I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 42

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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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42

 

Watching the child behind him cry for his sake, Kaileus was quite surprised.

 

The sight of him struggling in frustration while shedding tears and snot was deeply bewildering.

 

Though Mother had scolded me today for being rude, that wasn’t particularly unfair.

 

It was reasonable discipline, and since it was in front of the Brante Estate people, it was milder scolding than usual.

 

Therefore, while crouched on the cliff, not a single tear had fallen.

 

But why was this child crying so sorrowfully as if he himself had suffered something tragic?

 

Until just now it was nothing, but something was rippling and overflowing deep inside his collarbone.

 

Was this grief?

 

As the sadness he hadn’t even recognized reached its peak, Kaileus opened up about things that had puzzled Rieze in the past.

 

It was the story of the glass greenhouse and his birthday. He expected another outburst, but Rieze suddenly became quiet.

 

It seemed like he was keeping his mouth tightly shut to avoid being caught crying silently.

 

I could feel every faint gasp through his back.

 

Did he think I’d mistake the hot liquid soaking the back of my neck for rainwater?

 

Though I didn’t know why he was now trying not to be caught after crying like a child earlier, somehow… I was happy.

 

Having someone cry on my behalf made me overwhelmingly happy.

 

After hesitating briefly, Kaileus voiced a question that had been lingering in his mind.

 

Why did this child like him so much? He was curious about the reason.

 

It was also the third question Simon had asked him on the boat.

 

“Do people need a reason to feel goodwill toward others? I just like you! I’ve said it so many times.”

 

It should have been a satisfying answer, but when I quietly mulled it over, it somehow felt hollow.

 

While saying he liked me, his actions and reactions toward Darius were often unusual.

 

When I questioned him about his behavior toward Darius, Rieze firmly denied it.

 

I decided to believe him for now. Instead, I wagered a wish as the prize for the 100th victory in our competitions.

 

I didn’t know specifically what wish I’d use, but it seemed like it could be useful later.

 

‘Something like “never speak to that bastard Darius again and cut ties with him” wouldn’t be too unreasonable a wish, right?’

 

That’s what I had thought.

 

There wasn’t a shred of doubt that Kaileus himself would be the one to claim the 100th victory.

 

As the rain clouds cleared, the refreshing clear air swirled around the path they walked.

 

Shortly after, a knight who had been searching the forest discovered them and came running.

 

***

 

“I saw a deer on the way to the chalet. It was the first time I’d seen such a large wild animal, so I was fascinated and followed it without realizing.”

 

With Father, Brother, Darius, the Countess, knights, and servants all watching, Kail confessed.

 

“After losing sight of the deer and coming to my senses, I found myself lost in the forest. I’m sorry.”

 

It flowed so smoothly, as if he’d prepared this lie from the moment he snuck out.

 

I sat beside him, wiping my face with a towel to hide my awkward expression.

 

“You followed a deer?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

“You’re not hurt anywhere?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

Kail avoided Darius’s gaze as he answered his concerned questions.

 

Having wandered in the rain, Darius’s hair and clothes were soaked through. Father and Brother looked like drowned mice too.

 

“Preposterous.”

 

The Countess, the only person in the chalet who remained dry and pristine, muttered coldly.

 

That brief sentence carried an aura closer to disgust than disappointment.

 

Perhaps because I’d heard all sorts of stories from Kail, I felt even more aversion to the Countess’s icy expressionless face.

 

‘It’s not like you were that worried anyway.’

 

But unlike me, Kail flinched at his mother’s cold tone and quickly bowed.

 

“I have no excuse for causing such trouble to the Brante family. I’m truly sorry.”

 

“It’s fine, I’m just glad you’re safe.”

 

Father smiled with effort and rubbed his head with the towel placed on his hair.

 

‘You’re not going to reveal the allergy story, Kail?’

 

I frowned and gestured meaningfully, and Kail shook his head almost imperceptibly.

 

‘You’ll keep hiding it for a mother who doesn’t worry about you even a fraction as much as our Father, a neighbor, when you disappear and return.’

 

Even after expressing such grievances about his mother earlier.

 

Well, something craved for a lifetime wouldn’t disappear in an instant.

 

I was frustrated but there was nothing I could do.

 

Since Kail asked me to keep it secret, I had no right to expose it. He was keeping my secret too.

 

“What about you? Rieze.”

 

Brother asked with fire in his eyes. His intimidating aura seemed to dare me to make excuses.

 

“I clearly told you to wait in your room. Why did you go out?”

 

Now it was my turn to be interrogated.

 

Unlike Kail, I hadn’t prepared any plausible lies in advance.

 

I couldn’t say outright in front of Kail and his family that I’d rushed out worried he might have harbored bad intentions from being so dejected.

 

“…I was worried Kail might have been taken by bad people.”

 

So this weak excuse was completed.

 

Brother let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

 

“Do you think that makes sense right now? Even if that were really the case, what were you going to do by stepping in? Could you beat those bad guys?”

 

“That’s right, Rieze. It was reckless. This is all so upsetting.”

 

Father scolded me while stroking my wounds, his eyes welling up with tears.

 

“If you’d waited in your room, we would have found Kaileus just fine. Did you distrust us that much?”

 

I shook my head vigorously at Brother’s question.

 

Milly and the servants, who had been watching this situation from a distance in silence, also sent pitiful looks.

 

“I’m sorry. My thinking was shallow.”

 

Since a mistake was a mistake, I apologized politely.

 

Even if I had my reasons, those who worried must have been beside themselves. It was a sensation I’d experienced firsthand.

 

Kail and I continued to be lectured until our ears bled and scolded until our tears dried up.

 

After a long, long reflection, we washed up and received treatment for our injuries.

 

My palms and knees had abrasions, and my right ankle was sprained.

 

***

 

Originally we had planned to play in the fir tree forest as a day trip and return, but due to Kail and my disappearance incident, we ended up staying overnight at the chalet.

 

That evening, while I was resting in my room, Darius quietly came to visit.

 

He suddenly knelt on one knee in front of me as I sat leaning against the sofa by the fireplace.

 

“Brother Darius…!”

 

As I startled and sat up, he grasped my hands.

 

“When I heard that Miss Rieze had also disappeared, I was anxious too. But since you’ve already been sufficiently scolded and reflected, let’s leave that topic alone now.”

 

Pausing his gentle voice briefly, he gazed at me with sincere eyes.

 

“Thank you for finding and rescuing Kail.”

 

“…!”

 

No one had thanked me. Not even Kail.

 

I was momentarily moved and nearly teared up.

 

“No, it’s not that. It was all my rash behavior. And Kail was the one who rescued me when I hurt my ankle…”

 

“Miss Rieze discovered Kail. Before anyone else.”

 

Darius cut off my words and shook his head firmly.

 

“So please accept my gratitude. Thank you.”

 

Unable to resist Darius’s stubborn, earnest words, I finally nodded.

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

Darius smiled brightly like flames in a fireplace. It was a smile that rewarded the difficult day.

 

“I only ever say thank you to Miss Rieze. I’ll have to spend my whole life repaying you.”

 

To express this as a lifelong debt.

 

“…Brother Darius really cares for Kail.”

 

Darius’s smile faded upon hearing my words.

 

“I wish this feeling could reach Kail, but it seems hopeless.”

 

“You could just tell him.”

 

Darius’s eyes widened at my suggestion.

 

“You’re writing letters to Kail.”

 

Darius let out an “Ah” and sighed.

 

“Simon told you.”

 

“Mm. Brother didn’t tell me directly, I just happened to overhear.”

 

I hurriedly added clarification in case Brother might get in trouble, but Darius just laughed as if such things didn’t matter.

 

“That’s right. I am writing letters, bit by bit. Though they’re just pathetic letters no better than confessions.”

 

“…Even such pathetic letters would convey your sincerity to Kail.”

 

When I squeezed our clasped hands, Darius chuckled softly.

 

“Don’t put so much force into your injured hand, Miss Rieze. When I find courage, when the time comes, I’ll try to deliver them.”

 

“Promise me.”

 

“Yes, I promise.”

 

Then Darius released my hand and stood up.

 

“Now get some rest, Miss Rieze.”

 

I waved at Darius as he closed the door.

 

Those letters, as far as I know, will never reach Kail in the end. Because they were never mentioned in the original story.

 

Bitterness settled in a corner of my heart.

 

Even after Darius left, warmth lingered in my hands for a long time.

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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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