I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 30

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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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30

 

“Would you like to come visit our Brante Estate during the summer vacation in August?”

 

“That sounds good.”

 

“The Brante Estate is on a plateau, so the weather is cool. Our family operates an orchard, and how delicious it is to pick and eat fresh ripe fruit right away! The wine is amazing, and the coffee is distinctive too! Every summer we hold a grand tasting festival… Wait, did you just say yes?”

 

While I was enthusiastically listing elements to entice Darius, I realized something had passed by quickly and asked again. Then Darius laughed out loud.

 

“Yes. I’d like that.”

 

“…!”

 

What? I’m not hearing things, am I?

 

“Really…? You’ll really come?”

 

“Yes. Simon actually recommended it too. I said yes then as well.”

 

Is this a dream or reality?

 

Even my compatible mate can be helpful sometimes.

 

Overwhelmed with emotion, I stopped on the landing and covered my mouth.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay? You must receive many invitations from other good families…!”

 

“The other places don’t have Simon and Miss Rieze. The people you go with are the most important thing.”

 

Darius said decisively without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“Ah, I can go up and ask Mother right now. She’ll probably say yes.”

 

He seemed to radiate a halo as he confidently led the way with a smile. In a dazed mood, I followed him to the Countess’s room, and after a moment’s consideration, she expressed her approval.

 

Even Kail, who I thought would immediately refuse or at least hesitate a bit, obediently agreed to join. Though Darius did purse his lips as if he didn’t like that Kail was coming too.

 

‘A summer vacation with my favorite character? This can’t be real.’

 

It’s like getting accepted to a reach school I applied to thinking there was no way I’d get in.

 

Wondering if this was just wishful thinking or a dream, I pinched my cheek hard. Then throbbing pain washed over me.

 

“Ow ow ow. Hehe.”

 

Seeing me clutch the cheek I’d pinched myself and laugh foolishly, Kail frowned.

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

“Hehehe. I’m just so happy!”

 

When I burst into uncontrollable laughter, he let out a bewildered chuckle. My joy, which would have been 90% if Kail hadn’t come, filled up to 100%.

 

“Let’s go have fun! Boating, stargazing, fishing! Let’s enjoy everything you can only do in the countryside!”

 

“Well… if you want.”

 

Though his voice was indifferent, his slightly flushed ears proved that Kail was also feeling anticipation.

 

After deciding to work out the specific schedule through correspondence later, we left Diern Manor. My excited steps danced lightly.

 

Am I allowed to enjoy such luxury?

 

The Diern family’s stay at our estate will be about a week, but it seems like it will be the best week of both my past and current lives combined.

 

And for Darius and Kail too.

 

‘I want to give them the best vacation!’

 

***

 

And so the morning dawned for our departure to Brante Estate.

 

Under the blazing sunlight, a procession of five Brante family carriages raced toward home.

 

Though we had to ride in the carriage for a full eight hours, it wasn’t difficult in the slightest. Because the week after next would be a vacation with Darius and Kail!

 

Looking out at the clear sky outside the window, I found myself humming. Father, who had been chattering beside me for half the day, eventually passed out and was snoring loudly with his head leaning against the opposite wall.

 

Brother, sitting across from me, was reading a book and continuously muttering something he was memorizing. I quietly moved to the seat beside him so as not to wake Father and asked.

 

“Don’t you get motion sickness? What are you reading so intently?”

 

“I can’t waste travel time either.”

 

Brother’s face, as he pressed his eyelids looking tired, seemed gaunt and haggard now that I looked at him.

 

“Vacation just started, so take it easy. Is that the only way you can maintain being top of the class?”

 

I asked, thinking how terribly obsessed the valedictorian must be, but an indignant voice came back.

 

“…I didn’t do well this time.”

 

“Huh? You didn’t do well? Then who came in first?”

 

No way.

 

“…Darius.”

 

…!! I almost exclaimed in admiration in front of the second place who had just lost first place. I hastily covered my mouth, but Brother glared at me.

 

“Are you happy? Your brother was defeated?”

 

“Hey, how did you know?”

 

“The corners of your mouth were about to pierce the ceiling.”

 

“Brother Darius is so smart. I guess he’s good at swordsmanship too.”

 

“When a genius puts in effort too, how can you compete?”

 

Brother leaned his neck back against the seat and grumbled. Hearing praise for Darius always makes me feel proud as if I’m being praised myself.

 

“That bastard Darius was definitely lazy and slack until before midterms, but after briefly going home, the kid completely changed 180 degrees. Did he get scolded by his father or something? By overcoming his only weakness, he became a monster.”

 

Ah. It was because of the Duke’s discipline… That’s not good though.

 

Poor Darius who must have suffered, I should let him rest well during this vacation.

 

Naturally, only three people were visiting our estate: Darius, Kaileus, and the Countess. Duke Selpieus, stuck in the northern Diern domain, was someone far removed from vacations.

 

“But Brother, you invited Brother Darius to the estate? Even though he’s your competitor?”

 

If he lost the top spot, wouldn’t he have some resentful feelings toward Darius? Is he unexpectedly magnanimous?

 

“Hmph. Being jealous and hostile toward an excellent opponent is amateur behavior. I’ll actually get closer to that guy, learn what I can learn from him, and take what I can take.”

 

Ah. It was just a materialistic mindset.

 

A minstrel with great interest in art and cuisine, and a principled person full of ambition and desire for power.

 

I wonder how Darius and Brother, with such opposite personalities, get along well. Maybe they match well precisely because they’re opposites?

 

Thanks to that, I can see Darius up close, so I’m all for it.

 

“I like that despicable attitude. Please maintain it for life.”

 

I playfully gave a thumbs up, but Brother suddenly looked at me seriously.

 

“So. What about you?”

 

“What about what?”

 

After glancing to confirm that Father across from us was still fast asleep, Brother lowered his voice and asked.

 

“Be honest with me. Are you targeting Darius or his younger brother?”

 

That topic again! How tiresome!

 

An annoyed sigh naturally escaped. I should nail this down clearly this time.

 

“If that ‘targeting’ means romantic feelings, then neither. As I’ve said about 300 times already.”

 

“You should admit it already. I’m willing to help if it’s Darius. Not the younger brother though.”

 

“Listen carefully, you human with completely blocked ears. Brother Darius is just someone I like as a person, and Kail is purely a friend. I don’t have even a speck of feelings beyond that for either of them.”

 

I put strength into my eyebrows and clenched my fist to show him.

 

This was my clear, sincere truth. I absolutely don’t want to get entangled with those two in that way.

 

Darius’s match must absolutely be the female lead Adel! My life goal is to watch that heartbreaking true love from the sidelines!

 

Kail is someone who needs to be reformed, and truly my precious friend.

 

But from Brother’s snort, it seemed he still wasn’t listening to my words even with one ear.

 

“How dishonest you are, pathetic little sister. Even when I’m offering to set you up.”

 

“Brother’s brain must be rotten to interpret everything involving the opposite sex in only that way.”

 

“What? The little brat has gotten too good at talking back.”

 

When Brother grabbed and stretched my cheek, I struck his shin.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

“Ow!”

 

The commotion woke Father, and the repetitive conversation finally ended there.

 

After Father’s lecture about whether we were fighting in the cramped carriage, we wound through several more hills before the Brante Estate signpost passed by the window.

 

A refreshingly cool breeze, unseasonably pleasant for summer, tickled my nose. Soon the beautiful scenery I had glimpsed several times in Rieze’s memories spread out before my eyes.

 

***

 

Brante Estate, which had a distinctly Swiss Alps feel, had unseasonably cool weather perfect for a summer retreat.

 

The count’s castle, ten times larger than the count’s mansion in the capital Pelrn, was tranquil and peaceful, even if it wasn’t sparklingly luxurious.

 

Until the Diern Family’s visit, I focused entirely on rest while enjoying the scenery of verdant grasslands and lakes.

 

In my previous life, I had been running breathlessly and getting beaten down by life, never having taken a proper trip, so as if to resolve that regret, I spent all day playing, eating, and wandering around every corner of the territory.

 

I even made plans while investigating tourist spots so I could serve as an excellent guide when the Diern Family arrived.

 

‘I absolutely must take them to Lake Lagria and the Fir Tree Forest, which are called scenic wonders.’

 

It was around the time when I was gradually getting used to this fairy-tale-like scenery and starting to feel bored.

 

As usual, after sleeping in lazily and finishing lunch, the count’s castle’s old butler brought good news.

 

“The guests from the Diern Ducal House have entered the territory.”

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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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