TYHL 34

~Chapter 34~

“Ruby, breakfast is rea… what’s with that face?”

Uncle, dressed casually, leaned against the doorway with one leg.

“…Good morning, Uncle.”

I groggily sat up with an angry, hollow face. Dragging my yellow slippers, I shuffled toward the door.

“You didn’t stay up all night, right?”

“As always, I slept fine.”

“…”

Screech, screech. I peeled the long tape I had stuck across the door.

Uncle let out a sigh.

“Was this really necessary?”

“You keep peeking at me while I sleep! I need privacy too, you know!”

That was my special countermeasure. He always watched me sleep—it was unbearable. What if I muttered something weird in my sleep?

Of course, with those long legs of his, he could just step over the tape, but still…

It was a matter of principle.

“Hah. Ridiculous.”

Uncle shook his head and stretched out his arms. Naturally, I nestled into them as he carried me down the hall.

Phew. Now that my anger had cooled, I was just hungry.

Still, I was grinding my teeth about Khalid Riork blocking me again.

No, calm down. Maybe he’s just sleeping in. I’ll check the shop later.

I took deep breaths, trying to steady my boiling insides.

Just then, someone approached.

“Your Grace.”

“Oh, Sir Leon! Good morning!”

Sir Leon gave me a long look, then nodded in greeting. With his usual stiff face, he rummaged in his pocket and handed me a small madeleine.

Why on earth did he carry these every day? Low blood sugar?

Anyway, since I was starving, I munched on it while listening to Uncle and Sir Leon talk.

“Your Grace, we’re a bit short in the Order. We may need to take in new squires or knights. What do you want to do?”

“Hmm. With the spring subjugation coming up, we’ll need more. Any applicants?”

“Actually, none yet…”

“Wait, does this mean I’ll finally get juniors?!”

I gulped down the madeleine. Sir Leon reached into his pocket again and handed me a strawberry milk bottle. What is that pocket—magic?

“No one younger than you will be joining, you know.”

Aww, too bad.

I pouted, sipping the milk.

“Do your best to find some before the subjugation.”

“Yes. I’ll inform Sir Oberon.”

Sir Leon gave a crisp bow and walked off. Before leaving, he emptied his pocket, handing me all sorts of madeleines.

“Lemon, chocolate, vanilla, earl grey… wow, does Sir Leon secretly dream of opening a dessert shop after retirement?”

A gruff ex-knight running a dessert shop… might actually work.

“Save the rest for after breakfast.”

“Okay!”

When we reached the dining hall, I hopped down from Uncle’s arms.

Maybe it was the sweets, but my anger at Khalid had eased a bit.

“Time to eat, train, then visit the shop!”

Another busy, fulfilling day!

But when I looked back, Uncle wasn’t following.

Instead, I found his handsome face scowling, arms crossed.

“…You’re going out?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Then this afternoon, I’ll…”

“What was that?”

Uncle pressed his lips in a straight line and sighed deeply. Then he strode over, poked my cheek, and smirked.

“Never mind. Go ahead, have fun. As much as you want.”

Meanwhile, past noon in the office.

Leviathan Jebert suddenly stood up.

“This won’t do.”

Ruby had gone out again today.

Which meant another missed chance to have afternoon tea with him.

“I’ll suffocate under this paperwork.”

He frowned at the mountain of parchment stacked before him. He needed a change of mood.

Carrying a few important documents, he headed straight to Ruby’s room.

The moment he opened the door, the sweet scent unique to the child filled the air. His lips curved, his sharp tension easing.

He slowly looked around the room.

The most striking thing was the neat row of light-purple magic stones decorating the window frame.

“She must really like these.”

On the floor, she had even arranged them into a sparkling heart shape. Next to it, fresh herbs were tied together like a bouquet.

The sight made him chuckle.

Does she have a hobby of collecting things? Like a squirrel hoarding acorns?

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Among the capital’s noble girls, some collected rare-colored magic stones. Most of them also liked collecting jewels.

Could it be… he actually wants jewels too, but can’t say it because he’s living as a boy?

It did seem Ruby liked shiny things.

“Ah, Your Grace. Here you are.”

His thoughts were interrupted as Adolf entered. Perfect timing—he had been about to summon him.

“Adolf. Find out who currently owns the jewelry shop near Central Road.”

“…So suddenly?”

“Is there a problem?”

“…No, of course not.”

Adolf glanced at the purple stone in Leviathan’s hand and understood immediately.

“But, Your Grace—Sir Borbel wishes to see you.”

“Borbel?”

Borbel was the Jebert family’s physician, reinstated recently.

Leviathan recalled that he had allowed him to examine Ruby upon his return.

His blood ran cold. Could something be wrong with Ruby?

“Send him in at once.”

The door opened, and a middle-aged man entered.

“Your Grace, I’ve come to report on young Ruby’s check-up results.”

“Get to the conclusion.”

“Well, she is healthy.”

“‘Healthy’? That hesitation doesn’t sound convincing.”

Leviathan tilted his chin, his presence sharpening like a blade. Borbel swallowed hard.

“Explain why you stalled just now.”

“I meant that from basic examination, she seems fine. She is growing much slower than her peers, but not due to illness. However…”

The physician’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“She is said to have large scars on her body?”

“…Yes.”

“I wanted to examine those too, but she resisted being touched. I could only do the basics. It bothers me.”

“She does distrust strangers.”

Ruby was shy. He recalled how, in crowded places, she would crawl into his arms. The memory softened his gaze.

Yet somehow, she followed me without fear from the start.

“Yes. I noticed as well. I’ll need to earn her trust before another check-up.”

“So no immediate problem?”

“Correct. With good care, her growth should improve. Though she’ll likely remain smaller than other boys her age…”

Leviathan nodded slowly, then his brow tightened.

“Uncle! I think I gained weight here! What if I grow as tall as Hazel?!”

That excited little face flashed through his mind.

Ruby had seemed happy, but Leviathan had felt a pang.

“She thinks she’s grown in just weeks…”

Ruby had only been in the duchy less than a month.

But already, with good food, she had gained weight, her complexion had brightened, and she’d grown a little taller.

How poorly had she been living before?

Leviathan pressed his hand to his forehead, groaning. His insides twisted in turmoil.

“Borbel, could you send someone to Eosia?”

“I could, yes—I once studied there. But why?”

“Ruby is from Eosia. I want to know if anyone there remembers her—parents, relatives, anyone.”

Just what kind of life had she endured with those so-called guardians?

I can’t leave it like this.

Originally, he had intended to wait until Ruby told him herself.

But would that day ever come?

His instincts said no.

It felt wrong to dig into her past secretly, but he decided.

He was Ruby’s guardian now. He had to know everything to protect her.

And besides…

“If you weren’t sick, then what were you really doing in your room?”

“M-my stomach did hurt! But then it just… got better…”

Leviathan recalled the way Ruby had avoided his eyes.

He didn’t want to believe it, but the thought was inevitable:

Is Ruby hiding something from me?

Crunch. The papers in his hand crumpled under the force of his grip.