TYHL 170

~Chapter 170~

Dad, sorry for acting like I didn’t want to be your heir. It’s not that I really hate the idea—it’s just that I’m not dying to do it, either!

If it becomes a problem with His Majesty because of me, I can step up. I don’t know if I’ll do a good job (but… you said it can be canceled, right?).

Anyway, that’s it.

If you ever need my help, just say the word!

I’m a Zebert, too!

The last line was written in the tiniest handwriting, as if she was a little embarrassed.

“What are you doing? Why are you standing there at the door?”

A gentle voice came from behind.

Rosetta, covering her mouth with a hand, watched Leviathan with a puzzled look.

“What’s that?”

“Read it. It’s killing me.”

After reading the letter, Rosetta burst out laughing.

“Oh my gosh. She must’ve been worried about you, afraid you’d be put in a tight spot. You were just checking if any of the kids wanted to be the heir, weren’t you?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“She’s just too cute— Wait, what’s this?”

Rosetta tilted her head as she stepped into the bedroom.

There wasn’t just one letter wedged in the doorframe.

There was a note from Liam, scribbled on a ripped-out page from his notebook.

And a pink letter that Void had clearly borrowed from Rubian’s stash.

The contents… were almost identical to Rubian’s letter.

“What is this! Why are they all so adorable?”

Leviathan let out a soft groan, caught between a laugh and a sigh. This was a whole different kind of happiness than what he felt with Rosetta.

“Duke, you’ll never have to worry about heirs again. You’ve got some seriously loyal kids.”

“Guess so.”

He tried to swallow a laugh, resting his face on Rosetta’s shoulder.

“I’m a lucky man.”

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Snow / Mood: Happy
Hello, this is Rubian.

I turned thirteen two days ago!

We had a birthday party and it was so much fun.

“Hm, what else should I write?”

I munched on a giant cookie, deep in thought. Dinner was over, and I was writing in my diary while enjoying dessert alone.

My homework these days is “keep a diary,” so I’d settled in to do just that.

And Void had given me this diary as a birthday present, too.

“Let’s see… what’s next…”

The pen started to move slowly.

In the morning, I ate mushroom cream stew. For lunch, southern-style shrimp. For dinner, grilled chicken with spices. Everything was delicious.

“Not bad.”

I grinned and put the pen down.

“Now I get to go visit the magic stone shop!”

Being thirteen keeps you busy!

The next day.

“What the—?!”

I froze, staring at the rainbow-colored writing scrawled all over my diary.

No mistaking it…

“You snooped!”

Ruby, it’s all good, but you’re not supposed to write your diary in formal language. —Brother #2
Is this a meal log? —Brother #1
Void has a point, but Mom thinks writing freely is fine too! —Mom
Nice work, as always. —Dad

“What?! Why are you all reading my diary?!”

And what’s with the comments? Are you kidding me?

I was absolutely flabbergasted.

I angrily stuffed my mouth with pudding.

‘If I catch them at it again, I’m cutting them off for good.’

Well, it’s still my homework, so I have to write today’s entry. Scribble, scribble.

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: Clear / Mood: Annoyed
My family keeps snooping in my diary, so I’m going to write extra small today… or at least, that’s the plan.
Today, I rode the sled Dad bought me and learned archery from Mom. I wonder when I’ll be able to shoot exactly how I want… It’s been on my mind a lot lately.
I read a book at home in the evening!
It was a pretty good day—about 80% fun.

#1. Nice work, as always. —Dad
Ruby, you did great today. But like I always say, you’d shoot even better if you yelled a little quieter! —Mom
Morris, our youngest is a genius—call the publisher right away…
Oops, wrong spot.
—Grandpa

Year N, Month N, Day N / Weather: / Mood:
Hey! Why do you all keep peeking into my diary?

Ruby, now you finally understand how I feel! —Brother #2
Nice work, as always. —Dad

“Unbelievable!”

I exploded. In my fury, I stuffed my mouth full of apple jellies.

“Ahem. Miss?”

“Hm?”

At the polite voice, I turned and found Butler Adolf standing there.

“I hate to say this, but…”

He looked over my diary, the messy dessert plate, and the wide dining room in turn.

“If you write your diary at the table and leave it wide open…”

“….”

“It’s only natural people will look.”

“Oh.”

Good point.

Lately, I’ve been in the habit of munching snacks and doing homework at the table in the evening…

Face burning, I quickly gathered up my diary and stood.

“Where are you off to?”

“T-to find Khalid!”

And with that, I made a hasty escape from the dining room.

“Still, they shouldn’t just read my diary like that…”

I stomped my way out of the manor, feeling put out.

‘Well, I did sneak a peek at Void’s diary when I was little…’

Karma, I guess.

‘Anyway, I’m definitely buying a lockable diary next time.’

I’m already thirteen. Privacy is becoming a big deal.

‘Wait… do I actually have any secrets worth keeping?’

I mean, my family already knows everything.

“Hm.”

Maybe I won’t bother with the lock after all.

Lost in thought, I wandered near the training grounds, clutching my notebook.

“Seriously, where is Khalid?”

On my list were possible regions for the magic monument, thanks to Licht’s help.

‘But this last one’s been a pain…’

The ancient language is tricky, and there haven’t been any solid hints in the imperial archives, either.

Of course, Khalid isn’t an expert in ancient languages, but he’s better than trying to figure it out by myself.

I’d been walking for a while when I finally spotted dark blue hair moving under a big tree in the distance.

“Ah, there you are—!”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

“Oh. He’s asleep.”

Leaning against the tree, eyes closed.

‘I’ve never seen him nap outside before.’

I crept closer and crouched in front of sleeping Khalid. The tree’s shadow fell across his sharp, peaceful features.

“His legs hurt… is he okay?”

My eyes drifted down to his long legs, smudged with dirt from training.

Lately, Khalid’s been dealing with some serious growing pains.

He keeps saying every joint in his body hurts, so he’s constantly training, day and night, to stay moving.

Maybe that’s why… he’s just getting more and more…

His eyes are getting deeper, his nose higher, his lips…

“Whoa.”

Wait, what am I thinking? What am I even looking at?!

I started to scoot back and ended up falling on my butt.

Right then, his lashes fluttered and his eyes slowly opened.

“S-sorry, did I wake you?”

“…Maybe?”

His gray-blue eyes stared at me, then drifted away.

“What’s up? You need something?”

Khalid stretched, yawning wide.

“Oh, uh, I wanted to ask you something…”

Why was it so hard to finish that sentence?

“….”

“Well…?”

Khalid just kept staring at me.

I mean, Khalid at fifteen is…

Weird. Just really weird.

Aren’t you supposed to be at your most awkward at this age?

That’s what everyone says!

But he just keeps giving off this strange vibe. Not quite a boy, not quite a man.

Even his voice is lower now, his shoulders wider…

“There you go, talking nonsense again.”

“Whatever. Is it because your magic is overflowing or something?”

I glanced down at Khalid’s arm.

Of the six bracelets he used to wear, only three remained.

He was doing a great job keeping his promise—one bracelet off every year.

And he was getting so much stronger, it looked like he’d be able to handle all that magic without any bracelets soon.

At this rate, he’ll get rid of them all before he’s even an adult.

Lately, Dad’s been training Khalid himself. No wonder he’s gotten so much better, so much stronger.

“But, hey, you haven’t needed any magic lately?”

Khalid sat cross-legged, arms folded, looking at me with his usual lazy expression.

For some reason, it was suddenly hard to meet his eyes. I jumped up.

“Uh, no, I’m good! I guess I really have gotten healthier. I don’t get all breathless from magic shortages anymore.”

“…I see.”

For a moment, Khalid looked up at me and smiled, just a little.

“Ruby.”

“What?”

“Help me up.”

“Huh?”

He held out his hand, totally shameless.

With the sun shining down behind me, he squinted one eye at the light.

“Hurry up.”

“Come on, seriously—”

“I told you my legs hurt. I haven’t even been sleeping well lately.”

Now that he mentioned it, Dad did say growing pains could be pretty rough.

Guess it’s true—if he’s tired enough to fall asleep anywhere.

I felt a little sorry for him.

“Fine, whatever…”

As I carefully reached out, his fingers wrapped around mine before I even realized it.

All at once, a wave of cool blue magic surged through me, tingling like every nerve in my body was waking up. My eyes flew wide open.

“Are you sure you don’t need this?”

Khalid’s eyes crinkled in a sly smile.