Chapter 6

The youngest princess's favor has been monopolized, and now everyone is obsessed with me (6) (6/247)

"You're so small, yet you eat so much."

Diana, who had never been criticized for her eating habits before, felt extremely hurt.

When Diana pouted and her eyes welled up with tears, it was Liah who was surprised.

'Jack! This is the lady you'll swear to serve in the future! You need to be more kind!'

Unaware of Liah's distress, Jack threw the branch aside, walked over to the pile of clothes, and handed Liah half a loaf of bread.

"Huh? Why...?"

I didn't make any noise today.

When Liah muttered this in a barely audible voice, Jack became even more irritable.

"Just eat it."

"But Jack, you saved that for yourself. You gave me some yesterday, and if you give me some today..."

"If you don't want to keep getting food from me, take care of your own share!"

Liah's body flinched at Jack's sudden outburst.

"You're the one who shares your portion with me..."

Liah mumbled this so softly that it was almost inaudible, and she stared at the bread in her hand without eating it.

When Diana stared at her, Jack spoke roughly.

"Don't even think about it!"

"I'm not!"

"Liar."

Diana puffed up her cheeks in anger.

Jack glared back at her without backing down.

Seeing Jack bickering with a young child, Liah couldn't help but laugh.

In her memory, Jack was always a quiet and taciturn boy, but now she saw a more childlike side of him.

"Why are you laughing?"

Jack frowned and asked, surprised by Liah's sudden laughter.

Liah's mouth moved involuntarily.

"Seeing you again, I think you're handsome."

During her guild life, she had become accustomed to flattering the older officers, and the praise slipped out without her realizing it, but it wasn't a lie.

Jack, despite his young age, was a handsome boy with distinct features.

'So, you'll have a lot of female admirers later.'

It couldn't just be because he was a Swordmaster or one of the Three Knights.

As Liah nodded to herself, Jack, who had suddenly become quiet, turned his head.

His neck seemed a bit red.

'Is it from training?'

As she tilted her head, Diana, sensing the strange atmosphere, suddenly shouted.

"No!"

"Huh?"

"You're not handsome! My oppa is better!"

With her hands on her hips, Diana confidently declared this, and Liah burst out laughing again.

Jack narrowed his eyes and asked.

"Do you have an older brother?"

"Yup! Two of them!"

"Two, you fool."

"I'm not a fool! Onee, my oppa is more handsome!"

Diana shook Liah's sleeve and shouted.

At that moment, Liah recalled the face of Diana's older brother, Lucio, whom she had seen just before her death.

'Yeah, he really is handsome.'

With features that closely resembled Duke Ellard, and a cold, indifferent face that earned him the nickname "Ice Prince," he was a statue-like beauty.

But Liah didn't think he was as cold as people said.

'...I don't really know, though.'

Realizing her thoughts were a bit crazy, Liah shook her head.

Misinterpreting her action, Diana pouted.

"Really, my oppa is handsome..."

"Huh? Yeah, if you look like Diana, you must be very handsome!"

"Really!"

Comforted by Liah's words, Diana smiled.

Seeing this, Jack twisted his lips and was about to say something, so Liah quickly changed the subject for the sake of the future relationship between the two.

"Anyway, Jack! Are you training alone here?"

"Training? I'm just doing it because I'm bored."

"I see. But you're working hard... it's impressive."

Without thinking, Liah praised him again, and Jack's neck turned red once more.

Diana also pouted.

'Why is the atmosphere so strange?'

Their relationship can't be this bad.

While she didn't think it would easily deteriorate, Liah felt uneasy and continued.

"Jack, you really want to be a knight, don't you?"

"What? A knight?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jack frowned.

"Do you think someone like us, a commoner, can easily become a knight? I'm going to be a mercenary. I might not have honor, but I can earn a lot of money."

"Ah..."

Seeing Jack confidently state his ambition, Liah felt like laughing.

The young dream of a future knight who would become famous in the empire was to be a mercenary.

"In my opinion, Jack, you'll become a knight."

"What? What do you know! It's so difficult!"

No matter how naive he was, he wasn't joking!

Jack was about to get angry but stopped when he saw Liah's face, which showed no hint of teasing.

Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, and he didn't want to disappoint her.

"It's difficult, but you can do it. You want to, don't you?"

So, when she spoke calmly, Jack answered without thinking.

"Maybe... if I can, I want to."

"Right. So keep working hard like this."

You're kinder and more diligent than anyone, so you'll eventually be blessed.

Liah swallowed the last part and smiled brightly.

* * *

After Jack's training ended, on the way back to the orphanage.

I was pleased to see Jack occasionally look back to check if we were following.

'Pretending not to care, but he's looking out for us. He must be worried about Diana, despite his grumbling.'

After all, if he wasn't, he wouldn't have stepped forward to protect Diana in the past when no one else did.

'Knights have a code, after all. Protecting the weak is part of it.'

"Ouch."

At that moment, I involuntarily groaned.

I had walked faster to keep up with Jack, and my calves ached.

"Onee, I'm tired. Carry me."

Just as I was about to sit down to get back as quickly as possible, Diana stopped me, shaking my sleeve.

"Okay, I'll carry you."

As I was about to squat down, Jack, who had been walking ahead, turned around and grabbed my arm. Then, he bent down in front of Diana as if to carry her instead.

"Are you trying to kill me? Where are you going to carry her?"

"Uh?"

"You can carry her, and I'll carry you."

"...Huh?"

What kind of ridiculous idea is that?

Knowing Jack's serious nature, I laughed, thinking he was joking.

But there was no hint of playfulness in Jack's dark eyes.

"Hurry up."

Seeing Jack urge me again, I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

"Onee, carry me."

And Diana, tugging on my sleeve.

Do they have something in common because they'll be master and servant in the future?

Both were so stubborn, refusing to budge, that I had no choice but to nod.

It might be a bit strange and embarrassing, but the one who will be working hard is Jack, not me.

I didn't understand why Jack was going to such lengths, but I picked up Diana.

"Now you carry me."

Seeing Jack bend down in front of me, I hesitated but eventually leaned forward.

As I carefully climbed onto his back, the view suddenly rose.

"Wow, so high!"

Diana, perched on my back, laughed with delight.

* * *

The reward for enduring the embarrassment was sweet.

Fortunately, no one saw us in this bizarre position, and we arrived at the orphanage without any trouble.

"Thanks, Jack."

Feeling grateful but also a bit embarrassed, I fidgeted with my fingers and said, and Jack turned his head away without a word.

'He really knows how to make someone feel awkward.'

But considering how he carried us and shared his bread, Jack was a good boy despite his gruff demeanor.

'I'll treat him like an adult.'

Although I'm two years younger now, I've lived to eighteen.

Smiling brightly at Jack's reaction, I saw his pupils dilate and his breathing pause.

'Is my smile that strange?'

Feeling embarrassed, I absentmindedly stroked Diana's hair when...

"You two! Where have you been wandering?"

The director, who was about to go out, stood at the entrance with a coat in hand.

"Yuck! Scary uncle! So dark! I don't like him!"

Diana shuddered and hid in my arms.

Since she had always been afraid of the director in the past, I quickly hid Diana and explained to the director, who was raising his eyebrows.

"We were doing laundry."

Holding up Diana's dress, I showed it to him. The director, who had been glaring at me coldly, suddenly asked Jack.

"How old are you?"

"Ten."

"Good, good."

Jack answered reluctantly to the unexpected question, and the director nodded with a very satisfied look before leaving the orphanage. He seemed to be going out for drinks again, as he had done yesterday.

"Hmm..."

I wondered where the director got the money.

"Go on, you should go in."

Jack, who had been watching the director's back, reminded me.

Not wanting to bother him further, I silently took Diana's hand and headed to the room.

When we returned to the bedroom, the other children were already ready for bed. As soon as I lay down, Diana, exhausted from the short outing, started to doze off.

Watching her cutely, I turned my gaze to the window.

The sky had darkened as the sun set.

After a while, confirming that everyone in the shared bedroom was sound asleep, I quietly got up.

In the past, Duke Ellard found the unconscious Diana and Jack locked in the attic and immediately executed the director.

Now, I intended to protect Diana and ensure the director met the same fate.

'And I'll save the orphanage children who were thrown out for ignoring Diana.'

Having vividly remembered the miserable days as a beggar, I knew this was something I had to do.

'So, I need to report the director first and gain Duke Ellard's mercy.'