The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 64
I wasn’t upset at all.
“We’re not going to the Apple Garden today.”
“Why! The banquet’s over and I heard you have nothing to do!”
“Who said I have nothing to do? I have someone to meet.”
“Who?”
“Why should I report that to you?”
I really wasn’t upset at all.
Whether Blake had someone to meet or whether he told me who it was—I wasn’t upset about any of it.
“Blake! Can I come along to the Training Ground for once?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“You’ll smell like sweat.”
Ugh, I really wasn’t upset, I’m telling you.
And then Blake asked Nix if she wanted to spar for the first time in a while, and I really wasn’t upset at all…
“I’m actually really upset!”
No matter how much I repeated that I wasn’t upset and tried to deceive myself, an uncontrollable anger suddenly burst forth.
Nix returned from the Training Ground and crouched beside me, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
My cheeks puffed out indignantly as I asked Nix a question.
“Nix. When you went to the Training Ground, how was Blake?”
“He was his usual self.”
“He didn’t seem lonely or forlorn or anything like that?”
“Not at all.”
Her firm answer only made my frustration worse.
If only he’d shown some sign of being upset like last time, or at least seemed hurt—then I could have said something to him.
But he treated me exactly as he always did.
The contract holder who would break his curse—a teddy bear.
And himself, a high-speed charger to replenish his mana.
Even though we fell asleep together and woke up in the morning, even though he glanced at my jokes, something felt distant.
He was drawing a line.
My Blake was drawing a line with me.
The waves of turbulent emotion that had been rising and falling since before crashed over me once again.
I’d promised myself not to be swayed by Blake, yet here I was again.
I didn’t like feeling this way.
Unaware of my growing melancholy, Nix chattered away beside me.
“In fact, today he sparred with real swords for the first time in a while, and everyone was so surprised by how focused he was on the match. He even told the members to prepare thoroughly to counter any sudden Demon Beast attacks.”
“Did another Demon Beast appear?”
“I don’t think so, but according to my sources, Demon Beasts might appear in the Eastern Region, so the organization members are gathering there.”
Either she no longer cared about hiding it, or she’d simply forgotten she was supposed to keep secrets because I’d become too comfortable—Nix spoke without hesitation.
“Gathering in the Eastern Region….”
“I’ll be staying here, so I’m not entirely sure, but there does seem to be a certain tension in the air.”
“If Demon Beasts appear, will Blake leave?”
Nix laughed silently.
The thought of being separated from Blake made my spirits sink inexplicably.
‘Matters of the heart are never simple.’
Maintaining a proper distance while pouring affection into someone—
I had learned through the long years how difficult such a balance truly was.
“Don’t worry. Even if everyone else leaves, I will stay by your side, Vivian.”
This time, I mean it. Truly.
Nix clenched her fist with unwavering resolve, her ambitious determination to become someone strong enough to yield to no one filling me with admiration.
At the same time, my heart grew warm and fuzzy.
A human far weaker than myself was training to protect me, a witch.
How could this not be endearing?
How could this not make me happy?
How far should I allow myself to accept these beings who grow more precious with each passing day?
Blake, Nix, Ronald, and everyone in this Mansion.
I found myself complaining with dissatisfaction.
“Even after living this long, there’s so much I don’t understand.”
“Then you just need to live longer!”
It was such a bright and innocent answer that I burst into laughter.
“You’re clever, aren’t you? Perhaps that’s true—will I understand if I live longer?”
“Of course! But Vivian, is there really something you don’t know?”
“Hmm! I’d say there’s hardly anything like that.”
“I thought so! I love you so much, Vivian!”
“Huh?”
From behind, Nix suddenly embraced me, and I felt the warmth of her skin tinged with perspiration and the sweet scent of grass.
“I wish we could be together forever.”
I couldn’t answer. Instead, I held myself within her embrace, suppressing the confusion that churned within me.
In my eternal life, the time I spend with them is but a fleeting moment.
For Nix and Blake, it is a lifetime.
This truth weighed heavily upon me.
***
The afternoon that closes out the day.
Blake Leblanc emerged from the Training Ground after finishing his sparring match, only to find a guest waiting for me.
After checking on the fidgeting Ronald once, Blake asked the visitor a question.
“Why are you waiting here, Your Highness?”
“Hello, Blake. I just wanted to get some fresh air outside.”
Ian had come to visit the Mansion. He greeted Blake warmly while sitting on a bench in front of the Training Ground, reading documents.
Behind him, Ronald—still anxious—quickly offered an explanation.
“I told him to wait in the Reception Room, but he insisted on coming here to wait in front of the Training Ground himself.”
“It’s fine, butler. It was my choice.”
“But to make a Prince wait outside is….”
“I didn’t come as a Prince—I came as Blake’s friend, so it’s perfectly fine.”
Ian smiled warmly and stopped Ronald from apologizing further.
Blake led Ian away.
“Let’s go. I think it would be better to talk in the Reception Room.”
“Let’s go to the Garden instead. I noticed the flowers were blooming beautifully there earlier.”
“Very well, then.”
The two of us sat at a table in the Garden, watching grapefruit-colored roses sway and dance in the thick summer breeze.
Neither of us spoke.
Ian gazed intently at Blake.
My friend Blake had always been difficult to read, whether then or now.
He was a man indifferent to most things, lacking any particular emotional turbulence.
But today was different. Ian immediately sensed that Blake’s mood was considerably low.
The Leblanc Family, which had always been consistent, was developing a strange fracture.
Even now, it seemed something significant had changed in this Mansion.
Beneath the scorching sun, Blake, exhausted by the heat, undid several buttons on his white shirt.
At Ian’s fixed stare, Blake spoke first.
“What are you looking at?”
“Blake. Just speak casually with me now. Don’t make things awkward with that stiff formality.”
“….”
“The Garden is beautiful. I thought I’d gone mad seeing flowers blooming at the Leblanc Mansion.”
“To be precise, it’s not you who’s gone mad—it’s me.”
Over that audacious bear doll.
Blake let out a derisive laugh.
His mood had been poor these past few days.
If I tried to list the reasons, there were so many it would be tedious to count them all.
Edwin Crown Prince, who seemed to know Vivian’s true identity, and that Mysterious Man who had shown interest in Vivian.
And… Vivian.
My mind was completely filled with thoughts of Vivian.
Vivian smiling at me while held captive by Edwin.
Vivian pushing him away and rushing toward me.
From the moment I opened my eyes until sleep claimed me, every scene was filled with Vivian.
Not as a stuffed bear, but in her true form as a witch—she was so stunningly beautiful that everything around her blurred into insignificance.
And of all people, she stood beside Edwin, not me.
“Why do you speak like that? It’s quite pleasant to watch.”
Ian, offering his calm and rational assessment, sipped his peppermint tea with ice cubes floating in it.
Pleasant to watch?
He simply didn’t understand.
Blake Leblanc had never experienced such petty, absurd emotions in his entire life.
So he spent the entire day gripping his sword, desperately hoping this tangled, dizzying feeling would vanish.
Conveniently, there was also an unusual report suggesting that Demon Beasts might appear in the Eastern Region.
‘It appears Demon Beasts may be emerging in the Eastern Region.’
The message came from the Eastern Cartel, Mekane, who had visited the Mansion late one night days ago.
While organizing outbreak locations and narrowing down predicted areas, they reported spotting a small Demon Beast near the Eastern Region.
Though it was a weak specimen, it was indeed a Demon Beast.
The Temple had also posted notices claiming that the divine will would soon arrive.
‘This alone is complicated enough, with plenty to worry about.’
So I should focus on Demon Beasts as I always had.
But it wasn’t easy.
Demon Beasts were Demon Beasts, and Vivian was Vivian.
As time passed, my tangled thoughts crystallized into one singular realization.
How deeply Vivian had woven herself into my life.
How terrifying that truly was.
“Anyway, I came today to tell you about the person who showed such keen interest in your bear at the Banquet Hall back then.”
Blake’s violet eyes turned slowly toward Ian. He leaned back against the chair with deliberate slowness.
Just looking at him now proved it.
I couldn’t help but listen when it came to Vivian.
Blake spoke first.
“That man was a Mage?”
“You already knew.”
I had already looked into the Mysterious Man somewhat.
His identity was that of a Mage.
Moreover, a Mage from the Magic Tower whom Ian had invited to the gathering.
It seemed he had been invited for diplomatic relations with the Magic Tower, but I saw no need to investigate further than that.
“The Mages recognizing your bear wasn’t coincidence. That bear seems to be a treasure the Mages have been searching for.”
“…A treasure?”
Ian continued calmly.
“A bear figurine received directly from the Dragon whom the Mages served 200 years ago, or so they said.”
200 years ago.
And a Dragon.
Blake’s heart sank with a heavy thud.
Words associated with the witch, Vivian.
Was the eccentric Mage’s interest in his teddy bear at the Banquet Hall because it was something cherished by the Demon Realm’s inhabitant?
Then did the Mages know?
The way for the Demon Realm’s inhabitant to return to their homeland?
“Tell me more about it.”
Blake Leblanc’s voice dropped low.

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