~Chapter 11~
“Uh…”
His eyes widened a little when he saw me.
His smooth lips twitched slightly, and then he leaned to whisper to the attendant beside him.
“Hey.”
“Yes, young master.”
“…Something feels weird with her here.”
Even with his hand over his mouth, I could hear it all.
‘So, the new stone is bothering him!’
If I want to adapt here safely, I need to get along with him too!
I swallowed nervously.
‘Of course, I have my ultimate item.’
I had prepared something amazing just for this moment.
Of course, I didn’t buy it with my own money!
“Uncle, over there! I have something to buy!”
Back in the capital, I had grabbed uncle’s hand and dragged him to the bustling market.
“Give me money.”
“Oh? Now you’re even shaking me down?”
“Hehe.”
When I held out both hands and looked up, uncle smirked playfully.
“I’ll be generous. Pay me back later.”
“With what?”
“Uh… I’ll work as a mercenary or something!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re too small to be a mercenary. Leon, open the vault. All the funds.”
At uncle’s short call, Sir Leon appeared and, as if used to it, handed over a heavy pouch.
That’s how I ended up holding a big bag of money and went to a capital shop to buy a card.
“Tada! Hero Collection Card!”
“…You bought that?”
“It looked fun.”
“My money is leaking like a sieve.”
“It’s just a splash from the sea, don’t exaggerate.”
“You came all this way to buy trash like that?”
“Hey, we’re still at the counter. The shopkeeper is crying.”
The <Hero Collection Card> had crudely drawn pictures of Leviathan Jebert and his war comrades. It was hugely popular among kids on the continent!
‘In the original story, Void wanted this so badly but never got it.’
I’ll give it to him later. Then maybe we’ll get along a bit.
Hehe. I gave a dark chuckle while watching Void take his seat.
“Good evening, young master. You’ll be dining with Lady Rubian from today.”
The servants greeted him as they set the food.
“Come to think of it, that means you’re the older brother, right?”
“Huh? …Brother?”
He looked as if the word was foreign. Void stared blankly at me with his mouth slightly open.
“Oh, right. She’s under me, so…”
Mumbling to himself.
I waved hello. Void fixed me with a strange look before sitting down.
“What about father?”
“He’s busy, so he’ll be eating in his office.”
“Oh, I see.”
He didn’t look surprised at all.
“Come, eat. There are plenty of egg dishes you like, young master. We didn’t know Lady Rubian’s preferences, so the chef made a variety…”
The servants spoke kindly as they placed the dishes. Void sat at one end of the large table and handled his utensils with ease.
I rolled my eyes while chewing my spoon.
‘He seems very used to this.’
Eating alone like that.
I had thought he was just a spoiled kid.
‘Even though he can’t eat with his father after so long, he’s not disappointed.’
But earlier in the lobby, he was wagging his tail like an eager puppy?
Then I recalled Butler Adolf’s words that they had only just begun to ease the awkwardness between them.
‘So in other words… they’re still a bit awkward.’
Then—tap tap.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
When I looked up, Void was staring at me.
“Oh, I was about to…”
“Geez, fine. Can’t be helped.”
“Huh?”
I blinked blankly.
Because a steaming steak plate slid in front of me.
Neatly cut pieces of steak on a big plate.
“Sigh, younger siblings are such work.”
Void tilted his chin. Though he shook his head dramatically, he looked oddly satisfied.
“Oh, I can cut my—”
Before I could finish, he snatched my plate back.
“Okay, okay.”
Okay what?
“Do I have to do this every meal? So troublesome.”
Slice, slice slice.
He cut the meat into even smaller pieces, even the roasted vegetables on the side.
“….”
I stared at my perfectly bite-sized meal as it returned to me.
Void’s grumbling as a suddenly appointed big brother didn’t stop.
“Sigh. What am I going to do?”
Drizzling extra sauce.
“There’s so much more to take care of during meals now.”
Replacing the slightly cooled soup with a warm one.
“Because. Of. My. Little. Sister.”
Spreading butter on the golden bread.
I blinked, surrounded by food.
So… does this mean he likes eating with me?
‘Maybe I didn’t even need the hero card…?’
I picked up a piece of neatly cut meat with my fork, smiling without meaning to.
“Thanks, bro— I mean, big brother! I’ll eat well!”
Void’s eyes snapped up. The maids nearby giggled behind their hands.
“Ha, really…”
The corners of Void’s mouth twitched. But all he let out was a long sigh.
“Ah~ it’s so troublesome. Having a cute little sister who calls me brother the moment she sees me, eats with me, and says thank you is so troublesome…”
I didn’t really get what he meant, but he looked very happy, so that was good.
After dinner, Hazel gave me a quick tour of the castle.
Then, when I went to my room—
“Where have you been!”
Void was there. He seemed unable to wait before seeing me again.
“I forgot to tell you something in the dining hall.”
The second son of the house gave me a sharp look, then started following me around the room as I looked around.
Wow, the room was huge!
“-So you have to wake up early, come to my room to help me dress, you can’t eat before me, and of course, after meals—”
The bed was so soft!
What kind of filling is in this?
“Are you listening to me?”
“I’m not a maid… or servant.”
When I stared at him and said that, Void’s shoulders flinched.
“T-The youngest is supposed to do that!”
“Says who?”
“Uncle Oberon!”
I snorted. Oberon was one of the Jebert knights.
“The knights must really like you.”
“….”
Void frowned. He seemed offended, though even he didn’t seem to know exactly why.
‘Well, he does look like someone you’d want to tease.’
I looked at him again.
Black hair like a crow, sparkling violet eyes.
Because of his slightly drooping eyes, he lacked the fierceness of the Jebert direct line. His cheeks were soft, smooth, and flushed.
‘And who picked those suspenders?’
An excellent choice.
I secretly admired him.
Of course, he was still a head taller than me and would grow much bigger soon…
‘But why isn’t he leaving? I’m sleepy.’
I watched him fuss around my room—
Checking the bedding, the lamp, the window locks, the curtains… again and again.
…Isn’t he the one serving me right now?
“Wait! Why am I doing this?”
Well, I think we’ll get along fine.
Let’s seal the deal.
“What are you doing?”
I went to the bag leaning against the wall.
“Here.”
“Huh?”
I handed him a rough stack of cards.
“What’s…?”
His round eyes went wide, just as I expected.
He staggered closer and took the cards with a look of disbelief.
“Gasp!”
Also expected—his sharp intake of breath.
“Hero Card Collection—! Capital limited edition!”
Bouncing and blushing furiously—again, expected.
“It’s yours.”
“You’re giving it to me?!”
He jerked his head up.
I hopped back onto the bed, lying on my side like Uncle Leviathan, and tilted my head.
“It’s a present.”
“….”
His pretty violet eyes sparkled. His expression almost looked worshipful.
Heh, I smiled in satisfaction.
Nothing works better to win over an eleven-year-old boy than game cards.
