Youngest 122
by Cristae122
A cluster of blue hydrangeas filled the windowsill, flooding my vision. Petals heavy with moisture shivered now and then, as if waving a greeting to me.
What is this… So this was what you were doing in front of my room?
“I’ll move them.”
“Huh?”
My dazed mind snapped back to focus.
Khalid mumbled gloomily from behind me.
“I didn’t realize you were upset, and I overstepped. I’m sorry.”
“No… Why flowers all of a sudden?”
“You used up all the magic stones, so the windowsill was empty. You seemed lonely, so I just brought these for you.”
I was at a complete loss for words.
After I’d used up all the neatly arranged purple magic stones, that space had of course turned empty.
I had thought to myself that it did feel a bit lonely… But honestly, I never imagined Khalid would be so attentive even about something like that.
“I’ll move them right away.”
“Y—you!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I grabbed the hem of Khalid’s clothes as he moved to leave.
“Why don’t you ever get angry at me!”
“…What?”
My voice exploded, making the boy falter.
“You’re supposed to be mad! You left without saying anything before, and here I am—after leaving you a note and even bringing you a gift, picking a fight for being mean to me! You should have called me out for it!”
“No, I just… I’m not angry.”
“Damn. I was being totally shameless here! Face as thick as a wall!”
“You’re using a lot of hard words today…”
For some reason, I felt both mortified and annoyed. He paid attention even to my smallest feelings, while I’d just sulked on my own and picked a fight.
“It’s so frustrating! You’re too nice!”
“Only to you.”
A large shadow fell over my head. Khalid hesitated, but he spoke clearly to the end.
“I only want to look kind to you.”
“….”
The lips with which I’d been loudly pouting froze still.
Stunned, I stared after Khalid as he walked away. The bow and arrow slipped from my limp hands and dropped to the floor.
Thump, thump. It felt as if someone was pressing a little hammer, again and again, against my heart.
“Ruby, but I’m planning to go to the capital with you this fall, too… Wait, what are you doing?”
Khalid was feeling at the suction-cup arrow stuck in the back of his head.
“H-huh?”
A little flustered, I lowered the hand still holding the arrow.
“I caught it…”
“Caught what?”
“A good-looking bug…”
Khalid’s brow creased slightly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Neither do I, honestly…
I have no idea what I’m doing either.
That evening.
The estate was filled with a rare sense of liveliness.
The senior knights had all returned safely, and a truly festive air filled the halls.
I was swept up in the excitement, wandering here and there, but every time I encountered a knight, they picked me up and spun me around until at last, I had to flee from their arms.
‘As if those magic stones could really work that well!’
With a grimace, I snuck out from behind the decorations.
The way they talked, my little ornaments and cheers sounded like invincible relics that could split the earth and move mountains, that could stride through fire and flood alike.
“Young lady, what are you doing here? You should be heading to the dining room.”
“Oh, Hazel… Save me.”
I reached out to Hazel.
Quickly grasping the situation, she drew me into an embrace, arching her brows in sympathy.
“Our young lady will be busy this time every year now.”
“This is my first and last time… I’m going on strike!”
“You have my support.”
Protected by Hazel’s steadfast watch, I entered the dining room, where Dad, Mom, and Grandfather were already gathered.
Seeing Dad’s place at the table filled, which was usually empty, made me happier than I expected.
“You’re late.”
“Hehe. I’ll eat two extra peppers to make up for it.”
Dad raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“You were supposed to eat four, but you’re slyly cutting it in half.”
“Gasp, how did you know?”
Who was it?
Who told him about my pepper quota?
I cast a glare at Mom and Grandfather.
They couldn’t quite meet my eye—clearly, there was guilt on their faces.
“Well now, to welcome the master back, we’ve prepared a feast!”
The chef himself rolled in a trolley, beaming. Soon a grand banquet was laid out upon the table.
“So delicious…”
I chewed a piece of meat drenched in cream sauce. With a soft smile, Dad placed another large cut in my dish.
When the meal reached its peak, and I was more or less full, I started glancing about furtively.
‘Should I say it now? Or wait a bit longer?’
As the pace of my eating slowed, Mom cocked her head.
“Ruby, are you full?”
“That’s not it… The truth is, I have something to say.”
“Something to say? Why the shyness? Out with it!”
At Grandfather’s words, I put on my most dignified face and set down my silverware.
All their gazes zeroed in on me.
“Family, I, Rubian…”
“…”
“…would like to go to school!”
Clatter.
Dad’s and Grandfather’s cutlery tumbled from their hands. Mom calmly picked up her napkin to dab her lips.
“School? You told Dad you’d prefer to study at home.”
I grew a little embarrassed. That was true.
When I first received the academy pamphlet, I’d put on a very superior face and said,
“Academy? Hmm, I think I require something more tailored. Preferably up here in the refreshing northern lands… What do you think, Father?”
“A clever idea, but at least return Liam’s glasses. He’s talking to a tree over there.”
In short, Dad had assigned me a private tutor, and the matter had ended there.
“I apologize for changing my mind, but after attending this camp, I want to decide for myself.”
I pointed to the paper attached to one side of the pamphlet.
“Autumn camp?”
“Yep. So if you cover the registration fee, I swear I’ll become someone greater in return.”
“Money’s not the problem, Ruby. Can you live away from home? This camp lasts nearly ten whole days.”
When I stared at him blankly, not understanding the issue, Dad pressed his lips together.
“Right, exactly. Like that makes any sense? How about… inviting the academy children up to the north instead! Yes! That’s a great idea!”
“Ugh, no.”
Shaking my head, I faced Grandfather.
Going to the capital’s academy itself was the goal!
Thwarted by this unexpected resistance, my shoulders drooped. I poked my brûlée with a spoon and muttered,
“Is it a no…? Because I changed my mind…?”
Dad sighed deeply.
“Of course it’s not a no.”
Then, in defeat, he let out the breath he’d been holding.
“Alright. Then how about we all go to the capital together in autumn?”
“Yes, I think that’s best,” Mom answered lightly.
Slowly, I raised my head and blinked.
“All of us? Together?”
“You think we’d let a troublemaker go off alone? Never.”
“I’m not going to make trouble!”
Well, not that I’m going just to have fun, either!
Dad snorted at my words.
“Those cheeks of yours are stuffed with nothing but mischief right now.”
He reached out a long arm and poked my cheek.
I sucked in my cheeks as far as I could.
“Mmm…”
How did he know?
Really, his intuition is otherworldly at exactly the strangest moments!
Ch. 12
Time flowed on, and come autumn of that year—
The capital’s Rieta Academy was abuzz with noise.
Not only was it the start of the fall term, but, more importantly, it was time for the camp for prospective students.
This year, the anticipation felt more electrified than ever. The reason was…
“They say the Zevert Princess has come to the capital, right? To attend the camp?”
The rumor that the ‘Lady of the North’—the very person who was the focus of everyone’s curiosity—would be attending.
The young lady who had taken last year’s Green Festival by storm.
Not only had she survived the harsh north, but she even commanded the fearsome Zevert family with nothing but a nod.
It was said that her snowy-white silver hair and ice-cold blue eyes could freeze anyone in their tracks. Young though she was, she already possessed an imposing dignity befitting the Zeverts.
“But then… why don’t I see her?”
Red leaves cascaded gracefully at the camp’s opening ceremony.
People craned their necks, searching the crowd without rest.
“She should be here by now…”
Both the entering students and the visiting parents were on the lookout for the Lady herself.
Yet…
“-This concludes the entrance ceremony.”
Not a glimpse of a silver-haired, blue-eyed girl was seen before the event ended. It seemed the Zevert family hadn’t attended at all.
“Was it all just a rumor?”
“I heard not just the duke, but the duchess and even the old duke registered her personally.”
“Exactly. And aren’t they staying at the townhouse now? Maybe someone mixed up the year for camp?”
“Impossible.”
People’s heads tilted in confusion.
Then someone pointed with a finger.
“But who’s that boy standing over there?”
“Oh, he’s among the transfer students. Wait— isn’t that the kid who won the riding competition at the last Green Festival?”
“Yes, I remember! Rumor was the Zevert family is sponsoring him!”
A chorus of admiration went up.
“There’s something special about him from the very start…”
There was something arresting about the boy.
Dark blue hair, sharp upturned eyes—a face always seeming uninterested in anything.
Though they all wore the same academy uniform, the crisp lines of his build somehow drew the eye. Perhaps it was the two tear-shaped marks below his eyes that lent him that peculiar, captivating air.
“Well, the Lady didn’t appear, but this year’s academy might still be interesting.”
“Indeed… Oh my, you! What are you doing here?”
Just then, a frown formed on one woman’s face.
“Oh, s-sorry!”
“Servants aren’t allowed over here.”
“I’ll leave right away.”
The bowed maid quickly retreated, exiting from the auditorium.
At the quiet edge of the academy campus,
she ducked out of sight and rapidly peeled off her maid’s uniform.
“Ugh, the smell.”
Rumor had it a certain noble house had let their entire staff go, so she’d searched the area and, as expected, found cast-off servants’ clothes. Of course, they were terribly filthy.
Her plain clothes, worn underneath, were now exposed. A black turtleneck rose up to her chin.
“So it’s not at the academy, after all…”
She thought wistfully of those round, chattering heads.
“…It’s harder to sense mana in the capital.”
The woman wiped sweat from her brow.