I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 69

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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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69

Darius’s room, which serves as the main setting for 【Golden Vow】.

That luxurious room reminded me of a small art museum. The space where chandeliers, carpets, and picture frames were harmoniously arranged was like a work of art itself.

‘So this is the main stage where the two protagonists’ romance unfolds.’

Come to think of it, I had never entered Darius’s room before. Despite having come and gone from the Countess’s mansion countless times.

“Amazing. It’s like being in a gallery!”

“You flatter me.”

I let out an exclamation of admiration and walked toward the bookshelf and display case that occupied one wall.

Darius slowly followed me into the room.

Among countless sculptures and decorations, I found a tulip-shaped vase.

Thanks to its uncommon purple color, it immediately caught my eye.

The thrill of finding what I was looking for right away didn’t last long.

‘N-no way…’

The intact, unbroken vase was positioned differently from where it was in the novel.

It was displayed on the bottom row, close to the floor.

In the original description, it definitely said that Adel’s elbow knocked it over and it shattered into pieces.

‘At this position, even if it’s knocked over, it would just fall in place and not crash down and break…!’

Why had the vase’s position been moved to the bottom?

The moment I stopped right in front of the vase, feeling devastated, I realized.

With trembling fingertips, I touched the sculpture placed two rows above the vase.

“Brother Darius, this is…”

It was the angel statue I had given to Darius three years ago.

“That’s right. It’s the gift Miss Rieze gave me! I liked it so much that I put it right in the center.”

My head spun at his words as he scratched under his nose and spoke bashfully.

The place where the angel statue was positioned was exactly at the height where an adult woman’s elbow would catch it.

The intuition that this was the vase’s original position struck my brain like lightning.

‘Am I an idiot?’

Why didn’t I consider this possibility before giving him the sculpture?

When I thought Darius seemed like someone who couldn’t get enough of angels, I had bought this angel sculpture. It was even the highest bid winner at that day’s auction.

Since there were still three years left before the original story would begin, I hadn’t thought about it. I never imagined that something I offered out of fan devotion would cause such a disaster.

If Adel had knocked over and shattered this angel statue instead, a similar development might have followed, but the angel statue had a smaller circumference than the vase.

It wasn’t big enough to stick out from the display case, meaning there was no chance of it breaking.

‘What a shocking butterfly effect…’

As I absentmindedly fiddled with the angel statue, Darius approached me and asked.

“Is there some problem?”

“…Hmm.”

Would it be meaningful to move the vase’s position now?

It was like locking the barn door after the horse was stolen.

I don’t know. It would be better than not trying at all.

“How about switching the positions of the angel statue and this vase below it…?”

Darius’s eyes widened at my sudden interference.

“I prefer having the angel statue Miss Rieze gave me where it’s easily visible.”

Oh, thank you so much for saying that… I’m really proud that you like it… But still.

“The angel statue should be at the very bottom for good luck. It’s like the sacrificial spirit of an angel supporting other things from below. Please trust me and switch them.”

…What kind of nonsense is this.

At my absurd insistence, Darius tilted his head in confusion.

Yeah, I don’t understand what I’m babbling about either.

However, he soon shrugged his shoulders.

“Hmm… Alright. If Miss Rieze says so.”

Then he coolly switched their positions.

As predicted, the jagged petal parts of the vase protruded outside the display case. Precariously, as if it would fall over with just a touch.

‘Good.’

I felt relieved for now. I’ll leave the rest to the original story’s compelling force…!

If the two are destined to fall in love eventually, the original events will either occur late or the two will be connected through other events.

If there are still no signs of that happening around next spring, then I’ll have to devise a scheme to bring them together.

After that, I had a normal conversation with Darius while looking at his collection.

Darius seemed pleased to have someone interested in his collection, and appointed himself as a docent to enthusiastically explain each piece.

On the way out of the Countess’s mansion, I met up with Milly and encountered Adel who was nearby.

Long black hair and large eyes.

The woman I had seen once before was indeed a beauty with a very clean impression.

A blonde prince and an elegant Oriental beauty – what a perfect combination.

‘This old lady wants to see you two fall in love soon…’

When I unconsciously gave Adel a long look, she bowed to me with a puzzled expression.

I returned her silent greeting with a faint smile and got into the carriage.

I planned not to come here again for a while.

Even if I did come, I would only visit the Countess and leave.

I couldn’t let Adel misunderstand that Darius and I were close, so I would keep my distance from Darius.

Looking at the Countess’s mansion growing distant, I hoped that next time there would be progress in their romance.

***

Evening of December 25th.

After days of cold waves, it was a warm day when the cold had softened its.

I gathered with the 【Reverie】 members in front of the opera house.

Since the seats were scattered in groups of two or three, we clustered together with people we were close to.

“Have fun watching!”

“Let’s all share our impressions at the next meeting!”

After the ticket inspection, we waved and dispersed.

Entering the dome-shaped building with hundreds of seats, my anticipation heightened.

Sitting in my designated box seat, I could see at a glance how that enormous space was being filled to capacity with audience members.

Everyone entering the theater had happy expressions. Even without Christmas as a holiday, the year-end season had its own special atmosphere.

Kien, who was sitting next to me, asked.

“Rieze, is this your first opera performance?”

“Yeah. I’m nervous.”

When I excitedly tapped my feet, Kien giggled and then cleared her throat.

“…Ahem, I guess your family isn’t interested in opera.”

“Neither of them has much interest in cultural life or art.”

“Hmm… I see…”

I gave Kien, who was responding appropriately, a sideways glance.

“Are you still not over your feelings for my brother?”

“No, well. I wouldn’t call it lingering feelings…”

Kien fluttered her fan to cover her mouth.

She would subtly probe about my brother, but whenever I threw such a direct pitch, she would always deny it.

Perhaps she felt sorry and embarrassed about pretending to be close to me in the past to approach my brother.

Oh my. I’ve already forgiven that incident.

After spending quite a bit of time together, I acknowledged that Kien was actually a pretty decent girl.

Simon, who debuted in society two years ago, still doesn’t have a partner. Despite his high standards, he hasn’t officially dated anyone.

Unlike his neat appearance, his core personality is stubborn and cranky.

Would someone like Kien be able to handle my brother’s terrible personality?

After three years of consistent one-sided love, I thought I should help them meet. Otherwise, she’d die with lingering regrets.

I chuckled softly and casually said to Kien.

“I’ll connect you two at the Debutante Ball.”

“Huh…?”

“My brother.”

Kien’s mouth fell open before she let out a short cheer.

Then she hurriedly covered her mouth and smiled shyly.

“…Thank you, Rieze.”

“I warned you enough, right? Don’t resent me later.”

I gave her one last piece of advice, but Kien nodded eagerly with sparkling eyes.

Geez, are you that happy?

Suddenly I felt like I had become Cupid of love.

Milly and Luke, Darius and Adel, Simon and Kien.

I had connected three whole couples.

Of course, two pairs were still uncertain, but it was deplorable.

When I myself had been perpetually single, never having dated once even in my previous life.

‘Next year, whether I like it or not, I’ll end up meeting someone…’

Making a social debut meant entering the marriage market, after all.

The moment I swallowed a bitter smile, Kail’s face somehow came to mind.

At the same time, a sharp pain came to my chest.

Just then, an announcement rang out that the performance was starting, and the Opera House lighting dimmed.

The Prima Donna appeared to wave-like applause, and my thoughts were soon interrupted.

Without time to question the sudden physical reaction, I immersed myself in the song.

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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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