16 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 16
As the sun set and darkness fell, a delicious smell filled the entire Duchy Castle.
“Oh my, it’s like being in a completely different space.”
“Butler Adolf!”
I ran towards Adolf as he entered the dining room.
“Where’s Uncle? Not here yet?”
“He’s coming down now. But I really wonder if we should all be doing this…”
I pulled out the document from my pocket and showed it to him.
“It’s okay. I got the Duke’s signature right here.”
“Heh heh.”
Adolf smiled as he looked at the document.
I was proudly puffing out my chest when thwack, a light flick landed on my head.
“I was wondering what kind of trouble you were causing.”
“Ouch.”
“What did you do to my Duchy Castle?”
“Uncle.”
“Father!”
Void, who was huddled in the corner eating cookies, stood up.
“A gathering of troublemakers.”
Uncle crossed his arms and looked at me and Void alternately.
I led Uncle to the center, which was full of bright light.
The head seat at the shiny marble table.
Leviathan Uncle, who was looking down at his beautifully set place, tilted his head.
“You’re the protagonist, so why am I sitting here?”
“No. Uncle is the protagonist.”
“……?”
“Actually, Void.”
I corrected the title. Ugh, it doesn’t feel right.
“Void hyung said he wanted to throw a welcome home party for Uncle.”
“Void?”
Uncle’s gaze reached the boy who was wagging his tail.
“You’ve worked so hard!”
As if he had been waiting for it, Void said with shining eyes. Uncle’s movements suddenly stopped.
“I’m glad you came back safely. I don’t think I’ve ever said this… when you came back.”
Void seemed a little nervous.
“I wanted to say it this time!”
Uncle put his hand on Void’s head. A short laugh followed.
“Okay, thank you.”
“……Yes!”
Hmm, this is nice to see.
I sat down with a proud feeling.
As if waiting, an enormous meal came in one after another. There was also a cake with a lot of pink cream on it. Wow, pretty!
“Did you send food to the Knights too?”
“Yes. They’re probably having a great time eating and drinking right now.”
“Tell the others to go and enjoy themselves too.”
Butler Adolf chuckled.
“We are being treated well thanks to Rubian and Young Master.”
The old butler, with his back straight, greeted us with a new look on his face.
“Although it is a little late, I would like to congratulate you once again on your return, Lord.”
Then the others added a word each.
“Congratulations on your victory too!”
“You’ve worked so hard!”
“Why are you being so cheesy?”
Leviathan Uncle frowned.
“Have I only returned once or twice? Hurry up and go, get out of here.”
Uncle waved his hand with a horrified look.
The people of the Duchy Castle retreated with a smile on their faces similar to the butler’s.
“Father, did you see my swordsmanship record?”
“I saw it. You’ve improved a lot.”
“Yes! I worked hard!”
“You’ll be going back to the Academy next month. Are you ready?”
“No problem! Teacher Ullin said that I will definitely be in the next semester…”
The meal continued in a peaceful atmosphere.
Occasionally, Uncle’s adjutants or closest aides came to greet him and exchange drinks.
Even though it was a small party that was suddenly prepared and full of shortcomings, everyone seemed to be in a good mood.
That’s a relief!
“…….”
By the way.
I quietly watched and rolled a piece of bell pepper.
The green monster rolled and touched Void’s plate.
‘Say. It. Now.’
When I sent him a look, Void swallowed hard.
“Um, Father.”
Leviathan Uncle raised his head.
“I really don’t mind eating with Father anymore.”
Uncle, who was about to pick up the amber-colored liquor, paused.
“So can’t we eat together from now on?”
“…….”
Uncle was silent for a moment. Honestly, I couldn’t tell what he was worried about or hesitating about.
But there’s nowhere to run now, right?
The war is over. He can’t use the excuse that he’s leaving again soon.
‘Since we’re family now, it would be nice to get along quickly.’
I thought, looking back and forth between the two.
Leviathan Uncle stared at his son’s face, who had grown so much. Void hesitated but did not avoid his gaze.
“……I see.”
Not just tall……. Uncle muttered in a voice that could barely be heard.
A face that seemed to have made up his mind.
“Okay, I understand.”
Void’s face immediately brightened.
I smiled.
“Sorry for not knowing. It must have been hard to be brave.”
Uncle stroked Void’s head.
Void, who was smiling, suddenly remembered something and pointed at me.
“Actually, Rubian thought of this party first. Please praise Rubian.”
“Ruby?”
Uncle turned his head.
“No, that’s……”
I blinked awkwardly as the arrow suddenly returned to me.
Uncle leaned back on the backrest again.
The way he crossed his arms made me feel uneasy.
“Come to think of it, what I signed was your welcome ceremony.”
A stern gaze poured down mercilessly.
“You can’t give false reports to the Duke.”
It was the face of a manager scolding, ‘How dare you give such a terrible report, Employee Ru.’
“Come here. I have to punish you.”
“Huh, what kind of punishment?”
I was startled. Uncle gestured lightly.
“First of all, the bell peppers you’ve been subtly avoiding since earlier.”
“…….”
“Eat them all in front of me.”
It was the harshest punishment!
I slowly covered the bell peppers with a fork.
“If you don’t eat all of that, you can only eat one piece of the cake you’ve been glancing at since earlier.”
“……I hate bell peppers!”
The texture, color, and smell are all bad! I told the chef, but why did it come out!
I strongly protested. But even Void betrayed me.
“Ruby. You can’t become a strong knight of the North if you’re picky.”
He crossed his arms with an equally stern face.
As if they weren’t father and son!
“That’s what he says.”
Uncle looked triumphant when someone took his side.
“Ugh!”
They were awkward with each other until just now, but suddenly they get along?
But the score was 2:1.
It was a complete defeat.
\ \ *
Uncle’s punishment did not end.
“Lady Rubian, welcome to Zebert Ducal Castle!”
The party was suddenly turned upside down. I had to sit in the protagonist’s seat and eat all kinds of sweet and delicious things.
“Oh my gosh. You’re so cute!”
“I never knew my hands could make something like this……”
The maids were happy as they put a strange cone-shaped hat on me that they had made themselves.
“Look at her expression.”
Uncle poked my sulky cheek.
“Something’s wrong. This isn’t what I had in mind.”
Whether I said that or not, the people in the Duchy Castle were busy coming and going, greeting me.
Uncle and Void nodded with the same face, satisfied.
‘A first birthday party……?’
It kind of feels like that.
Anyway, the party ended smoothly.
As night deepened and Void, who was time to sleep, went up to his room first, I also got up from my seat.
“I have to go to sleep too!”
My eyelids were getting heavy.
“Come here, Ruby.”
The villain who made me eat five pieces of bell pepper reached out to me. I was annoyed for some reason and ignored him. But I was quickly caught.
Uncle picked me up lightly. I smelled a faint scent of alcohol.
“Why are you following me?”
“I didn’t say good night. You have to greet me politely.”
“Oh, good night?”
Uncle slightly pinched and released the tip of my nose at my crooked words.
“You’re only polite when you need something.”
Step, step.
We left the dining room and walked down the hallway. Up the stairs, around the corner.
I tilted my head.
“Are you coming to my room?”
“I’m too drunk to go to my bedroom.”
“You’re not even staggering……. Whoa!”
Uncle, who suddenly lowered his body while holding me, chuckled.
Ah, I thought I was going to fall!
Of course, the arms holding me were stronger and safer than anything else.
“Look at that. You’re staggering.”
“……Are you teasing me?”
“You’re so smart.”
The mean Uncle, who straightened his body again, moved his feet. Thanks to his long legs, he arrived at the room in just a few steps.
