"Ugh..."
What was happening right now? Boys who were two heads taller than her were scared of this tiny child.
Vincent, confused by the incomprehensible situation, quietly observed. When that child first appeared again, his body had frozen with instinctive fear, but now that he knew she wouldn't harm him, he relaxed.
"Then you'll get scolded."
"...Boss, let's run."
One boy said, backing away. Seeing his thoroughly frightened subordinates, the leader boy gritted his teeth.
This tiny thing that had appeared out of nowhere one day and went around eliminating thugs. On the outside, she looked like a very calm child.
A little girl with red curly hair tied in two pigtails and emerald eyes. Her build was so small one might worry if she could even walk properly, but her actions were completely at odds with her appearance.
Especially that small clenched fist.
When that fist stretched through the air, tremendous wind pressure followed. Having already seen several building walls crumble, the leader boy couldn't even find an opportunity to approach.
"Three. Two..."
The child's cute voice echoed through the alley.
"One..."
Just as she was about to count the last number, the leader boy urgently shouted.
"Hey, wait. We're leaving! Guys, let's go."
The three boys vanished from the alley in an instant. Even as they fled, they glared at Vincent, but immediately lowered their eyes and ran even faster when they met Adel's gaze.
Now only Adel and Vincent remained in the dark alleyway.
Vincent looked at Adel with sparkling eyes, as if gazing at a hero who had defeated villains. Admiration, curiosity, and amazement that such a young girl could be this strong.
Adel ignored his gaze and asked.
"Why are you here alone?"
"I came to find you."
"...Me?"
Did Vincent have any reason to find her? If he came for revenge, she was willing to take him on.
But judging from his expression, it didn't seem like he had sought her out with malicious intent.
"Why?"
At Adel's question, Vincent couldn't answer right away. It seemed he didn't really know the reason himself.
'Is it because he hasn't met the heroine yet... His personality is quite different from the one I knew.'
The Vincent she had experienced showed almost no change in expression. A taciturn man of few words. And he always had shadows on his face, exuding a melancholic aura.
Except when he was with Queen Laila.
Even then, she had only watched from a distance while escorting the queen when she secretly visited Vincent to persuade him.
'Ah, I did see him properly before he died.'
When Queen Laila ordered her to kill him with a sword, Vincent's expression had crumbled pitifully.
At that time, even in that situation, she had thought Vincent's crying face was truly beautiful.
So this is how much a person can cry. His reddened eyes and quivering lips evoked a protective instinct. Seeing him as if carrying all the world's despair, Adel had felt a momentary pang of sympathy.
Even though Adel had been shaken, the queen was heartless.
Well, could she really call her heartless?
'Vincent committed crimes, after all.'
If she were to speak of his misdeeds, three months and ten sleepless nights wouldn't be enough.
To mention only the major crimes: he had assaulted the prince at the academy and was suspended, then massacred his own family. After that, he fled to an enemy nation and led the invasion of the kingdom.
He even seized the enemy nation's throne and brought mages along for a sudden assault.
Too many people had been sacrificed because of him.
Adel knew nothing about the emotional rift between King Rohaid, Queen Laila, and Vincent.
It was common knowledge that the three had attended the same academy at the same time, but there were also so many unfounded rumors that nothing could be trusted.
Adel was curious. How did this child end up like that?
'If I'd known, I would have examined those marbles more closely.'
"Why are you so strong?"
The Vincent before her now was no different from any other child. This child had no idea what future awaited him.
"That's just how it is."
Adel answered indifferently and leaned against the wall. She was quite exhausted from the situation that had persisted for days.
'Now what should I do.'
When she had first entered the glass marble, she thought she'd be able to leave soon. She realized something was wrong after the sun set.
Even as time passed, she didn't return to her original place, and even after thoroughly searching the city, she couldn't find the glass marble.
And the future had truly changed.
Vincent's personal maid, who should have lost vision in one eye, was spared that unfortunate accident because Adel had intervened.
"Can I become strong too? There are bad people I need to scold."
Vincent kept clinging to her, unfazed by Adel's indifferent response.
At the child's sparkling eyes, Adel's head throbbed.
So this wasn't a dream or hallucination. Those eyes would later turn into eyes like spoiled fish after he became a teenager, passing through a rough period filled with nothing but anger...
'And he'll become a traitor. And die by my hand again.'
Having to experience such things again wasn't pleasant.
She didn't want to see the child's dreadful end either.
Adel gazed quietly at Vincent, who stood nervously beside her.
Vincent beamed brightly at the sight of Adel finally paying attention to him. A pure smile that didn't seem like that of a villain.
'Can I keep protecting that smile...'
"What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, this and that."
At Adel's insensitive response, Vincent grew excited. She looked younger than him but gave such mature answers. He thought it was quite impressive.
Unlike Vincent, who expressed his excitement by blowing hot breath through his nose, Adel withdrew her gaze and calmly organized her thoughts.
Since the incident involving the maid—the beginning of his evil deeds—had been thwarted, the probability of him going down the wrong path had significantly decreased.
"Hmm, shall I raise him?"
"Huh?"
To Vincent, who was hanging on every word she said, Adel shook her head. When he entered the academy and met Laila, jealousy might lead him to do bad things again.
Child-rearing was just too difficult. For Adel, who had never raised a child in her previous life either, it was too high a difficulty.
Could she change the future where Vincent fell for Laila Camel, the count's daughter, at first sight and beat up her fiancé? She needed to find out.
"You."
"Yes? Just say the word!"
"If someone you like likes someone else, what would you do?"
Vincent tilted his head. He seemed to be pondering the intent of the question.
"Hmm... I'd take them away, right?"
Just as expected. This kid was rotten to the core.
At the dreadful answer, Adel shook her head. Vincent, who had been watching Adel's reaction with keen interest, made a tearful face.
"Why?"
"Because that's not how it should be."
"...Huh?"
"You should wish for the happiness of the person you like."
Vincent seemed completely unable to understand. Adel felt like giving up on everything. Whether war broke out in this country, or Vincent died—it didn't matter. She seriously considered just going her own way.
Just as Adel was thinking that, Vincent asked again, just as before.
"Why?"
What reason was there for wishing for the happiness of someone you love? It was so obvious. The fact that she had to explain it was disheartening.
Unable to find the right words, Adel answered vaguely.
"...Because that's what's cool."
At that, Vincent's clear gray eyes sparkled again.
"Then I'll do that!"
"What?"
"You said it's cool. I'll do that."
His sparkling eyes were a little cute. The young Vincent was completely different from the one she knew. Adel chuckled at the pounding feeling in her heart. She wondered if this was what other knights called the protective instinct.
Perhaps he wasn't such a bad kid after all. And judging from her experience in the war, Vincent also had remarkable talent in swordsmanship.
A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Adel recalled the words often recited in the knight order.
If this little brat got a good teacher, he wouldn't grow into such a gloomy swordsman.
Of course, the "good teacher" here meant Adel herself.
Her goal: a gentle swordsman who, even after growing up, still retained a bright smile.
"Alright. It's decided."
"What?"
Still leaning against the wall, Adel turned to look at Vincent again. His soft cheeks came into her view. She lightly pinched his cheek and smiled.
"I'll take you on as my subordinate."
If he grew up to be a well-behaved, morally upright swordsman, even meeting the heroine wouldn't make him lose control of his emotions. What's love anyway.
Now that she had made her decision, it was time for some mental reconditioning.
