Youngest 000: Prologue

Episode 1
Prologue

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Clear / Mood: Suspicious

There’s something strange about the youngest in our family.

For one, she’s definitely hiding her true nature.

I saw it—her slyly dropping the grilled peppers that were served at dinner.

But is that all?

Not content with just that, she went so far as to crush them underfoot, flattening them completely, then covered the mess with a napkin to stage a perfect crime. (Thinking about it still gives me chills.)

The poor peppers will most likely be discovered by the maids tidying the dining room, their forms brutally mangled…

What’s even more chilling is that when I tried to tell Father what I’d witnessed, she caught my eye and drew her finger threateningly across her throat.

Of course, as a courageous son of the Zevert family, I wasn’t scared in the least.

But since our youngest is no doubt a demon concealing a wicked nature, I decided…

Just this once, to let it go.

Better not to awaken a demon at the dinner table!

And besides…

Isn’t it only right for an older brother to cover for his younger sibling’s faults?

Anyway, that’s how it is.

It’s nice not being the youngest anymore, but…

There’s something suspicious about her.

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Cloudy / Mood: Gloomy

I had a sparring match with our youngest today.

Father said,

“As Zeverts, the finest knightly house on the continent, we must never allow our training to lapse—not for a moment!”

I’m going to train hard and become a splendid knight who will protect the Empire!

Ah, of course, that applies to our youngest as well.

Even though she suddenly showed up at our house, led by Father, she’s still a Zevert man, after all!

Granted, today too, the youngest couldn’t even last a single round in the grand training hall before collapsing.

Hmph. What is she ever going to do at this rate?

But come to think of it, something is odd.

She looks so frail, like she couldn’t even lift a twig…

Yet, whenever we spar, I can never manage to beat her.

Why?

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Sunny / Mood: Happy

I got a new sword! Yahoo!

When Liam gets back, I’m going to show it off!

Father and Grandfather had the smith forge it to order just for me—it looks seriously tough (according to Uncle Oberon, anyway). I need to hurry and become the kind of knight worthy of wielding such a formidable blade.

Ah, the youngest got a sword too.

She’s so small—tiny hands, tiny everything—that Father seemed to agonize for days over what to get her.

Eventually, after discussing it with Grandfather, he decided to give her the family’s heirloom sword, or something like that.

Why should I care?

My sword is way cooler!

Heh heh…

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.

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Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: / Mood:

Rubian.

I’m warning you,

Stop sneaking looks at my diary. For real.

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Snow / Mood: Absolutely Thrilled

Because my wicked youngest sibling keeps peeking into my diary, I went and bought one with a lock.

You really can’t let your guard down!

She grumbles, asking why I write so much about her.

…Do I mention her a bit too often?

Well then, what else am I supposed to put in a diary?

Hmm.

More importantly, tomorrow, Mother returns from her convalescence in the south.

So ex-cit-ed!

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: / Mood:

The whole household is in an uproar.

Our youngest—

Rubian—

is a girl.