If The Villain Catches Me Alive Chapter 20.3 - If the villain catches me alive

“Sister…”  

 

“Yeah, what?”  

 

“Are you going to spend our entire budget…?”  

 

Of all things to say after contacting her for the first time in a while, this guy… 

 

‘He’s grown up so much!’

 

Still, if he’d said something cheeky, like how it’s okay to spend more because she’s his sister, she might have smacked him. But no, he’s actually thinking about the state treasury now!  

 

Francia smiled warmly at the rare communication spell.

 

That’s it, this is how an emperor should be!

 

“Deduct it from the budget assigned to me.”

 

“No, it’s fine… You’re helping me out, after all…” 

 

“Really?”  

 

“…Actually, could I deduct half from your budget, sister?”  

 

At that, Francia let out a hearty laugh.

 

It must be tough, huh, little brother.

 

“Fine. I’ll be back soon, so hang in there.”

 

“Understood. I’ve already sent the village list to Theodore today.”

 

“Good.”

 

That day, Theodore and Francia had the same thought.  

 

The first place that Theodore mentioned was easy to locate; there weren’t many snowy regions in Idenver to begin with. But the second place was a bit different.  

 

A rural village that could be anywhere. Finding such a place without any leads was nearly impossible. Then Theodore remembered something specific. Something from his memories.

 

It was about the mandrakes.

 

Mandrake was an herb that couldn’t be mass-cultivated due to the extreme difficulty of growing it. Its cultivation areas were inconsistent, and its overall quantity was limited.

 

Therefore…. This is what happened.

 

‘From now on, all mandrakes will be controlled by the imperial family!’

 

It was a joint scheme between Jeffrey and Francia.

 

The imperial court would have a monopoly on all mandrakes distributed within Idenver, so anyone needing a mandrake would have to go through them, and from there it would be easy to determine where they were from.

 

If they search every one of those villages…

 

“He must be someone you love.”

 

“……that’s…”

 

“Don’t you?”

 

Theodore was speechless at the bluntness of Francia.

 

‘Love?’

 

It was the first time he’d heard such an unfamiliar word since his mother died, and yet he couldn’t deny it…

 

As he stood there hesitating, Francia drove the wedge.

 

“You wouldn’t be doing all this if it wasn’t love.”

 

“…….”

 

“I wouldn’t.”

 

“……Yes.”

 

“But you’re assuming he’ll welcome your presence, don’t you?”

 

A stupid sound came out of Theodore’s mouth at the thought of something he had never considered before.

 

“What…?”

 

“You don’t know if he’s dead or alive; maybe he just ran away. You don’t know anything, neither you nor Jeffrey.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“What if he says he doesn’t want to see you?”

 

…Why does this person keep saying possible scenarios he had never considered before?

 

Dante always looked at him with affection, so the idea that he didn’t want to see Theodore never even crossed his mind.

 

Francia sighed and continued as she read Theodore’s expression.

 

“Well, it’s something you’ll have to deal with after you find him. I’m just saying, don’t be too disappointed, or come up with a backup plan just in case.”

 

“……”

 

Theodore felt like he had been hit on the head. He had only ever thought from his perspective and never like that…

 

Even as they rode to the village near the cultivation site of mandrakes from one of the places that Jeffrey listed, those thoughts wouldn’t go away.

 

Unable to watch any longer, Francia spoke again.

 

“…Just stay by his side no matter what.”

“Huh?”

“I heard from Jeffrey that he’s a pretty devout and kind person.”

“……That’s right.”

“That’s exactly the kind of person that’s easy to take advantage of. For people like you and me.”

 

‘If you just stay with him long enough, things will be okay. He’ll open his heart to you.’

That’s what Francia said…

 

But her words didn’t quite reach Theodore’s mind.

 

***

 

“He looks a little plain, and he’s about… this tall.”

Theodore held the list of villages that Jeffrey had given him in his hand and gave a detailed description of the appearance of Dante. Behind him, someone listened to him talk the whole time…

 

“Ah, that boy! Isn’t that Dante?”

 

Upon hearing this, Theodore’s body suddenly turned around.

 

“……Yes, that’s right. Dante.”

 

“Dante… He’s not from our village… He lives nearby. But I haven’t seen him around lately.”

 

“Ah, that’s right. You don’t look very similar to Dante. Are you friends? Or brothers?”

 

At those words, Theodore smiled faintly and replied.

 

“I’m family.”

 

***

 

As he drew closer to his destination, Theodore’s heart pounded.

 

He approached the women who knew Dante and described his appearance as he had seen it through the sacred object. They nodded repeatedly.

 

“Yes. That’s right. That’s Dante.”

 

“Do you know where he lives?”

 

When he said that, the villagers looked at Theodore with suspicious eyes. He felt a little happy yet anxious, thinking that even here, he was still loved. And he was right nearby.

 

‘…Before he disappears again.’

 

All he could think about was meeting him again.

 

The woman stammered.

 

“Well…”

 

“I’ll be sure to compensate you.”

 

“That’s not necessary. We don’t know the details either. Though you mention being his family, we haven’t heard anything about that. How can we speak about someone we don’t even know where they came from?”

 

The women added.

 

Dante does live near this village, but not within it.

 

“He seemed to live alone quietly, didn’t he?”

 

……The more he listened, the more he felt that this person was similar to the person he knew, and his heart began to race. He felt as if it might burst at any moment.

 

“Thank you…”

 

With those words, Theodore returned to the inn where Francia was waiting. Francia was biting into an apple she had picked up somewhere.

 

“How did it go? Did you find him?”

 

“Yes. But…”

 

“But…?”

 

“It seems like they live outside the village, not within it.”

 

“Then we’re done here.”

 

After saying that, Francia stood up from her seat, slung a bag over her shoulder, and then…

 

“I’m leaving.”

 

‘It was unpleasant meeting you, and I don’t want to see you again.’

 

“……What?”

 

Theodore tilted his head as if he hadn’t heard correctly and asked again.

 

Theodore tilted his head as if he had heard wrong and asked again.

 

“I think I’ve helped you enough with your search. Well, my back is killing me, and I can’t take it anymore. I’m going back to the capital. You figure it out from here.”

 

“The sun is about to set. It’s dangerous.”

 

“Don’t you know how I ascended to the throne?”

 

At those words, Theodore shut his mouth. It was a needless worry. Francia was strong.

 

“Right. And! You!”

 

Remember this! When you meet that person-

 

“Even if he doesn’t welcome you, stick to him like a leech! Got it?!”

 

“…….”

 

…Stick to him, huh.

 

Truly… it was not something you’d expect to hear from someone who was once an emperor, but it brought a faint smile to his face.

 

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

 

“Okay! I’m leaving!”

 

“……Thank you.”

 

Theodore briefly saw her off as she jumped onto the back of the horse. Then he left the inn again and wandered around the village. 

 

Even though he had his robe pulled over his face, perhaps because it was such a small village, he could feel people staring at him. 

 

As he walked a little further out, looking for a way to move around without being too noticeable, something caught his eye.

 

“…Ah.”

 

It was a place he remembered. He had followed this path before. Only then did everything come together in his memory. The fountain was where Dante had met an old man, and next to it was his favorite bakery… and… 

 

“If I go up here…” 

 

The path was very faint and narrow, just wide enough for one person to walk. It was barely visible.

 

As he moved forward, anticipation and anxiety swelled together. Then, just as the path disappeared…

 

A small hut appeared before his eyes.

 

He had seen this place before. He had found it. It’s this place.

 

Inside… is him.

 

Knock, knock.

 

Theodore quietly knocked on the door. But there was no sign of anyone being inside.

 

“Did he go out…?”

 

The scattered items around the house indicated that someone lived there. Theodore stood there for a moment, then took a step forward. Perhaps… 

 

“Is that place the same?”

 

Is the place where he stood, holding bread and beer, gazing endlessly down at the village, the same? 

 

That place where he had told him to wait, once more.

 

“Ah……”

 

It existed. It was real. It wasn’t an illusion.

 

He was here.

 

***

 

“Are you here?”

 

His words unexpectedly came out in a relaxed manner.

 

He had only seen Dante’s new appearance once, in the vision shown by Francia. Yet, he could recognize him at a glance. 

 

It was him.

 

He had always been youthful, but now he seemed more mature. His sharp features were gone, and in their place was a young man with round eyes that suited the countryside. He couldn’t help but smile because he liked it so much. 

 

“I’ve waited for this moment.”

 

I missed you.

 

“……I missed you so much.”