I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 24

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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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24

“I sincerely congratulate you on turning twelve, Miss Rieze.”

His birthday wishes, delivered with narrowed eyes, touched my heartstrings.

Ha. A birthday greeting from my favorite character right to my face. This is truly an honor.

“Thank you, really… so much…”

After rambling my thanks incoherently, I firmly grasped my confused mental state. I couldn’t waste this precious opportunity being all flustered like this.

“How have you been, Brother Darius? Are you hurt anywhere? Are you eating well and sleeping well?”

Darius’s eyes widened at the barrage of questions that poured out after we sat facing each other on the sofa. Soon pleasant laughter followed.

“Of course. I’m very healthy.”

He must have had a terrible time trying to please his father, Duke Selpieus Diern, and attending the victory celebration ceremony. Yet he smiled brightly without showing any signs of it, making me feel both sorry for him and proud.

Suddenly noticing that only a single cup of coffee was placed in front of him, I jumped up.

“You should eat something! Should I bring some cake? No wait, would you like a meal?”

“It’s fine. I had lunch at the family home before coming.”

“Are you really going to pull out even the house pillars to offer them?”

That brother of mine poured cold water on my blissful conversation with Darius. Ha. If there’s one flaw in this happiness-filled situation, it’s you.

My expression naturally soured as I glared at Simon, but since I was in front of Darius, I barely managed to hold back my curses.

Darius looked at the two of us and grinned as if amused, then placed a box on the table and pushed it toward me.

“Miss Rieze. It’s nothing special, but I prepared a gift.”

“What?! You didn’t need to go to such trouble…”

“What are you saying. I couldn’t come empty-handed.”

Your coming here is the greatest gift of all…! With a grateful heart, I picked up the gift box he offered.

Darius gestured with his eyes, encouraging me to open the gift. When I untied the sky-blue lace ribbon wrapped around the palm-sized white box, a thin silver bracelet appeared.

“Wow…”

The bracelet with its smooth curves reflected a brilliant light.

Could there be another fan as devoted as me in this world?

When I held up the bracelet to try it on my arm, Darius immediately helped fasten the bracelet around my wrist.

“Hmm. It’s a bit loose.”

Darius muttered with a contemplative expression.

“No way!? Considering how much I’ll grow in the future, this generous size is perfect!”

I defended the bracelet size without giving him a chance to feel more awkward.

“…That’s right. You’re in your prime growing years.”

Darius wrinkled his nose bridge, remembering the nonsense I had spouted before.

After smiling back at him, I admired the bracelet sparkling on my wrist.

Darius, you guilty human, you have both sense and aesthetic taste.

I should pass this down through generations and make it a family heirloom. Ah, no. It would be better to be buried with it when my coffin lid closes.

“It’s so pretty. I love it. Thank you.”

I barely managed to refine the indescribable emotion and let it out of my mouth. Only then did Darius let out a long breath as if relieved.

“I’m glad you like it. I worried a lot since I’ve never chosen gifts for girls Miss Rieze’s age before.”

What a pointless worry. If it’s something you give me, Darius, I’d frame even a used tissue and treasure it forever. Ah, not in a perverted way.

In short, this gift is perfect.

“I’ll wear it for life. I won’t even take it off when bathing.”

Darius burst into hearty laughter. Mixed in with it, I could hear my brother’s incredulous snort, which was quite irritating.

As if my wish for him to be more considerate got through, at that moment my brother uncrossed his legs and stood up.

“Shouldn’t you be leaving soon?”

At his words, Darius also checked his watch and stood up with a regretful expression.

Crazy! You can go by yourself, why are you chasing away our Darius!

“No! It’s only been 20 minutes since you arrived, why are you kicking him out!”

When I hurriedly blocked them, Simon clicked his tongue.

“He needs to leave for the dormitory now. Unlike me, who applied for leave until the day after tomorrow, his is only until today. He insisted on giving you the gift directly, which has already delayed him quite a bit.”

With Simon’s continued explanation, I could no longer hold onto Darius.

It was already past three in the afternoon. Even if he left now and traveled without rest, it would be dark night by the time he reached school.

Our Darius has classes starting tomorrow morning, so he can’t be in poor condition. It’s heartbreaking that the time I waited two months for was only 20 minutes, but I stepped aside without showing it.

“…I see. Brother Darius, thank you for coming despite being busy.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Rieze. Please forgive the rudeness of just showing my face and leaving.”

“Not at all! I’m grateful enough that you came!”

I swallowed the words that this became the best day of my life, thinking it might be too burdensome, and followed Darius as he headed outside the mansion.

My brother and father also came out to see him off, and the Diern Ducal House servants who had accompanied Darius busily prepared to depart. When all preparations were finished, Darius turned toward us.

He first exchanged greetings with my family members, then finally stood in front of me.

“You’re still in the middle of a party, so hurry back and continue enjoying yourself, Miss Rieze. Happy birthday.”

“Thank you. Travel safely. Take good care of your health!”

If we part this time, the next meeting will be during summer vacation. As I was wistfully taking in Darius with my eyes, Darius, who had gotten into the carriage, exclaimed ‘Ah!’ and jumped back down.

“I almost forgot. There’s one more gift.”

“What?”

You prepared two things!

With wide eyes, I looked down at the shopping bag he handed me. A sweet smell wafted from the heavy shopping bag.

Darius smiled and bent down, then whispered in my ear.

“Actually, this is a gift Kail prepared for Miss Rieze.”

At the name I heard after so long, I snapped to attention as if hit by a hammer.

“He told me absolutely not to say it was from him, but to say it was from me. And he also told me to keep this secret, but Kail actually came with me to the front of the Count’s estate earlier. He suddenly dumped the gift on me and went back home. He’s shy, isn’t he?”

“Kail… was here?”

When I asked back in bewilderment, Darius nodded with a grin. Soon after, Simon urged Darius on, so he quickly got into the carriage.

“Anyway, thank you for doing me this favor. Miss Rieze, stay healthy and take care!”

I hurriedly waved to him as he said goodbye through the carriage window. Soon the Diern Ducal House carriage began racing away, raising dust clouds.

The carriage grew smaller and smaller until it completely disappeared from view.

…It was a request to get along well with Kail while he was away at the dormitory. But I couldn’t keep it.

Actually, when I heard the news that Darius was coming earlier, the expectation that Kail might come too briefly crossed my mind.

Even while I was enjoying my conversation with Darius, disappointment that Kail hadn’t come was grating at my nerves like grains of sand in a corner of my heart.

Kail. Why did you come all this way only to leave the gift and make a U-turn?

“What on earth is he thinking…”

Since he’s such a principled guy, maybe he tried to keep his promise to come to the birthday party? But then felt awkward about facing me and ran away?

Expectation and disappointment created a whirlwind in my chest as they wrestled back and forth. I looked down at the shopping bag Darius had given me, then took out the box inside.

“Huh?”

‘【Rotiang】’

The shop name written on the business card in the box was definitely the pastry shop I had pestered Kail to go to before. The shop I had coaxed Kail to visit together just before we had our falling out.

‘Was he listening? Did he remember and deliberately buy from here?’

When I opened the box lid, various flavored madeleines, scones, canelés and more were neatly arranged inside.

While I generally like most desserts, these were especially flavors I preferred.

“What’s that bundle of sweets? Did Prince Darius give it to you?”

Father approached me as I stood frozen holding the box.

“It looks delicious. But anyway, Rieze, we should return to the garden now. Everyone will be anxiously waiting for you. The main character has been away from her seat for quite a while, hasn’t she?”

“…”

“Let’s go now. Ah, after the party ends, I’ll show you the foal we got. I picked out the smartest and prettiest one! You can look forward to it.”

“…”

“I chose the most clever and beautiful one! You can look forward to it.”

“Father.”

I grabbed onto Father, who was embracing my shoulders and patting me.

“Yes?”

“I’m going to visit the Diern Ducal House.”

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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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