As the sun set and darkness fell, a delicious aroma permeated the entire castle.
“My, my. This is truly something else. It’s become a completely different space.”
“Butler Adolf!”
I ran toward Adolf as he entered the dining room.
“What about Uncle? Is he not here yet?”
“He is on his way down now. But I do wonder if it is truly appropriate for us all to do this together….”
I pulled a document out from my chest with a flourish.
“It’s fine. I got the Duke’s signature and everything.”
“Heh heh.”
Adolf laughed as he looked over the document.
I was puffing out my chest proudly when—tap—a light flick landed on my head.
“So this is the trouble you were stirring up.”
“Ow.”
“What have you done to my castle?”
“Uncle.”
“Father!”
Void, who had been curled up in a corner eating cookies, rose to his feet.
“The troublemakers have all gathered.”
Uncle crossed his arms and looked back and forth between me and Void.
I led him to the center of the bright lights.
The highest seat at the polished marble table.
Uncle Leviathan tilted his head as he looked down at his beautifully set place.
“You’re the main character. Why am I sitting here?”
“Nope. You’re the main character, Uncle.”
“…?”
“Actually, Void—”
I corrected my form of address. *Hyung*—ugh, it just doesn’t feel natural.
“—Void hyung wanted to throw a welcome-back party for you.”
“Void did?”
Uncle’s gaze fell upon the boy who was wagging his tail back and forth.
“You’ve been through so much hardship all this time!”
As if he had been waiting, Void spoke with sparkling eyes. Uncle’s movements suddenly froze.
“I’m glad you returned safely. This is something… I don’t think I ever got to say when you came back.”
Void seemed a little nervous.
“I wanted to say it this time!”
Uncle placed his hand on Void’s head. A short laugh followed.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“…Yes!”
Hmm, what a nice sight.
I sat down, feeling quite pleased with myself.
As if they had been waiting, an extravagant meal began to arrive one after another. There was even a cake topped with plenty of pink cream. Gasp, it’s beautiful!
“Did you send food to the knights as well?”
“Yes. They should be feasting and drinking heavily by now.”
“Tell the others to stop working and enjoy themselves, too.”
Butler Adolf chuckled.
“Thanks to Lord Rubian and the Young Master, we are truly living in luxury.”
An elderly butler standing with perfect posture greeted him with renewed gravity.
“Though it is a little late, allow me to congratulate you on your return once again, my lord.”
At that, others chimed in one by one.
“Congratulations on your victory as well!”
“You’ve worked so hard all this time!”
“Why are you all being so awkward?”
Uncle Leviathan had his brows furrowed deeply.
“It’s not like I’ve only returned once or twice. Go on, shoo.”
Uncle waved his hands with a look of exaggerated horror.
The estate staff stepped back with faces much like the butler’s, chuckling warmly.
“Father, did you see my swordsmanship report?”
“I saw. You’ve improved a lot.”
“Yes! I worked hard!”
“You’ll be returning to the Academy next month. Are you prepared?”
“No problem! Even Teacher Ullim said that next semester I’ll definitely….”
The meal continued in a peaceful atmosphere.
Occasionally, Uncle’s lieutenants or closest aides would come by to offer their welcome and share drinks.
Even though it was a small party thrown together so hastily that it could not have been more slipshod, everyone seemed to be in good spirits.
What a relief!
“….”
Anyway.
I quietly gauged the mood, then rolled a piece of bell pepper.
The little green monster rolled over and tapped against Void’s plate.
*Hurry. Up. And. Say. It.*
When I shot him a look, Void gulped dryly.
“Um, Father.”
Uncle Leviathan raised his head.
“I really don’t feel awkward eating with you anymore.”
Uncle, who had been lifting an amber-colored drink, paused.
“So… can’t we eat together from now on?”
“….”
Uncle was silent for a moment. Honestly, I couldn’t tell what he was worrying and hesitating over.
But he had nowhere left to run, did he?
The war was over. He could no longer use the excuse that he would be leaving again soon.
*Since we’re family now anyway, it’d be nice if we got close quickly.*
I looked back and forth between the two, thinking.
Uncle Leviathan stared intently at his son’s face, which had grown so much in the blink of an eye. Void fidgeted but did not avert his gaze.
“…I see.”
“It’s not just his height….” Uncle muttered in a barely audible voice.
A face that looked like he had resolved something.
“All right, I understand.”
Void’s face instantly brightened.
I smiled broadly.
“Sorry for not noticing. It must have been hard to work up the courage.”
Uncle gently ruffled Void’s hair.
Void, who had been giggling, suddenly remembered something and pointed straight at me.
“Actually, Rubian was the one who thought of this party first. Please praise Rubian.”
“Ruby?”
Uncle turned his head.
“No, that’s….”
When the arrow suddenly turned toward me, I blinked awkwardly.
Uncle leaned back against his chair rest.
He crossed his arms with a low hum, and somehow it felt ominous.
“Come to think of it, what I signed was your welcome party.”
A strict gaze poured down relentlessly.
“You can’t file a false report to the Duke.”
It was the face of a boss scolding an intern—*How dare you file such a garbage report, Intern Ru.*
“Come here. I need to punish you.”
“Gasp, what punishment?”
I flinched in surprise. Uncle lightly gestured with his chin.
“First, the bell peppers you’ve been sneaking to the side of your plate since earlier.”
“….”
“Eat them all right here.”
It was the cruelest punishment imaginable!
I stealthily tried to hide the bell pepper with my fork.
“If you don’t eat all of that, you can only have one slice of that cake you’ve been eyeing since earlier.”
“…But I hate bell peppers!”
The texture, color, and smell—I hate them all! I even told the chef, so why did they come out!
I rebelled fiercely. But even Void betrayed me.
“Ruby. If you’re a picky eater, you can’t become a strong northern knight.”
Arms crossed with an equally stern expression.
Like father, like son!
“That’s what I’m saying.”
With someone on his side, Uncle looked triumphant.
“Uuu!”
Even though they were awkward with each other just moments ago, now they suddenly ganged up on me?
But the score was 2:1.
A crushing defeat.
* * *
Uncle’s punishment was not over.
“Lord Rubian, welcome to Jeberth Ducal Estate!”
The party was suddenly turned on its head, the roles of host and guest reversed. I had to sit in the seat of honor and eat heaps of sweet, delicious things.
“Oh my goodness. You’re simply too cute!”
“To think my own hands could make something like this….”
The maids happily placed a strange cone-shaped hat they had made on my head.
“Look at that expression.”
Uncle poked my pouting cheek hard.
“Something’s off. This isn’t what I had in mind.”
Regardless, the castle staff bustled to and fro, offering me their welcomes.
Uncle and Void wore identical expressions of satisfaction as they nodded.
*A first birthday party…?*
That’s kind of what this feels like.
Anyway, the party ended smoothly.
The night grew late, and once Void went up to his room because it was bedtime, I too rose from my seat.
“I’m gonna go to sleep too!”
My eyelids were growing heavy.
“Come here, Ruby.”
The villain who had fed me five pieces of bell pepper stretched his hand out to me. Feeling annoyed, I huffed and looked away. But I was quickly caught anyway.
Uncle hoisted me up lightly with an “Up we go.” A faint smell of alcohol lingered on him.
“Why are you following me?”
“You didn’t give your evening greeting. You should say it politely.”
“Uh, good night?”
At my incredibly sassy reply, Uncle gently pinched my nose.
“You only act respectful when you need something.”
Thud, thud.
Leaving the dining room, we walked down the corridor. Up the stairs, around the corner.
I tilted my head.
“Are you coming to my room to hang out?”
“I’m too drunk to make it to my own bedroom.”
“But you’re not swaying a single step… Uwah!”
While still holding me, Uncle suddenly crouched down low and chuckled.
Ah, I thought I was going to fall!
Of course, the arm holding me was firmer and safer than anything else.
“See? I’m swaying.”
“…Are you teasing me?”
“So clever.”
That wicked uncle straightened up again and resumed walking. Perhaps thanks to his long legs, we reached the room in just a few steps.