I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 79

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

79

The hand that had been loosely held by Darius was snatched away by a rough force.

“Rieze.”

The one who intercepted it was none other than Kail.

Darius and I simultaneously turned our heads toward him, but Kail dragged me away just like that.

“Miss Rieze, Kail?”

Darius’s surprised call could be heard, but Kail didn’t stop.

The body heat transmitted through his gloves was vivid. Hot and large hands, those hands pulled me along steadily. As if determined never to let go.

Being dragged along in bewilderment, I found myself standing in the Central Hall of the Banquet before I knew it.

Kail turned around, placed his right hand on my waist, and clasped my hand with his other hand.

I could feel the attention of the onlookers standing nearby focusing on us.

While I was frozen in confusion, orchestral music began to flow over the marble.

Only then did I realize he intended to dance with me.

As the men and women on either side moved in circular motions, I had no choice but to place my left hand near Kail’s bicep.

My mind went blank and wouldn’t function, but my legs, trained through months of rigorous practice, automatically moved lightly to the beat.

After collecting myself from the shock and looking up at Kail, I asked him in a lowered voice.

“Wait a minute. Do you even know how to dance?”

“…No, I don’t know. You lead. Or just watch the people next to us and follow along.”

What kind of nonsense is this.

It was so absurd that I couldn’t even let out a hollow laugh.

Seeing Kail moving stiffly at half a beat behind, I felt despair.

The music and dance had already entered the introduction. If we left the stage now, we would truly become a laughingstock.

“Hah.”

I let out a small sigh of lament and put strength into our clasped hands.

I applied grip strength to my hands and arms, subtly pulling and pushing Kail. He tactfully followed my lead and control.

This eighth dance happened to be one known for having many high-difficulty moves and being particularly diverse among all ballroom dances.

It was also famous for being a long and romantic dance piece.

If compared to a course meal, it would be the main dish.

When our bodies drew closer, I whispered a protest to Kail.

“…What on earth were you thinking when you dragged me out here? When you don’t even know how to dance.”

And you’re definitely not the type to enjoy this kind of thing either.

“Do you think I’ll just go along with whatever selfish thing you do?”

“…”

It was when I extended my arm outward and then spun back toward Kail’s body.

Kail opened his mouth that had been tightly shut.

“…If I didn’t do this, you’d run away, wouldn’t you.”

What is he talking about. So he’s saying he trapped me on this stage so I couldn’t escape and avoid him?

Getting heated, I stepped hard on Kail’s foot with my heel. At a timing that others wouldn’t notice.

His eyes flinched, but there was no other reaction.

The violin melody gradually quickened, and the cello and viola sounds joined in.

The steps and turns became more frequent to match the passionate music.

Kail, who had been creaking like a wooden puppet at first, gradually moved more skillfully and gracefully.

Perhaps because he always uses his body, he has a talent for dancing.

Another fortunate point was that in ballroom dancing, it’s originally the woman’s role to spin and jump flamboyantly while the man’s role is to support her.

Kail, whose strength was his forte, stably supported my body every time I jumped high or spun around.

The hem of my dress repeatedly spread like flower petals and then gathered back.

‘Right, it’s my fault for not resisting and following along.’

As the dance moves flowed relatively naturally, space opened up for me to look into my heart.

Kail had only pulled me onto the stage for a few steps, but I could have shaken him off if I wanted to.

But I didn’t.

‘Why?’

Actually… was I hoping to be caught?

Was I hoping our relationship wouldn’t crumble like this.

Meanwhile, the music built toward its climax. All instruments stacked harmonies at a fierce tempo.

Accordingly, the movements of the dancing crowd also grew increasingly passionate.

The magnificent ballroom background became blurry, and it felt as if only the two of us remained.

‘Ah. The next move is.’

Though I sighed inwardly, my body faithfully performed the next movement.

When I grabbed Kail’s shoulders and jumped up, he instinctively wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me.

As all the Young Noblewomen around us entrusted their weight to their male partners and gracefully extended their limbs, the men spun in place.

Though his reaction was about 0.5 seconds slower than others, Kail also tactfully spun round and round in place.

My ribs and underbreast touched his hands. It was quite an embarrassing contact, so heat rose to my neck.

‘Of all things, to be dancing the dance with the most intimate physical contact with Kail when things have become awkward… how ironic.’

I swallowed a deep sigh inwardly.

Even after being set down on the floor, the spinning continued.

While rotating continuously in close contact, I could feel his heartbeat through my ear pressed against Kail’s left chest.

His pulse was as fast as the sound of galloping horse hooves.

‘Is it difficult?’

I glanced up at Kail’s face. His cheeks were red, but he didn’t seem out of breath.

After the climax passed, the music changed to something much calmer. The dance also transformed to a slow beat that matched it, gradually heading toward the finale.

“Rieze.”

A deep voice flowed from his throat. It was a careful and quiet tone.

Over all these years, he had directly called my name only three times. Two of those times were today.

“…What.”

When I looked up with heated eyes, Kail’s head tilted slightly forward.

He slowly closed his eyes and then opened them.

“…I’m sorry.”

A single phrase, barely audible buried in the music, was clearly conveyed.

“I’m a bad bastard, you’re right. I was wrong…”

I was shocked by his meek apology. It was unexpected.

I didn’t think he would admit his fault so quickly.

I was surprised again to see Kail’s eyes looking moist like honey-mixed water.

“I was… foolish. I was a coward. I was avoidant and defensive…”

“…”

“I was always like that. I’m sorry…”

Instead of making excuses or explanations for his actions, Kail put strength into his words of apology.

“But thank you for always extending your hand first. Thank you for not letting me go… After reading all the letters you sent me… I was happy.”

Syllables pressed down hard were painfully uttered one by one.

“Because you believed in me…”

“…”

“If you hadn’t been there, I…”

Kail, who kept trailing off his words, bit his lower lip tightly and then opened his mouth again.

If I hadn’t been there?

“I’m really sorry…”

“…”

I wanted to hear the rest, but Kail concluded his apology with words of regret.

His sincerity was conveyed through his dejected shoulders and the expression that watched for my reaction.

With the appearance of a fierce black panther, but acting like an injured stray cat.

It felt as if lukewarm liquid was spreading in my chest.

That sensation was relief.

The moment I reunited with Kail, I had actually been terribly afraid. Afraid that his inner self had changed as much as his appearance. Afraid that he had become not the Kail I knew, but the original story’s villain ‘Kaileus’.

That was what I had been most wary of when Kail left for the Duchy.

But the person standing beside me now was Kail.

Someone who acts prickly and cold because he can’t be honest, but whose essence is kind and warm.

This is the Kail I know.

This didn’t completely clear away four years’ worth of hurt feelings. But I was too soft-hearted to push away someone who was sincerely apologizing face to face.

My friendship with Kail was too precious to abandon like this, and deep down, I think I had been hoping he would apologize and come to me.

A sigh escaped like smoke.

“…Fine.”

At my response after a long silence, Kail’s face brightened instantly. Like a child who had been abandoned and then picked up again.

“Then we’re… friends again…?”

I just nodded silently at his hesitant question.

Kail let out a breath as if he had been holding it in.

“That doesn’t mean I’m completely over being angry, you know?”

“Yeah. I understand.”

Though I added this coldly, Kail accepted it without complaint. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

Finally, the lengthy eighth song came to an end. As the dancing stopped, applause swept through the hall.

I let go of the hand that had been holding Kail’s shoulder.

He hastily caught my hand as it slipped away from his grasp.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————