I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 17

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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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17

The sound of striking the training dummy greeted me before Kail’s figure came into view. I stood quietly beside a pillar at the entrance, silently watching Kail’s back as he trained with fierce determination.

Dozens of times he thrust his sword in the same stance, then continued with rapid, relentless strikes against the training dummy.

‘He’s really working hard…’

Seeing him training with a much more intense aura than usual, I couldn’t bring myself to casually call out to him.

Desperate groans and panting could be heard from the child who was smaller than me.

To think that ten years of such effort would all turn to nothing because of a few words in the Duke’s will.

Even if I told Kail right now that he was the son of a maid and indeed an illegitimate child, he wouldn’t believe it and would only resent me. There was no proof either.

Even if he believed it, that would be a problem too. For a child so desperately trying to receive love and recognition from his parents, it would be like the sky falling down.

Duke Celfius’s will was also beyond my sphere of influence. If it were an accident or death in battle, I might try to prevent his death, but the cause was unfortunately illness due to a chronic condition.

Even knowing the original story and understanding the future, it was frustrating that there was nothing I could do except try to change Kail. And even that seemed hopeless at present.

‘Would Kail really change just because I keep hovering around him?’

Just as that doubt arose, clang—the sound of a wooden sword falling and scraping against the floor rang out loudly.

Kail came into view, gasping for breath as he collapsed to his knees. Drops of blood dotted his crumpled shadow.

“Kail!!”

I immediately ran over and supported Kail’s back. Through his long bangs, I could see blood flowing from his nose, dripping down his philtrum and chin.

When I took out a handkerchief to wipe away the nosebleed, he pushed my hand away with his elbow. Then he wiped the blood with his own sleeve.

“Are you okay? You must have pushed yourself too hard.”

I approached closer to Kail as he turned away from me and stood up. His shoulders rose and fell rapidly with his labored breathing.

When I offered him the towel and water bottle that were placed nearby, he finally accepted them after a long moment. Fortunately, the nosebleed seemed to stop quickly, but his complexion was pale.

“Take it easy. Oh, eat some chocolate first. It’s perfect for boosting your energy.”

I remembered the emergency food I always carried and rummaged through my handbag.

“…Hey, you go home.”

Kail spat out curtly in a hoarse, cracked voice.

His eyes were lifeless, like a dead fish. The golden eyes that had burned so brightly were now dry and hollow with emptiness.

Something was wrong.

Even when he was angry or crying, he had never looked so fragile and broken.

No matter how voluntary his training was, I suddenly realized something was definitely wrong.

He was still at an age when he should be running around and playing. An age when he should be joking around with peers and giggling even when leaves rustled!

I couldn’t leave him like this.

“Kail, you know what? Let’s go out and have fun together.”

I grabbed one of Kail’s wrists firmly. His brow furrowed deeply at my sudden proposal.

“There’s going to be a lavender festival in the suburbs soon—aren’t you curious? I’ve never seen vast lavender fields either. If you don’t like crowds, we could go before the festival starts.”

“…”

“Oh. I also want to visit a pastry shop called 【Rotiang】—will you come with me? I discovered it while wandering around Sable Street, and I found out later it’s supposedly the most famous confectionery in Pelrn.”

I was rambling, desperately wanting to drag him out of this suffocating prison.

Kail looked away from me as I chattered incoherently and twisted his hand free from my grip.

“Or how about Serdin Lake? I heard from my family that it’s a quiet and beautiful lake. We’d have to bring a guardian too, but it would be incomparably better than when we played in the Glass Greenhouse before. We could pack a whole basket of lunch…”

“Hey.”

Kail cut me off mid-sentence, grinding out each word in a suppressed voice.

“I guess you mistakenly think everyone is as leisurely and carefree as you are. Unlike a frivolous idler like you, I don’t have time to waste fooling around. Find someone else.”

“…As I said before, I only come to play after finishing all my work. And you’re my only friend.”

“Make new friends then. Pathetic ones who’ll happily go along with your pointless activities. Or go with your proud and harmonious family.”

“…”

His aggressive retort left me speechless, but I calmly collected my thoughts.

“As I said earlier, Kail, I think you’re overworking yourself. You need some rest too. What about the board games? Didn’t they help change your mood and weren’t they enjoyable?”

“Not at all. I only played along because you kept pestering me.”

“…”

“Take them all back. I won’t play anymore.”

Since he was rejecting me this firmly, further persuasion felt meaningless.

A long sigh flowed out from deep within me. The distance I had barely managed to close seemed to have returned to square one.

Kail turned away coldly, picked up his wooden sword, and assumed his stance again.

The metallic scent of blood stung my nose. The bandages wrapped around both his hands were also stained red.

“Kail.”

“…”

“Did something happen between you and your father, Duke Diern, after his return?”

There must have been some incident for him to be driving himself so mercilessly today.

Had he heard cruel words? Or perhaps cold indifference?

What kind of wound had he received?

“Can’t you tell me what happened? I’m your friend. I’m on your side.”

When I asked seriously yet gently, Kail’s movements stopped as he stood with his back to me.

I grabbed his elbow once more. Then Kail forcefully shoved me away, and I fell backward from the impact.

“Ah!”

Kail turned to look at me as I fell on my bottom, his pupils shaking with emotion, but it was only for an instant. A cold, expressionless mask quickly replaced it.

“I don’t need friends or anything like that.”

The coldly flowing next sentence pierced my heart. His eyes were clearly fixed on me, yet it seemed like he was looking at something else entirely.

Low thunder rumbling in the distance broke the silence. I gazed at him earnestly and parted my lips that wouldn’t easily separate.

“…Do you still feel the same way about that?”

“Yeah.”

“Really? Do you truly mean it?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

“You’re in my way, so please get out of my sight.”

At that moment, I felt something snap in my head.

Then my heart, which had been beating painfully fast, slowed down. As if cold water had been poured over my entire body, my rationality quickly returned.

I emerged from the immersive sensation of living as ‘Rieze,’ and my original self—the adult who had possessed this body—raised its head.

Futility crashed over me like a tidal wave.

‘Right, let’s stop hovering around this child. Preventing a villain’s descent into darkness—that was beyond my capabilities.’

It was also rude to keep clinging to someone who was rejecting me. Anything more would be no different from stalking.

I’d have to find a new way to save Darius.

Like preventing Kail from becoming close to the female protagonist Adel when she appeared later, or helping Darius escape far away so he could avoid Kail.

In the worst case, I might have to become hostile toward Kail.

I barely managed to compose my complicated feelings and stood up. I brushed the dirt off my clothes and straightened my back.

“I understand.”

I calmly and quietly began my farewell.

“I wanted to get along well with you, so it’s disappointing. I won’t come looking for you anymore. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Kail turned away from me with tightly pressed lips. But that was all. There was no response or reaction whatsoever.

Even though he wasn’t looking at me anyway, I still smiled brightly. Since this might be the last time, I wanted to end things on a good note.

“It was fun until now. Goodbye.”

I left my calm farewell and exited the training ground. I hadn’t hoped for him to stop me, but the bitter taste in my mouth from receiving no parting greeting until the very end was unpleasant.

Since we were neighbors and he was Darius’s brother, we’d probably run into each other coming and going. But as of today, our friendship was over.

‘Darius, I’m sorry. I wanted to fulfill your request to get along well with Kail as much as possible.’

I called for Milly and the coachman who were waiting nearby and informed them of my intention to return home.

As I boarded the Countess family’s carriage after the departure preparations were complete, thick raindrops began falling from the sky, pattering against the roof.

Melancholy white noise mixed with the rhythmic sound of horse hooves. As I stared blankly at the rain-beaded carriage window, warmth was transmitted to my cold hands.

“Miss. Your complexion looks dark. Did you perhaps have a fight with Young Master Kaileus?”

Milly, sitting beside me, placed her hand on top of mine and asked.

I thought I was maintaining a poker face, but her intuition was incredibly sharp.

“…No.”

It wasn’t really a fight, Milly. I was just one-sidedly pushed away.

I really understand now that fighting only works when there’s mutual affection.

I stretched the corners of my mouth into a long smile to avoid worrying her, but my nose stung. More from emptiness than sadness.

I had spent nearly two months focusing all my energy on getting close to Kail, and it was all such pointless effort.

“When we return to the mansion, I’ll make you some warm cocoa.”

I nodded at Milly’s comfort.

Gray storm clouds rumbled with thunder. The Diern Ducal Mansion, which had been faintly visible in the distance, disappeared into the torrential downpour that began falling with frightening intensity.

Take care, Kail. I hope you don’t stray too far down the wrong path. Because that would break my heart.

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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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