TYHL 175

~Chapter 175~

It hadn’t changed at all since I was a kid. The blue, magic-imbued mark on my back was frozen in time by a spell.

“Phew.”

I know it’s the only part of me that never grew, but every time I look at it, I get nervous. There’s always the chance my magic could break and it might start growing again.

But honestly…

I’m turning eighteen.

I stared at my reflection in awe.
A round-faced girl with blue eyes stared back.

Rice bows its head as it ripens, or so they say. So the bun on my head, which used to hang right at my crown, had gradually slipped down to rest beside my ears.

Overall… not bad. But—

“Sharp, sculpted jawline!”

—Nope.

Why’s it still so round?

“Bold, fierce eyes!”

—Still missing.

Why do my eyes always look so sad?

“Fine, at least be as tall as Hazel!”

“Miss!”

“Ah, you startled me.”

Thud. I was still short enough that Hazel could easily scoop me up. Though, to be fair, now my head reaches her chest—progress, right?

‘So unfair.’

I really wanted to grow into a glamorous beauty.

But hey, I do have other options.

“All right, Hazel. I’m going to bulk up instead.”

“Huh? Bulk up?”

I rolled up my sleeves, flexed, and struck a pose.

Pop.

“Look at that! See? Muscle! All my training finally paid off!”

“…?”

“Come on, don’t just stand there with a question mark over your head.”

“Oh, sorry!”
Hazel laughed, gave me another hug, and checked the fireplace and windows for drafts.

“You’re not cold, are you?”

“Nope!”

“But, Miss,” Hazel said, pausing with the lamp, “did you lose weight?”

I just finished bragging about my muscles—what’s she on about?

“No way.”

“I don’t know… You feel a bit softer than usual.”

“How are you even measuring that?”

“Just get some sleep, okay? Tomorrow’s breakfast will be extra fancy.”

I just laughed and watched Hazel’s determined exit. She finished checking the bedroom and moved to fix my hair, but then there was a knock and Dad walked in.

“I’ll take over. You can go.”

“Yes, Master.”

He’d already changed out of his ice-cream-stained shirt.

Was he here to scold me?

I waited, but he just flopped onto the sofa and patted the seat beside him.

“Come over here, so I can squish your bun.”

“Okay.”

I obediently sat down next to him.

His big hands pulled out the pins from my hair with flawless precision—gentle, careful, ticklish.

“Just like cotton candy.”

“…Don’t eat it.”

“No promises.”

I quickly pulled my long silver hair forward and tied it under my chin.

Dad chuckled.

“So, Ruby,” his low voice rumbled from behind me.

“Yeah?”

“Tell me what’s got you in a mood today.”

“….”

My floating expression froze.

Leviathan quietly watched as Rubian turned toward him.

“I’m totally fine…”

He let out a little laugh.

“I may not have the sharpest eyes, but I know when something’s up. Especially with my youngest.”

“Ohoho…”

Rubian tried to cover her mouth and laugh, mimicking something out of a book.

He glanced at her nightstand.

There it was—“The First Step to Becoming an Impressive Adult.” No doubt that odd laugh came straight from those pages.

He glanced at her bookshelf and nearly laughed out loud at the lineup:

“How to Start Eighteen Without Regrets,”
“Eighteen: Shocking the World!”
“How to Be an Adult Everyone Understands,”
“Eighteen: Chase Your Fortune”—all those kinds of titles.

“Being an adult is exhausting! You’re supposed to change the world, communicate like a pro, and chase riches at the same time…”

“What on earth did you buy at the bookstore?”

The day Rubian had raided the bookstore, Liam had proudly pushed the cart for her. The two of them holed up in the library for two days, reading non-stop.

She really never does anything halfway.

Or maybe…

Leviathan studied her face.

Was she just feeling a little uneasy?

“You didn’t rope Void into sneaking a drink for no reason. Was it really just about your coming-of-age?”

When Leviathan asked about earlier, Rubian clammed up. He reached over to hug her, then paused.

She was still his tiny, adorable little girl—but at seventeen, maybe she was too old for that now.

“…It’s because Delmon died.”

She finally spoke.

Leviathan pulled her close without another thought.

Not long ago, Rubian had attended her first funeral.

Delmon had been a junior member of the Zebert knights. Years ago, he’d taken the entrance test with Khalid and had trained hard ever since.

But he died recently—killed during a monster attack near the capital. He’d saved some farmers returning home, losing his life in the process.

Rubian cried so much at the funeral that no one knew what to do.

“I thought I was over it, but it just hits me sometimes.”

She sounded calm now.

Moments like this made Leviathan realize how much she’d grown up.

“I didn’t think we were all that close, but… I keep remembering things. Like how he’d always say the wine was sweet. I’d tease him—how could wine possibly taste sweet? He said when I was grown up, I should try it and tell him for real…”

She sniffled, biting her lip to hold back tears.

Leviathan stroked her hair. She was growing up fast, but she was still his precious, fragile daughter.

“Ruby, it was just a terrible accident. There was nothing you could do.”

“I know…”

Her blue eyes shimmered with tears, but there was something stronger in them now—a new hardness that only loss can bring.

He always hoped she’d grow up with nothing but happy memories. But that’s not how life works.

He sighed quietly, knowing the best he could do was be there for her.

He held her and waited until she calmed down.

Eventually, she pouted and mumbled,
“I’m not a kid anymore, you know…”

“I’ll cheer you up—want to hear some good news?”

“What is it?”

“I got a letter today. Rosetta’s coming home the day after tomorrow. And Grandpa will be here the week after.”

Rubian immediately perked up.

“For real? Mom and Grandpa? What time? What minute? What second?”

“Rose will be here early in the morning. Not sure about your grandpa. So when Mom gets here, you two go out and have some fun.”

Most summers through late fall, Rosetta stayed in the south, running the new children’s shelter.

“Awesome!”

Rubian’s blue eyes sparkled. Leviathan, suddenly nervous, added,

“And… don’t dye your hair this time.”

“Huh?”

“Just… keep it normal.”

“Wow. How’d you know I was planning that?”

She tried to hide her smile, and Leviathan decided right then to burn every one of those books.

“Now get some sleep.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, by the way—there’s going to be a big banquet at the palace soon. Before your coming-of-age.”

“A banquet? What kind?”

“A celebration.”

Rubian’s eyes went wide.

“Khalid is coming home.”

“Oh…!”

Khalid was coming back.

Rubian’s hands clenched tightly at her sides. Leviathan let out a short laugh.

“The brat actually did pretty well out there, for a rookie.”