~Chapter 43~
The Duke sat slanted on the big bed, holding the whining child in his arms and patting her.
“…How.”
It was a short question, but Leviathan seemed to understand.
“If she looks unusually weak in the evening, it always turns out like this.”
A heavy sigh escaped. For a moment, the Duke looked like a man aged by years of exhaustion.
“Khalid.”
His cracked voice called. He pulled up the blanket covering Rubian.
“Did Ruby often do this back in Eosia?”
“……”
On the battlefield, yes. Whenever it happened, Khalid held Ruby’s hand and gave her magic power, afraid that nightmares might be caused by weakness.
It never helped much. But that was all he could do, so he kept giving, over and over.
“If you know something, tell me. Only then can I help.”
“She seems troubled whenever she feels anxious. But I don’t know the details.”
A darker shadow crossed the Duke’s face.
“What is she so anxious about…?”
His large hand stroked her face carefully. Slowly, Ruby’s color improved. The groaning child finally fell into quiet sleep.
“How… how did Ruby live in Eosia?”
At the low question, Khalid closed his mouth. He and Ruby had already prepared an answer for times like this.
“She lived an ordinary life. Not rich, but ordinary parents, ordinary neighbors.”
“…Ordinary.”
Those violet eyes stared straight at him. The gaze was so sharp that Khalid almost looked away.
“I see.”
Leviathan nodded.
“…Duke. May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you treasure Ruby?”
The question felt pointless. After watching him all day, the answer was already obvious.
“Why ask?”
The Duke laid Ruby down gently and sat on the sofa nearby, clearly planning to spend the night there.
“I just wondered if you could protect her, no matter what happens.”
“That sounds as if something is going to happen.”
The drowsy voice lingered. Khalid didn’t avoid his piercing eyes.
He had met many adults in mercenary life. He knew hundreds of ways to dodge questions.
“Because she’s my friend. I worry too much, that’s all.”
“If only you were better at lying.”
Leviathan turned his gaze back to the sleeping Ruby.
“Yes. No matter what happens, I will protect Ruby.”
With those words, he tossed something.
“Which means you.”
It was a small box filled with colorful candies.
“If you ever have something to say, come to me. About Ruby, or about yourself.”
Khalid blinked slowly.
“…Feels like you’re giving me a request.”
“Request? What are you—”
Leviathan paused, frowning as he remembered Khalid’s mercenary life.
“Not a request. A favor, brat.”
“……”
Khalid gripped the candy box. What’s the difference between a request and a favor? And you already gave me payment, didn’t you?
“…Fine, I guess.”
Leviathan leaned back, staring at nothing, then squinted.
“But tell me, kid. Do friends normally chase each other all the way to places like this?”
“Because she’s my most precious friend. There’s no one else like her in the world.”
“Most precious…?”
The Duke repeated the words, looking oddly uncomfortable. Khalid laughed.
“Oh, right. You said you don’t have friends.”
“……”
“Then you wouldn’t understand this feeling.”
“You brat. So arrogant.”
Leviathan crumpled his leftover candy wrapper and threw it, but it didn’t even reach Khalid’s feet.
Khalid walked to Ruby’s window ledge and set the candy box there, digging through it.
“Apple, chocolate, cherry… There’s no strawberry.”
“……”
“She likes strawberry the most. Next time, remember that.”
The Duke snorted.
“Of course I gave all the strawberry ones to her.”
Ah.
The cocky boy just lifted his chin.
“Then what about milk flavor?”
“……”
Damn it. I’ll have to go to the shop tomorrow.
Afternoon sunlight sparkled.
It was dessert time.
The Duke pushed a cold juice in front of me. Beside it, strangely, were piles of strawberry and milk candies.
“The color of the juice…?”
“It’s because I blended it with green vegetables.”
He answered before Hazel could ask.
“Borvel said it’s good for the body.”
The Duke added firmly, as if feeding me healthy snacks was now his greatest mission in life.
Looks like porridge spat out by a troll…
I stared at the thick, murky green liquid. When I tried to look away, he slid it toward me again.
“Ugh.”
“It just looks bad.”
Since so many eyes were watching, I had no choice but to drink.
Gulp, then candy after. That’s the plan.
I tried just a sip with my tongue.
“Huh?”
“Not bad, right?”
A sweet apple flavor filled my mouth, hiding the taste of vegetables! It looked awful but tasted completely opposite.
I started sipping eagerly with the straw.
“Ruby, I heard you’ll be studying with Borvel?”
“Ah, yes!”
Yesterday evening, the castle’s chief physician had offered to teach me herbal medicine and healing. Of course I had agreed.
“I’ll become smart!”
I already knew basic things about herbs and healing. The lessons would be a good cover story later.
‘If I make something later, I can say I learned it in class!’
It was a necessary shield—there was only so much I could claim as knowledge from Eosia.
“Don’t overwork yourself. And don’t forget your afternoon snacks.”
“Well, sometimes I might be too busy to—”
“Don’t forget them.”
What was with that desperate tone?
Puzzled, I nodded anyway.
Outside the window came Void’s voice, clashing wooden swords with Grandpa in training. I listened like it was music while sipping milk.
“And… there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
The Duke leaned forward, a little serious.
“Mm?”
“Next week, Rosetta and Liam will return.”
“Oh…”
Finally.
“Then you’ll meet my whole family.”
Strangely, Leviathan kept choosing his words carefully.
“…How is it, living in my house? Are you satisfied?”
Is this a service satisfaction survey or something?
I spread my hand wide.
“Of course I’m satisfied! Five stars!”
“…Only five?”
“It’s five out of five.”
“Oh.”
He swallowed nervously, clasping his hands.
“Then Ruby… would you like to keep living with me?”
“I already am.”
“I mean—would you really become the youngest child of my family?”
The air around us suddenly grew heavy.
Turning my head, I saw Hazel and other servants quickly cough and look away.
“Of course, you can decide after meeting Rosetta and Liam.”
“I…”
My eyelids lowered slowly.
