I Became the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 11

…Was I that obvious? Well, it’s true that I’ve been thinking a lot lately.

 

Reynold let out a small sigh.

 

“Even if you brush it off, it’s fine.”

 

“…”

 

“But you’re always hiding it.”

 

I can understand why Reynold came out like that.

 

There was a time in the past when I didn’t tell them about my pain, hid it, and collapsed.

 

But it was frustrating for me too. It would have eased my mind if I confided my worries to someone, but even if I told them anyway, they wouldn’t believe me…

 

I was lucky if they didn’t treat me like a madman.

 

Besides, it’s a problem that can’t be solved in the first place.

 

While I was thinking about that, Reynold’s face darkened even more. I asked him in desperation.

 

“Hey…, Are you angry?”

 

“I’m not angry. Well… you don’t have to say everything just because we’re close.”

 

…This baby is upset, he’s upset.

 

Usually, Reynold never shows off his temper.

 

Rather, he used to say it casually, but judging from the data accumulated so far, he must have been upset now.

 

“I’m really fine.”

 

I insisted again, snooping at Reynold’s side.

 

“For real.”

 

As I emphasized it once again and pressed closer to Reynold, he screamed in complete disgust.

 

“I got it, so get off of me!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, I distanced myself from him. Only then did Reynold sigh and tidy up his clothes.

 

Then he opened his mouth as if he remembered something.

 

“Ah.”

 

Reynold continued his words with a frown on his face for a moment.

 

“Come to think of it, the other day, I saw a boy who looked just like your mother enter your mansion.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“…?”

 

“…?”

 

What is he talking about now? However, Reynold, who brought up the topic, showed the same puzzled expression as me.

 

I stammered.

 

“When did you see it?”

 

“The last time I went to your house. But at that time, I couldn’t talk because Serik was there.”

 

…So, hasn’t it been a week already?

 

I blinked for a second.

 

Reynold was clearly taken aback by my stupid reaction.

 

“You didn’t know?”

 

“Uh, right now is the first time I’ve heard about it.”

 

“…Did I see it wrong?”

 

Reynold tilted his head.

 

***

 

“This is our son that we thought had gone. As Edin will remember, he was born to us not long after Edin was born. The child was kidnapped because of a son of a goddamn spy, but luckily we found our son again. Since that.”

 

What are you talking about?

 

I watched the boy standing beside Lotte as I listened to Father’s ramblings.

 

His hair and eye color were exactly the same as Lotte’s.

 

Red hair and blue eyes.

 

What’s different about him is that unlike Lotte, who has a gentle impression, that boy has a very dirty personality, I guess?

 

What was certain was that he was one of the four male leads.

 

Distinctly handsome, similar in texture to Sylvester and Reynold.

 

My memory that there were two male leads in the Lerdonia family was never wrong.

 

“This is Rian Lerdonia. Get along with him from now on.”

 

And if my memory is correct, that boy wasn’t a child born between Lotte and Father, as he said, but a child born through Lotte’s infidelity.

 

Even after washing my eyes and looking for it, he has no resemblance to Father at all.

 

“And Rian is fourteen.”

 

Sylvester was frightened at the impression of Rian, who looked like someone nasty even at a glance, and grabbed my hand tightly.

 

I held the hand of Sylvester who was holding mine.

 

But he looks really nasty. It’s not something I would say.

 

If Reynold looks like X when he’s touched, Rian looks like a back alley thug.

 

Well, it was the same for both of them to look like X  if touched, but at least it seemed that if one were caught by Rian, they would be able to slap him in the back of the head and bounce.

 

Maybe it’s just my prejudice, but just from looks, it seemed that Rian was the type with only a loud voice and not-so-bad brain.

 

However, if you hit Reynold in the head and run, you won’t be able to save your life.

 

In terms of looks, the difference between the two was just that much.

 

“Then that’s it.”

 

So Father finished what he had to say and left the room.

 

Lotte, who stood there without saying a word, followed and went out with her son.

 

In the end, only me, Edin, and Sylvester remained in the room.

 

Only silence flowed.

 

Everyone must have been shocked that our house was this crazy.

 

Well, it’s surprising even if you know it, but how surprised are these young things who didn’t know anything.

 

It was Edin’s sigh that broke the silence in the room.

 

He let out a sigh and wiped his face with a distressed expression.

 

When I asked why, Edin struggled to open his mouth.

 

“Since that child is the legitimate one, I will be kicked out of the position of successor, right?”

 

It was quite strange to hear such words from Edin, who had never mentioned the topic of the heir.

 

As if to comfort Edin, Sylvester opened his mouth.

 

“But you’re first born.”

 

“What does that matter. I’m Father’s illegitimate son.”

 

Of course, that statement is correct, but in my vague memory, the next Duke of Lerdonia was neither Rian nor Sylvester.

 

Because Rian became a new titled swordmaster, and Sylvester became the archmage belonging to the Magic Tower.

 

After thinking that far, I roughly patted Edin on the shoulder.

 

“Don’t worry. It’s already too late for Rian to follow the heir class.”

 

It was my best consolation, but it didn’t seem like my feelings were conveyed well to Edin.

 

Edin only smiled faintly instead of answering. Then he continued talking like he was dumbfounded.

 

“Does it make sense that he has four children and all have different mothers?”

 

To be precise, one of us has a different father.

 

Come to think of it, he’s really a jerk, isn’t it?

 

I became a little proud of myself living in the middle of the day.

 

“Brother, to me, Brother is my only brother.”

 

Sylvester, who had put the word ‘brother’ three times in one sentence, held Edin’s hand tightly.

 

Edin hugged Sylvester as if he was proud of him.

 

Then Edin clenched his fists, as if he had made up his mind.

 

“I’ll work hard even if I see you guys.”

 

Well, if Rian becomes a duke, all three of us will be kicked out naked.

 

Of the three male leads I remembered, I could say that Reynold was the worst.

 

However, instead of Reynold, Rian became the new last place.

 

This could be a really great thing.

 

‘If I take over the title, I’ll kick you all out.’

 

I wouldn’t have any other wish if only I could stop the muzzle of that talker.

 

Although Edin was already decided as the heir, I couldn’t figure out where his (Rian’s) idea of him being given the title came from.

 

Or else… I’m not sure if that’s what Lotte said.

 

Because if I were Lotte, I’d want Rian to become the owner of the duchy.

 

‘It’s vulgar, how vulgar.’

 

Ryan’s snout was really vulgar.

 

I felt so sorry for the limits of my ability that I felt every time I met Rian.

 

If I were just a little bit taller or bigger than that guy, I think he’d be worth fighting with.

 

“Huwaaaa.”

 

Just when my impression of Lian was at its worst, Sylvester came to me crying.

 

It’s really hard to see Sylvester crying. So the fact that Sylvester came to my room crying was a bit embarrassing to me.

 

Edin, who was studying with me in my room, was also startled and hurriedly approached Sylvester.

 

“Sylvester. Why are you crying? Did something happen?”

 

“Hicc.”

 

Sylvester started to hiccup.

 

The cries and hiccups mixed with the words, making it hard to hear, but in short it meant that the cocky fellow pushed Sylvester away with his harsh words.

 

Edin hugged Sylvester and calmly soothed him.

 

However, Edin didn’t rush to say something like he would talk to Rian, who pushed Sylvester.

 

For he was an illegitimate child, and Rian, although not actually a legitimate one, was known as one anyway.

 

I looked at the crying Sylvester and pondered for a moment.

 

Shall I just say it out loud?

 

That Rian isn’t the Duke’s son?

 

But there was no evidence, and Lotte wouldn’t stay still when I said that.

 

Besides, Father also kept his mouth shut.

 

…If so, I’ll have to solve it my way.

 

In the meantime, there was no plausible evidence because he had only squeezed words, but now there is clear evidence.

 

Although he was kind of annoying, it turned out to be a good thing.

 

I jumped up from my seat and left the room.

 

Edin called me from behind, asking where I was going, but I pretended not to hear.

 

I was looking for Rian, the Duke’s outlaw.

 

And I found him plucking flowers from the garden like a mad dog.

 

Hearing footsteps approaching him, Rian turned around.

 

As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with annoyance.

 

As I learned from Reynold, I asked with a sarcastic smile.

 

“Were you here?”

 

At my question, Rian approached me with his brows narrowed.

 

He was a lot taller than me, for he was two years older than me.

 

A huge shadow instantly fell over me.

 

“It’s worth knowing. You’re here because of your brother, right?”

 

At Rian’s words, I widened my eyes and denied it.

 

“I’m not, though?”

 

“Then why are you looking for me?”

 

“I’m so annoyed by what you said last time.”

 

“Ah, sorry. I don’t remember. But it wasn’t a big deal anyway, was it?”

 

Saying that, Rian laughed meanly. I blinked for a second.

 

“I don’t remember either.”

 

He asked me as if he didn’t understand.

 

“Then why did you come?”

 

“I’m just annoyed at you acting so proudly.”

 

Then, Rian’s face became so stern that it couldn’t be compared to before.

 

Seriously, judging by his face alone, it’s enough to believe that this guy is the villain of this world.

 

I admired his formidable face for a moment.

 

Rian, who was facing me like that, threw me a really out of the blue question.

 

“You guys didn’t bully my mom while I was gone, did you?”

 

It was a really unexpected question.

 

I just blinked my eyes because it was so absurd, and Rian’s face was filled with anger, as if he had interpreted my face like that.

 

“Right. So you guys bullied my mom?”

 

“What…? Me, towards Mother?”

 

Isn’t it the other way around?