The Hidden Knave, Arlecchino In Who Made Me A Princess

°Adoption...°

Arlecchino stared at the new face without blinking. Seeing the man look her over, the eyes with an unkown symbol inside them, the two toned, colored hair, and the small body that barely moved under his gaze.

He sat in front of her with his legs crossed, smiling unsettling as his hand moved closer to her. His index finger tabbed her small, clenched fist, before he tabbed them with a gentle, but firm touch.

He noticed something odd, and moved her fist to the side, letting him see her small, black nails.

"Curse they say, a curse to you, yes."

He spotted the blood on her cheek, and wiped it off. His eyes opened a bit wider, like something had surprised him. Out of nowhere, he pushed his thumb into Arlecchino's cheek, her frown wasn't enough to make him stop.

"Interesting..."

He pulled her eyelid down, just observing her eyes as he spoke.

"You have a name. Well, one from another world, yes?"

This man, how much does he know? How did he even guess this? Arlecchino frowned when his hand moved to her hair, she kicked her feet and managed to hit his elbow.

With a hum, the man grinned and finally took his hand back.

"Curious? Sadly, I think I'll keep the answers to myself."

For some reason, this man reminded her of other fatui harbingers. Whether it was Dottore's smart attitude that said he knew more than you, Pantalone's gaze, as he analyzed you, he was everything Arlecchino hated in people.

"... How about, I take care of you?"

What? The man nodded to himself, seemingly proud of his idea.

"Think about it. Everyone thinks you're cursed, they don't even want to touch you in case they get your curse. Who would take proper care of you right now?"

He smiled and grabbed her by the armpits, raising her high as she stared at him with wide eyes.

"The answer, is no one. Other than me. I know you, Arlecchino. I know who you are, who you were, and what you'll be."

She frowned and kicked her feet again. He stared at her reaction before holding her against his chest instead.

"Better?"

No, let go of me! Even with her reluctance, she stopped moving. She hated to admit it, but he's right. She's far too weak right now, and needs to depend on someone to survive.

But did it really have to be him...? Arlecchino looked him over, seeing his ruby eyes narrowed as he looked down and observed her as well. His straight, black hair moved with his slightly tilted head, his bangs didn't cover a part of his forehead.

His overall face was mature. He didn't have the plumb cheeks Lyney or Freminet had, he was older than them and quite handsome.

But that only made him more suspicious. Who was he? A knight, butler? Or something else...?

Arlecchino felt a cold breeze suddenly surround them, the man's hair moved along with the wind. Was a window open? He suddenly smirked, and Arlecchino's senses told her he knew why the breeze suddenly started.

"You seem to have a lot of questions. I'll answer the most important."

He rose his hand, and a bundle of wind formed inside his palm. Arlecchino stared at it before looking at him. An Anemo vision? His smirk seemed to indicate she wasn't quite right.

"It's similar to what you know, but this is pure magic. Arle."

... Arle...?

He chuckled out of nowhere, the sphere vanishing, making the wind, and his moving hair die down.