I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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1

Chapter 1

“Rieze, I don’t think you should push yourself. Do you really want to go?”

Count Brante, gripping the carriage door, let out a deep sigh. His eyes were filled with worry as he looked at his young daughter, who had only risen from her sickbed a week ago.

“I’m healthy now. The distance is close too, so please don’t worry too much.”

My older brother Simon, sitting across from me, answered on my behalf.

“You gave permission to bring Rieze along for once. Opportunities like this are rare.”

“Dad, I’m really fine. If I feel unwell at all, I’ll come back right away!”

Thinking Simon’s persuasion might not be enough, I smiled even more cheerfully. Still not entirely reassured, Count Brante’s touch was careful as he stroked my cheek.

“If you feel even slightly tired, you must come home immediately, understood?”

“Yes!”

After my cheerful exclamation, the carriage door closed, and soon the Brante Estate’s four-wheeled carriage was racing briskly along the Verdant Winding Road.

The early spring sunlight painted shimmering heat waves. The high walls surrounding the Luxurious Manors passing by the window added to my excitement.

“When you meet my military academy friend, tell him happy birthday. Oh, and my friend promised to introduce us to his mother, so make sure to greet her politely. The duchess is particularly strict about etiquette, so be careful not to give her any reason to criticize you.”

“Ugh, I got it already. My ears are about to bleed.”

Fortunately, the coachman announced our arrival at just the right timing, cutting off Simon’s nagging.

“It’s really close, isn’t it?”

At this distance, we might as well be neighbors. But I’m not mentally prepared yet, what should I do?

As I stepped down with my pounding heart, a vast garden and a grand mansion rivaling a palace filled my vision. The Massive Glass Greenhouse positioned to one side also caught my eye.

‘Wow, this scale is insane.’

As I passed through the gate in admiration, I saw nobles dressed like peacocks entering the largest central building. We mixed in among them and entered the bustling Banquet Hall.

Dessert tables set up throughout the hall were piled high with finger foods like spires, and the gentle orchestra music mixed with the brilliant light of chandeliers created a paradise.

While I was enchanted, taking in scenes I had only imagined in my head, I remembered the purpose for which I had insisted on coming here, even throwing a tantrum if necessary.

And at that same moment,

“Simon.”

A low voice called my brother’s name as he stood beside me.

When I turned around, a tall man was walking toward us. It took a moment for his silhouette to be clearly recognized against the backlight.

“Happy birthday, man. The party is amazing, isn’t it? I thought it might be the royal palace.”

“Thanks. My mother is really passionate about social events.”

When Simon playfully hit his shoulder, the man who was so beautiful he could be an elf also laughed and responded. His voice was so melodious it made my ears tingle.

“Ah. This is my younger sister, Rieze Brante.”

When Simon placed his hand on my shoulder, the dazzling handsome man’s gaze fell on me.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Simon. Nice to meet you, Miss Rieze.”

Beneath his platinum hair, high-saturation golden eyes curved into crescent shapes.

Right? This is real, isn’t it?

“I’m Darius Diern.”

Oh my goodness.

“Darius…”

I softly repeated that name with trembling breath. My heart was racing wildly as if it would break through my ribs.

If Simon hadn’t poked my side, I would have turned to stone right there. I raised my trembling arm and gently grasped the hand he extended for a handshake.

“Ha-happy birthday…!”

Everyone in the world, look at this!

I’m holding my favorite character’s hand right now…!!

***

—Ten days ago.

I, who had lived an ordinary, or rather slightly unfortunate life in 21st century South Korea, died young in a traffic accident in my mid-twenties.

That day was the day before the webtoon launch of the web novel I was obsessed with, 【Golden Covenant】.

‘Damn it… Tomorrow is the day 【Golden Covenant】 webtoon comes out…’

Even in the moment I was hit by the bus, I had such ridiculous thoughts while watching my phone fly from my hands.

‘Please let me live… I want to see our Darius in 2D…’

I made a wish while looking at the blurring ceiling of the ambulance.

Having lived a life struggling with poverty without anyone to rely on, I had no other regrets. Only the typical obsessive fan’s desire remained like a death rattle.

But it seems God granted my humble wish. Not the part about letting me live, but the part about wanting to see Darius.

When I opened my eyes again, an unfamiliar bearded man was screaming and hugging me tearfully.

‘Rieze! I thought I was going to lose you too!!’

As a romance fantasy fan, I vaguely realized I had possessed someone’s body upon seeing the K-romance-like setting and people.

I soon discovered that the owner of the body I had taken was an eleven-year-old count’s daughter. Her name was Rieze Brante.

She was the younger sister of ‘Simon,’ a supporting character in 【Golden Covenant】, but she couldn’t even become an extra in the novel.

Because she was set to die at eleven from a fever. In other words, I had replaced her soul as soon as she died.

After that, I spent ten days recovering my body and adapting to the new environment. I told the convenient lie for possessed souls that my memory had been lost due to high fever.

During that time, I heard that Simon was going to Darius’s birthday party and desperately followed him, which brings us to the current situation.

I hastily scraped together money for a birthday gift, left it at the designated place, piled finger foods onto a plate, and sat at a table on the edge of the Banquet Hall.

After meeting Darius, I keenly realized that this was indeed the world of 【Golden Covenant】.

To be able to enjoy my favorite character not in 3D, but in 4D!

I covered my mouth while watching Darius surrounded by crowds receiving congratulations. I was holding back the urge to put my fist in my mouth and sob.

‘His face is insane. I feel like my vision has improved to about 13.0…!’

His height far surpasses most adults, but his youthful face that hasn’t completely shed its boyish charm is truly blessed.

Since he’s the same age as Simon, Darius must be sixteen now, which means this is five years before the original story begins. There are still five years left until the female lead appears and first meets Darius.

‘That means I can enjoy the prequel until the original story starts. Even better.’

My brain feels like it’s melting from dopamine overdose.

Simon, who had been watching me grinning continuously, turned his head in the direction of my gaze. Then he snickered unpleasantly.

“What, do you like that guy?”

Like him or not, this is a fan meeting right now. No, is it a birthday cafe?

“The competition will be fierce, what will you do?”

After hearing his sarcasm, I noticed the swarm of hyenas hovering around our Darius. I had been late to notice because I had automatically blurred everything except Darius.

Come to think of it, his nickname was the greatest catch in high society. Even though he’s not an adult yet, look at all those flies buzzing around.

What should we do, our Darius will be drained of energy. Especially with his personality that already has allergic reactions to these kinds of occasions!

“Hmm, hmm. Shall this big brother lend you some help?”

I was so buried in worry about Darius that I understood Simon’s question a beat late.

“…What nonsense are you talking about? I’m just amazed because it’s such an incredibly splendid Banquet Hall.”

I kept as straight a face as possible, lest Simon rashly try to play matchmaker.

My feelings toward Darius aren’t that shallow. He belongs to this novel’s female lead, Adel. No matter how much I love my favorite character, I have absolutely no intention of stealing the female lead’s place and coveting him.

It’s similar to admiration for a celebrity, I suppose. So I refuse the common possession story cliché of ‘Why are you obsessed with me instead of the female lead?’

I just want to see ‘and the male and female leads lived happily ever after’ as an audience member cheering for the beautiful couple in the drama.

A sinister motherly smile naturally appeared as I planned to watch the live broadcast of their lovey-dovey romance. Yes, please be happy until the very end…

Cough.

I, who had been drinking lemonade while having pleasant fantasies, choked and coughed.

There was one thing I had overlooked.

The shocking final chapter of 【Golden Covenant】 that I had read in disbelief.

The protagonist Darius is stabbed by the villain, and in his final moments, he exchanges a covenant of love with Adel and dies.

‘The author sprinkled the ash of a sad ending on a well-prepared feast, making people go even more crazy.’

If it had been just any novel, it might have been different, but since the ending of my life’s work was sad, I suffered from aftereffects for a while when I first read it. I had tearfully begged in the comments for a happy ending, even if just as an ‘if’ side story.

Ah. This won’t do. Darius is going to die.

I sadly gazed at Darius, who sparkled like a morning star even from afar. All the energy drained from my body and my excited mood plummeted from a hundred meters in the air straight to the ground.

Losing such beauty would be a loss for all humanity…

At that moment, a sharp crash echoed through the banquet hall as something shattered. In the tense atmosphere, a boy standing at the center of the crowd caught my attention.

He was a pitifully thin and seemingly timid boy, but his face, hidden behind long black bangs, was like an unpolished gemstone.

Most of all, the dark expression radiating a sinister aura made me certain.

‘Kaileus Diern!’

Seeing that child—Darius’s half-brother, the illegitimate son of the Diern Duchy—made my breath catch in my throat.

He was the very culprit who killed Darius, the villain of this novel.

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