A flawless signature. Perfect.
I tightly gripped the returned document.
When I grinned broadly, Uncle, who had been resting his chin and observing me, chuckled along.
“Then, see you later this evening!”
“Ah, I’m busy…….”
“But the Duke is a mandatory attendee? You signed it.”
“Huh?”
Uncle, who had been resting his face on his hand, immediately lifted his head.
I pointed to the last line written in tiny letters.
“If you look at this line…… it’s also an invitation. Signing it means you agree to attend, you see.”
That’s why you should sign carefully, Uncle.
Leaving the Duke blinking blankly behind, I waved cheerfully.
“Then see you later, Uncle!”
Thud. The door closed neatly.
Outside stood Void.
With a somewhat tense expression.
“Did it work?”
“Of course.”
We put our heads together and giggled.
\ \ \
It started small, but somehow the entire castle became bustling.
“Now now, everyone, step aside!”
“Ah, that decoration is falling!”
“It’s because we’ve never attached something like this before!”
“Glue! Bring more glue!”
Sturdy maids, servants, and attendants ran around everywhere.
“Why haven’t the gardeners come? I told them to bring more flowers, but there’s no news!”
“I should go kick their butts!”
Sitting in the dining room, I blankly watched the scene.
Colorful flowers and decorations were hung in the once bleak interior.
‘If we used magic, it’d be quick…….’
But of course, we couldn’t use magic.
Besides, Hazel said my job was to sit still. So I was staying put.
“Everyone is so enthusiastic.”
My intention was just to set out some food and eat together…… but it feels like I’ve escalated things.
“Lady Rubian.”
Just then, a gentle voice called.
Turning, I saw a middle-aged woman with a smile.
She was the castle’s head chef.
“I came to ask what kind of cake Lady Rubian prefers.”
“Cake?”
“Yes. I thought I should choose the cream.”
I tilted my head.
“But…… this party is for Uncle’s return, isn’t it?”
The answer came from the opposite side.
“Isn’t it your welcome party too?”
It was Void, sitting right next to me and stacking cards.
“Huh? Wasn’t that just an excuse?”
If I said it was a party for Uncle’s return, of course he wouldn’t permit it.
But Void had the expression of someone who had heard what they shouldn’t have.
“So we should leave you out?”
“Well, not that…….”
I couldn’t find more words to add and just blinked. The chef, who had been listening, spoke again.
“Now, then, will you tell me your favorite cream?”
Favorite cream? As if I’d have one.
“I…… don’t know much about cake! Anything is fine.”
In both my previous life and this one, I hadn’t eaten cake often. You need to know something to have a preference.
“Ah.”
The chef’s eyes widened briefly as if reading something from my answer, but it was only for a moment. Soon, a gentle smile returned.
“That can happen. Then…… how about I serve my special cream? I’m sure you’ll come to like it.”
“Yes. Sounds good!”
Since she said ‘special,’ I’m a bit excited.
The chef also asked about foods I couldn’t eat or preferred textures before leaving.
After that, numerous people came and went.
The vast dining room quickly became splendid. Like a real party venue!
