Episode 10
How to Turn Future Villains into Allies
“…Is that what you said, Eriden von Cheriaden?”
Yes, that was the name.
In the original story, it was the words left behind by Baridas after he defeated a knight who flaunted his status and extorted the villagers. And what did he say… that you lack the qualifications of a knight? Ugh, how cringey.
While I let my mind wander, Baridas’ gaze briefly fell on me.
“I agree with the princess. A knight who uses force purely for personal gain has no place in my order.”
Baridas pointed toward the Children as he continued.
“After all, even that boy is still a subject.”
At Baridas’ words, Ryu bowed his head deeply. His face was pale, drained of all color.
The sight of him made me chuckle. The man who had dared to challenge me just moments ago now looked utterly pitiful at a few words.
“I am sorry, Duke… this is entirely my fault.”
A textbook case of a “strong-weak-weak-strong” pattern. Thank goodness all Toma taught him was swordsmanship.
Baridas looked down at Ryu in silence. As Ryu tried to lift his head, Ren and Toma shouted simultaneously.
“Why aren’t you apologizing to the princess?”
Ryu bit his lips nervously and muttered almost inaudibly:
“I… apologize… Your Highness.”
As he apologized to me, the children smiled, and I returned their smiles before looking back at Ryu. I gave him a soft, gentle smile, and his expression brightened slightly, as if he thought I wasn’t truly angry.
“I will accept your apology. But not knowing that even a seven-year-old understands an apology is… embarrassing as an adult. I suggest you learn it.”
I remembered what he had said to me earlier… right. I smiled even brighter.
“Not knowing such basic things makes one no different from a monkey.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a soft hissing sound came from behind—it was the Children laughing.
Ryu’s pent-up anger, with nowhere else to go, turned toward them. Seeing Ryu glaring as if ready to kill them, the Children giggled mischievously.
“Ah, kch… I’m sorry.”
He didn’t even try to hide his laughter, and Ryu’s face blazed redder. Could a person’s face really turn that red? His cheeks looked as if they might explode any second.
“I’ve never seen anyone’s face as red as my brother’s hair.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter at that remark. Hearing Ren’s comment, Toma shouted:
“Why are you comparing my hair to that?!”
In an instant, Ryu became “that,” and finally, unable to contain his anger, charged at Ren.
It all happened in a flash.
Ryu, despite his size, moved with unexpected speed. Baridas and I were on the opposite side from Ren.
“How dare a little girl… how dare she!”
Even Baridas, fast as he was, couldn’t intervene in time. I ran toward Ren just as Ryu’s fist was about to strike.
Before his punch could land, a loud thud sounded, and Ryu collapsed before Ren’s eyes. Ren stood unharmed.
I exhaled in relief alongside Baridas. Ryu remained on the ground as if unconscious. I slowly approached Ren to check on her. When our eyes met, tears welled up in hers.
Toma tried to approach to comfort her, but Ren ignored him and ran into my arms, crying. I held her and gently patted her back.
It must have been terrifying for her. From her perspective, a man about three times her height was charging at her with a raised fist.
Ren had already cried twice today alone. The thought of that upset me, and I tightened my hold on her.
Then I noticed Toma. His fists were clenched, and his face radiated frustration. I tilted my head in puzzlement, and Baridas moved closer.
“Thank you for saving my sister.”
“It’s nothing special. You are more remarkable, sir. In that brief moment, you pulled the princess back, preventing Ryu from crushing her.”
The Children spoke casually to Ryu, the knight of higher status, and then kicked his back hard. He had clearly built up a lot of tension. After a few more kicks, satisfied, he stopped. The impact startled Ryu awake; he opened his eyes only to immediately close them again.
It was due to the two pairs of red eyes staring down at him. Sweat dotted his forehead as Baridas, watching Ryu with a disdainful gaze, removed his glove and placed a hand on Toma’s head.
“Well done, Toma.”
Baridas patted Toma’s head, and Toma’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Yes!”
But once Baridas’ hand and gaze left him, Toma’s expression hardened again. Ren, now free from my arms, approached Toma.
“Thank you for saving me, brother.”
Toma’s expression softened at Ren’s words, but then stiffened again. I understood—it was anger. Anger at his own helplessness for not saving her sooner.
“It wasn’t me who saved you, it was the knight.”
Toma avoided Ren’s gaze as he spoke, and Ren pouted.
“No, brother and the knight both saved me, right?”
Seeking confirmation, she looked at the Children, who nodded.
“Once again, if it weren’t for you, princess, you would have been crushed under that pig.”
“Did you hear that? Brother, and the knight. Thank you for saving me.”
Ren’s words prompted a bow from the Children, and Toma smiled faintly. Meanwhile, Ryu’s face burned red again—probably from being called a pig by the Children.
Baridas drove a sword into his neck. Ryu turned blue in shock.
“If you don’t stand immediately, I’ll cut you down.”
At those words, Ryu jumped to his feet. Baridas looked down at him and asked:
“Do you wish to request a punishment?”
I began to consider. Punishment, huh… Then I remembered the Children calling him a pig and an idea formed.
“Anyone who doesn’t learn that one shouldn’t wield violence at will is no different from livestock. Strip them bare and lock them in a pigsty for three days to live on all fours.”
I covered Ren’s ears as I said this. The knights watching behind us gawked, and Baridas chuckled softly.
“And after three days?”
Kill him? No, that’s extreme. He’d probably have learned his lesson by then. I was about to say we’d just let him go.
Ren looked at me in confusion, wondering why I had covered her ears. That adorable expression made me change my mind. I couldn’t let such a lovely child be hurt.
“Make it thirty days instead. After that, he can be freed.”
“Very well. That will do.”
Baridas smiled, seemingly satisfied, and lifted Ren into his arms. I tilted my head, puzzled by the sudden action. Didn’t he usually have little interest in children?
Ren’s view had suddenly risen, and she blinked in surprise. Thinking it was me, she relaxed into Baridas’ chest, her hands resting on the unusual hardness of his torso.
“Is it uncomfortable?”
Baridas asked, noticing her behavior, and Ren, realizing it was him holding her, widened her eyes further. She shook her head vigorously, denying discomfort, and Baridas smiled.
“That’s good. Now, could you move your hands?”
Ren’s face flushed red, and Baridas gently removed her hands, wrapping them around his neck.
“…I’m sorry.”
Her tiny voice, blushing, prompted Baridas to pat her back.
“There’s no need to apologize. If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”
Baridas’ words surprised Ren.
“Whatever happens in the knight order is my responsibility. Not knowing such an incident occurred, or that it endangered you twice today, is my fault. I apologize.”
Ren sighed, shaking her head.
“Why are all the men in our family so stubborn?”
Toma choked slightly at that, and the Children tried to suppress their laughter. Baridas, on the other hand, looked bewildered.
“It’s not your brother’s fault. That pig acted of his own will. He is an adult and must bear responsibility for his actions. There’s no reason for your brother to take the blame or apologize for him.”
The shy demeanor Ren had shown earlier vanished. Her words now were far beyond what an eight-year-old should speak. Baridas’ pupils trembled briefly at her declaration.
Ren continued, as if observing his reaction:
“Just like my brother didn’t have to care for us in place of our parents, he doesn’t need to take responsibility for others’ faults.”
With that, she gently left Baridas’ arms, landing gracefully despite her height, and looked up at him with a smile.
“It’s not your fault. So, you don’t need to apologize.”
Baridas chuckled softly, stroking her head.
“You’re a good child. You’re right. I don’t have to care for you—but that doesn’t give me a reason to ignore you. I may not be able to love you as family, but I still consider you as family, and I am responsible for protecting you until you come of age.”
Ren’s eyes widened at his words.
“I see… thank you, brother.”
The Children’s misunderstandings had partially cleared, and I felt a warmth in my chest.
