For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 122

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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 122

A few hours earlier, Maverick Marquis’s communication device chimed.
When he saw “Emperor” displayed on the surface and answered with trembling hands, an unexpectedly familiar gruff female voice flowed through.

“A transport carriage?”
– One large enough that multiple adults could fit inside without being discovered.
“Ah, I understand what you want. The point is, to make it seem like nothing happened at all, right?”

With skilled mages crawling all over the place, why would she specifically seek out Maverick Marquis?
Raina Hart clearly didn’t want to leave any trace of an intruder’s presence. If anyone at the Duke’s Castle sensed even the slightest irregularity, word would reach Simona Asperada’s ears.
Truly.

“Our master comes back and immediately can’t wait to order her slave around?”

Raina, who had dismissed the servants at the door, entered the Reception Room. Maverick, who sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, raised one hand toward her.

“You came early.”

It was our first reunion since learning each other’s true identities, but Raina merely acknowledged it briefly. We had exchanged pleasantries over the communication device.
Even if it had been two years since I last saw Deyel Maverick, we weren’t the sort to embrace and shed tears together.

“So you won’t be calling me Marquis anymore? Vivian Asperada?”
“Should I?”
“I’ll pass. How dare a slave presume such familiarity.”

Following in Raina’s wake came a single black beast.

“Maverick Marquis.”
“My, Your Majesty has graced us with your presence as well. I assumed you would be hiding with your Disciples.”

Maverick hastily rose and bowed respectfully to Kevenriak. His face bore a sly smile, showing no fear whatsoever.
A beast was far less frightening when its tamer stood beside it.

….

Kevenriak chuckled at him and settled into the seat beside Raina Hart, who was already seated on the sofa.
The Emperor continued to trail after his Master. Watching him, Maverick felt an itch in his lips to speak.
Raina Hart had returned, and the Emperor had regained his senses. Then, wasn’t he curious whether the Fourth Prince—who two years ago had been eagerly anticipating the day he might accidentally be discovered by his Master—remained unchanged?

“The Duke’s household butler mentioned that you two are lovers.”
“Vivian made that excuse. It would look strange if Vivian Asperada entered the Duke’s Castle alone with an unfamiliar man, wouldn’t it?”

Raina Hart answered, but Maverick’s gaze remained fixed on Kevenriak, who sat across from them. That wasn’t the tedious explanation he wanted to know.

“So you’ve finally been discovered?”

Had his audacious feelings toward his Master finally been exposed?
The Emperor answered Maverick’s question immediately.

“No. I told her first. Long ago, in fact.”

He had expected at least some sign of embarrassment. At Kevenriak’s remarkably composed demeanor, Maverick’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing again.

‘Our Majesty is keeping me in check?’

At that exchange, Raina Hart glanced between the two men. It seemed the subject clearly involved her, yet she couldn’t make sense of what they were saying.
Raina Hart looked at Kevenriak. When their eyes met, he smiled faintly—a smile suggesting nothing was amiss. Yet there was no particular scheming in his expression.

“Is it a secret?”
“No.”

But there was nothing more to follow. Perhaps he simply didn’t wish to elaborate here. Since he said it wasn’t a secret, she could ask him later and he would tell her.

“So, Raina.”

Maverick leaned forward slightly and whispered to Raina Hart.

“When do you plan to load your jewels onto the carriage?”

The long legs resting on the sofa trembled slightly, betraying his anxiety. Though he knew Simona Asperada was absent from the Duke’s Castle, the sight he had witnessed that night remained vivid in his amber-colored emotions. This place, even if empty, was a monster’s dwelling—enemy territory.

“You’ll load them yourself once you depart.”
“So you’re using instantaneous movement to board? Will His Majesty also ride in the carriage?”
“I’ll depart with my Master. Tomorrow morning, around dawn.”

At Kevenriak’s words, Maverick nodded. The tall man’s restlessness was beginning to wear on me. I asked Maverick a question, hoping to discourage him from fidgeting with his legs.

“What did you see that day?”
“A monster.”

At those words, Kevenriak’s eyes narrowed. Even knowing the remark wasn’t directed at him, his eyes flinched reflexively.

“….”

I gently took his hand.

‘It’s alright.’
‘Yes.’

That’s right. As long as I’m by his side, he is not a monster.
Meanwhile, Maverick was absorbed in recalling the events of that night.

“A card disappeared from the jewelry box, and it seemed the maid had read the writing on it. Then the Duchess’s complexion changed entirely.”
“A card?”
“Yes. It was about this size.”

In response to Kevenriak’s question, Maverick demonstrated the card’s size with his thumb and forefinger. Then, mindful of the Emperor’s presence, he continued in formal speech.

“What happened afterward was horrific. A shadow transformed into something gigantic and moved, swallowing the maid whole—from head to toe. That was when I truly understood how chilling the sound of a person being crushed could be.”

Ugh. The image flashed before Maverick’s mind, and he covered his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt the urge to retch.

***

After that, Maverick departed from the Duke’s estate. His delicate nerves, traumatized by what he’d witnessed, could not bear to remain any longer. The Disciples also safely slipped out of the Duke’s Castle, hidden in the carriage.
Raina Hart and Kevenriak remained at the Duke’s Castle. It was to create distance from the date of Maverick’s visit. Staying one night would ensure that even if suspicion arose, it would be minimal.

And late that evening.
I was in Vivian’s room.

“I’ll come back later.”

Before heading to the guest room, Kevenriak pointed to the call bell I held and spoke. That meant if I rang it, he would come over.
Since this was Simona Asperada’s domain, it would be the right choice for Vivian’s safety.

‘…Should we sleep together?’

I sat on the sofa and gazed at the bed. It was spacious enough to accommodate five people. With that much room, I could lie down with plenty of space between us. Perhaps the sound of my racing heart or my uneven breathing wouldn’t be detected.

‘I’m not sure when things became so awkward.’

I touched the back of my neck sheepishly.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ve returned, Miss!”

Maya chattered away cheerfully while tidying the bedding. I felt oddly reluctant to mention that I had to return to the Imperial Palace tomorrow. Not that I wouldn’t leave, though.
I watched Maya quietly for a moment, then opened my mouth.
Raina Hart quietly observed Maya for a moment, then opened her mouth to speak.

“Yes?”
“While I was away, did you ever go to work in Mother’s room?”
“Yes, quite often.”
“Did you ever see any cards there? Cards about this size.”
“Have you ever seen a card like that there? A card this size.”

Raina Hart drew the size of a card with her thumb and index finger. Since it hadn’t been that long ago, Maya quickly recalled something similar.

“Could you describe it in detail?”
“Well… it was a few days ago. The Madam was organizing several cards when she dropped one. I picked it up for her.”
“And?”
“She said she had something to verify and asked me to read the writing on the card. When I told her I could only read numbers, she told me to leave.”
“You said you had something to confirm with me and told me to read the text written on the card. When I told you I couldn’t read anything except numbers, you told me to go ahead anyway.”
I fell into deep thought. Wasn’t this similar to the situation where Maverick witnessed the maid being consumed? …The card seemed suspicious.

“Maya, could you recognize what the letters were if you saw them? Do you remember their shapes?”

Maya nodded without hesitation.

“Not perfectly, but roughly. The Madam asked me to read it again later, so I’ve kept the shapes in my memory.”

At those words, I pulled out a book and sat at the desk. Then I transcribed the letters Maya pointed out onto fresh paper.

At those words, Raina Hart pulled out a book and sat at the desk. Then she copied the letters Maya was pointing to onto a new piece of paper.
After correcting a couple of awkward characters among them, a combination of short words was completed.

“What do you make of it, Miss? Does it make sense? What does it mean?”
“…Maya.”
“Yes?”
“If Mother asks about the cards again, just tell her you can’t read them.”

My gaze remained fixed on the desk as I spoke with finality.

「Age 15. Carriage accident」

***

‘Why is this bothering me?’

After Maya left, I sat in the desk chair, lost in thought.
It was true that Vivian had suffered a carriage accident at fifteen.
I could understand why Simona Asperada, the hidden mastermind of the original work, had gathered information on key figures. She must have viewed them as her chess pieces.
But….

‘Something feels off.’

Would she really eliminate a maid just for discovering this? Was it truly information so classified that no one could know? Even if she had written down the age at which Vivian suffered the accident, no one would find it strange—she was Vivian’s stepmother, after all.

‘As if it were information that others must never learn….’

The uneasy feeling wouldn’t dissipate.
And for good reason. Recording the ages and major events of key figures like Vivian was something I had done fourteen years ago, when I first opened my eyes in this world.
To keep from forgetting the contents of the original work that I knew.

‘…Does Simona Asperada also know the future?’

More precisely, the contents of the original work.

‘If that’s the case, then Simona Asperada’s direct actions make sense too.’

If my hypothesis were correct, she would have had no choice but to act. The situation must have unfolded differently from the future she knew.
What could it be? The true identity of Simona Asperada.

‘Regression? Reincarnation? Premonition?’

It was the moment Raina Hart’s eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.

Kevenriak Heteroven gazed up at the night sky.
“I wish you’d summon me sooner.”

….

A translucent window suddenly materialized before my eyes.
It had been so long since one appeared, and yet this was its contents. Could it be that some creator or deity had given Keri a summon bell to call me?

That’s….

Not bad at all.
Raina Hart pressed the summon bell she held without hesitation.

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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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