"How is she, Doctor?" Alexandra asked worriedly.

Looking up from his examination of Jack's still-unconscious mother, the doctor she had called for flashed a reassuring smile.

"You were just in time. A day later and she wouldn't have made it." He frowned a little. "She is extremely malnourished and dehydrated. I'll use some light healing magic to give her some energy, so she'll wake up soon. When she does, have her take this medicine," he set a bottle on the table. "Two spoonfuls taken with food until the bottle empties."  

"You hear that?" Alex grinned down at Jack, who was beaming with tears in his eyes.

He nodded eagerly. His sister, who was by now awake and curiously staring out at everything from behind her brother's back, laughed happily and clapped her hands.

"Alright then," she patted Jack on the back. "I'll have the maids bring up some food for your mother. I want you and your sister to stay with her and help her when she wakes up, okay? I need to show Sir Knight here to a carriage. I'm sure he has other places to be."

"Okay!" the little boy cheered. He turned to Sir Gladia, who was standing resolutely in a corner, and bowed deeply. "Thank you for helping us, Sir Knight!" he said, cheeks flushed.

Alexandra hid a giggle behind a hand. How adorable!

Then, to her surprise, Sir Gladia walked out from corner, and knelt to place a hand on the boy's head, smiling gently.

"You're welcome," he rumbled.  "Make sure you grow up big and strong so you can protect them next time, okay?"

Jack's eyes shone with admiration. "Mmhm!"

The red-haired girl was shocked. Sure, she knew about Antonio's soft spot for children because it was in the otome game, but he was never that overt about it. In the game, Antonio had saved Ella, who was trying to protect a child on the streets. After, he had wordlessly given the child some money, earning Ella's favor. However, he had never expressed his feelings in such a blatant way. Maybe this was a side of him even the game couldn't capture. 

It was like the characters were beginning to take on a life of their own, with more complexity than the shallow way the game developers designed them to be.

Alex shook herself out of her stupor and turned to the knight, flashing a genial smile. 

"Well then, shall we go?"

***

The two walked quietly down the long halls of the Sinclair residence. Alexandra sighed.

This was so awkward!

"Thank you for helping us today, Sir Gladia," she tried to start a conversation.

"En," he nodded. 

Back to his reticent self again, I guess she mused. 

They walked in silence for awhile, but suddenly, she heard her companion clear his throat awkwardly.

"I...didn't know you liked children," he rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.

"Yeah, I do," she smiled at the knight, who flushed slightly and refused to meet her gaze. "What about you, though?" she teased. "I saw that exchange you had with Jack. I didn't think you had it in you!"

"I do like children...a little," he muttered.  He paused for a moment, before speaking up again. "You are...different now, somehow," he murmured.

"I've been doing some thinking since the accident," she admitted. "Right now, I'm working on being a person I can be proud of."

Antonio nodded again. "That's...good."

They resumed their walk, once again in silence, but this time the quiet was less awkward and more peaceful.

***

"Thank you, my lady!"

The woman sitting up in bed looked much healthier than she did in that alleyway. 

"I'm glad I could help," Alex smiled gently at the mother and her two beaming children. 

A thought came to her mind. This could be a perfect chance to seize Jack's innovation for herself!

"Hey," she began. "What are you planning to do after this? You're welcome to stay as long as you need to recover, but what do you want to do afterwards?"

The woman frowned slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, my lady. I will need some time to find a job, but we'll be able to manage somehow."

"Oh?" Alexandra raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What did you do before?"

"I was a seamstress, my lady."

"That's perfect!" she clapped her hands. "Why don't you come work for me after you've recovered? I can provide you room and board for your whole family! And if you also agree to do some maid duties whenever I don't need you to make something for me, I can even ensure that your children will receive a good education! Your son Jack is quite the smart individual, and I'm sure he will do very well with a little instruction!"

The woman's eyes shone with teary hope. "Are you certain? It would be an honor! Thank you so much!"

Alex grinned. "I've taken quite a liking to you all, and I hope you'll stay by my side. I'd love to have you with us!"

"Oh!" she suddenly remembered. "I never got your names! I know Jack, but you and the darling little girl here were unconscious when we first met. If you're going to be working here, I should know your names, don't you think?"

"My name is Heidi Evans," the woman introduced herself. "These are my children, Jack and Collette Evans." Jack smiled brightly at her and Collette peeked out shyly from behind her brother's back. "Thank you for your help and I look forward to working for you, my lady!"

"You can just call me Alex when we're by ourselves," she waved off the formalities.

"I look forward to working with you too!"