Youngest 169
by CristaeEpisode 169
Void was just as shocked.
‘She’s been hunted down all this time?’
Back when the Academy was half-destroyed by that incident,
Rubian had been in grave danger.
Realizing it only now, he shivered at the thought. Wasn’t he about to stand by helplessly and watch his precious little sister get hurt, completely unaware?
Of course, Leviathan had told them not to worry. That the adults would deal with anything that threatened Rubian, so they should continue on as always.
The brothers nodded to their father.
After all, he was their great and powerful father; he couldn’t possibly be wrong.
So, for now, they nodded.
“Ahem, let’s see. Circles and circles and yet more circles.”
“Liam, are you actually interested in this?”
Truthfully, he wasn’t interested in the slightest. He wanted to read his book about magical beasts.
He only pretended he wanted to look at it together because it was Rubian’s language.
“What’s this? Is this writing too?”
“That’s a blotch…! No, seriously, why are you suddenly interested in magic and things like that?”
When he gently ruffled her round head, Rubian pouted in annoyance and buried her face in the cushion.
“Ugh… This is so bothersome…”
Her pale cheek was pressed tight. She pursed her lips like a little bird, mumbling non-stop with half-closed eyes—it seemed likely she was just muttering nonsense.
Honestly, he wasn’t sure what he could do for Rubian right now.
It hadn’t been long since they recognized the existence of the ‘enemy’ they would have to face, and more than anything, for now, there was no sign of that enemy.
But whatever might come…
‘If anyone touches our fairy, they all die.’
‘If anyone bullies my sister, I’ll kill them all!’
The two of them vowed quietly, their faces calm. At last, they had a reason to grow stronger in earnest.
“Come on, Ruby. Tell me again from the beginning. This is writing…”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Void placed a hand on the page but suddenly closed his mouth. Someone had let out a quiet, “Shh.”
“She’s asleep.”
It was Khalid, silent until now.
Looking down, he saw Rubian had already drifted into a gentle sleep.
They had played vigorously, enjoyed something warm to drink—this was the perfect setting for drowsiness.
“Oh, you’re right.”
Void withdrew a little and looked for a blanket. Liam took the chance to pick his book back up.
“…”
Staring at her slumbering face, Kal reached without thinking to brush away the hair from Rubian’s cheek.
Though, of course, he didn’t touch her.
“Hey! Kal! Where do you think you’re putting your hand? Don’t touch her hair!”
The young noblemen rushed in, eyes wide.
“Void, tie him up. You have capture rope, right?”
“Huh? Why would I have something like that?”
“…All right, just keep your voices down.”
Lowering his voice, the boy made a serious suggestion.
“…Then let’s all move her hair together. Divide it in three.”
“Hm. Good.”
Softly, softly,
Winter piled up.
That summer,
Father suddenly called for a family meeting.
‘What could this be about?’
Was it something serious?
But when I got there, I saw Grandfather yawning wide and Mother smiling sweetly.
Of course, my brothers were there as well.
Seated at the head of the table, Father spoke in a gentle tone.
“I’ve been tormented by some unpleasant letters lately.”
My eyes widened.
“What! Who dares target my father! I’ll teach them a lesson with magic!”
“It’s His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor.”
“…”
No, you should have led with that.
I quickly sat meekly back down.
“Hurry up and teach him a lesson, Ruby.”
Father rested his chin on the armrest and spoke languidly. I grinned and flicked my finger playfully in the air.
“Zap. I just took care of it.”
“You’re looking down on me because I’m not a mage now, huh?”
Flick—inevitably, a light tap on the head.
“Hmph… So, what is it, Father?”
When I asked him to get to the point, Father straightened his posture and slid a letter across the table.
A gold letterhead that gleamed and sparkled.
It really had come from His Imperial Majesty.
“It’s nothing much, really.”
“How could it not be, coming from the Imperial Family…?”
Despite my muttered remark, Father just slouched, speaking halfheartedly.
“I’m just asking in case.”
“Mm-hm.”
“Among you… Who wants to be the heir?”
“…What?”
It was quite something after all!
“Feel free to say, you can change your mind later if you wish.”
This was the very height of absurdity.
“Who chooses their heir like that in any noble house…?”
“What does it matter? It’s my house.”
Well, that was true.
It was oddly convincing.
Grandfather turned his head, as if that’s what he’d expected. Mother just sipped her tea with a composed expression…
Truly, I’d never seen such a tensionless selection of an heir.
‘Really… A struggle for succession in this house?’
Honestly, fighting over the pudding at dinner would be more intense.
And judging by the mood, it seemed Father had only called us together because the Emperor had kept pressing him about it.
“While we’re on the subject, Ruby, do you want to do it? You already have the heir’s sword, after all.”
Ack, why was attention bouncing onto me?
“I’m not really fond of high positions…”
Standing out? Absolutely not!
Father said, “Hmm, fair enough,” and turned to the adolescent sitting beside me.
“Then, Liam. You be the heir. You’re the eldest.”
Boom.
Liam, who planned to devote his soul to the university research division, looked as if his world had collapsed.
“I’ll run away from home exactly one week from now.”
He needed to bring his books—and Ruby—along.
Father let out a short sigh once more.
“Void, how about you? The Zevert family is a house of knights, so in terms of swordsmanship, you’d be best suited.”
“Huh…? I’m going to be a writer when I grow up.”
At his innocent reply, Father looked incredulous.
“When did your dream change again?”
“Yeah, last time you were going to be an adventurer!”
“Ruby, didn’t you say I’m good at writing?”
I meant you were good at diaries…
Void’s career ambitions changed every month. But unfortunately, “head of House Zevert” had yet to appear on that list.
“Sigh… What am I going to do.”
Father pulled the gold letter back and gave a heavy sigh.
‘What do we do. Isn’t it a bit much? He has three children, and none of them want to succeed him…’
I watched Father, a little concerned.
“It can’t be helped.”
Without hesitation, Father’s pen hastily wrote a reply.
“This year, my heir is me again.”
Successor of the House of Zevert:
Leviathan Zevert
“Huh.”
What. Is this really okay?
Was this a director Leviathan, starring Leviathan, produced by Leviathan type of deal?
I glanced around to gauge the mood. Liam, with a moved expression, nodded and applauded.
“Indeed. No one but Father is worthy of being Duke Zevert.”
“For once, I agree with my brother.”
At that, Grandfather couldn’t hold in his laughter.
“Hahaha! Even as a ghost, keep being Duke, my boy!”
“Father, I draw the line at ghost brides.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Well… Is this really all right?
“Father, stay strong!”
Void dashed over and started massaging Father’s right shoulder.
Naturally, I hurried over and took up the other one.
“Papa… may you live a thousand years…!”
And so, the master of the Zevert Duchy looked set to remain Leviathan Zevert for a very long time.
‘Honestly, this is ridiculous…’
As expected of our family, I suppose.
‘His Imperial Majesty is going to clutch his neck again.’
The Emperor’s intentions were obvious.
Recently, magical beasts had been appearing more frequently across the continent, especially in the south.
‘Father is leaving to fight all over the place these days, so of course His Majesty is growing anxious.’
The Zevert Duchy’s heir might be left vacant, and if Father were suddenly killed or gravely wounded…
Even if he was known as the continent’s strongest, it was no guarantee.
‘And having a “young duke” to call upon whenever Father’s away… must seem useful.’
Father knew this, which was probably why he kept stalling.
‘Still, maybe I went too far.’
Suddenly, I felt regret.
After all, bearing the Zevert name meant I couldn’t simply do as I pleased forever.
‘What if Father gets into trouble because of this?’
My brothers made their dislikes perfectly clear. Yet compared to them, I…
“Hmm…”
After a moment’s thought, I hurried up to my room. Pulling out a small sheet of writing paper, I began a letter.
“Hm?”
Leviathan paused on his way to the bedroom.
Pat-pat-pat.
Something round darted swiftly behind the corner.
“…Ruby?”
That fluffy ball could only be Rubian.
What could it be?
Puzzled, he stepped towards his bedchamber, and suddenly noticed a pink letter slipped into the doorframe.
“…”
Father, hello. It’s me.
What is this about now?
Frowning, he started to read the letter, and soon a chuckle broke from his lips.
“How adorable…”
The content was simple.