For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 7

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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 7

“I need to go back out and catch them again…. Ugh.”
“Ack. It splattered all over my face!”
“Stop, stop…!”

The anguished cries of the Slave Traders echoed beyond the building’s walls.

‘Good luck escaping. The wind won’t stop, after all.’

I regarded the building with cold eyes.
I had confirmed that everyone imprisoned behind the iron bars had escaped.
With the building sealed by magic—nothing inside now but the Slave Traders—I turned away and walked through the village.
As I did, my thoughts drifted to Tiernan, and I spoke aloud to myself.

“…He’ll survive well enough, won’t he? He’s the male protagonist, after all.”

Within the novel’s world, Tiernan would receive the protagonist’s blessing in full measure and grow strong.
Even now, with merely a sword in hand, he possessed the skill to never be captured by such rabble as Slave Traders.

‘I’ve even woven a location-tracking spell into his identification papers.’

I had considered keeping him close, as I did with Kevenriak, but according to the original story’s progression, his identity as a prince of the Tunterra Empire would inevitably be revealed someday.
When that happened, the circumstances surrounding both children would likely spiral in deeply troubling directions.
And besides.

‘I am Raina Hart—the one who orchestrated the assault on the Tunterra Imperial Palace.’

The very enemy who slaughtered the male protagonist’s entire bloodline.
Merely handing him identification papers of the Betuzhenia Empire had already set his eyes ablaze with murderous intent.

‘If Tiernan discovers that I am Raina, he might rush at me right then and there to kill me.’

Perhaps it would not be Kevenriak who dies by the male protagonist’s hand, but myself instead.
…The thought of it was indeed dangerous.

“Well, that’s a problem for later….”

Raina Hart gazed up at the sky. The sunset was beginning to fade.

“Let’s go have dinner.”

The child was waiting.
Light from a teleportation spell enveloped my body.

***

After breakfast, Raina Hart left for the Imperial Palace, summoned by the Emperor.
From the moment Kevenriak watched her step through the entrance, he had been sitting in the center of the staircase in his Separate Palace, waiting for her.

“….”

It was a staircase connected to the lobby, frequented by those who worked in the Separate Palace.
The Fourth Prince’s figure was impossible to miss as people passed by, yet the servants paid him no mind, focused on their duties.

They had already experienced it yesterday.
Kevenriak sitting on those stairs all day, staring unblinkingly at the entrance until Raina Hart returned in the evening.
Even when spoken to, urged to retire to a more comfortable place, he neither answered nor moved—like an animal waiting endlessly for a lost master. So there was nothing to do but leave him be.
Fortunately, Raina Hart returned before lunch.

“…Raina Hart!”

The door opened, and violet-hued hair came into view. Kevenriak descended the stairs like an arrow and stood before her.
She was in the middle of unfastening the buttons of her outer coat to hand it to a servant when Kevenriak simply stared at her with bright, eager eyes. Raina Hart lifted the corners of her mouth playfully at his gaze.

“Your Highness, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“…?”
“I’m home.”
“…?”

He seemed utterly oblivious to what she was saying.
I could see his small head churning with confusion—no need to peer into his thoughts to know it.

‘He’s thinking hard about it.’

Raina Hart observed Kevenriak quietly.
It was endearing how he would rush toward her calling her name whenever she returned.
But perhaps it was time he learned proper greetings.

“….”

Kevenriak glanced around, searching for a clue about what he should say.
Then he spotted a servant adjusting Raina’s outer robe beside her, and with a look of sudden understanding, he bowed his upper body.

“Welcome, my lady.”

A soft laugh nearly escaped her.
Raina barely managed to suppress her amusement.

“That’s not bad, but in situations like this, you can simply say ‘Welcome home’ instead.”
“Welcome? Home?”
“Yes. I’ve returned.”

Uncertain about these unfamiliar words, Kevenriak repeated what Raina had taught him several times in a soft voice.
Raina added an explanation for him.

“It means that I’m coming home to you, Your Highness. ‘Welcome home’ and ‘I’ve returned’—those are the greetings.”
“…Yes, yes!”

That Raina’s home was him. Though Kevenriak unconsciously understood such words could shift as easily as flipping a palm, he felt an overwhelming joy.
Indeed, he followed behind Raina toward the Dining Hall, repeating “Welcome home!” countless times.
Unable to express his happiness in words, he poured it all into those greetings—until Raina told him once was enough.

And shortly after.
Seated at the table, Kevenriak faced something even more unbelievable.

“Your Highness, would you become my disciple?”

It was what Raina said once the food had been served.
Kevenriak, who had been reaching for a piece of steak he’d cut with his fork, froze in that very posture and stared at Raina.
Me, as your disciple?

‘Why?’

I’m a monster.
I couldn’t comprehend it. Questions like ‘Me? Why me?’ rose to the back of my throat.
But Kevenriak couldn’t even utter a single exclamation, only nodding repeatedly.
If he were to question what Raina Hart had said, he feared he would rescind his offer to take her as his disciple.
Unaware of his own audacious thoughts, Raina Hart spoke with a flower-like smile.

“Excellent. I look forward to working with you from now on, Fourth Prince.”

Raina Hart would never know that he was a monster. That’s why she had agreed to take him as her disciple. Yet he lacked the courage to reveal his monstrous nature to her and forfeit this happiness.
Kevenriak swallowed his apologies for the deception and nodded.

“…Yes.”

Raina Hart gazed at Kevenriak with satisfaction.

‘A weight lifted.’

The Emperor had summoned me this morning, and I wondered what it was about—only to learn he was appointing me as the Fourth Prince’s mentor.

“You must fulfill your duty as the Fourth Prince’s teacher. You must do so for me as well—his father and the Emperor of this empire.”

It seemed he had chosen Kevenriak as a substitute for the potion of servitude.
I let out a silent scoff.
I wanted to ask if he had ever truly considered himself the Fourth Prince’s father, but that question stemmed from personal sentiment.

“I shall do so.”

I agreed with the Emperor’s words instead of objecting.
There was no need to reject the position of mentor he was offering.

‘I was worried Kevenriak might refuse, but fortunately that’s not a problem either.’

I felt as though matters were resolving one by one.
Most of all, what delighted me most now was the lustrous steak placed upon the plate before me.
A steak, visible in its entirety, with nothing obstructing my view.

‘Since Tiernan’s narration no longer appears, it seems I’m not going hungry anymore.’

He seemed to be making good use of the bag I had given him.
Yes, resent me if you wish, do whatever you like. As long as you grow without going hungry, that’s all that matters.
Raina hummed a little tune to herself and picked up her fork and knife.
Now that nothing stood in my way, I could remain in Raina Hart’s territory until the original story began….

“Oh.”

Then I remembered there was something I still hadn’t told Kevenriak.
Raina set down her utensils and turned her gaze toward the child, who still seemed uncertain.

“Your Highness, I plan to depart for Hibei soon.”
“Hibei…?”
“It’s a small estate of mine in the countryside. Would you like to come with me?”

Just as he had agreed to become my disciple, I expected an immediate affirmative answer.
After all, the Imperial Palace held no fond memories for Kevenriak.

“I….”

But Kevenriak hesitated in his response.

***

A few days later.

Raina sat inside a carriage bound for Hibei. Across from her, Kevenriak knelt upon the seat, gazing out the window.

‘Was he observing his surroundings like that even in the Imperial Palace? Hiding in the brush and such.’

Raina rested her chin on her arm propped against the window frame, watching the child.
It would have been faster to reach Hibei by teleportation, but I deliberately chose the carriage instead.
I wanted to instill in the child a sense of truly leaving the Imperial Palace behind.
Beneath his black hair, his blue eyes gleamed like rippling water reflecting sunlight, bright and vivid.

‘And here he is, clearly delighted about it.’

Kevenriak had hesitated for about a day before answering my question about whether he would go to Hibei.
I realized the reason when Kevenriak asked me a question with a face full of fear.

“Are you afraid of monsters, Raina Hart…?”

Monsters. The word had appeared in the original work’s description of the Fourth Prince’s past.
What was he talking about?
Raina Hart shook her head firmly.

“No. I am stronger.”

Kevenriak’s face went blank, as if he had heard an answer he never expected.
After pondering for a moment, he said he would follow her to Hibei.

‘What monster. He’s just so beautiful.’

The person who should have possessed the novel was not her, but the original author.
Come and see. How could you possibly burden such a lovely child with such cruel and wretched misfortune?

While Raina internally vented her frustrations at an author whose face she had never seen, someone knocked on the carriage window.
It was the captain of the Imperial Third Knights Order, assigned by the Imperial Household to escort the Fourth Prince as he departed the Imperial Palace.

“Baroness Hart, it appears we must make camp tonight. The nearest village is still half a day’s journey ahead.”
“I see.”

The carriage came to a halt on a deserted forest path.
About thirty people, including the knights, set up tents and prepared a campfire to spend the night.
After eating a simple meal with provisions they had brought, Kevenriak lay down in the bed Raina had conjured with magic.
The child, having ventured outside the Imperial Palace for the first time, seemed quite exhausted and quickly fell asleep.

‘I’m getting sleepy too.’

Raina’s eyes, as she lay beside the child patting him gently, gradually closed.
And when she opened them again, she was alone.

“Ambush!”
“Everyone, wake up!”

Chaos erupted outside the tent.
Hurrying out of the tent, a scene reminiscent of a battlefield unfolded before her.
Tents engulfed in flames. Knights who had barely awakened, still without their armor, clashing with enemies.

And then.
Kevenriak had vanished.

A crimson flame flickered.
Within her eyes—those searching desperately for the child—scarlet fire danced and wavered.

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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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