I knew all too well what it meant to be poor—the nights spent feverish and shivering with no medicine, warmth, or company. Looking at Theodore reminded me of my old self, before I was reincarnated. Back then, all I’d wanted was just for someone to be by my side.
This wasn’t pity or charity. If anything, it was self-indulgence. I was only doing for him what I’d wished someone had done for me.
“You’re not very honest with your feelings, you know.”
“Shut up.”
I brushed back Theodore’s long bangs and wiped the grime from his face, revealing a strikingly handsome visage under all that dirt. He had brown hair and I’d managed to glimpse his brown eyes—both features that were common in this kingdom. Something about his face felt familiar, though. I tipped my head, puzzled.
During my first round of this life, Kreis had rarely ventured into town. I couldn’t think of any direct connection Kreis might have had to Theodore...but I knew I’d seen this face before.
“Ahhhh!”
“Whoa! Don’t shout like that all of a sudden!!!”
It suddenly hit me, like a blow to the head. I remembered now; I’d seen that face over and over again.
“Why?! Why would you do something like this?!”
“Why? That’s a pointless question. I’m just following orders.”
“Do you even understand how serious this is? What it means to kill someone like him?!”
“Thinking about that won’t change anything. Unlike you people, I didn’t have the luxury of choice. That’s all there is to it.”
There had been an assassin who’d tried more than once to take Siegfried’s life under orders from Claude and the others, which had led to Siegfried being seriously wounded.
The face of that assassin—who’d looked young even then—looked just like the boy sleeping peacefully in my bed.
“Bingo. You picked up quite the prize, didn’t you?”
“I can’t believe I met him here, of all places...”
“So what now? You just saved the guy who will try to kill Siegfried. If you’d left him there to die, you’d have one less thing to worry about, huh?”
“He probably would’ve pulled through even if I hadn’t saved him. Otherwise he wouldn’t have shown up in our lives in the first place.”
If he was going to survive anyway, I might as well become someone he owed a debt to. Besides, I remembered what he’d said back then: “Unlike you people, I didn’t have the luxury of choice.”
Since Theodore was an orphan, he’d probably never had another path. But now that I was here, I was in the position to offer him a better alternative.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
I’d protect Theodore and the children, and not just temporarily. I’d give them all a new path in life.
“How is that different from giving them charity?”
“It’s not the same. Theodore may have failed in his attempts to kill Siegfried, but he was still able to best the kingdom’s own knights. If he’s going to live, it’s better to make him an ally.”
In the original story, the assassin had shown exceptional talent. He had cornered Siegfried time and time again with impeccable instincts, intelligence, and deadly skill. His talents had been wasted as an enemy.
“I see. So if you turn him into an ally, he’ll be a powerful asset.”
This wasn’t simply an act of kindness—it was self-preservation and a solid bet on his potential.
If Theodore became an assassin again, Siegfried wouldn’t be the only person in danger; plenty of others could die too. And considering how the story was already starting to stray from its original course, a wild card like him posed a major threat. Wiping out that threat now would give us one less thing to worry about later.
“Nngh...”
I touched Theodore’s forehead. It was still hot. I took a damp cloth and gently wiped away the sweat that had beaded on his brow.
“I’m scared... I don’t want to die...” He was muttering in his sleep, looking like a child who’d been abandoned.
“You’re okay. I’m right here. You’re not alone anymore,” I blurted out before I knew it.
I repeated that every time he whimpered in his sleep, squeezing his hand. I started humming a tune, just loud enough so he’d know someone was with him. Professor let out a big yawn as he lay beside the bed.
“You’re a terrible singer.”
“Keep the comments to yourself.”
And so Professor and I spent the whole night watching over Theodore. Well, Professor slept, as usual.
“Nngh... Mm...”
“You’re finally awake, huh?”
It was nearly noon when Theodore opened his eyes. He blinked at me in confusion, tipping his head slightly as he looked around the room. The moment he processed his surroundings, he shot upright.
“Hey, just because your fever broke doesn’t mean you’re fully recovered. Don’t push it.”
“Fever... W-Wait, who the hell are you?!”
“That’s quite a way to greet the person who saved your life.”
“Saved my life?” he repeated.
“I brought them!”
Suddenly the door burst open and the children came pouring into the room. Theodore’s eyes went wide as he took in the sight.
“You guys... What’s going on?”
Thanks to Karina, the kids were now freshly scrubbed clean and dressed in new clothing courtesy of the servants. The children ignored Theodore’s confusion and threw themselves at him, bawling their eyes out.
“We’re so glad you’re alive!”
“Lord Kreis saved you!”
“Kreis?” Theodore said.
I raised a hand in greeting. “That’s me.”
The children all nodded, and then it was my turn to get swarmed. They clung to me, shouting over each other.
“Thank you, Lord Kreis!”
“Thank you! We love you!”
“We love Professor too!”
“Heh heh. What lovely children you are.”
Professor looked pleased, wagging his tail right in the kids’ faces. They squealed with delight and broke into a game of tag, darting around the room after him.
“Hey, hey. There’s a sick patient in here, remember? If you want to play, do it outside. You won’t get any snacks if you’re naughty,” I warned.
“Snacks?! We get to eat snacks?!”
“Only if you behave. Now go and play outside with Professor.”
“Okaaay!”
Children were such simple creatures. They’d completely warmed up to me after I’d helped Theodore. It was hard to believe they’d been so wary of me just yesterday.
“This way!”
Professor led the rambunctious kids out of the room. Theodore stirred slightly as we watched them go.
“They said you helped me.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Did you help me out of pity?”
“I hate the word pity,” I said with a frown.
Theodore blinked in surprise.
Hmm, so he can still be surprised, huh?
He wasn’t baring his fangs like a stray dog anymore, at least. His open hostility was gone, and in its place was something more fitting for his age. Looking at him now, it was hard to believe that this young man would become an assassin in the near future.