I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 15

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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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15

“If you keep skipping training, I might have to report you to the instructor. There’s only so much I can overlook.”

Seeing Darius lounging leisurely, Simon’s irritation only made his smile deepen.

“I trust you won’t do that, my friend Simon.”

“….”

“That’s why I like you. Want some coffee?”

Simon was left speechless as Darius snapped his book shut and casually walked over to grind beans and boil water.

The back of his head, as he hummed while hand-dripping coffee, was disheveled like a bird’s nest, proving he’d only recently woken up.

Simon clicked his tongue and plopped down on the sofa across from where Darius had been lying.

The book he’d set down was some fantasy adventure novel that kids would enjoy. Next to it lay a daily newspaper opened to the crossword puzzle and popular restaurant recipe sections.

To think this was what he did when skipping training – such frivolous activities.

Soon Darius returned carrying two cups of steaming coffee.

“Smells good, doesn’t it? It’s specialty beans from the Watella Region. I received them as a gift the day before yesterday.”

Now Simon fully understood why the Countess had complained about her son’s lack of diligence at that tea party.

To think he’d once considered such a person as a potential husband for his future sister-in-law. Simon, who believed that men should be steadfast as rocks and diligent as oxen, found this aspect of Darius thoroughly disagreeable.

After setting down the coffee cups, Darius returned to the kitchen and rustled around before bringing out a few butter cookies on a plate.

“This is my precious tea set – I only bring it out for honored guests.”

“You should have been born as a patissier’s son, not a duke’s.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Even disheveled as he was, his bright smile seemed to radiate a halo. With the looks of a fairy tale prince but the substance of a layabout – what a waste of good looks.

His anger had somehow dissipated into helpless laughter, but he still had things to say.

Simon began his lecture.

“Starting tomorrow, save your gourmet coffee brewing and tea parties for after classes. If you keep frequently missing morning training, someone among your peers will soon notice your absence and tattle.”

If he were someone with no presence it might be different, but getting caught was only a matter of time. Those who secretly envied Darius would try to find any fault with him.

“What are you talking about? Coffee is absolutely a morning thing.”

“Darius.”

At the serious warning tone, the cheeky expression faded from his face.

“…Sigh. Fine, mom. I’ll make sure to attend faithfully starting tomorrow.”

Darius reluctantly agreed with a sulky expression. Whenever he was being lectured, he would jokingly call him ‘mom.’

Anyway, once he made such promises, he did keep them. And if he didn’t, then Simon could mercilessly mark him absent.

Having achieved his purpose, Simon downed his still-steaming coffee in one gulp, preparing to return to his room.

“Leaving already?”

“I need to go wash up and get ready. First period starts in an hour.”

“What about the cookies?”

“You eat them all.”

Just then, as Simon set down his coffee cup, there was a knock at the door.

“Yes.”

When Darius answered briefly, a delivery boy with a large document bag opened the door and bowed. He was the boy who delivered mail and newspapers to the cadets.

“Mail delivery.”

Simon walked over and received the mail the boy had sorted out for Darius.

“Could you also check if there’s any mail for Simon Brante?”

“Yes.”

The delivery boy rummaged through his bag and handed Simon a letter. Then he asked in an excited voice:

“Would you like to buy a newspaper too? There’s news of victory!”

Simon and Darius exchanged meaningful glances before buying two newspapers.

After the delivery boy left, the two sat facing each other, silently reading their respective letters and newspapers.

The headline announced that the northern war, which had continued for two years, had finally ended.

A trivial face-saving conflict that had started as a minor dispute with a small nation.

But since the general public didn’t know the detailed circumstances, the article praised the kingdom’s victory and hailed Supreme Commander Selpieus Diern as a national hero. The entire country would be in a festive mood for some time.

Simon folded the newspaper and opened the letter from his father, Count Brante, to read.

It said that Rieze was planning to hold a birthday party, so if possible, he should apply for leave and come home on that date. Despite the trivial content, Simon’s brow furrowed.

For the past three years, Rieze had refused to celebrate her birthday.

This time, with her memory loss, she might not know what day her birthday was, but originally she wasn’t the type to enjoy noisy events.

Rieze, who used to hole up in her room reading books all day, wanted to host a party – and one where she was the main character?

Come to think of it, her appetite had improved considerably too. Not only did she now enjoy fish dishes she’d never touched before, but she was also crazy about sweet desserts she’d never particularly liked.

While she still loved reading, she was also enjoying outdoor activities like never before.

‘…It’s as if she’s become a different person.’

Until now he’d thought it was good that the child had become brighter and more lively, but thinking back carefully, she’d changed as if she’d switched personalities entirely.

‘Could that really happen just from losing memories?’

When Simon lifted his head from his thoughts, the golden irises of Darius sitting across from him had grown much darker. One hand covered his mouth as he brooded, while the other held a letter bearing the Diern Family seal.

Feeling his gaze, Darius looked up.

“Father is returning to Pelrn.”

This meant Duke Selpieus, who had been traveling between the battlefield near the border and the Diern Estate in the north, was finally returning to the capital.

“First, he wants me to come to the capital this weekend to show my face. And at the end of the month, there will be a victory celebration banquet at the Royal Palace that I must attend.”

Darius conveyed this weakly, forcing up the corners of his mouth. Why would a son look so troubled when he should be celebrating his father’s triumph and glorious return?

Just how terrifying was the kingdom’s greatest sword, called the Iron-Blood Duke?

Simon watched Darius looking as dejected as a child whose candy had been taken, then showed him his own letter.

“I also need to go home at the end of the month. We can travel together.”

Darius quickly read through the letter he handed over.

“Miss Rieze’s birthday is coming up!”

Color returned to his face, which had looked deathly pale just moments before.

“I’ll come too if the timing works out.”

“…? No need. Why would such a busy person bother with some unknown kid’s birthday party?”

“I received congratulations, so I should give them too. I’m putting that pin brooch Miss Rieze gave me to very good use.”

Simon also knew about the golden brooch Rieze had gifted him. When he later looked into it, it turned out to be quite valuable. Even if the recipient was a duke’s son, it wasn’t something an eleven-year-old child would casually give to someone she’d just met.

“I could just deliver a gift for you.”

“It’s not far from my family home, so I should go personally. I also have something I asked Miss Rieze to do for me.”

“Something you asked her to do? What?”

“That’s obviously a secret. Oh, don’t tell Miss Rieze I’m coming. I want to surprise her.”

Darius winked and smiled, while Simon pressed his eyelids.

Setting aside this guy’s usual incomprehensible behavior.

From the letter’s tone, it seemed like a small party with just a few girls her age invited – would it be appropriate to include the duke’s eldest son in such a gathering?

Darius habitually said he had no intention of debuting in high society early. So while he might attend mandatory events like victory ceremonies, Simon knew of no instance where he’d voluntarily gone to someone else’s party.

‘Won’t this cause a commotion?’

On the other hand, he had a feeling Rieze would be tremendously happy if Darius came to celebrate her birthday.

Though he himself denied it with a straight face, her sparkling eyes when looking at Darius were clearly more than just favorable. But he had just eliminated this lazy guy from consideration as his sister’s potential match.

Glancing up at the clock, Simon saw how pressed for time he was and jumped up. He shook off the problem that wouldn’t be resolved no matter how much he worried about it now and headed out of the room.

“Don’t be late later. I’m going.”

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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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