The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 11

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 11
“Oh…”
His pupils dilated slightly upon noticing me.
His smooth lips twitched faintly, and then came a hushed whisper to the attendant standing beside him.
“You know…”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“…something feels off with her around?”
Covering his mouth with his hand did nothing to muffle his words.
‘So the unexpected guest is bothering him!’
If I wanted to adapt smoothly here, I’d need to get along with him too!
I swallowed hard, my expression tightening with tension.
‘Of course, I have a trump card up my sleeve.’
I’d prepared something extraordinary for precisely this moment.
Though admittedly, I didn’t buy it with my own money!
“Uncle, I want to buy something over there!”
Back in the Capital, I’d dragged the old man’s hand and rushed into the bustling Marketplace.
“Please give me that money.”
“Tsk, so you’re already extorting me?”
“Hehe.”
I spread both hands and lifted my head, and the old man’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.
“I’ll pay you back later, I promise.”
“With what?”
“Um… I’ll become a mercenary or something!”
“Nonsense. A little thing like you, a mercenary? Leon, open the vault. Everything.”
The old man tilted his head and called out briefly, and Leon appeared from somewhere, the knight producing a heavy bundle with practiced ease.
Thus I clutched a large purse of money and went to a shop in the Capital, where I purchased a single card.
“Ta-da! A Hero Collection Card!”
“…You’re buying that?”
“It looks fun.”
“My money is hemorrhaging away.”
“You’re making a fuss over a little seawater splash.”
“So you came all this way to buy such garbage toys.”
“Um, we’re still at the register. The merchant is crying.”
The Hero Collection Card was a game card crudely illustrated with Leviathan and his war comrades, currently sweeping the continent’s children by storm!
‘In the original story, Void desperately wanted one but never got it.’
I’d have to find an opportunity to give him one later. Then maybe we could become a bit closer?
Hehe, I watched Void take his seat while a dark smile played across my lips.
“Good evening, Young Master. It seems you’ll be dining with Rubian from now on.”
The servants carrying food bowed in greeting.
“Now that I think about it, Young Master, you must be the older brother?”
“Huh? …Brother?”
Void’s face showed he’d heard a word entirely unfamiliar to him. He stared at me with his mouth slightly agape.
“Oh, I see. Since he’s under me…”
He muttered to himself.
I waved my hand in greeting. Void fixed me with an odd gaze before taking his seat.
“But where’s Father?”
“The Duke is occupied. He’s handling matters in his study.”
“Ah, I see.”
His expression showed little surprise.
“Come now, please eat. There’s plenty of egg dishes the young master enjoys. Since we didn’t know what Rubian likes, the chef prepared various options…”
The servants spoke kindly as they set down the food. Void sat at one end of the large table and deftly picked up his utensils.
I held a spoon in my mouth and rolled my eyes about.
‘He seems surprisingly accustomed to this.’
Eating alone here.
At first glance, I thought he’d be incredibly spoiled.
‘He doesn’t even seem disappointed about missing a meal with Father after so long.’
Yet in the lobby, he acted like such a whiny puppy?
Suddenly, I recalled what Butler Adolf had said—that the two of them had only recently begun to shed their awkwardness.
‘Ah, in other words… there’s still some awkwardness remaining between them.’
Just then, I heard a tapping sound on the table.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
I looked up to find Void staring directly at me.
“Oh, I was about to…”
“Sigh, really. I can’t help it.”
“Huh?”
I blinked blankly.
A steaming plate of steak slid across in front of me.
Neatly cut pieces of steak arranged on a large plate.
“Phew, having a younger sibling is quite demanding.”
Void spoke with his chin raised. Unable to help it, he shook his head vigorously—yet his expression seemed oddly satisfied.
“Well, I do have hands…”
I was about to say I could do it myself when Void suddenly snatched my plate back.
“Fine, fine, I get it.”
What?
“Ugh, do we have to do this every meal? It’s really bothersome.”
Slice, slice slice.
He cut the larger meat chunks into smaller pieces, then meticulously trimmed the roasted vegetables garnish.
“…”
I stared at the meal returned to me—now perfectly bite-sized.
Void’s grumbling, now my older brother overnight, showed no signs of stopping.
“Sigh. What am I to do?”
The sauce ran short—splash.
“There’s so much to worry about at every meal now.”
The lukewarm soup swapped for a fresh bowl.
“Because. Of. You.”
Butter spread across golden bread with a soft pat.
I blinked, surrounded by food.
So… was this his way of saying he enjoyed eating with me?
‘Maybe I didn’t even need the Hero Card…’
I speared a succulent piece of meat with my fork, and a smile bloomed across my face unbidden.
“Thank you, big… brother! I’ll eat well!”
Void’s eyes widened sharply. I caught the maidservants beside him covering their mouths, their shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
“Ha, really…”
Void’s perfectly sculpted lips quivered. Yet all that emerged was a long, drawn-out sigh.
“Ugh, so troublesome. A cute little sibling who calls me brother the moment they see me, eats with me, thanks me politely—it’s really, truly such a nuisance…!”
His muttering was incomprehensible, but at least he seemed delighted, which was a relief.
* * *
After dinner, Hazel gave me a brief tour of the Duke’s Mansion.
Then I was led to my room.
“Where have you been? You’re only just arriving!”
Void was there. He couldn’t wait and had come to see me.
“I forgot to mention something back at the dining hall.”
The second son of this household, scrutinizing me with exacting eyes, began rattling off instructions as I toured the room.
Wow, the room is incredibly spacious!
“-So you must wake early in the morning, come to my room to help me dress, and you absolutely cannot eat before me, and of course after meals you must serve tea…!”
The bed is also incredibly plush.
What on earth is stuffed inside it?
“Are you listening to me?”
“I’m not a maidservant… or a servant.”
I stared at him plainly as I spoke, and Void’s shoulders stiffened slightly.
“W-well, that’s how the youngest is supposed to be treated!”
“By whom?”
“Uncle Obron!”
I burst into laughter. Obron was one of the Zebert Knight Order members.
“The knights must care for you quite a lot.”
“…”
Void’s brow furrowed. He seemed offended, though he himself appeared unsure of exactly what had wounded his pride.
‘If I were him, I’d want to tease someone like that too.’
I observed Void anew.
Raven-black hair and gleaming violet eyes.
His slightly drooping eyes softened the fierce intensity typical of the Zebert bloodline. His plump, smooth cheeks flushed a rosy pink.
‘Whose taste does this little one reflect?’
A truly excellent choice.
I admired Void inwardly while maintaining an impassive expression.
Of course, he was already a head taller than me, and soon he’d grow terrifyingly fast—
‘But why won’t he leave? I’m getting sleepy now.’
I watched Void fussing about in my bedroom.
He touched the bedding, checked the lamp, verified the window was locked, examined whether the curtains were thick enough—inspection after inspection.
…Wasn’t he supposed to be attending to me?
“Huh! Why am I doing this?”
Well, it seems I’ll get along well with Void.
Perhaps I should drive the point home now.
“What are you doing?”
I opened my bag, which had been leaning diagonally against one wall.
“Here.”
“Hm?”
What I offered was a crude stack of cards.
“What is this….”
His eyes widening as large as lanterns was exactly the reaction I’d anticipated.
Void approached unsteadily, his expression one of disbelief, and accepted the stack of cards.
“Gasp!”
His sharp intake of breath was also as expected.
“Hero Card Collection—! The Capital limited edition!”
Bouncing up and down with his face flushed crimson was, of course, all part of the plan.
“It’s yours.”
“Really?!”
Void’s head snapped up.
I bounced back onto the bed and lay on my side like Leviathan, tilting my head lazily.
“A gift.”
…
His beautiful violet eyes sparkled brilliantly. On his upturned face, something akin to reverence seemed to bloom.
I smiled with satisfaction.
Indeed, there’s nothing quite like game cards for winning over an eleven-year-old boy.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————