ICTV - Chapter 118
I change The Villain
"Hey, your younger sister is planning to get married as soon as this matter is resolved?"
"How do you know that?"
"I heard that our Young Lady is planning to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. She's going to go see the dress with your sister later."
"... Ah, I'm tired just listening to it, really. Don't we have to follow suit?"
"Of course not. Why are we following them when they choose a dress? It won't help. Hey, but it's really amazing. How long has it been since she was engaged that she even got married? I thought they would wait at least a year."
"My mother said that marriage is something that can be done in one day if you put your mind to it."
Arshan looked at Beryl with puzzled eyes.
"Why are you so calm? I thought you would definitely cause a fuss. What kind of marriage is this without even having dried blood on your head?"
He expected it from the engagement ceremony. Seeing Beryl making such a fuss, Arshan thinks he'll be making a fuss about getting married soon.
"Ugh, if that's the case, you should just get married from the beginning. Why make it a hassle?"
Beryl shook his head roughly.
"It's already annoying. Also, my parents would chase me around and ask me what I was going to wear to the wedding and if there was a girl I could bring to the wedding."
"... You're serious about what you're saying right now, right?"
"Then do you think I'm lying?"
Arshan looked at Beryl with an incredulous expression.
"Are you Beryl? Aren't you an assassin disguised with magic?"
"No, you bastard."
Beryl suddenly kicked Arshan.
"Why have you been so generous to Duke Serenity? Was this incident that shocking?"
"That too."
Beryl sighed as the ground fell.
"It's something I can't live with forever."
"If anyone sees it, they will think that you raised your younger sister."
"It's true that I raised her to some extent, right?"
"But what are you really going to do? Are you really not going to get married? If you don't keep getting married, you'll be a lot more trouble to the people around you."
"I don't care. It's something I've been determined to do since I decided not to get married."
Beryl glanced at Arshan.
"And you? Are you going to get married?"
"Of course, I should. I'll have to discuss it with the Young Lady soon."
Beryl's feet stopped.
"The only person you call lady is Violet."
"Oh, that's the person you know."
Arshan said brightly.
"Am I going to marry her?"
"Hey, Arshan."
Beryl held Arshan's shoulder and spoke seriously.
"You don't get married alone. It's not possible to do it alone."
"I'm sorry, but you already agreed to this a long time ago, right?"
"Nonsense."
"Why doesn't it make sense?! What's wrong with me?! You look like someone who will marry just anyone, even though she has no one to marry?!"
"No, that's not it. But why do you call that person Lady? You said you were not a commoner."
Arshan smiled sinisterly.
"Oh, there's a special anecdote there..."
"Oh, who is this?"
Beryl and Arshan turned their heads. Kedis came running out of a nearby cafe in a huff. Arshan looked at Kedis with puzzled eyes.
Kedis spoke naturally.
"Hi. A long time."
Beryl looked at Kedis in silence.
"Did you hear the news? It's been a tough time, right? I'm sorry for not being able to contact you for a while. I also have various circumstances."
Beryl is a very shy person, and he is quick to retreat to anyone who comes within his boundaries, and will immediately forgive it for most things.
A person who had no problem being treated carelessly, that was exactly Beryl's position among his friends, and Kedis knew that too, so he spoke to him.
"Anyway, I heard that because of this incident, their love grew deeper and Duke Serenity and your younger sister decided to get married? Really, congratulations...."
"Hey."
Beryl cut off Kedis' words.
"I'm sorry, but I'm a little busy. Can I go?"
"... Huh?"
There was confusion on Kedis' face. This is Beryl, who also tried to protect the world's bastard who was abandoned by his family because of his gambling addiction.
But Beryl had an expressionless expression. Kedis said while trying to smile.
"Hey, it's been a while since we've seen each other, so where are you going already? Is it that urgent?"
"Uh."
Beryl answered briefly. Kedis looked at Beryl's back with a confused face. At that time, the cafe door opened again and Judith stuck her head out.
"Brother, you suddenly ran out. What happened?"
As Judith asked that question, their eyes met. Judith also faltered at Beryl's expressionless face, seeing him for the first time. He said to Arshan, turning his head towards.
"let's go."
Arshan asked as he followed Beryl.
"Who is this?"
"A guy I'm not close with."
Beryl answered simply and clearly. Naturally, he can't be friendly with everyone, and it's also natural that he can't be friendly with people who only come to him when they need him.
It reminded him of his old self, chasing his friends around like a bully. Beryl grinned. And he said to Ar Shan.
"Thanks."
"What?"
If it weren't for Arshan, he would have never known what a real friend was like. Beryl stretched out. He felt refreshed as if he had just eaten a peppermint candy.
"By the way, are you going to attend Edgar's funeral?"
"We have to attend. The temple told us to come too just in case."
That was the moment when Beryl responded like that.
"Wait!"
"Huh?"
"Beryl, wait a minute!"
Beryl looked at Judith, who was rushing towards him, with puzzled eyes.
***
"Edgar Credrian was a person who truly loved, respected, and followed the Goddess Harmonia, and worked hard to spread the word of Harmonia until the last moment."
Tears poured like rain from people's eyes. I stood at a distance and stared blankly at the priest.
"Let us sincerely pray that he returns to the arms of the Goddess Harmonia and rest in peace."
With those words, the priests began to move Edgar's coffin. Now, when people drop a chrysanthemum on the coffin, Edgar is completely buried in the ground.
As I was looking down at the pure white chrysanthemums that were also given to her, the priest spoke.
"Lady Pale, now it's your turn."
"Yes."
The priests gave me a silent look. I approached the coffin step by step.
Edgar's face was still as calm as I had seen him a while ago. Only then did I realize...
Ah, no matter what I say, that person will carry the same emotions he felt right before he died.
When I thought of that, my body suddenly felt weak. I dropped the chrysanthemums on Edgar's coffin and then turned my head.
Then I looked straight ahead. Truly sad people and at a loss for a future without Edgar. Right now, I felt sad because I found hope thanks to Edgar. Even after his funeral, my somber mood did not change. And that night, Mouchet came to me and said.
"Lady Pale. Priest Damian and I are going to quit being priests."
I, who had somewhat expected it, nodded.
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"Priest Damien wants to show me a wider world and people with different professions."
I, who was sipping warm milk, asked.
"How do you feel?"
"It's exciting, scary, and complicated."
"Sit here."
I gestured to Mouchet. I also poured a cup of warm milk for Mouchet. Mouchet said, clinging tightly to me.
"Lady Pale, I still don't know."
"What?"
"Why are people unpredictable beings?"
"...Are you also confused?"
"Yes."
I stroked Mouchet's shoulder.
"I keep saying this, but my mouth is heavy."
"You can tell me openly."
"But this time it's different. I won't say it because it's cruel and mean to the Young Lady."
"Yes? Then shall I guess?"
I said, stroking Mouchet's head.
"When you think of me, you indeed hate Edgar, but when you think about what Edgar did, it makes you feel strange again, right?"
"..."
Mouchet sighed.
"If we were clearly separated like angels and devils, I wouldn't feel so sad. It's really difficult, people."
Edgar, smiling brightly, also appeared in my mind. I nodded my head.
"...I know. So do I right now."
"Are you like that too, Lady?"
"Then..."
I get caught up in momentary emotions and overturn my judgment again and again.
It's still like that right now. Edgar even whispered to me that he was a selfish and mean person, but when I think about what he has accumulated so far, I feel strange again.
I even wondered if I had the right to criticize that person. Mouchet muttered sullenly.
"I don't think it's a problem that can be solved even as an adult."
"On the contrary, it becomes more difficult to solve. The more you know, the more you can see."
"... Yes."
If I had been younger like Mouchet, I would not have known how difficult Edgar had been through.
I stroked Mouchet's head.
"But that's natural. I can't judge myself objectively right now, so how can I judge others objectively?"
Now that I had told Belial that our feelings could get hurt and that we could be disappointed in each other if we stayed together, I was now confused. I felt my emotions changing moment by moment and then spoke.
"Let's just do it."
"Yes?"
"Even if you try to make an accurate judgment now, you will end up making a different judgment later. And more than anything, it's best not to force yourself to think when you're feeling restless like this."
I stretched out my arms and wrapped them around Mouchet.
"Let's get some rest. Don't think about anything."
"Yes."
Mouchet took a sip of milk. Then he sat blankly, leaning on me, and said.
"Wow, it's really nice to sit like this without thinking about anything."
"Yes?"
"If possible, I want to continue to rest without thinking about anything."
"If you keep resting, your mind will become more complicated."
"... After all, living is difficult."
"I know. Still, there are a lot of fun things to do."
"Really?"
"Yes, I will teach you from now on. Now that you have quit your job as a priest, we can meet more often."
I counted my fingers one by one.
"I will teach you all about how delicious ice cream is on a nice day, how refreshing it is to take a walk at night, how fun it is to read a book at a cafe, etc."
"..."
Mouchet had a look of excitement on his face. At that time, someone knocked on the door. I exclaimed.
"Who are you!"
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