For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 74

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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 74

“The barrier around the Separate Palace remains intact. His Majesty appears to be at the Emperor’s Palace today.”

Person listened to his subordinate’s report.
It was common knowledge among the First Knights Order that the Emperor had been plagued by nightmares and visited Raina Hart’s Separate Palace every day.
But today marked the second day.
The Emperor had not visited the Separate Palace. Was this also thanks to Vivian Asperada?

‘To dismiss the lady as an enemy merely because she impersonated Raina Hart’s ghost would be hasty—too much has changed in His Majesty over these four days.’

And all of it in a positive direction.
What on earth was her true identity?
What did covenant and soul truly mean?

‘If my covenant still remains, does that mean Raina Hart’s soul has not yet departed this life?’

Yet it was far too absurd a notion.
It differed little from saying His Majesty had exchanged written correspondence with Raina Hart’s ghost.
But in the end, it wasn’t Raina Hart’s ghost at all—it was Vivian Asperada. Of course, it was still speculation, but barring any unforeseen complications, the circumstances pointed to her as the culprit.

“….”

Person regarded his subordinate.
Beneath the commander’s sudden weary gaze, the subordinate exhaled an awkward breath through his nose.

“Is there something you wish to say, sir?”
“Well, I….”

Why was he dragging it out like this?

“Fourteen years ago….”

Fourteen years ago.
It was so long ago that I couldn’t even remember what I had done.

“H-heh, h-heh…”
“….”

My subordinate took a subtle step backward.
Surely the Director’s madness hadn’t caught on from His Majesty’s affliction.
Person let out a few more “h-heh, h-heh, h-heh…” before closing his mouth.
The oath binding me to silence about those four years in Hibei fourteen years ago still held.

‘If Raina Hart were to….’

Even as I thought it impossible, my mouth had gone completely dry.
It was premature to conclude anything. No matter how often I found myself missing her.
I chided myself for growing impatient.

***

The next morning.
I sought out the Emperor’s Chamber.
The bright chamber stirred my chest once more, then my heart sank.
The Emperor stood before his desk, reading a piece of paper in his hand.
The same paper as yesterday. Could it possibly be traces of new correspondence?

‘If His Majesty learned that Vivian Asperada had impersonated Raina Hart, he would not remain idle.’

The Emperor did not forgive those who lied about his Master.
I had not yet realized that somewhere along the way, I had begun worrying about her safety rather than suspecting the princess.
I surveyed the brightened Emperor’s Chamber and asked.

“Your Majesty, shall I bring in a chair or sofa for the chamber?”
“No need.”

Kevenriak answered without lifting his gaze from the paper.
Such things were unnecessary. Having a place to sit remained a luxury for me.
Yet whatever his answer, my heart swelled.
That consistent response, without fail, meant the Emperor’s condition was improving.

“Did Raina Hart visit you again last night?”
“No. She seemed to be occupied.”
“What you’re looking at now is….”
“Something else.”

Yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away, as if finding it so entertaining.
Person moved a little closer to the Emperor.
Would he show me the contents of the written correspondence as he did yesterday?

“Your Majesty, might I read it as well?”
“No.”

But I was rejected outright.
The Knight, unable to discern the reason behind those wary eyes, retreated.
Kevenriak, who had been muttering something about how poor handwriting would be difficult, let out a quiet chuckle.

***

Fifth day at the Imperial Palace.
Raina Hart awoke neither early nor late.

“Sleep well.”

The previous night, I had returned to the Emperor’s Palace without losing consciousness.
Since he had only used Heal while I remained unconscious until now, I thought yesterday would pass without incident.
Yet Kevenriak used Heal on me along with the words “sleep well.”

“My body is in perfect condition, but there’s nothing to do….”

Raina Hart sat on the bed and muttered to herself.
Originally, I had planned to go out at dawn and send a letter asking after Kevenriak’s wellbeing.

‘But Person is growing suspicious of me.’

The thought occurred to me that he might be watching the Emperor’s visits.
After all, Person’s duty was to guard the Emperor.

‘I wish he would recognize me soon.’

I stretched and climbed out of bed.
The maids brought breakfast to my room. Person was nowhere to be seen.
After finishing my meal, I left the Emperor’s Palace.
Since I had nothing particularly pressing to do until dinner with Kevenriak Heteroven this evening, I decided to take a stroll through the Imperial Palace grounds.

“Ah.”

A familiar path caught my eye.
It was a route I had frequented fourteen years ago when I stayed at the Imperial Palace—the path leading to the Fourth Prince’s Separate Palace.

“…Should I visit once more?”

It was where I first met Kevenriak Heteroven.
Lost in nostalgia, I changed direction and walked toward the Separate Palace.

“I didn’t expect anyone to maintain it, but it really hasn’t been cared for at all.”

I gazed at the Separate Palace beyond the overgrown vegetation.
Due to the perpetually shaded and humid natural environment, the paint on the castle walls had peeled away, and moss had crept up more than halfway across the surface.
Even in broad daylight, the atmosphere felt desolate.

I should have restored it with magic two years ago.

I never imagined I would return here as someone unable to cast even a single spell.
Then again, I had been preoccupied with creating a barrier to ward off dark magic.

I wonder if he still has the necklace.

I had given Kevenriak Heteroven a necklace inscribed with the same magical circle as the barrier.
I told my worried student not to be concerned since I possessed an identical one.

Yet in the end, I fell victim to dark magic.

The necklace. The restoration of the Fourth Prince’s Separate Palace.
All consequences of my arrogance—thinking time and magic would forever be mine to command.
Never imagining it would come to this.
I made my way to the back garden of the Separate Palace, seeking the place where Kevenriak had once plucked white flowers.
A tree that bloomed only in shade, flowering in early winter, he had said, grew there.
The Fourth Prince’s Separate Palace received no sunlight year-round.
So the tree thrived in that darkness, blooming faithfully each year.

“How bare it is.”

A tree as tall as I was, its skeletal branches stretching in all directions.
Though it appeared nearly dead, come early winter, flowers would bloom as if snow had gently accumulated upon it.

“I thought that flower resembled you.”

Young Kevenriak had answered me that way when I asked about the flowers he’d gathered in a basket.

“That flower too? Are there other flowers that resemble me?”
“Yes….”

To my teasing question, young Kevenriak would blush and pull the blanket up over his face.
Back then, we had promised to see the flowers that would bloom in the Separate Palace together someday.

‘It’s still late summer.’

One full season remained after summer passed before early winter arrived.
I would not be able to stay here until then.
A lying teacher who cannot keep even one promise.
I moved forward with bitter resignation.
Then a hand seized me.

“…?!”

In the shadowed corner where the back garden met the Separate Palace.
A tall assailant wearing a mask.

“Aim for the vital points.”

Kevenriak’s words echoed in my mind.
I planted my elbow firmly and drove it upward into the masked assailant’s solar plexus.
The technique was clean and precise—though my entire arm now hung uselessly at my side, throbbing as though it wouldn’t function for days.

“…Ugh.”
“…?”

But the cry that escaped from behind the mask stirred a familiar memory.

“You learned self-defense in just a few days?”

A man’s voice, strained with pain.
Only then did I lift my head. The forest-green eyes visible above the mask were unmistakable.

“Nox?”

It was Tiernan Fargan.
What was he doing in the Imperial Palace?

“Yes. It’s me, Vivian.”

Tiernan Fargan lowered the mask covering the lower half of his face with his index finger.
Indeed. The visage of a true male lead emerged—a silver-haired beauty reminiscent of snow-capped peaks.
I asked in surprise.

“How did you get inside?”

He couldn’t have followed Maverick in.
Maverick would never reveal his marquis status to his clients.
In my case, it was possible because I already knew Maverick beforehand, and the moment I saw the Director, I immediately saw through his identity.

“Did you infiltrate alone?”

Though Tiernan Fargan was the male lead and I’d known him since childhood, giving me some internal familiarity.
But he was the leader of the Rebel Forces. This situation amounted to nothing more than a lone infiltration into enemy territory.
If he were caught as a suspicious person and his identity exposed, what then?

“Mercenaries can’t enter the Imperial Palace without a patron. Who came with you?”

Raina Hart glanced around nervously and lowered her voice.
She couldn’t fathom why he was smiling when the situation was so grave.

“I’m relieved to see you looking so well.”
“…?”
“That’s why I came. You said you’d be released in a month, so I was worried something had happened.”

Raina Hart looked at Tiernan Fargan.

“Your eyesight isn’t very good, is it?”
“My eyesight?”

Raina Hart recalled what she had said earlier.
She had asked him to greet Vivian first if their paths crossed, since his vision wasn’t sharp.
She worried that if Tiernan Fargan and Vivian Asperada ever encountered each other, she might inadvertently rob them of the chance to meet.

“Ah.”

Vivian Asperada smiled faintly as the memory returned to her.
Tiernan Fargan held that image of Vivian in his green eyes.
In the four days since he’d last seen her, Vivian Asperada still carried that spark within her.
She was here in the Imperial Palace. Something that made her flame burn ever brighter.

‘It seems your fire has ignited something in me as well.’

Tiernan Fargan gazed at Vivian Asperada and felt something stirring within him.

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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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