Translator: Nox

34 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

34

“Ruby, breakfast— Your expression is quite a sight.”

Uncle, dressed casually, leaned against the doorframe with one leg propped up.

“…Good morning, Uncle.”

I, with a face haggard from rage, scrambled to get up. I shuffled towards the door in my yellow slippers.

“You didn’t sleep well, did you?”

“I slept great, as always.”

“……”

Riiiip, riiiiip. I peeled off the long strip of tape I’d stuck to the door.

Uncle sighed in exasperation.

“Was this really necessary?”

“It’s because you keep peeking at me when I’m sleeping! I have a private life, you know.”

It was my special measure. I couldn’t stand him constantly observing me while I slept. What if I mumbled some useless nonsense?

‘Of course, he could just leap over it with those long legs, but…'

It was a matter of principle.

“Ha. Unbelievable.”

Uncle shook his head and reached out. I naturally settled into his arms and we walked down the hallway.

Haa, getting angry made me hungry.

I was still grinding my teeth over Khalid Liork blocking me.

‘No, calm down. Maybe he’s just sleeping in? I’ll just go to the store later.’

I took deep breaths, trying to calm my simmering insides.

Just then, someone approached us.

“Your Excellency.”

“Ah, Lord Leon, senior! Good morning!”

Lord Leon stared at me for a moment, then nodded in greeting.

Then, with a stoic expression, he rummaged in his pocket and handed me a small madeleine.

Why does he carry these around every day? Does he get low blood sugar?

Anyway, I munched on the madeleine, feeling hungry, and listened to Uncle and Lord Leon’s conversation.

“Your Excellency, we’re a bit short on manpower in the Knights, so it seems we need to bring in some new trainees or knights. What would you like us to do?”

“Hmm. The spring subjugation is coming up soon, so we should. Any applicants?”

“Actually, not yet…”

“Gasp, does this mean I’ll finally have a junior?”

As I swallowed the madeleine, Lord Leon rummaged in his pocket again and handed me a carton of strawberry milk. What is this? A magic pocket?

“Even so, it’s unlikely someone younger than you will join.”

Aww, that’s too bad.

I pouted, sipping the milk.

“Try to find someone before the subjugation.”

“Understood. I will relay that to Lord Obron.”

Lord Leon gave a crisp salute and strode away. He didn’t forget to empty his pockets and hand me all sorts of madeleines before he left.

“Lemon, chocolate, vanilla, Earl Grey… Wow, is Lord Leon’s dream to retire and open a dessert shop?”

A stoic ex-knight’s dessert shop… Hmm, it might actually work.

“Eat the rest after breakfast.”

“Okay!”

When we arrived in front of the dining hall, I jumped out of Uncle’s arms.

Was it because I ate something sweet? The anger I felt because of Khalid had subsided a bit.

“I need to eat breakfast quickly, train, and then go play at the store!”

Another busy and fulfilling day!

But I didn’t feel Uncle following right behind me.

Puzzled, I turned around and found his handsome face wearing a very displeased expression, arms crossed.

“…You’re going out?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Then I’ll be alone again this afternoon…”

“What was that?”

Uncle pursed his lips into a straight line and sighed deeply. Then he strode over, poked my cheek, and smiled.

“Never mind. Have fun, have all the fun you want.”

Just past noon, in the office.

Leviathan Zebert shot to his feet.

“This won’t do.”

Rubian had gone out again today.

Because of that, afternoon snack time with the child was skipped again today.

“I feel like I’m suffocating, buried in paperwork.”

He frowned at the mountain of parchment piled up. He needed a change of pace.

Leviathan grabbed a few documents that needed to be read immediately and headed to Rubian’s room.

As soon as he opened the door, the child’s unique sweet scent wafted out. His lips naturally loosened, and his sharp nerves relaxed.

He slowly looked around Rubian’s bedroom.

What stood out the most was the row of light purple Magic Stones neatly arranged along the windowsill.

“He must really like them.”

On the floor, a glittering heart was drawn with Magic Stones. Next to it, fresh herb decorations were tied like bouquets.

Seeing that, he chuckled.

‘Does he have a collecting hobby?’

Like a squirrel collecting acorns?

Leviathan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Among the nobles in the capital, there were a few young ladies who collected Magic Stones with rare colors. Most of those young ladies also had a hobby of collecting jewels.

‘Does he actually want jewels too, but can’t say it because he’s a boy?’

He seems to like shiny things…

“Ah, Your Excellency. You were here.”

While he was lost in thought, Adolf approached from behind. He was about to call for him, so it was good timing.

“Adolf. Find out who the owner of the jewelry store near Central Street is right now.”

“Suddenly?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No… Of course not.”

Adolf glanced at the purple Magic Stone Leviathan was holding and answered. He roughly understood the situation.

“But what’s going on?”

“Ah, Councilor Borbel requests an audience.”

“Borbel?”

Borbel was the Jebert family’s chief physician who had recently returned.

He wondered why he was looking for him, then remembered having him examine Rubian as soon as he arrived.

Could it be? Is something wrong with Ruby?

His fingertips turned cold.

“Bring him in immediately.”

The door opened and a middle-aged man appeared.

“Your Excellency, I have come to report the results of Rubian’s examination.”

“The conclusion first.”

“Well, he is healthy.”

“‘Well, healthy’?”

Leviathan tilted his chin. Borbel swallowed hard at the chilling air.

“Tell me why you hesitated just now.”

“That is what I can say based on a basic examination. His growth is much slower than his peers, but that is not due to any illness. However.”

The doctor, who had been speaking calmly, slightly furrowed one eye.

“I heard he has a large scar on his body?”

“…Yes.”

“I wanted to examine that as well and give him a more detailed examination, but he was very reluctant to be touched. That is why I am concerned that I could only do the basics.”

“He tends to be wary of strangers.”

He pretended to be nonchalant, but Rubian was very shy.

The feeling of the child wriggling into his arms when he went to crowded places came to mind, and his eyes softened slightly.

‘Really, how did a kid like that manage to follow me?’

It seemed he wasn’t shy around him in particular…

“Yes. He seemed to be. I will have to examine him again after he gets used to me.”

“Anyway, there’s no immediate problem, right?”

“Yes. If you manage him as you are now, his growth rate will gradually improve. Well, he will still be smaller than the other boys his age, though…”

Leviathan nodded silently, then frowned sharply.

“Uncle! I think I’ve gained weight since coming here! Am I going to grow as big as Hazel?”

It was because the child who said that with shining eyes came to mind.

Rubian seemed simply happy, but Leviathan was very troubled to hear those words.

“He’s grown in just a few weeks.”

It hadn’t even been a month.

Since Rubian came to this Duchy Castle.

In that short period, he had only fed him well, but the child had gained weight, his complexion had improved, and he had grown a little taller.

‘How badly was he eating before?’

Leviathan covered his forehead with one hand and groaned. His stomach felt like it was being churned up haphazardly.

“Borbel, can you send someone to Iosia?”

“I used to study there for a while, so it is possible. What for?”

“Ruby is from Iosia, and I’m curious if there is anyone who knows him. Parents, relatives, or anything.”

How did he live with those (presumably trash) people?

‘This won’t do anymore.’

Leviathan was going to wait until Rubian told him about himself directly.

But would that day come?

It was a kind of intuition.

He felt uneasy about secretly investigating, but Leviathan made up his mind.

Rubian’s guardian was now himself. So he needed to know everything about the child.

That was the only way he could protect him.

And…

“If it wasn’t a stomachache, what were you doing in your room?”

“I-I did have a stomachache! But it suddenly got better, so…”

Rubian, who was subtly avoiding his eyes, came to mind.

He hoped it wasn’t the case… but he couldn’t help but think.

‘Could Ruby be hiding something?’

Crush. Without realizing it, Leviathan’s hand, which had been holding the document, crumpled it miserably.