I Became the Villain’s Childhood Friend Chapter 17

 

He was apologizing to the madam who had asked us at the meal earlier if we were going to get married. He was even wearing his shoes properly.

 

Lotte, standing next to him, was smiling happier than anyone else.

 

The relationship between the two seemed so good that anyone would think that Reynold was Lotte’s son. Perhaps even more so than Rian, who is still attached to Lotte like a stick of gum.

 

Perhaps because it was Rian’s first time attending a party like this, he had been keeping an eye on Lotte since a while ago.

 

Lotte smiled with pride, patted Reynold on the shoulder and said,

 

“I saw there was some Mula earlier. If you want to drink it, take it whenever you want.”

 

Mula was Reynold’s favorite drink.

 

It’s a transparent, slightly yellowish drink with a characteristic sweet fruity flavor. Ah, it also has the characteristic of being difficult to obtain because it’s a drink made by fermenting desert fruits.

 

“I want to have a drink with Danae later.”

 

Reynold nodded slightly toward Mula, who was placed on the table, and answered politely.

 

He sells my name as he pleases.

 

While listening to Reynold’s words, Lotte kept giggling as if she thought he was cute.

 

Then Reynold took another drink and said with a bright smile.

 

“I have to take care of Danae.”

 

Lotte seemed to find Reynold so admirable that she slowly stroked his head.

 

“Please take good care of Danae in the future as well.”

 

And Rian looked a little uneasy at the sight of the two.

 

When I was once again amazed at Reynold’s social skills, Madam Collin spoke to me. I turned my head towards Madam Collin.

 

“Danae, your dress and…”

 

The Madam’s eyes fell on my shoes. It seemed like she couldn’t continue speaking due to my miserable appearance.

 

“…Did something happen?”

 

“Actually, I took a walk around the villa with Reynold earlier.”

 

When she heard that I had gone for a walk with Reynold, her expression immediately softened. She patted my shoulder roughly and opened her mouth.

 

“Back then, while you were away, Madam Chestain prepared a separate space in the greenhouse for the children.”

 

She then added that if we wanted to hang out, we should go to the greenhouse.

 

“Yes, we will do that.”

 

Reynold also came towards us as if the conversation was over.

 

I was really surprised to see Reynold smiling brightly.

 

I asked him in a very low voice so that Madam Collin couldn’t hear. 

 

“Why are you smiling like that from earlier?”

 

“I’m glad we have memories that only the two of us can remember.”

 

As he said that, Reynold smiled so beautifully that the corners of his eyes curled up.

 

Filled with embarrassment at his completely unexpected words, I began to panic. While I was doing that, Reynold looked at Serik and urged him to go quickly.

 

…Did he really pick up something strange outside?

 

***

 

To be honest, the Chestain family’s villa was only a villa, and it was as big as the mansion of an ordinary noble family located in the capital. No, maybe it was bigger than that.

 

Inside the greenhouse, there were many flowers and plants that I had seen often but whose exact names I didn’t know.

 

It was very difficult to create such a unique feeling with familiar flowers.

 

If you decorate it incorrectly, the common flowers can make you feel like you’ve seen it somewhere before.

 

That’s why all the greenhouses I’ve seen so far were full of flowers I’d never seen before, but the greenhouse on the Chestain’s was decorated with common flowers yet still showed off its unique beauty.

 

“Do you want to play chess?”

 

Perhaps out of boredom, Reynold suggested first.

 

I glanced at the sofa located in the greenhouse and shook my head.

 

“I don’t play games I lose.”

 

“You have to practice a lot to improve your skills.”

 

That wasn’t wrong, but it was absolutely ridiculous that I could beat Reynold at chess.

 

How can I beat that guy flying across the chessboard?

 

Actually, the fact that this guy, who was portrayed as a perfect person in this world, would lose chess to me was funny in itself.

 

“Do it with me.”

 

Serik, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, sat down in a chair.

 

Then Reynold lightly shrugged his shoulders and followed Serik to the seat across from him.

 

Since there were two guys smarter than me playing the game, I thought I wouldn’t have to referee.

 

While they were playing the game, I lay down on the sofa I had just seen in advance.

 

I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I was wearing an extremely uncomfortable dress, but it seemed I was more tired than I thought.

 

I neatly took off the shoes Reynold gave me and went to sleep.

 

How much time had passed, I heard the greenhouse door open.

 

I stood up hysterically, wondering if Lotte would come in to check if we were having a good time.

 

Because I woke up in a hurry, I wasn’t able to put my shoes on properly.

 

“….”

 

But the person standing in front of me was none other than Rian. The sight of Rian looking down at me made me relax.

 

“You’re surprising people for no reason…”

 

I groaned and sat down on the sofa again.

 

“What the hell are you…”

 

Rian sighed, muttering as if I was pathetic.

 

I narrowed my eyes at the sound of his sigh. Although it was extremely childish, I at least didn’t want to lose to Rian.

 

I raised my head.

 

“What.”

 

“…”

 

…Didn’t he come here to start a fight?

 

When I started to feel a bit puzzled by Rian’s lack of reaction, he handed me a glass that he had brought on a tray.

 

It was Mula.

 

I was thirsty, but I couldn’t drink it right away because I was suspicious of what Rian had been doing to us. I asked Rian while observing the bubbles rising from the drink.

 

“…Is there anything poisoned here?”

 

“Am I crazy?”

 

Still, as I didn’t hide my doubtful eyes, Rian quietly added his words.

 

“…I came here because Mother told me to watch over you to make sure you don’t get into trouble. I just brought this with me on the way.”

 

I guess I was unusually nervous.

 

It was very different from Rian’s usual appearance, which was always full of thorns.

 

Yeah, well… How can a person always be consistent? Besides, Lotte was with us today, so at least Rian wouldn’t get involved and cause an accident.

 

Only then did I relax a little and answer.

 

“The kids are over there.”

 

I took the glass that Rian gave me and walked toward Serik and Reynold, who were playing chess. Fortunately, the winner had already been decided.

 

…And strangely enough, the winner of this game was Serik.

 

Of course, I think Serik could have won, but this was very unexpected.

 

Because until now, Serik has never beaten Reynold.

 

Reynold meekly admitted defeat and gently put the chess pieces and board away.

 

Rian, who had been waiting silently until he finished organizing, took glasses of Mula from the tray he had brought and handed it to the two of them.

 

Since it was his favorite drink, Reynold drank it down in one go.

 

But then he frowned as if something was strange.

 

‘We should have done a ‘cheers’. Anyway, only I know.’

 

When I was thinking so, terrifyingly,

 

Clink—

 

Reynold dropped the glass he was holding.

 

Like a person who has consumed poison.

 

“What’s wrong with you.”

 

He even stumbled.

 

Bewildered, I quickly approached Reynold, cupped his cheeks in my hands, and looked around.

 

However, his condition was somewhat strange to say he had consumed poison.

 

Only then did I smell a strange smell coming from him, and I urgently checked my drink glass.

 

Rian, who was embarrassed, soon came to his senses and looked at the glass he brought.

 

“Shit…”

 

Ryan squeezed his eyes shut and swept his hand over his face.

 

What he brought was a high-alcohol liquor similar in color to Mula.

 

“What are you doing now?”

 

I barely swallowed my curse and asked Rian.

 

However, Rian, who was the only one who could explain this situation, was already in a state of panic.

 

He looked like he was going out of his mind, muttering over and over again, worrying about being hated by Lotte.

 

Seeing as he was so entranced, it seemed like he had also brought alcohol by mistake.

 

Anyway, first of all, I decided that I needed to let others know about this situation.

 

As soon as I took a step, Rian hurriedly stopped me.

 

“W-Where are you going?”

 

“Call the doctor.”

 

“Wait first.”

 

“What are you waiting for in this situation? Get out of my way right now!”

 

What if something goes wrong?

 

I hurriedly walked away out of concern for Reynold, yet Rian stopped me as soon as I took a step.

 

The look on his face when he looked at me was extremely desperate.

 

“I will never let Mother find out about this.”

 

As I listened to those words, my head started pounding.

 

It was a fact that everyone except Lotte knew that Rian was putting in a lot of effort to be loved by Lotte.

 

“Danae, Reynold is just asleep.”

 

At that time, Serik, who was looking at Reynold, approached me carefully and said.

 

When I turned around after hearing his words, I saw Reynold sound asleep.

 

“So, Brother, too, please calm down.”

 

But Rian’s face looked like he was about to burst into tears.

 

Serik, who was looking at him quietly, said to me.

 

“Let’s just pass this incident without telling anyone.”

 

“…What?”

 

Serik continued his conversation while looking at Rian, not paying any attention to what I said.

 

“Did Reynold really not know that it was alcohol? He must have tasted it from the first sip, but looking at the way he swallowed it, he might have drunk it on purpose because he wanted to annoy Brother. He was always a mischievous child, even to Danae.”

 

“Serik, wait a minute.”

 

“Danae, listen carefully. Let’s take this opportunity to correct Reynold’s habits. He’s been bullying you for a long time, so this might be the thing that makes him come to his senses, right?”

 

Rian, who was listening to Serik, turned his head and looked at me.

 

The corners of his eyes were bright red, as if he would burst into tears at any moment. I responded firmly to Serik’s suggestion.

 

“No, I can’t do that.”

 

“Then are you going to just put up with Reynold’s bullying from now on?”

 

“I will admit that Reynold has been harassing me for a while, but I don’t think this is right, Serik.”

 

“….”

 

I said, looking at Rian, whose eyes were bright red.

 

“Brother, go tell Mother. The drink was changed and this happened.”

 

“…You want me to say that?”

 

“…”

 

“Oh, I guess that’s a good thing for you. You want me to get kicked out.”