TYHL 17

~Chapter 17~

The bedroom had already been tidied up by Hazel. I washed up on my own and changed into pajamas.

“Ah, this feels nice!”

The sleeves were long, so I carefully folded them. Then I dove straight into bed.

Uncle was sitting sideways on the sofa in my room, reading documents. Someone must have brought them while I was washing up.

“You’re not planning to just leave after watching me fall asleep, right?”

“I’m going to finish reading these papers. Don’t flatter yourself.”

He glanced at me as I wriggled under the blanket.

“Then why not just go to your office?”

“Because someone kept me from finishing earlier. The territory is on the verge of ruin.”

“Gasp, that can’t happen. You’d better read hard before you go…”

Ruined territory? Absolutely not.

I nodded without really listening. Sleep was already taking over my mind.

I had been busy running around all day and my energy was gone.

“Ruby.”

At his voice, I forced my heavy eyes open.

“Mm?”

“You know where my bedroom is, right?”

“Upstairs…”

“If you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, come to me.”

“…Once I’m asleep, I don’t wake up easily.”

I heard him get up.

Then the bed dipped slightly. A large, warm hand stroked my forehead.

“If it suddenly feels too dark, or if scary thoughts come to you, tell me.”

“…? Okay.”

Half-asleep, I nodded. His calloused hand gently covered my eyes.

The world turned dark.

“Read with the light on… You’ll hurt your eyes…”

An irresistible wave of sleep swept over me. This was the limit.

“Goodnight, Ruby.”

“…”

“Today…”

The world faded into muffled silence.

What did he say next?

Thank you? I’m glad?

Whatever it was, I’m sure it was something warm…

Ch.3

A few days later.

Uncle was a man who kept his word.

He was still busy, so eating every meal together wasn’t possible, but at least once a day, he tried to be with us. That alone made Void look very satisfied.

‘Mm, things are going smoothly.’

After a full lunch, I was lazing around.

I must have really adapted to this place.

‘Maybe I should start moving…’

The thought made me sit up suddenly.

A chill ran down my neck. Wait.

“Am I forgetting something?!”

It felt like I’d forgotten another person living in this house…

Just then—knock, knock. The door opened.

“Hazel?”

“Lady Ruby, it’s snack time!”

Ah, sugar first.

“Okay!”

Hazel smiled softly. Over the past few days, we’d grown close enough that I spoke to her casually.

Heading to the tea room near my bedroom, I found someone already there.

“Why are you wandering around working instead of in your office, Uncle?”

While signing papers, he glanced up at me with that handsome face.

“Because I feel like it. It’s my castle.”

Well… fair enough.

“You’re late.”

When I hopped onto the soft sofa, Uncle nagged lightly.

Lately, he’d been obsessed with making the chef create all kinds of desserts. The chef might have suggested it first, but… who knows?

Of course, tasting new snacks was fun. But I worried the chef might be overworked.

‘What a bad employer…’

Even in the capital, I’d noticed Uncle liked eating.

He didn’t even avoid very sweet desserts.

Well, with a body that big, maybe he had to eat well…

‘Still, making the chef work every day!’

“What did I do wrong this time?”

Uncle dangled his hand in front of me, showing fresh bite marks.

“You’re not a kitten…”

“It’s just! I did it in the chef’s place!”

“…What does that even mean?”

He mumbled while settling me deeper into the sofa.

“It’s been a while since you’ve eaten. I can’t let you go hungry.”

His tone was oddly dissatisfied.

“I’m not really hungry, I ate a lot…”

“I am.”

“….”

Well, if he says so, I guess there’s nothing to say.

Clink, clink. Snack time was pleasant.

“How is it?” Uncle asked.

“It’s good.”

“You didn’t even eat it yet.”

I quickly poked the strawberry cream cake in front of me and took a bite.

“It’s good.”

“You really can’t be trusted.”

Sweetness spread, making the top of my head tingle.

“When you’re done, let’s go to the annex.”

“The annex?”

“The old man’s been too quiet. Better to act before he causes trouble.”

Uncle spoke lazily.

The old man…

‘The Grand Duke of Jebert?’

Come to think of it, I had just been thinking about him earlier.

‘He wasn’t that important in the original story…’

Maybe that’s why he’d been so quiet?

I blinked.

Uncle, lounging on the opposite sofa, finished his cake in just three bites.

“So… is the Grand Duke in the annex?”

“Yeah. He almost never comes here.”

Uncle crossed his legs and sipped his tea. At moments like this, he looked every bit the great noble.

“Have you heard anything about your father?”

“I overheard a little.”

I brushed it off.

“I heard he’s sick.”

“That’s true. But… he’d probably hate getting attention for it.”

His next words were so quiet they were hard to catch.

‘Oh no…’

My neck stiffened again.

‘Not visiting a sick elder in the family… isn’t that really rude?’

And I was the outsider who could easily be targeted.

‘What if he dislikes me?’

If the Grand Duke ordered me back to the capital…

Sensing my strange silence, Uncle spoke again.

“Don’t worry. I told you, if anyone bothers you, I’ll deal with them.”

“What kind of person is the Grand Duke?”

“Hmm…”

He glanced up at the ceiling for a moment.

“An angry lion?”

“…?”

At the vague answer, I stared at him. His deep violet eyes met mine.

“Yeah. Someone like you, a little bean, might get eaten right away.”

I snorted.

“Lions are carnivores. They don’t like beans.”

“Should I call that adult-like, or childish…”

He chuckled and tapped my nose.

His calloused finger had pink cream on it.

When did that get there? Embarrassing.

“Would you like more, sir?”

“Of course.”

The way he confidently held out his plate made me sigh.

“Do you eat cake like it’s your birthday every day?”

“It’s good.”

Looking at him, you’d think he’d say, “A strong espresso or brandy is enough for me,” but no.

Preferences are strange things.

“Eat more first. If you don’t, I’m not taking you anywhere.”

“…Alright…”

I picked up my fork again.

Maybe because of the sweetness filling my head, my worry about the Grand Duke faded a bit.

‘Mm, strawberry cream is tastier than the chestnut cream from yesterday!’

I’ll have to tell the chef later.

“Ah, I’m full.”

I patted my stomach, but Uncle tapped the table.

“It’s not time to put your fork down.”

“I’m full. I ate a lot.”

“You barely nibbled.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Leaving food like this will make our chef sad. Right?”

“Of course. It’ll break his heart,” the attendant said, placing strawberry milk in front of me.

Ugh. You should always keep the cook happy…

I hesitated, then picked the single strawberry half-buried in cream and ate it.

I took a small bite of the sponge cake, and Uncle grinned.

“Now he’ll be happy.”

Are strawberries bigger in the North?

My cheeks puffed like a hamster’s. Soft cream and tangy juice filled my mouth.

“Mmph mmph mmph.”

“Mumbling insults won’t work.”

Ah, caught…

KWAANG!

Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the whole castle.

“Ah!”

The tiered tray on the table wobbled, and faint vibrations followed.

Bang. Bang!

“W-what… hiccup!”

I was so startled I swallowed the cake without chewing, then hiccupped.

Uncle frowned deeply and reached for me.

“You didn’t bite your tongue? Let me see.”

“Is that important right now?!”

“Drink milk first.”

More bursts sounded, big and small.

Forget the milk—my head was turning left and right.

“Sigh… He really couldn’t hold back.”

“Is it an attack?”

“Yes, but no.”

What kind of answer was that?

The strange thing was… I was the only one panicking.

Everyone else calmly secured decorations and straightened frames.

“My lord, what should we do?”

“If we lock it, he’ll just break the wall, won’t he?”

“Definitely.”

Listening to Uncle and the attendant, I grew even more confused.

Thump, thump, thump.

Something heavy was getting closer—like the charge of a bull, or the stomping of an angry giant…

“First, drink the milk, Ruby. Stop hiccupping.”

Uncle gestured toward the strawberry milk. I reached for the mug without thinking.

KWAANG!

The thick door suddenly flew open.

“Where is the new kid?!”