The Extra Guardian Missed the Right Time to Leave

“What is it?”

 

Joshua looked at her innocently, as if he’d listen to anything in this mood.

 

“I’m wondering if things should be a little different between the three of us from now on.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

“I think we need a cover story because until I drop you both off at your destination, I’m going to be your protector and your mom.”

 

Joshua rolled his eyes.

 

“I don’t like moms.”

 

‘Yeah, I knew you’d make that comment. Eugenia smiled weakly and pulled out the next relationship option she had prepared.’

 

“Well, how about…… tutor?”

 

“A tutor? That’s not so great?”

 

‘What the hell is good?’

 

That was it. Selmia, who she thought had been sleeping the whole time, suddenly opened her eyes and interrupted their conversation, exclaiming in a cheery voice

 

“I like you! I want to be you!”

 

“Sherry, when did you wake up?”

 

Joshua looked back at his sister in surprise, but Selmia didn’t spare him a glance, her eyes shining brightly at Eugenia.

 

“Sis……?”

 

Eugenia mulled over the word for a moment, then clapped her hands in agreement.

 

“I think that’s a great idea, too, but I think it would be better if we were siblings with a huge age gap.”

 

“Well, that’s not so bad.”

 

Joshua agreed, and Eugenia’s lips twitched up in a sly smile.

 

“Since you agree, Master, I’m going to drop formalities from this moment on.”

 

“……what?”

 

Joshua repeated, dumbfounded.

 

“You don’t like it.”

 

Eugenia smirked as if she’d already seen right through the little brat.

 

“We’re supposed to be siblings, and there’s no big sister in the world who talks high to her little brother, is there, Joshua?”

 

“What? Ha!”

 

The boy let out a series of short, exhilarated gasps, but Eugenia didn’t flinch.

 

“Ah, that’s refreshing.”

 

Eugenia’s tongue felt like it was going to curl at the end of its rope for using such an unnecessary term of honor with a child, but now it seemed to be working.

 

“Here, Joshua.”

 

“Ha……?”

 

“Go ahead and call me sister.”

 

“Why would I……will never call you that!”

 

Joshua turned.

 

Meanwhile, Selmia raised her voice again.

 

“I will, sis!”

 

At that moment, Joshua’s eyes flashed and he shouted at her sister.

 

“Sherry! You don’t even have a val, how could you get to…… so fast!”

 

Selmia shook her head.

 

“Shush, what’s a val?”

 

“A val is…….”

 

“Shushu, you make it so hard to say.”

 

Selmia pouted her lips. When Joshua was twitching his lips like a fish in embarrassment, Eugenia spoke up as if to drive a wedge.

 

“If you don’t call me sister right now…….”

 

She lowered her voice and repeated in an intimidating tone.

 

“I’m going to call you Shushu, too. What do you say?”

 

“…….”

 

“What? If you don’t answer, then I can call you Shushu? Shu…….”

 

It was then.

 

“……Sister.”

 

Joshua’s voice was forced as he spoke Eugenia’s requested name.

 

The corners of her mouth twitched upward as if she was satisfied.

 

He’s kind of cute, even if he’s a jerk.

 

“Call me that often from now on. It won’t be so awkward in front of others.”

 

” you’re like the devil’s grandmother.”

 

“No hit. Hee hee.”

 

Snorting, Eugenia turned to the twins.

 

“We’re getting the hell out of here, so both of you grab the one thing that matters most to you.”

 

But when Eugenia finished, the twins didn’t bother to look for anything.

 

They just held each other’s hands tightly.

 

The sight made Eugenia sad and a tear ran down her cheek, but she held it back.

 

“Do you have ……, so we can leave right away?”

 

The children nodded heavily.

 

Eugenia picked up Selmia’s body in her arms once more, Joshua close by her side.

 

“You’d better keep up, Joshua.”

 

“Who do you think you are?”

 

She didn’t say a word.

 

Eugenia smirked, and Joshua began to tease her, too.

 

***

 

Four days later, Eugenia took Joshua and Selmia to a village near the border crossing from the Duchy of Hariath to the Empire of Eisa.

 

In the meantime, the twins’ appearance had changed considerably.

 

“Eugenia, are you sure you’re not losing your color?”

 

Joshua asked, running his fingers through her bangs.

 

She’d dyed it on purpose.

 

She thought about changing her name. The name itself was fairly common, so she figured it would be fine without the last name.

 

“People call them by their nicknames more than their real names.”

 

In the original story, the twins were attacked by an assassin who instantly recognized their appearance, and it’s unclear why or who ordered the attack.

 

It wasn’t just the twins’ appearance that made Eugenia wary.

 

To get to Eileen’s hometown, she bought a second-class ticket on a train.

 

The destination was different, but Eugenia wanted to avoid using the same mode of transportation, so she paid for a seat in a cheap carriage and traveled uncomfortably.

 

‘I didn’t have any money…….’

 

She had to switch to a different carriage every day to avoid suspicion, which was very hard on her body.

 

Still, Eugenia’s efforts paid off, and she didn’t encounter any assassins on the way to the border town.

 

“I suppose we can consider that a relief.”

 

Selmia whined for a moment like a child, but Joshua, who knew what they were up against, kept his mouth shut and didn’t complain.

 

Except when it came time to dye her hair.

 

“What if I have to stay black forever? I don’t like this color.”

 

“Ha, Joshua, I’ve told you many times, it will grow out. And if it doesn’t, don’t worry. You’ll grow new hair.”

 

Joshua rolled his eyes, as if he didn’t like Eugenia’s half-truth.

 

The boy pouted his lips like a duck, but Eugenia pretended not to see it and pulled on her robes.

 

At that moment, Joshua’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Despite the contract, Joshua watched Eugenia’s every move.

 

He seemed to think that if he took his eyes off her for even a moment, she would abandon them and run far away.

 

She felt sorry for the boy, but she tried to ignore her feelings.

 

“I mustn’t get attached.”

 

Her role was only to carry the twins as far as Duke Heraith of the Eisa Empire.

 

So She replied with a deliberate grunt.

 

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to get some money.”

 

“Money?”

 

Joshua rolled his eyes.

 

“Didn’t you sell that jewelry ring I gave you, or did you spend all that big money already?”

 

‘What makes you think that’s a lot of money, kid…….’

 

‘It’s just a glass bead…….’

 

“I can’t say that because you’ll get discouraged.”

 

Swallowing a sigh, Eugenia replied bluntly.

 

“You fool, the more money you have, the better.”

 

Joshua looked surprised, but then he exclaimed in admiration.

 

“Wow, Eugenia, you really are greedy for money.”

 

Wow!

 

How could she belittle a human being like that?

 

She thought, “I’m so mad at him…….”

 

Eugenia nodded, but the longer she talked, the longer he talked.

 

“Okay, let’s call it something like that. Anyway, Joshua, stay out as much as possible.”

 

“I know.”

 

Eugenia nodded and pulled her robe with the hat over her head.

 

As she reached for the doorknob to leave the inn, someone grabbed her around the waist.

 

“Sister!”

 

It was Selmia. The girl dyed her hair the same shade of black as Joshua’s, and she wore her hair in a bun tied with a yellow ribbon that matched the color of my eyes.

 

“Sis, where are you going? Can’t Sherry come with you?”

 

“Selmia.”

 

“Sherry is so uncomfortable here. Shushu keeps telling her to be quiet…….”

 

“Sherry, when did I say that?”

 

“Shushu won’t even let me open the window.”

 

Apparently, She had a lot of frustrations of her own, and Selmia let them out.

 

“No wonder it’s frustrating.”

 

She had to wrap her robe around her the whole way, and I had to be careful.

 

It would have been difficult for a child to endure.

 

Eugenia, understanding and feeling sorry for the girl, lowered herself to Selmia’s height.

 

Squeezing her small shoulders, she began to soothe her in a soothing voice.

 

“Selmia, I know it’s frustrating, but can we hang in there for a little while longer?”

 

“Woo……. But Sherry wants to go out with Shushu…….”

 

“Well, since you’re working so hard today, I’m going to get you, your favorite candy.”

 

“Candy?”

 

Selmia’s eyes lit up.

 

She can’t buy anything expensive. It’s just buying some cheap treat from the market, but she’ll still like it.

 

“Sherry likes the lemon flavor.”

 

“Okay. I’ll get you some lemon flavor.”

 

“Yes! And Sherry will wait nicely for you to come back!”

 

“Good girl, my Selmia.”

 

Eugenia smiled brightly, then stood up and looked at Joshua.

 

She gave him a quick nod as if to signal, then left the room.

 

“I wonder if I can find a job today…….”

 

She let out a long sigh she’d been holding back from the children, her steps as heavy as her heart.

 

* * *

 

Leaving the inn, Eugenia walked in search of an employment agency.

 

Being a town on the border, business was unusually developed, and there were as many knights on the streets as merchants.

 

‘I suppose it could be because it’s on the border, but…….’

 

She pulled the front of her robe tighter, figuring it couldn’t hurt to be cautious.

 

Fortunately, the employment agency was easy to find.

 

“Here we are.”

 

Eugenia glanced up at the sign and stepped inside.

 

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