TYHL 167

~Chapter 67~

Leviathan blanked out for a second, then cleared his throat.

“Well… if you listen carefully, it’s actually kind of cute.”

“You don’t have to make excuses to me.”

“Don’t go tattling. I’ll get sulky.”

“Yes, sir.”

He found himself wondering what exactly she was doing to make that kind of noise.

He stepped into the hall and peeked out the window—couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Ha! Hahaha!”

Behind the mansion, on the little hill, Rubian was sledding down the snowy slope with wild enthusiasm.

On top of a fertilizer sack.

“…Isn’t she technically a duke’s daughter?”

“Ahem. Cough.”

This time, Adolf was the one pretending to cough away his laughter.

“So that’s what she was so excited to run outside for…”

His forehead throbbed.

“But, hey, she looks happy. That’s what matters.”

As usual, Void, Khalid, and even Liam were right there with her. From the looks of it, she’d managed to rope all three of them into joining right after their morning routines.

No wonder her eyes were sparkling the moment the snow started falling…

And after all that, she says she’s “grown up” enough to go on trips with me?

Of course, Leviathan knew Rubian had real power. He wasn’t blind to that.

But that wasn’t the point.

She’s young, and because she’s young, she’s still fragile. That’s all.

What kind of dad am I, when all I can do is go chase after old tombstones?

The kingdom’s brand, etched into her body…

Every time he thought about it, it felt like swallowing a thousand needles. The fact that he couldn’t even remove it himself hurt the most.

Rubian always looked so apologetic, thinking he was shouldering her burdens.

But honestly, he was the one who felt sorry.

For being such a useless dad.

“By the way, Your Grace… there’s a letter from the Imperial Palace.”

Adolf’s quiet voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“What’s it say?”

“It’s about the Magic Kingdom. The latest scouting ships couldn’t find the island either.”

“…Figures.”

No surprise there.

A single island in the middle of the sea—

Arcadia, the kingdom of mages.

It had been a whole year since the Magic Kingdom—now Bamilon’s enemy—completely vanished off the map.

No matter how many routes they followed, the island never showed. Magic birds didn’t work. Search spells failed. The portal to the kingdom had long stopped working.

It wasn’t just gone.
It had evaporated.

“Apparently, the Second Malon Ama activated all the kingdom’s defensive barriers… If they hid the whole island, that means they’re planning to stay hidden for a long time. Once those barriers go up, they won’t drop until a set time passes…”

He could still remember Rubian mumbling those words.

After that, she’d tacked on,

“Sorry, I’m not strong enough to break that barrier yet.”

Utterly absurd.

No matter where the Magic King was hiding, Leviathan would find him and take his head.

Even if it meant dragging him out of—

Hell itself.

He’d kill him twice if he had to.

So began the Magic Kingdom’s long game of hide-and-seek.

The emperor and the alliance are tracking them. We’ll get results eventually.

For now, it meant he could enjoy a little peace with the kids until new information arrived.

“Was that all in the emperor’s letter?”

“There was one more thing…”

Adolf’s gaze drifted out the window.

“They want House Zebert to finally pick an heir.”

Leviathan chuckled.

“Knew I shouldn’t have asked. Just ignore it.”

“But—”

“I said ignore it.”

He knew why the emperor wanted it.

Other noble houses had already named successors, putting twelve- and thirteen-year-olds to work.

But still…

It just didn’t feel right.

He knew it had to be done one day—but not now.

“Ha! First place!”

“Ruby, help! I’m turning into a snowman!”

“Khalid, you’re hopeless at sledding… Wait, where did Liam go? Don’t tell me he got lost sledding?”

“No idea!”

“Whoa, Khalid, you’re super fast! Didn’t you say you didn’t want to ride? Now you’re having fun, huh!”

“I’m only riding because you made me. It’s not that fun.”

“How many times have you gone down?”

“…Seventeen?”

He just wanted those happy, noisy voices to last as long as possible.

“Kids should be wild and carefree while they can.”

Childhood never lasted long. A little foolishness never hurt anyone.

“Raise the fireplace temperature. When they get back, let’s dry them out in front of it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leviathan shook his head and headed inside.

I went all out…

“Hah… sledding takes more energy than you’d think…”

“Get up. You’ll catch a cold.”

A pale hand appeared in my field of vision, where I was sprawled out in the snow.

I grabbed it, got to my feet, and stared up at the owner.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Khalid looked away, scratching his eyebrow.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”

“You. Don’t move.”

“…?”

I stepped closer and he stiffened, still in his training uniform.

And honestly, my heart stiffened, too.

“…How much milk do you drink a day?”

“Two glasses?”

“I drink three!”

Why is this happening?!

“…Um, good for you?”

Why can’t I catch up?!

Ugh, my nostrils are maxed out!

I thought I was finally catching up in height, but over the past year, Khalid had shot up like a weed, leaving me in the dust.

Can someone really grow that fast? Did you get taller or just fatter feet?

“What are you two whispering about?”

Void butted in, sounding annoyed, then set his chin on top of my head.

“If you bother my little sister, you’re dead.”

“Who’s bothering who here…”

Khalid, muttering that he was the real victim, started gathering up the fertilizer sacks.

“Don’t knead my dumpling buns. They’ll burst.”

“Oh, sorry—didn’t even realize.”

His hand jerked away.

I can’t believe it… now even Void thinks nothing of putting his hand on my head.

“So, did you decide on a birthday present, Ruby?”

Void asked, tying my scarf extra tight.

His nose and ears were bright red from all the sledding.

I took a sniff.

“Not sure. There’s nothing I really want.”

“Then why’d you start this ‘one present per person’ thing?! It’s brutal!”

“We can’t be wasteful!”

“You know Grandpa cries every night trying to think of something to get you?”

“Oh… that wasn’t a wild animal howling?”

I seriously thought some beast had gotten loose in the annex.

“And you know, I’ve come into a bit of wealth lately. So I can just buy whatever I need.”

Heh.

I gave him a smug little smile. Void looked devastated.

“M-Magic Stone Shop Owner…”

That’s right.

The moment those pale violet magic stones became a hit across the empire—

And the Magic Kingdom cut off the supply of stones for magic tools—

We became the top supplier.

So, yeah. I’m twelve, and I’m rich.

It all started when Arcadia vanished behind all those barriers. They called every outpost mage back to the kingdom.

Naturally, I ran straight to Asha.

“Asha! What are you gonna do? They called back all the outpost mages!”

“I’ll just become a runaway magician!”

“…Huh?”

“Why?”

Asha made major decisions like it was nothing, as always.

Was that bravery, or was she just reckless? Honestly, who could tell?