The Reincarnated Archmage

What's with this kid? At first, he's being rude and throw accusations at me. Then now he's looking at me with that longing expression. Is he really okay? Did he damage his head when we bumped into each other? The kid opens his mouth to say something, but stop when someone calls my name.

"Aly!"

When I turn my head, I saw my brother and nanny Bella runs towards me. My brother quickly pulls me away from the little boy and hide me on his back. Then nanny Bella hugs me so tight. I also noticed that her body is shaking a little.

"What are you doing here, little miss? We're so worried about you!" Nanny Bella said. I saw her eyes were quite red.

"Sorry, nanny. Aly made you cry." I said and wipes the remaining tears in her eyes.

Stop crying, nanny. I didn't mean to make you cry. It's my body's fault that I can't return to your side immediately. Should I tell you that I'm allowing you to make me your dressing doll for an entire day as a compensation?

"You..."

"What did you do to my sister?" My brother said to the little boy.

"...Sister?" The kid said.

"I am his brother! Tell me, what are you trying to do with her?"

Brother is acting scary right now. I can't blame him for acting like that. If I were in his shoes, of course I'll also be cautious if you see a stranger touching your sibling. But do they know each other? They both stay silent and having a staring competition. Should I stop them? Of course the answer is yes. I don't want to cause another ruckus.

"Brother!" I called.

After a few seconds, my brother turns his head to look at me. I give him a sweet smile. Look at me, brother! You should appreciate my efforts here. I heard my brother let out a sigh and walks towards me. Nanny Bella reluctantly let me go and my brother kneels in front of me and hug me so tight.

"Don't do that again. You'll scare me to death." My brother whispers on my ears. His voice were dripping of weariness.

"Sorry, brother. Aly will never be lost again." I said sincerely.

I tried my best to hug my arms around him and pat his back. There, there. Don't be depressed, brother. I'm fine. Thank you for being worried about me. When I look up, I saw the little boy having a complicated look on his face. I noticed that his face was too busy making different expressions.

We stayed like that for a little while before brother lets go of me. Then he holds my hand again. This time, it's too tight as if he doesn't want to let go of me again. He's still anxious from his experience earlier.

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing to my sister?" My brother asked the little boy again.

"I..."

"Aly and that kid bumped to each other. Aly is trying to ask that kid to bring me back to brother." I said.

There's no need for my brother to know what happened here. If my brother knows that kid doesn't want to say sorry to me, there's a chance that brother will get angry. Based on my experience, you'll gain nothing from a fight between two children. They'll just get bruises and wounds for nothing.

"Aly's brother and nanny were already here. You don't need to bring Aly to them." I said to the little kid. When he still wanted to say something, I look at my brother to get his attention.

"Brother, Aly is now hungry. Can we eat something sweet? Aly will promise to behave now."

"Alright."

It seems like my brother doesn't want to interrogate the little kid in front of us and turn his back. Since he's still frowning, I sway our hands and smiles just like what a normal little girl would do. Look at my cute smile, brother. I am sacrificing myself here so you better appreciate what I'm doing it.

It seems like my effort is now paying off. My brother's facial muscles are slowly relaxing. Even his touch is getting softer again. You better be in a good mood again, brother. Have pity on your sister who is using her charms just to curry your mood. As we walk together, I take a quick glance towards the little boy. He's still staring at us, particularly at me.

"Forget him, Aly. You won't see him again." My brother said with a frown.

"Aly is wondering. Do you know that kid?" I asked.

"He's not that important. Just forget him."

"Okay. Aly will follow what brother said." I said with a smile.

It looks like I was right. My brother knows who is that kid. I didn't pry too much about it to lessen my brother's bad mood. Brother said that we'll continue our trip here in town so I'm happy to hear that. But for our remaining time, both brother and nanny Bella are holding my hands. After that little incident, it seems like they become more protective of me. I didn't complain about it and make a mental note to myself not to make any reckless action for the rest of the day.

-//-//-

Brother, I think what you told me yesterday is wrong.

The little boy I met yesterday is now sitting in front of me. We are currently in our living room. I'm looking at him with a blank expression. But the little boy is looking at me with a smile on his face which makes me conflicted inside. What idea is running inside your head, kid? Are you sure that you didn't hurt your head yesterday?

This rude little kid visits our house today with his mother. According to his introduction earlier, he's Victor Hans Dritel. He's a Marquis' son who is also the General of the Royal Knights. I also heard that he's already a sword genius since he was four years old. As a future candidate of the Head of Royal Knights, I'm a little bit worried due to his personality. Someone needs to educate this child as early as now to avoid any problems in the future.

"It looks like we got the children bored with our conversation." Marchioness Dritel said.

Mother told me that they were good friends since they both attend the same academy before. When I observe her, I can't sense a hint of maliciousness around her. It seems like she's really a good friend to my mother. Because of that, there is no need for me to put my guard up against her.

"It seems like it." My mother said and looks at me. "You and Victor can play in our garden for the meantime."

"Aly don't—"

"Okay! I wanted to play with Lady Alyssa too!"

This rude kid interrupts what I'm trying to say and say that he wanted to play with me. I look at him with my neutral expression, but he just gives me a smile. Why do I feel something bad from that smile? What's your intention this time?

"Aly will—"

"Let's go, Lady Alyssa. Let our mothers chat with each other for a while."

I still wanted to refuse about this idea, but my mother silently urges me to play with this kid. I just purse my lips and nods my head. I don't want to be rude in front of Marchioness Dritel. Since I can't do nothing with this situation, me and that rude kid go outside and walk towards the garden.

How I wished my brother is here with me today. But currently, he's in the palace because father brings my brother with him earlier. Our father said that he'll teach my brother how to do some paper works so he won't be having a hard time thinking about it in the future. When the rude kid and I arrive at the garden, we didn't do anything aside from staring at each other. Later on, the rude kid bows his head in front of me.

"I'm sorry for what I did yesterday. I also want to say sorry for my rude behaviour."

What's with him? Yesterday, he looked at me with a look saying he won't retaliate unless I apologize for him first. And now, he lowers his head and apologize to me first. Hmm...

"Are you apologizing because I'm Duke Vivione's daughter?" I asked.

"No, that's not it." He quickly denies. "I simply realized that I'm the one who's wrong and even forced you to apologize to me. Because of that, I am sincerely asking for your forgiveness."

"Okay. I forgive you."

"...Thank you."

It looks like this kid is not that bad. He's still a child, but he knows what is right and wrong. I didn't harbor any negative feelings towards him. I'm just a little disappointed from his attitude yesterday. But it's not an enough reason for me not to forgive him. He can still learn from his own mistake and avoid doing it in the future.

After that, no one dares to speak again. What now? I thought he wanted to play? I didn't speak since I'm letting him choose what kind of game we are going to play. I'm fine with anything he'll choose. Besides, I can exercise this body a little. As I wait for him to speak, he suddenly kneels in front of me and reach for my hand. Then he put his forehead on the back of my hand.

"...After a long time of searching, I finally found you, Master Veron."

"....."

I'm showing a calm facade, but I'm panicking inside. There is only one person who's calling me that. But how can this happen? I want to say that it's just my imagination, but that's not the case. I have an answer to my questions, but I don't want to accept it. It was similar when I can't accept the fact that I turned into a baby five years ago.

"Master Veron?" I asked while still feigning ignorance.

It's a good thing that my cool facade is not yet breaking. He is still kneeling in front of me without saying anything more. When I tried to pull my hand, he holds my hand tighter. He even squeeze my hand as if telling me that he'll never let it go again.

I relax myself and let out a soft sigh. He still doesn't know the truth. Let's act like a true little girl right now.

"Uhm... Sir Victor? Kneeling there looks uncomfortable." I said in a childish way. "You can stand up now."

"Why did you disappear like that? Why did you leave us without saying anything? Why did you make a decision without asking us? Why..."

He has a voice suited for a boy of his age. But the tone of his voice was full of anger and sorrow. He even gritted his teeth as if stopping himself to show anymore emotions to me. All I wanted to do now is to run and hide in my room, but I can't do it since he's holding my hand. This is too unexpected, even for me.

He's not the rude kid I fought yesterday. He's not also the Victor who is a son of Marquis Dritel. The person in front of me now is one of my apprentices who I left behind without saying anything. I didn't expect I'll be meeting one of them in this timeline.

"I can't understand your question, sir Victor." I said. I also pout my lips to make my act more believable. "Did I make you mad because I left you in town yesterday?"

He didn't respond after that. We both stay in that position for a while. I can feel that he doesn't believe my words. But I don't want him to know the truth. It would be better if I'll keep this act I started.

"Hmm? What are you doing, Victor?"

When I turn my head, I saw Marchioness Dritel and my mother walking towards here. Then Victor silently stands up and look at me. He has a serious expression on his face. He has a body of a little boy, but the memory of his appearance before were overlapping with his current face in my eyes right now. Then I saw his lips whispering these words to me.

"I won't let you disappear without any trace. It's time for us to protect you this time."

When my mother calls me, I instinctly run towards her and hug her waist. Marchioness Dritel also approaches her son and pats his hair. In an instant, his serious expression vanishes in an instant as if he never did it.

"Why are you kneeling in front of Lady Alyssa?" Marchioness asked.

"I've sworn to Lady Alyssa to protect her. Just like a knight!" Victor explained while showing a proud smile towards his mother.

"That's so sweet of you, Victor." My mother complimented him. "If that's the case, then I'm giving you my gratitude in advance."

"Don't worry, Duchess Vivione. As a future knight, I promise to protect Lady Alyssa all the time." Victor said and put his right fist on his c.h.e.s.t.

For the two women, we look like a two children playing as a princess and a knight. But not to me. His words and actions just now were enough for me to know he is serious. When I look at him again, he gives me a boyish smile. The same smile he has always shown to me.

And I'm feeling conflicted because of it.