I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 52

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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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52

 

Even if it’s just a social gathering of girls who haven’t had their debutante yet, it can never be taken lightly.

 

That place would be a microcosm of high society where all kinds of gossip and aristocratic rhetoric run rampant.

 

I steeled myself as I stepped foot into the Rastin Manor.

 

“Thank you for inviting me, Miss Kien. It’s been a while, Countess Rastin.”

 

“Thank you for coming, Miss Rieze. That light green dress suits you very well.”

 

As I curtsied and greeted Kien and Countess Rastin, they also welcomed me with smiles.

 

“I was surprised by how beautiful and elegant the mansion and garden are. Your excellent taste makes it a pleasure for the eyes, Countess.”

 

After showering praise on the calm and luxurious style interior, I entered the reception room.

 

The five young noblewomen who had arrived first welcomed me, the last to arrive.

 

Excluding Kien and me who were fourteen, the other five were girls of fifteen and sixteen.

 

Sitting around the oval table, we exchanged pleasantries one by one.

 

After sweet tea and delicious pastries, compliments about each other’s gifts and outfits made a round, earnest chattering began.

 

The one who started it was a young noblewoman two years older than me.

 

“Did you hear? Miss Irena was caught having an improper secret meeting with the Rutville heir!”

 

At the provocative topic she threw out, the other young noblewomen lit up and leaned forward.

 

“Oh my. An ‘improper secret meeting’ means…”

 

“Someone must have witnessed their lips pressed together!”

 

“Oh dear! Even though these days people are more lenient about young romance, such a scandal before debut would be quite damaging.”

 

“That’s why my older sister asks four maids to keep watch from all directions when she meets her lover these days.”

 

“That’s a good method. How wise of her.”

 

“Even with such thorough lookouts, you must never allow intimate physical contact. Everyone remember that.”

 

I sighed inwardly while listening to their gossip.

 

So what Milly said about the secret dating trend was true.

 

It seemed to be mostly a trend among older sisters who were a few years older than me. Anyway, kids these days.

 

After that, shameless name-dropping talk continued about who was dating whom and who broke up with whom.

 

Since I didn’t know anyone they were talking about, I was just sipping tea and reacting appropriately when one young noblewoman spoke to me.

 

“Come to think of it, I heard Sir Simon, Miss Rieze’s brother, graduated from the Royal Military Academy a few days ago.”

 

“How are you all so quick with news?”

 

I asked out of genuine curiosity.

 

Is there some SNS that only I don’t know about?

 

“His speech as the graduate representative was quite the topic.”

 

“Ah. Did he become a topic because he spoke longer than the principal despite being just a graduate?”

 

The young noblewomen giggled.

 

“No, it’s because he’s so handsome and graduated at the top of his class. Did you attend the graduation ceremony too, Miss Rieze?”

 

“Yes. I ended up going against my will.”

 

“Wow. How lucky!”

 

It was an expression of frustration, but I got an envious reaction back…

 

“Weren’t there any handsome men among the graduates?”

 

“No, not particularly. But touring the inside of the military academy was quite interesting. The grounds were huge and well-organized by sections…”

 

“Well, it is the Royal Academy after all.”

 

Yes. That’s right.

 

When I became embarrassed and stopped talking, the young noblewoman who first spoke to me said with bright eyes.

 

“When you make your debut in a few years, please properly introduce us to your brother, Miss Rieze. Oh, and if there are any handsome men among your brother’s friends, please introduce them too.”

 

“Oh, me too!”

 

“I’d like to get in line too!”

 

The other young noblewomen also rushed in like hyenas to join the imaginary queue.

 

“Ahaha, yes. I’ll do that.”

 

I lifted my teacup to hide my awkward smile.

 

Save me! No matter what we talk about, it always comes back to men.

 

Even though adolescence is when you’re most interested in romance and the opposite sex, this is torture…

 

This is why attending social gatherings was such an ordeal. I had forgotten since it had been so long.

 

Will I be able to make friends who share my interests among these girls…

 

As I chewed on a pastry to restore my depleted mental strength, my eyes met with Kien sitting across from me.

 

Kien was unusually quiet. Unlike before when she always dominated the conversation at such gatherings.

 

She was even the host of today’s tea party.

 

Kien, who had been staring at me with a subtle expression, picked up her teacup and looked away from me.

 

What was that expression about…?

 

A couple of hours later, the gathering was coming to an end.

 

Everyone stood up, repeating like parrots that it was so enjoyable and that we should meet regularly with this group.

 

Ahhh. Finally, freedom!

 

I was cheering inwardly and getting up to leave when.

 

“Miss Rieze, could you wait a moment? I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately.”

 

Kien held me back, putting the brakes on my excited steps toward home.

 

Something to discuss privately?

 

“I’ll be back after seeing the others off.”

 

At Kien’s words, I sat back down on the sofa.

 

I sat there blankly, trying to figure out why she had detained me.

 

She had shown some interest in my brother before. Is she going to make some blatant request like asking me to set them up?

 

If so, I’ll coldly refuse.

 

While looking around alone, I discovered books stacked on a table inside the reception room.

 

Thinking they might be for show, I opened one to find underlines and notes showing evidence of thorough reading.

 

I thought she was someone who had nothing to do with books, but was that prejudice?

 

Then Kien returned to the reception room.

 

Walking toward the sofa, I asked her.

 

“What is it, Miss Kien?”

 

Due to the slight antipathy toward her from childhood memories, a somewhat cold tone slipped out.

 

Kien also seemed to notice that my attitude was different from when I dealt with the other young noblewomen, hesitating before sitting across from me.

 

“I want to apologize to Miss Rieze… for what happened a few years ago.”

 

Then she brought up something unexpected.

 

I didn’t expect the perpetrator to remember.

 

“What? Did something happen between us?”

 

I deliberately tilted my head as if I had no idea what she meant. Then Kien, after steadying her breathing, opened her mouth.

 

“The day I was invited to Miss Rieze’s house when we were nine… I called Miss Rieze slow and dull.”

 

Though she looked troubled, Kien accurately pinpointed what had happened back then.

 

“You also called me pathetic.”

 

When I supplemented the wrongdoing she had committed, her cheeks turned red.

 

“I was young then, no, that’s also an excuse. I was just foolish. I’m truly sorry for hurting you. Miss Rieze was going through a difficult time then… I did something terrible.”

 

“…”

 

“Please forgive me.”

 

At this point, I could have grabbed her hand and said it was fine.

 

That would have been the easy path. Whatever Kien’s ulterior motives were.

 

But somehow wanting to draw out her unadorned inner self, I lifted my chin and maintained a haughty stance.

 

“I’ll ask you directly. You’re doing this because you’re interested in my brother, right? Because you need to get on my good side to get along with him?”

 

Kien’s lips parted slightly in bewilderment.

 

“Too bad, but it’s too late. I already tattled to my brother about all the terrible things Miss Kien did to me.”

 

Actually, I had never once mentioned anything about this girl to my brother.

 

I was just testing her to judge whether her apology came from genuine sincerity.

 

Kien clenched both hands on her knees into fists, then squeezed her eyes shut before opening them.

 

Would she think she had ruined things and reveal her true nature?

 

“I want to boldly claim it’s a misunderstanding, but actually, I was like that before. As you said, Lady Rieze… I did have the ulterior motive of wanting to get closer to Sir Simon through you.”

 

“…You’re being honest.”

 

“But now it’s different. I’ve become ashamed of my narrow-minded, arrogant, and self-centered past. This apology has nothing to do with Sir Simon—I’m apologizing to you, Lady Rieze, because I feel sorry. Sincerely.”

 

Kien’s eyes, which had been wavering with emotion, hardened with resolve.

 

Even though there’s no hope with Brother anymore, she still has this attitude. Looking at her, she seems sincere?

 

Come to think of it, during today’s gathering, she was quite different from before.

 

If it had been the Kien I originally knew, she would have been the most excited to spread all sorts of gossip and show off her vanity.

 

“Lady Kien, you’ve changed.”

 

“Does it seem that way?”

 

“Yes.”

 

It seems like she’s changed for the better.

 

Having said that much, I removed the cold mask I had put on and smiled brightly.

 

“Lend me those books. Then I’ll accept your apology.”

 

I said this while pointing to the books stacked in one corner of the reception room. They were books I had noticed while Kien was out.

 

【Pride and Prejudice】, 【What Is to Be Done?】, 【Setting Milestones in Life】, 【Rediscovering Dreams】, and so on.

 

Always pursuing dopamine, I had always devoured genre novels. Books containing philosophy and ideology made me feel disgusted just looking at their titles.

 

But seeing someone who had transformed this completely right before my eyes, I found myself wanting to read them at least once.

 

Besides, I don’t think I’d seen books like these in this world.

 

Kien grinned and immediately brought over the books.

 

“By all means.”

 

I didn’t know yet, not until this day. That I had formed an unexpected connection.

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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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