Episode 09
How to Turn Future Villains to Your Side
“Ren!”
I was startled by Ren, bloodied and trembling, and both Toma and the knights rushed to her side. Tears welled up in Ren’s eyes.
“Your Highness…”
Even as she spoke my name, Ren didn’t rise from her spot. Beneath her, a boy lay unconscious, blood flowing from a wound on his head. Ren had been pressing her dress against his wound to stop the bleeding.
I felt a wave of relief knowing Ren wasn’t hurt and leaned over the fallen boy. He was small but breathing—still alive.
“He’s alive.”
One of the knights, checking the boy’s pulse, spoke, while another ran to fetch a first-aid kit.
Hearing that the boy lived, Ren relaxed slightly and buried herself in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I held her close.
“It’s okay.”
But what a scene this was.
I watched the boy being lifted onto a stretcher and taken away. Ren, having calmed down a little, released herself from my embrace. Toma reached out and gently stroked her hair.
“You’ve done well. Sorry for being late.”
Ren nodded at his words and then asked:
“Is the boy okay?”
I nodded.
Being trapped alone in a dark warehouse with a bleeding boy would be terrifying for anyone, yet Ren had risked herself to stop his bleeding. I couldn’t help but admire her courage.
As my gaze shifted to the boy, I noticed the color of his hair—a bright, shining orange, gleaming in the sunlight.
I approached Ryu cautiously.
“What’s this boy’s name?”
Ryu tilted his head in curiosity.
“He’s called Children. He’s a commoner, so no family name.”
As I suspected, the boy lying there was none other than Children—the sub-male lead from the original story. His bloodied form tugged at my heart.
Ryu, noticing my stare, finally spoke.
“It seems his injuries were caused by the other knights.”
“I see.”
Children was talented despite being a commoner. News that I was selecting a guardian had made the other knights wary of him, likely the reason he had been attacked. With such injuries, he would be unable to volunteer as my guardian.
I had always intended to choose Children as my guardian, and the culprit must be punished. Perhaps I’d postpone the official selection for now.
At that moment, Children’s eyes opened. He shot up and shouted:
“Ceryl. That bastard!”
At his outburst, Toma covered Ren’s ears, and Ryu sighed, as if anticipating his reaction. One of the knights muttered under his breath:
“A monster…”
Our eyes met. Children sprang forward, and I realized just how tall he was.
Seventeen years old, yet towering—a little intimidating. He ran straight toward me. Ryu attempted to restrain him, but I grabbed his arm, allowing him to approach without obstruction.
“I’m Children. Are you the princess?”
“Yes.”
His eyes widened at my confirmation.
“Please let me be your guardian.”
I tilted my head in surprise. Typically, only knights recognized for their skill could become guardians. Why would Children volunteer?
“Why do you wish to be my guardian?”
He pointed to his bandaged forehead and spoke:
“Honestly, I’m not particularly interested in being a guardian. But this was the position the ones who hurt me wanted.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. His personality matched what I had read in the original story—precisely.
“Not a bad reason. But perhaps a word of thanks comes first?”
I shifted my gaze to Ren, watching the scene silently. Children’s eyes followed mine. Seeing Ren bloodied, his eyes widened.
“Ren was the one who stopped your bleeding.”
At my words, Children approached Ren, bowing respectfully:
“Thank you, Lady Princess.”
I chuckled softly. Yes… this was Children.
He was popular among readers because of his dual nature: kind and loyal to those who treated him well, yet ruthless and irritable to those who opposed him. Unlike the original male lead, who had been harsh to Fiora and Leria alike, Children was gentle with the heroine but sharp with others—a combination that thrilled readers.
Ren nodded in acknowledgment of his gratitude, and Children smiled in return.
“Do you remember who made you like this?”
Children nodded at my question. At that moment, Ryu spoke up:
“This happened within our knight order. I will take full responsibility to resolve it.”
Children chuckled, as if expecting this. I realized immediately—the ones who harmed him were nobles. That explained why he had volunteered to become my guardian. By joining me, he would prevent them from taking the position they had wanted.
I considered the situation. The knights had been insolent, yet Children was too skilled to simply punish casually.
I noticed Ren’s reddened eyes. That sealed my decision.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle this myself.”
Ryu stiffened, hesitating, then opened his mouth:
“But the order has its principles—”
“Yes, in principle. But…”
I cut him off, locking eyes with him. Ryu’s expression softened slightly, though he remained tense.
I smiled inwardly. Principles might allow nobles to oppress commoners without consequence… but they had made Ren cry. That was unforgivable.
“This time, an innocent princess was hurt as well. I cannot simply stand by. I will personally handle the punishment of these knights.”
Ryu’s face froze completely. Ignoring him, I turned to Children with a gentle smile.
“Tell me, who were the ones that did this to you?”
Children’s eyes widened in disbelief. He looked toward Ryu for a moment, then back at me. Finally, as if making a decision, he grinned and spoke:
“Ceryl Ilaym, Iley Seven, Ilarium Brede.”
As expected, the culprits were nobles.
Ryu’s expression stiffened at the names, while Children’s mischievous smile seemed almost playful.
“Verify their claims, and if true, expel them from the order and send them home. The Child family does not need knights who mistreat commoners.”
“That’s excessive punishment, Princess!”
“If they have committed a crime, they must be punished.”
Even kindergarteners understand that wrongdoing deserves consequence. Ryu, apparently, hadn’t yet learned this lesson.
“By what authority do you issue punishment? You are merely a foreigner who hasn’t even married the duke yet.”
He glared at me, towering over twenty centimeters taller—a little intimidating. I couldn’t help but think he needed to go back to kindergarten.
Toma stepped forward.
“She is neither a foreigner nor merely a stranger—she is the princess, and the one who will marry our lord.”
Ren also stepped forward.
“She is closer to the Child family than you are.”
Ryu’s expression soured further. Both children trembled slightly, and I reached out to hold their hands.
I recalled part of the original story. There had been a knight who contributed greatly to the founding of the Crescent Empire. His oath included lines I remembered:
“We are knights of Crescent, and my sword exists for the country.”
I murmured quietly. Those who recognized the words, along with Toma, widened their eyes.
“And the most important of all is not the emperor or the nobles, but the people…”
A familiar voice echoed behind me:
“My sword exists for them.”
It was Baridas. His presence radiated authority. Everyone fell silent as he approached, commanding attention.
