Two years have passed since that day, and I'm now 7 years old. Every 2-3 days I visit the palace to see the twin princesses, as we've become friends. Gradually, they've been opening their hearts to accept me as their friend. My goal to save them is progressing well.
They need to trust me, because there will come a day when they'll need me more than anyone. But Rosemary - who asked me to call her Mary - wondered if I could come to the palace every day. The reluctant one who eventually agreed was Annerose, who also asked me to call her Anne.
The only one who objected was Jason, saying I shouldn't neglect my training.
Today was special because for the first time, he would take me to the forest to fight monsters. The same forest where he found me contains the highest concentration of magical creatures in the country.
He gave me a lecture about preparations and blah blah blah. I know about hunting from my training. While it can't compare to a fantasy world, the basics are the same. There are special monsters, but I'm not ready to fight them yet.
Suddenly, we stopped.
"Quiet. Observe."
In the distance was a deer-like monster, as large as an elk with crystalline antlers of two different colors. It was beautiful.
"Boy, watch carefully."
Jason charged at the deer. Noticing him, it shot powerful flames from its red antler. Jason dodged and approached its side. The blue antler glowed, sending ice shards flying at him. He drew his sword and sliced through them all in an instant.
With a single motion, he cleanly severed the deer's neck. I was astonished. That huge deer would have required multiple people with guns to hunt, yet he defeated it effortlessly.
"Lesson one: Never underestimate your opponent. Give it your all, even if they seem stronger than you."
"My father taught me that. Unlike you, I actually hunted mine."
"But you're still too small. For now, just observe. Understood?"
"Yeees~" I replied boredly.
I watched as the monster dissipated, leaving only its antlers. Like in a game, stronger monsters drop special items. Made of magical particles, they'll eventually respawn - the life cycle of magical beasts.
"No magic stone. Let's keep trying."
"Eh? But I'm hungry."
"No arguments."
◇
We returned home where Ange greeted us with towels. "Welcome back. How was it?"
"Terrible. Not a single magic stone, just some junk materials we can sell."
"That bad?"
"Enough profit, but not what we need."
Ange isn't a character from the game. Like me, she's a background character - a woman abandoned by her family whom Jason employed. She's the only one who tolerates his bad mood, causing other servants to leave. It's impressive how she maintains this three-story mansion alone.
After cleaning up, it was bath time. Jason always insists on going first - sometimes I wonder who's the child here. As I was about to wash, the door opened and Ange entered.
"Pardon the intrusion, but it's bath time."
"Kyah!"
That pathetic sound came from me. Ange has been helping me bathe since I arrived. While normal for a child, it's embarrassing as a former adult to have someone see my... little turtle. Made worse by Ange being beautiful, her ample curves visible through the towel. Shame and desire war within me.
"How long will you keep washing me?"
"Until you're 10."
"I used to wash my younger sisters' backs. When I started working for Jason-sama, I asked if I should wash him too. He firmly refused."
"Really?"
I can't believe that guy rejected such a beautiful woman. She's the type any man would want as a wife. This seems like a good opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.
"Ange-san, may I ask you something?"
"Hmm? What is it?" She hummed while shampooing my hair.
"You and Jason... are you more than master and servant?"
"Of course not. Ours is strictly professional."
"When I came, he had just sold his house and bought this much smaller one."
"Why would he do that?"
"...Let me ask you first. Do you know where your name comes from?"
"No. Wasn't it random?"
"I'm afraid not. This also answers your earlier question."
"You wondered why he doesn't make advances toward me as a man?"
"Yes."
For some reason, I felt nervous about the answer.
"It's because there's only one woman in his heart."
"Even now, he thinks of her... and his son."
"But one day, bandits took their lives. He hasn't smiled since."
I knew Jason's backstory from the game. While pitiable, he was still an enemy there. Now it feels different - a strange sensation in my stomach.
◇◇◇
Jason sat in his dark room, illuminated by a single candle. At his desk, he clutched a bottle of strong-smelling wine and a black-and-white family photo.
He remembered that fateful day. After morning training, he kissed his wife Ethel goodbye and headed to the palace. Returning home, he found no servants... and no family. Opening his study door, his smile died.
On the floor lay a kingdom-issued medal. He knew instantly - the kingdom killed his family. When he showed ministers, they dismissed it as pretext for war. Chasing wheel tracks, he found bandits killed by kingdom soldiers near the border.
In his rage, he attacked the knights until a commander wounded him. The kingdom called it a "misunderstanding," but his hatred festered. The Ash Knight was born - a white-haired monster who ravaged battlefields.
"Be careful, dear."
"Good luck, Dad."
Not saying proper goodbyes haunted him most. He finished the bottle and grabbed another. He couldn't rest until avenging them.
◇◇◇
Next morning, training resumed with Jason's anger still smoldering. "Stay back," he warned, seeking a worthy opponent.
He found a 3-meter red bear and attacked like a beast himself. Even when clawed, he drove his sword through its skull. Unsatisfied, he prowled the forest, but most monsters fled.
At home, real sword training turned vicious. "En garde!" He came at me murderously. Though improved, I'm still a child. Barely dodging, he kicked me into a wall.
*Cough*
"Jason-sama, stop!" Ange intervened as he nearly struck me. Realizing what he'd done, he froze.
"Damn lunatic! Trying to kill me?!" I spat blood as Ange treated my wounds.
◇◇◇
Jason went to the palace to file reports. Count Belkman noticed his distraction. "None of your business," Jason snapped.
Returning home sober next morning, he found me eating breakfast. "Train first. You'll vomit if you eat."
"Are you insane? I'm done training with you - you almost killed me yesterday!"
His face darkened. "I adopted you to be my successor."
"I never agreed to that! I wanted shelter and knighthood, not to be your heir!"
"Then why do you think I took you in? To play house?"
"You're not my real father! This was mutual benefit - succession wasn't part of the deal!"
"Who else will protect this country from the kingdom? The princesses?"
"I'll protect Anne and Mary because they matter to me! But I won't be any faction's dog or die for baseless kingdom hatred!"
Veins bulged on Jason's forehead. "Don't you know what the kingdom did to us?"
"I do - I hear it constantly! But I don't care! Know why? Because I have a brain! Dying over centuries-old grudges is childish stupidity!"
"The kingdom murdered your parents!"
"Wrong! Monsters did! Even if it was the kingdom, I wouldn't care - I was under a carriage! For all I know, my parents were criminals!"
"Just like with your family - no proof it was the kingdom! Could've been bandits with stolen medals or a disgraced knight's revenge! You just want excuses to spread hatred!"
Hearing his desired vengeance might have caused his family's death, Jason snapped: "Get out! If you hate living here so much, leave!"
"Gladly! I won't stay with a vengeance-obsessed madman!"
◇◇◇
As I packed, Ange slipped in. "Where will you go?"
"Dunno. But I won't stay with that lunatic."
"Jason isn't a bad man. Moody, but kind when you know him."
"Yeah, real kind."
"And filling a child with adults' irrational kingdom hatred isn't healthy."
She sat on my bed, holding my hands. "You're right - adults shouldn't burden children with generational hatred."
"But adults aren't as rational as you think. Many refuse to see beyond what's before them."
"That's why youths like you must end this cycle."
"But do you understand the hatred? Historical facts aren't lies."
"The kingdom hates us too. Ending this requires both sides. One-sided forgiveness invites exploitation."
I pondered her words. (She's not wrong. In my past life, international conflicts stemmed from leaders' petty grudges.)
(This world's story revolves around constant conflict. The principality's history contradicts the game's - who's right?)
(I can't change this world's mindset. But I can still save the "villains" - the twins and Jason.)
Jason gave me shelter, food, and training. Maybe saving him is within my power too.
"I guess I overreacted. As a kid, where else would I live well?"
"I'm glad you reconsidered. Now let's talk to Jason."
(The way this maid deduces and articulates - she could be a politician!)
The doorbell rang. Opening it, we gaped at the sight.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
"Reeeeeeeex!"
Rosemary burst in crying, snot-faced. Jason looked stunned.
"Mary? What are you-"
"Don't go! Please don't leave us!"
Ange mysteriously vanished - whether to facilitate reconciliation or from noble shyness, I couldn't tell.
"I went to arrange your care... she overheard and ran here..."
"Don't go! Don't leave me like Papa and Mama did!"
Patting her head, I sighed. "I won't leave. Right?" I glanced at Jason.
"...He's not going anywhere, Your Highness."
◇◇◇
After failing to find Ange, Jason made hot chocolate instead. Mary kept crying until I promised to stay.
"Really won't kick Rex out?"
"Of course not. If he chooses to stay."
"I'll stay, Mary. Please stop crying."
"Promise?"
"I swear."
"Pinky swear?"
"Sure. I decided long ago to protect you both."
I'd thought Jason used emotional blackmail, but Mary was the one who clung to him all the way here. The palace must be in chaos from Annerose's tantrum.
"One condition - no joining factions or hating the kingdom for things I didn't experience."
Jason grimaced. "At least consider-"
"Nope."
"Vengeance brings no peace. The dead won't return, and revenge won't fill the void."
I recalled my past life's sergeant who avenged his sister's death by terrorists. Success only left him emptier - he later took his own life.
Grudgingly, Jason yielded. "Understood. I won't mention it again."
Mary cheered through her snotty face.
One question remained. "Mary, why call me Rex?"
Sipping chocolate, she explained: "Papa told us about Axel Rexeal - the principality's hero who died saving our ancestors."
"Many parents name sons after him, hoping they'll become great warriors."
Finally understanding my name's origin, I gave Jason a knowing look. He flushed, denying: "Pure coincidence. I just... liked the name."
But he remembered his son's words: "When I grow up, I'll protect Papa like Knight Rexeal!"
"That's why I named you Alexis - Lex. You'll surpass me."
Now he understood why my words hurt so much. In me, he saw the son he failed to protect.
(I couldn't protect my family. Yet I found this boy near death.)
(Ethel... Lex... Did you give me a second chance?)
Destined to be the heroine's enemy, Jason - through this tragicomedy - was avoiding ruin like the twins.
The future is written, but its pages can be torn out.