The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 282

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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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Side Story, Chapter 8
The peculiar atmosphere between Mother and Father did not end there.
“Big brothers, hello!”
“Rubian!”
“Our youngest fairy. Welcome.”
“This is rather sudden, but after you both finish eating, come see me. I’ll give you both a thorough education on the proper use of communication devices… Hm? Mother.”
I blinked blankly.
“Why?”
“Why are you sitting next to me?”
Mother settled herself naturally between Kalid and me, laughing softly.
“Well, it’s been so long since I’ve seen our daughter and handsome Kalid, I’m just happy. Do you dislike Mother sitting here?”
“No, that’s not it…”
Kalid’s gaze and mine met briefly.
‘This arrangement is… refreshingly novel?’
An unprecedented seating arrangement: Father—me—Mother—Kalid.
Across from us sat my two older brothers, as always.
Was this how one typically received marriage approval while seated?
‘It’s certainly innovative.’
What puzzled me more was that Father, who usually fought tooth and nail to keep the seat beside Mother, was being unusually quiet.
Glancing back slightly, Father was simply signing documents that Butler Adolf had brought, saying nothing in particular.
‘What is this? Something’s felt off since earlier…’
My eyes narrowed slightly.
I pondered for a moment, then reached for my water glass.
“Ah, I’m thirsty. Let me just have some water first… Oops!”
“Hm?”
Splash.
Water spilled from the glass, thoroughly drenching my pale blue dress.
Father turned around quickly, and Mother hurried to dab it with a napkin, but I’d spilled far too much for it to help.
“Oh dear.”
I stood up with a deeply embarrassed expression.
“It’s all soaked… Would it be alright if I went to change clothes?”
“It’s fine, Rubian? I’ll help you,”
Kalid reflexively began to rise as well, but I suppressed him with a look.
‘No no no no no! Stop right now! Mother looks like she’s about to pin your hand to the table!’
“Hm? Kalid? What did you say? Surely you weren’t suggesting you’d help Rubian change… were you?”
Sure enough, the fork in Mother’s grip was bent in half.
“Ah.”
Kalid froze rigid in his seat.
Butler Adolf let out a loud cough.
“S-sir, the plates keep cracking, so please refrain from releasing your aura at the dinner table.”
“Dressing up, attending to someone… that’s something you do after you’re twenty-nine.”
Father mumbled something or other, and with Void and Liam tucking Kalid’s head under their arms as the finale.
“It’s wonderful seeing everyone catch up so energetically! I’ll be back shortly!”
I hurried out of the Dining Hall.
And then…
“Hazel?”
“Eek! Young mistress!”
“Hold the embrace for now. What happened with my mother and father during the day?”
“Oh…”
I returned to the Dining Hall carrying fresh clothes and fresher information.
* * *
Mealtimes at the Zebert Duchy were generally boisterous.
Except when outside guests were present, dining etiquette wasn’t enforced strictly. Much of it stemmed from the head of household’s distaste for unnecessary formality and ostentation.
But today…
Something felt off.
Void’s eyes blinked slowly.
“…”
What is this?
Blink, blink.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
Silence and stillness at our family table.
It was truly strange.
Void rolled his eyes and communicated silently with the person across from him.
‘Hey, Kalid. What’s with this atmosphere?’
‘…’
But Kalid was too preoccupied meticulously tracking every dish Rubian touched.
‘That tiresome fellow.’
He was obviously calculating nutritional information.
Finally, an SOS attempt toward the person beside him.
‘Liam, what’s going on with this atmosphere?’
Liam elegantly ate his bell pepper salad while responding with his eyes.
‘Right. I’m planning to reread volumes one and two of “The Discovery of Magical Beasts” today.’
Complete communication failure.
‘Am I the only one finding this strange?! Is something wrong with me?!’
Void cried out internally.
Then he accidentally touched his plate with a clatter.
“Hm? Void, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… Mother…”
Wait. Was that… a slip of the tongue?
Rosetta’s expression, which had been slightly bothering me since earlier, didn’t look bad upon closer inspection.
Her tone remained as gentle and soft as always.
Void scratched the back of his head, wondering if it was just his imagination. Then he lightly changed the subject.
“By the way, um, when is Grandfather arriving?”
“In four days.”
It was Leviathan who answered curtly.
“Really? That soon?”
“He said he’d shorten his travel time… Sigh, he must have chosen some shortcut that no one else would think of.”
It made sense.
Given his fiery temperament, even the most powerful acceleration artifacts wouldn’t satisfy him.
“I see. Ah, when he arrives, we’re supposed to have a new family portrait painted right away, aren’t we…?”
“That’s right. Everyone, be prepared.”
“Yes! A new portrait!”
Rubian expressed her delight briefly before returning her focus to the meal.
She had finished an entire plate of refreshing grapefruit salad and was now eyeing a steaming bowl of potato soup as her next target.
Void nodded familiarly as he grated cheese over the soup like snowflakes.
“It’s been a while since we’ve done a formal portrait. We did paint simple commemorative pictures every time Rubian had a birthday, though….”
Rosetta nodded in agreement.
“True. Oh, speaking of which, Void, wouldn’t you like to have some new clothes tailored?”
“New clothes for me?”
“Yes. Your current uniform looks a bit, well! That is, it doesn’t seem to fit quite right anymore.”
“Ah… I suppose my upper body has gotten a bit too muscular….”
Rosetta laughed softly.
“I’m saying you should stop wearing those tight-fitting shirts on purpose. Anyway, since we’re going out tomorrow anyway, why don’t you come along with your mother and Rubian to the Clothing Shop?”
Void was about to answer obediently when—
“The Clothing Shop?”
A low voice drifted from the head of the table. There was something sharp in its tone.
Rosetta replied casually as she sliced the octopus appetizer.
“Yes. I’m planning to go out with Rubian tomorrow. She has three days off.”
At those words, Leviathan’s jaw seemed to tighten slightly.
“You’re not going out.”
“Really?”
Rosetta set down her utensils with a sharp clink.
“But you see, I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
“If you’re going, you’re going with me. You can’t go alone.”
…
“Especially not with your maids.”
“Aren’t you busy tomorrow?”
Rosetta asked brightly with a smile.
“You must be. Swamped, in fact.”
“…Sigh, Rosetta.”
“Why.”
“….”
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“….”
A chilling silence descended.
‘What, what, what is it?!’
Void’s eyes darted about like someone tracking a ball’s trajectory.
In truth, both their tones were far too gentle—at first glance, nothing seemed amiss.
But Void saw it.
The chill that flickered across Rosetta’s eyes.
The moment Leviathan’s fists tensed with barely contained force.
‘A, a… fight?’
Now that I think about it, isn’t the seating arrangement here a bit odd?
‘Rubian!’
Yet Rubian, seated between Leviathan and Rosetta, was contentedly devouring her food without a care.
After the potato soup crowned with delicate cheese snow came a croissant glistening with buttery richness.
“Mmm, home cooking truly is the best.”
“Eat plenty, Rubian.”
Rosetta quickly placed another piece of bread on Rubian’s plate.
Void’s face had gone pale as he rolled his eyes.
Then, suddenly, his thoughts turned to something in his pocket.
‘Ah, that’s right.’
Yesyesyesyes
He hastily retrieved the communication device and sent a message to Kalid.
It was the Version 2 device Rubian had given him as a test before the meal.
‘I set the notifications to silent. And supposedly… they added a group messaging function for people nearby, right?’
Beneath the table, his fingers danced nimbly.
Liam was invited.
Of course, he’d wanted to invite Rubian too.
Thief
Rubian skipped lunch. Message X
Kalid’s glare—a silent warning that he’d never forgive anyone who interrupted Rubian’s meal—made him give up.
So? Anyway, did you notice?
What’s going on with those two?
Thief
I suspect
they’re fighting
Especially the Duchess
Kalid slid a glass of juice toward Rubian while finishing his message beneath the table.
Thief
You seem quite upset.
Mother and Father are having a marital dispute…?
Liam, has this ever happened before?

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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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