I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 6

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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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6

“Simon of the Brante Estate greets the Duchess Diern.”

“I am his younger sister, Rieze Brante. Thank you for inviting me to such an honorable occasion.”

Following Simon’s respectful self-introduction, I also held my skirt and gently bent my knees in proper courtesy. It was the result of etiquette I had crammed into my head over the past week, made to look quite presentable.

The Duchess slightly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“I’m treating you as my son’s friends, so this is just a simple gathering. You don’t need to be so formal.”

She says that, but she’ll scrutinize us thoroughly. If there’s even one flaw that catches her eye, she’ll consider us siblings beneath her son’s level.

“Right. Both of you, just relax and have fun.”

Darius agreed, putting his arm around Simon’s stiff shoulders.

After that, the two of them guided us inside the massive glass greenhouse I had seen before. The flower garden that the Duchess had devoted her heart to cultivating was filled with charming and colorful flowers of all kinds.

“Wow.”

When I saw the scene of small butterflies fluttering over the fountain that sparkled like jewels in the sunlight, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. And the moment I confirmed those butterflies, a victorious smile appeared.

Since it was an invitation in the Duchess’s name, I had secretly hoped we might have tea time in the glass greenhouse she was so proud of, and it was a bingo.

Going deeper inside, there was a tea table set up on a patio surrounded by pastel-colored roses.

“Please, have a seat. I prepared something modest, but I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”

The Duchess sat down first on the inner side and offered us seats.

As if her words about preparing modestly were just humility, there were various delicious-looking dishes and desserts lined up.

“I had them prepare things Miss Rieze might like. This time with plenty of carbohydrates and protein too.”

Darius, sitting across from me, winked and whispered.

Amazing… Is this what they call reverse courtship?

He even took note of my nonsense about needing to eat carbs, protein, and fat well during the growth period.

My nose tingles. The happiness Darius has been giving me since earlier is at a lethal dose, I can’t stay still. I want to do somersaults in the air.

Soon servants appeared like shadows, brewed tea and poured it into teacups, then disappeared from view. When only the three of us were left in the spacious glass greenhouse, I looked around just in case.

‘Kail… isn’t he being called?’

I had hoped to build some favorability with Kail while I was at it, but it’s disappointing. Then again, Kail isn’t the type to sit quietly at such gatherings.

When the full-fledged tea time began, Simon, who had been timing it, brought out his bribe.

“It’s modest, but we brought red wine made from grapes produced in our territory.”

Darius, who leaned forward after the Duchess received the wine, showed a pleased expression.

“Brante territory wine is the best, Mother.”

Right, Darius, being a gourmet, especially loved coffee and wine. Mental note complete. I’ll have to get some top-quality wine later.

“You didn’t need to bring anything. This is excellent wine. Thank you.”

“Please forgive our rudeness for not properly greeting you at the previous party.”

“I heard you got caught up in Darius’s dereliction of duty. It’s this side that should be asking for forgiveness.”

Darius smiled softly at the reproach the Duchess shot at him with a sidelong glance.

Oh no. He got scolded for skipping that time. And he probably said he dragged us siblings along to cover for us.

Soon the Duchess changed the subject.

“I heard Sir Simon is the top student of his year at the Royal Military Academy. Our lacking son owes you a great debt.”

Huh, my registry mate was the top of his year? This must be why the Duchess personally invited us, mere children of a count’s family.

“Not at all. I’m actually receiving a lot of help from Darius.”

“This child only relies on his natural talent and is quite lazy. Darius, watch and learn well from Sir Simon.”

Darius chuckled and shook his head vigorously.

“I’m already getting nagged every day. It feels like I have another mother at school.”

Everyone laughed warmly at his joke, and academic talk continued gently afterward.

While listening to the conversation, my hands were busy conquering the desserts on the table.

Everything is just perfectly sweet and delicious. Maybe it’s because of Darius giving me gentle smiles whenever our eyes meet, but it’s even sweeter and my blood sugar might explode.

“Does it suit our little lady’s taste?”

When I cut a scone topped with peach jam into small pieces and put it in my mouth, the Duchess spoke to me.

“Yes. Every single thing tastes fantastic.”

Darius and the Duchess nodded satisfactorily at my answer, but Simon glared at me with stern eyes.

I can feel his silent reproach asking if I really came here just to eat. Wait and see, dude. The flattery starts now.

“The greenhouse is incredibly beautiful. The fountain garden where all those butterflies were flying around that we passed earlier felt like heaven.”

“That’s the place I put the most effort into, so I’m proud that you noticed.”

“I absolutely love butterflies.”

“Oh my, do you?”

“Enough to memorize Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide entirely.”

At my words spoken as if embarrassed, the Duchess’s eyes instantly changed.

“…I see.”

She quickly erased her surprised expression, but the hand holding her teacup trembled slightly.

Violet Diern’s hobby was known only as decorating glass greenhouses, but she harbored a special love for butterflies. It was information I knew because it was mentioned several times in the original work.

So from the day I received the invitation from the Diern Ducal House, I started cramming butterfly knowledge into my head until it felt like bursting. It was the first time I had studied that hard since my senior year of high school.

The Count Brante’s Estate happened to have a perfect, vast library. The late Countess Brante had been a book collector, and the original owner of this body had also been a bookworm.

Among the numerous insect-related books, Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide had all existing butterflies drawn in precise detail. It’s a famous book even among entomologists, so the Duchess, being a true butterfly enthusiast, would naturally know it.

Simon looked at me with puzzled eyes wondering when I had ever liked butterflies, but since the Duchess seemed pleased, he tactfully kept his mouth shut.

“So, if it’s alright, could I take a closer look at that butterfly garden from earlier?”

“Of course you can. I’ll guide you.”

The Duchess immediately stood up. There wasn’t much change in her attitude, but offering to take me personally might be a positive sign, right?

As we got up to follow, Darius stopped us.

“Mother, what about us?”

“You two can just chat among yourselves, can’t you?”

“Just the two of us?”

Darius and Simon looked at each other with cold, stale eyes.

“Let’s go together.”

In the end, all four of us moved together in a group.

The scene of colorful butterflies playing over the fountain and flower beds was truly like a scene from a fairy tale.

Darius seemed unimpressed since he already knew the scenery, while Simon looked around quite amazed.

Butterflies… They were pretty from afar, but looking closely, they’re still creepy as expected.

Actually, I don’t like insects. When a butterfly brushed against my forearm, I got goosebumps.

Still, thanks to staring at the guide so much, I can recognize the names of most butterflies. I should pretend to know appropriately.

I noticed a butterfly with glossy blue wings sitting on the stone floor.

“Is that an Adonis Morpho butterfly?”

“You recognized it. That’s right, I obtained it with great difficulty…, huh?”

The Duchess’s voice, which had been excitedly showing off the rare butterfly, stopped. She bent down and examined the Morpho butterfly that was sitting quietly still.

Looking over her shoulder, I could see that the tip of one of the butterfly’s wings had fallen off.

“The wing, which is like life itself to a butterfly…”

The Duchess murmured softly and picked up the butterfly. Watching the butterfly’s pitiful wing fluttering, the Duchess placed it on the grass.

“It can’t be helped. This too must be this child’s fate.”

She said this and turned away with apparent detachment, but perhaps she was inwardly heartbroken, as the Duchess’s complexion looked paler than before.

The butterfly, not realizing something was wrong with its wing and fluttering meaninglessly, was also somewhat pitiful.

Hmm. Can I do it? If I fail, the past week of suffering will be for nothing.

‘Ah, whatever. I have nothing to lose, so why not try!’

There’s no better shortcut to winning the Duchess’s heart than this, so I’m going for it!

“Madam. If it’s alright with you, shall I try to fix the butterfly’s wing?”

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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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