I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 7

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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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7

“Can Miss Riez fix butterfly wings?”

Instead of the frozen Countess, Darius asked, and I nodded.

The appendix of 【Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide】 contains methods for repairing torn butterfly wings, making specimens, and more.

It even included process illustrations, so I had read it with quite a bit of interest.

“I’ve never done it myself, but I know the method.”

I looked up at the Countess and informed her seriously. It meant I would leave it to her judgment.

“Riez.”

Simon, who had been watching the situation from beside me, placed his hand on my shoulder. It probably meant not to meddle unnecessarily.

“…There’s no hope if we leave it as is, so there’s nothing wrong with trying.”

However, after brief consideration, the Countess gave permission for the butterfly surgery with a resolute tone.

“Please prepare a paper knife, adhesive, tweezers, thin wire, scissors, and thick paper. Preferably blue if possible.”

The Countess immediately relayed the list I had enumerated to a servant, and the supplies were delivered quickly.

I rolled up both sleeves while three people – Darius, Simon, and the Countess – watched with bated breath.

I gently placed the patient on a handkerchief and bent thin wire to secure the patient’s body.

The wriggling antennae and legs were quite disgusting, but I endured it without showing my feelings. Thank goodness I was wearing gloves.

After waiting for the struggling butterfly to calm down, I declared solemnly.

“Then I’ll begin the surgery.”

***

After about 10 minutes of struggle, I completed the surgery.

It was only grand in words – I had simply cut blue paper into the same shape as the tip of the opposite wing and attached it to the severed wing.

The book said butterflies could fly normally again this way, but was it really true?

I too lacked confidence, so after glancing at the Countess once, I removed the wire that had been securing the butterfly.

After several attempts, the butterfly took flight. Though its wing beats were clumsy as if somewhat uncomfortable, it reached the flower petals without crashing.

“Wow!”

Fortunately, I was quite dexterous. I stroked my chest and let out a sigh of relief.

The Countess, who had been following the trajectory of the vibrantly dancing morpho butterfly with her eyes, soon approached me.

“Miss Riez, thank you sincerely. How did you know how to fix butterfly wings?”

“Ah, it’s in the appendix of 【Frank Luden’s Butterfly Guide】. Haven’t you seen it?”

“…Actually, I don’t have that guide.”

Huh, I thought she would naturally have it as a butterfly enthusiast!

“It went out of print long ago, and even after searching through all the used bookstores in Pelrn, there were none. It wasn’t published in large quantities to begin with.”

Regret was subtly embedded in her gentle, continuing tone.

Perfect! A chance to curry favor!

“I’ll give you the one I have.”

As if I had been waiting, I offered my butterfly guide to the Countess.

“I couldn’t do that. How could I accept such a precious book that’s priceless?”

It would only be precious to you. It was gathering dust in our family’s library, wasn’t it?

“It’s fine. I’ve already memorized it all.”

“Still…”

“Instead, could you let me come visit the Glass Greenhouse again? To see the butterflies.”

I hastily added “to see the butterflies” to avoid any other misunderstandings.

Originally, I had planned to slowly infiltrate by sharing hobbies, but since it came to this, I’m making a direct request!

The Countess blinked and then shook her head.

“Miss Riez, you’ve already done me the favor of fixing the wing of my most cherished butterfly. If you want, you can come comfortably anytime. You don’t need to give me the book.”

“Really?!”

“Of course. Count Brante’s Estate – I heard it’s close to here. Come visit often.”

“Thank you!”

I obtained a free pass to see my favorite character anytime.

I glanced at Darius and smiled sinisterly. Not knowing it was a smile full of ulterior motives, Darius smiled back with a question mark floating in the air. So cute!

I turned my head toward the Countess again.

“Still, I want to give you the book. It would make the book happy too to go to an owner who cherishes butterflies more than I do.”

“Since Miss Riez says so much… let’s compromise and I’ll borrow it for now. Until now, all the guests who visited this greenhouse only said the landscaping was beautiful, but this is the first time I’ve met someone who truly loves butterflies.”

A soft, genuine smile appeared on the Countess’s face, which had only shown perfect, formal smiles until now.

Mission to butter up the Countess – cleared.

After talking about butterflies a bit more, it was gradually time to leave.

“We should take our leave now. We’re deeply grateful for your grand hospitality.”

“It was a very enjoyable time. Thank you.”

Following Simon, I also bowed politely in greeting.

“Both of you should feel free to visit the Duke’s estate from now on. Please get along well with our son, Darius too.”

The Countess responded with a friendly attitude that was markedly different from the beginning.

While it was fortunate that I had won her over, it bothered me that Kail’s name hadn’t been mentioned at all today.

The Countess came out to the front of the Glass Greenhouse to see us off, and Darius walked toward the gate with us.

As the gate gradually approached, after hesitating a bit, I quietly grabbed the sleeve of Darius, who was walking beside me.

“Um, could I greet Kail before going back?”

When I asked him shyly, Simon, who had been leading the way, spun around. Unable to say anything about his younger brother in front of Darius, he glared at me for ignoring his warning.

Well, it’s my choice. Are you going to keep cursing me with your eyes?

“I’ll just see his face briefly and go.”

When I asked Darius for permission, he actually brightened up.

“Yes, of course.”

Simon let out a small sigh, showing his displeasure.

“I don’t need to come along, right?”

“Right.”

Please get lost.

“Go ahead then. I’ll take Miss Riez back in our family’s carriage.”

Darius, nice assist!

Simon waved his hand roughly to show he understood and walked away.

I didn’t necessarily need to see Kail today, but seeing him excluded even from family tea time made me feel concerned.

“Kail should be training alone at the Outdoor Training Ground around this time.”

Entering through the entrance of the damn Maze Garden where I had gotten lost before, Darius explained.

“Thank you for earlier, Miss Riez.”

Between the rustling sounds of stepping on grass, Darius’s clear voice conveyed gratitude.

“For what?”

“For fixing the butterfly’s wing. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Mother so purely happy.”

“Not at all. I did it because I wanted to.”

It was a scheme to visit frequently to see you.

“Was the food okay? You didn’t have to hide in the Kitchen this time, right?”

“That was…!”

“I know, that was for Kail’s sake, right? Even now, saying you want to see Kail before leaving… Ah, did you come to today’s tea party perhaps?”

The implication was conveyed through his twinkling eyes.

“No way!”

“Ahaha. I was just testing you. To my eyes, he’s such a cute younger brother.”

“Cute…? You do know what that word means, right?”

When I asked back in shock, Darius laughed out loud.

Though I planned to become friends with Kail, I didn’t want to be misunderstood as liking that kid romantically.

Darius’s eyes, with the laughter gone, became contemplative.

“…Please get along well with Kail even when I’m not around, Miss Riez.”</Human: You are an ELITE PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATOR for Korean web novels (COMMERCIAL QUALITY).

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Just like before and today as well, Darius really does have some affection for Kail!

In the original story, there was a description of Darius hating and tormenting his half-brother when they were young. But then he gradually changed as he matured.

Having passed through his turbulent adolescent years, sixteen-year-old Darius now seemed to harbor guilt toward Kail.

If I can just handle Kail well and make their relationship decent, we won’t end up heading toward the worst ending!

But one word caught my attention. ‘While I’m away’?

“Brother Darius, where are you going?”

“School starts in two weeks.”

“But why…?”

“Randerstd Royal Military Academy is mandatory boarding school. I’ll be living in the dormitories.”

What?! It was a boarding school system? What kind of bolt from the blue is this! Just when I was grinning about getting free access to the duke’s estate!

I only knew that Darius and Simon graduated from the Royal Military Academy before the original story began, but I didn’t know the details.

“You can’t come home until summer vacation?”

“If I get permission to go out, I can come home on weekends.”

“I see…”

Then couldn’t you come every weekend?

Fortunately, I swallowed that greedy thought before it escaped my lips.

While I was struggling with disappointment that I wouldn’t be able to see Darius for a while, we reached the exit of the Maze Garden. There was a dull sound of something small colliding, and shortly after, the same sound spread through the air again.

As we turned the corner of the boxwood hedge, irregular striking sounds could be heard close by.

A clearing surrounded by hedges spread out, and in the center stood a black-haired boy holding a long bow as tall as his torso.

Around a pristine target without a single scratch, arrows that had missed their mark were stuck here and there.

“Kail! Your friend is here!”

When Darius called out, his head turned toward us. When our eyes met and I waved gently, Kail’s brow immediately furrowed deeply.

That kid’s cursing with his eyes too. Is that a unique ability of ill-mannered children?

“Then I’ll wait by the garden, Lady Riez.”

After Darius’s figure disappeared, I approached Kail, who was completely ignoring me.

“Hello, Kail. How have you been?”

“…”

“Why did you leave without waiting for me that day? I had brought lots of food.”

Then Kail spun around and opened his mouth wide as if he was about to argue about something.

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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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