I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 66

Reina Rozelia.

A pillar serving the Empire. The eldest daughter of the Rozelia Duke House.

Everyone envies and admires that name.

But how much do they really know?

Reina Rozelia is someone who doesn’t truly belong to this family.

“Father! I’ve memorized all the moves we learned in dance class today!”

“Alright.”

I took pride in my family.

I admired our ancestors who laid the foundation together with the Astria Empire from the very beginning.

So I poured my passion into every lesson held by the family without fail.

“Mother! I was praised by the teacher for my etiquette today!”

“Alright.”

All my teachers praised me for being exceptional.

They marveled at my innate talent.

“Father! They say I have the talent to handle all four elemental magical powers!”

“Alright.”

Every time I received such compliments, I joyfully rushed to share the news with my parents.

I boasted proudly that I was a member of the illustrious Rozelia Duke House.

“Oh mother! I got a perfect score on my exam today!”

“Alright.”

But when did it all start feeling strange?

I began to sense something was off.

“Father, the history teacher says we need the next textbook already.”

“Mother, I heard I should be able to attend the tea party now.”

I surely worked hard.

And as much as I worked hard, I received numerous praises.

“…Alright.”

But why?

Why doesn’t father look at me?

Why doesn’t mother smile at me?

I found out the reason by eavesdropping on the maids’ conversation.

“Poor young lady, isn’t she?”

“What can we do? What the master and mistress wanted was an heir to carry on the house.”

“But all the teachers who trained her were truly impressed.”

“That’s true. She always comes running in with a bright smile. How could they not smile at her just once?”

“Talent alone isn’t everything, you see.”

The maids who had that conversation were all fired three days later.

And from that day on, my title changed from “young lady” to “Lady Reina.”

“Lady Reina, it’s time for class.”

“Lady Reina, you should get some rest now.”

“Lady Reina.”

“Lady Reina.”

“Lady Reina.”

My head was spinning.

My stomach churned.

Yet there was no one I could confide in about these feelings.

Still, the reason I managed to hold on, even a little, was because of this:

“I am the eldest daughter of the Rozelia Duke House. I mustn’t show any weakness, no matter what.”

Ironically, it was because of the pride I held for my family.

But that pride wasn’t an invincible shield, of course.

With a click, the door opened.

Glancing at the clock, it pointed to the waiting 3 o’clock.

“Lady?”

The person entering the room, who seemed startled that I was awake, called me “young lady.”

“Is it already 3 o’clock?”

“…Isn’t it time for you to sleep?”

“I learned today that you are my dawn guard. I wanted to have a little chat.”

It was certainly a servant named Mei.

A woman recognized for her versatility as an official servant.

But by a stroke of fate, I learned her true identity: an assassin sent to kill me.

“Am I going to die now?”

I calmly looked at Mei and asked.

Then she suddenly knelt before me.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if I just died?”

“…What do you mean?”

“After all, I am someone who doesn’t belong here. It’s fine if I just disappear.”

But I didn’t care and quietly opened up my thoughts.

No one looks at me.

No one wants me.

My pride in my family had worn away and vanished over a year’s time.

What remained now was nothing.

So if I were to die, it wouldn’t be a problem, would it?

“…Ugh.”

Mei slowly stood up and approached me.

And she forcibly pushed me onto the bed by grabbing my collar.

The knife she pulled from behind slowly approached my heart.

Ah, it’s finally ending.

I thought as I looked at Mei.

Her eyes, though trembling, were surely looking at me.

It was a ridiculous thought, but I felt grateful for that.

“There was someone who looked at me like this.”

I was able to smile.

“Oh. Ohhh, ahhh!”

Suddenly, Mei began to cry.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t understand why she was apologizing to me.

I also didn’t know why she stopped the knife.

Eventually, Mei was dragged away by other arriving servants.

She was resentful.

If it was something she couldn’t do anyway, she should have never tried.

But that resentment slowly transformed into hope.

The woman who thought to kill me, after listening to my words, vowed to atone and reform.

So perhaps my parents could change too.

If I work a little harder, maybe my parents would look at me?

I began to hold some hope.

Two months passed, and my 7th birthday was right around the corner.

This birthday was significant as I would finally debut in society.

The family’s reputation rested on my actions.

If I succeed in a perfect debut here, surely this time my parents would praise me.

With that expectation, the ball began.

Gasping for breath, I didn’t stop my feet.

I wanted to show off. I wanted to be praised.

I wanted to tell my parents that there wasn’t a single mistake made at the ball today and be enveloped in their arms.

They would surely smile at me.

“Well done. How splendid. Of course, the eldest daughter of the Rozelia Duke House.”

They would praise me with a bright smile.

Expectations swelled.

“Haah, haah.”

I ran up the stairs toward the room where my parents were.

For some reason, I felt a noisy atmosphere.

Countless servants were bustling the halls.

Were they all moving to congratulate my debut in society?

With that excitement, I first entered my mother’s room.

“You’ve worked hard, dear.”

Inside were my mother and father, the butler Edwin, and several other servants standing.

“Father! Mother!”

Normally, running through the mansion and shouting would be unthinkable.

If someone saw it, they might question the family’s education.

But today, it should be fine.

Today is my birthday and the day I successfully completed my debut in society.

“I had a great time at the ball…”

“Lady Reina, the master and mistress are currently discussing something important.”

But for some reason, Edwin interrupted my words.

“Im-important discussion? You mean about my ball, right?”

“I’m sorry, young lady. Step outside for a moment…”

Edwin grabbed my shoulder and led me out of the room.

I turned my head to look back at my father and mother.

I believed they would stop him.

But both of them…

“The issue regarding the heir has been resolved.”

“Really, that’s a relief.”

“Congratulations!”

“Finally, the problem you were worried about is gone.”

“Madam, you’ve worked hard.”

Until the moment the door closed, they didn’t spare me a glance.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Lady Reina, sorry, but we’re busy right now.”

Everyone was smiling.

My mother was said to have had another child.

A younger brother, they say.

“Um, but I also…”

“Lady Reina, I’m sorry.”

Clearly, it felt like a festive atmosphere, but why couldn’t I smile?

“At the ball, I worked really hard…”

“….”

“I truly did my best today.”

Why were they ignoring me?

Why wasn’t anyone looking at me?

“…Ah, I see.”

Only then could I accept it.

Nobody cared about me.

I was alone here.

I was someone who didn’t exist.

I could finally nod at the truth I had been avoiding until now.

“…Huh.”

Tears flowed.

Surely, many people were passing by.

But among them, not a single person comforted me.

Not even one person looked at me.

★

“Nobility must cling to past honors while moving toward the future. Am I wrong?”

Duke Ricard’s words might be correct.

The noble class is fundamentally built upon the contributions of their ancestors.

“However, that doesn’t justify that nobility must be lonely.”

“It may be unfortunate, but it is the reality.”

“That’s merely Duke Ricard’s viewpoint. For Reina, surely there’s another path available.”

“A trivial idealism.”

Duke Ricard, having lowered his gaze once more, resumed work on the pile of documents.

As if my story held no worth to hear further.

“Just leave, Prince Aike. Let’s pretend today’s rudeness never happened.”

“…Reina is not your doll, Duke.”

“I’m aware. Loneliness can sometimes be unbearably difficult. It’s as if one wants to pour out their true feelings to someone.”

But Duke Ricard continued,

“That is the weight of nobility.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

I knew I shouldn’t be getting worked up.

But when I gathered my thoughts,

“Who would force such burdens onto their children, knowing how painful it is?”

I found myself shouting at Duke Ricard, gritting my teeth.

“If you understand it’s difficult, instead of talking about obligations and weights, shouldn’t you seek solutions?”

“Prince Aike, calm down.”

“Why must Reina bear such burdens?!”

Reina, who had said she didn’t want to be alone, echoed in my ears.

Her face, which was lowered as tears flowed, continued to flicker in my mind.

Why? Just why?

If the creator of this world were in front of me, I would ask.

Is there some law that says Reina must not be happy?

“Duke Ricard, please. Just reconsider the leave of absence.”

A loud crack resonated throughout the room.

My forehead felt hot.

Sticky blood seeped from the crushed spot on the table.

“I know how important factions are for nobility. If any similar problem arises again, I’ll resolve it no matter what.”

It’s a story someone might scoff at.

Having no clear solution yet still asking for a favor, it’s what they teach you to avoid in negotiations.

But right now, this was all I could do.

I was the second son of the family, and I had nothing to present in a deal.

“…Prince Aike, lift your head.”

At Duke Ricard’s words, I slowly raised my gaze.

I felt the sensation of blood trickling down and gazed at Duke Ricard.

“I only want to ask one thing.”

His blue eyes were cold and dry.

As if he could feel no emotion whatsoever.

“Why do you go to such lengths for Reina?”

Before I knew it, Duke Ricard had stopped his official work and was looking back at me.

“I am Reina’s father. I have the duty to ensure she walks a safe and firm path. The leave of absence from Arcana is a decision for her sake.”

“…That’s true.”

“But you are merely Reina’s childhood friend. It’s been over three years since you last interacted, and you only met again after entering Arcana. What right do you have to question my decision?”

I had faced a similar question from Dean Ender shortly after entering Arcana.

A world where the hardworking Reina cannot be happy is a tragic tale.

That was what I had thought.

But now, it was not that reason.

It was the simple and unwavering reason that I liked Reina, and I wanted her to be happy.

If there is a problem, then Duke Ricard’s question was regarding my qualifications rather than reasons.

“I…”

Qualifications.

“I am Reina’s…”

If Duke Ricard had truly made decisions for Reina’s sake, what right would I have to oppose him?

While I was contemplating such a question, a strange vision suddenly crossed my mind.

Little Aike and Reina sitting face to face.

And to Reina, whose cheeks bore tear stains, Aike had said something.

“I’ll be your knight.”

Reina had smiled gently in response.

“…Okay. Thank you.”

I didn’t know when this memory was from or what the situation was.

But that alone was enough.

My answer was clear.

“It’s because I want to be Reina’s knight.”