I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 65

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

65

“Miss, didn’t you just come out of that cafe with the ‘closed’ sign hanging on it?”

Milly asked while keeping her eyes on the cafe that hid the secret club room.

Since she seemed to have already seen me coming out through the door, there was no point in playing dumb.

“Ah. Yes! The staff said they were closed, so I was just leaving.”

“Did you ditch us to go to this cafe? Last time too?”

Milly asked with disappointment in her voice.

“Um. Should we go somewhere to talk?”

Since the next person might come out of the club room, I pushed Milly’s shoulder and headed down the alley.

“What is it! Is someone chasing us?”

Milly kept glancing back and stopping, making me break out in a cold sweat.

“I’ll explain in the carriage, so let’s go first!”

I dragged them along despite their suspicious looks and finally managed to get into the Count’s carriage.

After pulling even Darius to sit across from me, I asked Luke.

“Luke, could you head to Diern Manor first? I need to drop off Brother Darius.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Only after the carriage started moving could I catch my breath and look Darius straight in the face.

“Brother Darius. What brings you here?”

I asked him as he sat there neatly dressed in his Kingdom’s Army uniform.

It had been about a month since we last met.

Normally I would have been delighted by this chance encounter with him, but given today’s circumstances, I felt flustered.

“I was on my way home from work at the Royal Palace.”

“Luke and I were looking for you, Miss, when we spotted Prince Darius and asked for his help!”

Milly supplemented Darius’s explanation.

Milly, who chose to search for me instead of going on a date with Luke despite seeing my note. And Darius, who helped her.

I could roughly understand the situation.

Milly clasped both hands tightly and looked at me with earnest eyes.

“…What about you, Miss?”

Darius also waited for my response with a subtle expression.

I was conflicted.

Whether it would be better to tell the truth or make up a lie.

Milly knew that I disappeared from time to time, and Darius also seemed to be guessing something after hearing hints from Brother and Milly.

Well, now that even the cafe’s location had been discovered, there were limits to making things up.

I might as well ask for their help instead.

I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them and spoke resolutely.

“I’ve been attending a Secret Reading Club.”

While the carriage headed to the manor, I revealed how I came to attend the club starting about three years ago.

From first setting foot in the club room following Kien, to consistently attending club meetings held every 2-3 weeks.

Milly looked shocked, and Darius also set his lips in a straight line.

“To trust such a suspicious invitation and enter an unknown location, Miss!”

“It was certainly reckless. So that’s what Simon meant when he said Miss Rieze disappears from time to time.”

The two of them scolded me in turn.

“If it had been a strange place, I would have left immediately too…”

“Miss, you’re sometimes too complacent! The world is so dangerous! I never dreamed you’d actually go to the place written on that bizarre invitation! I remember that invitation too!”

Milly burst out in anger. She had good reason since I had asked her about the invitation three years ago.

“You should have at least told me…! I was worried, this is too much…”

Seeing Milly’s tearful face made me feel deeply sorry.

“Maintaining secrecy was a principle… I’m sorry. Brother Darius, I’m sorry for getting you involved too.”

“What exactly does this Secret Reading Club do?”

At Darius’s question, I scratched my cheek sheepishly.

“Um… We do quite a variety of things, but when you think about it, it’s nothing special.”

“Please tell us properly! Before I report to Master Simon that you’re attending a cult gathering!”

Milly straightened up and shot me a fierce glare. Darius also silently demanded an explanation.

To win them over to my side, I first had to prove this wasn’t a fanatic gathering.

“When we meet, we first have refreshments and casual conversation. This is exactly the same as what happens at any tea party.”

“And then?”

“We choose a book each time and everyone reads it and writes their impressions. We gather to share our reviews and discuss them. When issues arise, we sometimes have heated debates.”

Up to this point, it was just a normal book discussion club.

“We also write novels, poems, or plays and share them with each other, critiquing and helping improve each other’s writing.”

This too.

“Everyone especially loves mystery novels, so we’re trying to create board games in that genre among ourselves. …This was my suggestion.”

I added somewhat bashfully.

There was no need to mention that Kien and I were planning a board game business, right?

Instead, I pulled out the Shannon Theater ticket I received today like evidence.

“The club’s host, Madam, loves art and sponsors cultural activities. She often distributes tickets and admission passes. That’s how we all went to a private gallery together once. That’s it.”

“…That’s all?”

“Yes. See, nothing suspicious, right?”

I straightened my shoulders confidently toward Milly.

“Those are things done at regular social gatherings, clubs, and salons too. Why did Madam go through the trouble of creating a secret meeting?”

Darius raised a valid question.

“This is just my guess, but Madam seems to have circumstances requiring her to hide her identity. And… from what I’ve observed, half the members are commoners. Common girls. Perhaps she set it up as a secret club to create an equal gathering where anyone who loves literature and art can participate?”

“…”

Social gatherings, salons, and clubs were the exclusive domain of nobles.

It wouldn’t be good if it became known that such tickets, which couldn’t be obtained even with extra money, were being distributed to commoners.

“Then I can understand the purpose.”

“Anyway, could you keep this secret from Father and Brother? Milly too. I confessed to you both because I wanted to ask this favor!”

I pressed my palms together and begged earnestly.

“I’d grant any request from Miss Rieze, of course. But I’m not entirely convinced that gathering is completely safe.”

“Exactly! I’m also half-doubtful!”

Milly immediately latched onto Darius’s opinion.

“It’s really not a strange place!”

As I beat my chest in frustration, I thought of a clever idea.

“Then let’s have you come with me to the next meeting, Milly. I’ll ask the members for their understanding! Once you try going and see for yourself, your suspicions should be cleared, right?”

“…Alright.”

“Miss Milly. After you go, please let me know how that meeting was too.”

“Yes! Leave it to me. I’ll investigate everything thoroughly!”

With their united front, this topic was concluded. Fortunately, I had put out the urgent fire.

Though it was lamentable that the secret of a secret club had been exposed.

“By the way, this Madam person must be quite remarkable. An opera performance at Shannon Theater for year-end.”

Darius examined the performance ticket I had shown and expressed admiration.

“Exactly. This is my first time watching an opera performance, so I’m very excited. As you know, Brother Darius, our brother has no interest in such things.”

“I’m very interested though.”

Darius smiled with a wink.

“I’ll take you. I owe Miss Rieze a debt, and I love performances.”

His following words left me flustered and speechless.

“Ah. I, I do enjoy watching performances! But Brother Darius, wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for you to go with just me…?”

I trailed off vaguely.

As someone who had been the top marriage prospect in high society for three years, I meant wouldn’t it be troublesome if a scandal arose.

Besides, going alone with Darius to such a date-like place… that’s a bit much.

But Darius shook his head with feigned determination.

“Not at all? I should do whatever Miss Rieze wants.”

“….”

“Then next time I’ll get tickets to an interesting performance, let’s go together.”

“Hmm…, yes…!”

Looking at my favorite character’s bright smiling face, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

Right, if push comes to shove, I can just drag Brother along too.

Speaking of which, it’s about time.

It’s already been six years since I possessed this body.

I confirmed a few months ago that the female lead Adel had entered the Diern Manor as a maid, just like in the original story.

By now, the two of them should be conscious of each other and budding feelings!

How long I’ve waited for this moment. I want to hurry and go spy on their lovey-dovey interactions.

Getting ready with my popcorn, I looked at Darius.

“Darius, when I went to the manor before, I received help from a certain maid.”

“…? Yes.”

Darius tilted his head at the sudden topic.

“Do you know a maid named Adel?”

“Adel? Hmm…, I’m not sure.”

“What? You don’t know Adel?”

“I’m embarrassed to say, but I don’t know all the names of the manor’s servants.”

‘What…?’

That reaction wasn’t one of embarrassed deflection.

Darius was tilting his head with a truly innocent face, as if he really didn’t know anyone named Adel.

‘Crazy. What’s going on here?’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————