I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 70

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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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70

At the first 【Reverie】 gathering of the new year, with everyone assembled, I asked if Milly could participate on a one-time basis.

“I’m sorry! For getting caught. To prevent Father and Brother from finding out, I think we need to prove to the maid that our gathering is wholesome.”

I clasped my hands together and bowed my head.

“It’s impressive you haven’t been caught until now, considering you always have a maid following you around.”

“I’m fine with it!”

“Me too.”

Everyone readily accepted my request. Finally, all eyes turned to Madam Bell, and I looked at her with earnest hope.

Madam Bell lowered her eyes and shook her head.

“Just for one day. I’ll make sure she keeps quiet! Won’t that work?”

If this didn’t work, I would have to leave 【Reverie】. I couldn’t cause trouble for everyone.

“We cannot let outsiders in. So…”

The members held their breath, waiting for Madam Bell’s answer.

“Let’s invite this Milly as an official member of our gathering.”

Madam Bell proposed a different solution.

“Any objections?”

When Madam Bell asked the members, they all readily agreed.

Madam Bell quietly got up, left her seat, and returned.

Then she held out a 【Reverie】 invitation with Milly’s name written as the recipient.

“Normally we don’t just let anyone become a member, but since she’s Miss Rieze’s friend, I trust she must be a good person.”

“…! Yes, thank you! Thank you all for understanding.”

I exclaimed while taking the black invitation with the same design as the one I had received.

Milly might refuse from her end. I need to ask her opinion too, but for now, it was generous treatment just not to kick me out for breaking the rules.

Now the key is convincing Milly.

Afterward, we shared our thoughts on the opera performance and had time to exchange and show each other our creative works.

Kien and I finalized the composition and design of the board game we had created together over the past year.

It was a work born through countless modifications and improvements after playing it with the members many times.

“Now how do we sell this thing?”

“Right. …Will there even be people who want to buy it?”

Kien’s expression hardened at my fundamental question. We stared at each other stupidly.

We had only focused on making the game fun and hadn’t thought about the sales process.

Madam Bell let out a laugh as if we were cute. Then she rescued the two novices who knew nothing about business.

“Start by writing a business proposal and plan step by step. I’ll tell you what to include in the table of contents.”

“Yes!”

Then Madam Bell told us the outline that should go into the proposal and brought out business-related books.

Once we had a framework, we regained our confidence and listed what we needed to do in order.

“Once the prototype is complete, we’ll need to recruit investors.”

“If we’re looking ahead to opening a store in the future, promotion is important too.”

After serious discussion, we reached the conclusion that expanding our network was the top priority.

Fortunately, the perfect opportunity to expand our network was right in front of us.

We would both be debuting in society soon.

“Let’s try to mingle with and befriend as many people as possible this year.”

“Right.”

I agreed with Kien’s suggestion and we high-fived.

It was the moment when social activities that had been mere obligations turned into anticipation.

The enjoyable half-day at the club melted away in an instant.

The 【Reverie】 members left the club room one by one with intervals between them.

Today it was my turn to leave last, so I saw everyone off and was left alone with Madam Bell.

“Madam Bell.”

While helping to clean up the teacups and dishes, I suddenly had something I wanted to ask and called to her.

“Earlier you said you don’t just let anyone become a member. How did I end up receiving an invitation?”

It was a curiosity that had occurred to me when I received the invitation to give to Milly.

Until then, I had thought Madam Bell randomly distributed invitations to unspecified girls living in Pelrn.

I thought that among them, only those who took the bait like me and solved the riddle at the entrance made it to the club room.

Madam Bell put down the tray and teapot she was holding.

“Basically, I select members at my discretion. If an existing member strongly recommends someone, I also send out invitations.”

“Then I must have been recommended by Kien.”

I said, recalling how Kien had lent me philosophy books long ago and suggested we have conversations about the future.

“No, Kien’s interest in you came after I sent you the invitation.”

“Oh, then was I personally selected by you, Madam Bell?”

I asked excitedly, wondering if I had been directly chosen by her, whom I admired.

Madam Bell’s lips curved into a round smile.

“That’s right.”

“Wow… that’s such an honor. How did you know about me? Oh, did you hear rumors that I was a bookworm?”

When I asked excitedly, I heard Madam Bell’s gentle laughter from behind the thick veil.

“Let’s say that’s it.”

It was an ambiguous response, but she always used that kind of speech, so I let it pass.

In any case, being able to attend 【Reverie】 was great fortune for me.

I had made many friends my age regardless of status, gained knowledge and culture, and came to have clear plans for my future.

“However, today’s invitation was an exceptional case. You could say it was a special exception I made because it was you, Miss Rieze.”

Madam Bell added in a whisper-like small voice.

She was talking about how Milly ended up being invited to the club for unintended reasons.

“Yes, I’m sorry for causing trouble. But why me…”

I was inwardly surprised when she openly admitted that she favored me.

I had felt such signs several times before, but dismissed them as excessive self-consciousness.

While I was happy, I couldn’t understand why she cherished me. There were kids much smarter than me throughout this 【Reverie】 gathering.

As I looked at her bewildered, Madam Bell, who had finished tidying up, asked a question instead of answering.

“You’re debuting in society this spring, Miss Rieze?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll become an adult in May.”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right.”

The fact that she remembered my birthday gave me a creeping sense of unease.

“…Come to think of it, on that invitation before…”

The second invitation that had arrived precisely on my birthday three years ago.

It definitely said congratulations on my fifteenth birthday.

“Madam Bell, how did you know my birthday before? That was before I joined this club…”

Just then, faint bell sounds rang out, cutting off my words.

It was the signal from the clock tower announcing nine o’clock at night.

“…You should go now, Miss Rieze.”

Madam Bell calmly stood up and walked to the door.

“The night has grown deep. Let’s continue the rest of our conversation next time.”

She opened the door and looked back at me while holding the doorknob. With an unreadable expression as always.

Somehow I felt a chill.

“…Yes. Then I’ll see you at the next gathering.”

I left a bow as greeting and exited the club room.

***

“I don’t want to. Why should I become an official member! I said I’d only spy as an informant!”

When I held out the black invitation, Milly shuddered and refused.

It was as I expected.

“Just go and see, and if it seems weird, you can quit right away!”

I pushed the invitation closer, but Milly shook her head vigorously.

Sigh, I took a deep breath and tried to persuade her again calmly.

“Milly. I made lots of friends there and found my dream too. Don’t be prejudiced and just take a look.”

When I spoke sincerely, Milly finally opened her tightly shut eyes.

“Ugh… If anything seems even slightly suspicious, I’m telling Young Master Simon immediately.”

“Yes! Do that!”

Eventually, Milly, swayed by my persuasion, attended the next meeting.

It took only two sessions for her, who had gone in with her guard up, to acknowledge that the 【Revely】 meetings were perfectly normal except for being rather secretive.

She vouched to Darius that the club I attended was legitimate and quite beneficial.

Another surprising thing was that Kien and Milly quickly became friends.

Kien proposed a partnership to Milly, so our grand business venture became a three-person operation.

After spending two hectic months creating business plans and ordering prototypes, it was suddenly March in the blink of an eye.

And so, at the clothing boutique on Sable Street, I was sentenced to the punishment of becoming an avatar in a dress-up game.

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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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