I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 55

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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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55

 

Kail followed along without much resistance while I held his hand.

 

“Should we buy drinks first and find somewhere to sit?”

 

“…Sure.”

 

As we entered the street, cafes of similar styles lined up in a row.

 

Perhaps because it was still a chilly season, only a moderate crowd was passing through the streets.

 

“Hmm, which cafe would be good.”

 

Pretending to ponder while stroking my chin, I quietly let go of Kail’s hand.

 

The warmth transferred from his fingertips was so warm that it made me feel strangely awkward.

 

It wasn’t even the first time we’d held hands, so why did it feel so uncomfortable today? My palms felt like they might start sweating.

 

Kail watched me quietly, then looked around the area.

 

“Let’s go there.”

 

Then without consulting me, he immediately entered one of the shops.

 

“Kail!”

 

I followed him into the cafe.

 

Compared to the other flashy cafes, this one was cozy and somewhat old.

 

I hadn’t noticed from outside, but the interior tables were packed with customers.

 

Sweet and savory aromas penetrated deep into my nostrils.

 

“You go crazy for this kind of stuff.”

 

Looking at the showcase Kail gestured toward, I naturally started salivating.

 

Various tarts being baked and filled in real-time gave off the aura of a popular restaurant.

 

“…I do like it.”

 

“What. Strawberry and cheese?”

 

I looked at him with bewildered eyes.

 

“Are you a ghost?”

 

“For drinks. Cocoa?”

 

“Uh…, yeah.”

 

Kail always accurately guessed what I liked most, my preferences.

 

How could someone with no friends and no social experience have such good observation skills and intuition?

 

Ah, is it because he had to read the room at home?

 

If so, that’s rather sad.

 

“Two hot cocoas, strawberry tart, cheese tart. To go.”

 

While I was looking at him wistfully, Kail quickly placed the order and even completed the payment.

 

“Why don’t you get one tart that you like, Kail?”

 

When I belatedly came to my senses and asked, Kail answered calmly.

 

“It’s fine. Strawberry and cheese aren’t bad for me either.”

 

“But why are you paying for everything?”

 

“Today I’m paying for everything.”

 

What’s this? Is it a day to thank me?

 

Is he treating me before leaving for the Military Academy dormitory?

 

After waiting briefly, the drinks and tarts came out packaged.

 

Carrying them, we sat at a pergola overlooking the lakeside.

 

Though it was slightly chilly, the hot cocoa helped warm our bodies enough to be bearable.

 

Cocoa, cheese, and strawberry.

 

Sweet, salty, and refreshing flavors. The trinity was satisfying.

 

Blankly watching the leisurely flowing lake was also pleasantly drowsy.

 

“Ah, this is what healing is.”

 

I stretched and leaned back fully against the bench.

 

“It’s been a while since you’ve enjoyed this kind of leisure too, right Kail?”

 

As far as I knew, Kail hadn’t gone anywhere for fun since he came to our territory two years ago.

 

Instead of answering, Kail took off his coat and placed it on my lap.

 

“I’m not cold though?”

 

“Stop complaining and cover yourself. Don’t catch a cold later and whine about it again.”

 

“When did I ever whine….”

 

Right after my possession, I got sick a few times doing reckless things with Rieze’s frail body, but recently I could count on my fingers how often I’d been bedridden.

 

There wasn’t much to struggle with, and I’d become sturdy from eating well, sleeping well, and exercising.

 

“I’ll keep it on for now. Make sure to tell me if you get cold.”

 

Knowing that Kail didn’t get cold easily, I didn’t say more and pulled up the coat.

 

With his high body temperature, he would train outdoors wearing only one layer even in the middle of winter.

 

My train of thought flowed to how I’d missed him every time I went to the training ground recently to find Kail.

 

“I stopped by the outdoor training ground three times in two weeks but didn’t see you. Where were you training?”

 

Seeing how injured he was, he couldn’t have been slacking off.

 

“…Just… our timing must have been off.”

 

Kail hesitated before answering.

 

“Hmm, I see.”

 

“….”

 

Seeing Kail with his jaw clenched tight looking somehow troubled, I changed the subject.

 

“You know what. I got a strange letter recently?”

 

“A strange letter?”

 

“It was an anonymous invitation on black paper with gold letters inviting me to some secret club, with an address and time. There was even a strange code written on it.”

 

Kail’s eyebrows furrowed sharply.

 

“You weren’t tempted by something so suspicious, were you.”

 

“Hey, what do you take me for, an idiot? I threw it away immediately!”

 

“That kind of thing, you should track down the culprit and beat them to a pulp so they can’t pull such stunts.”

 

Kail growled fiercely as if he’d tear the culprit apart.

 

“Oh please, someone was just playing a prank.”

 

“That prank isn’t funny at all.”

 

“Okay, okay.”

 

I patted his shoulder to calm him down.

 

Seriously. I brought it up as an interesting incident, but who can stop this serious guy.

 

After chatting and playing around some more, we got up to look around the lakeside.

 

We toured the garden and walked along the deck promenade that circled the lakeside.

 

That day, Kail was particularly good at picking up and responding to whatever topics I brought up.

 

While hanging on the bridge railing looking out at the lake, a gust of wind blew and my hat flew away.

 

“Ah!”

 

Fortunately it didn’t fall into the water, but Kail immediately ran to pick up the hat that had rolled quite far away.

 

I accepted the hat that Kail brushed off and handed to me.

 

“What’s this? Why are you being so nice? It’s ominous.”

 

I asked Kail playfully.

 

Normally he would have picked it up the same way, but would have clicked his tongue and made a comment.

 

“…What am I doing.”

 

“They say when people suddenly change, they’re about to die. You’re not going to die suddenly tomorrow, are you Kail?”

 

I asked half-jokingly, half-seriously.

 

He was being difficult in the carriage, but after arriving at the lake his attitude completely changed and he was being subtly affectionate.

 

“…Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

It was a strange answer, but something was definitely different.

 

He’d boasted about returning every other week, so I thought he wasn’t particularly moved.

 

But now that the date was approaching, was he feeling empty?

 

Was the emptiness I felt on Brother’s graduation day coming to Kail a beat late?

 

Along with him, I felt a pang of sadness and a brief wave of melancholy washed over me, but I didn’t show it and maintained my usual cheerful demeanor.

 

I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere by being depressed like last time.

 

In the late afternoon, we went to a nearby restaurant I had reserved for dinner.

 

Even during the meal, Kail’s subtly considerate behavior continued.

 

Whenever I spilled something, he would unfailingly hand me a napkin, and when I picked up an empty glass, he would immediately fill it with water.

 

‘When did this kid develop such good sense?’

 

Today I discovered so many unknown aspects and virtues of Kail.

 

‘At this rate, he really could make several friends when he goes to the Military Academy.’

 

The antisocial, prickly little child was no more.

 

I felt both proud and bittersweet.

 

“Want to ride horses on the way back?”

 

After leaving the restaurant on our way back to the mansion, I suggested to Kail, who like me enjoyed horseback riding.

 

As expected, Kail readily nodded his head.

 

We each chose one of the six horses tied to the carriage and rode together along the deserted mountain path.

 

Running on a new path was quite enjoyable as both the sensations and scenery were refreshingly different.

 

The moderately cold wind also cleared my mind.

 

I glanced at Kail riding alongside me and asked.

 

“Come to think of it, when exactly is the day you go to the dormitory? I’ll come see you off.”

 

“….”

 

He suddenly pulled the reins to slow his horse’s pace. I also stopped my horse and turned to look at him.

 

“Kail?”

 

As twilight fell, the shadows grew longer. I urged my horse forward a few steps toward Kail.

 

Kail, who had been hesitating and stalling for time, resolutely raised his head.

 

“…I’ve decided not to enroll in Randerstd Royal Military Academy.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

Kail kept his eyes downcast, paused for a moment, then opened his mouth again.

 

“…Because I’ve decided to go to the North.”

 

“The North?”

 

“I’m going to follow Father. To Diern Domain. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

 

Having delivered that announcement, Kail met my gaze with motionless eyes.

 

My heart sank with a thud.

 

Tomorrow… he said?

 

“Why?”

 

“….”

 

The wind swept through, cutting through the suffocating silence.

 

Kail let out a small breath, then avoided my gaze and began to spur his horse.

 

I hurriedly chased after him, urging my horse forward.

 

While following behind, looking at his black hair from behind, a certain realization struck my mind like lightning.

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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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