Youngest 040
by Cristae“Thank you for inviting me to dinner. See you tomorrow, Ruby.”
With that, the boy—brash or polite, it was hard to say—disappeared without a hint of hesitation.
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
The table shook as if in an earthquake.
“Phew… Stop sulking already.”
Grandfather muttered, eyeing his tightly clenched, rock-like fist.
“I’ll soon release this grudge.”
“Grandfather… Please don’t talk to your fists…”
“Hmph.”
Before we knew it, Mister was leaning his chin on one hand, observing the situation. I scratched my temple and gave a strained laugh.
“Mister, I’m sorry. Maybe because Khalid had it rough from a young age, he’s a bit… lacking in social skills…”
“I do like his temperament, though.”
“Huh?”
Mister glanced at Grandfather, who was still struggling to calm his fist.
“Father.”
“Hm, yes?”
“Lately you’ve been having a bit too much free time, haven’t you? Your health is good, too.”
“…? Not sure what you’re getting at, but respect your elders, you hear?”
“It’s time for the talent-nurturing you’ve been waiting for.”
“……”
What was that supposed to mean?
As I watched quietly, Mister turned his head to the side. Void, who’d been chewing his food, now wore a huge question mark on his face.
“It should be a good incentive for Void as well.”
“Huh?”
Oh, so that’s what it is.
I easily caught on to Mister’s intentions.
Grandfather had always wanted to raise strong northern knights. From what he saw at the entrance test, Khalid clearly had promise—it meant he wanted him trained properly.
“And Ruby as well…”
“Yes, sir!”
I replied stoutly. Even so, I was a member of the Zevert Knights myself.
Training with Grandfather? It would be tough, but I was honestly curious!
“Ruby as well…”
But then, Mister only furrowed his brow, unable to say the next part.
“…Why do I dislike this so much?”
“Hm?”
Mister looked at me with great reluctance, returning the bell peppers I’d tried to sneak off my plate.
How mean!
“In any case, I’ll leave the kids in your care.”
“Very well, very well!”
Grandfather grabbed his plate and stuffed a mountain of steak into his mouth.
Barely chewing, he swallowed and shot to his feet.
“Good! I feel my blood pumping! I’ll whip these brats into shape!”
To think that the table manners of a nobleman were worse than those of a mercenary kid…
I took advantage of everyone’s attention being focused on Grandfather to finally drop my bell pepper onto the floor.
Void’s face now looked not just pale, but almost bruised.
Seeing that, a surge of anxiety overtook me. For someone as shameless as Void to be scared…
‘His training must be brutal.’
“I don’t want anything too hard…”
I muttered under my breath, and Grandfather gasped.
“Hey now, who said you’d be working hard?! You can just watch from Grandpa’s arms…”
Creak, creak.
As he mulled over his own words, Grandfather’s face twisted in real time.
“…But you can’t just watch, can you?”
That exact same look Mister wore earlier.
At last, a faint murmur escaped him.
Why does this bother me so much…?
Void Zevert was lost in thought.
“Master Void, shall I serve you some tea?”
“No…”
“Oh my, but it’s your favorite fruit tea…”
Elbows on his desk in the study, Void waved the maids away. His smooth brow was deeply furrowed.
‘Ruby is my little sister…’
Tap. Tap. His index finger drummed rhythmically on the desk.
‘And that brat just now… that kid is her friend.’
Khalid, that was the name.
A kid who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He said he was Ruby’s friend. That he’d come all the way here from her hometown to find her.
Well. That could happen.
‘Liam’s friends visit from time to time too.’
But…
‘So why does it bother me so much?’
Void’s frown deepened.
It was impossible to understand; this feeling, this emotion…
As if his precious little sister was about to be snatched away…
“Hey, my little sister brought home some scrawny punk claiming to be a boyfriend—and man, it really messes with your head.”
“Huh? Don’t you not even get along with your sister?”
“Oh, what do you know. That’s not the point here.”
“Huh.”
Why did his academy friend’s words come to mind now?
“What’s wrong with me?”
Void shook his head solemnly. His thick black hair fluttered messily.
‘Maybe because Ruby’s so small and weak and pale.’
That cattle-thief-looking brat was taller than him and dusky-skinned. And those sly eyes looked just like Father’s…
“Ah. I’m insulting Father now.”
Void shook his head again.
Anyway, if someone like that picked on Ruby, she’d have no way to fight back.
“Aha, that’s it!”
Void jumped to his feet.
That’s what was worrying him! As an older brother, he was anxious the kid might give his sister trouble! Or worse, corrupt her somehow!
“Yes, I have to protect her.”
To make sure he wouldn’t forget, Void opened his diary. His hand, picking up his pen, suddenly paused.
‘But… what if Ruby ends up getting closer to that kid than to me?’
“Haha… That’s not very brotherly.”
Void pressed his brow, shaking his head.
Act your age, Void Zevert. You’re a third-year at the academy now…
Steeling himself, Void flipped through his diary again. His hand, once more, froze.
N. Month N. Day N. Day of the week / Weather: Cloudy / Mood: Super Happy
Reached 100 sword swings today!
Uncle Oberon praised me a lot. As a reward he gave me raspberries, but I dropped them all…
…
Had dinner with Ruby…
…
I’ll work even harder tomorrow!
Perfect content. Impeccable beginning, development, and conclusion.
The problem was the pink writing that had invaded the very end of the diary.
“Argh! You peeked again!”
That demon! Void sprang up.
No matter how well he hid it, how did she always find it every day?!
“Master! Please don’t run inside—!”
No one could stop the boy as he shot out like an arrow.
He burst through the door to find Ruby, lying on the bed and fiddling with a soft purple stone, who raised her head.
“Hey, I need to talk to you!”
“Hm? What’s going on?”
That innocent expression that surely knew nothing!
Void glared at Ruby, huffing and puffing.
“You—my diary… Who was that boy earlier?!”
“Eh?”
“Who was that boy earlier?!”
Ruby tilted her head and sat up straight.
‘Ugh. What’s wrong with me, now.’
He’d stormed in, using the diary as a pretext, but seeing her wide-eyed face, a totally different sentence popped out.
That diary clenched in his fist, he was already forgetting all about it.
“Him! The one with hair like the faded night sky!”
“Khalid? I told you, he’s my friend.”
“How old is he! He looked bigger than me, so how can he be your friend?!”
“Uh… he’s twelve.”
“See?!”
“Well, I’m a bit mature for my age. I have plenty of older friends!”
The youngest one’s face shone with a pure smile.
Void felt somehow burnt up inside.
“So why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“I don’t know!”
“Huh?”
“You’re my little sister—how can you have someone you’re closer to than me?”
“Well, you have friends too, don’t you?”
“That’s true!”
Ruby tilted her head. Her neatly cut silver hair shifted slightly.
A small squirrel-shaped pin was clipped by her right ear.
A squirrel today. Geez… my little sister’s cute!
“So what’s the problem?”
“I don’t know!”
Void shouted thoughtlessly, and Ruby gently closed her mouth.
“…But why have you been mad at me since before?”
“…”
“You just barged in and started yelling at me…”
Gasp—Void gulped.
Her fair cheeks had puffed up. Lately, the youngest had gained some softness in her cheeks—a positively, absurdly adorable effect.
But this was bad. She was on the verge of sulking.