For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 102

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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 102

Raina Hart was confused. At the same time, the circumstances of these three people were bewildering.
The Emperor of the Betuzhenia Empire spending the night in a Rebel Village that sought to overthrow his own nation.
The sole princess of the Betuzhenia Empire who had made her home in a Rebel Village.
The Emperor’s Master inhabiting that princess’s body….

‘What on earth is this….’

Kevenriak, who had suddenly come to meet his Master, seemed equally bewildered.
He set aside the dagger he had been using to peel the night fruit, and looked toward Raina Hart. He seemed uncertain what to say.
In Raina Hart’s field of vision as she surveyed her surroundings came the sofa where Kevenriak sat. Upon it lay a blanket folded neatly.
It appeared as though Kevenriak had spent the previous night there.

‘Did he sleep there? It’s too small for Keri to lie down on. That must have been uncomfortable….’

No, wait.
Raina Hart, who had been worrying about Kevenriak out of habit, suddenly came to her senses. Vivian Asperada’s memo had crossed her mind.
Looking at what was written in the notebook, it was clear Vivian had intended for me to read it. But why would Vivian write such an abrupt memo?

“Keri.”
“Yes.”

At Raina Hart’s call, an answer came immediately. Though he had flinched, his response speed was that of Kevenriak from two years ago.
Seeing the familiar manner, I finally felt the reality that he had regained his senses. Though my heart raced at that, I had something to ask.

“Are you perhaps… lodging here?”

At Raina Hart’s question, Kevenriak nodded. Lodging, of all things.

“Why didn’t you go to the Emperor’s Palace? More than that—how much time has passed?”
“Raina Hart, it was yesterday. Not much time has passed.”

As Raina Hart grew anxious, Kevenriak rushed to her side. He grasped her hand and spoke. Only then did Raina Hart’s body relax. Fortunately, it had been yesterday. Not a week ago, nor a month ago.

“I didn’t go to the Emperor’s Palace because… I was worried you might have disappeared.”

It was fear rather than mere concern.
Yesterday, before Vivian Asperada awoke.
Raina Hart suffered from a headache that even her own magic could not alleviate. Something felt terribly wrong.

‘What has happened to Raina Hart’s soul—.’

The moment I thought this, I could not leave Vivian Asperada’s side. Then the young lady, noticing my presence, ventured into the mountains and called out to me.
An incomprehensible proposal about lodging, and what sounded like a threat—that she would write in our exchange diary how I had caused her pain.

“…I have something to ask you.”

Kevenriak posed this question to Vivian before accepting her proposal.

“Is the soul still present in the young lady’s body?”
“Hmm.”

Vivian’s eyes widened at the question for a moment, then she smiled softly and answered.

“Yes, they are. I can feel that their soul is present within me.”

Only then did Kevenriak decide to accept the lodging arrangement.
After settling on the first-floor living room, I sat at the dining table with Vivian to establish the rules, but worry continued to weigh upon me.

“Release the magic at once.”

I had broken a taboo and even lied about it. I had refused her demand to stop the magic.

“When you see me, you will surely hate me.”
“There’s no way you could hate me.”
“How can the young lady be so certain of that?”
“That person thinks of you very much. I clearly felt their heart.”
“…It seems the young lady has misunderstood.”
“Oh my. Really, I can’t even tell you everything about this.”

Vivian said she needed cold water and requested ice water from her lodger. When Kevenriak obligingly used magic to provide it, she wrote in her notebook that today’s praise was for his excellent magic.

“In any case, when that person appears again, be sure to tell them. The big picture is that they’re a straightforward man. You understand, don’t you?”

Though he had no idea what she meant, Kevenriak nodded to steer away from the subject.
Conversing with Vivian Asperada left me feeling manipulated by her intentions. But even if Raina Hart were to appear again, what could I possibly say?
I was a criminal who had caused her death and committed unspeakable acts upon her body.
If Raina Hart were to grant me a voice even once, all I could do was fall to my knees before her and beg for her to live.

“Keri.”

Raina Hart called out to Kevenriak. He faltered mid-kneel, then straightened. He had not yet received permission to speak his mind to Raina Hart, so it was not yet time to kneel.

“Can you hear my voice now?”
“…Perhaps, yes.”
“I see.”

Until now, I had resolved to humbly listen to Raina Hart’s words, but that was far from easy.

“Keri.”

Thump, thump. Despite his impassive expression, Kevenriak’s heart raced violently.
Kevenriak gazed at Raina Hart standing before him. Their eyes met, yet he could not see what lay within hers.
He imagined what she might say to him. Was it to leave? To tell him she despised him? Dozens of words flooded his mind in an instant. Every word he anticipated pierced through his heart.

‘Pretend to be mad.’

A voice seized the opening like a predator. Other voices joined in, each adding their whisper. Drive the Emperor mad again. Our final act against the one who killed Raina Hart must be agonizing.
But the moment she embraced me, everything fell silent.

“Welcome home.”

Warm and radiant light poured down upon me, sweeping away all darkness.

“At times like this, you need only say welcome home.”
“Welcome? Home?”
“Yes. It means this is where you belong.”

Raina Hart spoke to me as though I had finally come to the place where I was meant to be.

‘Raina Hart.’

May I return to you?
My eyes grew hot. I carefully embraced Raina Hart, who held me, and answered.

“I’ve… returned.”

***

“You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Let me prepare something.”

Raina Hart rolled up her sleeves, ready to prepare a meal for the lodger Vivian Asperada had taken in. That much was fine, but the problem lay in the ingredients.
All she had on hand were milk, rye bread, and dozens of apples and figs. It would have been perfect for Vivian Asperada’s preferred breakfast, but.

‘There’s no meat…’

No matter how I looked at it, this wasn’t my student’s taste. I glanced sideways.
My student, standing beside me and gazing at the same thing, met my eyes.
Those blue eyes smiled softly. In my dear student’s gentle smile lingered an atmosphere from when he was a tyrant. It felt utterly captivating, utterly dangerous. What was certain was that my student had changed dramatically from two years ago to now.

“Keri doesn’t seem to like any of this.”

I spoke honestly to Kevenriak Heteroven.
We’d only been in the Village for just over a week, and I’d been selecting ingredients to match Vivian Asperada’s preferences. Since I could disappear at any moment, it was a consideration toward the body’s true owner. But.
Wouldn’t it have been fine to buy even a little bacon?

“Vivian, skipping meat again today!”

Perhaps that’s why the Butcher’s hearty laughter suddenly came to mind.
The shops in the Village hadn’t even opened yet at this hour.
I’d boldly said I’d prepare breakfast, but Kevenriak Heteroven called to me as I stood there dejected.

“Raina Hart.”
“Yes?”
“Would you perhaps need this?”
“…Yes, I need it.”

The meats Kevenriak Heteroven withdrew from his personal space unfolded before my eyes. I gazed at the sight as if entranced, then nodded.
It was perfectly suited to my taste.

***

“Good grief.”

Pialtis had stepped outside less than an hour after waking. His overnight guest had suddenly announced that personal circumstances required an early departure.
Ordinarily, he wouldn’t bother seeing off a guest leaving at dawn, but the man before him was someone of considerable importance.

“I won’t even be able to share lunch with you before you go.”
“Not at all. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for the early commotion.”

Maverick Marquis spoke with a rueful expression.
Though it was morning, the Marquis before him was impeccably dressed, not a thread out of place.

“Perhaps the hospitality was lacking in some way…?”

Pialtis ventured the question carefully. Just last evening, hadn’t they promised vigorous exchanges between House of Asperada and House of Maverick going forward?
This sudden departure might conceal a deeper reason. Sensing Pialtis’s barely concealed anxiety, Maverick answered readily.

“Not at all. It’s simply my own oversight in forgetting an urgent matter.”
“Still, what a shame. My wife should have come to see you off as well, but she’s still resting. I hope you won’t take offense at such a modest farewell.”
“Take offense? The Duchess should rest.”

The carriage door clicked shut.
Once they had passed the Asperada Duke’s Castle, the Marquis’s leg—which had been sitting with refined composure—began to tremble violently.
When he cracked the window slightly, the Knight lowered his voice to address him.

“What is the matter, sir?”

There was nothing urgent requiring immediate attention at House of Maverick. The reason for this hasty departure from Asperada Duke’s Castle had arisen in just one night.
Maverick muttered in response to the Knight’s question.

“I saw it.”
“…Saw what, sir?”

Maverick, trembling with such fear? Ordinarily, such stimulating circumstances would have piqued his interest. But now—
What on earth had he witnessed?

“…The culprit.”

Maverick spoke those words, then startled violently and glanced down at his feet. There lay only his own shadow, still and silent.

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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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