ICTV - Side Story Chapter 14
I change The Villain
"Yes?"
"Yes!"
I asked sincerely..
"Isn't Belial prettier?"
The child immediately shook his head.
"No, the young lady is much prettier."
"Yes? Thanks."
"You look just like a Princess from a story."
Once the child was speechless, he started talking to me lively, as if his earlier shyness was a lie. I asked.
"What is your name?"
"Riven."
"How old are you?"
"Nine years old."
"...Yes?"
"Is there any problem?"
"No."
Being so mature at only nine years old probably means that you've gone through a lot of hardships. I suggested to Riven.
"Would you like to take a walk outside with me?"
"Great."
"Iris, please wait here with Belle for a moment."
"Yes, Rose."
I and Riven stood up. I turned my head to the side as we walked through a garden full of roses. Riven, with pure white hair and green eyes, had an appearance that was as cozy and fluffy as cotton.
I asked Riven, who was observing the rose flowers.
"Do you like flowers?"
"I don't hate it."
"Then what do you like?"
"Hmm..."
The first thing that came to mind was a crown, but Rose was as pretty as a Princess. He didn't want to tell someone like that about his dark circumstances.
Riven thought about it before answering.
"A story."
"Story?"
"Yes."
The child who enjoyed listening to stories most before seeing the crown nodded.
He really likes listening to stories. In the past, his grandmother often told him old stories.
"I remember every single story my grandmother told me."
"Yes? Then which of them do you like the most?"
"Well, the story 'He Became King' is my favorite."
"What are the stories talking about?"
Riven's eyes sparkled.
"If you're curious, would you like me to tell you?"
Rose, who wanted to become friends with Riven, nodded quietly.
"Then thank you."
Riven cleared his throat and began talking.
"There was a beggar living in a village. He said that a beggar was a poor person who had nothing. Then one day, a Prince appears before the beggar. The beggar couldn't help but be surprised. He smelled good and he was dressed beautifully, but his face was amazingly just like him."
It's similar to a story I know. I listened to Riven's story.
"The Prince was fed up with his glamorous life. So he made an offer to the beggar. Let's switch roles for a week. The Prince took off his clothes and told the beggar several times. A week later, no matter what happens, let's meet again at this time and place. The beggar nodded."
So the beggar became a Prince and entered the palace. And he admired the life in the palace, which lacked nothing. But admiration soon turned into anger. There were countless children starving to death on the streets, but the Prince was so full that he went to experience being a beggar.
The beggar's anger grew bigger and bigger due to the reality that some people's terrible poverty was a valuable and fun experience for others.
But then an old man appeared in front of the beggar. The beggar saw the old man for the first time, but soon realized that the old man was the King of this country. This was because the old man was wearing a gorgeous and beautiful crown. Then the old man asked the beggar.
'I'm sure you're preparing well for the coronation, right? There really are less than ten days left.'
Only then did the beggar realize that the Prince had said that the roles must be changed again a week later, no matter what.
Eight days later, the Prince was scheduled to be crowned and become King. As soon as the beggar heard this, he made up his mind. To take away everything from the Prince.
A week later, the beggar did not go to the place where he was supposed to meet the Prince. The Prince, who had gone through all sorts of hardships, realized late that something had gone wrong when the beggar did not appear no matter how long he waited.
But even when he went to the palace, the guards just cursed him out and kicked him out, calling him a beggar. The Prince wandered around the palace, trying to somehow get inside, but to no avail.
And the next day, a grand coronation ceremony was held.
The Prince, who could not attend the coronation ceremony, cried at the top of his lungs in the streets, but no one paid him any attention.
So the Prince starved to death before winter came, and the beggar became King and ruled the kingdom in peace.
After finishing his story, Riven looked up at me.
"How is it?"
I said while stroking Riven's head.
"It was very fun. Thank you for stopping by."
"Did nobles also like these stories? I thought we were the only ones who liked stories like this."
"Well, to be honest, me and Belial stories like that. But other nobles might be different."
Riven nodded. I asked as they walked through the garden again.
"But Riven, may I know why you like that story?"
"The main character, who had nothing, now has everything."
Riven said, looking down at his empty hands.
"I want to have everything like that protagonist. I don't want to live a trivial life and then die."
"..."
I could see why Belial had brought this child.
The child, like Belial, was very greedy. Belial's words came to mind: Sometimes greed causes you to lose everything, but sometimes it gives you everything.
I reached out and stroked Riven's head.
Riven's cheeks were red, but he calmly stayed by Rose's side.
***
Belial returned only after it had become completely dark. In the meantime, Rivan became close to Rose, and he who was sitting next to her stood up.
"You came?"
"Yes. I guess you've become close to that kid."
"Does it look like that? I'm happy."
Rose smiled as she stroked Riven's head. Riven accepted the hand as shyly as before. Belial looked at the scene with happy eyes and asked.
"Then I think it's time to talk to me."
Riven's eyes brightened.
"Are you okay right now?"
Riven immediately nodded. Although he became friendly with Rose while Belial was away, the person Riven respected the most was Belial.
Belial and Riven entered the quiet next room. The two sat facing each other.
"I'm glad I became friends with Rose. Yes, she was a very nice person."
Belial said while taking a sip of tea.
"You must have had a lot of things you wanted to ask me. I'm sorry it's only now that I have time."
Riven quickly shook his head.
"No. I'm glad we can talk now. Well, where is the crown now?"
Belial spoke simply and clearly so that even Riven could understand.
"The royal family took it."
"..."
"As I said then, only the royal family can own such a luxurious crown."
Riven expected it to some extent, but it was heartbreaking to see him confirmed and killed like this. Although he was upset, Riven immediately calmly asked the next question.
"When are you going to teach me how to wear that crown without dying?_
"If you want, I can teach you right away, starting tomorrow. But it will take a very long time. Because you have nothing now."
I don't have anything.
Riven's heart pounded at those words. Riven asked a third question.
"Why are you teaching me that method? You brought me here for a purpose, right?"
Belial nodded gently.
"Yes, that's right."
Riven said with sincere relief.
"Thank God."
There was interest on Belial's face.
"Why?"
"You are a very strong person, right? I didn't think someone as strong as you would bring in a child like me for no reason. I'm glad my prediction was right. But what is your purpose in bringing me here?"
"I needed a successor."
A smile appeared on Belial's lips as he looked at Riven. Riven's eyes widened.
"Heir?"
"Yes, the person who will take my place. But you can't just be a successor. For my purpose. I need a successor who can devour the imperial family."
Thump thump. Riven's heart was still beating.
Riven recalled what Belial said earlier. It is said that only the royal family can own such a luxurious crown.
Riven, who had pondered those words several times, looked at BeliaI again and asked.
"...A successor who can devour the imperial family?"
"Yes. I hate the imperial family."
Belial's eyes turned cold for an instant.
"Because you tried to kill my wife before."
"Rose?"
Riven's voice grew louder on its own. Belial nodded his head. Even now, Belial couldn't forget the sight of Rose bleeding and falling down in front of him. So Belial thought about how he could take revenge on them in the most terrible way.
And finally he realized. The best way is to bring them down right then and there. But Belial knew that Rose was satisfied with her current life. He decided that it would be better for someone who wanted the Emperor to do it, so Belial searched and searched. And he finally found Riven.
"I mean you, who didn't let go of what you were holding in your hands even when your life was in danger."
"..."
Riven was by no means an ordinary child. He was such an unusual child that Belial recalled his own childhood.
So Belial knew instinctively. That kid can accomplish anything.
"But the most important thing is your will, right? If you accept my offer, you will have to walk a very difficult path. Because, as I said before, you didn't have anything."
"... You clearly told me then."
Riven, who had been silently listening to Belial's story, opened his mouth.
"Are you going to give up that crown if I give you better things?"
"Yes, I did."
"Of course, after following you to this mansion, I wore nice clothes and ate delicious food. But the crown never leaves my mind. No matter what you show me in the future, my feelings will not change."
Riven's green eyes looked straight into the walls of Belial.
"I want that crown. And for that, I would swallow anything. So please teach me."
Riven spoke resolutely.
"How to put that crown on my head without dying."
Riven's green eyes were shining dangerously as he said that. The corners of Belial's mouth drew an arc again as he met those eyes.
As expected, his insight was not wrong. In the future, that child will make the Serenity family an imperial family.
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