I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 78

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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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78

Kaileus, who immediately tore open and read through dozens of letters, was overwhelmed with shock.

Over the past 4 years, Rieze had sent me letters multiple times.

Every single letter began with pleas to clear up the misunderstanding, with apologies pressed firmly into the opening.

There were also three birthday cards celebrating his birthday that no one else knew about.

Kaileus’s hands trembled violently.

After reading Noem’s note again, he scattered curses and crumpled the note roughly.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Father’s intentions. He must have urged this hoping that he would focus on training without distraction.

It wasn’t a completely unreasonable cause, but that didn’t mean he had no complaints.

But reproaching Father could wait until later.

With the immediate desire to find Rieze and clear up this enormous misunderstanding, he put strength into his unsteady legs.

After hastily throwing on clothes, he was about to rush out of the ducal mansion when.

“Where are you trying to go?”

Violet, dressed more splendidly than usual, asked as she watched Kaileus pass through the mansion’s central hall.

Beside her stood Darius, similarly dressed in an elegant uniform.

His curiosity about where the two were going dressed so finely was momentary.

They must be going to some party. That wasn’t important right now.

“I’ll briefly visit Count Brante’s estate.”

As he left a short answer to Mother and ran off, Darius shouted after the rushing Kaileus.

“Miss Rieze should be at the Royal Palace right now!”

“…What? Why.”

Kaileus stopped in his tracks and looked back at them.

“Because today is the day of the Debutante Ball held at the Royal Palace. Miss Rieze is making her debut today.”

“…”

“You didn’t know? Mother and I were just about to go to the Royal Palace too.”

Darius smiled awkwardly and pointed with his finger at the carriage waiting in front of the mansion.

Kaileus, who had been standing still as if his soul had left him, walked back into the mansion.

“I’ll go and let Miss Rieze know that you’ve returned to Pelrn…, Kail?”

Darius’s call came from behind, but ignoring it, he climbed the stairs.

‘I can visit tomorrow.’

Thinking this, he threw himself onto his room’s bed, but within less than 30 minutes, he sprang up as if bouncing.

His insides were boiling so much he couldn’t stand it.

‘I can’t wait until tomorrow.’

Kaileus quickly changed his clothes.

Though it wasn’t formal evening wear as perfect as Darius’s, he chose the neatest outfit he had.

If he went in shabby clothes, he might be stopped at the Royal Palace entrance.

He wanted to hurry and clear up the misunderstanding. He wanted to shout that he hadn’t rejected her, that everything was that bastard father’s scheme. He wanted to say thank you for not giving up and consistently sending letters, for cheering him on.

Most of all… he missed her.

Clutching his dizzy head, Kaileus set off for the Royal Palace.

Thanks to taking a carriage engraved with the Diern Ducal House crest, he passed through the Royal Palace main gate without incident.

The banquet was already in full swing. Kaileus wandered around the banquet hall searching for Rieze.

He could feel the gazes of people glancing at him here and there.

Four years ago it had been nothing but contempt and mockery, but today he was bewildered by the looks filled with interest and favor.

“Which family’s son is he?”

“I’m not sure… He’s quite handsome.”

When he heard the whispered words of young noblewomen who didn’t recognize his identity, he let out a hollow laugh.

Until now he had only been thoroughly ignored at such gatherings.

Was it this easy once the prejudiced label of being a bastard was removed?

As he shook his head with a sneer.

Finally, Rieze caught his eye at the edge of his vision. It was her back as she walked in the distance, but he could be certain. Just from her gait.

He immediately approached her. Not knowing he would be met with champagne when she suddenly turned around.

While her still clumsy nature made him laugh, her changed appearance made his heart drop with a thud.

Her blonde hair, which she had always let hang down, was pinned up, revealing her white, straight neckline.

The dress that showed her shoulders, collarbone, and upper chest told him she had become a fully grown woman.

Her face was also dozens of times more lovely and beautiful than his fading memories.

The moment her eyes, like crafted green jade, turned toward him.

He felt heat engulf his face and the back of his neck.

With the champagne incident added on, more and more people’s attention was gathering on them.

Flustered, Kaileus judged that he should escape the situation first, thinking he must look ridiculous.

He didn’t want to look pathetic to Rieze after meeting her for the first time in so long.

Fortunately, he could hide in the clock room with the perfect excuse of needing to change clothes.

When he came out after regaining some composure, Rieze was waiting in the corridor.

She suggested going to the balcony to talk briefly. Kaileus followed her as if possessed by a ghost.

He had rushed here with the single-minded desire to quickly clear up the misunderstanding, but when the moment came, his mouth wouldn’t open.

Why was that?

Because she had such an unfamiliar appearance?

Because she seemed like she might draw lines with an adult-like attitude?

The dates carved in the letters had become more sporadic with wider intervals as they went on. It was natural.

When no replies came, even doing that much was rather something to be grateful for.

The last letter had been last summer. Even the birthday cards she had faithfully sent for three years didn’t come last winter.

Perhaps Rieze had now shaken off all lingering feelings for him, he thought bitterly.

If she brushed it off with a detached face saying, ‘Oh, I did write such letters back then. Can you forget about it?’, what should he say?

What if what had barely maintained its form under the name of friendship for four years had gradually dried up until not a single drop remained?

Through the glass, those dancing and spinning in the banquet hall appeared hazily white.

The moment he pictured Rieze dancing with Darius, something boiling hot surged up violently.

That was why.

“…I’m planning to enter society starting this year.”

He had made that impulsive statement.

Actually, that wasn’t why he had come here.

“Because of me?”

To Rieze, who asked this with a clear face, he stubbornly replied that it was for himself.

Though it was actually true.

But it really seemed like it would be okay. If it was society where Rieze was, he could join too.

Though it was a spontaneous decision, Kaileus completely changed the direction he had been heading in that instant.

While he hesitated without being able to bring up the topic of the letters, Rieze brought up that subject first.

Kaileus, who had feared that she might not have any feelings left for him, was rather pleased that she was angry.

Because it sounded like she still cared about him.

As he unknowingly rejoiced, the words ‘refused the visitation request’ sprang from Rieze’s mouth.

That was truly the first he’d heard of it.

Instantly, indescribable fury rose toward Father.

For Kaileus, who had always respected and revered him, obeying whatever Father willed, this was the first time he encountered such an emotion.

While he floundered in that chaotic whirlpool of relief, joy, and anger mixed together.

Questions about whether he had ever written and sent a letter first, whether he had ever said he would visit Pelrn, flew at him like daggers.

He had attempted to write letters but ultimately failed to send them.

Unable to lie, Kaileus shook his head.

“As expected, you’re a bad bastard.”

Rieze left behind those cold words and departed.

Those words became blades that seemed to slash his entire body.

There was nothing wrong with what she said.

Father might have blocked even the letters he sent to Rieze, but maybe he hadn’t.

If he had stubbornly insisted on going to Pelrn, Father might have let him go.

But he hadn’t done that. Blinded only by the wounds he’d received, only by the sense of betrayal.

The excuse about lacking courage was also ridiculous.

Looking back, Rieze had always approached him first. Whenever he hid away digging tunnels, she would find him and pull him out every time. When they fought, when things went wrong, she was always the first to bend and apologize.

When he tried to let go time and time again, she held his hand each time. Persistently.

Did she really do that because she was overflowing with courage? Probably not.

“Think about what’s truly important.”

Henrite’s nagging struck his mind once again.

That’s right, really.

To try to abandon precious friendship because of pride. He was a complete bastard, a total fool.

This time.

This time, at least, he had to hold on.

Kaileus rushed into the banquet hall.

He pushed through the densely packed crowd, searching desperately for Rieze.

Though four long years had accumulated layer upon layer, he prayed it wasn’t too late yet.

“Rieze.”

When one piece of music came to an end, he finally found and grasped that hand.

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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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