I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 66

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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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66

Thrown into chaos, I froze in front of Darius.

Did I get the timing wrong?

No, that couldn’t be. There’s no way I’d confuse the contents of a novel I’d read through completely several times.

Clearly, Adel was supposed to get involved with Darius in the fall of the very year she got hired at the ducal mansion.

Now it’s winter, close to the end of the year. Why haven’t the two of them recognized each other yet?

“Miss Rieze?”

Just as Darius called out to me in bewilderment, seeing me lost in thought.

“We’ve arrived at the ducal mansion!”

Luke’s announcement interrupted and broke my train of thought.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ll visit the ducal mansion soon.”

I quickly pulled my confused mind together.

“Thank you for today, Brother Darius.”

“Don’t mention it, it’s nice to see your face even briefly.”

I waved at Darius, who smiled brightly as he got out of the carriage.

Soon the carriage door closed and we began racing toward the Count’s mansion.

On the way back, Milly chattered away, but I was entirely preoccupied with going over the original story’s contents.

When we arrived at the mansion, the clock had passed nine o’clock.

“Where have you been wandering around to come home this late?”

Lost in other thoughts, I ignored my brother who stood guard at the door like a gatekeeper and walked past him.

“Hey, I’m asking why you’re so late.”

“…Just because.”

Only when the force grabbed my arm did I look up at my brother and mutter.

My brother, frowning, asked Milly who had been following me.

“Why does she look so out of it?”

“Ah. We happened to run into Prince Darius on the way back. We were late because we stopped to talk in front of the ducal mansion.”

Even at Milly’s irrelevant answer, my brother clicked his tongue and let go of my forearm.

Since I’d been to the ducal mansion rather than somewhere suspicious, his anger seemed to have subsided.

“Come home early. It would be wonderful to hear rumors that a Count’s young noblewoman is roaming around late at night.”

Though he didn’t forget to be sarcastic until the end.

I immediately went up to my room, sent Milly away, and sat at my desk.

I took out a small notebook hidden in the double drawer where Rieze’s secret diary had been.

It was a notebook where I’d written down the timeline while going over the original contents of 【Golden Covenant】 six years ago, right after my possession.

After opening and reading the notebook, I confirmed my memory was correct and became dismayed.

‘Adel, who was hired at the ducal mansion this summer, should have started her connection with Darius in the fall.’

Did the first incident that happens in episode 1, where the two get entangled, not occur?

‘Why? Nothing should have changed particularly.’

The only difference from the original was that one character – me – had been added.

I’m confident I didn’t do anything that would affect the story.

Over the past three years, I occasionally visited Diern Manor to see the Countess, but I couldn’t meet Darius often.

Darius was incredibly busy, and I was also devoted to my 【Revelli】 activities and my own life.

Even then, I was especially careful after Adel appeared. I avoided contact with Darius as much as possible.

I deliberately didn’t go near them until their romance was well on track.

I held my forehead and let out a troubled sigh.

‘I need to go to the ducal mansion and find out what happened.’

After making that decision, I was about to put the notebook back but opened it again to clearly understand the early parts.

Small romantic episodes between Darius and Adel continue until next summer.

Despite internal conflict due to the class difference between maid and prince, the two helplessly become drawn to each other.

I won’t be able to see the incidents that happen when they’re alone in the mansion, but I might be able to witness the incidents that occur during banquets or events if I’m lucky.

As I contentedly skimmed through the episodes, one name suddenly caught my eye.

‘Darius age 23, summer, Kail’s return to Pelrn’

My heart stung at the name of someone who was once my closest friend.

‘Kail is coming back in the summer…’

During the three and a half years Kail stayed in the Diern Domain, we completely lost contact.

Kail, who never sent word let alone replied to letters, also broke his promise to come to the capital once or twice a year.

He only sent official messages through documents to Darius and the Countess and never once came to the capital.

Though I was sulking for a while, my heart softened and I sent several more letters. I sent birthday cards every year on Kail’s birthday.

Even though it was a birthday I arbitrarily decided, I thought he might be depressed if there wasn’t a single person in the world to celebrate his birthday.

I even gathered courage to request a visit to Diern Castle, but it was mercilessly rejected.

At that cold ruthlessness of unilaterally pushing away his closest friend, even my hurt feelings were now exhausted.

‘When he returns to Pelne’s ducal residence, we’ll surely have occasions to meet, but how will I face him.’

Maybe it would be better if he didn’t return at all.

‘Just become a villain in the cold north. And please live alone there for the rest of your life.’

Unlike my head that was spouting curses, my chest throbbed as if beaten with a club.

I chewed the inside of my mouth with mixed feelings and shoved the notebook into the drawer.

Later, while organizing my bag, I took out the opera performance ticket I received from Madam Bell today.

Ah. The performance date.

“December 25th…”

It was somehow spiteful that it was the very day I’d designated as Kail’s birthday, making me laugh helplessly.

I guess there’s no need to wish him happy birthday anymore.

Even if I sent birthday cards, he might just find them ridiculous or annoying.

No, I’d be lucky if he even remembered.

Three and a half years had already passed.

He would have already completely erased someone like me.

***

The next day I immediately put in a request to visit Diern Manor.

Accommodating my unreasonable request to meet as soon as possible, the Countess scheduled it for four days later.

‘I need to find out why there’s no progress in Adel and Darius’s romance.’

However, the problem was exactly how I should find out.

It would be strange for a noble family’s young noblewoman to suddenly call another house’s maid for private interrogation.

If I’m not careful, she might misunderstand that I like Darius and am keeping her in check, which could backfire.

So I decided to use Milly’s help.

Since Milly had good social skills and often chatted with maids from other families, it would create a quite natural picture.

However, I had considerable trouble convincing Milly of the reason.

“You want me to become friends with a maid named Adel and pry into her love life?”

“Yes, please. I’ll add a generous incentive to this month’s salary!”

“Well, it’s not difficult work. But why are you curious about that Adel person’s love life, Miss?”

“Hmm… It’s complicated to explain…”

“You promised not to keep secrets from me anymore.”

Milly narrowed her eyes.

“You’re even giving me a mission without telling me the reason.”

She was still sulking about me deceiving her and attending the secret club for over two years.

“Ah, fine… Actually, I happened to see that maid in passing and she was so, so pretty. If I were a man, I would have fallen head over heels – she’s exactly the type of beauty I admire…”

As the female protagonist of this world, Adel was indeed a very pure and elegant beauty. She really was the type of face I admired.

“There was such a beautiful person? But what does that have to do with her love life?”

Exactly. It’s not like I’m asking for beauty secrets or anything.

I racked my brain to fill in the gap that Milly had pointed out.

Finally, a plausible excuse came together.

“I was thinking of setting up a blind date with the son of a wealthy merchant family I know! That gentleman is really handsome, has a great body, and a nice personality too! Wouldn’t it be natural for someone to want to bring together a perfect man and woman?”

At that, Milly’s lips jutted out in a pout.

“There are plenty of unmarried maid sisters at our Count’s Mansion too… Even if they’re not all exceptional beauties…”

Her tone carried disappointment about why I would match such a fine groom candidate with a maid from another household.

“R-right! But that gentleman probably has quite high standards! Could you just casually ask Adel if there’s anyone she’s interested in these days? If she says yes, I’ll introduce him to one of our household maids right away!”

“…Alright. Then I’ll ask her.”

After I broke out in a cold sweat trying to appease her, Milly finally nodded.

“If she says there is someone she’s interested in, please also ask what that man’s characteristics are like. It’s pure curiosity! I’m wondering what kind of man such a beauty would like!”

I hurriedly added this before Milly could raise another objection.

Fortunately, Milly readily accepted that additional task. Phew.

I prepared questions to indirectly ask the Countess about Darius’s condition.

Four days later, we headed to the Countess’s Mansion.

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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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