Youngest 074
by CristaeEpisode 74
‘But who was it?’
Their face was hidden by the hood pulled low. I couldn’t gauge their height or build either…
“The price for standing against our king will be severe.”
Only that clear line of dialogue remained in my memory. The tone wasn’t distinct, but one thing stuck with me—
‘The crest on their right forearm.’
The mark trailing beneath the sleeve surfaced vividly in my mind.
The World Tree. A dragon encircling it as it soared upward.
It was the emblem of Arcadia, and the sigil branded onto the mages of the Mage Kingdom.
‘I didn’t see the main trunk, but those were unmistakably branches of the World Tree.’
I recalled the image of slender boughs, like shadows, trailing along that thin forearm.
Once again, I turned over the mage’s words in my mind.
‘Our king’ referred, of course, to the Mage King.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
‘In the original story, Leviathan is killed by the Mage King for defying him.’
But who could it be? Aside from the Mage King, had there ever been a mage powerful enough to slay a hero?
I wracked my brain, but no face came to mind.
‘Looks like I’ll need to remember more.’
I stared at the firmly closed door.
Dad had discovered my true gender, yet he wasn’t angry, nor did he cast me out.
If I revealed I was a mage… would he react in the same way?
I pulled the blanket over my head.
A dull ache throbbed in my back.
Right where the Mage Kingdom’s sigil was imprinted.
‘I… really hate this.’
I had caused my father to lose his child, and now the mages were determined to make him their next victim.
Standing in that world, it was me. And the arch-nemesis of my father—there was a time when I had called him ‘father’ as well.
“No matter if you’re a boy or a girl, whatever past you carry, it doesn’t matter.”
Maybe… even if I revealed I was a mage, Dad would say just that.
And, just as before, he would stroke my hair, reassure me, and promise he’d take care of everything.
‘Not even realizing that it would lead to his own death.’
I hadn’t managed to stop the original ending yet.
And still, Dad was kind to me, even knowing I was a mage.
Worse, swept up in that boundless affection, I shamelessly found myself not wanting to ever leave his embrace.
“Idiot. Pull yourself together. I’m the only one who can prevent Dad’s death.”
Eyes squeezed shut, I hid beneath the covers.
Enduring darkness alone was familiar; calling out to someone by name was still something I had yet to master.
That evening, Dad came to see me again, bringing Rosetta along.
It happened to be right after I’d woken from a nap, so my mind was clear and sharp.
I had changed out of my sweaty, uncomfortable clothes, and sat perched on Dad’s knee, being fed soup once more.
“You’re starting to feel feverish.”
Dad frowned, pressing his hand to my forehead.
“I guess the fever’s spiking again now that it’s evening. Kids tend to get that sometimes.”
Rosetta crossed her arms in concern.
Was that so? I didn’t really feel sick, though.
Maybe I just didn’t nap enough because my mind was so troubled earlier.
“If I take my medicine… Ahem, I’ll be fine!”
I reached out maturely towards the bottle of Borvel’s medicine. Dad heaved a deep sigh, then gave me the medicine himself.
“Coughing fit, and you still say you’re fine?”
“I mean it… Ugh, so bitter.”
“I’ll bring some sweets,” Rosetta said, turning to fetch the candy jar.
Watching her movement out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly tilted my head.
“Hm? What’s that?”
Because I spotted something beneath the table.
“Ah.”
Rosetta nudged ‘that something’ forward with the tip of her shoe.
“It’s nothing.”
But I already saw it…
Noticing my gaze, she scratched her chin, looking troubled.
“Hmm. The truth is, while I was down south…”
She paused, briefly glancing at Dad to read his expression.
“While I was recuperating in the south, there was a shoemaker whose work I liked, so… I placed an order.”
Rosetta crawled under the table and fetched out the box.
The box in her hands was a gift, extravagant even in its wrapping—a box overflowing with luxury.
When she opened the lid, inside was a pair of neatly arranged, glossy leather shoes.
“As you can see, they’re a bit too sturdy for a girl. I thought it’d be better just to get rid of them and order new ones.”
She looked a little embarrassed.
“I—I want them! Please don’t throw them away…!”
I squirmed fiercely in Dad’s lap.
“Hm?”
“They look really sturdy, and I feel like they’ll fit perfectly… Can’t I have them?”
Before Rosetta could toss the shoes away, I hurriedly hugged them to my chest. The new leather smell hit me in a wave.
“But maybe something prettier…”
“You went out of your way to buy these for me!”
I knew that feeling well.
The faces that came to mind first whenever I ate delicious cake.
The desire to share something good—
It was undeniable proof they were my family, the most precious people in my life.
Let alone Rosetta—she had thought of me and bought a present even before meeting me.
That fact made me indescribably happy.
“I really like these. Now they’re mine.”
Even as I coughed, I spoke with obstinate resolve. Above me, a stifled laugh echoed.
“Rose, just give in. I couldn’t win against that stubbornness either.”
“This wasn’t how I thought this would go.”
Rosetta’s shoulders slackened as she stood there, looking a bit bemused. After a moment’s thought, she smiled, saying, “Well, it can’t be helped.”
“But honestly… I kept imagining how you’d look wearing those. I was really looking forward to meeting our new little one.”
“How could you know what kind of child I’d be?”
“Because I was ready to love you, no matter what. But to have such a sweet and adorable daughter—what more could I ask?”
Sweet and adorable daughter.
My lips shifted into a pout on their own.
“Thank you for saying that…”
I couldn’t hold back the tears welling up again.
“Thank you. Sniff…”
“Oh dear.”
I must have awakened the crybaby inside me again…
Just then, my body was turned around. Dad’s brows twitched as he looked down at me, on the verge of tears.
“Are you going to drip snot again?”
“It’s tears!”
“You might as well sniffle, then. Enough crying.”
“Sniffle.”
“…No, actually. Maybe it’s good for you to cry a bit. What kind of kid tries so hard to bottle it all up?”
Dad gave a light scolding as he pinched my nose.
“Sniff.”
“Ow… my nose!”
My small, precious nose, now as red as a strawberry…
“Levi, don’t pinch a child’s nose so hard.”
Rosetta, watching from nearby, shot Dad a glare.
She started to wipe my face, then paused—hesitated—before taking a small step back and holding out her arms, grinning.
“Ruby. Why settle for Dad’s stiff, uncomfortable hugs when you could have… hm.”
She searched for the right words.
“A mother’s warm and gentle embrace instead?”
“M-mom…”
I froze at once.
Mom…
That is—mom…
Dad shook his head, pulling me deeper into his arms.
“Rose, let it go. You’ll break her at this rate.”
There was a peculiar confidence in his words, the kind you only get through experience.
“Ah. Maybe it is a little too soon?”
Rosetta winced her eye in disappointment.
“Hmmph.”
Slowly, I reached out toward her soft, fair arms.
Was it because the lock on my heart had come undone?
Or perhaps because I’d already let Rosetta see my vulnerable side before.
Just for now, everything felt so natural.
“M-mom…”
“Wow…”
Rosetta, awash with emotion, hugged me tight.
She nuzzled her cheek into my hair, stroked my back, tucked my hair behind my ear—her arms, so different from Dad’s, sweetly warm, fragrant, soft.
“My nose hurts. And I want to run around in my new shoes.”
For some reason, I just wanted to whine like a real child. Rosetta brushed the hair back from my tearful face with gentle fingers, her expression full of concern.
“Oh, let Mama rub it for you. As for running in those shoes—wait until you’re better. You still have a fever and a cough.”
“Okaaay.”
When I nodded meekly, she couldn’t hold herself back and squeezed me even tighter.
“When you’re all better, let’s eat spicy stew together.”
“And cocoa too?”
“Yes, of course.”
Her easy reply made my heart overflow with warmth. I toyed with her silky-soft, pale pink hair, grinning bashfully.
“What’s this…”
That intense stare from the side…
“……”
“Was… the present the real answer?”
I quietly ignored the Duke’s muttered words, full of shock and inner turmoil.
Rosetta sat and gently stroked Rubian’s sleeping brow, then rose quietly. The fever had subsided, and the cough had faded as well.
Leviathan carefully drew the curtains shut and crossed the room to squeeze her shoulder.
“Let’s head out.”
He spoke in a quiet whisper.
She stifled a laugh.
Since when had he become this gentle a man?
“But what about this?”
Rosetta murmured as she wrinkled her brow.
She was referring to the leather shoes Rubian had fallen asleep hugging tightly to her chest.
“She’s impossible, honestly.”
“She really is. Let’s just let her be—don’t wake her.”
Leviathan replied lightly, steering Rosetta toward the door.
‘We really are going to have to get her a stuffed bear, after all.’
Rosetta squealed inwardly.
Void and Liam had always hated those things, so she’d never had reason to buy one before.
“This is so exciting…”
Was this what a daughter was like? Flushed with anticipation, she muttered under her breath. Leviathan glanced over, asking with his eyes what she meant.
They left the room without a sound.
The knights and servants standing guard outside bowed briefly as the duke and duchess passed.
“……”
The boy standing still as a statue didn’t even nod.
“Khalid.”
Leviathan sighed, speaking at last.
“Are you still out here?”