The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 77

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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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Chapter 77
“C-Clothes! Coat! Blankets!”
Void dashed off somewhere and returned with his arms full of fluffy outerwear, blankets, and quilts bundled haphazardly.
But then he just stood there trembling, unable to actually drape any of it over me.
“W-What if the coat’s too heavy and my sister gets crushed?”
What was wrong with him?
“I’m not made of glass.”
“Oh! I didn’t know! Liam, did you hear that?”
Was Void simply incapable of normal communication at this point?
I called out to Pax with an exasperated expression.
“I was literally playing with a windmill just days ago! Why are you acting like this?”
“I know… what have I done…”
Void swayed, his face crumpling as though the world itself had collapsed.
‘This is hopeless.’
Severe, truly severe.
I shook my head dismissively and turned away without hesitation.
As I took a step forward—
“Where are you going?”
“…”
Two broad backs suddenly blocked my path.
“I promise comfort across a spacious surface, little fairy.”
“Rubian’s used to my back!”
“Wow, that’s incredible!”
How irritating.
I naturally ignored both their backs and walked straight outside. Sparks flew from the brothers’ eyes, while Hazel watched and giggled behind her hand.
Hmph, I need to find my backup battery!
Where on earth could it be?
“Ka—! Yikes, you startled me!”
I stumbled as I rushed to yank the door open.
I’d spotted a shadow standing like an ancient tree beside the doorframe.
“Be careful.”
Kalid caught me as I stumbled badly. I blinked up at him.
“You were right by the door—why didn’t you just come in?”
Looking at Kalid’s darkened expression, my brow furrowed involuntarily.
A terrible suspicion crept in.
“You weren’t… standing out here the whole time, were you?”
Kalid, who rarely avoided my gaze, quietly looked away.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been guarding this spot for days!”
“…”
He wouldn’t say it since I told him not to.
Kalid even released his grip on my shoulder and took a step back.
Thud. I was genuinely shocked. Kalid had never pushed me away first before!
For some reason, it felt like thunder and lightning were crackling inside my chest.
“You, you, you! Why won’t you look at me?”
“….”
“So you’re really not going to speak just because I told you not to? I’m asking if you’ve been here the whole time!”
“…I think I’d end up lying, so I’m just not going to say anything. Don’t ask.”
Kalid answered coldly and sealed his lips again. His gaze drifted downward at an angle, refusing to meet mine.
“He’s supposedly reflecting on his actions.”
That voice came from behind me.
Two dark-haired heads poking through the gap in the doorway like peas in a pod.
“Reflecting? On what?”
I didn’t even need to ask. Just looking at that pathetic, rain-soaked puppy expression told me everything.
I bit my lip and glared at Kalid.
“Look at me for a second…. Cough, cough!”
As a cough burst out, Kalid’s head snapped around. His face flushed blue, then yellow, and finally drained to an ashen white.
“I, I really am hopeless….”
Kalid stumbled backward.
“That’s not it! You idiot!”
What was I going to do with him?
I hesitated for a moment, then made my decision.
I grabbed Kalid’s wrist firmly as he tried to retreat down the corridor.
Everyone watching flinched, but I couldn’t care less.
“Rubian? Rubian, Rubian, Rubian? You two are getting a bit too close….”
“Kalid, run!”
I bolted down the opposite direction where no one was around.
“Why, why are you….”
Kalid stammered, completely flustered.
Hmph. He was always so casual about grabbing my hand, but the moment I initiated it, he always reacted like this?
“Let’s escape! From those annoying older brothers!”
“Gasp, Rubian! Where are you going!”
Void’s voice cried out desperately from behind.
“Void, come on right now. We need to catch them.”
“Brother! Why are you running the wrong way! Ugh, you’re so directionally challenged!”
“…? That can’t be right.”
“How can it not be…. Ah, don’t push your glasses up while looking at me!”
Their bickering faded into the distance.
“Ugh, where should we go!”
“…Follow me.”
Kalid’s fingers, which had been loosely hanging, suddenly tightened their grip. What started with me dragging him along had somehow reversed roles entirely.
I caught sight of his sharp profile ahead of me.
Yet he didn’t pull away.
The corners of my pouting lips curved upward slightly.
“And here you are, acting like this.”
My stubborn pup was actually quite kind after all.
My heart raced with genuine warmth.
* * *
We arrived at the Greenhouse situated behind the Duke’s Residence.
“The strength of three and a half laps around the Training Ground!”
I gasped for breath and made a V-sign with my fingers. Kalid let out a soft laugh, his expression somehow lighter.
The Greenhouse was remarkably spacious and warm. Colorful flowers peeked shyly from their flower beds, and I sluggishly began removing my outer coat.
“Aren’t you still recovering from that cold? Don’t take it off.”
“No, I’m completely better! My cough is already improving.”
It was so hot in here! I fanned myself with my hand and stubbornly removed my coat anyway. Kalid’s expression grew reluctant, but he accepted the garment and held it in his hands.
“I had no idea a place like this existed!”
“There’s a tea table near the pond over there.”
“That’s perfect. Should we have some tea?”
Tea time while admiring beautiful flowers and the pond!
But Kalid simply shook his head briefly.
“No. I’ll stay here and continue reflecting on my mistakes.”
“That’s enough.”
Wow, what a stubborn one.
“Why is it your fault that I recklessly ran off and got caught up in this incident? It’s my fault!”
“…It’s absolutely not your fault.”
“Right. Then let’s say the criminals are 100% responsible!”
It seemed Kalid had been deeply shaken by losing sight of me at the Hot Spring.
Frustrated, angry, and wronged. I could feel his turbulent emotions vividly.
‘Damn it…. Why are you punishing yourself for that!’
I didn’t understand what this surging emotion was.
Anger? Heartache?
Kalid bit his lip firmly and stared directly at me. His eyes were slightly reddened, as if he hadn’t slept properly.
“I understand, I do. But I can’t help getting angry.”
“….”
“Just leave me alone for now.”
The stubborn one muttered tersely and turned his head away again.
Growing irritated, I abruptly extended my hand toward him.
“Give it.”
“What….”
“Don’t pretend you don’t understand. Hurry.”
“…Your mana doesn’t seem depleted.”
“How can you tell just by looking at my face? My vision is spinning right now.”
Though I knew it was an act, kind Kalid slowly unfastened his bracelet. His hesitant fingers extended toward me.
I grasped that hand firmly.
“There, a handshake of forgiveness! That settles it, right?”
Along with that, I gently pushed my mana into him. The mana flowing cautiously from Kalid toward me faltered.
“What are you doing? With such a pittance of mana.”
When he instinctively tried to pull his hand away, I deliberately gripped it tighter and shook it vigorously like a proper handshake.
“I’m forgiving you! I don’t know what you did wrong! Actually, someone else is at fault, so why are you digging yourself into a hole? It’s upsetting me too!”
His gaze returned to me, fixed and unwavering. Breaking the brief silence, Kalid spoke.
“…You’re upset? Because my mood is bad?”
I’m not sure why those words struck me so, but I nodded vigorously.
“Of course!”
The young boy’s lips trembled slightly.
A faint crease formed between his smooth brows.
“…Same here.”
“Huh?”
“If your mood is bad, I’m upset too.”
“Oh…. Really?”
Kalid’s eyelids moved slowly.
Captivated by the flutter of his lashes, I suddenly felt my throat tighten as I met his intensely colored eyes.
“It tickles…. Stop.”
Kalid chuckled softly. It was because I’d been unconsciously trickling mana into him all along.
“Sorry.”
As I reflexively tried to pull my hand away, his long fingers tightened their grip.
“But since I’m in a good mood now, just a little longer.”
Beyond the transparent greenhouse window, brilliant light poured in. His grayish-blue eyes, bathed in sunlight, gleamed like freshly polished glass.
“You said if I’m in a good mood, you’d be in a good mood too.”
“I don’t think I said it quite like that…?”
“You did.”
In that moment, my head tilted of its own accord.
‘What is this?’
Thump-thump.
I pressed my free hand against my left chest.
Why was my heart racing as if I’d been running?
It was incomprehensible.

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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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