Youngest 170
by Cristae170
Sorry for acting like I didn’t want to be your heir, Dad. It’s not that I really don’t want to—it’s just that I don’t especially want to!
But if it puts you in a tough spot with His Majesty, I can do it. I don’t know if I’ll do a good job, but I’ll try. (But you said I could change my mind later, right?)
Anyway, that’s the conclusion.
If you ever need my help, just say the word!
I’m a Zevert, too!
The last sentence was written in tiny letters, as if she were embarrassed.
“What are you doing, standing out here in front of the door?”
Just then, a gentle voice called from behind.
Rosetta was watching Leviathan, who stood with his hand covering his mouth, an odd look on her face.
“What’s that?”
“Read it. It’s too much.”
When Rosetta read the letter, she burst out laughing.
“Oh my, she must really have been worried about you, afraid you might have trouble. And you were only asking just to check if any of the kids wanted to inherit the house!”
“My point exactly.”
“She’s just so cute… Hm? What’s this?”
Entering the bedroom, Rosetta tilted her head.
Looking closely, she saw there wasn’t just one letter tucked into the door frame.
There was a hastily torn note from Liam’s notebook.
And a pink letter from Void—clearly borrowing some of Rubian’s stationery.
The contents… were nearly identical to Rubian’s.
“What is this! Why are the kids so adorable?”
Leviathan let out a small, awed sigh. It was a different kind of happiness than what he felt for Rosetta.
“My lord Duke, you’ll surely have no worries about succession, with such devoted sons and daughters.”
“Indeed.”
He stifled his laughter and pressed his face against Rosetta’s shoulder.
“A blessed man, I am.”
Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Clear / Mood: Happy
Hello, it’s Rubian.
I turned thirteen a little while ago!
We had a birthday party, and it was so much fun.
“Hm, what else should I write?”
I munched on a big cookie and fell into thought. After my meal, I was sitting alone, eating dessert and writing my diary.
This was my homework lately—writing in a diary—so I had made myself comfortable for the task.
And, as it happened, Void had given me this diary as a birthday present.
“Uhm… next, let’s see…”
Thoughtfully, my pen moved slowly.
For breakfast, I had mushroom cream stew. At lunch, southern-style shrimp. For dinner, grilled chicken with seasoning. It was delicious.
“Not bad at all.”
Hmm.
I grinned and set down my pen.
“Now I’m off to visit the mana stone shop!”
Being thirteen keeps Ruby busy indeed!
But the next day—
“What the—!”
I froze at the sight of the dazzling rainbow-colored writing that had invaded my diary.
Anyone could tell that…
“They peeked!”
Rube, it’s nice, but you shouldn’t use honorifics in a diary. —Big Brother 2
Is this a meal log or a diary? —Big Brother 1
Void has a point, but I think it’s okay to write freely, too! —Mother
Enjoyed reading. —Father
“What is this! Why are you reading someone else’s diary?”
And what’s with the confidence in leaving their comments behind?
I was completely dumbfounded!
Shoveling pudding into my mouth, I fumed.
‘Hmph, if they peek again, I’m cutting them all off!’
But it was my homework, so I had to write today’s entry anyway. Scribble, scribble.
Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Clear / Mood: Annoyed
My family peeked at my diary, so I’m thinking… thinking of writing smaller.
Today, I rode the sled Dad bought me, and learned archery from Mom. I wonder when I’ll be able to shoot freely? That’s been on my mind a lot lately…
In the evening, I read books and played at home!
An 80% enjoyable day!
First! Enjoyed reading. —Father
Ruby, you did very well today. But as I’ve said many times, if you tone down your kiai yells a little, your shots will go even better! —Mother
Fris, our youngest needs your bike now, so contact the office at once… Wait, wrong place.
—Grandfather
Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: / Mood:
Hey, excuse me!
Why do you keep reading my diary!
Rubian, at last you understand how I feel!
—Big Brother 2
Enjoyed reading. —Father
“I’m furious!”
I exploded. Fueled by indignation, I stuffed my mouth full of apple jellies.
“Hrmm. Uh, miss?”
“Nnngh?”
At the cautious voice, I turned to see it was Butler Adolf.
“Forgive me for saying this.”
He glanced over my diary, the dessert plate I’d abandoned, and the spacious dining room one by one.
“If you write your diary at the table and leave it lying open…”
“…”
“It’s only natural that attention might be drawn to it.”
“Oh.”
Of course.
Lately, I’d been enjoying my evening snacks, reviewing formulas, and writing my diary all at the table…
Feeling sheepish, I quickly gathered up my diary and stood.
“Where are you off to?”
“T-to see Khalid!”
Whoosh. My legs carried me hastily away from the dining room.
“That doesn’t make it right, reading someone’s diary like that…!”
Leaving the manor, I kicked the ground in frustration.
‘Well, I did peek at Void’s diary when I was little…’
Oh dear. Is this karma?
‘Anyway, I should get a diary with a lock.’
I’m already thirteen.
Even I need a little privacy now.
‘Wait? Is there even any privacy I need to keep?’
I don’t have any secrets from my family anymore.
“Hm.”
Maybe I shouldn’t bother getting a locked diary after all.
With that brief thought, I wandered near the training grounds, clutching my notebook.
“Seriously though, where’s Khalid?”
My notebook held the list of candidate locations for the magic monoliths, which I’d compiled with Licht’s help.
‘But this last remaining one is really giving me trouble…’
The ancient text was especially tricky, and I’d found no helpful clues even in the Imperial archives.
Of course, Kal didn’t know ancient languages, but it was better to worry together than alone, so I was set on asking him.
How long had I walked? In the distance, near a giant tree, I spotted a mop of deep blue hair swaying.
“Ah, found—”
My steps halted.
“Huh, he’s asleep.”
Leaning against the tree, eyes closed.
‘I’ve never seen him sleep like that before.’
Tentatively,
I crouched before the sleeping Khalid. The tree’s shadow flickered across his chiseled face.
“His legs were hurting. Is he all right…?”
My gaze drifted to his long, stretched legs. Judging by the dust all over him, he’d trained hard.
Lately, Khalid had been suffering through growing pains.
He said moving was better than sitting around, so he threw himself into training day and night, despite the aches in his joints.
‘…Is that why he’s been changing so much?’
His eyes were longer, nose higher, lips…
“Hrk.”
Wait. What am I looking at? What am I even seeing!
Flustered, I stumbled back and fell on my rear.
And just then, his eyes, closed like lines in a drawing, slowly opened.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“…”
His gray-blue gaze lingered on me, then turned away, indifferent.
“Maybe?”
And what was that supposed to mean?
“What’s wrong? Something the matter?”
Khalid stretched dramatically and asked.
“N-no, I meant to ask you something…”
For some reason, I couldn’t finish my words.
“…”
“Well…?”
Khalid was staring intently at me again.
Because, at fifteen, Khalid was…
“…Even stranger.”
It really was odd.
‘Aren’t people supposed to be at their most awkward at this age?’
That’s what everyone says!
But somehow, he just kept giving off an inexplicably unusual aura. No longer a boy, not yet a man—that in-between stage.
His voice was deeper, and his shoulders had broadened…
“There you go again, saying things I can’t understand.”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because your magic’s always overflowing.”
I glanced down at Khalid’s arm.
Of the six bracelets, only three remained.
Khalid was keeping his promise well—removing one each year, just as he had said.
He was growing so quickly, he could now contain his immense magic with hardly any help.
‘At this rate, won’t he have shed them all before he comes of age?’
These days, Father was the one teaching him swordsmanship. Maybe that’s why his skills and physical ability seemed to improve leaps and bounds.
“But, don’t you need magic these days?”
With his usual relaxed posture, legs crossed, arms folded, Khalid asked.
For some reason, it was hard to meet his eyes, so I jumped to my feet.
“O-oh, no. I think I really am healthier these days. I don’t get out of breath from magic shortage anymore.”
“…I see.”
For a moment, Khalid looked up at me and grinned.
“Ruby.”
“What.”
“Help me up.”
“Huh?”
He reached out a hand, the gesture utterly shameless.
The sunlight behind me must have been dazzling, for he squinted one eye.
“Hurry.”
“What—come on…”
“I told you my legs hurt. I barely sleep these days.”
Come to think of it, Father did say growing pains could really hurt.
‘Honestly… He must be exhausted if he falls asleep anywhere like this.’
He suddenly seemed rather pitiful.
“Fine, I’ll—”
The moment I carefully reached out my hand—
As if waiting for it, his fingertip caught mine.
At that instant, a wave of blue mana washed over me. My whole body tingled with a refreshing sensation—my eyes widened in surprise.
“Are you sure you don’t need this?”
Khalid’s eyes curved slyly.