For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 52

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

Chapter 52

Tiernan Fargan readily handed over his identification.

Nox Dian

I felt reassured seeing the alias written so confidently.
What I had given Tiernan Fargan fourteen years ago was a Betuzhenia Empire citizen’s identification.
What I now received from him was a citizen’s certificate from a country on the Northern Continent.

‘I wondered if he had abandoned his alias and was living as Tiernan Fargan since he was no longer an imperial citizen. Thank goodness that wasn’t the case.’

I had verified it out of concern, but thinking about it, Tiernan Fargan would surely understand.
Using his true name, Tiernan Fargan, was still dangerous.
It would be the same as openly declaring himself to be of the Imperial Family of the fallen Tunterra Empire, an enemy of the Betuzhenia Empire.

‘But this name…’

The alias Nox Dian felt familiar.
It was identical to the name on the identification I had given Tiernan Fargan.

‘Even after creating a false identity in another country, he still uses this name.’

Of course he would.

‘Because that was the alias the original Tiernan Fargan used.’

The reason for disguising himself as Nox Dian would have nothing to do with the mysterious person who had purchased me from the Slave Trader.
By now, he surely wouldn’t even remember who had given him this name.

“What do you think, my lady?”

Tiernan Fargan spoke to me as I lingered in memories while examining the identification.

“Should I start speaking formally to you now?”

A face eagerly anticipating two-year-old Vivian’s casual speech.
Raina Hart stared at Tiernan Fargan for a moment, then handed over her identification.

“No.”

When Tiernan Fargan underwent cellular division, I was outside the novel wearing a school uniform.
I don’t remember it well, though.
At Raina Hart’s composed attitude, completely unintimidated, Tiernan Fargan stammered in confusion.

“No…?”

Raina Hart let out a light chuckle at Tiernan Fargan as she spoke.

“This is Betuzhenia, so you should speak formally.”

Raina Hart was quite the stickler for propriety herself.

***

Raina Hart rode her horse along a rural path.
The dirt road and the verdant fields stretching on either side felt as familiar as those of Hibei.

“I admire you, Master.”

Would Keri still harbor the same feelings?
Two years had passed. Love is an emotion that changes in magnitude with time, so perhaps that affection had faded.

‘When I return and speak of this, perhaps he will feel embarrassed.’

That the emotion had been forgotten.
Yet grateful that his master has returned nonetheless.

‘My body is Vivian’s, but…’

Kevenriak will believe me.
That I am Raina Hart.
At first he will be confused, but as I draw out our shared memories one by one, he will come to believe that I am his master.
The memories I share with Keri alone overflow so abundantly that they could fill several volumes in my mind.

“…Ah.”

Thud.
Tears streamed down my eyes as I thought of Kevenriak Heteroven.
Before I could wipe them away, a man’s hand appeared, offering me a handkerchief.
It was Tiernan Fargan, sitting behind me.
The horse we were riding together belonged to him.

“It’s not great when an employee cries.”
“…Thank you.”

I accepted the handkerchief and offered my gratitude.
Though the tears weren’t born of genuine emotion, Tiernan Fargan seemed to believe that Vivian had some tragic story.
Whenever she wept, he would show concern in this manner.

‘Thanks to that, it seems Tiernan Fargan agreed to take the commission.’

The mercenary permit attached to Tiernan Fargan’s forged credentials.
I used it as a pretext to make him a proposal.

“You have a mercenary permit attached. Do you take personal commissions?”
“Depending on the circumstances.”
“Can you take me to Jenia? I’ll pay you.”

I had a few jewels I’d secretly taken from House of Asperada.
Tiernan Fargan was reluctant at first, but eventually accepted the commission after seeing Vivian’s endless tears.
Wondering what tragic tale would cause such weeping.

“Vivian, once we cross this region, we’ll arrive in Jenia.”
“Yes.”

Tiernan Fargan spoke to me.
We two had eventually agreed to become friends, ending our endless debate over formality.
In truth, I had wondered whether to pretend I didn’t know he was Tiernan Fargan.

‘That’s not my place to reveal.’

It was the kind of remark that would make Tiernan Fargan fall in love with Vivian.
I had lived in this world for over a decade. I could not deny that this realm was alive.
Because of that, I could not bring myself to exploit the love between these two people.
Moreover, was this not the very emotion that Kevenriak—whom I held so dear—had harbored for me?
A feeling I wished to cherish.

‘I must not speak those words for Vivian’s sake, when she returns someday.’

But what would become of me when Vivian returned?
Raina Hart pushed that question to the back of her mind.
In any case, this was an opportunity that had come again.
My death was not the end.

‘While I can still borrow Vivian’s body, I must hurry to the Imperial Palace….’

By tomorrow, we would arrive in Jenia.
I had already devised a way to enter the Imperial Palace.
The evacuation route the Emperor used two years ago, when the Third Prince’s rebellion occurred.
I planned to use that passage, which connected to a villa near Jenia.

‘I must meet with Keri and tell him.’

I hope that even without me by your side, you will pursue your happiness to the very end.
If I could ask for forgiveness, I would want to say I am sorry.

Tiernan Fargan gazed quietly at Vivian, who was crying again.
Vivian, accustomed to weeping and shedding many tears, always wore a composed expression.
How sorrowful must her life have been….

“But you need to know something.”
“What?”

Tiernan Fargan offered Vivian not awkward consolation, but rather a warning he could give.

“The Imperial Palace is dangerous. The Emperor is… mad.”

Again, hearing that Keri was mad.
Raina Hart lowered her head slightly.
She spoke while taking in the sight of Tiernan Fargan’s hand holding the reins.

“Why has the Emperor… gone mad?”
“Because the witch is dead.”

My heart lurched for a moment.
Witch. It was the word Tiernan Fargan used when referring to Raina Hart, his nation’s sworn enemy.
I still wasn’t accustomed to hearing of my own death from others’ lips, and I found myself startled each time.
In any case, hearing that Keri had gone mad because of my death felt strangely disconcerting.
Into my troubled thoughts, Tiernan Fargan’s voice came once more.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you, Vivian.”

Tiernan Fargan’s warning did not end with the statement that the Imperial Palace was in danger.
What he was telling Vivian included the fact that the Emperor had gone mad because of Raina Hart, along with information not widely known to the outside world.

“I don’t know who you need to meet at the Imperial Palace, but should you happen to encounter the Emperor, there are certain words you must never speak aloud.”
“Words?”
“Every time the Emperor hears those words, he loses his mind.”

The leader of the Rebel Forces. He received far more information than ordinary people.
Especially regarding the Emperor, whom they were targeting.
Tiernan Fargan slowly spoke each forbidden word aloud, hoping Vivian would commit them to memory.

“Raina Hart.”
“….”
“Grand Mage.”
“….”
“Master.”
“….”

Then, noticing the droplets falling onto the back of my hand holding the reins, I looked at Vivian.
For the first time, sorrow had settled upon her face, which usually shed tears as a matter of course.

***

Kevenriak’s tyranny was silent.
It was as though a vast black swamp had spread across the entire Imperial Palace where he dwelt.
Those who remained in the Imperial Palace or passed through its gates moved with cautious steps.
None wished to accidentally tread upon the swamp and be swallowed into its depths.

“….”

In the sun-drenched Separate Palace within the Imperial Palace.
A man in a white uniform walked through its corridors.
It was Person, Commander of the Imperial First Knights.

‘How dark it is.’

This place alone seemed trapped in that moment in time.
Dark and cold, just like that terrible day three years ago.

‘If only Raina Hart had not died. This place would have been more at ease and peaceful than anywhere else in the Imperial Palace.’

Three years had passed.
Person reflected on the time that had flowed away.

The first year.
Kevenriak remained silent.

“Your Majesty…! Why, why do you remain still? They are disgracing you, disgracing Raina Hart…!”
“….”

The arrogance of the nobles grew worse with each passing day.
Unable to bear watching it, Person fell to his knees before the Emperor and cried out.

“I made a promise to my master.”
“…A promise…?”
“That I would not kill anyone with my own hands this year.”

Only then did Person realize that the Emperor was simply waiting for the right moment.
To keep his promise with Raina Hart.
Like a beast of prey holding its breath while stalking its quarry, he had quietly accumulated his rage alone.

The grace period for the arrogant had ended.
When the year turned, everything changed.
The Emperor, who had consumed the Imperial Palace, extended his blade beyond its walls.
The blood of the guilty stained his path.

‘Yet the culprit remains unknown.’

The culprit who manipulated Kin and murdered Raina Hart.
That criminal wielding dark magic had left not even a trace.
Person entered the room with its door ajar.
The chamber, now bereft of its master, had become so familiar that I could sketch every architectural detail with my eyes closed.
I had grown accustomed to visiting this place with such frequency. The one I serve visits here far too often.

“Your Majesty, you are here.”

Person halted and bowed deeply.
Beneath the window, the Emperor sat shrouded in darkness, just as he had that day.

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