TYHL 46

~Chapter 46~

Rubian felt the rush of magic and made a face like she had bitten into a sour lemon. But then she grinned.

“Honestly, I was a little worried when you came… but I really like it!”

She said things like that so casually.

Khalid scratched his chin awkwardly with his free hand. His stomach felt strange again. As always, he couldn’t explain why.

Was it because of that heart-shaped hairpin?

“…Who picked out that hairpin for you?”

He asked before thinking. It had been bothering him all day.

“This? Hazel did.”

“…Do you like it?”

“Huh?”

“…Nothing.”

Pretending to be casual, he brushed dust off Rubian’s shoulder.

“I meant—do you like it? You always complained your hair got messy.”

“Ah, so that’s what you meant. Yes! It’s comfortable!”

Khalid sighed inwardly at his worsening habit. Doesn’t matter. If he covered it up, it was fine.

Just then, Maddix knocked on the door.

“Miss Ruby? Mister Bastard Sword? May I come in?”

Rubian quickly let go of Khalid. He slipped his bracelet back on, feeling strangely empty-handed.

Before opening the door, Rubian suddenly leaned close.

“W-what is it?”

“You know… having someone who knows my secret beside me—it makes me feel so relieved. Thank you!”

That smiling, whispering face—different from how she looked with the Jeberts.

Ah. Only I know this face.

Khalid realized suddenly. His toes curled with a strange satisfaction.

“See? I told you—you really need me.”

“Huh?”

“…And I need you—wait.”

This time, he couldn’t cover his words.

“Ta-da! I brought shiny metal scraps!”

“Ah! Did you finish checking the blueprint? How was it?”

“Miss Ruby. I’ve decided—starting today, you’re my new religion.”

“Wow, I hate it!”

Their chatter faded as they walked off. Left alone, Khalid rubbed his neck, red as the midday sun.

“…Seriously. Am I sick?”

The barrier work went smoothly.

As promised, Khalid somehow brought back new blueprints. He said his animal friends found them in the forest where merchants passed.

‘He really is good at getting things like that.’

Every time I got new blueprints, I went to the forge, drove Maddix out, and finished another magic tool.

‘Khal said he’ll get the rest and even switch out the bells himself.’

The end was in sight.

‘Fufufu…’

Good job, me!

“Rubian?”

“Yes, yes?”

I looked up quickly.

“Is it too difficult?”

Through the bright light, I saw Borvel stroking his brown beard.

“Um…”

I looked down at my Basic Healing Studies book. My pen line had wandered off the page.

“Maybe… a little?”

I laughed playfully. Borvel calmly began explaining again.

Honestly, it was so boring I nearly dozed off. No, focus!

“—so with this principle, when it reacts like this, you get this effect. Do you understand?”

“Yes, perfectly!”

Wow, he was like the best lecturer in healing studies.

“Then, shall we spend the rest of the time looking at herbs outside?”

“Yes! I love fieldwork!”

No way I’d fall asleep there.

I quickly packed my book. Seeing and touching real, fresh herbs was a hundred times better than sitting.

“Ahem. And if you think of any special recipes while looking, you’re welcome to teach me.”

“Yes, if I remember!”

Borvel looked like he was curious about Eosia’s herb mixing methods. I pretended not to know much and brushed it off.

“Ruby? Where are you going?”

As Borvel and I walked downstairs, Void’s voice came from above.

“The herb hill!”

“Oh, I’ll come too.”

“Master, please put on warm clothes first.”

“Ehh.”

At his whine, Borvel wagged his finger sternly.

“If you don’t listen and catch a cold, I’ll give you very bitter medicine.”

Void pouted, but soon came back wearing a fur coat.

“Whoa, so wide! So fresh!”

Behind the castle lay a small hill.

“Waaah!”

“Ruby, don’t run!”

I dashed across the open space, legs scrambling.

It wasn’t fully spring yet, so the air was chilly, but the wind was wonderfully refreshing.

“Young Master, don’t run either! If you fall, no medicine!”

“Ruby will heal me!”

“Ah, my job security…”

The herb hill was still bare, no sprouts yet, but tough little plants always survived even in such rough ground.

“Look! I just read about this one!”

I crouched, pointing at a swaying green sprout. Borvel smiled proudly.

“You’re good at fieldwork.”

“What is it? They all look the same to me.”

Seriously, can’t this sword brat see the delicate pinkish glow of its magic?

“This one’s good for fever.”

Borvel explained.

‘And it also helps with bleeding.’

I absentmindedly stroked the soft leaves.

“Then I’ll harvest some. Why don’t you explore around?”

“Okay!”

“Young Master, if you don’t know something, ask Ruby. Next semester’s herb grades, remember?”

“Gasp! That was supposed to be secret. Too mean! But fine, older brother teaching younger sister, right?”

“Please let it be that way.”

Borvel laughed heartily.

While he pulled out his tools, Void and I ran off, racing up the hill.

Of course, I was the only one who got exhausted…

“Slower…!”

“Really, what am I going to do with you.”

Void slowed down on purpose, letting me win.

“First place!”

I flopped down on the ground, spread-eagle.

Then, upside-down, I spotted something odd.

“Huh? What’s that?”

“Where?”

Void, fanning me with his hand, turned to look. At the edge of the hill was a tiny, fenced-off area.

“Ah.”

Void scratched his jaw awkwardly.

“That’s the Jebert family’s memorial ground.”

“You mean… cemetery?”

“Yeah. Looks small, but it’s actually far away. Don’t tell me you plan to—”

He stopped, sighing deeply.

He must’ve read the curiosity in my eyes.

“You’re so reckless!”

But he turned his back to me anyway when I raised my arms. I laughed and quickly climbed on.

Warm, steady. My big brother’s back.

“You’re so light… like a feather. Why are your shoes so small?”

Grumbling, grumbling.

But true to a Jebert, his stamina was monstrous. Even carrying me, he reached the memorial quickly.

It wasn’t gloomy at all—more like a neatly kept garden.

“What are you even curious about now? Let’s look quickly and go.”

I wandered, staring at the graves.

The black stones shone so bright I could see my reflection.

“Wow, it’s huge… Will you be buried here one day, too?”

“Hey! Don’t say things like that!”

Void snapped, glaring.

“Why not?”

“Talking about dying is unlucky!”

“But you just said you’d die earlier.”

“That was just a saying!”

I don’t get why he’s mad.

“People just live long and then die, that’s all.”

That’s why I’m working so hard, after all.

I read the names carved into the stones. Alton Jebert, Gaian Jebert, Brandon Jebert…

“You too, Ruby.”

“Hm?”

I turned. Void’s young face was staring right at me.

I just realized—he’d grown taller again these last few days.

“They said you agreed to be adopted into Jebert. Adolf told me. So of course… when you die, you’ll be buried here too.”

His words flowed naturally—then cut off.

“Die… ugh…”

“Please. Don’t tell me those tears in your eyes are real.”

Void rubbed his eyes roughly with his sleeve.

“It’s horrible even to say it! You’re not dying, Ruby! Never! You’ll be buried here, but never because you die!”

So… buried alive?

But I didn’t tease him further. His eyes were already red as he grabbed my hand.

“Hah… I feel awful now. Let’s go. Borvel’s waiting.”

“…Okay. Huh? But what’s that?”

I stopped, staring.

Somewhere nearby, one part of the memorial looked strangely different.