The Extra Guardian Missed the Right Time to Leave

Eugenia suppressed the urge to clap her hands. She knew that if she did that, she would make Joshua angry. But the respect in his eyes as he looked at Enrique was faintly tinged.

It occurred to her that his skill in handling Joshua was unusual.

‘Shall I ask him to teach me some know-how later?’

She thought it’s a really useful skill. Eugenia, who was seriously thinking, heard Albery say, “Hmm.” She came to her senses when she heard a forced cough.

‘Oh right.’

She positioned the children towards Albury and Enrique, and she fell back slightly.

“Well, it looks like the situation has settled down, so let’s start by saying hello, even though it’s a little late. Because they are the people we will be staying with for a while.”

As soon as Eugenia finished speaking, Selmia came out with a bright smile on her face.

“It’s Selmia! You can call me Cherie!”

Selmia spread her skirt to both sides, bent her knees, and gave a cute bow to Enrique and Albury. Enrique still had an expressionless face, but Albury was different. With a happy smile on his face, she also followed the traditional manners and greeted Selmia.

“You’re a cute girl. Thank you, Miss Selmia. Please feel free to call me Albury.”

“Yes!”

Eugenia smiled at Selmia. As a bonus, she lightly patted her girl’s head as if she had done very well.

“Come on.”

Then she gently pushed Joshua’s back as if it was now his turn.

“And this one…”

Joshua, whose lips were sticking out a little, reluctantly opened his mouth.

“I’m Joshua.”

Without any consideration for the other person, ‘Whether you listen or not, it’s up to you’. It was a ‘I said it’ kind of attitude.

After introducing himself very briefly, the boy turned away from her and rolled his eyes at her.

“Joshua.”

Eugenia brightened her eyes and called out to the boy in a stern tone.

“I’ve been holding back for a while, but I can’t do it anymore.”

Joshua was startled by Eugenia’s cold voice. Eugenia looked back at him as if she couldn’t believe the boy.

“Me… Are you mad at me now?”

Even when she saw Joshua’s slightly shaking eyes, Eugenia did not flinch.

She just looked more stern and called the boy’s name softly.

“Joshua.”

Joshua’s neck moved significantly as if he was swallowing his saliva.

No matter how rude he was, Eugenia would only laugh in vain. This was the first time she had treated him like this, so he seemed quite shocked. But even for a moment. Joshua felt aggrieved.

How Eugenia! How can you not take his side!

In this harsh world, the only person he could trust was his side.

That was Eugenia.

Of course, it was not an obligation for Eugenia, but it was still a difficult area for a young child to understand.

“You!”

Joshua, who was unconsciously trying to call Eugenia like he always did, paused for a moment and quickly rolled her eyes. Realizing that there were many eyes watching, he hastily corrected his words.

“…No, how could my sister be mad at me… You can get angry, right? Is it because of that guy?”

His eyes, filled with betrayal, were shaking more than before.

“You are my sister! But how can I take the side of a man I just met today?!”

But Eugenia did not relax her eyes. She then let out a long sigh, shook her head and opened her mouth.

“Joshua, the reason I’m angry is because of the way you talk. It’s okay because I’m the older sister, but I have to use the honorific language with other adults.”

“…”

Joshua’s lips were tightly pressed. Anyone can see that his expression is clearly dissatisfied.

‘What on earth makes you so upset?’

It was difficult for her to guess his spirit. Eugenia relaxed her countenance, and in her slightly subdued tone offered advice to her child.

“Say hello again.”

But Joshua seemed very proud. Eugenia continued to comfort the boy. Of course, she thought of Joshua’s pride, so she did not forget to whisper in a low voice so that Albury and Enrique could not hear.

“Joshua, I’m on your side. You’re trying to turn every situation to your advantage. And you know very well that using honorifics doesn’t mean you lose.”

“…huh.”

“Then you can do it, right?”

Joshua reluctantly nodded his head. The boy clenched his fists and pursed his lips. The first few times she heard a slightly hoarse sound mixed with air, as if his voice was not coming out well. But soon a small sound came out of his mouth.

“…This is Joshua.”

He pursed his lips and did not meet her eyes until the end. But just because of that, Eugenia’s expression immediately brightened.

Joshua, who was stubbornly keeping his head down, couldn’t tell, but her expression had become softer and more generous.

‘Good. Then, should I be satisfied with this level?’

In fact, she was thinking that her twins would not have to be so close to Enrique or Albury.

‘Rather, it is better to remain moderately cautious.’

But despite that, the reason she made Joshua greet her again with an honorific expression was because she didn’t want to get caught. There was no need to make a bad impression on these people since we were meant to be together for a while. Eugenia sighed lightly and raised her gaze. She smiled at Enrique and Albury, folding her eyes apologetically.

Anyone could see that her expression was asking for understanding, so Enrique and Albury nodded with a small movement that was invisible to both Enrique and Albury.

Eugenia lowered her body and turned Joshua’s body towards me.

“Joshua, I’ll answer you now.”

“…what?”

“You asked. Am I on your side or on their side?”

Just like before, Eugenia spoke almost in a whisper.

“If I had to tell you otherwise, I’m on your side.”

The hand that held the boy’s shoulder gained strength, as if to give him confidence. Eugenia continued speaking in her cautious voice.

“However, there is no need to intentionally increase the number of enemies. You know what I mean?”

Joshua quickly nodded, trying to control her emotions. Seeing that, Eugenia smiled softly.

“Huh. Thank you for understanding. And even if it’s just for a moment, I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“…It’s okay.”

Joshua deliberately avoided eye contact with Eugenia and gave her a sullen expression. She knew very well that it was the boy’s quirk. Some kind of feeling, like she doesn’t want to admit she was wrong.

‘Did the second year of middle school come a little early?’

After lightly swallowing her sigh and brushing her boy’s shoulder, Eugenia raised her body again.

“Well then, now that it’s settled, shall we leave?”

Enrique and Albury nodded their heads in agreement. Eugenia held in both her hands her two bags that had been placed on her bed. She looked at her twins in turn, apologetically.

“You may not be able to hold my hand, but you can follow me, right?”

Selmia nodded her head and clutched the hem of Eugenia’s skirt in her hand.

“Huh! I can keep up!”

Eugenia looked at Selmia with a curious look and then shifted her gaze.

“All preparations are complete. Let’s go.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Eugenia raised her hand holding her luggage. Then Albury held out her hand toward Eugenia.

“Please bring your luggage here. I will listen.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. I can’t go through all that trouble…”

At that time, Joshua suddenly spoke next to her.

“Give it to me. It’s not that heavy.”

And then, “Heng!” He snorted. With his arms crossed, his somewhat cocky stance and his defiant gaze, she glanced at Enrique and muttered as if to make him listen.

“If that guy is so weak that he can’t even listen to this, then well, if that’s the case, then I understand. I apologize, mister.”

Enrique chuckled, very quietly.

Joshua’s provocation was clearly visible. She knew she could just ignore it and not deal with it, but…

‘It’s been a while, so let’s hang out together.’

Just carrying the luggage wasn’t that difficult. If that helps ease the young boy’s guard a little and ease his troubled heart, it would only be for a moment.

Enrique approached Eugenia.

As the distance between her and her became shorter, the gaze of Joshua, who was standing next to her, became more pointed. Enrique lightly took Eugenia’s luggage from her hands.

“As a man, you have respect.”

Her hands were immediately empty. Eugenia looked at Enrique with startled eyes and stretched out her hand in front of her again to retrieve her luggage.

“Oh, Enrique! Even if you don’t…!”

But her words were not finished. This was because Joshua quickly grabbed her hand that was stretched out in front of her. It was an action that seemed to Eugenia as if he was going to fill the empty space she felt.

“Joshua?”

“Now that your hands are empty…”

When Eugenia called out in surprise, the boy trembled.

“Can you hold my hand?”

Eugenia’s gaze narrowed.

 

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