The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Ch.3
Several more days had passed.
The man was someone who kept his word.
Of course, he was far too busy to share every meal together, but he made an effort to spend at least an hour with me each day. That alone was enough to keep Void satisfied.
‘Mm, things are progressing smoothly.’
I was lounging contentedly after a hearty lunch.
I seem to be adapting quite well here, don’t I?
‘Now I should probably start making my move…’
The sudden thought jolted me upright.
A strange prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Wait a moment.
“Am I forgetting something?!”
There’s another person in this house that I seem to have overlooked…
Just then, a knock sounded at the door and it swung open.
“Rubian?”
“It’s snack time, Rubian!”
Ah, let me satisfy my sweet tooth first.
“Sure!”
Hazel smiled brightly. In just a few days, I’d grown close to her and had begun treating her with ease.
As I headed toward the Tea Room near the Bedroom, I spotted an early arrival.
“Why do you keep wandering around working instead of staying in your Study?”
He signed documents with one hand while lifting his gaze slightly, those handsome features fixed upon me.
“It’s my choice. It’s my Castle.”
Well, he had a point.
“You’re late.”
As I flopped onto the plush sofa, he chided me for no particular reason.
Lately, he’d been pestering the Chef to produce all manner of desserts, utterly absorbed in the endeavor. Though the Chef had supposedly suggested it first… who knows?
Of course, tasting new confections was enjoyable. But I worried the Chef was being overworked.
‘What a terrible employer, truly…’
Even in the Capital, I’d sensed that he quite enjoyed eating.
He devoured sweet desserts without discrimination.
Well, maintaining such a large frame would require eating well, but…
‘To torment the Chef daily like this!’
“What have I done wrong now?”
He waved his hand, marked with small bite indentations, back and forth.
“I’m not a kitten…”
“It’s just! On behalf of the Chef!”
“I don’t understand.”
He settled me deeper into the sofa while muttering.
“It’s been quite a while since you ate. I can’t have you going hungry.”
His tone carried an unmistakable note of displeasure.
“I ate a lot of rice, so I’m not really that hungry…”
“I am.”
“…”
Well, there was nothing to say to that.
Clink, clink. A delightful snack time.
“How is it?”
The man asked.
“It’s delicious.”
“You haven’t even eaten it yet.”
Only then did I poke my fork into the strawberry cream cake placed before me and take a bite.
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m telling you, you can’t let your guard down for a second.”
As the sweetness spread across my palate, my scalp tingled with sensation.
“Once you finish, let’s go to the Annex together.”
“The Annex?”
“The old man’s been too quiet lately, which is suspicious. We should make a preemptive move before he causes trouble.”
Leviathan muttered without much conviction.
The old man… did he mean…?
‘Zebert Grandfather?’
Now that I thought about it, I’d cut short my earlier thoughts about him!
‘He wasn’t a significant character in the original story.’
Was that why he’d been quiet?
I blinked slowly.
The man sitting diagonally across from me on the sofa was finishing his slice of cake in just three bites.
“So… Zebert Grandfather is staying in the Annex?”
“Yeah. He hardly ever comes this far.”
The man crossed his legs and sipped his tea. His economical movements made him look like a high noble again.
“Have you heard anything about Father?”
“Just bits and pieces from people muttering.”
I dodged the question vaguely.
“I heard he’s been ill.”
“That’s true, but… well, it’s fine. He’d probably dislike the attention more anyway.”
The words that followed were barely audible.
‘Wait, hold on.’
My nape stiffened again.
‘Isn’t it terribly rude not to visit a sick elder in the household?’
Besides, I was a rolling stone that people instinctively wanted to find fault with!
‘What if I’ve already made a bad impression?’
Fortunately, no one in the Duke’s Mansion disliked me so far.
But if Zebert Grandfather did dislike me…
So if I were to return to the Capital again….
The man read my peculiar silence and spoke once more.
“Don’t worry. I told you I’d punish anyone who bothers you.”
“What kind of person is Zebert Grandfather…?”
“Hmm….”
The man gazed at the ceiling for a moment, contemplating.
“An angry lion?”
“…?”
At his cryptic explanation, I stared blankly, and his deep violet eyes turned toward me.
“That’s right. A little bean like you might be devoured in no time.”
I let out a light laugh.
“Lions are carnivores. They don’t like beans.”
“I’m not sure whether to call that mature or childish….”
The man chuckled and tapped the tip of my nose.
Pink cream smudged onto the calloused tip of his finger.
When did that get there? How embarrassing.
“Sir, would you like more?”
“Of course.”
At how confidently he offered the plate, I felt a fresh wave of exasperation.
“Why are you eating cake like it’s your birthday?”
“It’s delicious.”
By his appearance alone, I’d have thought a bitter espresso or a strong glass of brandy would be sufficient for his meal.
Tastes truly are incomprehensible.
“Eat more for now. Otherwise, I won’t take you anywhere.”
“U, understood….”
I picked up my fork again.
Perhaps because of the sweetness spreading to the tips of my hair, my worries about Zebert Grandfather dissipated slightly.
‘Hmm, the strawberry cream tastes better than the chestnut cream I had yesterday!’
I’ll have to tell Chef about this later.
“Phew, I’m full.”
As I patted my belly contentedly, the man tapped the table in rhythm.
“It doesn’t seem like the right time to put down your fork.”
“But I’m full? I ate plenty of rice too.”
“You barely nibbled at it.”
“That’s not true!”
I’m not a mouse.
“Seeing how much you left behind, our Chef will be heartbroken. Right?”
“Yes, sir. She will be deeply saddened.”
The Attendant, who had just set down the strawberry milk before me, chimed in agreement.
Ugh. After all, the mood of the person who feeds you is paramount….
I hesitated for a moment before selecting a strawberry shyly nestled atop the cream and popping it into my mouth.
As I nibbled at the fluffy sponge cake, the man chuckled softly.
“Now you’re happy, aren’t you?”
Do strawberries grow larger in the Northern Region?
My cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s. The soft cream and tart fruit juice filled my mouth completely.
“Mmph-mmph-mmph.”
“Muttering curses while chewing won’t help you.”
Oh no, I’d been caught…
BOOM!
That’s when it happened. A deafening explosion suddenly swept through the entire Castle.
“Eek!”
The four-tiered tray on the table rattled, followed by a series of faint tremors.
Crash. Crash!
“W-what… Hic!”
I was so startled that I swallowed the cake without even chewing, and the hiccups came as a bonus.
The man’s brow furrowed deeply as he reached toward me.
“Did you bite your tongue? Let me see.”
“Is that really important right now?!”
“Just drink some milk first.”
A series of large and small explosions continued to erupt.
Milk or not, my head whipped around frantically.
“Sigh… He finally couldn’t hold back.”
“Is it an attack?”
“It is, but it isn’t.”
What kind of ridiculous answer was that?
What was strange, though, was that I seemed to be the only one startled in this room.
Everyone else calmly steadied the trembling decorations or straightened the askew paintings as if this were routine.
“Master, what should we do?”
“If we lock it, he’ll just break through the wall, won’t he?”
“Absolutely.”
Listening to the exchange between the man and the Attendant, I grew increasingly bewildered.
Thud-crash, thud-crash.
Something was drawing closer from a distance.
Like the sound of a bull charging, or the footsteps of an enraged giant…
“Rubian, drink your milk. Stop hiccupping.”
The man gestured with his eyes toward the strawberry milk placed before me. As if entranced, I reached for the mug.
CRASH!
Then, the thick door flew wide open.
“Where is the little bird?!”

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