An Obsessive Man Raised Impurely - Chapter 3

Once again, that day, he was foolish enough to be deceived.

1STKISSNOVEL. DO NOT STEAL MY TRANSLATION!

After everything he’d been through, he still fell for the false kindness that had been conjured from my selfish desires.

These days, whenever it rained cats and dogs, it reminded me of the first day we met.

Every time that happened, I would ask him, “Why did you believe me back then?”

And even though I’d asked the same question dozens of times, he always had the same expression on his face.

His lips would open and close without a sound as if he was choosing his words carefully, but in the end, he would always answer in the same way.

“…because you were soaked by the rain.”

Wasn’t it you who was like a sodden chick that day and not me?

After contemplating a while, he would add, “I just felt like I needed to believe you. Otherwise, it looked like you would disappear any minute.”

And after that, I would always react animatedly to his words.

Only now did I realize.

It was me, not him who looked pitiful on that day.

* * *

Heavy clouds poured rain with all their might as if they were trying to battle against the earth.

When my shoulders were entirely wet due to the umbrella being tilted forward, he finally replied to me.

“Why would you say that?”

“It’s raining a lot. I can’t let a child shiver alone in this kind of weather.”

“…That’s a lie.”

He rubbed his nose and kicked a rock on the soaked ground, then said one more thing.

“I know you want something else from me.”

Gazing at the messy muddy boy, I had the illusion that he could see right through me.

So I lied on purpose.

I needed to pretend that I didn’t know he was a wizard.

“What could a child do for me? Can you grant my wishes?”

“…”

I could feel his suspicious stare at me.

His eyes, like two blue blossoms, were fixed on me.

He was apprehensive of a stranger’s sudden favor for him. It was enough to keep him on his toes, as he was all too used to being alone.

His gaze was keen, and then he finally spoke.

“I know how to use magic.”

His voice trembled slightly.

“Is that all? Being a wizard is no big deal.”

“What?”

“Don’t you understand that I’m doing this only because you can’t avoid the rain?”

I kept my voice apathetic.

I knew why he had revealed the fact that he was a wizard.

‘He’s testing me, I’m sure.’

No one in this world wouldn’t grovel in front of a wizard.

Money, Power, Honor.

It was because wizards had the power to grant desires.

I might be one of those people, so he was testing me right now.

I reached out, keeping my emotions under control.

“So come with me. To my house.”

“But…”

“Whether you’re a wizard or not, you’re just a kid in my eyes. I just want to reach out to someone who needs help.”

Compared to earlier, his gaze was much softer now.

But he was still cautious.

“No matter how benevolent of a person you are, I won’t help you if you’re just using me for my magic.”

“Of course.”

“I’m not gonna give you a lot of money, and I’m not gonna give you beauty either.”

“That’s fine.”

“It… really doesn’t matter?”

“Yes. I don’t care about that.”

“…Why?”

“I have more money than I can ever count, so I don’t need that.”

Of course, all of that belonged to the Grand Duke.

Even if some of it were to be passed on to me through inheritance, I didn’t have a use for it.

“And I’m already pretty enough, aren’t I?”

The boasting didn’t match my dry tone.

“There’s just one thing I need from you.”

“…”

“Later. Just do me one favor later.”

“I knew it, you’re asking me for wealth or power…”

“I don’t have a need for that.”

I paused for a moment and thought about how to convey it.

How does he see me right now?

After considering my words carefully, I ended up choosing the most ungraceful metaphor.

“It’ll be something really easy for you to do.”

“…Just tell me what you want.”

“I’ll let you know when the time comes.”

I straightened my back and dodged his questions.

“Have you made up your mind?”

He eventually nodded slightly after a little pause, then came out from behind the eaves and began to walk towards me.

“You made a good choice.”

Shadows of different lengths stretched out as we walked together under it.

It was a small umbrella compared to the menacingly cloudy sky.

Following my footprints on the muddy road, he stepped on the marks that I left behind.

The decision to keep him around, who would bring destruction upon me, was a narrow, precarious path to take.

I’m not sure if he knew it, but the rain from the black clouds in the sky was way too intense that day.

* * *

When we returned to the fountain, the coachman was standing guard.

As soon as I came within his line of sight, he ran to me. The rain was drenching him, but I didn’t care.

“Milady, I was about to come to escort you back since the rain has gotten heavier, but… may I know who this child is?”

He seemed to have trouble expressing himself in front of the lady he served, but his curiosity got the best of him.

“He’s coming with me.”

“Pardon?”

“I was walking in the rain when I found him. I couldn’t just leave a kid alone in the rain.”

“Do you know him?”

I glanced sideways towards the child.

“Hadelion.”

“That must be the name of this child, Milady.”

“Yes. That’s his name from now on.”

The child’s eyes widened.

I pretended not to notice what was going on with him.

“I do not know if His Grace will approve of this, but… the rain isn’t stopping anytime soon, so we must get back, Milady.”

Perhaps he knew he wouldn’t be able to win against my stubbornness, so he just backed down.

The child and I sat side by side inside the carriage, looking out the window.

The horses neighed as the coachman seized the reins, and the carriage was soon on its way.

In silence, we traveled through one dreary landscape after another.

It was the boy, Hadelion, who spoke first.

“Why did you give me a name as you pleased?”

“Sorry for calling you however I want. If you tell me what your name is, then I’ll call you properly.”

“…”

“What’s your real name?”

His lips clenched into a thin line.

In fact, I was already anticipating him to be unable to reply.

He fiddled with his fingers on his lap.

“… I’ll just go with that name.”

“Alright, Hadelion. The name suits you.”

Actually, it was the original heroine, not me, the villainess, who would give him a name.

But I couldn’t just say that.

It was because I wanted him to be indebted to me, even for just a little while, even if it was at the cost of the name ‘Hadelion’.

“Hadel.”

As I gazed out the window, I called out to him.

I could see that we were getting closer to the manor.

“Have you ever killed a person?”

Even if I didn’t look at him, I could guess what face he’d make.

Hadelion was speechless.

All he could do was open and close his lips without saying anything.

‘Does she know something about me?’

His mouth was dry.

The question was intentionally posed so that the child would believe I knew more about him than he imagined.

If that’s the case, perhaps he’ll consider seeking my sympathy?

‘He must be wishing he could use mana properly at moments like this.’

He could have read my thoughts if he hadn’t been suffering from mana exhaustion.

If that was the case, he’d be aware of my true intentions.

But, because he couldn’t use his powers since he was trapped in the body of a child, all he could do was read my expressions.

Through the carriage window’s reflection, he met my gaze.

“Why can’t you answer?”

“…”

“Is your answer no?”

A cool breeze came through a little gap in the window, and his heart was racing wildly.

He couldn’t reply.

Hadelion will never forget the day he committed his first and only murder.

He could recall everything vividly, from how that person’s life ended to how he felt.

Even the unusually strong sun’s rays beating down.

* * *