Youngest 076
by Cristae76
From a distance came the faint sound of carriage wheels. A woman’s wide, startled eyes framed by the window. Himself, running toward that sight…
What kind of memory was this…?
At that instant, the shouts of people rang out.
“There’s been a kidnapping! They’ve taken noble children!”
“…!”
Khalid’s head snapped up. The weakened force holding him together quickly gathered itself back with perfect balance.
“Ruby!”
The wavering steps turned into a dead sprint without warning.
Rubian.
The boy was certain.
Rubian must be in trouble!
Alarms rang in his head, warning him. With no time to dwell on the hazy memories that had resurfaced, Khalid just ran.
“…”
Khalid slowly opened his eyes.
Darkness surrounded him.
His eyes, which had been searching the past, were black.
“Hey.”
Someone nudged him.
He turned to see the senior knight, who had been standing guard beside Rubian’s bedroom, looking down at him.
“Go get some sleep.”
Khalid shook out his hair. His hand tingled, and when he looked, he realized he’d unconsciously been gripping his sword tight.
“I’m fine.”
“Ugh, you stubborn brat. You planning to stay out here all night again?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re that worried, why not at least say something to her…?”
The grumbling knight tossed something at him.
“Fine, I won’t stop you. But if you’re going to sleep rough, at least eat something, got it?”
A chunk of bread and a jug of milk landed between Khalid’s knees, as he sat against the wall. Khalid looked up at the knight, caught by an odd feeling.
What’re you looking at—the knight mouthed, full of rough kindness.
“…Thank you.”
The cold bottle of milk in his hand helped clear his mind.
Footsteps receded. The knight disappeared into the darkness.
He stared blankly into the gloom.
‘The price for touching a human soul is cruel indeed.’
That alone lingered in his mind.
‘I’ve touched someone’s soul before.’
A strange light flickered in the boy’s eyes.
‘Was that why I ended up imprisoned in that cave… as the price?’
He knew nothing for certain. Maybe it had been a hallucination, conjured by magic gone out of control.
Khalid clenched his teeth.
“I need to find out more.”
Starting from the cave where he’d been trapped, step by step.
He muttered quietly and raised his head.
“For now…”
I should reflect a bit longer…
His crestfallen gaze drifted aside.
The richly decorated bedroom door was firmly shut. Rubian’s cough trickled through the crack.
Khalid bit his lip and squared his posture.
He would pay, and harshly, for failing to protect his master.
I stretched, listening to birds chirping outside. My body felt light and refreshed.
“Oh ho ho… You’re a young lady. A lady…”
The first thing I saw was Hazel weeping, soaking the bedsheet with tears and snot.
“Hazel? How did you get here?”
Startled, I pulled up the sheets.
I wanted to rescue my precious bedding from her bodily fluids, but she even blew her nose into the spread…
“I brought plenty of your favorite blankets… Don’t worry, my lady…”
“Use as many as you like.”
I smiled generously and let go of my grip.
“But really—how did you get here in the first place?”
“My lady… Do you know how long I’ve wanted to say those words?”
“I’m not actually a lady just yet… Did you come here by carriage?”
“What do imperial and church recognition matter? The lord, the madam, and even Grand Duke have acknowledged you. Oh ho ho…”
“Is that so. But why have you been ignoring my question—how did you actually get—”
Before I could finish, Hazel grabbed me in a tight hug. Now even my shoulder was getting damp.
“Is that why you wouldn’t let me help you bathe? You bravely washed up on your own? It’s all all right now. Hazel will assist you properly from now on.”
“No, it’s fine…”
“I’m fine, too. How hard it must have been for you, my young master—no, my lady…”
Every word simply bounced back at me.
‘Somehow or other, she must have found a way…’
I gave up and patted Hazel’s sturdy shoulder.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Any discomfort? What about that wrist bandage?”
“Oh, that? It’s fine. Borvel said it’ll heal quick, just wait a little.”
With a smile, Hazel’s lips pushed out in a pout.
“That’s a relief… You must have been so frightened. Those fiends who dared lay a hand on you—my lady, it wouldn’t have been enough to tear them apart! I should have just shot them all!”
A deadly gleam accumulated in her otherwise well-kept eyes. I quickly waved my hand, fearing I might awaken the swordswoman within the maid.
“Dad already got revenge! Calm down, Hazel!”
“Whew. Yes… that’s true. I hear they were all sent to the capital prison in truly appalling condition.”
“Really?”
“I can’t describe the details to a child, but… let’s just say, they couldn’t even shackle their wrists.”
What did that mean? I tilted my head.
Somehow, it sounded like a gruesome, horrible story, so I decided not to ask any more.
‘Dad always deals out justice to the wicked in his own way anyway.’
But I had other things I was curious about.
There was someone who, by now, ought to be hovering nearby—but I hadn’t seen even a nose.
‘I feel like I might’ve seen him while half-asleep.’
Or was it just a dream?
“By the way, Khal…”
“But, um…”
Hazel’s voice overrode mine. Her gaze darted to the slightly open bedroom door.
“Are those two hiding outside the door guests, or just ornamental?”
“Oh, right.”
I’d completely forgotten, busy saving my blankets.
From the moment Hazel had started weeping, two familiar shadows had been stretched behind the door.
I cleared my throat.
“When are you two planning to come in?”
The door jerked in surprise.
“Um, well…”
I pondered a moment, then threw out a playful guess.
“Big brothers…?”
Bang!
The door burst open, as if it might fly off its hinges.
Striding boldly in was Liam, polishing his glasses as he walked.
“Now you finally feel right, little sprite. Keep using that term from now on, every chance you get.”
“Um, I’ll… think about it.”
“No, do it. That’s what makes for a good child.”
“Aren’t you going to your books?”
“Aren’t you going to your books, big brother? That would be the proper way to put it. And I’ve already moved every library next to your room.”
“Why?!”
For someone who hates noise, what a hassle—why go to such trouble?
At that, the torrent of words from Liam faltered. He looked down, oddly subdued.
“Because I was staying in the annex, I didn’t even know my sister had gone missing. I’m worse than a troll… lower than trash…”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean I’m sorry.”
At his clear apology, I stared wide-eyed. Huh, that was pretty unexpected.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I just didn’t expect an apology to come out so easily.”
It’s not really your fault, of course.
But… is he more well-adjusted than I thought? Honestly, I had him pegged as a self-centered weirdo who thought apologies were beneath him.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever said it. I’ve never had to apologize before.”
“…”
“Because, up until now, I’ve never been wrong about anything.”
“Are you sure? Maybe have a closer look at yourself.”
The handsome-faced boy raised an eyebrow, as if questioning my sanity.
‘He really is a spoiled oddball.’
I shook my head, reflexively doing up my collar to the top button. Liam suddenly grinned.
“But…”
I turned to Boyd, who was standing alongside Liam.
His arms hung limp, mouth agape—he looked so drained, he could’ve been a ghost reborn.
“Boyd, what’s with your mouth, big brother?”
“My sister… a sister.”
A dazed mutter slipped out.
“A sister is a hundred times more bothersome than a younger brother…”
I wilted a little.
“Hey… I won’t be any trouble at all…”
With Liam, fine, but Boyd had seemed to be avoiding me all this time.
“And… sorry I deceived you, both of you.”
Their faces twisted in odd, complex expressions.
For some reason, I felt distance between us, and as I sniffled reflectively, a tickle crept up my throat.
“Cough!”
Ah, Borvel did say that cough might linger a while.
“…!”
Suddenly, Boyd jerked upright as if struck by lightning.