Chapter 06
“She’s tiny, but she eats like crazy.”
Diana, who had never once been scolded for eating before, felt deeply hurt.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with tears.
The one who panicked was Ria.
‘Jack! That’s the lady you’re going to swear loyalty to in the future! Be a little kinder!’
Ignoring Ria’s desperate thoughts, Jack tossed aside the branch he’d been holding, walked over to where he had left his clothes, and brought back half a piece of bread.
He handed it to Ria.
“Huh? Why this…?”
I wasn’t noisy today.
Ria muttered quietly, but for some reason Jack looked even more irritated.
“Just eat it.”
“But Jack, you were saving that too. You gave me some yesterday, and if you give it to me again today—”
“If you don’t want to keep taking from me, then protect your own share!”
He suddenly raised his voice.
Ria flinched.
“And you’re the one who keeps sharing yours with me…”
She muttered softly, staring down at the bread without eating it.
Diana watched closely.
“Don’t even think about taking it,” Jack snapped at her.
“I wasn’t!”
“Liar.”
Diana puffed up her cheeks.
Jack glared right back.
Seeing Jack bicker with a child much younger than him made Ria burst into laughter.
In her memories, Jack had always been quiet and stiff. But now, seeing him like this, he looked like a real kid.
“Why are you laughing?”
Jack frowned.
Ria answered without thinking.
“I just realized you’re actually handsome.”
It was a habit from her guild days, casually complimenting people.
But it wasn’t a lie.
Even at this age, Jack had sharp features and looked like a young noble.
‘No wonder he’ll have so many admirers later.’
He wouldn’t become popular just because he became a Swordmaster or one of the Empire’s top three knights.
As Ria nodded to herself, Jack suddenly turned his head sharply.
His ears looked slightly red.
‘Is it because of training?’
Diana, sensing something strange, suddenly shouted.
“No!”
“Huh?”
“You’re not handsome! My brother is better!”
She put her hands on her hips confidently.
Ria laughed again.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
“You have a brother?”
“Mm! I have two!”
“Two people, you mean.”
“I’m not stupid! Unni, my brother is more handsome!”
Diana shook Ria’s sleeve.
For a moment, Ria remembered Lucio—the eldest son of the House of Elard.
‘Well… he really is handsome.’
With sharp features like the Duke’s and cold, statue-like beauty, he truly looked perfect.
But Ria didn’t think he was as cold as people said.
‘What am I even thinking? I barely know him.’
She quickly shook her head.
Diana misunderstood and looked upset.
“It’s true… my brother is handsome…”
“Of course he is. If he looks like you, he must be very handsome.”
“Right!”
Diana smiled brightly.
Jack seemed ready to argue again, so Ria quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, Jack! Do you always train here alone?”
“Training? I’m just bored.”
“Still, you were working really hard. It looked cool.”
Without thinking, she complimented him again.
Jack’s neck turned red.
Diana pouted.
‘Why is the atmosphere like this?’
This wasn’t how their relationship was supposed to be.
“Jack, you want to become a knight, right?”
“What? A knight?”
Jack frowned.
“Do you think commoners like us can become knights so easily? I’m going to be a mercenary. No honor, but good money.”
“Oh…”
Ria blinked.
The future knight of the Empire once dreamed of becoming a mercenary.
“I think you’ll become a knight.”
“What do you know? Do you even understand how hard that is?”
He almost snapped at her.
But Ria’s eyes were sincere.
Bright and honest.
For some reason, he didn’t want to disappoint her.
“…If I could, I’d like to.”
“You can. Just keep working hard.”
You’re kind and diligent. You’ll be rewarded someday.
Ria swallowed the rest of her words and smiled.
***
After Jack finished training, they headed back.
Ria noticed Jack occasionally glancing back to check if they were following.
‘He pretends not to care, but he’s worried.’
After all, in her past life, he had stepped forward to protect Diana when no one else did.
“Ugh…”
Ria groaned softly.
She had walked faster than before to keep up with Jack.
Her calves hurt terribly.
“Unni, I’m tired. Carry me.”
Diana tugged her sleeve.
“Okay, come here.”
Ria crouched—
“Are you trying to kill her? Why are you carrying her?”
Jack suddenly grabbed Ria’s arm and crouched in front of Diana.
“Get on.”
“I want Unni…”
Jack sighed deeply.
Then he turned toward Ria.
Ria had been about to ask him to at least carry the laundry and bucket—
But instead, he bent down in front of her.
“…What are you doing?”
“Get on.”
“Huh?”
“You carry her. I’ll carry you.”
“…What?”
Was he serious?
Jack’s black eyes showed no sign of joking.
“Hurry.”
Diana kept tugging at Ria’s sleeve.
Both of them were equally stubborn.
Ria finally nodded.
It was embarrassing, but Jack would be the one suffering.
She lifted Diana onto her back.
“Now you.”
Ria hesitated, then carefully climbed onto Jack’s back.
Her view suddenly rose.
“Wow, it’s high!”
Diana giggled behind her.
***
The embarrassment was worth it.
They made it back to the orphanage easily.
“Thank you, Jack.”
Ria fidgeted with her fingers.
Jack turned his head away silently.
‘He’s so awkward.’
But between the bread and this, Jack was clearly kind.
‘Fine, I’ll be the mature one.’
Even if she was two years younger now, she had lived to eighteen once.
Ria smiled brightly.
Jack’s pupils widened slightly.
‘Is my smile that weird?’
Just then—
“You brats! Where have you been?”
The director stood at the entrance, coat in hand.
“Scary man! I don’t like him!”
Diana hid behind Ria.
“We went to wash clothes.”
Ria showed the dress.
The director glared at her, then suddenly asked Jack,
“How old are you?”
“…Ten.”
“Hmm. Good. Very good.”
He nodded, satisfied, and left.
Probably going to drink again.
Ria frowned.
Where did he get the money?
“Go inside,” Jack said.
Ria nodded and led Diana back.
Soon, everyone was asleep.
Ria waited until the room was completely quiet before getting up silently.
In the past, the Duke had found Diana and Jack locked in the attic and killed the director.
This time—
‘I’ll protect Diana. And I’ll make sure the director meets the same end.’
And save the other children too.
‘I have to report him first. I need the Duke’s mercy.’
