I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 47

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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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47

 

It was when I had finished lunch and come up to my room to change into riding clothes.

 

In the dressing room’s shoe cabinet, I noticed the shoes Darius had given me as a gift during summer vacation.

 

‘Soon it’ll be too cold to wear them.’

 

With that thought, I put on the shoes and looked at myself in the full-length mirror.

 

The toe area was loose, but when I tightened the ankle straps, they were wearable enough.

 

Since the material would make my feet too cold to wear in winter, this was a desperate attempt to wear them even a little now.

 

‘I can’t wait until next spring!’

 

Ah. They’re so pretty.

 

I tried walking down the corridor in the shoes, but eventually tripped ridiculously due to the loose-fitting footwear.

 

I thought the corridor was empty, but I locked eyes with Kail who was coming up the stairs.

 

Ah. How embarrassing…

 

“What, do you just fall over like that at home too?”

 

“The shoes are a bit big…”

 

I made an awkward excuse to Kail, who approached and helped me up with a look of exasperation.

 

Since we were taking joint riding lessons, Kail visited the count’s house three times a week.

 

There was still an hour left before today’s lesson started, yet he was already at our house.

 

“Why did you come so early?”

 

“I wanted to practice a bit before the lesson. Got a problem with that?”

 

Kail responded sulkily.

 

The idea of handling both lessons and entertaining Kail at once was quite efficient, but it seemed I had failed at maintaining proper distance with Kail.

 

‘Now he comes and goes like it’s his own house…’

 

Though I once did the same, so I’m not qualified to complain.

 

“Why did you buy shoes that don’t fit?”

 

Kail noticed that my shoes were unfamiliar and asked.

 

“Oh, these were a gift. The person might not have known my foot size well.”

 

I vaguely omitted the subject to keep secret that they were a gift from Darius.

 

I was worried about another leading question situation following the bracelet about whose gift I liked more.

 

“Hmm. The person who gave the gift has no sense.”

 

“…”

 

I almost defended Darius but barely held back.

 

Fortunately, Kail seemed to have lost interest in who gave the shoe gift.

 

“What about the pig doll I gave you?”

 

Instead, he said something incomprehensible.

 

“What doll?”

 

“The pig doll I won as a dart prize at the fair.”

 

“When did you ever give that to me?”

 

Since this was news to me, I asked with wide eyes, and Kail frowned.

 

“On the morning we left Brante Estate, I left it by your bedside.”

 

“Huh? I didn’t see it! Did it roll under the bed?”

 

I had no idea. Where did it go?

 

“You treasure other gifts so much, but you threw away what I gave you…”

 

“I told you I didn’t know you gave it! I actually wanted that pig doll quite a bit, thank you. I’ll contact the estate and ask them to send it!”

 

“Forget it. What would you do with such an ugly pig anyway.”

 

“Hey, I said I’m sorry. And the pig isn’t ugly! It’s cute!”

 

“…”

 

Kail snorted and turned around, then went down the stairs.

 

He’s such a sulker.

 

But that pig doll, he gave it to me even though he liked it himself.

 

That’s kind of touching?

 

When I asked Milly about the pig doll’s whereabouts when she appeared shortly after, Milly confessed that she had put the doll that was rolling on the floor into the laundry basket and forgotten about it.

 

After telling the apologetic Milly it was okay, I contacted the estate and left a request to find the doll.

 

I quickly changed clothes and went down to the rear garden riding arena.

 

The riding lesson proceeded smoothly, and both Kail and I became quite capable of controlling horses freely.

 

Perhaps due to his good athletic ability, even though Kail started later than me, he became equally skilled.

 

“Teacher, when will we be able to gallop at full speed in the meadow?”

 

It was a bold question I asked because I wanted to race him before my skills were completely surpassed.

 

“Hmm, in about 10 years?”

 

The teacher cut down my recklessness sharply with a professional service smile.

 

Tch.

 

As the roughly one-hour riding lesson was ending, I saw Milly and Luke talking under the shade of trees in the garden.

 

After their long-awaited first date, the two had gone out together twice more on holidays.

 

With three dates and about a month of romantic tension, all that remained was a confession.

 

If Luke didn’t confess even after the fourth date on the way home, I had advised Milly to recite a magic spell.

 

‘What are we to each other?’

 

With that one line, that very day would become day one.

 

While I was looking at the two fondly, the teacher finished the lesson.

 

I put the horse in the stables and immediately went to Seolgi’s pen to pet her.

 

“Seolgi! There, there, have you been well?”

 

While I made baby talk and patted Seolgi’s rump, Kail put away his horse and left without even saying goodbye.

 

Geez, is he still petty and sulking!

 

I guess I need to play with him longer today to appease him.

 

“Kail, let’s go together. I said I’m sorry!”

 

I ran after him, calling out.

 

Autumn leaves dyed in warm colors fell like swimming fish and settled at our feet.

 

Laughter carried through the deepening autumn.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, the Diern Domain located at the northernmost tip of the Erkalt Kingdom was a season ahead.

 

Though it was still late October, breathing in froze the lungs with cold air, and opening one’s mouth released white puffs of breath.

 

A sharp wind swirled around Selpieus Diern as he gazed at the snow-covered ridgelines.

 

A massive, cold barrier—he seemed like the embodiment of the North itself in human form.

 

His face was surprisingly young. Despite being over forty, his features were sharply defined and his skin had not a single wrinkle.

 

However, his sculptured handsome face was far from kind.

 

Behind the man with the nickname “Iron Blood,” his aide Noem Wagner hurried to catch up with quick steps.

 

“It’s already winter. I absolutely hate the cold.”

 

Noem sniffled while pulling his cloak closer.

 

Though he had spent over ten years traveling to and from the domain, he still couldn’t adapt to this bitter cold.

 

“The war is over, Your Grace.”

 

Noem, who had blown on his hands and even put on gloves, stood diagonally behind Selpieus and spoke.

 

“So?”

 

“It means you no longer need to stay in this desolate castle pretending to be a watchdog.”

 

Selpieus, who had been standing on the castle wall surveying beyond the border, showed a cold smile.

 

“How ridiculous. This is my home.”

 

“I know you own a magnificent and splendid house in Pelrn as well. And Pelrn is a very warm and pleasant city with the scent of human life.”

 

Noem was the only person who could dare commit such irreverence against Selpieus, the kingdom’s greatest swordsman.

 

He was also an old friend to whom Selpieus allowed such impertinence.

 

“Prince Darius is already sixteen. After he graduates from the military academy the year after next, he’ll be of age to enter society and look for marriage prospects. He needs heir education, and there are mountains of things to hand over by summoning the retainers.”

 

“Already treating me like some old-timer relegated to the back room? I’m planning to stay active for another 30 years.”

 

Selpieus gripped his sword hilt with a creak, glaring threateningly.

 

Though Noem flinched slightly, he was accustomed to Selpieus’s intimidation and didn’t stop speaking.

 

“Well, that’s all just excuses really. It’s my small wish that Your Grace would spend more time with your family during these peaceful times without war.”

 

“Didn’t I stay in the capital by force not long ago because of your annoying nagging?”

 

“You were only there for two months.”

 

“It was a terribly long two months.”

 

Noem finally closed his mouth.

 

Why does this man abandon the comfortable life in the capital and insist on staying in this desolate place?

 

Of course, he was a man better suited to guns and swords than teacups, but I couldn’t understand what he was continuing this barren life for.

 

Though his relationship with the Countess was as distant as strangers, wasn’t that how all nobles in political marriages were?

 

In the first place, their marriage had grown so distant because Selpieus had constantly been away.

 

Thinking of the Diern family, Noem brought up the name that had been stuck in his throat like a thorn since last summer.

 

“…What do you plan to do about Young Master Kaileus? He’s grown quite a bit now…”

 

Selpieus’s jaw clenched even tighter.

 

Just as he, who had been gazing at the distant scenery, turned to look at Noem.

 

A soldier came running toward them in a hurry.

 

“Your Grace! Urgent news!”

 

Selpieus indifferently picked up the letter the kneeling soldier held out.

 

Noem watched the scene with a devastated heart, knowing the situation all too well.

 

“I take back what I said about this being my home.”

 

Selpieus crumpled the letter bearing the royal seal and smiled coldly like a predator who hadn’t finished hunting.

 

“The battlefield is my home.”

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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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