25 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 25
“Old Duke?”
The Old Duke was standing behind me, having arrived unnoticed.
His eyes were blazing.
“Leviathan, you son of a bitch……”
Suddenly?
“Rubian, doesn’t His Majesty give you an allowance?”
Even Lord Leon was kneeling on one knee, pressing me.
What are you talking about, seriously?
Without realizing that my thoughts had leaked out like a sigh, I stared at the two frenzied men with a bewildered expression.
“What do you want! Huh?”
“Pardon?”
“What do you want that makes you look so dejected! Tell me right now!”
The Old Duke roared, pounding his chest.
W-want?
“Tell me quickly, Rubian. That’s an order from your senior.”
Why is even Lord Leon like this?
It was then. The shop door creaked open, and a familiar face entered.
“Please lower your voice. It’s echoing all the way outside. It’s embarrassing.”
“Uncle!”
I rushed towards him, delighted.
Leviathan placed his hand on my head.
Uncle, who had said he was going to the Knights, was wearing thin Armor and looked dashing as always.
“I heard you were nearby, so I came to check, but what trouble did you cause this time?”
“I didn’t cause any trouble!”
Really. Not yet!
As I smiled innocently, Uncle narrowed his eyes.
“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”
Lord Leon greeted him through gritted teeth.
It sounded like he said, “Y-your M-Majesty……”
“…? Your eyes look rather insolent, Leon.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Uncle tilted his head.
At that moment, a fist like a lump of iron flew towards him. Uncle naturally dodged it with ease.
“You bastard!”
“Why are you doing this again?”
“What have you been doing, not giving the kid any allowance!”
Everyone fell silent.
“…Pardon?”
A delayed response came, like a broken doll.
“She wants something but can’t buy it because she doesn’t have money, and she’s stomping her feet!”
Thump, thump. The Old Duke was the one stomping his feet.
“No, I, no, that’s not it……”
Of course, it’s true that I want something!
But how did they know?!
“Ah, my blood pressure……”
The Old Duke clutched the back of his neck and staggered.
“Really?”
Uncle lowered himself and stared at me.
“There’s something you wanted?”
He even looked somewhat pleased. I hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed.
“There… is something I want, but it’s not like I need it right now.”
“Tell me. What is it?”
“Um……”
“Ruby.”
Urged by his voice, I had no choice but to raise my finger.
The six pairs of eyes in the room followed my fingertip diligently.
“This, here……”
I pointed shyly to one side of the shelf.
“-From here to there?”
My fingertip moved a lo-ong way.
I thought it would be nice to have it all since I was getting it anyway…….
“……”
Uncle was silent for a while.
Was it too much?
“No, actually, just this one……”
“Call the owner.”
At that moment, Uncle stood up abruptly.
Yes, sir! Lord Leon moved with lightning speed. The Old Duke was scratching his chest again, saying it was itchy.
Soon, the owner, who had gone out for a stroll, rushed in, panting. Uncle said to his face,
“I’m buying this store. Name your price.”
“Y-Your, Your Majesty?”
“I don’t have a hobby of buying cheap things. Name a high price.”
Like……. What?
\ \ *
I went in as a customer and came out as the owner…….
“……”
Rustle. I stared blankly at the paper stuck in my bag.
The store ownership certificate that was forced into my hands.
“Is it really okay if I just send a box of purple Magic Stones to the castle?”
“Oh, yes.”
The store owner asked me. I answered dazedly.
Having become a store owner in a daze, I gained the right to dispose of Magic Stones as I pleased. Uncle couldn’t interfere with that…….
“I didn’t know you liked stone ornaments.”
“Ahahaha……. Because they’re pretty…….”
‘I would have been satisfied with just purple Magic Stones!’
Of course, I did think it would be nice to have green, red, and blue Magic Stones too, since I was getting them anyway.
‘Sigh, oh well.’
It wouldn’t be polite to refuse a gift.
I really had no choice but to sign the documents.
Since I didn’t plan to touch the other Magic Stones anyway, I just asked them to send only the purple Magic Stones that were stored in the warehouse.
“You have such small ambitions!”
The Old Duke clicked his tongue next to me.
Uncle was giving instructions to the store owner.
When sending the Magic Stones to the castle, select only those without poison, and pay attention to the packaging so that the child can open them easily…….
Feeling a bit tired, I left Uncle and Lord Leon behind and went outside.
“Is there anywhere else you want to stop by?”
The Old Duke followed me out and asked.
“Um, actually…….”
It was then.
“Hehehe! Grandfather! It tickles!”
A small cart rolled by with innocent laughter.
A merchant who looked kind and a young child who seemed to be his grandson were sitting side by side on the driver’s seat.
“Oh dear, you little rascal. Don’t touch the reins…….”
At the same time, the child who was playing with his hands suddenly pulled the reins. It was at that moment that the cart, which had been running straight, swayed.
“Watch out!”
The cart lost its direction.
The surprised Old Duke quickly pulled me.
It was a sudden situation, but I easily thought that the Old Duke would support me.
Because…… the Old Duke was bigger and sturdier than a huge mountain range.
But contrary to expectations, his large body faltered weakly.
“Old Duke!”
“Ugh.”
Thud. In the end, we rolled on the ground.
“Oh my, are you alright! I’m sorry! Oh dear, what should I do!”
The merchant, who had hurriedly recovered the cart, rushed over in a panic.
“Child, child! Are you alright!”
The Old Duke, who had fallen on the dirt floor, hurriedly turned around to check on me. I had fallen on my butt, but thanks to the Old Duke shielding me, I wasn’t seriously hurt.
“Ah, that was a surprise. I’m fine.”
I calmly dusted myself off and stood up.
“More importantly, is the Old Duke alright…….”
“You damn……”
Grip. His hand clenched the dirt floor. Veins were popping out on his red forehead.
“Damn this useless body.”
The Old Duke’s jaw tightened.
“What’s going on?”
Uncle came out of the store.
The Old Duke was lying on the ground, and I was standing awkwardly next to him. The cart merchant was sweating profusely and apologizing, and the child was scared and tearful.
Uncle quickly grasped the situation.
“Leon.”
Then, Lord Leon, who was with Uncle, quickly stepped forward. He began to clear the surroundings, including the merchant.
“Father, please get up first…….”
“Mind your own business!”
The Old Duke jumped up from his spot. His panting body was trembling slightly.
“I’m going back!”
The roaring giant moved away. I stood there blankly, staring at his retreating figure.
“Uncle, I think the Old Duke is angry……”
Pat. A warm hand landed on the top of my head.
“Don’t worry, he’s not angry at you. More importantly, are you okay?”
“Yeah. My clothes are just a little dirty.”
“Let’s go. You said you had clothes ordered.”
“That’s true, but…….”
My gaze kept going to the spot where the Old Duke had disappeared.
‘He didn’t make eye contact with me.’
“Damn this useless body.”
As if he were a criminal.
My heart grew heavy.
