章 13: ADELLE LOUISE LARMALEILLES

"Adelle!" yelled a man, and my eyes widened as I realized who it was. He rushed over to me and hugged me. What exactly is this moron doing here?

This is not the appropriate moment for me to meet with him. I told myself that I would spend my youth making wonderful memories!

He let go of my hand and looked me in the eyes.

I can see his concern and anxiety in his dark brown eyes as he looks at me. I'm unable to respond to him. Is he familiar with Adelle?

"Hello! Answer me, Adelle. where have you been? do you have injuries? did you lose a tooth?" he said, looking at my body for injuries and opening my mouth to check for broken teeth.

This bastard! I didn't get the chance to answer.

What is my... I mean, what exactly is Adelle's connection to this man??

"Uhm.." I don't know how to respond. But at the same time, I was happy I got to meet him this early.

Leo Wixx, the Marionette Master.

"What's going on?" the Marquess also entered my room. He looks shocked to see Leo, grabbing both my shoulder. Ahh, so this is the man, Marquess talked about yesterday. but what is my relationship with this idiotic fool?

"Leo, please calm down. you're pressuring Adelle. let's---" The Marquess didn't finish what he was saying. because Leo cuts him, he starts shouting. but he looks worried and concerned.

"How am I supposed to calm down? I almost lost her!" he said as he held me once again. What exactly is going on right now?

Oh my! Did we have some kind of 'that' relationship!?

Is Leo a pedophile!?

The heck!!!

I pushed him hard, but he didn't let go of me. I'm starting to feel disgusted. I had no idea I had a previous squad member as repulsive as him. a child molester! I must assassinate him straight immediately.

No! ... This is my fault for enabling such a person to join the squad. I should have killed him before!

I bit his arm because regardless of how much I pushed him. he wouldn't let go of me. I kick his b*lls as soon as he lets go of me. He knelt in agony as he held his precious egg.

"You deserve it, moron!" I said as I dashed towards the Marquess. I take cover behind his back. Adelle is only eight years old, and what did he do? He took advantage of her youth!

"What did you say?" he asked me, confusedly, and stood up obviously in pain. he looks at the Marquess

"Marquess, What did you do to her!" he demands furiously to the Marquess. The Marquess sighed as he looked at me, lowering himself to level my height and taking both of my hands in his.

"Adelle, what you did was terrible. You can't kick people like that, especially men," he said to me, looking at Leo, who seemed perplexed as I looked at him.

I'm the one who's confused here so don't pretend you didn't know!' you pedophile!!!

"I'm sorry for what she did. but you see After we've found Adelle. she also didn't remember me." Marquess explained and Leo looked more confused.

"So, do you mean---"

"Yes, she lost her memory, that's why I contacted you after I found her," Marquess said.

Leo approaches me and stands down to equal my height. But he didn't touch me and kept his distance from me.

That's right! know your place, you idiot.

"So that's why you bit and kicked me when I embraced you close because you don't remember me?" he asks, honestly and with a pained expression on his face.

I nodded and asked him also.

"Who are you, and what is our connection like?" I inquire. With grief in his eyes, he grinned. He lets out a deep sigh.

"I'm your uncle, and your mother is my younger sister," he explained. He looked down and began weeping.

I was so dumb! I take it back, he's not as bad as I think of him. I'm a fool and insensitive. I judge him as if I don't know him.

I'm sorry... Leo

"I'm sorry--" he cut what I'm saying.

"It's your fault, Marquess. You told me you'd watch after her, and now look what you've done," he murmured, staring down. "She's still a little girl," he sobbed, "and you should protect her."

Unconsciously, seeing him in that way made me unhappy as well. I didn't know tears were streaming down my cheeks as I watched him. I'm not sure, but it seems like I'm carrying a hefty boulder on top of my chest.

"...And I also failed to protect her; I don't want to lose her; I don't want to feel empty again," he murmured, slumping on the floor. I can feel the pain and anxiety of losing someone in his eyes. It's the same emotion I had when I lost Mona.

I unconsciously hugged him. I can't suppress the feelings that are coursing through me. as if Adelle was crying and comforting her uncle. as if she was still here, within me.

**************A moment later*****************

Leo eventually calms down. He remained in the room, staring at the photo frame. He approaches me and takes a seat beside me.

"Do you know her?" he asks, pointing to a lovely lady in the picture. I'm not sure where I've seen her before, but she seems familiar.

"I-I'm not sure," I murmured, looking at him. While caressing the photo frame, I can see the sadness on his face.

"This is my younger sister, your mother," he continued, widening my eyes. I accidentally grabbed the frame to get a better look at the lady.

Right! I recall now. So, she's Adelle's mum. When I last saw her, she was such a lovely person. But where is she? And why does Leo not want to feel empty again?

"She...she loves you, Adelle. She said I should be the one protecting you, caring for you. I agreed and promised her that. and now, here we are. I'm introducing you to your mother." he said while stopping the tears from falling.

"She died 3 years ago when you two traveled back here at Eudaimonia city. Your carriage has been stopped by the bandits and robbed your carriage. She protected you." he said and patted me on the head.

"I don't know, if I lose you too, I might have gone insane, so please be careful. I'll find a way to bring your memory back."

I nodded as he stated this. He stood up and took another picture. There are three people in the frame: Adelle's mother, Leo, and me. That was a long time ago, and I can't recall anything about it. Where was it shot?

"I suppose you didn't know her either," he replied, pointing at me in the photo. I shake my head as if to say I didn't know.

"Your mother looked up to her a lot. her name is Yule, she's our previous captain. your mother likes to tell you a tale about her. and then you keep questioning me if your mother is telling the truth. eventually, you started to appreciate her," he remarked as he reflected on the past.

"Do you happen to know, who gave you your name?" he asked and he slightly chuckled.

"It's Yule's idea. She gave you that name before she died"

********************FLASHBACK*********************

2 years before their confrontation with the demon.

Yule is busy at the headquarters tower sorting out documents that the Master ordered them to do.

"Can you help me? You're always slacking at work!" Yule said as he tossed a book at Eli, who was asleep.

"Ugh! that hurt! can't you see I'm busy?" he muttered, arranging the book he'd been sleeping on.

"You're too busy sleeping!" she said, tossing the book once again.

"Hello!? I'm just resting because you had me perform your punishment for playing a prank on Master Gab, you had me writing till dawn! why don't you ask Jack? " He remarked as he picked up the books she had flung.

"I'm not sure, I haven't even seen him since the other day." she pondered before returning to her work.

"Yulee!!!" Leo said with an enthusiastic tone as he entered the office of Yule.

He noticed Yule sorting the books and Eli gathering up books on the floor. He gestured for her sister to enter the room right away.

"Oh, Leo. Is there something wrong?" she questioned, not looking at him and concentrating on sorting the books.

Leo's sister shyly entered the room.

"My sister simply wants to see you," he stated. They make their way to the desk.

Yule looked at him and smiled at her sister. Yule comes to a halt and dumps the books on the floor. She chuckled gently as she gazed at Eli. She instantly moves closer to the two.

"Hi, Rina. What brought you here?" she greets and inquires of Rina. When Yule speaks to her, she becomes fluttered

"Hello, Yule. I recently visited my brother, and I was wondering if I may also see you," she said, looking ashamed. Yule grinned and took her arm.

"Of course, it's fine. you can visit me anytime you want." Yule said.

"I simply wanted to ask if you had any name suggestions for the baby," she continued, widening Yule's eyes.

"You're having a baby?" Leo and Yule inquire. She laughed.

"No, my marriage to the Marquess is coming up soon, so if I'm expecting a kid, I hope the name is set," she explained.

"Oh-oh, I assumed you were pregnant now," she remarked nervously to Rina. Leo was relieved since he assumed her sister was expecting a kid.

"If I ever have a kid, I want her to look like you Yule," Rina added, smiling warmly at Yule.

"Did you just use your swear word, Rina?" Leo said. Yule tilted her head since she didn't understand what Leo had just said. Rina's smile indicated that she agreed.

"Yule, she just cast a spell onto her future baby"

"What do you mean?" Yule asks

"If ever I'll have a baby, she'll look like you," Rina predicted.

"You're kidding right?"

"Hahaha no, I like your face. it's pretty."

"Haha *awkwardly* don't flutter me," Yule murmured as she looked up. "Hmm, let me see..."

"If it's a girl... I think the name 'Andie'," she proudly declared, but Rina didn't seem to like it. It is visible on her face.

"A-Andie?" she said

"Yes!" she said excitedly, "The name 'Andie' is appropriate for both a boy and a girl." Eli chuckled, and Yule gave him a nasty look. Yule notices that Rina doesn't like it.

" You don't like it?" she asks. Rina smiled awkwardly

"Hmmm, what about Adelle?" Yule said, making Rina grin.

She gave a nod. "Adelle? I like it. What about the boy's name?" she said.

"For the boy's name...ah! hmm" She instinctively looked at Eli, who was yawning and scooping up books, and the thought occurred to her. She grinned broadly as a result of the concept.

'Eli plus idiot equals Elliot.' That's correct. Rina will think it's lovely, but the meaning for me is *chuckle*' she said to herself and laughed.

"For the boy's name, I'd prefer the name 'Elliot'" she proudly said and looked at Eli and chuckled. Eli gave her a nasty look also.

*************

1 year after they defeat the demon.

"Even though Yule is no longer here, I'm going to name you after what she proposed."

Rina stated while holding her newborn.

"Adelle..."

**********************END OF FLASHBACK******************

I recall now. Leo was continuously requesting that I meet his sister. Since he stated that she looked up to me, though I don't know what she sees in me, but to be able to bring inspiration to someone? It's an honor and Adelle was given this name by me.

To think about it, when I got up yesterday, I declared I needed to alter my name. I have the name Adelle on the tip of my tongue...And that's what they call me now.

"We're returning to Tulip City tomorrow, I have a friend who might be able to restore your memories and don't worry, she's my friend and colleague," he assured me.

Wait, colleague? It must be Annah.