He placed Rubian on his lap with a nonchalant expression. Still, for an eight-year-old, he was excessively light.
“It’s nothing. Anyway, don’t pay much mind to Father’s words.”
“But…….”
“Look at this. You fussed over something useless, and now the top of your head’s all tingly again.”
“Oh. It’s true.”
Rubian placed his hand atop his own tiny, palm-sized head, marveling at the sensation.
Leviathan let out a light sigh.
“So, if you weren’t hurting, what were you doing in your room?”
“Huh?”
“You rushed upstairs all of a sudden.”
When asked persistently, Rubian subtly turned his head away.
There it is.
“M-My stomach really did hurt! But it suddenly got better, so…….”
“Hmm. I suppose we should show you to the physician.”
“I’m not sick. I ate a lot for dinner, too.”
The child fidgeted with his hands. It was something he did when troubled. And when he grew anxious, he would often bring them to his lips.
Leviathan looked at Rubian’s fingertips and firmly shook his head.
He playfully pinched the round tip of his nose and let go.
“What’s going to become of you if you keep staying frail and feeble, boy? You need a full check-up, no buts.”
“I really am fine though…….”
The ducal castle’s attending physician was away on business.
Void was born with a naturally robust constitution, and the Old Duke was an elder who would make a tremendous fuss over any physician, so he hadn’t paid it much mind until now, but.
‘Still, I’m worried about how small he is for his age.’
There wasn’t a boy as small as Rubian anywhere in the capital.
“It’s not entirely because of you. Rose… my wife will be returning soon.”
Rubian’s eyes instantly lit up.
“The one you sent that letter to?”
“Yes.”
“I see…….”
Somehow, his face swelled with anticipation.
Leviathan sometimes got the impression that Rubian knew him too well. Well, he was a smart kid, after all.
“Enough, get in. Under the covers.”
“Huh?”
“We’re going out tomorrow. You need to sleep now to wake up early. Isn’t that why you aren’t growing?”
“Hah.”
Rubian slipped under the covers. He poked only his eyes out and sniffed the blanket’s scent—apparently a habit.
Leviathan tidied the blanket for him and flopped down on the nearby sofa.
“Did you wash up?”
“Yeah.”
“Brush your teeth?”
“I did.”
“Take out your pin and put it here.”
“I did.”
“Want some warm water?”
“Mister, why aren’t you leaving?”
“…….”
Sharp kid…….
He kicked off his shoes haphazardly and plopped his legs up. As he sprawled out on the sofa, a look that seemed to say “what a hopeless case” came back to him.
“To be honest, this room’s sofa is the most comfortable.”
“What’s so different from the sofa in the other room?”
“Completely different.”
“……? Then take it. It’s all yours anyway, Mister…….”
“Stop talking and close your eyes.”
“Yes, sir.”
He adjusted the lamp’s brightness.
“……You’re not going to watch me sleep, are you?”
“Of course not.”
He had been out of his mind inspecting everything from the northern watchtower to the castle walls all day. It was fortunate that he was in a body that didn’t tire easily.
“I’ll rest a bit before I go.”
He let out a wide yawn, closed his eyes first, and pretended to sleep. Soon, Rubian’s even breathing returned.
And he had insisted like that when he was going to fall asleep so quickly.
A brief smile crossed his face.
A deep and quiet night.
Leviathan, who had been staring into the empty air, quietly turned his head.
Rubian was having a nightmare.
“…….”
The child’s faint moans continued.
Leviathan rushed over like lightning and grabbed Rubian’s hand. Brushed his forehead, held him tight.
Even so, Rubian couldn’t open his eyes easily, like someone caught in a nightmare.
“Ruby, please.”
His insides burned with anxiety. He felt like he was going mad.
At least when he held him, Rubian’s expression became somewhat better; that was all he could do.
“Just what…….”
What memory is tormenting you.
The fact that he couldn’t fully peel away the clinging darkness was nothing but anguish.
* * *
‘Seventh, my beloved daughter.’
The King of Mages always called me “Seventh.”
The reason was nothing much. Simply because I was his seventh child.
‘That you would fight for me—I am deeply moved.’
That’s not it. I’m fighting because I have no choice.
‘But please take care of your body. If you get hurt, my heart will tear.’
Lies.
‘You must go and capture the black sorcerer alive. Understood?’
‘…….’
‘That is the reason our kingdom is involving itself in this continental war. You must never let those continent bastards steal the black sorcerer’s head.’
I always thought his greedy face was disgusting. But I could never bring myself to rebel.
Because the brand on my body held such meaning.
Proof of absolute servitude, impossible to defy our king.
‘Especially, you must not let that damnable Duke Jebert steal the black sorcerer’s head…….’
What should I do, Father.
I have disobeyed your order.
But, because of that…….
I beat you, didn’t I.
* * *
A sunny morning.
I slowly opened my eyes. I stretched widely and felt refreshed.
Ah, I slept well.
These beddings are truly comforta—…
“……What?”
I froze in the middle of rising.
Because the bedroom was a complete wreck.
“Hwa-aam.”
“Brother Void, why are you here?”
A bewildered voice burst out.
I could see Void curled up on the large sofa beside my bed.
“To play cards, hah, haaaam.”
“You came here first thing in the morning to play cards?”
But he looked like someone who had stayed up all night.
“Yeah. But I’m giving up.”
His bloodshot red eyes glanced at me before he shook his head back and forth.
“Damn, I should’ve just gone to the bathroom at dawn instead of pointlessly coming down here…….”
His retreating figure scratching his disheveled bird’s-nest hair.
Muttering incomprehensible sounds, Void slowly walked away.
I had no idea.
I slowly turned my head with a disgusted expression.
The man sprawled like dough on the sofa right next to where Void had been was staring at me with a haggard face.
“Mister, you came to play cards from the morning too?”
“……The sofa.”
A strained voice stubbornly returned.
“Is it really that good?”
Ugh. Mister casually leaned the back of his head against his favorite sofa.
“I’m really getting old, so old.”
“I really should fill in the northern annex passage…….” Mumbling this and that.
“I really don’t get it…….”
It was clear he wouldn’t explain even if I asked. I buried my nose in the white sheets and merely tilted my head.
The eccentricities of House Jebert—just how far do they go?
* * *
I had breakfast with Mister.
Void said he was too out of it from sleep.
After neatly finishing off a salad, eggs, some meat, bread, soup, fruit juice, and so on, I prepared to go out. Mister had left the castle in a hurry for Knight Order business.
“I washed up completely!”
“Was there anywhere uncomfortable?”
“Nope.”
Hazel made a disappointed face.
It seemed she was quite bothered by me washing up alone.
“You must tell me if you need help at any time, alright?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I nodded half-heartedly, but such a day would probably never come.
After all, I was already perfectly capable of washing up on my own.
“There, all done.”
Hazel tidied my short hair. She even carefully selected a pin and fixed it in.
After putting on my bag and tying my shoelaces tight, I went down to the lobby. Butler Morris was standing at the entrance.
“Hello!”
“Hello, Young Master Rubian.”
The lanky butler was wiping sweat with a handkerchief again today.
I stood still in the lobby and looked around.
Because the person who had promised to go with me was nowhere to be seen.
“Um, Butler.”
“Yes.”
“Is the Old Duke still……”
I stopped mid-sentence.
On one side of the lobby. Behind the large bust decoration…….
A dark figure was wavering.
“…….”
Hmm, this is awkward.
Did he truly believe that imposing physique would be completely hidden behind that decoration…….
“Um, is the Old Duke…… feeling unwell?”
“Please do not worry. His Grace is currently reflecting.”
“Reflecting?”
“It is the price for behaving spitefully toward you yesterday, Young Master.”
The butler squinted with amusement.
“He couldn’t sleep a wink all night.”
I was surprised.
I hadn’t expected him to misunderstand me rushing out of the reception room like that as being angry.
“Ah, it’s not like that!”
When I hurriedly explained, the bust in the distance flinched. Along with the sound of its edge crumbling.
“Does it concern you?”
“Yes. I’m not angry at the Old Duke. Yesterday, it was really…… my stomach suddenly hurt…….”
Morris chuckled and wiped his sweat.
Somehow uncomfortable with lying, I fidgeted and picked at my nails.
“So the Old Duke isn’t coming with me? I was looking forward to going together…….”
Crunch. Again came the sound of the bust breaking.
At the same time, Morris gently took my hand.
“Then please greet him first. He will be delighted.”
“Should I?”
“Yes. And…… please look after the first patriarch’s bust of House Jebert as well.”
Ah……. I think it might be a bit late for that.
I slowly approached the statue.
A dark shadow hidden behind the ruined bust flinched.
“Hello, Old Duke?”
“…….”
Purple eyes peeked out.
“Because of me yesterday…….”
“Astonished that I would apologize, aren’t you!”
A thunderous voice echoed through the lobby.