TYHL 84

~Chapter 84~

Creak—the door opened slowly.

Thump, thump! The adults’ shoulders all jerked up.

They hadn’t done anything wrong exactly, but it felt like they’d been caught gossiping behind someone’s back.

“One-two, one-two!”

Startled, Balrok suddenly began doing push-ups.

“Hey now, where’s Aina? And Hazel? Where are my maid and handmaid?”

Rosetta calmly lifted the teapot lid, pretending to look for the servants.

“….”

Leviathan was the only one pretending to act normal, reading documents.

“Dad, your papers are upside down.”

So, not normal at all.

“Ahem. Rubian, what is it?” Leviathan replied smoothly.

Rubian narrowed her eyes suspiciously, scanning the adults’ behavior.

Her blue eyes rolled toward the table.

“What! You ate something delicious without me!”

Wow, how unfair!

“What do you mean?” Leviathan blinked, looking over the table.

Only then did the sweets the maids had set out for show finally catch his eye.

Ah. He hadn’t even realized snacks were there.

And… they were exactly Rubian’s favorite kind.

“Ruby, it’s not like that. Come here.”

“That’s right! I didn’t even touch it! Come to your grandpa!”

But Rubian pursed her lips and turned her head away with a huff.

How mean. I even bought them cake!

Muttering, she sat down next to Rosetta.

“Oh my,” Rosetta widened her eyes. She had been looking under her teaspoon for the servant.

“I already bought those two cake before.”

So since her mother wasn’t included, Rosetta was “innocent.” That seemed to be Rubian’s logic.

Rosetta laughed brightly and wrapped Rubian in her arms.

“Of course, of course. Don’t play with those stiff, gloomy men. Come here instead.”

“Hehe.”

“My Ruby, you’re wearing such a pretty nightgown!”

“Noo… Hazel picked it…”

Her round cheeks blushed. Clearly, snacks were just an excuse—what she really wanted was her mother’s soft embrace.

At this sudden rival, Leviathan and Balrok froze stiff.

Leviathan sighed and slid some cookies toward her.

“But Ruby, what brings you here?”

Rubian, fiddling with Rosetta’s long hair, suddenly remembered her purpose.

“Oh, right!”

“…?”

“Why can’t I join the Verdant Festival competition? Why? Why not? Why!”

Rubian shot out question after question. Leviathan straightened, unfazed.

“Of course you can’t.”

At that moment, Rubian coughed—cough, cough.

“See? You’re still sick. You haven’t recovered, so you can’t. Stay at home and rest.”

“No way…”

Her head drooped.

“I…”

She mumbled, fidgeting with her hands. Something about it made Leviathan uneasy. Was she that disappointed?

He studied her face nervously. Then suddenly, she lifted her head.

“I knew it! That’s what you’d say!”

Ta-da!

Rubian pulled out a piece of cloth. It covered half her face, with loops to hang on the ears.

“Look at my handmade mask! Perfect protection for the lungs! Even Borvel approved it!”

“…What is this…”

Leviathan scowled, baffled.

Rubian slipped on the pale blue mask proudly. Her big bright eyes peeking out reminded him of when she burrowed under blankets.

Rosetta couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Isn’t it adorable? How could she think of something so clever?”

“Rose…”

“It’s fine, Levi. Her coughing has lessened. By the competition three days from now, she’ll be much better. Didn’t Borvel approve it too?”

“Sigh.”

She wanted to go out like that? Looking like a little masked bandit?

…Though admittedly, a very cute bandit.

Balrok reached out, wanting to try it too. Rubian shook her head quickly, crossing her arms in an X.

“It’s her first festival. Let her enjoy it.”

Rosetta supported her again, and Rubian nodded fiercely.

Leviathan knew he had lost.

“Why do you want to join the competition so badly, anyway?”

In that moment, ambition flashed in the girl’s eyes. Rubian tore off the mask and declared:

“Because I’ll win and get the first-place prize!”

“…You’re still clinging to that worthless card game…” Leviathan rubbed his forehead with a sigh.

But Rubian only giggled.

Just then, the reception room door opened again.

“Ruby! Found you!”

“Youngest fairy, it’s not polite to run off in the middle of a talk.”

“And it’s troublesome getting lost at home and making me come pick you up.”

“Ahem.”

It was Void and Liam.

“Anyway, perfect timing, Ruby! Come on, let’s do the windmill spin!”

“Aaah, save me!”

Rubian squirmed deeper into Rosetta’s arms. Rosetta laughed and shielded her with both arms.

“No one’s here. Just these rascals.”

“How unfair, Mother… monopolizing the youngest like that!”

The two circled around Rosetta, pestering Rubian relentlessly. In no time, the quiet reception room became a noisy mess.

Rosetta cried out in joy:

“This noisy house—how wonderful it is!”

She couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed both Liam and Void by the scruff and pulled them close.

“A daughter in my arms, and my sons before my eyes!”

“Mom, you’re squishing me…” Rubian mumbled, her cheeks mashed inside her mother’s hug.

Liam and Void froze for a moment, then exchanged looks.

Soon, satisfied smiles spread across their faces.

“Ah, I see. That’s a good method, Mother.”

“Then I’ll squish Ruby too.”

Squeeze!

Together, they hugged Rubian tightly.

“…It’s turned into one big lump,” Leviathan muttered blankly.

Pink, silver, and black all mixed together in a ball that looked like it would roll across the continent with one push.

…Though, somehow, he wanted to join too.

“Ahem. Well… I’m her father, after all.”

Maybe he should join in.

As he awkwardly started to rise, his eyes met Balrok’s—who was also half-risen.

“….”

“….”

Leviathan saw the sparkle in the old man’s eyes and understood.

Right now… the only answer was to move.

He leapt up without thinking.

“Sir, the young lady really should sleep soon—oh dear. Maybe just glue you all together permanently?”

Indeed.

Who was the winner of that day?