TYHL 171

~Chapter 171~

With a heave, Khalid pulled himself up, and suddenly our view flipped.

“Seriously?”

“No, no, no! I mean—not really!”

“I can’t even tell if that’s a yes or a no…”

Khalid scratched the back of his head and mumbled. For some reason, I was overwhelmed with embarrassment and bolted across the training yard like I was running from danger.

“Wait for me! Didn’t you come to see me?”

Fifteen-year-old Khalid…

Had gotten way too shameless!

Thump, thump, thump. My heart was pounding like crazy.

I darted through the training grounds, breathless and lightheaded, and my hand still tingled where he’d held it.

Yup, I definitely need a diary with a lock!

I had a feeling the secrets I’d need to keep from my family… were only just beginning!

Whew, barely caught her.

Khalid sat with Rubian on a bench in the garden. After all that running in the training yard, Rubian had gotten pretty fast.

But he’d never let her get away.

He took the spot at the outer end of the bench, making sure Rubian ended up in the shade, where she slipped off her shoes and wiggled her toes with a little grumble about how they weren’t made for running.

“So, what did you want to ask me?”

Khalid gathered her scattered shoes neatly as he spoke.

“Here, look at this.”

She thrust her notebook toward him—a familiar sight, filled with messy notes in ancient script, their translations, and scattered place names. It was Rubian’s research journal, after all.

“It’s this last location I just can’t pin down.”

Her round cheeks puffed out in frustration.

Khalid found himself watching her profile, lost in thought.

“What about you? Got any ideas?”

Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked his way.

These days, Khalid was always tired—growing pains kept him up at night, and Rubian kept his mind busy during the day.

Whenever he talked to her lately, his heart would skip a beat and he’d feel almost nauseous.

Was this another kind of growing pain?

Who could say?

“Uh… I don’t know any ancient languages.”

“Knew it.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for nothing.”

A little smile bloomed on her pale face as a breeze rustled her hair. Her silvery hair had grown out again—she’d always hated long hair before, but lately, she seemed happy to let it grow.

Back then, she hated it because there was no one to tie it up for her…

Here, there were plenty of people willing to cut or braid her hair beautifully.

Beloved Rubian.

Khalid liked the sound of that more than he’d ever admit.

“Licht’s been writing, but he says he’s just as stuck. He thinks maybe I should come to the imperial archives myself and do some digging…”

“You’re going to the palace?”

“Yeah. And a few months from now, Licht’s having this huge birthday party there. He said he could even get me access to the archives if I want!”

“…”

A flicker of something sour ran through Khalid, but he kept his face calm.

“Of course, I still have to get Mom and Dad’s permission…”

“They’ll worry, but I think they’ll let you go.”

“Really?”

The Magic Kingdom was still missing in action, but just recently, a few magicians had been caught sneaking into the Delkan ruins. They self-destructed the moment they were captured, but it was proof that the Magic Kingdom was still moving in the shadows.

The Emperor and Duke Zebert were both relentlessly pursuing them.

Chasing an invisible enemy was never easy, but for Khalid, it didn’t seem impossible. Now, the hunters and hunted had switched places, and he figured it was only a matter of time.

“I should tell Oberon ahead of time, then.”

He said it lightly, and Rubian blinked.

“You’re coming too?”

“Shouldn’t I?”

“Well, it’s not that you can’t, but… You haven’t been feeling great lately. You don’t have to push yourself.”

“Ruby.”

Khalid’s voice was calm.

“Wherever you go, that’s where I need to be.”

He’d promised her that, long ago in the darkness of the cave.

Rubian, reading the weight of his words, turned away, lips pressed tight.

“You… really need to work on how you say things…”

What habit? Khalid almost asked, but he stopped short—he’d spotted a familiar figure in the distance.

“Wait, isn’t that Allen?”

Rubian saw him too.

“He must’ve found a monument in one of those places we told him about! Hey, Mister!”

She quickly shoved her shoes back on and dashed away, waving.

Allen, now a mercenary under Duke Zebert, looked up as she called out, his steps lazy and one eye covered with a patch.

“Hey! Princess—wait, I mean, Miss!”

Since Allen worked for the Duke, no one knew he and Khalid did side missions together.

As Rubian greeted Allen, Allen glanced over and caught Khalid’s eye.

Guess he has some info for me.

Khalid watched, expression blank.

“Hey, Khalid. If you’re looking for ancient kingdom stuff, you really ought to start digging on the western continent.”

“The west?”

“You know, the land of the heretics. The people there worship other gods—not our goddess.”

“…”

“Rumor is, that place is loaded with ruins. Makes Delkan look like nothing. Man, just thinking about all those hidden treasures gets me excited…”

Allen’s rough, laughing face flashed through Khalid’s mind.

Maybe I’ll go there someday.

The land of the heretics.

If things settle down for Rubian, eventually…

But for now, his priorities were clear.

Ignoring Allen’s enthusiastic waving, Khalid headed back to the training grounds.

Some time later, at the end of summer.

“You want to go to the imperial palace?”

Leviathan raised an eyebrow as he strolled with Rubian.

“Yeah… Is that okay? Just writing to Licht isn’t enough anymore. I want to check the archives myself. Licht thinks it’s a good idea, too.”

Rubian fiddled with her fingers, a bit anxious.

“And a few months from now, there’s going to be a huge birthday party at the palace. He said he’d send me an invite.”

Leviathan looked down at her and gently took her hand.

Her hands were still small and fragile. She claimed she was growing so much, but she was still tiny for her age…

No matter how much I feed her, why isn’t she growing?

He swallowed his worries and answered softly.

“If you want to go, then go. What’s the problem?”

“Really? I thought you’d say it was too dangerous to leave Zelox!”

With all the recent trouble with the Magic Kingdom and everything else, Rubian had stayed in Zelox for years. It was her first time asking to go out in ages.

Of course, he couldn’t say no. In fact—

“You think your dad’s stupid?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been getting ready for this for a while, you know.”

He’d been quietly building up every safety net he could.

The hillside was full of fragrant herbs. Cicadas were crying, signaling the end of summer.

“So as long as you’re healthy, there’s nowhere in this empire you can’t go.”

“Don’t worry about my magic! Asha and I are upgrading the magic tools.”

“Get a checkup anyway.”

“Dad, you’re not even a wizard.”

“I’m still smart enough to know if something’s safe for you or not.”

“Heh, okay.”

A checkup’s no big deal.

Feeling better, Rubian swung their clasped hands back and forth.

“Whew, I was nervous. I really thought you’d say no…”

To be completely honest,

I did want to say no…

But Leviathan knew he couldn’t keep her in his arms forever.

Break time was over. She was ready to run wherever she wanted, and he couldn’t hold her back anymore.

“So… where are we even going right now?”

Rubian glanced around.

“Took you long enough to ask.”

“Heh…”

Leviathan smiled as he looked toward the white fence in the distance.

“The memorial garden.”

A head of silver hair bobbed around busily.

“Phew, phew.”

“What are you working so hard for now?”

“Don’t stop me—I need to do what I can, while I can.”

Rubian was pulling weeds by the grave, sweat running down her face.

Honestly, there weren’t many weeds left—the garden was carefully maintained by the adults, especially Rosetta.

Leviathan gently traced the nameless black gravestone.

“Dad… are you sad?”

She’d come up beside him, asking quietly, holding his hand.

“Of course I’m sad.”

Rubian’s brows drooped.

“She was the person I wanted to protect the most, and I couldn’t do it.”

“Yeah…”

He saw her lips tremble, like she was trying not to cry, and let out a short laugh.

“Ugly mouth again.”

“Eugh.”

“I’m actually really happy right now, you know?”

“Wait, you just said you were sad…”

“Who says you can’t be happy and sad at the same time?”

He said it like it was obvious, then lifted Rubian up in his arms.

“Dad, I’m heavy now…”

“You sure are. You’re going to break my arms.”

“Then I’ll just fix you up, easy.”

Still not ready to give up on hugs, huh?

Leviathan grinned to himself as he hefted her again.

“So… why are you happy?”

Rubian asked.

“You really have to ask?”

“If I knew, would I ask?”

He bumped his forehead against hers, and she let out a soft whine.

“The thing I want to protect most is right here, by my side.”

He watched her round forehead as she shyly looked away, then raised his gaze to the black gravestone.

The stone, standing all alone on that vast hill, always hurt to look at.

I’m sorry I left you here alone.

But for now, I have something to protect right here.

So later, after I’ve finished everything, when I see you again—let me protect you then.

“Maybe we’ll spend this winter in the capital.”

“Yeah!”

Leviathan turned away from the memorial, the gentle breeze carrying them down the hill together.