I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 10

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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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10

The cold snap of late spring passed, and spring flowers bloomed in full against the canvas of a clear sky.

Warm sunlight poured through the window, but my mood was utterly gloomy.

Wanting to meet Darius again before he left for the dormitory, I had visited the Diern Ducal House several times since then.

Under the pretense of bringing the Countess 【Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide】, under the pretense of wanting to check on the butterfly whose wing I had fixed before, under the pretense of gifting fresh coffee beans and fruit.

But every time was a waste. Perhaps because it was right before the semester started and he was busy, whenever I looked for Darius, I only got word that he was out.

Because of that, I only ended up having lengthy conversations about butterflies with the Countess. There was someone else I needed to get close to, but I only grew closer to the wrong person. Damn it.

In the end, having failed to meet Darius again, the opening day of Randerstd Royal Military Academy had arrived.

“Sigh. He must be at school by now, Darius…”

I already miss him, what should I do? Should I go to the ducal house every weekend, praying desperately that Darius would get a day pass and come home?

“No. Darius isn’t mine. I should just watch from afar…”

It probably won’t happen, but to avoid the potential cliché of ‘why are you obsessed with me instead of the female lead?’, I must avoid getting too close to Darius.

I should stay in my place as a friend’s younger sister, a younger sister’s friend.

Right, now that Darius is gone, let me quickly pursue Kail instead. He did ask me to be friends with him.

As I looked up at the clear sky and wiped my moist eyes, I heard a knock knock on the door.

“Sniff, come in.”

“Miss Rieze, today is…”

Milly, who had entered with a bright face, suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Then she covered her mouth and her eyes welled up.

“Miss! Oh my. You must be secretly sad that Master Simon has left!”

At this ridiculous misunderstanding, my tears dried up immediately. Ah, come to think of it, that brother of mine also left for the dormitory the day before yesterday, didn’t he?

“How about writing him a letter asking him to come home every weekend?”

“What a horrible thought, Milly? Why would I ruin my peaceful weekends?”

I shuddered in disgust, and Milly laughed with an “Oh!”

“I suddenly remembered a sad novel. It’s actually nice and quiet now that my brother is gone.”

“Ahaha. I see.”

“But what were you going to say?”

“Right. The Count said to take you shopping today, Miss. Since you’ll be turning twelve soon, he thought you’d need more fashionable clothes and sophisticated accessories.”

Milly showed me a list of things to buy. The list had all kinds of clothing written on it.

Since I wasn’t particularly interested in fashion, it didn’t appeal to me much. Though I would like to stop by somewhere like a pastry shop.

However, when I read the last line of the long list, an idea struck like lightning.

— Hobbies to enjoy besides books.

***

I prepared to go out with Milly. We were also accompanied by a porter and two servants in charge of security and assistance.

Sable Street, lined with luxury shops, was bustling with crowds. Noble young ladies preparing for the debutante ball to be held at the Royal Palace soon were particularly noticeable.

Everyone’s having a hard time preparing for the social season.

“Wow, Miss! There are amazing shops lined up here!”

“Indeed… So many people.”

I sighed as I pictured my future self being dragged around to various social events, while Milly walking beside me looked absolutely delighted. Like a country mouse thrilled to be in the capital.

“Ah, there it is! The Lermeda Boutique that the Count mentioned!”

Milly pointed at a fancy clothing store and exclaimed.

“Mmm. Let’s buy quickly and get out.”

I steeled myself looking at the crowded interior. This isn’t the main purpose of today’s shopping trip.

Two hours ago, seeing the word ‘hobbies’ written on the list Milly brought, a brilliant idea had occurred to me.

‘I can guide him to have hobbies and divert his interests elsewhere!’

The Diern Ducal House is a military family that has produced army officers for generations. Right now Kail is obsessed with swordsmanship, burning with competitive spirit against Darius, but if he becomes deeply absorbed in art or other fields, who knows.

If he loses interest in martial arts, the pressure to gain his parents’ recognition through that would disappear too. Even if he learns the truth about his birth later, he’d feel less betrayed, so the brothers’ conflict wouldn’t break out.

A peaceful, good plan that would make everyone happy. Admiring my own Darius Protection Project Plan B, I first got fitted for clothes at the boutique.

Only after choosing two of everything on the list – hats, shoes, bags, accessories – was I finally freed.

I passed by the pastry shop 【Rotiang】, crowded with customers, promising to visit later. My mouth was watering, but I mustn’t forget my main purpose.

Going deeper into the inner streets, I found various shops selling household goods and miscellaneous items lined up. I discovered a perfect hobby shop and carefully selected appropriate items there.

Chess and Othello sets, board games including playing cards, puzzles, knitting supplies, art materials, a classical guitar.

There are already plenty of books in the library, so I can bring those from home.

Anticipating that Kail might not be able to stand puttering around indoors, I also bought a small ball, insect collecting supplies, and a fishing rod.

“Miss, I’ll play with you whenever I have time.”

Milly looked at the items I had purchased and patted me sympathetically.

“Uh… Thanks. But it’s okay. I’m going to play with Kail.”

Since I needed to create the appearance of clinging to Kail, our neighbor friend, I didn’t bother to correct the misunderstanding that I was lonely.

Returning to the Count’s Mansion and laying out all of today’s spoils, the large desk was filled without a gap.

Taking all this at once would be overkill. Kail would already curse me out for pestering him to play.

Should I start with the most harmless and familiar things first?

I packed a mystery novel series that would make you absolutely unable to stop once you started reading because you’d be curious about what happens next, along with magazines containing crosswords, sudoku, and quizzes.

Then I put insect collecting supplies and art materials for landscape painting in the trunk. This would also be good for disguising myself as a butterfly enthusiast.

I added some board games that were relatively easy to approach and closed the trunk.

Wait for me, Kail. I’ll open up a new world for you who’s fallen into training hell!

***

“I won’t do it.”

The next day, I went to Diern Manor and boldly laid out the play items, but what came back was a flat refusal.

“Why! These are all incredibly fun things that will blow your mind!”

Kail, absorbed in sword practice, didn’t even glance this way.

“I don’t have time for that.”

“Come on, you can rest for a little bit.”

When I coaxed him while he was swinging his wooden sword, he finally glared at me.

“You really have absolutely nothing to do, don’t you.”

“I had tutoring this morning. I can do homework in the evening, and the afternoon is free.”

“…”

“No matter what, if you only focus on studying and training all day, it’s not good. Having fun is also a child’s job.”

The word ‘child’ seemed to hit a nerve, as veins bulged on his forehead.

“Who’s a child! Do you want to die?”

“At our age, we’re still children…”

Well, I also used to think I was all grown up when I was around ten years old.

“Anyway, my point is that changing your mood is also essential!”

“I said no.”

“I bought these specifically because I wanted to play with you.”

“I never asked you to.”

So stubborn. I’m pretty stubborn too, but you’re even more so.

Well, training this intensely is probably why he becomes so strong later.

“Alright…”

I gave up and sat down next to the trunk. I couldn’t force him when he kept saying no.

I started putting the items back into the trunk one by one. I felt deflated thinking I had wastefully bought all these things for nothing.

Should I just go back now?

As I slowly stood up, a deep sigh escaped me. I decided to leave just a few novels behind and dragged the trunk toward the exit of the Outdoor Training Ground.

“I’ll just leave a few books behind, so if you get curious, please take a look at them. Well then, I’ll be going…”

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“You’re causing all this fuss to use me to get close to Darius, aren’t you? It’s useless, so stop it.”

Kail, who had called me over, warned in a low voice.

“I saw everything—how you brought food saying you’d eat with me before, then ate it with Darius instead, fawning all over him. You’re doing this because you like that bastard.”

He was watching that day? Where was he hiding!

“…That’s not it.”

It’s true I approached you with an intention, but I have no plans to get romantically involved with Darius.

I just want to watch Darius’s life story from afar as Extra 7. It would be even better if I could see his second generation and grandchildren too.

…Since I couldn’t say that, I came up with a suitable excuse.

“Brother Darius is just so pretty that I got nervous and fumbled around. The person I want to be friends with is you, like I said before.”

“…”

“If I’m lying, I’ll shave my head bald. I swear.”

When I placed my hand on my left chest and solemnly swore, Kail’s eyes narrowed as if gauging the truth.

When I gazed at him earnestly without averting my eyes, he was the first to look away and put down his wooden sword.

He plopped down on the wisteria bench set up in one corner of the training ground and jerked his chin toward my trunk.

“Just 30 minutes. After that, disappear quickly.”

“…! Okay! What do you want to do first?”

I asked with a triumphant smile spreading across my face.

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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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