I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 64

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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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64

Chapter 4

Winter’s Sable Street, where every rooftop wore a fluffy white cap.

As sunset approached, the few pedestrians on the quiet street pulled their thick coats tight and hurried along.

Looking up at the clock tower, the hands pointed to six o’clock.

‘Ugh. I’m a whole hour late.’

Following my anxious heart, my footprints in the snow widened their stride.

Recently sensing that I frequently went out in secret, Milly had been closely attending to me.

Whether she was upset or sulking about me secretly going somewhere without telling even her, my closest maid.

If I hadn’t chosen Luke as the coachman to bring along today, it would have been difficult to slip away.

These two, who bumped into each other whenever they had the chance lately, had once again bickered just as I intended right after we went out.

‘Five years of dating is a rough patch, after all.’

While the two were busy squabbling and distracted, I left a note and mysteriously disappeared.

I’ll be back by eight. You two have fun together and wait in the carriage.

‘I left a few silver coins for them to go on a date, so it should be fine. I hope they make up.’

I wish they’d stop their nightly counseling sessions about whether to break up or not.

Heading into the alley, I opened the door of the book cafe with the dark green awning.

After nodding to the server, I recited this quarter’s password.

“Hello. Hot iced black coffee with diced strawberries on top, please.”

The server then led me to a room labeled VIP Room next to the bar table.

After checking the keywords written on the blackboard, I smoothly pulled out three books.

Solving the quiz in one go and pushing the bookshelf aside, the door to 【Reverie】 was revealed.

This double safety device was created for two reasons, they say.

First, to prevent non-members from entering the club’s interior.

Second, simply because Madam Bell and the members were obsessed with mysteries and riddles.

Since the books that operated the device were mostly composed of books we’d read together, any member could figure it out with a little review.

Smiling slightly, I familiarly pushed the door and entered.

A space far more spacious and comfortable than one could ever imagine from outside unfolded.

Entering the room lit with soft candlelight, the crackling sound of firewood burning in the fireplace and music box melodies were the first to greet me.

Following that, the scents of coffee, tea, and various desserts stimulated my nose.

“Hello. I’m here.”

The gentle laughter and conversation stopped, and the members all turned to look at me, the latecomer.

“How punctual you are, Rieze!”

“It’s fine. We were waiting for you, Miss Rieze.”

Kien shouted upon seeing me, and Madam Bell smiled warmly.

Those sitting around the low table in armchairs and on sofas shifted their positions to make room for me to sit.

I took off my scarf and coat, letting out a frustrated breath.

“I had some trouble getting away from my maid. My brother keeps asking where I’m secretly going too. I might not be able to come as often as before.”

“So Sir Simon has that side to him.”

When I explained my reason for being late, Kien, sitting next to me, looked interested and her eyes lit up.

“He’s a stickler and a dictator. Like a bad-tempered Doberman.”

I exposed my brother’s true nature to her, who harbored fantasies about our brother who only looked decent on the outside.

Kien, a member of this club, and I got along well and had become quite close now.

Indeed, you never know what will happen with people.

To think I’d become best friends with the person I found most disagreeable.

“What did you do today?”

When I asked while looking around at the members, I could see a gentle smile forming on Madam Bell’s lips through the thick veil.

“First, warm yourself up. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

Right on cue, the server brought my tea and simple refreshments.

As I began eating, the members slowly told me what they had done before I arrived.

“Today we all read a short story written by Miss Chelsea and gave her feedback.”

“Here, Miss Rieze, take this home and read it.”

Chelsea, a year younger than me, shyly handed me a bundle of papers.

“Oh, thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

“This is the book to read before the next meeting. The password changing from January is ‘Jasmine tea with two lemon slices floating in it.'”

Kien conveyed both the book to read for next time’s assignment and the changing password.

As I silently practiced the password, I became puzzled and looked at Madam Bell.

“With a password like this, couldn’t regular customers actually order it?”

“Jasmine tea isn’t on the cafe’s menu.”

I was immediately convinced by Madam Bell’s wise answer.

“And I was just about to propose going to see an opera performance.”

Madam Bell said as she spread ten paper envelopes across the table.

“The seats are already all prepared.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful!”

“Oh my, Madam! What an honor!”

Various exclamations of joy poured out.

Opening the paper envelope, I found a box seat ticket for Shannon Theater inside.

Shannon Theater was the largest and most luxurious theater in Pelrn.

“To get this many Shannon Theater tickets for year-end! Madam Bell, you’re the best!”

“My goodness. This is the debut of the most popular prima donna these days, Ginny Lend!”

Everyone gasped and looked at Madam Bell.

I too knew that year-end Shannon Theater tickets couldn’t be obtained just by having money. Let alone for a popular star’s debut.

Instead of responding to each person, Madam Bell nodded with a gentle smile.

Members of Club 【Reverie】 had to call each other by name, and asking about surnames and social status was prohibited.

Except for cases like Kien and me who already knew each other or met separately outside, the basic principle was not to reveal one’s identity.

Madam Bell, the host, was a figure thoroughly shrouded in mystery among them.

She always wore clothes that covered her body up to her neck, and her wide-brimmed hat had a black veil attached, so her face wasn’t clearly visible either.

From her ingrained elegance, manner of speaking, and situations like this, she seemed like a noble, but even that couldn’t be certain.

“Maybe she’s a high noble’s mistress, or a noblewoman exiled from abroad. Or perhaps she’s someone like the head of the underworld.”

That’s what Kien had said once when speculating about her origins.

Not just Kien, but everyone was secretly curious about her identity, seeing Madam Bell’s powerful connections, influence, and wealth, but I didn’t really care.

Because I had come to respect Madam Bell since meeting her.

I swallowed the last piece of toast I was chewing and carefully examined the ticket she had given me.

In my previous life, I was so busy with work that I had no time to see even a single movie, let alone musicals or plays.

In this life too, because of Father and Brother who weren’t particularly interested in cultural activities, I had never seen such a proper performance.

If I said I was going with Kien, Father and Brother would allow it.

“Thank you, Madam Bell. This is my first opera performance, so I’m very excited.”

When I expressed my gratitude, Madam Bell smiled and replied.

“I hope it will be a good experience for Miss Rieze.”

Her tone seemed to wish me well even though she wouldn’t be going, so I checked the number of tickets, and once again there was no ticket for Madam Bell.

Even when she had previously gotten us admission tickets to a private gallery, there hadn’t been one for her.

‘She’s not going together this time either. That’s a shame.’

However, I had no intention of whining about why she wouldn’t come along and making her uncomfortable, so I quietly just took the ticket.

After that, we discussed the contents of the book that was last time’s assignment, and the meeting disbanded before eight o’clock.

To avoid letting the cafe customers discover the existence of this club, when we leave, we exit the shop one by one with about five-minute intervals between us.

Having left Milly behind, I was anxious and hoped to be the first to leave today.

After coming out of the club room, I also greeted the server and left the cafe.

Perhaps they were cleaning while closed, as there was a sign saying they were closing and there wasn’t a single customer inside the cafe.

I was looking out at the dark street to head toward where I had left the carriage.

“Miss!”

A sharp shout from behind startled me greatly.

“Milly, it’s cold, so I told you to wait inside the carriage…”

When I turned around in surprise, three people were running toward me.

Wait. Three people?

Behind Milly and Luke, a blonde handsome man peeked his head out and waved his hand.

“Brother Darius!”

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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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