I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 31

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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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31

 

In the late evening as dusk settled, the Brante family and the Diern family gathered in the dining hall.

 

Me, Father, Brother, Darius, the Countess, and Kail. To think a complete gathering of all six would come together like this. My heart is pounding with excitement.

 

“Thank you for coming such a long way. We are truly grateful that you visited our estate despite your busy schedule. We will do our best to make your stay as comfortable as possible.”

 

Father, as the host, gave a welcoming speech with a bright smile.

 

“We’re more grateful for the invitation. The scenery of Brante Estate was so beautiful that the journey was enjoyable.”

 

“Haha, you’re too kind. It’s just countryside with nothing but natural landscapes to see.”

 

After the Countess’s response, everyone had a brief introduction time. Only after Father and Kail, who were meeting for the first time, awkwardly shook hands did the families sit facing each other at the dining table, divided into groups of three.

 

The servants quietly carried food, filling the enormous dining table with a feast.

 

“Please eat to your heart’s content. I hope it suits your taste.”

 

When Father raised his wine glass first, everyone responded by lightly raising their glasses before beginning the meal.

 

For a while, only the sound of clinking utensils filled the space. Just as I was about to chatter about something, Father chuckled and took the initiative.

 

“I’m constantly worried that our Rieze might be bothering you by going in and out of the Count’s Estate all the time. The child is stubborn and has some peculiar aspects.”

 

Badmouthing one’s own children really is a small talk topic with a long history.

 

I smiled wryly, but the Countess actually defended me instead.

 

“What are you saying? It’s quite the opposite. Thanks to Miss Rieze, we’ve been living very happily lately.”

 

“I never knew our mother was such a chatterbox. She should have been born as a daughter.”

 

“That Darius, really.”

 

When Darius mixed in a joke, the tense atmosphere relaxed.

 

As expected of our Darius, he’s good at everything. Besides, he should look haggard from travel fatigue, but how does he still shine like that?

 

After that, a competition of praising each other’s children continued between Father and the Countess.

 

“But really, you’ve raised your siblings so well. How are they both so upright and wonderful?”

 

“That’s what I should say. Both of your sons are so handsome. They’re outstanding in ability too, and I heard that Darius took first place this semester!”

 

“It’s thanks to the good influence he received from Sir Simon.”

 

The Countess waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes looking at Darius were filled with pride and affection.

 

“That’s right. Without Simon’s help, I would have been suspended several times already.”

 

Everyone laughed off Darius’s words as a joke.

 

But I know from reading the original story. That Brother actually did cover for Darius’s truancy. It’s one of the few advantages of being a reliable mate.

 

Eventually, academic discussions dominated the conversation, fueled by the Countess’s educational enthusiasm.

 

Kail was sitting across from me, silently eating his meal. As if he had lowered his presence to about 30% transparency, existing without notice.

 

Seeing him not say a single word since he first entered and greeted everyone made me feel down.

 

I gestured slightly to make Kail look up.

 

“You worked hard coming here, Kail.”

 

“…”

 

“How’s the food? Do you like it?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

Leaving the adults to their adult conversations, I continued to whisper to Kail.

 

“I asked them to make this. You like chicken, don’t you?”

 

When I pointed with my fork to the chicken grilled with sweet and salty sauce, Kail’s lips parted slightly.

 

I remembered how he particularly enjoyed chicken dishes when we ate together before, so I had pre-ordered it from the chef.

 

“Well, it’s okay.”

 

Though a sulky response came back.

 

Anyway, seeing Kail unable to join the family conversation and being left out makes me uncomfortable. Has it always been like this?

 

“Father! Tomorrow I want to go to Lake Lagria with Kail!”

 

Taking advantage of a brief pause in the adults’ conversation, I announced loudly.

 

Only then, as if suddenly realizing Kail’s existence, all four people’s attention focused on Kail at once.

 

Father, understanding my words a beat late, nodded.

 

“Come to think of it, you haven’t been to the lake yet, saying you’d go with the Diern family children. Take the kids to the lakeside tomorrow afternoon, Simon.”

 

Ah, Father, we don’t need your son!

 

Though he looked clearly annoyed, Brother quickly put on a pretense, probably because he was in front of the Countess.

 

“…Yes, I will.”

 

“Lake Lagria looked so enchanting even from afar. I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Gasp. Darius naturally joined the party. How exciting!

 

After that, perhaps because I suddenly jumped in with a different topic, ordinary daily conversations followed. I kept subtly talking to Kail, whether he gave short answers or not.

 

After the long formal dinner ended, everyone returned to their rooms with goodnight greetings for tomorrow.

 

After finishing my bedtime preparations and sitting on the bed, I suddenly looked out the window and stood up resolutely.

 

‘I don’t want to let the first day pass by so lukewarmly.’

 

I immediately put on a robe over my nightgown, grabbed a candle lantern, and secretly slipped out of my room.

 

‘The guest rooms were definitely on the west side of the inner quarters.’

 

I ran while hiding to avoid being caught by the knights guarding the castle. Soon I arrived at the corridor where the guest rooms were lined up.

 

Among the three guest rooms with dim lights on, I knocked on the door of the smallest room at the very end.

 

When there was no answer, I knocked once more and waited a little before the door clicked open.

 

Through the slightly opened door gap, the room’s owner peeked out his face.

 

I knew you’d be in this room!

 

“Kail, come out.”

 

Kail, with a towel over his wet hair, tilted his head.

 

***

 

Just before Rieze burst in, Kaileus, who had washed and changed clothes, dragged his body as heavy as waterlogged cotton to lie on the bed.

 

A pent-up sigh flowed out like smoke.

 

‘I shouldn’t have said I’d come.’

 

Thoroughly keeping to the promise of meeting once a month, Rieze had visited him exactly twice in the past two months. She was someone who kept promises like clockwork.

 

She was always the one clinging to him. Kaileus somehow didn’t like this situation where the tables had turned.

 

Perhaps that’s why, when he heard Darius was going, he impulsively joined the summer vacation. He couldn’t leave out the fact that Mother was also going.

 

However, both on the way to the Count’s castle and after arriving, it was a series of regrets.

 

He resented himself for floating like an impurity, unable to blend in between the two harmonious families. He also disliked how only Rieze stamped her feet trying to include him among them.

 

I should have stayed in the capital and focused on training alone. What luxury was I seeking by coming all the way here?

 

How should I spend the next week? Just as he squeezed his eyes shut in despair, the sound of knocking on the door twice broke the silence.

 

Opening the door, Kaileus stiffened at the sight of Rieze in a negligee with a robe over it.

 

“Kail, come out.”

 

Come out? At this hour?

 

He thought she might say something obvious like being sorry for calling him all the way to Brante Estate and wasting his time. But it didn’t seem like that.

 

Her flushed cheeks looked like a child anticipating something fun.

 

“…Why.”

 

“I’ll show you something good. Follow me.”

 

“What is it.”

 

“Shh. It’ll only take 30 minutes.”

 

Rieze, who declared this out of the blue, grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.

 

Though he wanted to collapse and sleep immediately due to fatigue, his feet automatically followed her.

 

Rieze moved forward through the dim corridor, shining the lantern light. As if trying not to get caught, she walked carefully, peeking around and choosing paths without guards or servants.

 

Though annoying, curiosity arose. Kaileus, who had been yawning widely, followed in her footsteps.

 

Climbing floor by floor, her breathing gradually became rougher. What on earth was she planning to show him to cause this commotion in the middle of the night?

 

When they reached a dead end, Rieze stopped and extinguished the lantern’s flame.

 

Everything became pitch black.

 

As she continued her incomprehensible actions, an ominous feeling suddenly struck him.

 

‘She doesn’t have some strange ulterior motive, does she?’

 

Remembering other children who had changed their attitudes like flipping a palm and revealed their dark intentions, Kaileus took a step back.

 

What if everything he’s shown me so far was all lies and acting?

 

“…What are you trying to show me. Tell me now.”

 

A hoarse sound came from my constricted throat. My chest churned unpleasantly.

 

Ignoring my anxiety, Rieze burst into laughter and asked.

 

“Are you ready to be surprised?”

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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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