ICTV - Chapter 42

 ICTV - Chapter 42

I Changed The Villain

“...I admit that. But you know my skills. He’s my younger sister.”

Beryl pleaded earnestly.

“I will protect my little sister, okay?” 

“...Beryl.”

“And only the people in our mansion know that we are going on a trip. The people in my mansion are the ones who go somewhere and talk about things like that. It’s going to be really okay.”

I, who was eating breakfast in silence, joined in.

“Belial knows we’re going on a trip."

“Don’t even mention his name. Anyway, it would be more noticeable to have a bunch of escort knights hanging around. Isn’t it 100 to 1,000 times better to move with only the minimum number of people?”

“Well, what do you think, Rose? After all, you have to have someone to wait on you, right?”

My hand, which was cutting bacon with a knife, stopped. I looked at my parents with my usual expressionless face, then turned my gaze to Beryl. Beryl was looking at me with an earnest face. 

Don't look at me with those eyes.

I felt uncomfortable and tickled at the same time. I hesitated and then spat it out.

“...I don’t care.”

My hand finished cutting the bacon. I took a bite of bacon, chewed it slowly, and swallowed it.

“More than anything, I don’t think there will be any time to attend to the festival that day.”

“...You have a point. I like it.”

Beryl's face brightened. But Primrose’s words did not end there.

“Then take just that one maid. Come on.”

This time, Mera's face, who was waiting behind me, brightened. Charles also seemed to think it was the right decision to help out.

“Yes, because Mera can serve as an attendant and as an escort. Even when the assassin attacked, Mera played a decisive role.”

Mera nodded eagerly. 

“Master Beryl only gave permission. If so, I will protect you again this time.”

“You are very trustworthy, Mera.”

Primrose said with a satisfied face.

“Beryl, you also have to yield this much.”

“...Okay. It’s Mera anyway.”

Beryl had no choice but to nod. Charles and Primrose, so relieved, stood up.

“Then let’s get up first.”

“Have a nice day today, my treasures.”

Charles stroked their heads one after another. When they were alone in the dining room, Beryl glanced at me. I was wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“Did you pack your luggage well?”

"So so. How about brother?"

“I already packed it.”

I asked, putting down my napkin.

“Are you that excited about this trip?” 

Beryl pursed his lips.

“Tsk. Who are you looking forward to? Do you think I’m a child?”

"Okay? Anyway, don't be too impatient."

“What does that mean?”

“No, I don’t mean anything.”

I shrugged.

“They say the more urgent you are, the better you should go back.”

“Pumpkin flower, it’s okay. You don't have to worry about anything unnecessary. I will definitely enjoy this trip.”

That's a flag that something will happen when you go on a trip. I looked at Beryl in silence and sighed. 

Let’s go check our luggage. 

I gestured to Mera.

“You look worried, Young Lady.”

“Should I call this anxiety?”

“This is your first trip with Young Master. Aren’t you looking forward to it?”

“I had some expectations until yesterday.”

I sighed.

“I guess I should say that since my brother gets so excited, I, who am next to him, become relatively calm.”

“I think I understand.”

“...Still, I hope things turn out the way he wants.”

I think my brother prepared a lot in many ways this time. I thought about it and then paused. This was because Mera was looking at me with warm eyes as if she were looking at a kitten that was just becoming independent in its mother's arms.

“What are those eyes?”

“No. The more I look at you, the more I think you two are really good siblings."

"..."

“Literally the ideal siblings that everyone dreams of?”

Everyone dreams of a nightmarish brother and sister like this? 

When I looked dumbfounded, Mera laughed mischievously and quickly walked up to block my door.

“And Miss.”

“What else should I do?”

“I have some surprising news for you, Young Lady."

"For me?"

Mera smiled brightly and opened the door.

“Ta-da! Surprised! Duke Serenity’s visit!!"

Belial, who was sitting in the middle of the room, smiled like a picture, and I saw a vision of rose petals fluttering.

“Oh, it’s not an illusion.”

Looking closely, I saw that other maids were scattering rose petals behind Belial. Didn’t you say you use that when taking a bath in the evening? 

I looked at the maids in silence. I always think about it, but I think maids would do really well if they open an event company in the future.

When I raised my hand, the maids simultaneously stopped their actions and quietly retreated. Belial could not help but be impressed.

“He has more angles than most knights.”

“When I exercised with those kids and Mera, I naturally developed Seogak. Anyway, what are you doing here?”

Belial flicked his fingers.

“I have a gift for you.” 

“A gift?”

The maids brought a light purple dress with bare shoulders and a straw hat.

“Special clothes are essential when traveling."

“Yes.”

The maids who delivered the gifts quickly noticed and left the room.

“This straw hat is plain, though.”

Belial picked up the rose flower that had been left on the table and decorated it with his straw hat.

“It looks very pretty when decorated with fresh flowers like this. Isn’t that right, Rose?”

I stared at Belial.

Belial looked at me.

“Are you sure you don’t like it?”

“...No, that’s not it.”

I stood in front of the mirror.

“You give me a gift almost every time we meet.”

Belial placed the hat on my head.

“I don’t know how to repay you.”

The straw hat decorated with roses looked really good on me. I can decorate my hat with Lovenica flowers in the destination travel. I stroked my straw hat.

“What do you mean? You also give me gifts every time we meet. It’s also very precious.”

“What is it?”

“You're alive and breathing right next to me like this.”

Belial lowered his head and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you so much for being by my side, Rose.”

"..."

I felt the warmth from Belial’s lips. I asked suddenly.

“Since when?”

"Yes?"

“Since when have you been grateful for my existence? I just suddenly became curious.”

Since when did I start saying lines like that without even blinking? 

I took off my straw hat.

“No matter how much I think about it… .”

Take a break to trace the past, I continued.

“I don’t think anything that special happened.”

“Nothing special to you?”

I instinctively looked back at Belial. After all, am I the problem this time too? 

The moment I instinctively thought that Belial shook his head.

“Don’t misunderstand me like that.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“I can tell just by looking at your expression.

“You blamed yourself again, didn’t you?”

"..."

“I didn’t say that to blame you.”

Belial extended his fingers and lightly pressed the side of my head.

“Each person has different values, and a precious memory for some may be an insignificant memory for others.”

I still said nothing. Belial withdrew his finger.

"After the engagement ceremony, Let’s attend Lord Cedrian's charity party.”

“… A charity party?"

"Yes. Isn’t it supposed to be held two days after the engagement ceremony anyway? You will be able to attend comfortably.”

Belial gestured towards the table. The red invitation was lying there just as I had unfolded it earlier. Even if the maids cleaned it up, I left it there because I had something to think about.

I touched my forehead. Of course, there is no problem with the charity party hosted by Edgar. All nobles were once invited to a party too. The problem was the postscript in the invitation.

‘Young lady. If possible, I would like to talk more with you today. Of course, days other than this are also possible, so please contact me at any time.'

This situation is enough to cause misunderstanding. Belial picked up the outerwear he had spread out on the sofa.

“I guess I’ll just have to go.”

I can't let you go. The moment I thought that, my body moved before my head. I grabbed Belial's arm. That was the moment Belial looked at me.

“I was so preoccupied with starting with Kira and ending with Sura that I stopped talking about it. I couldn’t cheer up.”

"Yes?"

“I never tried to hide it. I was trying to say something.”

Don't let him misunderstand. He chattered as he came.

“I just received some counseling from Lord Cedrian.”

“...Counseling?”

"Yes. I was able to say very irritating and frustrating things to that person that I couldn’t say to you.”

“Why were you able to say things to him that you couldn’t say to me?”

My breathing stopped for a moment.

"I don't know."

"Sigh...."

The moment Belial let out a sound that I couldn't tell whether it was a sigh or an exclamation, I spoke as if I were sighing.

“Just so you know about me. I don’t like it.”

Belial's eyes widened. I realized belatedly what I had said and covered my mouth, but the water had already been spilled. I still covered my mouth and looked at Belial.

"Rose."

Belial looked sad. It must have been a ridiculous excuse, I thought, but that thought didn't last long. This is because Belial was so kind and level with me.

“There are many people you have changed other than me.”

You are the first person to change me. Belial pressed his forehead against me.

“You are the only one who has changed me. Unique things are bound to be special. Don’t be anxious.”

I felt warmth through our foreheads touching each other. Belial whispered.

“Because I already know more than you think.

"..."

“So it’s okay.”

What does it mean to be okay? 

I almost blurted out those words but held them back. Belial hugged me

“Don’t be anxious, Rose."

I buried my face in Belial's upper body. Neither I, who expressed my true feelings, nor Belial, who said it was all okay, could understand anything, but strangely, this situation was not unpleasant.

Instead, I feel an unknown tingling sensation.

“Why am I really like this?”

I muttered once more what I had been saying these days.

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