For the Young Villain’s Happy Ending - Chapter 75

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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 75

“I’ll be staying in Jenia for a while.”

Tiernan answered Raina’s question about his future plans with those words.

“You’re not going back?”

Tiernan let out a soft chuckle.
Vivian’s question made it sound as though I actually had somewhere to return to.

“Where would a wandering mercenary go back to? Since I’m already in a major city like Jenia, I thought I’d take on a few well-paying jobs before moving on.”

On the surface, it sounded as though I had simply come to Jenia to earn some coin.
But Raina, who knew the truth, found his words somewhat troubling.

‘Surely Tiernan isn’t preparing for a rebellion in Jenia right now?’

The Rebel Forces were meant to rise next spring, seeking the old lands of Tunterra.
Yet after witnessing the Imperial Palace stained with blood half a year earlier than in the original timeline, I couldn’t entirely trust that timeline.
It would be best if no rebellion occurred, but that was merely idealism.
After all, hadn’t Kevenriak’s tyrannical awakening—which I had tried so hard to prevent—ultimately never come to pass?

‘At the very least, Keri must be of sound mind when the rebellion occurs.’

Then I had to prevent Kevenriak’s death at minimum. He needed to be of sound mind to heed my plea to flee.
Fortunately, standing right before me was a man who knew the timing of the rebellion better than the original timeline itself.
Raina posed a question to Tiernan.

“Nox, as a wandering mercenary, you must have traveled throughout the Betuzhenia Empire quite extensively?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you happen to hear information? There won’t be any dangerous incidents happening at the Imperial Palace soon, will there?”

Tiernan’s kind expression stiffened slightly, and a faint wariness flickered across his face.

“…Dangerous incidents?”
“Yes. I have an acquaintance at the Imperial Palace. Once I leave, they’ll be alone there, and I’m worried because the Betuzhenia Imperial Palace is so treacherous.”

Tiernan gazed at Vivian Asperada.
He wondered if she knew something, but her composed expression—brow furrowed with concern—seemed genuinely worried for an acquaintance.
Worry flickered in her hazel eyes.

“This year, I have circumstances that require me to stay at the Imperial Palace. Will it be alright to leave me here alone in such a place?”

Tiernan opened his mouth toward the concerned Vivian Asperada.
At least he could tell her that much.

“This year should be uneventful. I haven’t heard of anything happening.”
“Really?”

Raina Hart brightened at those words.
Thank goodness. It seemed Tiernan’s stay in Jenia wasn’t for the immediate purpose of staging a rebellion.
Meanwhile, seeing Vivian Asperada’s brightened expression, Tiernan became curious about who this acquaintance was.
Whom was she trying to meet?
Why would someone of Vivian Asperada’s station run away from home, hire an unfamiliar mercenary, laboriously climb a mountain, and stay in the dangerous Imperial Palace for an entire month?

‘Even after waking seven years later, she hasn’t forgotten that person.’

It seemed only he had forgotten his childhood.
A shallow jealousy stirred, and Tiernan grumbled to himself without realizing it.
Tiernan asked a question.

“Does your acquaintance work at the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes. She’s there working right now. Quite diligent, isn’t she?”

Despite being kidnapped, Raina Hart laughed, saying she alone had such good fortune.

“Very diligent indeed.”

Never dreaming that this acquaintance was the Emperor, Tiernan praised Raina Hart’s friend.
Not long after, Tiernan pulled his mask back up, saying he should leave.
No matter how deserted the Fourth Prince’s Separate Palace was, it wasn’t wise to linger in an exposed location.

“If you want to leave before a month passes, hang a red flag on the City Walls. I’ll come retrieve you on the day it appears.”
“Okay. Thank you.”

Raina nodded.
Before leaving, Tiernan hesitated for a moment and spoke to me.

“If you have nowhere to go once you leave the Imperial Palace, consider coming with me.”
“With you?”

I asked in surprise.
Tiernan was the leader of the Rebel Forces, and Vivian was the sole noblewoman of the Betuzhenia Empire.
His position made such a proposal nearly impossible to voice.

‘In the original story, the two of them did run away together, but that was only because they had genuine certainty in their feelings for each other.’

Right now, Tiernan and Vivian had nothing between them. I had never once revealed his identity for the sake of Vivian, who was still asleep.

‘…Could it be that Tiernan already has feelings for Vivian?’

– Do you perhaps remember me?

The pivotal moment when Tiernan falls for Vivian is when she brings up the past promise the two of them made together.
But could fate draw his emotions even without that line?

‘Where from…?’

I retraced my actions up to this point.
I searched for any opportunity that might have caused Tiernan to develop feelings for Vivian, but I couldn’t find a single clue.

“I just said it on the off chance. If you have nowhere to go, that’s an option too.”

As I fell deep into thought, Tiernan touched his reddened neck awkwardly.
Then he hastily left, saying he really should be going.

***

“Count Mars saw that Vivian was in the Imperial Palace. They said she appeared intimate with the Emperor—how could I sit idle upon hearing such news? I thought to use Vivian to secure the position of the Emperor’s father-in-law. That’s why I’m planning to depart for the Imperial Palace.”

Stale air hung in the chambers of Duke Asperada and his wife.
Simona sat on the sofa, observing her husband across from her.
With eyes as murky as the air itself, Pialtis finally spoke to his wife the words he had long wished to conceal.

“….”

After a moment, Pialtis regained consciousness.
A teacup came into view in my hand.
It seemed I had closed my eyes briefly, and a slight haziness lingered.

‘This again.’

As I aged, my vitality waned, and such episodes occurred frequently.
The physician insisted there was nothing wrong with my body, attributing it all to age.
When I lifted my gaze forward, my wife seated across from me smiled gently.

“Did I just do something?”
“You were simply sitting there holding your teacup, sir.”

Her answer brought me relief.
Where could I find someone more trustworthy than my own wife?

“You’re visiting the Imperial Palace tomorrow, then?”
“Ah, yes. That’s what we were discussing.”

Simona’s words helped me recall the topic of our conversation.
This frequent forgetfulness—was it also due to waning vitality?
Perhaps Vivian’s frail constitution stemmed not from resembling her late mother, but from resembling me.
Pialtis answered his wife.

“I wish to pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor after all this time.”

I had not told Simona that Vivian was at the Imperial Palace.
It was my own little surprise.
How moved she would be if I brought back the daughter I had been searching for.
My gentle wife might even weep.

“I wish you could go to Jenia as well. Your carriage sickness has become so severe.”

It was about two years ago.
The year the Archmage died. After Simona’s severe illness that year, she developed a strong aversion to travel.
She struggled with carriages and even found teleportation alongside mages difficult.
The coronation day of the current Emperor was the last day she had traveled to Jenia.

“It’s fine. There’s no major inconvenience.”

Pialtis gazed at his wife with pity—a woman who spent her days confined to Asperada Duke’s Castle.
She met his gaze and smiled tenderly, her eyes crinkling at the corners where a beauty mark graced her skin.

“Please don’t worry about me. Go and enjoy yourself.”

***

After parting with Tiernan, I made my way back to the Emperor’s Palace.

“….”

An eerie silence enveloped the empty corridor as I walked alone.
My instincts, honed by countless familiar encounters, stirred with an ominous premonition.
For instance, if Kevenriak were to appear from behind without a sound right now—

“Lady.”
“Oh!”

—he would startle me in exactly this manner.
My reflexes failed to keep pace with my prediction.
My feet tangled, and I stumbled, but Kevenriak caught me, steadying my balance.

“….”

I’d lost a bit of composure, but I recovered quickly, speaking to the Emperor behind me in an even tone.

“Your Majesty, has the meeting concluded?”
“Yes. But, Lady—”

Kevenriak lowered his head, bringing his nose close to the nape of my neck.
His breath brushed against my exposed skin.
I tensed immediately, drawing my body away. A distance that once felt natural now sometimes left me breathless.
Kevenriak murmured softly.

“You smell like a rat.”

I wondered how he’d caught that scent, but
I had no time to dwell on it.
It was true that I had just met with Tiernan Fargan.

“Did that rat bother you? Should I catch it and kill it for you?”

Kevenriak Heteroven spoke, his blue eyes gleaming.
He looked ready to tear apart the entire Imperial Palace to catch a single rodent.
It would be better to redirect his attention elsewhere.
Raina Hart grabbed his arm.

“How could a mere rat bother me, Your Majesty? Have you eaten lunch? Or perhaps you have no interest in magical texts? I have some recommendations—”
“….”

He didn’t budge an inch.
No matter how much of that scent he’d caught, Kevenriak Heteroven simply stood there, watching me quietly.

“Do you know that rat?”

Thud.
My heart sank in alarm at that moment.

“F-Fire!”

In the distance, urgent voices of people began to ring out.

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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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