Chapter 15
The Male Lead Went Crazy for the Troublesome Villainess — Episode 15
Crown Prince Kael, who always wore an awkward expression whenever he saw her, was frightening too, and so were the knights guarding the barracks because they had sworn to protect her.
The knight called Seraphine would occasionally look at Lillia with pity, but that was all.
'The Order sent a child that young?'
'Yes, Your Highness.'
'Damn it all. No matter how wretched this world is, have they thrown their consciences into hell? Is it really true they sent that child as their proxy?'
'Yes, it is true.'
'Ha.'
Crown Prince Kael clearly disliked Lillia as well.
Lillia sniffled and barely held back her tears. If she kept crying like this, she might be abandoned here all alone. Just like her parents, who had sold her to the Order because she cried too much and ate too much.
Around the time Lillia was clamping her mouth shut and sniffling, figures crept stealthily into the child's barracks.
The intruders quickly swept their eyes across the inside of the barracks. When they spotted the small figure curled up tightly on the only bed, they exchanged meaningful glances.
'That's her, right?'
'Looks like it. Let's hurry. If we get caught, we're all dead!'
Outside, their accomplices were raising a commotion as if a bear had appeared, drawing the knights' attention. They had to hurry while the others bought them time. Even for people who had never properly held a sword, subduing a single ten-year-old child was not difficult.
They subdued the child in an instant. Covering the mouth of the trembling child, who had opened her tear-filled eyes wide, was even easier.
They clamped her mouth shut as she thrashed and shook her head without even managing to scream, then shoved her into a grain sack they had prepared in advance. Perhaps because her frame was small, the whole job went smoothly.
"Heave-ho."
With the child slung over a shoulder, they were certain. They had succeeded. They would get out of this place safely and leave for somewhere more secure. And they would most certainly survive this tiresome world.
This child would become a shield to protect them, and if they ever found themselves backed into a corner, she could also serve as a bargaining chip with the Order.
They did not know exactly what ability the child possessed, but since everyone was making a fuss over her, they believed it must be so.
They crept back out of the barracks.
The sound of hunting dogs barking and the hurried footsteps of knights rushing over drew closer. The front of the barracks was still empty, but soon someone would burst in to check on Lillia. They had to leave this spot quickly before the knights returned.
They had to reach the place where they were meeting their accomplices on time.
"Hurry."
They exchanged glances again and were about to quicken their pace.
"Where do you think you're going?"
A chilling voice rang out. Cold and forceful in the darkness, it made them flinch and turn. But when they saw the woman step out of the darkness, they gave mocking laughs.
"Lady Rosana?"
"Tch. Don't do anything stupid. If you don't want to get hurt."
"I think that's my line. If you don't want to get hurt, put that child down."
Rosana's eyes flashed. Gleaming brilliantly in the darkness, they looked like a beast's and made their knees go weak. But that couldn't be.
It was only Lady Rosana. She did seem a bit different lately, but what could a mere noble lady do against two men? They were confident.
Confident they could subdue Rosana in an instant.
"Let's deal with her quickly and go."
"Fine."
The two men set down the sack and rushed at Rosana simultaneously. A quick, decisive fight. They intended to finish it as fast as possible.
"You'll regret your foolishness, my lady!"
At that moment, Rosana grinned. And in the blink of an eye—
Thwack!
"Hurk!"
The man who had been hurled to the ground curled up like a shrimp and hacked out rough coughs. Having landed flat on his back, pain surged through him as if his whole body were being twisted. He could not even register what had happened. He was writhing and gagging when—
"Ghk!"
Rosana's kick sent his companion tumbling across the ground. His face flushed bright red, veins bulging in his neck as he collapsed face-first and struggled to breathe. What had just happened? This couldn't be possible.
While the vermin rolled on the ground without understanding what had hit them, Rosana dusted off her hands as if nothing had happened.
Clicking her tongue, she approached the sack. The moment she opened the mouth of the sack and checked inside, Rosana's expression hardened savagely.
"Hic, hic, hwaaaaah......!"
Rosana untied the white cloth wrapped around the child's mouth and muttered curses through her teeth. The small face, flushed bright red with hair stuck to it, was frozen in terror. And her eyes were swollen from how much she had cried.
"Y-you crazy bastards! I told you: one tear, one kick to the bXlls!"
Rosana could never stand injustice. Nor did she hesitate to punish it.
Thwack!
Every time Rosana's leg moved, a drawn-out chicken-like squawk rang out.
The knights, having confirmed that the rumor about a bear was false, subdued the men who had caused the disturbance and returned.
Kael spotted Rosana. Rosana, gleefully kicking between the two men's legs.
Millus, his face drained white as if he understood the pain as a fellow man, cautiously asked Kael.
"......Is Lady Rosana trying to kill those two right now?"
It was hard to tell who needed help and who needed saving.
The ones who had clearly committed the crime were the ones being beaten, yet they were also the ones who looked about to die.
Kael pressed his lips shut.
Well.
Kael had no idea either—what Rosana was doing or even what she intended.
"......Lady Rosana."
Rosana turned her head and stared at Kael. Only then did she realize that a crowd had gathered. Their gazes were sweeping in turn over the dying criminals, Lillia still hiccuping and crying, and Rosana herself.
Rosana gave a dry cough and roughly straightened her disheveled collar.
"Ahem."
She hauled the criminals who had tried to kidnap the child to their feet and patted their shoulders.
"Phew. Try living like human beings, okay? Repent while you're at it."
Then she turned her back, but as if her anger still had not subsided, she turned back around and kicked once more. This time Viscount Brennan let out a groan.
"Ghk!"
The criminal who had been rolling on the ground curled into a ball, covering his groin with both hands.
At that moment, an inexplicable groan rippled through the crowd. Some men instinctively covered their groins. Even Millus, standing beside them, quietly drew his legs together.
Millus coughed dryly and waved his hand at the onlookers.
"Everyone, back off! What are you all gawking at?"
But no one listened. Amid all the commotion, Rosana alone remained composed.
At a scene where it was hard to tell the kidnappers from the assailant, Rosana scooped Lillia into her arms. Her strength seemed impossible for such slender arms.
Rosana smoothed the hair stuck to Lillia's face and whispered gently. She looked completely different from the person who had been mercilessly beating the criminals only moments before.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Hic."
Lillia hiccuped and rubbed her eyes. Rosana asked even more gently.
"You can tell me honestly. Does it hurt anywhere? Any ouchies?"
Her eyes said that if the answer was yes, she would most certainly kill the criminals.