Youngest 054

“Well, I had to meet the Emperor at some point to discuss your official registration anyway.”

Muttering this, Father—not Mister, but Father now—patted my head twice.

“So, Father, what will you do?”

Amethyst eyes now fixed on Grandfather. He glared at the end of the letter with a surly look.

‘Surely the old general won’t go.’

Since his illness, he’d seemed to dislike appearing in front of people.

“…? How could I not go when my little one is attending?”

But contrary to my expectations, Grandfather wore a look that said, why even ask something so obvious.

“Me, too! I’m going with Ruby as well!”

“All right, little Void, you’re coming too!”

“Yes! A chance to show off my sword!”

Void, full of excitement, joined in.

“Isn’t this great, Ruby? A picnic for all of us.”

My father ruffled my hair vigorously.

Transformed into a silver lion, I pursed my lips and nodded.

Going together… Well, it must mean good things, right?

Thus, the Zevert family’s attendance at the Verdant Festival was settled. For the first time in ten years.

“Oh. What about Mother and Father?”

“The journey’s been long, so Rose should rest at the mansion. Only Liam will be called to join.”

“Aww…”

Void looked a little disappointed, but he nodded maturely, apparently thinking Rosetta’s health came first.

“Is the Duchess very ill?”

I asked cautiously, biting into a giant cookie.

“It always makes me anxious to watch her.”

His reply was laced with a deep sigh.

‘Oh dear…’

I’d thought her just a bright, gentle sunlit lady, but maybe the story also included the ‘frail heroine’ keyword. Perhaps she still suffered from the aftermath of the carriage accident.

‘I wonder what she’s like?’

I recalled the two from the original novel as best as I could.

First, Liam Zevert. A fifteen-year-old with a brilliant mind. He excelled at swordsmanship too, as befitted a Zevert.

‘In short, the perfect all-rounder, the top student at the academy.’

Of all subjects, Liam’s interest was drawn particularly to the study of magical beasts. I believe he eventually became a distinguished scholar in magical beasts.

‘But for now, he’s still just a fledgling.’

Next, Rosetta Zevert.

Once the toast of the imperial social scene, a refined noblewoman—and Leviathan’s first love. In other words, she was practically the heroine of the novel’s first part.

Her descriptions were those of a classic leading lady. Fairy-like beauty, pink hair as sweet as spun sugar, a voice as soft as the spring breeze, and so on and so forth…

‘But how did they first meet, again?’

In the novel, they were already a couple when introduced. I never got to see their first encounter.

‘Come to think of it, Rosetta was adopted into a noble family, wasn’t she?’

What did she do before that?

I tried to imagine, munching cookies, but couldn’t picture it well.

‘Either way, I guess… my meeting with her has been delayed.’

I’ll just have to accept it!

If I meet Liam first, I’ll make sure to become friends!

---

There was still some time before the Verdant Festival, but the Zevert family planned to depart early and stay in Ipsen beforehand.

Ipsen was the northern domain of Count Camelan, a vassal of House Zevert.

As long as we were going, we might as well get there early to discuss various matters of business.

Besides, Count Camelan had requested knights from us to defend the domain in preparation for the festival.

“Have a good trip!”

The staff of the manor waved and smiled brightly.

“See you soon!”

“Safe travels, Lady Rubian!”

Hazel tidied my hair again and bid me farewell. Having lost the draw, Hazel was regretfully assigned to house-sitting.

‘I thought she’d be really depressed.’

I’m relieved she looks all right.

“If anything comes up, I’ll just chase after you…”

“Hm?”

“Eek! I’ll miss you, even if it’s not long!”

Hazel hugged me tightly, so I couldn’t ask more.

Surely… she wouldn’t tunnel her way and show up, would she…

With pure rationality, I narrowed my eyes.

The horse carrying Father and me set off at a slow pace.

Ipsen was close enough that we didn’t need a carriage. Behind us trailed the carriage with Void and Grandfather, as well as the ranks of the knights.

[ Look ahead. Don’t fall behind. ]

Of course, Khalid was with us as well.

‘What a bad Khalid. He only takes down the mental barrier when he needs something.’

At this point, I began to suspect: maybe it wasn’t even a barrier. Maybe he just pretended to listen and ignored me—call it “hear-and-ignore.”

‘If he hadn’t shared that info about the outpost mage, I would’ve put up my own barrier!’

Hmph.

Turning my head away, I recalled my goal for this Verdant Festival.

‘I must meet the outpost mage.’

He was the final piece needed to complete the barrier. I’d also likely find some excellent blueprints there.

‘It would be a loss not to go!’

And, truthfully, I was a little excited for the spring festival!

“…It’s strange, all right.”

At that moment, Father—holding the reins behind me—murmured under his breath. I tilted my head slightly.

“What is?”

“There’s no sign of magical beasts anywhere.”

Really? I looked around.

Now that I thought about it, he had said something similar before we set off.

“Your Grace, we scouted the route to Ipsen ahead of time, but didn’t find a single magical beast.”

“…Surely not. That can’t be, can it?”

“…Surely not.”

What on earth was that “surely not” supposed to mean?

“…Surely not.”

A low, uneasy note ran through his voice—why did it make me nervous?

But Father said nothing more, and I, for my part, was fully absorbed in the scenery ahead.

“Wow.”

We reached Ipsen just as the sun was setting.

“T-The House of Zevert is here!”

The gatekeeper shouted out as if he’d seen a wild beast.

The blue lion’s banner fluttered at our backs. Without a single pause, we swept through the main gate and passed straight across Ipsen.

“Whoa. Look at all that smoke rising.”

“It’s a volcanic area. The hot springs here are famous, so lots of nobles have villas.”

“Does House Zevert have one?”

“Of course.”

A grand estate in a tourist spot! I was expectant, sniffing the faint scent of sulfur as I hid in Father’s cloak and looked around.

“Welcome, my lord.”

Butler Adolf and the villa staff, who had arrived ahead to prepare the mansion, greeted us.

“Wow! It’s enormous!”

“Big, but shabby.”

Did this rich man just say that?

It looked even nicer than the Count Camelan mansion we’d passed!

“It’s been a while! I hope Liam arrives soon!”

Entering the lobby, Void stretched with a yawn. He seemed so familiar with the place, it was like he lived here.

“I wanted to see our Rose…”

Grandfather murmured regretfully, shrugging off his heavy cloak.

Just then, one of the staff standing in line approached.

“My lord, we’ve prepared the Zevert hot spring for you. How would you like to proceed?”

“Wow! Bath time!”

I couldn’t help but let my eyes light up, which made Grandfather give a sly smile and bow his back.

“It’s been a while—my body could use some loosening up! Little one, will you go to the medicinal hot spring with your grandpa?”

“Um, no!”

Ack. My decisive answer made Grandfather clutch his right chest and roll on the floor. Wait, the heart’s on the left…

Void shook his head and interjected.

“Hah. Grandfather, Ruby’s much more fond of my brother. Ruby, let’s go to the rainbow hot spring together!”

“I hate rainbows.”

Oof. The young master, too, was dashed beside Grandfather.

“……”

The watching staff involuntarily turned to the Duke, who was just taking off his cloak.

Father chuckled, lifted me up, and hugged me high.

“No one’s being careful here. Ruby doesn’t like bathing with others.”

Ah, my father, ever so cool…

“But surely I’m the exception. Ruby, you can keep yourself covered, but come bathe with…”

“Can I pick a room?”

Jumping from his arms, I bounded up the stairs.

Really, how could you say such ridiculous things with a straight face!

Leaping up the steps, I heard Grandfather and Void stand up, brushing themselves off.

“At least Ruby didn’t cut me off…”

How much must she dislike it…

From the Duke, as solid as a statue, not a word escaped.

Grandfather put a broad reassuring hand on his shoulder, his face full of sympathy.

“Well, what can you do. Son, pull yourself together.”

“Stay strong, Father.”

The Duke was dejected.