I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 77

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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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77

I opened the glass doors and entered the banquet hall.

The hall was bustling with the fast-paced waltz and heat from the social dancing in full swing.

Surrounded by spectators, flushed young nobles and young noblewomen paired up and circled the central hall.

The chandelier light scattered brilliantly, making my vision hazy.

I stood there dumbfounded for a while, watching the spectacle of fluttering colorful dresses that looked like a swarm of butterflies at play.

Kail hadn’t ignored my letter after reading it. He hadn’t refused my request to visit either.

Then I should feel better now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, but intense disappointment crept in.

Couldn’t he have made the first move, couldn’t he have come to me?

I was angry about why it was always a relationship that could only continue if I made more effort, approached first, and reached out my hand.

That’s why I got angry calling him a bad bastard and came here.

It could have been a matter of ‘So we both misunderstood each other, then let’s get along well from now on’ and reconcile.

My head told me to let it go lightly, but my heart couldn’t do that easily.

The scenery flowing in my vision became distant like a dream. The music sounded muffled as if heard underwater.

“Rieze!”

Father was the first to spot me and came running over.

Behind him, Brother, Darius, and Kien appeared in a line like sausages.

Seeing the faces of my family and friend, my consciousness gradually returned to reality.

My pulse found its proper rhythm and settled down calmly.

“Why are you so late?”

Brother grumbled.

“That bastard Kaileus came, they say. You can greet him slowly when you have time later. It’s already the seventh song.”

It seemed he had been running around looking for me until midway, but fortunately Darius appeared to have filled him in on the situation.

“Miss Rieze? You don’t look well.”

“Are you feeling sick somewhere?”

Darius and Father asked worriedly in turn. I forced my stiff lips upward.

“I’m fine.”

“You must tell us if you’re having a hard time. Health comes first.”

“Yes.”

Father wrapped his arm around my shoulder and patted me.

After that, we lined up and watched the dancers.

Feeling vaguely curious, I whispered in Kien’s ear beside me.

“…Did you dance with my brother?”

Then Kien smiled slyly.

“Yes. He danced the first dance with me. Thank you.”

“You didn’t get your feet stepped on?”

“He was perfect. Thanks to that, I danced four more songs with other young nobles afterward, as you can see.”

Kien proudly waved the dance card hanging on her wrist. A card that was clearly fully booked at a glance.

She looked quite satisfied.

Did she like my brother’s conditions and background rather than the person himself?

Those two are a perfect match.

I nodded approvingly. Though my mouth felt bitter for some reason.

The music died down and those who had been dancing and spinning slowed their pace.

“The next song will start soon. Go in then.”

“…Yes.”

I hesitated at Brother’s instruction before nodding.

I wasn’t really in the mood for it, but thinking of the future, I shouldn’t run away from here.

But with whom?

‘My dance card is still completely empty.’

Before I could finish the thought, Darius gently took my hand and lifted it.

“I’ll lead, so Miss Rieze just follow along comfortably.”

Whispering that, he took my hand and headed toward the center.

‘Ah. Brother already finished making arrangements.’

Rather than the thrill of being able to dance with my favorite character, bewilderment and worry came first.

In this noble society, men and women dancing during a banquet wasn’t unusual.

Rather, it was closer to a light social activity. Family, friends, and even strangers often did it together.

Didn’t Kien already dance with several men?

However, the first dance right after the debutante had a slightly different meaning.

Would it be okay for Darius to be my first dance partner?

While being pulled along by him in a daze with my thoughts in complete disarray.

The hand caught by Darius was suddenly covered by a strong force.

“Rieze.”

I looked up and gazed at the person who had wedged himself between Darius and me.

***

―One week before the debutante ball.

Kaileus roughly tousled his hair inside the carriage heading to Pelrn.

The advice Henrite had thrown at him caused great waves in his heart.

Originally, he had just been fuming with the plan to go to the capital and beat down Darius.

“What’s with only four people seeing you off? I’m really embarrassed.”

One sentence that stabbed right where it hurt. Moreover.

“The name of Diern Duke cannot be pierced through sword skills alone. Gain status and reputation. Build experience and trust.”

The advice that struck at the core made Kaileus reconsider his father’s intention in ordering him to go to the capital.

His own prestige, reputation, and trust were at a terrible level.

Compared to Darius, the difference was like that between a pack leader lion and a kitten. Though he didn’t want to admit it.

“…Damn it.”

Kaileus, who ground his teeth, agonized for the six days traveling to Pelrn after that.

From now on, I need to make my own people. People who will support and back me.

How?

It was easier when he was devoted to martial arts. What he had to do was clear and overworking his body was routine.

But being told he had to interact with people, he felt like a newborn baby, not knowing where to start.

‘The right way would be entering social circles.’

He would be able to easily set foot in social circles based on the Diern name.

Even when he was young, there were countless people who approached him just looking at his background.

Now, unlike those days, he was confident he wouldn’t be fooled or manipulated by them. He also had the ability to deal with them and gain profit using the family name.

However, nausea rose at the thought of having to please those disgusting nobles.

Moreover, it was uncertain whether he could surpass Darius, who was already at the peak of that world, no matter how much he struggled.

Naturally, his thoughts flowed toward the wrong path, toward the shadows.

Dark guilds, mercenary organizations, illicit traders, violent groups, etc.

If he set foot in that place where the boundary with crime was blurred. If he commanded subordinates who would obey him from there.

The possibility was several times greater than the former. This side was actually less disgusting too.

‘…Should I go to the underworld first and look around?’

Even if he entered social circles anyway, he might have to associate with vile people trying to use him. Then wouldn’t it be better to just dirty his hands from the very beginning?

He didn’t really feel guilt or aversion to mixing in the underground world, the lawless zone.

Until the existence of an old friend suddenly invaded his mind.

“…What if you, what if you become as cruel and frightening as Duke Selpieus? I don’t want that.”

Her words from the day they parted echoed vividly.

The clear replay of her teary eyes contorting put the brakes on Kaileus.

Surely those were words she had fabricated to prevent him from becoming the heir. Yet going against her words stirred resentment within him.

‘How disgusting, you damn fool.’

Why did he feel such tender concern for the girl who had deceived him and sided with Darius?

She was the one who hadn’t sent a single contact or letter in four years. Of course, he too had never extended his hand first, but the wound was too deep for that. The sense of betrayal was too great.

…He lacked the courage.

‘Let’s forget. Never meet again.’

Kaileus resolved that even if he happened to encounter Rieze by chance, he would pretend not to know her and pass by.

Perhaps she had completely forgotten about him, making it not such a difficult task after all.

Finding himself pathetically bound alone, bitter laughter kept escaping him.

The clock turned steadily, and before long the carriage arrived in Pelrn.

Kaileus entered the mansion where everything remained the same. There was no void left by his absence.

Mother and Darius, whom he was meeting after four years, were startled by his unannounced arrival and amazed at how much he had grown.

“You’ve grown so much…”

It was bittersweet to see Mother muttering awkwardly while stiff.

He hadn’t expected an embrace or tears, but he thought she would be more delighted.

Well then. Mother had shown no interest in him for the past four years. Unlike Darius, who had always sought him out whenever visiting the Diern Domain, forcing him to avoid her.

With a bitter heart, Kaileus went up to his room and sought sleep.

The next morning, he belatedly remembered the bundle that Noem had stuffed into his coat’s inner pocket.

The thick paper bundle that she had earnestly urged him to open only after arriving in Pelrn.

Thinking it was just pocket money or something, he tore open the envelope.

Then letters came pouring out from inside.

All on identical letterhead, with the same seal.

Among them, a brown note presumably from Noem fell limply to the floor.

Kaileus’s eyes widened greatly as he picked up the note and read it.

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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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