~Chapter 63~
“No, I really don’t have to eat!”
“If you want cake, you have to eat dinner first. Come on.”
“Huh?”
I froze in place. Liam, who had already walked halfway down the hallway, turned and looked back at me.
His calm, piercing gaze landed on me, followed by a short sigh.
“I heard it from Void, but you really are a spoiled child.”
“What! That’s not—!”
I flailed like a fish freshly caught, because Liam had suddenly walked up and lifted me effortlessly with his blank expression.
“Your legs are dangling. Hurry up.”
His strict voice echoed. Did he really need to sound that harsh?!
The teenage boy carried me quickly, stepping exactly on the stickers I’d left marking the path to the dining hall.
For a bookworm, why was his back so broad—and his strength so ridiculous?!
“S-slow down, b-brother!”
“……”
He was taking the stairs two at a time but then stopped. Slowly, his head tilted, and his purple eyes turned toward me.
“That word is strange.”
“Huh?”
“The word ‘brother.’”
Why…?
His voice carried a subtle meaning. I shut my mouth tight.
“Little fairy. I’ll research this question. Until I reach a conclusion, calling me that is forbidden.”
“Ugh… research ban…”
Still, thank you for giving me distance, picky otaku teen…
Surprisingly, Liam turned out to be the perfect meal partner!
“Bell pepper? Give it here.”
“Eek.”
Excited, I happily moved the green monsters from my plate onto his. Even with fancy seasoning, I still hated them.
“You still pick out vegetables.”
Dad shook his head as if giving up.
“Vegetables keep you from getting sleepy while reading.”
“Then just sleep…”
“And I’d appreciate it if you buttoned up your shirt properly, Father.”
Both ignored each other’s words completely. A spear against another spear.
I chewed on the meat Void had cut for me and hurriedly changed the subject.
“You know, they say there’s a children’s competition at the Green Festival.”
Uncle looked unimpressed.
“I know. And how long are you going to chew that piece?”
“I ate too much cake earlier… I’m still full…”
“That’s a problem. I should’ve brought Borbel.”
“I’m perfectly fine! Anyway, I’m going to join the Green Festival contest!”
Void frowned. Despite stuffing cake earlier, his appetite was still alive and well.
“Why would you bother with something so trivial?”
I swallowed my meat and whispered, covering my mouth with both hands.
“Hero Collection card. Limited edition.”
“……!”
Void’s nostrils flared wider than ever.
“Sorry, Rubian. But I can’t give up on that.”
The look on his face screamed he wouldn’t yield.
“Fair and square then.”
“Yes!”
This was exactly what I wanted—I was burning with determination.
Void turned to Liam, who sat beside me.
“Liam, are you going to join too?”
“No. Not interested.”
He looked like he couldn’t care less.
I stared at his flawless side profile with pure admiration.
“Wow, the way you eat bell peppers is so elegant…”
“What! I could’ve eaten bell peppers too!”
Void shouted indignantly.
I grinned and raised both thumbs.
“Execution power wins!”
“Of course.”
“Che! I’m writing this in my diary!”
Diary… My lips puckered like a duck’s.
Since that day, I could no longer peek at Void’s diary.
He noticed my gaze and pulled a mocking face.
“My diary~ Locked diary~”
“Ugh, so annoying!”
“Lock~ Lock~”
“Hey! It’s 99% my share! I thought it was like an exchange diary!”
“It’s not an exchange diary.”
“Don’t worry, little fairy. Once I figure out the lock mechanism, I can open it.”
Liam cut in.
“Hey! Whose side are you on?”
“My own. God’s on my side too.”
“…I don’t get it, but that sounds cool.”
“Void, don’t admire that. It’s just middle-school syndrome.”
“What’s middle-school syndrome? Do you have a disease, Hyung? Ruby, fix him!”
“Sorry. It’s an incurable disease. Only time can cure it.”
“Sounds dramatic. I like it.”
“Kids.”
Dad pressed his forehead with a sigh.
“I never thought I’d say this in my life… but stop talking and just eat.”
The three kids fell silent instantly. Dad looked drained of all his energy.
That’s when hurried footsteps entered.
“Your Grace.”
It was Sir Leon, looking a little pale.
“What is it?”
“A message from the gate… The Duchess went missing on her way back.”
Clang! My fork fell to the floor.
No way! The fragile sunshine heroine is missing?! I looked at Dad with a panicked face.
“Ha…”
“Good grief…”
“I’ll be off, then.”
But everyone else looked oddly unfazed.
“Just when it was quiet… it starts again.”
“Father, should I borrow tracking tools from Grandfather in the annex?”
“Do it.”
“Last time she disguised herself as a fruit seller… What could it be this time…”
Muttering, Void slipped away.
“Then, enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Liam calmly finished his meal and went upstairs.
“What? Why is everyone so used to this?”
“Hide and seek.”
“…….”
“My wife’s hobby.”
Dad stood and rubbed my head.
“I’ll go fetch her, Rubian.”
Maybe… the Duchess was actually the strangest person of all.
Uncle led the knights to track down the “missing” Duchess. Since the kidnapping incident in Ipsun was over, not every knight had to remain. Even Grandpa left, called by Void.
So unintentionally, I was left alone in the mansion.
Dad asked me a hundred times if I’d be okay by myself. After the hundredth, I slammed my door shut with an annoyed face.
“Home alone, hooray!”
I rubbed my face into the white blanket… when suddenly an idea struck me.
“Wait. Isn’t this the perfect chance?”
All three troublesome people had gone out at once.
Reclusive teen Liam had locked himself in the annex with cake boxes, announcing he’d be gone for three days.
I jumped up and pressed my earlobe.
‘Khal, Khal, Khalid! Friend! Kaaaal! Emergency! It’s really urgent!’
My desperate call crackled through the link.
[ Whoa, you scared me. What’s going on? ]
‘So you really were ignoring me…’
[ …Guess this thing broke again. What? I can’t hear well, Ruby. ]
I ground my teeth. I wanted to argue, but… I needed him now.
‘Stand guard! Now’s the time! The Jebert hot spring! You’re at the training ground, right?’
[ Yeah. I saw everyone rushing out and wondered. ]
Khalid let out a short breath.
[ I’ll send a squirrel. Follow it. ]
Yes! A squirrel! Hooray!
I wiggled my feet in excitement.
“Hehe, I can’t believe such a place exists… hehe.”
Behind the mansion stretched the Jebert family’s private hot spring—literally, paradise on earth.
