TYHL 19

~Chapter 19~

I kept my lips pushed out in a pout, and the Grand Duke clicked his tongue.

Suddenly, his sharp gaze shifted to the butler, Morris, standing behind me.

“Morris! Didn’t you say she finished her meal? You should have told me she was having a snack! You don’t disturb even a dog while it’s eating!”

“I… did not think to account for Lady Ruby’s snack schedule.”

Drip, drip. I could almost hear the sound of Butler Morris’s sweat hitting the floor.

“What are you just standing there for?!”

I slowly reached for my fork, creaking in protest.

I glanced to the side, but Uncle, who was touching his lips, only raised an eyebrow.

‘So he’s not going to help me, huh.’

I’ll get back at him for this.

The more I looked over the snack table, the more my face turned into a frown.

“What’s with that expression?”

Up until now, I’d been talking back to him, but now I kept my lips pressed together, staring at the floor. For the first time, the Grand Duke hesitated.

“Is there something you don’t like…?”

“The table…”

“Hm?”

“It’s broken…”

In front of me was the solid wooden table—split right down the middle.

“Huh? When did that happen?”

“How am I supposed to eat like this…”

I felt a bit gloomy.

The mug had fallen through the crack, spilling pale pink liquid all over the floor.

Honestly, I liked strawberry milk more than cake. Sweet, cold, with real fruit pieces…

“…I like it.”

“Uh…”

“I haven’t even had a single drop yet…”

My shoulders slumped without me meaning to.

I’d noticed earlier that it had even more fresh strawberries than yesterday… what a waste…

‘Ah.’

Was this the Jebert-style mental strength test?
Don’t cling to what’s already lost?

Of course, that wasn’t it.

In the end, the Grand Duke’s booming voice had the castle staff grind up every strawberry in the estate and dump them into milk…

‘Unbelievable…’

I stared at the huge container of strawberry milk, feeling conflicted.

“Happy now?”

The Grand Duke growled.

He was just sitting in the middle of the reception room, but his presence filled the place completely.

“Yes, thank you.”

I fiddled with my mug as I replied. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if it was going into my mouth or up my nose.

“Hmph.”

Only then did his thick, fluffy beard twitch in satisfaction.

I cautiously asked, “So where’s Uncle?”

“He went to the northern outpost! Said there were traces of beasts.”

“Gasp.”

So he’d run off and left me with this stubborn old man?

“Are you scared because I mentioned beasts? Yes, something like you, a little rabbit, would be a single bite.”

The Grand Duke seemed convinced I was frozen because of beasts.

‘Beasts wouldn’t throw me out of this house!’

And they don’t punch down doors when they show up!

I set my mug down and shouted proudly,

“Yes! I’m a little scared!”

“….”

“So I can stay here, right?”

I tried to sound as desperate and sparkly-eyed as possible.

The Grand Duke’s shoulders stiffened as he sat with his back to the window.

I couldn’t see his full expression, but deep lines formed at the corners of his elegant eyes.

I remembered Uncle’s words:

“Just cling to him. Like you did to me earlier.”

Was this really going to work?
Would he just kick me away for sounding weak?

“If you’re scared, then you should stay!”

Surprisingly, it worked.

“I’m not such trash that I’d throw out someone saying they’re scared!”

I hadn’t even cried, but okay.

‘So he’s weak to people acting weak.’

Uncle seemed a bit like that too. Was it a northern thing?

I decided to push further.

I jumped up and squeezed myself into the empty space beside him on the large sofa.

It was a two-seater, but way too cramped.

“Yes. So I’ll just stay here. It’s scary outside…”

Oh!

The couch shook like in an earthquake.

“You keep wriggling—tickles like crazy!”

“Oh, if it’s uncomfortable, I’ll move—”

“No helping it!”

“Ah!”

He grabbed me by the back of my collar and set me on his rock-solid thigh.

I found myself staring straight into his eyes at close range.

His thick eyebrows angled differently on each side, deep wrinkles around his eyes, cold violet irises, and a well-kept beard hiding an old scar.

“…Even your face looks ticklish.”

Just like I’d studied him, the Grand Duke seemed to be studying me closely.

One eyebrow shot even higher.

“Are you really a boy? You’re nothing like Void or Liam.”

Uh… because I’m different?

Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I just gave a vague smile.

“And what are you even wearing? A potato sack?”

“It’s clothes.”

“Tch.”

He sounded like he’d seen something unpleasant.

He jerked his chin toward Hazel, who was standing nearby.

“You! Count how many times those sleeves are rolled up!”

Hazel answered calmly, “Please calm down, Lord Balrog. Lady Iveline will be coming in three days to take her measurements. She’s out of the territory right now.”

“Three days? So this little snot has to live in a potato sack for three days?!”

“It’s not that bad. I’m fine!”

I quickly stepped in so Hazel wouldn’t get caught in this, but was ignored.

The clothes were long and loose, but wearable.

It’s not like I planned to stay in this house forever, so I didn’t want to cause more trouble.

The Grand Duke grumbled for a while, muttering about his son and how things would be different if Rose were here.

“I can’t stand it! Morris! When will our forge finish that new weapon?”

“It’s been a while since you gave them the plans… should be soon.”

“Good. You’re coming with me tomorrow.”

“Huh? Why?”

The Grand Duke folded my rolled sleeves one more time and barked,

“To do something about that potato sack of yours!”

“You’re buying me clothes? For me?”

“Is there another shorty here?”

“You said you were throwing me out at first…”

“I am!”

“What? You said if I’m scared I can stay!”

“Ah, cancel that! I can’t stand the itchiness of looking at you!”

Wow, how can someone change their mind this fast?

I was going to lose my mind with this fiery old man.

Forget acting weak—throw that plan away!

“Why buy me clothes if you’re throwing me out?!”

“So I can dress you up nicely before kicking you out!”

“That makes no sense!”

“It does here!”

“Stubborn old man, fickle as ever!”

“You’ve already figured that out? Smart and quick-witted too!”

The people around us were watching with interest.

‘Ugh, like father, like son!’

Either way, arguing made me thirsty. I started to stand to grab my mug—

And suddenly, my head felt oddly exposed.

I turned to see a big hand pulling away from the back of my head.

“….”

The stubborn lion pretended nothing happened.

Seriously, what is with him…

Then it happened.

[ …! ]

A burst of static rang in my head.

“…What is it?”

[ …bi! ]

“Snot!”

I must have wobbled, because the Grand Duke shot up like lightning and grabbed my shoulders.

[ Ruby. Ruby. Are you there? ]

‘Khalid?’

When I pressed the sigil by my ear, the static vanished.

It was Khalid!

“I-I have a bit of a stomachache…”

“What?”

“I need the bathroom!”

I darted out of the reception room.

I thought I heard him calling, “Kid!” from behind me, but that wasn’t important right now.

“Lady Ruby?”

“I-I need to be alone for a moment!”

Bang.

Leaving the startled Hazel behind, I shut the bedroom door quickly.

Pressing the sigil again, the static cleared instantly.

‘Khalid Riork! You cut me off, and now you want to—’

[ I told you not to use my family name… No, that’s not the point. You’re in Northern Zerlox right now, right? ]

‘Don’t change the subject! And I’m not telling you.’

[ I think the Arcane King has realized you’re alive and in the Babylon Empire. ]

‘What?’

What did he just say?

I froze in the middle of the room.

The Demon King… had found out where I was?