Surviving As The Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 8

“I’m sleepy.”

I woke up with swollen eyes.

Maybe it was because I couldn’t sleep properly due to yesterday’s work, so my head was as cloudy as fog.

“I’m hungry”

In addition, my stomach was growling because I woke up late and skipped breakfast. As I poured out instinctive words, it felt as if I had become an animal.

I got up from my seat.

“It’s the weekend, so let’s wash up later.”

Originally weekends were supposed to be spent in bed.

Although I had a great plan to change my destiny, I must not break the unwritten rules. I glanced at the opposite bed and found it empty.

“Have you gone to eat?”

Looking at the clock, It was1 pm. It was time to have lunch.

Yesterday evening, I tidied up my clothes and opened the window.

The afternoon sun glistened.

And then I was startled to see a small figure on the training ground outside the window.

“Oh my god, they’re training.”

Even on holidays…

My roommate was training basic swordsmanship with a wooden sword.

Indeed, It was an example of sincerity and hard work.

As expected, her posture is really good.

It was a posture that only those who spent a very long time training could have. Her painstaking time and effort were all engraved in her body.

Maybe She had been holding a sword since she was a toddler, like all children of knight families.

‘Did Roziel also do that?’

Rumor has it that he had already mastered Agrad’s sword art. It couldn’t be an ordinary talent to reach that level.

Then an idea came to my mind suddenly.

I could live the life I wanted as a local aristocrat.

But, what about them?

Did Leniana and Roziel both want to take up the sword? Or were they knights for their family?

The nobles of the capital were all sensitive towards honor and power.

Countryside aristocrats like Zeos, all had suitable jobs. But the aristocrats in the capital were different.

Did Roziel enjoy holding a sword?

I don’t know. But for a murderous demon, maybe sword art was his vocation. But the Roziel I saw yesterday seemed far from one.

Of course, I thought a villain would be evil from birth. The atmosphere and his expression were terrible. However, the little boy facing the front didn’t look like a villain at all.

“No, it’s quite malicious of him to call my name and tell me I have zero votes.”

Huk… the more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I was.

Rather, if I had topped the list like Leniana Mienda, I wouldn’t have felt this embarrassed.

“Now, how do I approach him?”

I remembered seeing the back of Roziel, who was running away in embarrassment. First of all, I had to reveal that it was all a misunderstanding.

I don’t have a thing for you at all, I don’t intend to be your lover.

But how could I bring this up by myself?

I went berserk and bumped my head on the window frame, tears came to my eyes. I thought about kicking the blanket all night but I couldn’t seem to appease my embarrassment. After getting over my bad mood I raised my head again.

From far away, Leniana was looking at me with astonishment.

It was as if she was looking at a crazy woman.

“Hehe.”

In shame, I waved at her slightly.

She turned pale.

Leniana left the training field as if she were fleeing from me.

* * *

The weekend passed quickly and before I knew it, the first day of my sword training had come. I left the room as late as I could.

The sun was always hot, and I still hated sweating.

‘Can’t we do it indoors?’

Nevertheless, the empire had objects similar to air conditioners in a country where magic developed.

How nice it was to train in a cool place. Labour became more efficient when the environment was pleasant.

‘Because you’re old, are you being old-fashioned?’

Is it proper training if you wear a uniform and cover yourself with dirt at this time of the year?

‘A prejudice empire. In other countries, there is even a world of novels where men love each other.”

Usually, when you have a problem with your life, you curse at the country’s leader.

I moved on from swearing at the empire.

While passing through the hallway, I felt an unusual energy somewhere. The cleaning maids were staring at me.

I felt like my face would be pierced by how passionately they stared at me. ‘What? Is there something on my face?’

I touched my face here and there but all I could feel was chubby cheeks. ‘No way they’re looking at me because I’m pretty.’

I do have a cute and lovely face but it isn’t that great for the maids to stare at me like that. I scratched my head in awkwardness.

The maids started murmuring while looking at me.

I had been reading romance fantasy novels for 10 years! As if to acknowledge my experience, my instincts were triggered. Housemaids usually play a key role in solving problems related to the mansion.

Not only are they the ‘main characters’ hands and feet, but they were well-versed in the rumors of the mansion.

Especially when they whisper in front of someone like that.

‘It means you’re spreading a very important rumor.’

I listened carefully to their voices.

And they are…

“That person had 0 votes.”

“She even wrote her own name.”

“Oh my god.”

“…”

They were talking about my dark history.

“Sorry.”

Marin popped out and handed me an apology.

“I only told one person but I didn’t expect it to spread like this. I’m sorry, my friend!” Marin Cyans ran past me, throwing an apology she didn’t mean.

“…”

I don’t know much about etiquette between knights but don’t you usually throw your gloves at the other person in times like this?

Will I be able to win if I compete with Marin? A fire burned in my heart. The situation outside wasn’t much different.

“Is that Yuria Zeos?”

“Oh… the legendary girl who wrote her own name and got zero votes?” To think I did something so great as to add “legendary” to the nickname that embellished me.

Yeah, that’s great. I did something they couldn’t do unless they were as thick as me. (TL/N: thick as in “dumb”)

“Wow. But how did you get zero votes? I guess she didn’t vote for herself either.” They don’t know. The fact that I’m struggling to save this world.

To protect you all, I’m doomed to be humiliated and to be obsessed with Roziel Evelian…

I felt a tension in my head.

Throughout the walk, people’s eyes kept following me. The murmuring voices were a bonus.

‘Still, there is something good about this.’

Everyone forgot that I came from the Zeos family, and not Blandis?

That’s right. As long as you’re safe and sound Blandis.

‘…It’s alright.’

That’s how I comforted myself.

There’s always hardship for the hero who saved the world.

* * *

I arrived at the training ground. Maybe everyone arrived early because the training ground was already full.

All the children were lined up with swords bearing their family’s seal.

But it was a little weird.

Unlike the loud banquet yesterday, there was a subtle tension on the training ground today. I turned to the side with everyone’s eyes on me.

‘Roziel Evelian?’

A boy with beautiful silver hair and blue eyes resembling a lake stood in the middle of the training ground.

Even on the training ground full of dirt, he shone brightly.

‘So that’s why.’

They were all overwhelmed by his presence and were unable to say anything.

‘But hasn’t he already mastered the sword art of Agrad?’

Is there a reason why he has to train with us?

I didn’t know the details, but it was a relief.

At least if we have the same training, I’ll have more opportunities to carry out the operation.

I slowly made eye contact with him as I tried to get to my seat.

“…”

“…”

I saw his pupils shake for a moment.

His rejection in the hallway of the banquet hall seemed to play vividly in my mind.

I went to my seat and greeted him casually.

“Hi.”

It was a very good and courageous first step.

“…Hello.”

I thought I would be ignored, but he greeted me quite kindly.

Cough cough, I plucked up more courage.

“Roziel, I have something to say to you.”

His body visibly stiffened at my words.

I felt as if I became a formidable villain looking at his face turn white.

Well, it wasn’t a real confession, but is that how much you hate me for confessing?

I opened my mouth, looking him in the eyes with a slightly hurt heart.

“…Roziel, I know what my image is to you now.”

His face became even paler. It was like flour was being put on it.

…Yeah. What are you really thinking?

“But now you’re mistaken. No matter what you think, it’s definitely not. I mean… Can I see you tonight for a minute?”

I wanted to have a serious conversation with him and clear up the misunderstanding. I’m sure he’ll understand if I explain it step by step.

No matter how villainous you are. You should have that much understanding. “Can we meet?”

It was when I urged him to answer.

“Ah. I can’t.”

…Huh?

As if he was defending his body, he made an X with his arms and placed them in front of his chest.

What are you doing?

He looked like a newlywed groom who was embarrassed on his first night. (T/n: lmao I love this explanation)

His face changed from white to red.

He kept closing his eyes, opening them again, glancing at me, and then he turned away. Though I was in denial and couldn’t say anything.

A hero who would save the world shouldn’t succumb to this kind of ordeal.

“…I’ll wait in the garden until you come.”

Without giving up I whispered.

Just when I was about to go to my seat, Roziel timidly grabbed the hem of my dress.

He looked at me with his head bent down a little. His face was still reddish.

“Why…why?”

I was so nervous that I stuttered.

He moved his lips slowly, avoiding my gaze.

“A, a little more.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll think about it a little more after I’m older.” (TL/N: Why is he so cute??)

As I blinked, he took a step closer.

“We’re, we are still young.” It was a small voice like a whisper.