The Villainess’ Kindergarten

“…That’s what Eridan von Cheriaden said.”

 

Yes, that was the name. In the original, these were the words left by Baridas after defeating a knight who extorted money and valuables from the people by showing off his status. And what did they say, you don’t have the qualifications to be a knight?

 

‘Wow, that’s cringy.’

 

While I was thinking about something else, Baridas’ eyes turned to me for a split second.

 

“I agree with what the princess said. I don’t need a knight in my order who uses force solely for his own gain.”

 

Baridas continued, pointing to the Children.

 

“If you think about it, that boy is also a citizen.”

 

Ryu lowered his head at Baridas’ words. His face was bloodless and white. It looked so pathetic that I chuckled. I can’t believe that a person who didn’t even flinch at what I said changed his attitude so much after just a few words from him.

 

“I’m sorry, Duke, it’s all my fault.”

 

It’s a perfect example of strength and weakness. It’s a good thing that all Thomas learned from him was swordsmanship. Baridas looked down at Ryu without saying a word, and the moment Ryu, who had been observing his gaze, was about to raise his head, Ren and Thomas shouted at the same time.

 

“Why don’t you apologize to the princess?”

 

Hearing the words of the two children, Ryu chewed his lips and spoke to me in a sound similar to that of an ant crawling.

 

“I’m being rude… sorry… Princess.”

 

When he apologized to me, the kids looked at me and grinned. Seeing that, I smiled as if responding to the children’s laughter and then looked back at Ryu. When I smiled softly, Ryu’s expression brightened for a moment, as if he thought I wasn’t that angry.

 

‘You can laugh and get angry.’

 

“I will accept that apology. However, what you don’t know is that even a seven-year-old child knows about basics. It’s something to be ashamed of as an adult, so I recommend learning about it.”

 

What did he say to me… okay. When I remembered Ryu’s words, I smiled brighter than before.

 

“If you don’t know such basic things, you’re just like a monkey.”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a sound of air deflating from behind. The Children burst into laughter. Ryu’s anger, which had no place to go due to the Children’s laughter, turned towards him, and upon seeing Ryu glaring at him as if he was going to kill him, the Children opened their mouths with a chuckle.

 

“Ah, kick. sorry.”

 

Ryu’s face turned even redder at the sight of him not even trying to hide his smile. How could a person blush that much? His face looked like it was going to burst at any moment.

 

“This is my first time seeing someone with a face as red as your hair.”

 

At those words, I couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. And Toma shouted after hearing Ren’s words.

 

“Why compare my hair color to that!”

 

Ryu, who suddenly became ‘something like that’, was unable to overcome his anger and rushed at Ren. It happened in an instant. Ryu was running towards Ren at a speed that was unbecoming of his size, and Baridas and I were in the complete opposite direction from Ren.

 

“How dare the young girl…! How dare!!!”

 

No matter how fast Baridas was, the distance between Ryu and Ren was too close. Even though I thought it was late, my legs were already running toward Ren. The moment his fist was about to touch Ren, there was a loud sound and Ryu fell down right in front of Ren. Where he fell, Ren was standing unharmed. After confirming that Ren was safe, Baridas and I simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Ryu didn’t get up from her seat, as if she had fainted, and I slowly approached her to gauge Ren’s condition. As my eyes met hers, tears filled Ren’s eyes. Thomas approached her as if to comfort her, but Ren ran towards me without seeing him. She burst into tears as she fell into my arms and I patted her back while holding her Wren in her arms. It must have been scary. From Ren’s point of view, a large man about three times his height was running towards him with his fist raised. Just today, Ren has already cried twice. That fact alone made her upset, so I gave strength to her arms holding her. At that time, Thomas caught my eye. He clenched his fists with an angry expression. Why was Thomas like that? I tilted my head. At that time, Baridas took a step forward.

 

“Thank you for saving my sister.”

 

“It’s nothing special, but little master is more amazing than me. In that brief moment, he pulled the princess back and prevented her from almost being run over by Ryu.”

 

The Children spoke informally to Ryu, a knight of higher rank than themselves, and strongly stepped on his back. He also seemed to have accumulated quite a lot. After stepping on it two or three more times, I took my foot off his back as if I was satisfied. And Ryu, who woke up from the shock, opened his eyes and immediately closed them. It was because of two pairs of red eyes looking down at him. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, and Baridas, who was looking at the sight with pitiful eyes, took off his gloves and placed his hands on Thomas’ head.

 

“Good job, Thomas.”

 

He stroked Thomas’ head, and a bright smile appeared on Tomas’ face.

 

“Yes!”

 

But as soon as his hands and gaze fell away from him, Thomas’ expression hardened again. At that time, Ren got out of my arms and approached Thomas.

 

“Thank you for saving me, brother.”

 

Thomas’ expression softened at Ren’s words. Even then, it hardened again. I could tell. That was anger. Anger at his helplessness in not being able to save Ren.

 

“It was that knight who saved you, not me.”

 

While saying that, Thomas avoided Ren’s gaze, and Ren’s expression became sullen at the sight of him.

 

“No, my brother and the driver saved me together. Right?”

 

Ren looked at Chantz as if asking for agreement, and he nodded.

 

“I tell you again, if it weren’t for you, Princess, you would have been crushed by that pig.”

 

“Did you hear? My brother and the knight. Thank you for saving me.”

 

Chantz responded to Ren’s greeting by bowing, and Thomas smiled slightly as if feeling better. At that time, the face of the pig, or rather Ryu, who was pretending to faint, turned red. It’s probably because Chantz got angry at the pig noise they made. Baridas, who witnessed this, put a knife next to his neck. Then this time his face turned pale.

 

“If you don’t wake up right now, I’ll cut you off.”

 

At his words, Ryu jumped up from his seat. Baridas said, looking down at him.

 

“Is there a punishment you want?”

 

I started to worry about his question.

 

‘Punishment, punishment.’

 

Then, I remembered that the Children had called him a pig, and an idea occurred to me. I grinned evilly and opened my mouth.

 

“People who have not learned that violence is not allowed are no different from livestock, so we strip them of all their clothes for three days, lock them in a pig pen, and force them to live on all fours.”

 

I covered Ren’s ears with both hands and spoke. The mouths of the knights watching behind the scenes opened at the novel but cruel punishment, and Baridas laughed a little.

 

“Okay, then what about in three days?”

 

Are you going to kill something? No, that’s a bit weird. That would have been enough reflection. Let’s just release it. The moment I was about to say that, Ren looked up at me with a face full of questions, as if asking why I was covering her ears. Seeing that lovely sight made me change my mind. For trying to hurt Ren like this, she can’t forgive easily.

 

“I’ll cancel for 3 days. 30 days. I think we can let him go after that.”

 

“Yes, I will do that.”

 

Baridas smiled in satisfaction. Then he took Ren out of my hand and held her in his arms, and I tilted my head at his sudden action. Didn’t he care about children? Ren’s eyes widened as if he was surprised by the suddenly heightened visibility. However, Ren, relieved that he thought it was me, leaned against Baridas’ chest and placed his hand on his chest with an unusually hard feel.

 

“Are you uncomfortable?”

 

Baridas, who thought it was because he was uncomfortable with Ren’s behavior, asked, and only then did Ren’s eyes become bigger than before when he saw that it was Baridas who was hugging him. Ren shook his head to deny Baridas’ words, and Baridas smiled at that.

 

“Then that’s a relief. Then I want you to take your hands off me now.”

 

Ren’s face turned red at his words. Baridas, thinking she was feeling awkward, took Ren’s hand away from her and wrapped it around his neck.

 

“…sorry.”

 

As Ren, whose face was even red, apologized in a low voice, Baridas patted her on the back.

 

“There is no need to be sorry. Rather, it is I who should apologize.”

 

At his apology, Ren tilted his head.

 

“Whatever the reason, everything that happens in the Order is my responsibility. In a way, it was my fault for not knowing that such unpleasant things were happening in the Knights, and for putting them in danger twice today. I’m sorry.”

 

At his words, Ren let out a sigh and shook her head.

 

“Ugh, why on earth are all the men in my family so stubborn?”

 

At Ren’s words, Thomas began to chuckle as if he had heard something, and Chantz held back his laughter. And Baridas, the person involved, looked at Ren with a puzzled expression. This was the first time I have seen Baridas’ expression shake like that since I possessed this body.

 

“It’s not your fault, Brother. That was all done by the pig on its own, right? That man is an adult and has a responsibility to take responsibility for his actions. So there is no need for you to take responsibility for his mistakes and apologize for him.”

 

Ren said, the shy look he had been showing just now completely gone. But that was a sound that would never come out of the mouth of a child who is now eight years old. Baridas may also have been embarrassed, but his eyes trembled for a moment. Ren, who saw his shaking pupils, seemed to have seen it as well, and she continued her words.

 

“Just like you didn’t have to take care of us instead of your mother and father.”

 

With those words, Ren escaped from Baridas’ arms. Ren, who landed softly despite being from a fairly high position, looked up at Baridas and smiled.

 

“It’s not your fault, brother. So, it’s okay if you don’t apologize.”

 

Baridas laughed slightly at Ren’s words. And he stroked her head.

 

“Yes, you are a good boy. You’re right. You don’t need me to take care of you. That’s true. But that doesn’t give me a reason to ignore you, my younger brothers.”

 

Ren’s eyes widened at Baridas’ words.

 

“I can’t love you, but I still think of you as family, and I have a duty to be your guardian and take responsibility until you become adults.”

 

“Don’t you hate us?”

 

Baridas stroked Thomas’ head with his opposite arm.

 

“Not at all.”

 

The children smiled brightly at his answer. Although it was just a little bit, I felt like their misunderstanding had been resolved a little bit, which made me feel better.

 

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