Youngest 058
by Cristae“Save me.”
I turned to see the Duke—the hero himself—with dark circles under his eyes, clutching a dessert tray as though it were his lifeline.
“For me, a sword is better than a pen. At least, that’s true for me.”
Muttering words I couldn’t make sense of, he shuffled toward me like a zombie, and I couldn’t help a deeply rational suspicion.
Hmm…
Could the male lead… have died of overwork?
A dark alleyway.
A figure, cloaked from head to toe in a black robe, slipped out of the shadows. In his hand was a magic detection device.
His sharp gaze landed on a group of children browsing a nearby stall.
It took only a moment for him to move.
“Hello, young ladies.”
A polite, gentlemanly greeting. The girls tensed at his dramatic, theatrical gestures.
“Wh-who are you?”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
The magic device was thrust forward at the same time as the girls shrieked.
“Kidnapper! Help, a kidnapper!”
Tsk. Should have covered their mouths first.
A rustle came from his other hand—the one not holding the magical device.
It all happened in an instant, but fortunately, the device activated.
Magic detected?
‘XXXXXD-!’
Bzzt! Better luck next time!
With a disappointing sound effect, a blue sigil appeared above the blood-red mana stone.
‘Tch. Wrong answer.’
Spotting knights running toward him in the distance, he fled at once.
Entering the maze of interconnected alleyways—
A dagger suddenly came whirling out of nowhere.
“I thought you’d be as slow as a mudworm.”
But apparently not…
The slow, muttered voice.
‘Who is that?’
Creak, creak.
Looking in the direction from which the dagger had flown, the first thing he saw was a cart piled high with books.
It was being pulled by a boy wearing gloves.
With glasses scrubbed to a shine and neatly kept black hair, he looked as if he wouldn’t allow even a single hair out of place.
The boy approached, his sharp eyes glinting as he pushed his glasses up.
“Excuse me.”
Coincidentally, with his middle finger.
“Tch, a meddler, are you…”
“You just said ‘excuse me.’ Why are you backing away? Especially dressed so sloppily.”
With every word, he pushed his glasses up again—a habit of his.
How strange…
‘He’s just adjusting his glasses, but…’
Why does it make me so irritated…?
The boy, having satisfied his urge to adjust his glasses, muttered, “No helping it,” and turned to the cart. Amid the mountain of books was a gleaming sword.
‘Now!’
Whoosh! The mage threw something with all his might while the boy dodged out of the way, then quickly escaped.
“…”
The boy stared blankly at what hit the wall and slid down. A bun filled with strawberry cream.
“Ah, the smell…”
He took out disinfectant and sprayed it generously around himself before tossing the can aside.
Strawberry cream was one of his least favorite things.
Soon, silence fell over the area.
“Why does everyone run away?”
The boy muttered stiffly, alone.
He only ever tried to politely ask for directions—why did everyone bolt? And then attack with pastries?
Ipsen was full of strange people.
His glasses glinted as he resumed hauling his cart with a squeak.
“So… I wonder how much my new sibling Rubian knows about magical beasts.”
If she’s dirty or dull, he’d show no mercy.
Early education is key, after all. As her elder brother, he would have to teach her strictly.
One cartload of books was still too few.
“By the way, which alley is this?”
Hmm. Back to the beginning…
And so continued Liam Zevert’s long journey home.
Yawn. I woke, stretching out luxuriously.
I’d eaten a snack and then taken a nap, buried in the crisp sheets.
Was it the resort air? I felt lazy as a sloth…
“Eh?”
But the mood in the house felt strangely unsettled. I hurried into the hall and grabbed the first servant I saw.
“What’s going on?”
“Well…”
The maid whispered conspiratorially, pressing close.
“The prince has arrived.”
“Eh?”
Suddenly?
I stood there blinking, completely caught off-guard.
They’d said the emperor and other royals wouldn’t arrive for several more days.
An uneasy hunch struck me, and I asked,
“It isn’t the fourth prince, is it?”
“How did you know?”
Of course—it brought back the memory of golden-haired Licht Babylon from the capital.
He’d come all the way up north alone?
He really does love to wander off on his own…
“And he’s with Master Liam.”
“…What?”
What on earth was going on?
I couldn’t stand it—hurriedly, I stepped up my pace.
“Ah, wait!”
I should check my clothes. Nearly went out there in pajamas.
I dashed back to my room, checked myself over in the mirror, and ran down to the lobby. By then, the place was already packed.
I crouched on the landing, poking my head out over the stair rail to survey the scene.
The first thing I heard was Dad’s exasperated voice.
“You’re telling me His Highness found you wandering around the alleys…?”
“Yes.”
“Unbelievable.”
From the width of the Duke’s back, and the way he clutched his forehead with one hand, I could practically feel how flabbergasted he was.
Creak, squeak. The sound of a cart approaching, then stopping.
‘Ack, a mountain of books.’
I furrowed my brow, looking distinctly put out.
‘Liam Zevert.’
Tall for his age, as the Zevert bloodline always was. Neatly arranged black hair, pale violet eyes.
Sharp gaze behind clear spectacles—a certain prickly sharpness in his expression.
‘He… he does look like the Mister—Dad.’
If Void was the mild version, this one was spice at full strength.
The boy finally let go of the mountain of books and stripped off his gloves.
“It’s been a while, Father. Your shirt button is undone.”
With both index fingers, Liam pushed up his glasses, focusing on Dad’s undone collar button.
Dad heaved a long sigh.
“Liam, just how long have you been in Ipsen? What happened to your guards?”
“Um… That’s just how it turned out. Your button really is undone.”
“That explains nothing. You think you can get by just pushing your glasses up like you know everything.”
“But—”
“I undid the button on purpose. It’s stifling.”
The ice-cold expression cracked at last.
“…Buttons are meant to be buttoned.”
Dad didn’t care and just massaged his throbbing temples.
“Where’s Rose? Don’t tell me she’s in Ipsen too?”
“Mother should still be on her way. I came ahead on horseback with Sir Bess. It was rough—I couldn’t get much reading done.”
“I told you not to read while riding a horse.”
“What else would I do if I didn’t read while riding?”
The tone was as if he’d just heard something utterly absurd.
Like someone in the subway asking what you’d do if you didn’t look at your smartphone…
‘What is this, the battle of spear and shield?’
Squashing my cheek against the banister, I watched the father-son exchange with great interest.
This time, the adult gave up first.
“Fine, fine. Leon, send a messenger to the southern gate. See if Rose’s carriage passed through.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Senior Leon hurried off. Liam flashed a small smile at him, evidently pleased with Leon’s perfect attire.
“So then.”
Dad’s gaze shifted to the person standing behind Liam.
“What about His Highness? Please don’t tell me he came all this way alone.”
Licht, already shedding his cloak and sword with the servants’ assistance, smiled.
“Sorry to disappoint, sir.”
“…”
“They said the Verdant Festival would be in the North this year. I just couldn’t restrain myself.”
Phew. Dad let out another heavy sigh.
‘Oh dear. Is Dad’s hair going to go gray?’
Clutching the banister, I cast a tender, worried glance at the back of that handsome head.
Raising teens is tough… Hang in there, Dad.
“…”
“…”
As I absentmindedly reached out to stroke the air, cerulean blue eyes found me without a moment’s hesitation.
“Hello, Rubian. What are you doing up there?”
His gentle voice drifted up. Instantly, every gaze in the lobby turned to me.