The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 65

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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 65
Ian swallowed hard. Blake’s expression was far too menacing.
Having never seen such a terrifying look before, even his friend Ian felt his knees weaken.
After a brief moment of composure, Blake continued speaking.
“Your bear doll doesn’t seem to possess any special abilities or particular value. Even Mage Ren couldn’t properly explain why that bear doll held any worth.”
“So that mad mage’s name is Ren.”
Ian hastily added more, anxious that Blake might actually kill Mage Ren.
“He’s already realized his mistake and received a scolding from the Magic Tower Master. He was reprimanded for causing a disturbance at the Imperial Palace Banquet.”
“That’s a favorable development for your negotiations. You’ve gained leverage.”
“I suppose you could say that. But I’m not at ease either. You nearly lost a doll you cherish.”
Ian’s words no longer reached Blake’s ears. For him, only one fact mattered.
The mages of the Magic Tower were searching for their treasure—the bear doll. That alone made his mood considerably worse.
Seeing Blake now radiating such cold hostility, Ian let out a hollow laugh.
‘I can actually feel the chill, even in summer.’
The problem was that the conversation hadn’t ended yet.
“And there’s one more issue. The mages want to buy your doll.”
“…What?”
Dark sword energy seemed to ripple around Blake’s form.
Ian released a heavy sigh.
“Mage Ren came to find me and asked if the doll belonged to the Leblanc Family, how much would it take to reclaim it.”
“…He’s spouting madness.”
“I made it clear it wasn’t possible. That it now belongs to Blake Leblanc and cannot be carelessly touched. But….”
As someone from the Diplomatic Ministry handling all negotiations with the Magic Tower, Ian knew the mages’ stubborn nature all too well.
“You know how it is. Mages as a race tend to be exceptionally curious, and many of them are quite eccentric.”
The Magic Tower was where obsessive individuals in their respective fields gathered.
“Moreover, since mages possess special power, they’re extraordinarily wealthy….”
Watching Blake grow increasingly cold as he listened, Ian found himself wishing for the summer sun to burn even hotter.
He hoped the scorching summer heat would thaw this icy man before him.
“If they can, they’ll attempt to purchase it with money. They’ve even subtly probed me about your intentions.”
“Tell them to try if they can. They’ll learn I have enough money to match any offer.”
It was the only way to break his curse. Would he surrender it for mere money?
He was absolutely certain he would never yield, no matter what the Magic Tower demanded.
Besides, the Leblanc Family possessed greater wealth. Even if the mages brought money by the cartload, it would be meaningless.
“In any case, I came to warn you that they might become troublesome going forward. The mages from the Magic Tower are currently in the Capital investigating the identity of the high-level magic that appeared in the heart of Downtown during the last Demon Beast incident.”
“Was that what you meant to say at the Banquet Hall?”
“Yes. The Magic Tower assessed that the magical level manifested in the Capital was as powerful as what their highest mage could produce.”
Blake stared at the peppermint tea he hadn’t taken a single sip from.
The pristine porcelain cup sweating profusely bore no fault.
‘…Damn it.’
He’d felt uneasy from the moment Vivian cast that high-level spell.
I had anticipated that mages would rush forward with gleaming eyes upon learning of the appearance of powerful magic.
In the end, there was only one person they sought.
The being who had wielded formidable magic during the Demon Beast incident—Vivian, hidden within their precious teddy bear.
“If I hear anything related to this going forward, I’ll pass it along to you. I’ll be the fastest when it comes to Magic Tower news.”
Ian’s voice pierced through my reverie.
He hesitated before quickly adding another word.
“And tell Lea Everett I’m sorry too.”
Ian’s voice grew quieter as he mentioned Lea Everett.
In truth, Ian had come partly because of Lea Everett, who had been gloomy and full of worry ever since he’d promised to apologize again.
I nodded slightly, my demeanor indifferent.
“Lea Everett asks about you every day. It’s unusual for you to be so cold to her.”
His excuses were growing longer. Ian must have known that I was aware he’d come here to defend Lea Everett.
Perhaps he even knew what was in my heart.
I wished he didn’t.
Even as I thought this, Ian couldn’t stop himself from speaking.
“If you have time… send Lea Everett a letter or something.”
“Don’t ask for pointless favors. I won’t do it.”
“You really are….”
“If you’re so worried, you do it. Looking after Lea Everett is your responsibility.”
As I stood, Ian lifted his head to follow.
“You… do you know?”
“We’ve known each other for a long time.”
“That’s true, I suppose.”
It was a conversation without a clear object, but the two of us said nothing more.
We arrived at the Entrance Hall, having passed through the Garden where grapefruit-colored roses bloomed in profusion.
Ian awkwardly patted my shoulder.
“We didn’t even greet each other at the banquet.”
I gazed at my friend quietly.
Then I recalled something Vivian had once said.
When she asked if I had any close friends, I had said I had none.
Now I thought I understood a little.
Even now, I couldn’t say Ian and I were particularly close.
Yet we looked out for each other, and sometimes, without words, we could sense what the other was thinking.
‘It’s different from how the Crown Prince calls Vivian a friend.’
As I recalled Vivian standing with Edwin, my fists clenched involuntarily.
“Ian.”
“Yes.”
Ian’s sky-blue eyes met my violet ones.
“If a time comes when I must choose between you and the Crown Prince, I will stand with you.”
“…Why are you suddenly saying something like that?”
Ian’s eyes widened at Blake Leblanc’s words—a man who had never taken sides in any political matter.
He glanced around nervously, as if worried his words might be mistaken for treasonous talk.
As I watched Ian leave after earnestly cautioning me never to speak such things aloud, I felt the weight of my own transformation.
I, who had despised dabbling in politics with every fiber of my being, was now uttering such words.
Not for Ian’s sake, nor for my own.
Solely because of Vivian.
It was unmistakable hostility directed at Edwin.
Everything—whom I hated, whom I came to care for—all of it was because of Vivian.
***
I couldn’t sleep.
Was it lingering exhaustion from the banquet?
Or had I too been cursed by the Leblanc Family’s misfortune?
Lately, I hadn’t been able to get a proper night’s rest.
I made excuses, but deep down, I already knew the reason.
I was unsettled.
‘Butler! Who was the guest that came today?’
‘It was Prince Ian, miss.’
‘What did he want?’
‘Did Master Blake not tell you? He mentioned meeting a suspicious person at the banquet hall. It seems Prince Ian came to inform him of that person’s identity.’
‘Ah, that lunatic!’
‘Master was quite furious. He apparently already knew the identity, but went to hear the details.’
‘He was angry?’
‘Of course, Miss Vivian! Master is always sharp when it comes to matters involving the magic bear plushie. It shows how much he treasures it.’
Why was Ronald telling me all this?
‘While treasuring me…’
Blake Leblanc had returned from the Training Ground and was now sleeping peacefully, while I sat by the window, quietly admiring him.
It felt like ages since I’d watched him sleep.
It sounds rather perverted to say it that way, but aside from the early days, I’d rarely seen Blake sleeping.
The Leblanc Mansion, Blake’s bedroom—it had all become so comfortable, like home, that I always fell asleep without realizing it.
Perhaps that’s why watching his beautiful face in the moonlight filtering through the slightly parted curtains was quite entertaining.
He really was handsome, no matter how many times I looked.
‘…Ah, again.’
The scene of Blake holding me tightly replayed in my mind.
The gentle hand cradling my head and the firm arms that lifted me so easily remained vivid in my memory, probably because we had faced each other in my true form.
It felt entirely different from that one time I’d shown him my face.
“…Ugh.”
Why was I being so restless?
The Crown Prince discovering I was actually a bear plushie, encountering that lunatic, or regrettably missing the long-awaited meeting with Ophelia.
Such things had long since faded from my mind.
Blake Leblanc.
All day long, this man—cold yet tender, with a melancholic air—kept drifting through my thoughts.
I shifted my position and leaned against the windowsill.
Watching the distant moon rise, I spoke quietly to Max.
“Max. What do you think? Is it right that I keep growing attached to this place?”
Naturally, Max offered no response.
Today especially, I missed his nagging.
Whenever I uttered something uncertain like this, Max would scold me relentlessly for over twenty minutes, telling me to get my head on straight.
Even when I grew tired of it and wandered the castle to escape his lectures, he somehow always found me and pursued me with infuriating persistence.
I had intended to return. After all, I had made a contract with Blake Leblanc for that very purpose.
To do so, I needed to gradually accumulate mana in Arcanum, regain my strength, and find the portal.
A drifting cloud caught the edge of the moon.
Oh, it looked somewhat like a dragon.
Was Max answering me through it?
I could almost hear Max’s voice at the edge of my ear.
‘Get yourself together and come back soon!’ he seemed to say.
I quietly drew the curtain closed, then moved my short legs to crawl onto the bed.
I lay down quietly beside Blake Leblanc, who had already drifted into dreams, and only as dawn broke did sleep finally claim me.
In my dreams, Max appeared. True to form, he wept profusely while scolding me relentlessly.
It was because he missed me.

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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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