Youngest 017

Episode 17

The bedroom had already been tidied up by Hazel. I washed up thoroughly and changed into my pajamas by myself.

“Ah, this feels great!”

The sleeves of my pajamas were long, so I had to remember to fold them up carefully. Then, I dove straight into bed.

Mister was sitting slouched on the sofa in one corner of my bedroom, reading some documents. Someone must have brought them while I was washing up.

“You’re not waiting to see me fall asleep before leaving, are you?”

“I’m just here to look over these documents. Don’t flatter yourself.”

Mister glanced up, watching as I wiggled under the covers.

“Then why not just go work in your study, more comfortably…?”

“Because of someone—I haven’t finished yet. The estate is on the verge of ruin.”

“Oh no, that can’t happen. Make sure to look them over thoroughly before you go…”

Collapse is out of the question. Absolutely not.

I nodded absently, only half listening. Already, sleep was starting to take over my mind.

After rushing about all day, I was completely spent.

“Ruby.”

At Mister’s call, I forced my heavy eyelids open.

“Mm?”

“You know where my bedroom is, right?”

“Upstairs…”

“If you wake up suddenly in the night, come find me.”

“…Once I fall asleep, I don’t wake easily.”

I heard the sound of Mister shifting his weight.

Then came the sound of footsteps, the mattress dipping as he sat beside me, and a large, warm hand gently brushing my forehead.

“If you suddenly start hating the darkness, or get frightened, just let me know.”

“…? Okay, I will.”

With my eyes half closed, I nodded. Soon, Mister’s callused hand covered my eyes.

Darkness enveloped me instantly.

“At least read with the light on… Your eyes will get worse…”

Sleep descended, relentless and impossible to resist. This was truly my limit.

“Goodnight, Ruby.”

“…”

“Today…”

The world faded into silence.

I wondered what the next words would have been.

Was he grateful? Happy?

Whatever it was, I was sure it was something warm and kind…

Ch. 3

A few more days passed.

Mister was a man who kept his word.

Of course, he was so busy that we couldn’t have every meal together, but he did try to spend time with me at least once a day. Even that much seemed to be enough for Void to look perfectly satisfied.

‘Hmm, everything’s going smoothly.’

I was lounging around after a full lunch.

It really seemed I had adapted well here, hadn’t I?

‘It’s about time I got moving…’

The thought hit me, and I sat up abruptly.

A prickling sensation ran down my neck. Wait a moment.

“Haven’t I forgotten something?!”

It felt like there was someone else in this house whom I’d forgotten about…

At that moment—knock, knock—the door opened.

“Hazel?”

“Lady Rubian, it’s snack time!”

Ah, sugar first.

“Okay!”

Hazel smiled softly. In just a few days, I had grown comfortable enough with her to treat her like an old friend.

When I headed toward the tearoom near my bedroom, I spotted an early guest.

“Mister, why do you keep wandering around doing your work instead of staying in your study?”

Signing documents as he spoke, he glanced up at me with that handsome face.

“My prerogative. This is my castle, after all.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

“You’re late.”

As I bounced onto the plush sofa, Mister chided me, somewhat unnecessarily.

He’d recently been pushing the chef to experiment with every kind of dessert, utterly engrossed in the process. The chef had apparently suggested it first, but… who really knew?

Not that I minded trying new sweets—those were always delightful—but I worried the chef might be overworked.

‘Such a terrible employer, honestly…’

Even back in the capital, Mister clearly enjoyed food.

He had a hearty appetite for even the sweetest desserts.

Well, I suppose you’d have to eat plenty to keep up such a large frame…

‘Still, tormenting the chef every day!’

“What did I do wrong this time?”

Mister shook his round, bitten hand back and forth, as if it were no big deal.

“You’re not a kitten, you know…”

“Just! I’m doing it for the chef’s sake!”

“What nonsense.”

Mister muttered as he pressed me deep into the sofa.

“It’s been a while since your meal. Can’t go leaving you hungry.”

There was a faint note of dissatisfaction in his voice.

“I ate plenty—honestly, I’m not very hungry…”

“I was talking about myself.”

“…”

Well, if you say so, I have nothing more to add.

Clink, clatter. It was a pleasant snack time.

“How is it?”

Mister asked.

“Delicious.”

“You haven’t even tried it yet.”

Only then did I stab a bite of strawberry cream cake and pop it in my mouth.

“Delicious.”

“Honestly, I can never let my guard down with you.”

The surge of sweetness made my scalp tingle.

“When you finish, let’s go to the annex.”

“The annex?”

“That old man’s been too quiet for too long. Best deal with him before he causes trouble.”

Leviathan Mister grumbled offhandedly.

If he said “old man”…

‘Lord Zevert?’

Come to think of it, I had started thinking about him earlier.

‘He wasn’t much of a presence in the original story, though.’

Was that why he stayed so quiet?

I blinked slowly.

Across from me, Mister sat at an angle on the sofa, demolishing his cake in three swift bites.

“So… does the lord usually stay in the annex?”

“Yes. He hardly ever comes over here.”

Mister crossed his legs and sipped his tea. He looked every bit the grand noble with that poised gesture.

“Have you heard much about your father?”

“Just bits and pieces—things people mutter about.”

I deflected.

“I heard he’s unwell.”

“That’s true. But don’t worry. He actually dislikes being fussed over.”

The last words were so soft I barely caught them.

‘Oh, wait a second.’

Once more, that chill ran down the back of my neck.

‘Isn’t it terribly rude not to visit an ailing elder in the family?’

Plus, I’m an outsider—a rolling stone anyone might want to find fault with!

‘What if I’ve earned his dislike?’

Luckily, so far, none of the castle staff seemed to dislike me.

But if the lord took against me…

And sent me back to the capital…

Sensing my troubled silence, Mister spoke again.

“Don’t worry. I told you, I’ll discipline anyone who gives you trouble.”

“What kind of person is Lord Zevert…?”

“Hm…”

Mister looked up at the ceiling, thinking.

“An angry lion?”

“…?”

That cryptic answer made me stare at him blankly. His deep violet eyes met mine.

“Right. He might gobble up a little bean like you in no time.”

I let out a small, mocking laugh.

“Lions are carnivores. They don’t like beans.”

“Should I call that mature or childish…”

Smiling, Mister flicked me on the tip of my nose.

A smudge of pink cream was left on his callused fingertip.

When did that get there? Embarrassing.

“My lord, do you want another piece?”

“Of course.”

The confidence with which he held out his plate left me exasperated all over again.

“Do you have to eat cake as if it’s your birthday?”

“It’s delicious.”

Just from looking at him, you’d expect him to be satisfied with a painfully bitter espresso or a stiff brandy, declaring, “This will suffice for my meal.”

Preferences truly are unpredictable.

“Eat some more for now. If you don’t, I won’t take you anywhere.”

“Ugh, fine…”

I picked up my fork again.

Perhaps it was the sweetness dulling my worries over Lord Zevert.

‘Mm, the strawberry cream is definitely better than last night’s chestnut cream!’

I’d have to mention it to the chef later.

“Ah, I’m so full.”

As I patted my belly in satisfaction, Mister tapped the table.

“Don’t put your fork down just yet.”

“But I’m full! I already had a big meal.”

“You barely nibbled, at best.”

“I did not!”

What am I, a mouse?

“If you leave so much behind, our chef will be sad, won’t he?”

“Of course. He’d be heartbroken.”

The attendant, who had just placed a glass of strawberry milk before me, nodded in agreement.

Ugh. They say one must never displease the one who feeds you…

After a moment’s thought, I picked the shy little strawberry nestled in the cream and popped it into my mouth.

When I scooped up another bit of the fluffy cake, Mister grinned with satisfaction.

“He’ll be happy now.”

Are even the strawberries up north this big?

Both my cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s. The soft cream and tart juice filled my mouth.

“Mmm-phmmph.”

“Even if you grumble with your mouth full, it won’t help.”

Oh, I’d been caught…

Crash!

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed through the entire castle.

“Wah!”

The four-tiered tray on the table rattled, and a faint tremor followed.

Bang. Bang!

“W-what… Hic!”

So startled, I swallowed the cake without chewing. And of course, got the hiccups.

Mister scowled deeply and reached out to me.

“You didn’t bite your tongue, did you? Let me see.”

“Is that what matters right now?!”

“Drink your milk first.”

Small and large explosions continued in the distance.

With all this going on, my head whipped from side to side.

“Sigh… So he’s lost patience at last.”

“Are we under attack?”

“Correct, but not quite.”

What kind of absurd answer is that?

The strange thing is, I was the only one in the room who seemed startled.

Everyone else simply steadied the wobbling ornaments or straightened the crooked picture frames, wearing practiced expressions.

“My lord, what shall we do?”

“If we lock the door, he’ll just break down the wall, won’t he?”

“Without fail.”

Listening to Mister and the attendant’s exchange, I grew ever more bewildered.

Thump, thump, thump.

Something—or someone—was drawing closer from afar.

It sounded like a charging bull, or the footsteps of an enraged giant…

“For now, Ruby—drink your milk. Stop the hiccups.”

Mister nodded toward the mug of strawberry milk in front of me. Entranced, I reached for it.

Bang!

Just then, the heavy door went flying off its hinges.

“Where’s the new child?!”