For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

In truth, many of the remaining villagers harbored resentment toward Raina Hart.
They resented their lord for not protecting them,
yet remained in Hibei—unable to abandon their homeland, or lacking the means to leave.
But after witnessing Raina’s extraordinary power with their own eyes, the hope that bloomed began to quietly push aside their resentment.

‘That’s right. Hibei was peaceful when the lord was here.’

The war had ended, and Raina Hart had returned.
Hibei would be able to reclaim its former glory.

“P-Please, Knight! Tell the Lord!”

The people’s hearts swelled as they watched the village being rebuilt.
They rummaged through their homes and brought out items to express their gratitude to Raina.
It had always been a village of compassionate people.
The cart brought from the Castle was soon overflowing.
The gifts that accumulated naturally fell under the care of three Imperial Household knights.

“Fontepon, I’ll go scout the village with the Vice-Commander to see what needs repairs. You keep following close behind Raina.”
“Got it. See you soon.”

Fontepon gripped the reins of the donkey pulling the cart as he replied.
Beside him sat Kevenriak Heteroven on the cart’s front bench.
The cart followed behind Raina as she toured the village with the Village Chief.
Fontepon glanced sideways at Kevenriak, who sat quietly watching Raina.

‘Still, this bothers me. Is it really appropriate to have the Fourth Prince riding in a cart like this?’

Raina had told him to remain at the Castle, but the Fourth Prince was determined to follow her regardless.
In the end, Raina had given in to his stubbornness.

“You’re welcome to come along. As long as you don’t charge at people like you just did.”

Of course, Kevenriak nodded in agreement.
As a result, the three Imperial Household knights found themselves with their hands full.
No matter how inconspicuously the Fourth Prince had lived within the Imperial Palace,
the Heteroven name attached to him could not be ignored.

“Horses?”
“Are there no horses remaining in the village?”
“Not a single one left. They took them all for the war.”

They had tried to procure a horse for the Fourth Prince, but all that remained were donkeys.
To make matters worse, there were no carriages either.
In the end, arranging a cushioned seat on the cart driver’s bench was the best they could manage.
The Fourth Prince seemed entirely unbothered, but I couldn’t help feeling a nagging concern about it.

“Is it not uncomfortable for you?”
“….”

Kevenriak stared ahead without answering Fontepon’s question.
At the end of his piercing gaze stood Raina Hart, magically reconstructing the crumbled stone wall.

“Magic truly seems remarkable. I heard the Imperial Palace has many mages?”
“….”

Though I tried to initiate conversation several times, Kevenriak remained silent.
Come to think of it, from the moment we departed the Imperial Palace until now, I had never held a proper conversation with the Fourth Prince.
All I had heard was his voice when speaking with Raina Hart.

‘This is getting competitive.’

Fontepon decided to change the subject.
If the Fourth Prince was staring so blatantly, I should at least know what interested him—or I might as well surrender my knighthood.

“You must be pleased, Your Highness. To have Raina Hart as your mentor.”
“Yes.”

An immediate response came back. Fontepon clenched his fist slightly, as if savoring victory.
Then he selected his next question. This one, too, was about Raina Hart.

“Then Your Highness will also be learning magic from Raina Hart?”
“…?”

But at Fontepon’s words, Kevenriak simply stared at him blankly.
Fontepon found his reaction strange—as if he hadn’t expected such a question—and spoke again.

“You have an Archmage as your teacher, yet you won’t learn magic?”
“I am….”

A monster.
But if I said that aloud, Raina Hart might hear it.
Kevenriak closed his mouth and gazed at Raina Hart instead.

‘She shines so brightly.’

When Raina Hart wielded magic, she gleamed brighter than the stars seen at night, brighter than the sunlight seen by day.
That was why I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her.
No matter how I looked at it, I could never do such things. Monsters like me can only destroy and kill people.

“If the Fourth Prince refuses to learn magic, Raina Hart will surely be disappointed.”

At Fontepon’s words, Kevenriak’s ears perked up.
Disappointed? Why?

“Because I won’t learn magic…?”

Kevenriak asked Fontepon anxiously, a tremor of unease in his voice.
If I couldn’t use magic, would Raina Hart abandon me?
Fontepon, utterly unaware of Kevenriak’s anxiety, recalled what Raina Hart had told him yesterday.

“That’s what Raina Hart said.”

Before the attack.
One of the knights had been caught speaking ill of Kevenriak to Raina Hart.

“I did not take His Highness as my disciple out of pity.”

A cold gaze.
And the words that followed.
Within them, Fontepon glimpsed the Archmage’s pride in the Fourth Prince’s potential.

“The Fourth Prince will become a magnificent mage.”

***

Even an Archmage’s mana reserves were not infinite.

‘I got carried away and overdid it.’

Raina Hart’s magic was extraordinary.
With merely a chant, people would snap back to their original forms in an instant.
Caught up in the thrill of it, I cast spells indiscriminately until my remaining mana dwindled to a precarious level.
And through it all, I had to greet the crowds of grateful people who kept approaching.

‘I’m completely drained.’

Raina stumbled into the castle, utterly exhausted.

“I’m back…”
“Oh, welcome back!”

Hearing those words, Kevenriak called out hastily.

“…?”

A greeting from right beside me.
Kevenriak had only just arrived at the castle with me.
Of course, I had taught him to respond that way.

‘Hmm…’

Raina thought something was off, but she chuckled softly and patted Kevenriak’s head.

‘He’s too cute for it to matter.’

The truth was, I didn’t even have the energy to correct him.
Kevenriak seemed to interpret Raina’s touch as praise, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.

“Welcome back, my lady. You must be exhausted.”

The Butler of the Hart Marquis Household approached Raina.
He was one of the few servants who had guarded the castle during Raina’s absence from Hibei.

‘So six servants remained at the Hart Marquis Household? Well, Raina Hart never cared much for people anyway, and she was selective—only keeping those she could trust nearby.’

A butler, a cook, a maid, and two manservants.
Going forward, there would be myself and Kevenriak. And then three more mouths to feed from the Imperial Household’s knights.

‘Eleven people total.’

A modest retinue perfectly suited for a small castle.

“My lady, what shall I prepare for this evening’s meal?”
“Meat.”

Raina answered promptly to the Butler’s question.
Fortunately, her tastes aligned with the previous Raina Hart’s, so the Butler nodded without hesitation.

“Is there anything the Fourth Prince would prefer?”
“Meat.”

At his answer—clearly echoing Raina’s—the Butler’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Understood. I shall prepare meat for you both.”
“I’ll be in my room. Call me when it’s ready.”

Raina turned back as she headed toward the second-floor chamber.
Then she cast a spell on both Kevenriak and herself.

“Clean.”

The instant freshness satisfied me completely.
The same effect as washing without lifting a finger.
Magic truly was convenient.

“…?”

Raina Hart spoke to the curious Kevenriak Heteroven.

“It’s good to use this magic when you come back from outside. I’ll teach you later.”
“Me?”
“Aren’t you going to be using magic soon anyway, Your Highness?”
“Well…. But Raina Hart, I….”

Kevenriak Heteroven hesitated.
Because of what he’d heard from Fontepon during the day, he couldn’t clearly tell Raina Hart that he was unable to use magic.
Now that I understood what thoughts occupied that small head, I couldn’t help but click my tongue inwardly.

‘The Heteroven Imperial Household is the problem. They’ve completely eroded the child’s self-esteem.’

I dropped my innocent facade and added more words.

“Or were you planning to keep using me? A disciple commanding their master. How absurd.”

I have no idea how the world works anymore.
With a serious expression, I shook my head and resumed walking.
Kevenriak Heteroven, who hadn’t noticed the playful curve of my lips, hurried after me.

“Ah, no. I didn’t mean to-.”
“Is that so? Then you’ll learn magic?”

Then I stopped abruptly. Kevenriak Heteroven, following my pace, nodded his head vigorously.
That must make him dizzy.
I crouched down, grasped both of Kevenriak Heteroven’s cheeks, and brought my forehead to his.
Kevenriak Heteroven’s nodding stopped.

“….”

Beneath thick lashes, beautiful blue eyes met mine.
I narrowed my silver eyes—the ones the child adored—and curved my lips into a smile.

“Then study hard and treat your master well later.”

Kevenriak Heteroven would become a powerful mage. That’s what the original setting dictated.

‘I won’t let him become a tyrant meeting a villain’s end. That would only happen if Kevenriak believed himself to be an unloved monster.’

I’ll show him the truth—that no child is unworthy of love. That he is no monster.
Raina Hart pulled Kevenriak into a sudden embrace, and he squirmed in flustered confusion.

“R-Raina?”

Raina Hart paid no mind, resting her cheek atop the boy’s head.
Soft black hair tickled her skin.
Ah, this is rather soothing. So this is why people keep pets.

“You’ll spoil me, won’t you?”
“I suppose I…”
“I can’t quite hear you.”

Forget the future of a tyrant—let him live as the Grand Mage’s disciple, and someday meet his destined partner to find happiness together.
Then I could spend my remaining years in Hibei, living at leisure without a care.

‘Of course, only after I’ve witnessed how the protagonists’ story ends.’

Raina Hart imagined the boy’s bright future and her own peaceful twilight years, tightening her embrace around him ever so slightly.

“R-Raina…”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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