For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 124

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

Chapter 124

It happened earlier that afternoon.
Tiernan Fargan made a request of the mages he’d encountered on the mountain.

“You mentioned searching for Vivian as a graduation assignment. She’s not home right now. If you find her, could you let me know?”
“….”

The mages’ gazes fixed upon me. At their silent stares, Tiernan Fargan lowered his head.

“I understand. It must seem shameless—asking this after you’ve been told to leave the village. But this is a request from her friend, not from the leader here. Please. I’ll compensate you generously.”

Inside Tiernan Fargan’s mouth, long bite marks ran along both sides where blood had pooled. Ever since learning Vivian wasn’t home, he’d been clenching his teeth anxiously over her whereabouts.
Rose, the youngest, spoke as she observed Tiernan Fargan’s silver hair falling forward.

“Setting that aside, wouldn’t it be better to let this go? That person is the Vivian Asperada.”

She meant—what good could come from further entanglement between him, the leader of the Rebel Forces, and a noblewoman of the Betuzhenia Empire?
It wasn’t wrong. So—.

“I’m not asking you to bring her. I just need to know she’s safe.”
“….”
“She’s precious to me.”

At his desperate tone, the four exchanged glances. The Disciples huddled together, whispering, and once they’d reached a conclusion, they spoke to Tiernan Fargan.

“Cough… Very well. We’ll contact you separately.”

They were those who had tracked me to this village and possessed supreme-grade magical artifacts powerful enough to erase top-tier mages. In other words, there was no doubt about their abilities.

“Thank you.”

Having set down his worry somewhat, Tiernan Fargan returned to the village.
The banquet preparations were in full swing. Those welcoming the protagonist’s arrival were met with Tiernan Fargan’s immediate command: leave the village at once.

“Your Majesty, what should we do about the banquet…?”
“Cancel it.”
“Understood.”

They too were members of the Rebel Forces. The commander’s orders were absolute—even if it meant abandoning the home they had known.
The villagers moved with perfect synchronization. Ladles were set down from stirring pots, dishes were cleared away, and chairs that had been about to be moved were returned to their places.
They followed the command to gather their belongings and assemble at the village entrance.
Since the Dark Mage might return, Tiernan remained in the village until they completed all their preparations.
The sun was beginning to set.

“We cannot find Vivian Asperada, Your Majesty.”

An Officer approached Tiernan on horseback and made his report.
They had confirmed that Vivian’s House was empty and conducted a brief search of the surrounding area, but Vivian could not be found.

“Given that she is unwell, we cannot determine where she has gone.”
“Vivian is….”
“Your Majesty! I beg your pardon! My friend has disappeared!”

Shana rushed forward in front of Tiernan’s horse and cried out. She had asked the villagers about Vivian’s whereabouts but realized that no one knew where she was.
They needed to leave immediately, and with no time to search for Vivian, she had rushed to Tiernan.

“She told me this morning. That her cold was just an excuse, and that she was… helping someone’s love….”
“…Helping someone’s love?”

Vivian had said it was a secret, but in the situation of her disappearance, it was a clue to find her.
Just then, a single leaf fluttered through the air before Tiernan’s eyes. On the leaf he caught was a brief message.

「Not in the village. Safe.」

It was surely sent by the Mages. Had they already found Vivian’s whereabouts?

‘…Safe with whom?’

Tiernan gripped the reins tightly.
Vivian had left the village in a state of safety. Perhaps it meant I was not a place she could rely on.
If I were not the Imperial Prince of Tunterra but merely a mercenary named Nox, could I be at your side now, protecting you? I had never felt so utterly worthless.

Tiernan assured those who were worried that Vivian was safe.
A few hours later, people with packed belongings gathered at the village entrance.

“Your Highness, we are ready to depart.”
“We move out.”

Tiernan’s command fell. The villagers left their home behind.

***

“You’re leaving after breakfast?”

Vivian, who had been missing, had only just returned yesterday. Yet not even a full day had passed before she was leaving home again.
The Butler questioned his young mistress, who sat at the dining table. Vivian Asperada was having breakfast with her lover.

“Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
“Hmm?”

The Butler regarded her with a puzzled expression.
Ah, Vivian had used formal speech with the Butler. She called him “Mr. Butler,” if I recalled correctly.

“…sir.”

Raina Hart added the words with an air of composure.
During my stay at Asperada Duke’s Castle, I had memories of addressing the Butler formally. But since Vivian awakened, I decided to match her manner as much as possible.
Raina Hart explained with a few deliberate coughs.

“My lover is quite occupied with duties. He says he must return today, you see. I told him to go alone, but….”

Kevenriak, seated across from her, lifted his head. He exchanged a neatly cut steak from his plate with hers as he spoke.

“I will not go without you.”

His voice was resolute. The Butler flinched, and Raina Hart gazed at the plate Kevenriak was taking away.
Breakfast at Asperada Duke’s Castle was prepared according to each person’s preference. For the guest, as Vivian had instructed beforehand, succulent meats.
For Vivian, who had recovered somewhat, instead of invalid’s fare—.

“We prepared the dishes you favored seven years ago.”
“….”

Roasted vegetables. The plate that Kevenriak had naturally claimed for himself. Not a single mark from a fork—pristine.

“See how he is. Ah, let me bring out a new dish.”

At Raina’s words, the Attendant promptly placed a plate with steak before the guest. This too had been prepared in pairs at the young lady’s command.
I thought our guest must have quite an appetite, but watching closely, the nobleman was giving everything he ate to the young lady.

‘That handsome man is utterly smitten with the young lady.’

Beyond being Vivian’s lover, we had received no proper introduction. No one in the Duke’s Castle knew his noble status or name.
We could only infer the man’s origins and profession by occasionally overhearing their conversations. And so, the identity of Kevenriak that had quietly spread through the Duke’s Castle was—

‘A successful businessman from a wealthy noble family….’

The Butler spoke to the Attendant who had brought out the new steak dish.

“Perhaps a fresh plate for the young lady as well—”
“It’s fine. This looks delicious too.”

But Vivian hastily stopped the Butler’s words. Watching her bring a bite-sized piece of steak to her mouth, the Butler reflected.
When she was younger, she would eat meat with a sullen expression. To think she would make such an effort now—she must truly adore this nobleman.
Whether the Butler reminisced or not, Raina and Kevenriak continued their conversation.

“What will you do if you can’t go without me? If you don’t return today, the merchant vessel won’t depart, they say? It’s a major transaction you’ve been preparing for months.”
“That ship. I’ll have it not depart. Am I supposed to abandon you out of fear of losing a single transaction? You matter far more to me than that.”
“What are you saying? It’s a family business passed down through generations.”

Everyone present watched the conversation between the young lady and her lover.
Perhaps because both possessed such striking beauty, the eyes of observers were treated to a feast. Though the man seemed unusually devoted, it didn’t feel strange.
Wasn’t this simply the sort of conversation lovesick couples would have?
How perfectly matched they were. The two eating steak looked identical to a long-married couple.

“You heard him?”

The young lady looked at the Butler with a helpless expression.

“Doesn’t this mean I have to travel with him?”
“I have no authority to dissuade you, young lady. However….”

The Butler recalled the communication device that had stopped functioning since yesterday.
He had thought it was a temporary issue, but the condition persisted even this morning.
Since the Castle’s repair worker couldn’t find the cause, a specialist was scheduled to visit during the day.

“I’m worried that I couldn’t inform the Duke about the young lady’s arrival.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

Raina Hart smiled brightly.

“I’ll tell him myself.”

There was no way to stop the stubborn Vivian Asperada. In the end, the young lady of Asperada left the Duke’s Castle with her lover just two days after returning.

“I’ll be back soon.”

At that news, everyone at the Duke’s Castle came out to see her off. Escorted by Kevenriak Heteroven, Raina Hart waved toward them from the carriage.
Behind the Butler and the head maid stood Maya, her eyes red from crying since morning.

“Young lady….”

The moment their eyes met, her expression crumpled. In Maya’s pocket was a communication device—one Raina Hart had given her, telling her to contact if anything happened.

“Shall we depart?”

Raina Hart asked, looking at Kevenriak Heteroven seated across from her. He smiled softly with his eyes slightly closed and gave a small nod.

The Alchemist’s call came shortly after the carriage left the Duke’s Castle.
Once they moved beyond the communication interference range that Kevenriak Heteroven had placed over the Duke’s Castle, the calls that had been continuously coming through finally connected.

– Listen, you need to come right now.

Dinsper let out a suspicious laugh.

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