ICTV - Chapter 16
I Changed The Villain
"Hey? Hey??"
Also, what valuables do I have? I thought about it and realized something.
“Oh, the clothes must be expensive too.”
I also opened my dressing room with open arms. Several dresses made of thin and thick fabrics were hanging overflowing. Boots made of dyed leather and shoes with attractive dizzying heels. It was placed in a clearly visible place.
I also opened the wallet I had left on the table.
“If this is difficult to sell, you can just take cash.”
The wallet was full of gold, silver, and copper coins. I closed the wallet again after showing the contents to the boy.
“What do you think, I want it. It's all yours."
Jinglang.
When I shook my purse, the coins inside made a tempting sound as they clinked together. This is really enough. Anyone will fall for it. It was while I was trying hard to seduce the boy.
"… Please stop being sarcastic.”
My temptation had no effect. The boy suddenly got up from his seat. The tears that had stopped for a moment began to flow again.
“Once a pickpocket, always a pickpocket? But I really mean it."
“No, I’m not being sarcastic… .”
“I’d rather hit you like those maids earlier. please...!"
Wow, the boy wailed for the room to leave, and I wanted to cry too. Why is life like this?
“I really won’t steal... Please trust me just this once.”
"..."
“If I steal again, you can cut off my wrists. That’s how serious I am.”
“...Okay, so stop talking. Think about it."
I ordered, covering my face with my arms. The boy is right.
It became quiet, but the hiccupping noise that escaped could not be helped. I lowered my arms slightly. The boy cried so much that his face was covered in tears. The maids who returned after receiving my call were impressed.
“The Lady reformed the pickpocket in an instant!”
“As expected, that skill is not going anywhere! This is why Duke Serenity fell in love with you!”
“Long live our Lady!”
'No, it's not like that. Don't hurray.'
I internally tried to dissuade him, but he did it anyway. The girls were already in a festive mood. I covered my face with my arms again.
I was just trying to rebuild the confidence I lost because of the maids. Also, the original work was destroyed. What if the female lead shows up later? Later, when the female protagonist is attacked, this child performs brilliantly, defeating the enemies who ignored him as a child.
I chewed my soft lips. I should have just left it behind..! I was worried for no reason...!
“By the way, lady. This kid's name is what?"
"I don't know either."
“Have you asked yet?”
The boy hiccuped again. Rika's eyes met the boy's eyes. The boy's body automatically assumed an alert posture.
"sorry...!"
“Apologize later.”
Rika took a step closer to the boy.
"What is your name?"
“…it’s called Taksha.”
“Taksha?”
Mera and Becky nodded and expressed their admiration.
“That’s a cute name.”
“It’s a good name.”
Perhaps it's his first time receiving a compliment like this, but the boy starts crying, apologizing, and feeling embarrassed... and can't sit still even for a moment.
“Miss, what do you plan to do with this child now?”
“Pumpkin flower~!”
Bang.
Beryl appeared, kicking down the door. I gestured towards Beryl.
“You’re here just in time.”
"Young Master?"
Beryl threw a bunch of wildflowers.
"I picked it up at the training ground! Even this one looks bright!”
He should have a slightly dull face. The wildflower landed safely on my lap. If the rose that Belial gave as a gift was large and gorgeous, the wildflowers that Beryl brought were cute and simple. At that time, Beryl's eyes fell on the boy, Taksha.
“But they haven’t sent him back yet? Did you get scolded less?"
Beryl bent his knees and looked at the boy's face. The surprised boy took a step back.
“Wow, look at your face. How much would you be scolded? After all, no one can harm you.”
The maids shook their heads simultaneously.
“The Young Lady scolded me.”
“That’s right, he said he’ll never steal again.”
“What? Her?”
Beryl immediately snorted.
“Say what makes sense. How can you scold a child who doesn’t even bother to breathe?”
“But it’s real.”
"..."
Beryl looked at me in silence. I wasn't even making eye contact with Beryl. Beryl muttered.
“Anyway, she always does something unexpected every now and then.”
Beryl lightly pressed the boy's head with his palm.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
"Brother."
Instead of answering, I called Beryl.
“You went to the forest alone today too, right?”
“Uh, but why?”
“You don’t have enough time to train, but isn’t it annoying to have to collect arrows?"
“Oh, I’m going to die anyway.”
Beryl kept lamenting as if she had been waiting.
“I’m desperate for a nimble kid to help me train. But all servants are weaker and duller than maids.”
“But if you really went to the forest with us, bad rumors would spread.”
"I know. That’s why I go alone.”
Beryl massaged the back of his neck.
“I thought about taking the drivers with me. But they don't even have enough time to train. Isn’t there a suitable person somewhere? Why isn’t it there?”
Rose pointed to Taksha.
“It’s here.”
Taksha couldn't even breathe properly as he couldn't understand the situation. Beryl's eyes widened as he looked at Taksha and me alternately. Likewise, the maids, whose eyes were wide open, let out exclamations.
“Well, that’s right! I understand now!”
“I finally understand what you mean.”
"What does it mean?"
“From the beginning, you were planning to reform this child and make him work for Master Beryl!”
"Me?"
Taksha wasn't the only one who couldn't follow the flow of conversation. I was the same. The maids looked just as excited as when Belial came.
“Then everything up until now was for Master Beryl...?!”
"No."
“You too, Young Lady. You say you don’t like your brother, but at times like this, you care so much about Master Beryl.”
“No.”
Mera whistled.
“Nice looking siblings! The best siblings in the Empire!”
“No. Brother, I don’t think you can trust the maids…”
I believe it. I completely believe it. I looked at Beryl covering his mouth. I was sure.
“You brought this child for me?"
"..."
Beryl lowered his palm. He desperately tried to lower the corners of his mouth, but it was useless. The corners of his mouth were already curved like a crescent moon.
“A child who doesn’t even bother to breathe does all kinds of things! I was just lamenting without thinking!”
Beryl's face was brighter red than my hair. The girls burst into laughter.
“Look at your face, Master.”
“How happy would you be like that?”
"What…! I’m not happy at all!”
Beryl, who shouted loudly for no reason, coughed.
"As you said, you look agile, so I'll take special care of you! But don’t be mistaken!”
Beryl put his arm around Taksha's shoulder.
“You never brought me here because you thought of me.”
"You're not doing this because you're a child! I’m definitely not happy about it!!”
"..."
As she left the room, Beryl continued to ask Taksha questions.
“How old are you?”
“... twelve years old.”
"What? But are you this skinny?”
“S-sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about, I will feed you well from now on. Let’s go first and take a bath. Hey, can you please help me for a moment?"
“Please come.”
"yes~!"
“Miss, we’re going back!”
The maids followed Beryl cheerfully. I left alone, stared at the closed door of the room, and muttered.
“I think I know now.”
The author's feelings when a literary question was asked differently than he intended. I sighed as the ground fell. Nothing goes as I want. Belial or Taksha.
I pressed my palm to my chest. I could feel my heart beating quietly but regularly under my palm.
"...Should I really pray for him to die?”
There's no way God would hear such a prayer, but it's worth it. This is not life, this is a curse. I lay helplessly on the bed.
***
A wooden bucket was filled with hot water. Mera placed a piece of soap and a towel in Taksha's hand.
“You know how to wash, right?”
Although he had only washed a few times, Taksha nodded his head sharply. Mera looked at Taksha with a distrustful gaze and closed the curtain.
“I understood what we were talking about earlier."
“Oh, no.”
“Then let me explain. Listen while taking a bath.”
Taksha took off his clothes and carefully looked inside the mouthpiece. Steam was still rising from the water. Feeling relieved, Taksha stepped into the wooden barrel.
“This is Viscount Pale’s mansion.”
As the tension dissipated, his whole body became drowsy. Taksha boldly submerged his entire body in water. The warm water felt really good. That was the moment when Taksha's eyes automatically closed.
“You will be living here from now on.”
“Ah, I will be here from now on...”
Taksha's eyes, which had automatically followed Mera's words, opened. Mera instinctively covered her ears.
“Can I really live here?”
The water splashed and poured. Maybe she should have told him after taking a bath. No, the sooner she explains, the better.
Mera waited until Taksha calmed down and then lowered her hand.
"The Lady said it. Please help Master with his training.”
“If you mean the Master...”
Taksha thought of a man with curly hair like a sheep.
“His name is Beryl Pale. He is the successor to Viscount Pale.”
"Oh...."
“He is a master marksman who is very good with a bow. He goes out to the forest to train without missing a day. You’re going to have a hard time in the future.”
No matter how hard it is, will it still be as hard as it used to be? Taksha sat down inside a wooden barrel again. It was still warm.
“And her name is Rose Pale It’s a name that really suits her, right?”
“Yes, it really suits her.”
Taksha had no friends or family, but she knew that the name Rose was common. Because it was a name that rang out countless times on the streets. But he has never seen anyone more worthy of that name than her. If a rose were to become a person, it would definitely feel that way.
“She is truly special."
Taksha rested his chin on his knees. Even though he was behind the curtain, he could at least make out that Mera was putting her hands together as if she were praying.
“She gave everyone a reason to live."
"Huh."
The image of Rose, who was looking out the window, appeared over Mera's shadow.
“Right now, thanks to her, you can quit your job as a pickpocket. You will really enjoy living in this mansion."
Taksha thinks so too. Although the provincial maids were a little scary, they seemed very kind in nature. But his heart still felt heavy. The reason was obvious.
“But why did she...”
She doesn't look happy at all. Everyone in this mansion looks cheerful and happy thanks to the Young Lady.
Taksha completely dipped his face into the water. Even though his vision became dark, he could clearly see Rose's distorted face.
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