22 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 22
He nonchalantly placed Rubian on his lap. Still too light for an eight-year-old.
"It's nothing. Anyway, don't pay too much attention to what Father says."
"But..."
"See? You're worrying about useless things, and your crown is getting all warm again."
"Oh. It's true."
Rubian placed his tiny hand on top of his head, marveling at it.
Leviathan sighed lightly.
"So, if you weren't upset, what were you doing in your room?"
"Huh?"
"You suddenly ran upstairs, you said."
At the persistent questioning, Rubian slyly turned his head away.
See that?
"My, my stomach did hurt! But it suddenly got better..."
"Hmm. I suppose we should have a doctor take a look."
"I'm not sick. I even ate a lot for dinner."
The child fidgeted with his hands. It was something he did when he was troubled. And when he got anxious, he'd put them to his lips.
Leviathan watched Rubian's fingertips and shook his head firmly.
He playfully pinched the tip of his round nose.
"What are you going to do if my boy keeps being so weak? You need to get a thorough checkup, no way around it."
"I'm really okay..."
The Duchy Castle's physician was away on a business trip.
Void was naturally healthy, and Old Duke would throw a fit at the mere mention of a doctor, so he hadn't paid much attention until now.
'But I'm worried he's too small for his age.'
There wasn't another boy as small as Rubian anywhere in the capital.
"It's not just because of you. Rose... my wife will be back soon."
Rubian's eyes sparkled instantly.
"The one who sent the letter?"
"Yes."
"I see..."
His face was somehow filled with anticipation.
Leviathan sometimes got the impression that Rubian knew him too well. Well, he was a smart kid, after all.
"Alright, go inside. Get under the covers."
"Huh?"
"You're going out tomorrow. You need to sleep if you want to wake up early. Isn't that why you're not growing?"
"Hah."
Rubian slipped under the covers. Sniffing the blanket with only his eyes peeking out seemed to be a habit.
Leviathan straightened the blanket and plopped down on the nearby sofa.
"Did you wash your face?"
"Yes."
"Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yes."
"Take the pin out and put it here."
"I did."
"Want some warm water?"
"Uncle, why aren't you leaving?"
"..."
Such a sharp one...
He carelessly kicked off his shoes and propped his legs up. As he sprawled on the sofa, he received a look of disapproval.
"Honestly, this sofa in this room is the most comfortable."
"How is it different from the sofas in other rooms?"
"It's completely different."
"...? Then take it. It's all Uncle's anyway..."
"Stop talking and close your eyes."
"Yes, sir."
He adjusted the lamp's brightness.
"...You're not going to watch me sleep, are you?"
"Of course not."
He had been busy all day, inspecting everything from the northern outpost to the castle walls. It was fortunate that he didn't tire easily.
"I'm just going to rest for a bit."
He yawned widely and pretended to fall asleep first. Soon, Rubian's soft breathing returned.
He was going to fall asleep so soon, yet he put up a fight.
A brief smile crossed his face.
A deep, quiet night.
Leviathan, who had been staring into space, slyly turned his head.
Rubian was having a nightmare.
"..."
The child's moans continued faintly.
Leviathan rushed over like lightning and grabbed Rubian's hand. He stroked his forehead and held him tight.
Even so, Rubian couldn't open his eyes easily, as if he were trapped in the nightmare.
"Ruby, please."
He was burning up inside. He felt like he was going crazy.
At least he looked a little better when he held him, so all he could do was that.
"What on earth..."
What memory is tormenting you so?
The fact that he couldn't completely remove the clinging darkness was just heartbreaking.
'Seventh, my lovely daughter.'
The king of the mages always called me 'Seventh.'
The reason was simple. It was simply because I was his seventh child.
'Father is very touched that you are fighting for me.'
That's not it. I'm fighting because I have no choice.
'But please be careful. My heart will break if you get hurt.'
Liar.
'You must go and capture the black magician. Understood?'
'...'
'Because that's why our kingdom is joining this continental war. We must never let the continentals take the black magician's head.'
I always found his greedy face disgusting. But I couldn't bring myself to resist.
The brand on my body meant that.
Proof of absolute obedience, unable to be defied by our king.
'Especially, we must not let that damn Duke Jebert take the black magician's head...'
What should I do, Father?
I disobeyed your orders.
But, so...
I beat you.
A bright morning.
I slowly opened my eyes. Stretching made me feel refreshed.
Ah, I slept well.
This bedding is really comfortable...
"...What?"
I froze in the middle of getting up.
Because the bedroom was a complete mess.
"Haaahm."
"Void, why are you here?"
An absurd voice blurted out.
I saw Void crumpled on the large sofa next to my bed.
"To play cards, ha, haaaahm."
"You came here in the morning to play cards?"
He looked like he hadn't slept all night.
"Yeah. But I'm going to quit."
His eyes, red and bloodshot, glanced at me and shook his head.
"Ugh, I should have just gone to the bathroom in the middle of the night... why did I come down..."
The sight of him scratching his messy hair.
Muttering incomprehensible words, Void slowly walked away.
I couldn't understand.
I slowly turned my head with a disgusted expression.
The man who was sprawled like dough on the sofa right next to where Void had been was staring at me with a gaunt face.
"Uncle, did you come to play cards in the morning too?"
"...Sofa."
A tight voice stubbornly returned.
"You like it that much?"
Ugh. Uncle leaned the back of his head against his favorite sofa.
"I'm really getting old, getting old."
As expected, he was muttering about blocking the passage to the north annex... blah blah.
"I really don't understand..."
It was an atmosphere where he wouldn't explain even if I asked. I buried my nose in the white sheets and just tilted my head.
The eccentricities of the Jebert people, where will they end?
I ate breakfast with Uncle.
Void was said to be too out of it from sleeping.
After thoroughly devouring salad, eggs, some meat, bread, soup, and fruit juice, I got ready to go out. Uncle suddenly left the castle for knightly duties.
"All washed up!"
"Were there any inconveniences?"
"Nope."
Hazel made a disappointed face.
It seemed she was worried about me washing alone.
"You have to tell me if you need help anytime, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah."
I nodded vaguely, but that day would probably never come.
I'm already too good at washing myself alone, anyway?
"Okay, all done."
Hazel tidied my short hair. She carefully chose a pin and stuck it in.
I put on my bag, tied my shoelaces tightly, and went down to the lobby. Butler Maurice was standing at the entrance.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, Master Rubian."
The skinny butler was wiping sweat with a handkerchief again today.
I stood still in the lobby and looked around.
Because the person who had promised to meet me wasn't there.
"Um, Butler."
"Yes."
"Old Duke isn't here yet..."
I stopped talking.
On one side of the lobby. Behind a large bust decoration...
A black figure was flickering.
"..."
Um, it's hard to react.
Did he really think his burly body would be completely hidden by that decoration...?
"Um, is Old Duke... not feeling well?"
"Don't worry about it. His Grace is reflecting right now."
"Reflecting?"
"It's the price for being mean to Master Rubian yesterday."
The butler winked.
"He couldn't sleep a wink all night."
I was surprised.
I didn't expect him to misunderstand that I was angry because I ran out of the drawing room like that yesterday.
"Oh, it's not like that!"
As I hurriedly made excuses, the bust trembled in the distance. Along with the sound of the corner crumbling.
"Are you worried?"
"Yes. I'm not angry with Old Duke. Yesterday, it was really... my stomach suddenly hurt..."
Maurice chuckled and wiped his sweat.
I felt uncomfortable lying, so I fidgeted and picked at my nails.
"So, Old Duke isn't coming with me? I was looking forward to going together..."
Crack. The sound of the bust breaking again.
At the same time, Maurice gently covered my hand.
"Then say hello first. He'll be very happy."
"Should I?"
"Yes. And... please protect the bust of the first Jebert family head too."
Ah... I think it's a little late for that.
I slowly approached the statue.
The black shadow hidden behind the tattered bust twitched.
"Hello, Old Duke?"
"..."
Purple eyes peeked out.
"Because of me yesterday..."
"I'm sorry to hear that!"
A thunderous voice echoed through the lobby.
