Youngest 034

Episode 34

“Ruby, breakfast is rea—… What an expression.”

Mister stood outside the door, leaning with one leg crossed, dressed comfortably.

“…Good morning, Mister.”

With a face haggard from fury, I got up and shuffled toward the door in my yellow slippers.

“You didn’t lose any sleep, did you?”

“Slept well, as always.”

“…….”

Screek, screek. I peeled the long strip of tape I’d affixed to the door.

Mister let out a sigh of exasperation.

“Is this really necessary?”

“You keep spying on me while I’m sleeping! I have a right to privacy, you know.”

It was a drastic measure, but I couldn’t take it anymore—he was always observing me while I slept. What if I mumbled something in my sleep?

‘Of course, he could just step right over it with those long legs, but…’

It was a matter of principle.

“Ha. Unbelievable.”

Mister shook his head and extended his arms. Naturally, I settled into his embrace as we walked down the hall.

Whew, getting angry had made me hungry.

I was still grinding my teeth over Khalid Riorc having blocked me.

‘No, calm down. Maybe he’s just oversleeping? I can check the shop later, anyway.’

I took several deep breaths, trying to soothe my simmering insides.

At that moment, someone approached us.

“Your Excellency.”

“Oh, Sir Leon! Good morning!”

Sir Leon regarded me silently, then nodded a greeting.

With his usual stoic face, he rummaged in his pocket and handed me a small madeleine.

Why does he always carry these? Low blood sugar?

Anyway, since I was hungry, I nibbled on the madeleine while listening to the conversation between Mister and Sir Leon.

“Your Excellency, the Order is a little short on manpower. Should we bring in new squires or knights? What do you wish to do?”

“Hmm. With the spring subjugation coming up soon, I suppose we should. Any applicants?”

“Actually, none as of yet…”

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

As I swallowed my madeleine, Sir Leon rummaged again and handed me a bottle of strawberry milk. What is this, a magic pocket?

“No way anyone younger than you would join, though.”

Aw, that’s a shame.

I sucked on my milk and pouted.

“Do your best to find one before the subjugation.”

“Yes. I’ll inform Sir Oberon as well.”

After a brisk salute, Sir Leon marched off. Before leaving, he emptied his pocket, handing me all kinds of madeleines—lemon, chocolate, vanilla, Earl Grey.

“Lemon, chocolate, vanilla, Earl Grey… Wow, does Sir Leon dream of running a dessert shop after retirement?”

A dessert shop run by a taciturn former knight… Hmm, that might actually work.

“Eat the rest after breakfast.”

“Okay!”

When we reached the dining hall, I lightly hopped down from Mister’s arms.

Maybe it was the sugar, but my annoyance at Khalid was starting to melt away.

“Quick breakfast, then training, then a visit to the shop!”

Another busy, fulfilling day ahead!

But Mister, who I thought would follow right behind, didn’t appear.

Puzzled, I turned to see his handsome face in a deep frown, arms crossed.

“…You’re going out?”

“Hm? Why?”

“Then this afternoon, again I…”

“What?”

Mister pressed his lips into a straight line and let out a deep sigh. Then he walked over, poked my cheek, and smiled.

“No, never mind. Go on and have fun. As much as you want.”

---

Just past noon, in the office.

Leviathan Zevert shot to his feet.

“This won’t do.”

Once again, Rubian had gone out.

Because of that, another afternoon snack time with the child was going to be missed.

“I feel like I’ll suffocate under these papers.”

He frowned at the mountain of parchment. He needed a break.

Leviathan grabbed a few documents that needed immediate attention and headed to Rubian’s room.

The moment he opened the door, the child’s distinctively sweet scent washed over him. His tight lips relaxed, and the tension eased from his mind.

He slowly glanced around Rubian’s bedroom.

The most striking thing was the line of soft purple mana stones arranged along the windowsill.

“He must really like these.”

On the floor, there was even a sparkling heart traced out with mana stones. Next to it, bright herbs were bundled together like bouquets.

At the sight, he let out a small laugh.

‘Is collecting things a hobby of his?’

Like a squirrel gathering acorns?

Leviathan’s eyes softly narrowed.

Among the nobility in the capital, there were a few young ladies who collected rare-colored mana stones. Most of them collected gems as well.

‘Perhaps he actually wants gems too, but can’t say so since he’s a boy?’

He certainly seems to like shiny things…

“Ah, Your Excellency. Here you are.”

Lost in thought, he heard Adolf approach from behind. He’d been about to call for him anyway—fortunate timing.

“Adolf. Find out who owns the jewelry shop near Central Road right now.”

“All of a sudden?”

“Is that a problem?”

“N-no, of course not.”

Adolf glanced at the purple mana stone in Leviathan’s hand, already grasping the situation.

“But, what’s going on?”

“Ah, Physician Borvel has requested an audience.”

“Borvel?”

Borvel was the Zevert family’s attending physician, recently returned.

Leviathan wondered why he’d requested him, but quickly recalled that Borvel had checked Rubian on arrival.

Could it be? Is something wrong with Ruby?

His fingertips grew cold.

“Send him in at once.”

The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered.

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

“Get to the point.”

“Mm, he’s healthy.”

“‘Mm, healthy’?”

Leviathan angled his jaw. At the icy air, Borvel gulped.

“Explain why you hesitated.”

“That’s simply the result of a basic checkup. He’s noticeably behind in growth compared to others his age, but it doesn’t seem to be due to any illness. It’s just…”

The physician, speaking calmly, frowned a bit at the corner of his eye.

“I was told there was a serious injury?”

“…Yes.”

“I’d have liked to examine him more thoroughly for that as well, but he was quite wary of me touching him. I could only do the basics; it’s been bothering me.”

“He tends to be cautious around strangers.”

He tried to hide it, but Rubian was very shy.

He recalled how the child would always crawl into his arms whenever they were in a crowd, and his hard gaze softened.

‘To think someone like that followed me here.’

In fact, perhaps, Rubian had never been shy around him at all…

“Yes, it certainly seemed so. I’ll take a closer look after we’ve become better acquainted.”

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

“Yes. Keep taking care of him as you have, and his growth should catch up. Still, he’ll likely remain smaller than other boys his age…”

Leviathan nodded silently, then suddenly scowled.

“Mister! I think I’ve gained weight since coming here! What if I end up growing as tall as Hazel?”

He remembered the way the child had said that, eyes shining.

Rubian had seemed so simply happy, but hearing those words filled Leviathan with a complex emotion.

“It’s been just a few weeks, and you’ve grown.”

It hadn’t even been a full month yet.

Since Rubian arrived at this manor.

In only that short time, proper meals had put weight on the child, his complexion brightened, and he’d even grown a little taller.

‘Just how little must he have eaten before this?’

Leviathan pressed a hand to his forehead and groaned. It felt as though his insides were being churned up.

“Borvel, would you be able to send someone to Eosia?”

“I studied there for a while, so yes, that’s possible. Why do you ask?”

“Ruby is from Eosia. I’d like to know if there’s anyone there who knows him—like parents, or relatives.”

How on earth did he live with those (presumed trash) people?

‘I can’t ignore this any longer.’

Leviathan had intended to wait for Rubian to tell him about himself in his own time.

But would that day ever come?

It was just a hunch.

He disliked the idea of snooping, but Leviathan was resolute.

He was now Rubian’s guardian. That meant he needed to know everything about the child.

Only then could he protect him.

And…

“If it’s not an illness, what was he doing in his room?”

“H-he really did have a stomachache! But then he suddenly felt better…”

He remembered the way Rubian had averted his eyes.

He hoped it wasn’t so, but he couldn’t help the thought.

‘Is Ruby hiding something?’

Crunch. The papers clenched in Leviathan’s hand were crushed with unconscious force.