19 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 19
As I pouted, Old Duke clicked his tongue.
Suddenly, his sharp gaze turned to Uncle, the butler, standing behind me.
“Hey, Maurice! You said the meal was over, didn’t you? You should have said she was having a snack! Even dogs don’t bother you when you’re eating!”
“I… I didn’t consider Rubian's snack schedule.”
Drip, drip. I could almost hear Butler Maurice’s sweat hitting the floor.
“What are you standing around for!”
I creakily reached for the fork.
I glanced sideways, but Uncle, who was smoothing his lips, only raised an eyebrow slightly.
‘You’re not going to save me.’
I’ll get my revenge.
The more I looked at the snack table, the more my face turned into a frown.
“Why that expression?”
Old Duke paused for the first time, seeing me, who had been arguing back until now, just biting my lip and looking at the floor.
“I-Is there something you don’t like…?”
“The table…”
“Huh?”
“It’s all broken…”
What was in front of me was a cracked wooden table.
“Huh? When did this happen?”
“How can I eat when it’s not there…”
I felt a little gloomy.
A mug that had fallen through the crack. Light pink liquid soaking the floor.
I actually liked strawberry milk more than cake. Sweet and cool, with bits of fruit to chew on…
“…I like it.”
“Um…”
“I haven’t even had a drop yet…”
My shoulders drooped without me realizing it.
I saw earlier that there were more fresh strawberries than yesterday… What a waste…
‘Ha.’
Could this be the Jebert-style mental strength test?
Telling me not to dwell on the past?
\ \ *
Of course, that wasn’t it.
In the end, all the strawberries in the castle were ground up and put into milk, thanks to Old Duke’s booming voice…
‘You never know…’
I tried to calm my complicated feelings as I looked at the large jar of strawberry milk.
“Are you satisfied?”
Old Duke asked in a growling voice.
He was just sitting in the middle of the drawing room, but his presence was overwhelming. It felt like the room was full…
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
I answered, fiddling with the mug.
Honestly, I didn’t know if it was going into my mouth or my nose.
“Hmm.”
Only then did his fluffy-looking beard twitch, as if he was satisfied.
I cautiously watched him and carefully asked.
“But what about Uncle?”
“He went to the northern outpost! They say there are signs of Magical beasts.”
“Gasp.”
Did he abandon me to this grumpy Grandfather and run away?
“Are you scared because of the Magical beast? Yes, someone like you, like a rabbit, would probably be a bite to eat.”
Old Duke seemed convinced that my stiffness was because of the Magical beast.
‘Magical beasts don’t kick me out of this house!’
They don’t show up smashing the door with their fists!
I put down the mug and shouted confidently.
“Yes! I’m a little scared!”
“……”
“So, it’s okay for me to stay here, right?”
As desperately as possible. Sparkling.
Old Duke’s shoulders, sitting with his back to the window, suddenly stiffened.
I couldn’t see his expression well, but deep lines were etched into the corners of his eyes, where elegant wrinkles were.
I remembered Uncle’s voice.
“Just cling to him. Like you did to me earlier.”
Is it really effective?
I’m not going to get kicked out for making weak noises, am I?
“I… I have to stay if I’m scared!”
Surprisingly, it worked.
“I’m not such trash that I’d kick you out when you’re crying and scared!”
I didn’t cry, though.
‘He must be weak to weakness.’
Uncle seemed to have a bit of that, too. Is that a characteristic of the people here?
I decided to drive the wedge in.
I jumped up from my seat and squeezed into the seat next to Old Duke, who was sitting on the large sofa.
It’s a two-seater sofa, but it’s too narrow!
“Yes. So, I’ll just stay here. Because it’s scary outside…”
Ugh, gee!
A tremor like an earthquake continued from the side.
“It’s tickling me to death!”
“Ah, if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll…”
“I can’t help it!”
“Eek!”
I was grabbed by the scruff of my neck. I landed on a thigh as hard as a rock.
My eyes met his at close range.
Thick eyebrows were raised at different angles. Deep wrinkles around the eyes. Cold, cool purple eyes. There was an old-looking scar under his well-groomed beard.
“…You even look ticklish.”
It seemed that Old Duke had scrutinized me as thoroughly as I had observed him.
One eyebrow rose even more sharply.
“Are you really a boy? Why are you so different from Void and Liam?”
Um… Because I’m different?
Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I just laughed it off.
“But what on earth are you wearing? A potato sack?”
“It’s clothes.”
“Tsk.”
A voice as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
Old Duke gestured to Hazel, who was standing nearby.
“You! Count how many times his sleeves are folded right now!”
Hazel calmly replied.
“Please calm down, Balock. Mrs. Ibelin was already scheduled to come in three days to take measurements. She’s currently on a business trip outside the territory.”
“Three days? So, this little runt has to live in a potato sack for three days?!”
“It’s not that bad. I’m fine!”
I quickly stepped in, feeling like Hazel was getting unnecessary flak. Of course, I was completely ignored.
It was long and loose, but it wasn’t unwearable.
I wasn’t going to be in this house forever anyway, so I didn’t want to cause that much trouble.
Old Duke grumbled for a long time.
Saying things like, “He’s my son, but blah blah blah,” and “If Rose were here, blah blah blah.”
“I can’t stand it! Maurice! When will the new weapon be completed at our smithy?”
“It’s been quite a while since you handed over the blueprints… It should be soon.”
“Good. You come with me tomorrow.”
“Uh, why?”
Old Duke folded my sleeves, which were folded up four times, one more time and shouted.
“What to do with those potato sack clothes!”
“Are you going to buy me clothes? For me?”
“Is there another little runt here, then?”
“You said you were going to kick me out at first…”
“I should kick you out!”
“Huh? You said I could stay if I was scared!”
“Ah, cancel, cancel! I can’t stand it because it’s too itchy!”
Seriously, how can someone be so fickle?
This fiery Grandfather was driving me crazy.
Forget about pretending to be weak! I quit!
“Why are you buying me clothes if you’re going to kick me out!”
“To dress you up in new clothes! To make you look good and send you out!”
“That’s not how it works!”
“It is here!”
“Fickle, stubborn!”
“To already realize that fact, you’re quick-witted and even smart!”
The people around us were looking at us with interest.
‘Ugh, like father, like son!’
Regardless, I got thirsty from arguing. I reached out to grab the mug, but…
Suddenly, my head felt strangely empty.
When I turned around, a thick palm that had been fiddling with the back of my head was hastily moving away.
“……”
A stubborn lion pretending not to be.
Seriously, why is he like this…
That’s when it happened.
[ …! ]
A crackling noise rang in my head.
“…What’s wrong?”
[ …Ruby! ]
“Runt!”
I must have staggered for a moment. Old Duke sprang up like lightning and grabbed my shoulder.
[ Ruby. Ruby. Are you there? ]
‘Khalid?’
When I pressed next to my ear, the static disappeared.
It was Khalid!
“I, I have a bit of a stomachache…”
“What?”
“I need to go to the bathroom!”
I stormed out of the drawing room.
I thought I heard him calling out, “Baby!” from behind, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Rubian-nim?”
“I, just a moment, I’ll be alone!”
Bang.
I quickly closed the bedroom door, leaving Hazel, who had followed in surprise, behind.
When I pressed the pattern again, the crackling sound disappeared instantly.
‘Khalid Liork! You blocked me like that, you want to die?’
[ I told you not to call me by my full name… No, that’s not important. Master, you’re in Northern Zellox right now, right? ]
‘Don’t change the subject! I’m not telling you.’
[ Arkan Wang seems to have realized that you’re alive and in the Barmillon Empire. ]
‘Huh?’
What?
I froze like ice in the middle of the room.
The Magic King… found my whereabouts?
