~Chapter 08~
“As expected, the young master’s skills are amazing. I can’t believe he beat a knight so easily.”
“Calix has always been strong since he was little.”
Already, a line of knights was forming, wanting to spar with Calix.
Ruby watched with a proud smile as Calix got along with the knights.
“Good thing that boy showed up.”
Unlike the others who rushed to challenge Calix, a calm middle-aged man walked over to Ruby and Balt.
“Hello, Captain.”
“Oh? How did you know I’m the knight captain, miss?”
“It’s easy to tell just by watching.”
The way the other knights respected him and how he silently observed Calix—it was clear he was different.
“You really are a clever girl. I’m Hans, the captain of the knights. Nice to meet you.”
Hans extended his large, calloused hand.
Ruby gladly shook it.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Hans.”
“I heard the Duke is testing you.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Do you think you can pass?”
“Of course. I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you in the future.”
Though her younger siblings had already been accepted, and she had not, Ruby showed no signs of worry.
Hans looked at her with fascination.
“You’re a strange child. In a good way.”
“What do you think of Calix’s skills?”
Hans stroked his beard while watching Calix spar with a knight.
“I was surprised yesterday, and I’m even more surprised today. That boy’s talent is rare. It’s no wonder the Duke is interested.”
“He may be talented, but there’s still a lot he needs to learn. Please guide him well.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”
Ruby was already hinting at Calix’s wild nature. From now on, Hans would be the one looking after him.
“Sasha, shall we head back?”
“Okay.”
Ruby held Sasha’s hand tightly as they walked through the mansion’s garden.
Balt followed behind them.
On the way, they passed by workers fixing the hallway Sasha had damaged earlier.
“I’m sorry. Sasha caused you trouble.”
“Not at all. We’re using the opportunity to rebuild everything with stronger materials—so she can touch things safely.”
Balt winked playfully.
Ruby appreciated his kindness toward her sister.
“Balt, why are you so nice to us?”
He had been kind from the very beginning.
She assumed it was part of his duties, but the way he looked at them made her wonder if he genuinely cared.
“I’m not sure. I just have a feeling that you and your siblings will stay here with us.”
“You believe in me? Why?”
Ruby had never done anything for Balt. She couldn’t understand why he was on their side.
“Perhaps you should have someone believe in you without any reason.”
Balt smiled warmly.
Someone who believed in her without a reason…
She hadn’t met anyone like that since her parents died.
Everyone at the funeral only cared about the children’s inheritance. No one thought Ruby could do anything.
Even Duke Lux, her own grandfather, didn’t trust her.
But now a complete stranger was choosing to believe in them. It made her heart ache.
Ruby didn’t know whether to smile or cry.
“…Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. All I can do is cheer you on.”
While they were talking, Sasha suddenly pulled her hand away.
“Kitty!”
“Sasha!”
Ruby ran after her toward a corner of the garden.
Sasha pushed through the bushes and charged toward the building wall.
“Sasha, where are you?”
She had disappeared into grass taller than herself. Ruby looked around in panic.
Rustle.
Suddenly, Sasha rose into the air—lifted by someone holding the back of her collar.
She kicked and screamed.
“Wah! Sis!”
The person holding her… was Duke Lux.
“Why are you letting kids run wild?”
He looked at Ruby with a stern expression.
“I lost track for a moment.”
“Don’t ever take your eyes off a child. Not even for a moment.”
“Understood. I’m sorry. Please put her down.”
Ruby reached out her hands.
Duke Lux handed Sasha back calmly.
“How old is this one?”
Surprisingly, he was showing interest in Sasha.
“She’s four.”
“And your other siblings?”
“I’m ten. Calix is seven. Maria just turned one.”
“Hoh.”
Ruby knew what that sound meant.
He was probably surprised that both she and Calix acted older than their age.
Calix was on another level when he wielded a sword, but otherwise, he acted according to his age.
As for Ruby, people had always said she seemed older because of her cleverness.
Though the way she used to ignore and mistreat Maria was very much like a ten-year-old.
But once her past life memories returned, that side of her disappeared.
Now, Ruby gave off the impression of someone much older than she was.
“You don’t act like a child.”
Duke Lux said his thoughts bluntly.
Ruby couldn’t exactly say it was because she remembered her past life.
“When you become the oldest after losing your parents, you don’t have any other choice.”
It wasn’t just about being possessed by someone from another life.
Without any guardians, she had to protect her siblings alone.
Even at the funeral, she didn’t cry—because someone had to take care of everything.
She had to plan their future, over and over.
And that’s why she gambled everything on convincing the Duke.
For a moment, Duke Lux’s eyes wavered.
But only for a second.
His gaze quickly turned cold again.
“That doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you. You still have to prove your worth.”
“I know, Grandpa. I’ll prove it. Please wait and see.”
Without another word, the Duke turned and walked away.
Balt, watching Ruby talk about her parents so calmly, couldn’t hide the sadness on his face.
“Miss Ruby…”
Ruby’s throat tightened when she heard his voice.
But she calmed herself quickly.
“I’m okay. So don’t worry.”
Ruby even comforted Balt.
“Sis… I’m sleepy…”
One minute Sasha had been running around, and now she was dozing off.
Meeting the scary Duke must’ve tired her out.
Ruby never had time to get lost in her own thoughts, thanks to her siblings.
“Alright. Let’s go take a nap.”
She gently patted Sasha’s back as she carried her to the room.
Balt followed the Duke to attend to his other duties.
Once back in their room, Ruby laid Sasha on the big bed.
Putting her to sleep hadn’t been easy—Sasha fussed a lot.
“Oof…”
Despite her grown-up mind, Ruby’s ten-year-old body wasn’t strong enough to carry a four-year-old for long.
Still, she smiled and stroked Sasha’s hair. When asleep, she looked like an angel.
Now it was time to pick up Maria.
Since it was around lunchtime for the staff, Ruby decided to head to the kitchen.
But as she approached, she heard raised voices.
“I’m telling you, we’re out of stock. We’re really sorry, but there’s nothing we can do.”
“We can’t cook without it! How can it be completely gone?”
“Please, sir. We’ve tried everything to get more. It’s impossible.”
“I’m not leaving without it!”
“Chef, please calm down…”
Ruby peeked in and saw that there seemed to be a supply problem.
From what she could tell, the person begging with clasped hands was a supplier.
The man shouting in the chef’s uniform was obviously the head chef.
A maid looked helpless between the two.
“We can’t serve meals without meat!”
“There’s a hunting restriction during the goddess festival. We can’t get any meat. Please, understand.”
“Are you saying we don’t have a single piece left?”
“Only old meat that commoners eat. Is that acceptable?”
“Ugh…”
The chef clutched his forehead in frustration.
𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌷Luna🌷͙⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ
