I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 3

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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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3

The apple that had been in my mouth dropped with a thud, rolling around before bumping into Darius’s feet and stopping.

His gaze swept over me like a thief caught red-handed at the crime scene.

This is driving me crazy! Why did I have to run into him looking like this of all times!

Darius looked down at me silently, then picked up the apple that had been rolling by his feet. The apple with my small bite marks on its skin.

“The desserts prepared in the Banquet Hall must have been lacking.”

I held onto my confused mind and tried to salvage the situation.

“S-sorry. Um… I’m not satisfied unless I fill my stomach with carbohydrates and protein! I’m at a growing age so I need abundant nutrients!”

My flustered mouth went out of control and spouted random words. When amusement appeared in his eyes, I felt heat rising to my cheeks.

“If you had told me or Simon, we would have served you a separate meal.”

“That would have been too much trouble… I was planning to just take a little and eat it quickly.”

I scratched the back of my neck and smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll guide you to an empty reception room.”

“Thank you… but it’s okay! I want to eat outside in the Garden. Like a picnic.”

Even as I spoke, I was dumbfounded.

I must look like a kid causing all sorts of trouble at someone else’s birthday party. Or maybe I’ll be branded as an unusual glutton.

I could almost hear the sound of my image plummeting to rock bottom.

But I couldn’t say I was in the middle of luring your younger brother with food!

Hearing my excuse that wasn’t really an excuse, Darius let out a small laugh. Even while dying of embarrassment, my fan heart bubbled up.

Ha, his smiling face is so pretty!!

He matched perfectly with the appearance I had fantasized about while reading the novel.

Platinum curly hair and skin white as jade, thick eyelashes under straight eyebrows and slightly drooping puppy-like eye corners, a prominent nose bridge and gently curved reddish lips.

Precious, so precious. If he had been born in modern times, he would have become a super handsome star in the entertainment industry.

Meeting my favorite character up close again like this in reality brought overwhelming emotion.

Right. What does it matter how I look? If this smile doesn’t fade, I could roll around in a dung field.

I barely composed myself and bowed toward Darius.

“Then I’ll be going. I’m really sorry for secretly stealing food. Please charge it to my brother later.”

I stealthily passed by him and ran down the corridor. But soon heavy footsteps followed behind me. I nearly jumped when I saw Darius chasing me leisurely with his long strides.

“Why are you following me?!”

“I’m going with you.”

“Whaaaat?!”

“I was just escaping too. Besides, I can’t let a young lady who’s my friend’s sister wander around outside alone.”

I flapped my mouth and shook my head, but he didn’t budge. He even took away the bundle I was holding.

“…Actually, there’s someone I promised to share the food with!”

“Who is it?”

When I met his clear golden eyes asking innocently, I couldn’t bring myself to lie. As I fumbled with my words, he nodded cheerfully.

“It’s fine, whoever it is.”

Seeming to judge it was probably a secretly brought maid, he readily gave his permission. In the end, I left the Mansion with him trailing behind me. Where would you find someone who could chase away their favorite character following them around?

As we came outside, the refreshing spring breeze swirled between us. Darius enjoyed the outdoor air and let out a relieved breath.

He looks exactly like someone who was stuck at adults’ drinking table during holidays and finally got liberated. Yes, yes, you’ve had a hard time.

“Where’s your companion?”

Darius asked while looking around.

I looked around the spot where I had parted with Kail, conflicted about whether a three-way meeting would be okay. There was no sign of anyone in the quiet Garden.

“I guess I was too late and they left.”

“Oh dear.”

“It’s okay. I somewhat expected it.”

He ignored my suggestion and left long ago. Rather, it would have been surprising if he had been obediently waiting for me, so I wasn’t particularly disappointed.

“…Then I’ll return the food.”

I tried to take back the bundle Darius was carrying, but he smoothly avoided my reach and walked steadily toward the Pergola situated in one corner of the flower garden.

“Shall we eat together?”

“What?”

“Come here.”

Wh-what is this situation? Sharing a meal with my favorite character?

I was frozen at this impossible combination of words when I heard the sound of something being swept.

Seeing Darius brushing away fallen leaves from the Pergola bench with his hand, I snapped back to my senses.

“Wait a moment!”

Stop that!

I immediately ran over to brush away the remaining leaves and dirt, then took out my handkerchief to thoroughly wipe the table and bench.

Our Darius shouldn’t get his hands or bottom dirty.

I patted the cleanly set place with satisfaction.

“Here, sit here.”

Darius, who had been silently watching me, laughed out loud once again.

“Haha. Sorry. I didn’t know Simon had such an interesting sister.”

I just stared at him in rapture as he covered his mouth and burst into laughter.

This is a precious scene… Is there a camera anywhere?

Then, Darius grabbed my hand and pulled me. As I was drawn by his touch as if enchanted, before I knew it, I was sitting in the clean spot I had made.

Soon I heard the sound of him plopping down in the opposite grassy seat.

Gasp, I got too absorbed in admiring his beautiful face!

“Your clothes will get dirty!”

“It’s fine, so hurry up and eat.”

“No! Switch seats with me!”

“Ah. You’ve gathered quite a substantial haul.”

Ignoring whether I waved my arms in front or made a fuss, Darius pulled the cloth bundle onto the table. The foods I had efficiently swept up by type peeked out their heads.

Are we really eating together?? Such overwhelming grace…

Suddenly, this situation of eating alone with my favorite character felt deeply surreal.

Darius wiped the surface of the apple, then split it with his grip strength and offered me the larger piece. As I received the half in a daze, he bit into his apple. The fresh fruit juice fragrance spread through the air.

Is this an apple juice commercial?

His golden eyes sparkling in the light look like honey-glazed apples.

I was admiring his beauty in a daze when I drooled. Darius’s face showed a faint smile as he watched me hastily wipe my lips with my sleeve.

“You said you were hungry. Hurry up and eat.”

Ah. He thought I was drooling at the sight of the apple. Yes, that’s much better than being seen as a pervert.

I slowly brought the apple to my mouth.

Actually, I was quite full from the desserts I had eaten earlier. The food was purely brought to feed Kail.

But when my favorite was shooting expectant bright glances hoping for a food show, I couldn’t not eat.

I chewed and swallowed the apple that had no taste at all and looked up at Darius. Our eyes met perfectly as he had finished his apple half in one go.

“Ah, I could die without regrets.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing.”

If I don’t put strength into my brain, I feel like I’ll unconsciously pour out nonsense.

I must endure. Let’s talk about something else.

“…What do you call an apple when it laughs?”

“Hmm. I don’t know.”

“A giggling apple.”

My blank mind couldn’t choose an appropriate topic and ended up having a random word festival.

After a brief silence, Darius, who understood the dad joke, burst into fresh laughter. Darius, you have a low laughter threshold. How grateful.

“Where did you learn such jokes? I should learn one.”

This must be how fans feel when they act like clowns at idol fan signings.

I didn’t know if the food was going in through my nose or ears, but I felt like I could fly from pride as he kept laughing.

***

‘Ugh. I feel like I’m going to throw up my insides.’

If I had worn a corset, I would have definitely thrown up. Fortunately, being still young, I was wearing a comfortable dress that didn’t constrict my body.

When the sun was slowly setting in a pinkish hue, we gradually cleared our meal and stood up. Kail never showed his face at all.

‘He probably didn’t go back to the Banquet Hall, maybe he returned to his room? I wanted to get close to him, but it’s not even easy to be together.’

Anyway, I should express my gratitude to the host who provided our daily bread.

“Thank you for providing the meal, Young Master Darius.”

“What Young Master. Please call me comfortably.”

He truly seemed burdened by that title as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“…Brother Darius?”

If you’re handsome, you’re all brothers to me.

I threw out a risky move, and Darius stroked his chin.

“That sounds good.”

I was just testing the waters, but I didn’t expect him to allow it. As I looked at him, overwhelmed with gratitude, he added:

“I never thought I’d hear ‘brother’ before ‘hyung.'”

Soon a bitter smile appeared on Darius’s lips.

“Actually, I have a younger sibling around Miss Rieze’s age.”

“Doesn’t Kail call you hyung?”

“‘Kail’?”

Darius’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing the nickname that naturally slipped out.

“Ah… Actually, I met him earlier. Kail helped me when I was wandering around the Maze Garden.”

“I see. So that’s how you introduced yourselves.”

“Yes.”

Darius’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light as they flickered.

“Was the companion you were supposed to dine with perhaps Kail?”

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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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