I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 36

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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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36

 

“Never again will I entrust my little sister to you.”

 

“I said I’m sorry, Simon.”

 

In the carriage returning from Lake Lagria to the mansion, my furious brother endlessly scolded Darius.

 

At first, I let it slide because I found my worried brother endearing, but listening to it, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

 

There’s no need to keep grilling Darius when he’s already apologetic enough.

 

“Don’t be so harsh on Brother Darius! The waterfowl was the bad one!”

 

“Rieze, you… whose side are you taking right now.”

 

When I defended Darius, Brother’s sharp gaze turned toward me. In an instant, the situation changed into a fight between me and Brother.

 

“Even if entering the willow pond was Brother Darius’s fault, he took responsibility and swam out pulling the boat, so what’s the problem!”

 

“He should have pulled it out before so much time was wasted!”

 

“Brother, you’re overprotecting me! It wasn’t something to worry about that much!”

 

“What? If something happens to you too, Father will…!”

 

Brother, who had been speaking up to that point, gritted his teeth and closed his mouth.

 

I too lost my words and bit my lips. I could guess what would follow and couldn’t argue back.

 

It’s not that I didn’t understand Brother’s position, having promised to take charge of protecting me.

 

But what could I do when the cause of the incident was actually the waterfowl? That was no different from an unavoidable disaster.

 

“Both of you, calm down… It was my fault…”

 

Darius patted both our shoulders with a troubled face. A chilling silence pressed down around us.

 

The carriage, swept by fierce arguments, traveled on thin ice toward the Count’s Castle.

 

As I turned my head toward the window, my gaze brushed against Kail sitting diagonally across.

 

Come to think of it, what were Kail and Brother doing while we were missing?

 

Seeing Kail looking strangely pale and haggard, I could tell without even asking. He must have acted like a know-it-all toward Kail too.

 

‘Are you okay?’

 

I grinned and asked toward Kail, but he coldly turned his head and ignored me.

 

What’s with him, why is he acting like that?

 

During the picnic earlier in the day, he wasn’t giving such a cold reaction.

 

‘Is he sulking because I didn’t chase after him and went off to enjoy boating with Darius instead?’

 

What a complicated situation.

 

I tried to give Darius and Kail the best vacation, but why did it turn out like this?

 

The promise to include Brother in all activities turned out to be an unexpected obstacle.

 

Tomorrow we’re supposed to go to the exhibition together with the Countess too.

 

I sighed as I could picture the creaky future ahead.

 

***

 

The evening dinner with guests in the Count’s Castle dining hall was, as expected, utterly bleak in atmosphere.

 

Kail and Simon were sulking and didn’t say a word throughout the meal.

 

Since Father was absent due to exhibition preparations, only the three of us—me, Darius, and the Countess—carried on bland conversation.

 

Brother, who was the first to put down his dessert spoon, politely greeted the Countess and left his seat.

 

After Brother left the dining hall, the Countess, sensing an awkward atmosphere between Darius and him, questioned with her eyes about the cause of this situation.

 

Darius scratched his hair and confessed.

 

“Simon is a bit angry because of me.”

 

“It wasn’t a big deal. Brother is just overreacting.”

 

“What happened to make him like that?”

 

The Countess narrowed her eyes at my eager defense and demanded a detailed explanation.

 

As I was about to tell the whole story, I saw Darius’s face behind the Countess, urgently shaking his head.

 

An urgent telepathic message to hide the truth was conveyed.

 

Come to think of it, if she found out that Darius swam in the lake pulling the boat, the Countess might be shocked and faint.

 

She’s just as overprotective of her son as our Father and Brother. She also values honor and dignity.

 

“…Brother Darius stole and ate one of Brother Simon’s sandwiches.”

 

I quickly used my head and made up something truly trivial.

 

The eldest son of the Count’s family suddenly became an unprecedented petty person who sulked over a piece of sandwich.

 

Fortunately, the Countess seemed to believe my words.

 

“What kind of childish behavior is that, Darius. How embarrassing.”

 

She scolded her son with a small sigh, but seemed relieved since it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“Simon’s reaction was so amusing.”

 

Darius sent me a brief smile as if to say thank you.

 

Children tend to hide many things from overprotective parents.

 

After that, when Kail got up with a fed-up expression, pushing his plate away, I followed him out after some interval.

 

After briefly saying goodnight to the Countess and Darius and closing the dining hall door, Kail’s figure was already quite small in the distance.

 

I hurried after him with quick steps.

 

I wanted to ask if the reason he was upset was because of me or because of Brother, and I wanted to cheer him up.

 

As I passed through the main gate leading to the Count’s Mansion Courtyard, I saw Kail and Simon facing each other in the dim corridor.

 

It seemed Kail had called Brother to stop. Soon, the voices of the two could be heard faintly.

 

“There should be something left to settle.”

 

“What is it, brat?”

 

“Hurry up and tell me Darius’s weakness.”

 

‘Darius’s weakness’…?

 

At the words hitting my ears, I instinctively hid behind a pillar.

 

“…You promised to tell me if we rode the boat together.”

 

From Kail’s following words, I could guess what kind of negotiation had taken place between the two, and I felt a chill.

 

The day I defended Brother to Darius saying he had loyalty, and this is what he does?

 

Brother, with his hands shoved in his pockets, chuckled.

 

“You’re naive in some ways. That was a lie.”

 

“What?”

 

Ah. So he lured Kail onto the boat by promising to tell him Darius’s weakness?

 

The sense of betrayal that had surged briefly completely subsided.

 

Unlike me, Kail seemed furious and ground his teeth.

 

“I just wanted to hear through you the answer that guy would never give. I’m genuinely sorry for forcing you on the boat and making you seasick.”

 

Brother said with a face that didn’t look very sorry.

 

Kail, you got seasick. And it was on a boat you were tricked into boarding by Brother—what a truly worst day…

 

“It’s true that Darius and I are rivals, but we’ll have fair competition. You too, don’t try to dig up his weaknesses and win fair and square.”

 

“…Mind your own business.”

 

Kail muttered lowly, but Brother’s voice, now somewhat more affectionate, continued from behind the pillar.

 

“This is my personal opinion, Kaileus.”

 

“…?”

 

“Isn’t Darius’s weakness you?”

 

“Nonsense.”

 

“At the dormitory, he worries about you all the time and writes you letters.”

 

“I’ve never received anything like that.”

 

Brother let out a snort.

 

Peeking my head out from behind the pillar, I saw Kail swatting away Brother’s hand that was ruffling his hair.

 

“Well then, sleep well.”

 

Brother turned away from the huffing child and walked away, disappearing down the corridor.

 

‘Darius writes letters to Kail.’

 

Those letters he can’t bring himself to send must be full of apologies.

 

Kail remained motionless for a while. Perhaps his mind was noisy because of the words Brother had thrown at him.

 

This would probably be much more effective than me appealing to Kail to forgive Darius.

 

I waited for a moment before quietly stepping out from behind the pillar.

 

“Kail.”

 

When I called out softly, Kail flinched and turned around.

 

“What? How long have you been there?”

 

“I just got here. Hey, are you mad at me?”

 

When I asked cautiously, Kail’s tense eyebrows gradually lowered their angle.

 

“…Why would I be.”

 

“Because I left you behind and went off on a boat ride with Brother Darius.”

 

“….”

 

He maintained his silence before letting out an irritated sigh. Kail ruffled his hair roughly and grumbled.

 

“As if something like that matters. I didn’t want to ride that boat in the first place anyway.”

 

“I was disappointed that I couldn’t go boating with you.”

 

“….”

 

As the bright moon rising beyond the castle wall revealed itself between the clouds, the surroundings became dimly illuminated.

 

I looked up at the sky and spoke.

 

“The moon is so bright tonight that the stars aren’t very visible.”

 

“….”

 

“I’ll come to your room again on a night when the stars are clearly visible. Let’s go to the rooftop to look at the stars.”

 

I could feel Kail glancing at my profile as I spoke while looking up.

 

I had many things I wanted to say and ask about his relationship with Darius, but I held back.

 

Darius had asked me not to interfere, so I should refrain from meddling for now.

 

What Brother touched on should be enough.

 

“Let’s definitely have fun together tomorrow. I’ll enthusiastically guide you around the fair. Well then, good night.”

 

I waved my hand and left the courtyard.

 

I felt his gaze pressing against the back of my head for a moment, but there was no voice calling me back.

 

***

 

The fair held in Alean Village of Brante Estate wasn’t just a simple evaluation event, but a large-scale regional traditional festival.

 

Not only was it a competition to select the best agricultural products, processed goods, and livestock, but various performances, contests, parades, and evening balls continued for several days, making the entire estate bustling with activity.

 

The reason Father stayed in the estate for a month every summer was to successfully conduct this important fair.

 

I too had planted a secret weapon at the fair to completely captivate Darius’ family.

 

Before departing, I stood in front of the full-length mirror and patted both my cheeks. It was a ritual to reorganize my resolve.

 

‘Today, I’m really going to make everyone happy!’

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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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