Youngest 023
by CristaeEpisode 23
What did you say?
“I think you’re getting your words mixed up.”
“Ugh.”
He seemed quite flustered.
It was strange and fascinating to see an adult so obviously at a loss just because he thought I was angry.
Looking up at that unexpectedly unimposing giant, I spoke again, carefully enunciating each word.
“I’m not angry. I was surprised yesterday, but I wasn’t upset. I’m the one who should apologize for shouting so rudely.”
I bowed deeply, all the way from the waist.
A piercing gaze landed on the crown of my head.
Tap, tap. Pieces of the bust sculpture fell to the ground.
A quick glance showed that half of the first lord’s face had been brutally shattered…
“So, you weren’t angry at me?”
“Why would I be angry with you, sir? In fact, I thought you were angry with me.”
“Who would ever be angry at a little runt like you?!”
Was he picking a fight, or making peace?
By now, though, I was starting to understand his pattern.
His words and actions were always big and rough, but if you thought carefully, most of what he said was praise for me.
“Where did you pick up such a well-mannered child!”
Just like that.
“Please don’t rub your face against mine…”
At some point, he scooped me into a hug and pressed his scruffy beard towards me. I gently pushed his face away.
“That’s enough, let’s go!”
“Yes, sir!”
We crossed the lobby and stepped outside.
Oh, what beautiful weather.
In front of the manor, a carriage stood with no roof and open on all sides.
“You don’t like closed spaces, do you? Hmph, at least it’s a bit warmer today.”
At his signal, Maurice appeared from somewhere with another coat. Ack, how stifling.
I climbed into the carriage with my newly plump body.
“…Were you a chick today?”
“Pardon?”
The lord seated beside me flicked one of my hairpins with a thick finger.
“When did you get so many pins like this…?”
His brusque tone suddenly halted.
He turned his head towards Hazel, who stood quietly by the carriage.
“Hazel.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Don’t tell me… Did that fellow give you the east wing key?”
Hazel gave a small, affirmative nod.
“…I see.”
A dark, chilly expression flickered across the lord’s wrinkled face.
It was an emotion tinged with sadness, perhaps anger, or perhaps longing.
What on earth was in the east wing?
‘I’ll have to explore it later.’
Silently vowing so, I turned my eyes to the slowly passing landscape outside the carriage.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage rattled as it moved.
The castle’s main gates were already thrown wide open.
“This is my first time in downtown Zelox! I can’t wait to see it!”
Unable to keep my excitement in, I spoke up, and his bushy eyebrows twitched.
“Besides the dress shop, can we look around other places too?”
Clatter, clatter.
“Is that… not allowed?”
“Bah, of course we can! Quit talking or you’ll bite your tongue!”
A large, thick hand firmly held me in place.
Perhaps I’d misunderstood the lord a bit.
He possessed such formidable spirit that, naturally, ordinary people would be intimidated and avoid him… or so I’d thought.
Wherever he went, people parted before him like the Red Sea; their gazes filled with awe, but no one dared approach him easily…
‘That’s the image of the northern duke!’
At least, that was how the people in the capital were whenever they saw Mister Leviathan.
But here…
“My lord! It’s been a while!”
“Lord Balok! Have you been well? Your beard is as magnificent as ever today!”
“My lord, come see the ores I have! I’ll give you a great deal!”
I turned calmly and asked,
“…Sir, are you a celebrity?”
“What’s a celebrity?”
“Someone who’s popular, that kind of thing.”
“Heh! Popular, you say.”
Indeed.
The previous lord of Zevert was the beloved grandfather of all!
We parked the carriage at the entrance to the shopping street and began to walk the bustling avenue. The looks people gave the lord were filled with nothing but joy at seeing him.
‘Come to think of it, it was like this when I saw Mister Leviathan too.’
I remembered the first time I’d entered Zelox with him.
Of course, I’d been so nervous then that I hadn’t really noticed…
‘The people of Zelox must really like the ducal family.’
Trust and affection—those weren’t built in a year or two.
It felt like a kind of camaraderie, unique to those who survive together in harsh lands.
‘Wow, this feels nice.’
Unaware that the attention showered on the lord was now also falling on me, I walked on, lost in thought.
“Welcome… Oh my. My lord, what brings you here today?”
We’d arrived at a large, ornate clothing shop.
“We’ve come to buy clothes that fit this child.”
“And this is… could it be…”
The shop was filled with a pleasant scent. A beautiful lady, draped in an elegant dress, looked down at me.
Suddenly feeling shy, I slipped behind the lord’s cloak.
“H…hello?”
“Hello! I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Yusana, the designer here!”
Her face lit up at once, her long lashes fluttering like butterflies. Yet…
‘Rumors?’
What rumors?
“But Madam Iveline won’t be back for a few days, I’m afraid.”
I recalled the sign at the entrance that read ‘Iveline Boutique.’ I’d assumed this beautiful woman was the owner herself, but apparently not.
“We need something ready-made that fits for now! Just look at this mess!”
He dragged me out from behind his back.
He started ranting about his son again—how hopeless he was at things like this, and so on.
But no one really listened.
“Hmm. So you’re saying you need something to wear in the meantime?”
Yusana’s brows furrowed with sympathy at the sight of my sleeves halfway trailing on the floor.
“Alright, I’ll help by altering some existing pieces. Give me three hours.”
“O-okay…”
I replied awkwardly. To be honest, clothing was never something I cared much about…
“Shall we take your measurements first?”
That snapped me out of my daze.
“I don’t want to take my clothes off!”
“But for accuracy, it’s best to wear something thinner…”
“N-no, I hate it…”
I reflexively hugged the lord’s leg.
The lord, peering down in surprise, suddenly barked,
“Aw, the little runt says she doesn’t want to!”
Best ally ever, loudest voice!
“Then I’ll measure over what you’re wearing. Would you be alright taking off your outer coat?”
“Yes, that’s fine!”
I quickly took off my coat and let her take my measurements.
Snap! With a confident flick of Yusana’s fingers, the maids began moving with flawless coordination. Hangers wheeled in, seemingly without end.
Surely all that isn’t for me, right? In a few days, this Madam Iveline person is supposed to come measure me again, too.
“Prepare ready-to-wear items but tailored as best you can! Now, let’s go!”
The lord spoke like a gangster and abruptly turned away. Because of that, I missed my chance to ask questions.
“Wait for me!”
“Bah, such a bother. Why not sit quietly with some cake instead of tagging along?”
“Hehe, but I’m curious about the smithy too…”
Clinging tightly to his cloak, I was met with his wordless gaze, before he cried, “Ahhh, that tickles, it tickles!”
Did he have bugs crawling on him or something?
Meanwhile, at Iveline Boutique—
“That’s odd. Did I mishear something?”
Yusana, scanning her carefully written measurements, tilted her head. The junior designer folding children’s shorts asked,
“Miss Yusana, what’s the matter?”
“I could have sworn they said a dashing young gentleman…”
Something…
Yusana couldn’t finish her thought. It was a kind of intuition. A blend of a designer’s eye, an aesthetic perspective—something like that.
“Am I the only one who noticed?”
Those in the boutique exchanged glances. In truth, several had quietly thought the same, but no one dared voice it.
The junior designer waved it off.
“Oh come now, that can’t be! Probably just a really, really pretty child, right? Don’t forget, even the Fourth Prince is said to be prettier than most girls.”
Honestly, just assuming someone cute and pretty is a girl could be rude.
“Well… you’re right.”
“Our duke may know nothing but the sword and be a taciturn man…”
“Exactly, right?”
“But he’s not so foolish as to not know the child’s gender.”
“Of course not, right?”
Haha, of course, of course. Laughter filled the room.
With a lighter heart, Yusana picked up a boy’s shirt with a large collar.
Ah, adorable. The color would go perfectly with the lovely child’s eyes.
“…”
And yet, why did this uneasy feeling remain?