For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 71

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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 71

Fourth day at the Imperial Palace.
Raina Hart encountered Maverick again after a simple lunch.
As she strolled through the grounds beyond the Emperor’s Palace, a tall nobleman approached her with a wave.

“My apologies. I had pressing matters yesterday and departed without informing you, my lady.”
“…I see.”

His shameless demeanor was audacious, but I let it pass.
I harbored no illusions that Maverick would take my side before the Emperor.
His role as Director of Daisy, acting on Tiernan Fargan’s commission, was sufficient.

“You’re not hiding behind trees today? It seems you don’t mind showing His Majesty that we’re together.”
“My lady, are you concerned for me? There’s no need. His Majesty is currently in a meeting. Or rather, he’s busy hunting down the rats hiding in the walls.”

If he was in a meeting, why was the Marquis wandering the Imperial Palace?
My suspicions grew stronger.

“Shouldn’t you be attending the meeting, Marquis? You visit the Imperial Palace daily, so you must hold some position.”
“Ah, it’s fine. My title is merely ornamental.”
“…Ornamental?”

Maverick withdrew a metal business card case from his pocket and handed me a card.
It was a neat card inscribed with “Director Deyel Maverick.”

“The Special Investigation Bureau—an agency His Majesty entrusted with cases and unsolved mysteries.”

Hazel, the investigator who had been examining dark magic, belonged to that organization.
I wondered if he was still working as an investigator.
Maverick as a superior? I couldn’t quite picture it.

“It seems too busy to be merely ornamental?”
“Regrettably, His Majesty doesn’t seek me out these days. Besides, I was appointed two years ago as a novice, so my capable subordinates are working diligently.”
“I see.”

Seeing that Raina Hart showed little interest, Maverick shifted the conversation.
After all, the real reason he’d sought out Vivian Asperada again lay in this very matter.

“So, regarding what I mentioned yesterday—I wasn’t able to tell you the full story, was I?”

Raina nodded, having anticipated this topic.
Yesterday, the conversation had been cut short before Maverick could answer her question about whether he’d been kidnapped by the Emperor.
The translucent window had appeared, revealing the battle between Ban and Keri.

“If you were indeed kidnapped, I’ll arrange for you to escape the Imperial Palace.”
“About that—could you postpone it for about a month?”
“A month? …But did you anticipate I would make such a proposal?”

Surprise flickered across Maverick’s face.
He hadn’t expected the answer to come so readily from the lady’s lips.
Had she deduced this proposal from yesterday’s interrupted conversation?
A lady one couldn’t dismiss as merely unstable.
Much like His Imperial Majesty himself.

“Well, that’s…”

Raina paused for a moment.
She’d anticipated Maverick’s proposal because she knew his true identity as the Director of the Detective Agency.
But she couldn’t reveal that truth.

“Since you directly mentioned kidnapping yesterday, I made an educated guess.”
“I see.”

To a lady kidnapped by the Emperor, a marquis would dare propose spiriting her away from the Imperial Palace.
Maverick’s right eye twitched with excitement.
Calm down, partner.

‘I can’t tell if Vivian Asperada’s madness is genuine or if she’s playing the situation to her advantage.’

Maverick accepted Raina’s request.
After all, he’d drafted the contract with Tiernan Fargan with a deadline of roughly a month and a half in mind.
If the target cooperated willingly, that was all the better for him.

“One month from now. I understand. However, if the princess faces any danger before that agreed-upon date, we can move on our end without waiting.”
“I see. But how do you plan to get me out?”
“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

Maverick chuckled softly.

“My friend happens to be a capable director of a Detective Agency.”

***

I’m worried.
Raina Hart walked along, recalling Maverick’s words.
Surely he doesn’t intend to come to the Imperial Palace as the director.
I’d prefer if he could quietly take Vivian away.

‘Entrusting Vivian’s escape to Maverick a month from now is insurance in case things go wrong.’

It was a contingency for if Vivian woke up before I left the Imperial Palace, or if Kevenriak remained out of his mind until then.

‘The best outcome would still be Keri regaining his senses. And making him understand my situation.’

If that happened, I could entrust Vivian to Kevenriak with confidence.
And that wasn’t all—I could even advise my disciple about what the future held.

‘Beware the Rebel Forces led by Tiernan Fargan, prioritize survival above all else, know that Tunchar floats in the sky. And.’

Though I can no longer achieve it myself, you must—.

“…definitely get a happy ending.”
“A happy ending?”
“…!”

Goodness, I’m startled.
Raina Hart spun around at the young voice behind her, her heart leaping.
Black uniform. As her gaze traveled upward along the muscular frame, she beheld a sharp-featured, dark-haired handsome man.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

It was Kevenriak.
His expressionless face showed no reaction whatsoever to my mimicry of his words.

“Oh, how long have you been behind me?”
“Since earlier.”

Kevenriak tilted his head slightly toward the back.
When I turned my head to the side to look, there was indeed a path running past the Main Palace Building—the very route I had walked while lost in thought.
From that point to here.
He had followed me for a good fifty meters without my noticing.

‘How could I have missed that…’

At this point, it wasn’t Kevenriak’s inhuman abilities I should blame, but rather Vivian’s dull senses—a matter worthy of serious concern.

‘Perhaps I need special training. For now, I should make a habit of surveying my surroundings whenever I remember.’

The Emperor’s lips curved into a faint smile as he observed the top of my head, then it vanished just as quickly.

‘In any case, I won’t tolerate being startled like this again.’

I retraced the murmurs I had spoken aloud just moments before, resolving never to be caught off guard again.
Fortunately, it seemed I had said nothing problematic.

“But Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

Right before the Emperor.
At a distance that would have sent anyone else fleeing in shock, the princess simply stared at him blankly, seemingly unaware of how unusual this was. Her familiarity with this proximity was unmistakable.
Kevenriak’s eyes crinkled with amusement at our locked gaze as he asked me a question.

“Have you eaten lunch?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Will you eat dinner?”
“…If you arrange the time for it?”
“Is that so?”

The Emperor’s upper body leaned forward slowly.
Kevenriak rested his forehead against her shoulder, turning his head slightly to the side.

“I’ll make sure to have it ready on time, so starting today, have dinner with me.”

What? Starting today, eat with me.
That deliberately seductive, honeyed baritone made my eardrums vibrate.
Raina Hart caught her breath at the soft sensation of black hair brushing against her nape.

“Master.”

Until two years ago, my disciple had often shown me such affection.
Yet it was different from those moments when it had merely seemed endearing.
Why did my face grow so flushed, and my breathing feel so strained?
At this rate, it seemed as though I were beginning to regard you as something more than a student.

‘That cannot be.’

Raina Hart struggled to suppress the impure emotions rising within her.
It was absurd. It should never happen.
Even if such feelings were to arise, what could I possibly do?
This body belongs to Vivian.

“Your Majesty, shall we have dinner together from now on?”

Then, realizing I had spoken nearly identical words to Kevenriak fourteen years ago, I let out a hollow, deflated laugh.

‘It seems the traces of my time in this world have remained with you.’

Bittersweet as it was, I did not regret leaving that mark.
I was the one who first suggested to you that we always share dinner together.
I wanted to show you the warmth of comfort, trembling as you were in that cold bath.
If you’ve become this obsessed because of that, it breaks my heart terribly.
Yet if I could return to that moment countless times, I would do the same. My only regret is that I could not share that warmth with you until the very end.

“Very well.”

Raina Hart nodded in response to Kevenriak’s proposal.

“From now on, let’s share dinner together.”
“A wise choice, Vivian.”

As the tension melted away, so did my breath.
When Raina Hart turned her head, Kevenriak’s hair brushed against the tip of her nose.
She inhaled the scent and murmured softly.

“So you really have been following me this whole time, Your Majesty.”
“Why?”
“Because your hair smells of the wind.”
….

At those words, Kevenriak lifted his upper body and fell silent.
I had spent four days in the Imperial Palace watching him.
The Emperor’s rapidly shifting moods had become somewhat familiar by now.

“Your Majesty, are you busy?”
“…No.”

His voice emerged flat and colorless.
It was the Emperor’s usual tone—one that would make ordinary people tremble—yet Raina Hart paid it no mind and took his hand.

“How fortunate.”
“…?”
“I was bored. Let’s play together.”

After all, Kevenriak wouldn’t kill me, so surely this much was acceptable.

“If you dislike it, release the oath.”
….

The fearless Vivian Asperada turned her body forward while holding the Emperor’s hand and walked ahead.
The Emperor said nothing and allowed himself to be pulled along without resistance.

‘He really doesn’t want to release the oath, does he.’

And.

“…Gasp.”

A single nobleman witnessed this unbelievable sight from a distance.

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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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