Youngest 059

Episode 59
Gasp, how embarrassing.

“Ruby? It’s dangerous. Come down here.”

As Dad reached out his hand, I nervously got up and stepped down the stairs.

“It’s been a while.”

Licht deliberately came down to the foot of the stairs to offer his hand. One hand was clasped behind his back, a very courteous escort.

“Blondie, why are you here…?”

I asked blankly, unable to even think of taking his hand. Licht, retracting his arm, smiled, narrowing one eye.

“Yeah. My hair is blond, isn’t it? But I go by Licht as well.”

“Uh-huh…”

I know very well…

“We haven’t had a proper introduction yet, have we? I’m Licht Babylon.”

His soft, golden hair gleamed, catching the sunlight streaming through the window.

He’s taller, and his face is even prettier than the last time we met… I gave a half-hearted greeting, lost in idle thoughts.

“Hello, Rubian—”

Oh. Without thinking, I glanced past Licht’s shoulder.

I spotted my father’s dignified face, eyebrows raised as he watched me.

“—Zevert. I’m Zevert.”

Only then did satisfied smiles spread across my father’s and the servants’ faces.

Licht muttered with a slight frown, “Suddenly so formal…”

Just then, a bespectacled face intruded.

“Hm. So you’re Rubian.”

The eldest son of this house gazed down at me, his head cocked.

‘Whoa, he’s big. And…’

He looks super strict!

Under his scrutinizing gaze, which seemed to scan my entire body, I instinctively straightened up, standing at attention.

‘But there’s no need to be nervous!’

I glanced once more at my reflection in his clear glasses.

Every button fastened to the chin, not a wrinkle in sight, my outfit immaculate. The pin I used to wear on one side was now symmetrically placed on both.

“Hel…lo?”

I greeted him cautiously, and Liam Zevert narrowed his eyes, chin lifted.

Then came the slow clap of short, sharp applause.

“Excellent. Couldn’t be better.”

He turned to Dad.

“Father, it seems the dignity of the Zevert family, long buried in the mire, is at last being restored.”

“Don’t forget you’re a Zevert yourself, Liam.”

Liam didn’t acknowledge him, instead seizing my hand by the chin.

“I like you. Come.”

Then, with a yank, he pulled me toward a veritable mountain of books.

“Let’s go study.”

“Wha—!”

The sudden force made me stumble. Liam, looking surprised, quickly released my hand.

“Liam, Ruby isn’t Void. Don’t handle her so roughly.”

Dad clicked his tongue lightly and rubbed my wrist.

“What…”

Liam looked from my slightly reddened skin to his own hand in disbelief.

“Is the youngest… not human?”

That was all he managed to say, face deadly serious. Propping his chin on his hand, Liam began to pace around the lobby.

Uh-oh, I don’t like where this repertoire is going.

“Yes. I heard there’s such a race. The fae folk living in the Eosia woods…”

“Ugh! What are you even talking about?!”

I grabbed a random book from the cart and tossed it at Liam.

Seriously, he and Void must be siblings—the way he spouts absurd nonsense!

“The Magical Beasts Encyclopedia, Volume 3? Not a bad choice.”

“Sorry, big brother! I’m busy!”

I snatched up Licht’s hand, standing nearby. His cool hand stiffened in surprise.

I hate bookworms!

“I tidied up the library for you, so go enjoy reading there!”

It was smart to prepare in advance, knowing from Ipsen that Liam might come by.

“Just follow these stickers to the library! Even if you get lost easily, no problem!”

I pointed proudly to the heart stickers plastered everywhere along the floor. Liam tilted his head, eyeing them curiously.

“…What’s with this sudden hospitality?”

Oblivious to his slipping glasses, Liam mumbled blankly.

From behind, Dad tousled Liam’s hair with a short sigh.

“That’s enough. Go unpack. Greet your grandfather.”

“…”

Liam gave a brief nod of his chin.

Was Father always this gentle?

Though his face was sour, he didn’t refuse the large, affectionate hand. Nor did he once look away from the front of Dad’s coat.

“Are those buttons your best effort?”

“…”

Oh dear. What will ever break that shield and spear?

“Let’s go, Licht!”

“Huh? Uh, okay.”

I have to run. Otherwise, I’ll end up trapped in the library with that hypersensitive bookworm!

---

‘I thought, like with Void, maybe something happened between them in the past to make things awkward.’

Mister seemed to think so too.

‘But isn’t that just their personalities clashing?’

There’s no solution for that.

I shook my head.

“After running out like that, I wondered where you’d go—and it’s just the front garden?”

Licht glanced around the mansion’s garden, asking lightly. It was a place Titi and I frequented.

After catching my breath, I answered,

“It’s dangerous outside…”

Who knows what might happen if children go out alone?

“That’s a good point.”

Licht smiled gently. He rummaged in his pocket and took out a neatly folded handkerchief, placing it on the bench.

“Sit down.”

“…”

Are all royals this polite?

‘Though isn’t this something you do for girls?’

Thinking it a little awkward, I sat down anyway.

“You look well. I’m glad.”

“Why are you… I mean, why is Your Highness glad?”

Licht smiled, narrowing his eyes.

“Why the sudden formality?”

“I didn’t know your identity before, but now I do. You’re a prince, aren’t you?”

I know royalty when I see it.

But for some reason, Licht seemed dissatisfied. With a gentle smile, he replied, “Well, I didn’t come here as a prince.”

“And so?”

“Licht.”

The prince, sitting beside me, tilted his head and whispered.

“Shouldn’t you call me that?”

He knows how to use his charming face…

I shrank back a little, hesitantly replying,

“Well… if that’s what you want.”

Maybe it’s because I saw it in the original work, but there was a strange sense of familiarity, which made things more comfortable for me.

When I answered, a picture-perfect smile bloomed on the boy’s face.

“By the way, you seem to be getting along well with Lord Zevert.”

“Yeah. Well, he’s… my dad.”

“Your face looks so much better. Of course, I’m not saying you looked bad back then.”

“Enough with the flattery…”

“It’s true.”

I first met Licht in the capital right after I’d been dreadfully ill. Of course, even I know I look much healthier now.

He skillfully called over a nearby maid, instructing her to set up a tea table in the garden. The maids hurried off on light feet.

“Seems Lord Zevert is very busy here as well.”

Licht said this, glancing at the carriages arriving in line from afar.

“Well, yes.”

“Still, it looks like he spends a lot of time with you. Is the spring expedition soon?”

I swung my legs and nodded.

“Uh-huh. I heard they’re setting out right after the New Green Festival.”

“So the knights have had some new recruits.”

A flock of rookies, including my childhood friends, was recently brought in.

“That’s right. You know a lot.”

Licht laughed softly.

“It’s been ages since I saw the old Lord Zevert too. He must be much better now.”

I turned to quietly observe Licht. The prince, his smile like a painting, was reading the crests on the arriving carriages.

“Anything interesting happen in Zelox?”

Looking at his shining blond hair as he turned to me, I quietly spoke up.

“Licht.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you probing me?”

“…”

A brief silence fell.

A faint crack appeared on Licht’s face. His normally placid mint eyes wavered for a moment.

“Seems like you’re more interested in Dad than in me… aren’t you?”

“…Rubian.”

“If you’re that curious about the duke’s circumstances, wouldn’t it be faster to ask him yourself?”

“…”

“-Sir? Your Highness.”