I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 60

‘Sorry, Yohan.’

 

I was smiling brightly, but I sighed inwardly as I looked at Yohan’s surprised face.

 

‘You must have been very surprised….’

 

I hadn’t been able to contact Yohan in advance, worried that the temple might be watching.

 

It was obvious they’d be keeping an eye on us since they’d planted a dangerous spy.

 

Also, I had to make it seem like I was leaving in a fit of anger, to send a message.

 

To execute the plan, I had to leave the Medes house, and the only place I could safely stay within the capital was the Hyrad house.

 

“Come in quickly.”

 

Although he must have been very surprised by the unexpected visit, Yohan smiled brightly without showing any sign of displeasure.

 

“And how many days?”

 

He said, gently running his hand through my hair.

 

“You can stay here forever.”

 

I could feel the people around me gasping.

 

Well, it was definitely a sight worth seeing from the morning breeze.

 

Anyway, to the outside world, we were a couple about to be engaged, and Yohan was supposed to be hopelessly in love with me.

 

And here he was, showing off that very image of a love-struck hero right in front of the house—no wonder people were staring.

 

“Actually, I’ve always been waiting…”

 

Yohan continued to speak affectionately, like a man more blinded by love than anyone else.

 

“The days when you and I can stay here comfortably together.”

 

Even as a child, I knew—when Yohan smiled like that on purpose, it gave off a dangerously seductive vibe.

 

It felt like I was willingly stepping into a deep swamp, but I still took Johan’s hand and walked into the Duke of Hyrad’s house.

 

“Welcome.”

 

The front door closed behind me with a bang.

 

And just like that, I was free from all the eyes that had been on me.

 

“Phew.”

 

I took a deep breath and whispered to Yohan.

 

“I’m really sorry, Yohan. I must’ve startled you. But I had no choice… I just need a small, quiet room. I promise I won’t be a bother.”

 

“No,” Yohan said with a grin, shaking his head.

 

“I figured something must’ve happened.”

 

After all, there were already rumors all over the capital that the ‘real Yurika Medes’ had shown up at the Medes house—and that she even brought the baby clothes she wore the day she disappeared, unlike the ‘fake’ everyone knew.

 

Of course, that rumor must have reached Yohan’s ears, too.

 

“Honestly, I wanted to storm into the Medes house right away.…”

 

Yohan spoke with a sinister voice and a pretty smile.

 

“But I held back, thinking maybe you had a plan. Getting rid of that scammer can happen anytime.”

 

“Hmm….”

 

There wasn’t a hint of doubt in Yohan’s voice.

 

I hesitated, then asked,

 

“Yohan, you don’t think I’m a fake?”

 

“What?”

 

“What I said on the day of the banquet could have been a lie. You didn’t hear it yourself.”

 

Even though I tried to be careful, my voice trembled slightly.

 

“I might have made up stories like that about Rivena and Theodore because I wanted to continue living as Medes’s adopted daughter.”

 

After all, I was the only one who’d overheard that conversation.

 

And for now, there was no way to prove I had Medes blood.

 

All Yohan had was my word—so it made sense that he, like everyone else, might not believe me.

 

But Yohan had called Lizzie a ‘scammer’ without the slightest hesitation.

 

His eyes, which seemed to trust me completely, made me feel a bit strange.

 

‘I mean… I figured he’d accept me at least because of our past… but still…’

 

It made me think it was time to stop leaning on that “past connection.”

 

I was probably burdening him too much.

 

“Yurika.”

 

Yohan smiled softly and said,

 

“I will believe whatever you say, so don’t think of such useless thoughts.”

 

Even though I was already out of sight of the onlookers, Yohan still held me close to his side as if he were my lover.

 

It felt a bit awkward to suddenly distance myself from this atmosphere, so I just smiled and looked at his face that was right next to me.

 

“And what do you mean, a quiet little room? You should have the best room. Didn’t I tell you? The Hyrad house has been waiting for you. It shouldn’t feel unfamiliar.”

 

Well, maybe it was because I used to roam around here as a squirrel—it did feel pretty familiar.

 

Even now, my feet were entering the duke’s house without hesitation.

 

“Did Mariel Medes finally kick you out?”

 

Yohan asked in a calm voice.

 

“Huh?”

 

“You did so much for them… and they repaid that by kicking you out of the Medes house…..”

 

His eyes gradually darkened.

 

“I’m a little grateful for it, but mostly it just pisses me off.”

 

“Oh!”

 

I shook my head hastily.

 

“Absolutely not, that kind of thing. Don’t worry about it.”

 

Then I smiled.

 

“It’s just.… part of the plan.”

 

It’s a plan to somehow catch one of the masterminds and make a big profit.

 

The first grand plan that my sister and I have ever worked together on.

 

“To do that, I had to go out to a safe place.… I’m really sorry, Yohan. There’s no other place I can think of. I couldn’t think of any other friend besides you.”

 

“What are you talking about? Stop apologizing.”

 

Yohan frowned and shook his head.

 

“I don’t have any friends other than you.”

 

‘Hmm. That, in its own way, sounded like a pretty serious problem.’

 

“And.… Sorry, I didn’t pack anything because I was pretending to be in a hurry. Do you have any clothes or anything similar to what maids wear? Can I get it….?”

 

I asked cautiously, then finally let out a deep sigh.

 

No matter how I looked at it, I felt like I was being way too shameless right now.

 

Maybe he sensed my feelings because Yohan swallowed dryly and swept up his bangs.

 

“Yurika, the Hyrad waiting for you wasn’t a joke.”

 

Then he took a deep breath and grabbed my arm and led me along.

 

“I wasn’t planning to show you this, but… you seem so apologetic that I feel bad for you…”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Come this way.”

 

As I followed where he led, a large and ornate door came into view.

 

And the moment he opened that door, my mouth fell open.

 

“That…..”

 

Yohan sighed deeply, feeling embarrassed.

 

“I didn’t think you’d already transformed into a human… I just wanted you to stay comfortably for the 50 days you’d be receiving my magic.”

 

I remained silent without saying anything.

 

There were all kinds of high-end sawdust, several wheels made of gold, and all sorts of chestnut tree models…

 

Yohan really meant it when he said he was welcoming me.

 

I felt a strange emotion, knowing this room was prepared for Momo, not Yurika.

 

“Uh, should we go get breakfast first?”

 

“Y-Yes.”

 

The vibe in the room made me feel like I’d just end up sitting around cracking nuts all day, so I hurriedly replied.

 

“Let’s go now.”

 

One thing was clear:

 

Living with Yohan again was going to be very different this time.

 

* * *

 

“Ah.”

 

The morning that Yurika ran away, Lizzie was standing in front of the room Yurika had been using, her eyes narrowed.

 

“She didn’t have to go this far…”

 

Lizzie sniffled as if she was very sorry, but inside she was cheering.

 

‘Honestly, if it were me, I’d never leave. She must really have a lot of pride.’

 

To give up her spot and leave just because someone threatened her position as the Duke of Medes’s daughter—what a waste.

 

‘In a way, she had no guts.’

 

‘The High Priest was right.’

 

To be honest, Lizzie had been doubtful even when she brought the baby clothes. And the moment she stepped into Duke Medes’s house, she’d half given up.

 

It would’ve been strange for someone not to endure in such a comfortable environment.

 

But after two days of being violent, Yurika got tired of it and left.

 

‘Sure, I was a little mean, but still…’

 

Lizzie tried to create a situation where Yurika would be kicked out as planned.

 

She arranged a private meeting, then pretended to stumble and cry.

 

She’d torn up baby clothes and blamed it on Yurika.

 

‘And honestly, it didn’t even seem unfair to her.’

 

Not that Yurika was completely innocent either—there were plenty of times she stepped on Lizzie’s ankle with her heel or ‘accidentally’ bumped her shoulder.

 

‘It was like she got back at me… but not quite enough?’

 

Anyway, it worked out in the end since Lizzie kicked her out.

 

Running off to the Hyrad house to see her lover was a bit pathetic, but Lizzie’s role was to get her out of Medes house.

 

“It can’t be helped.”

 

As Lizzie stood there pretending to be troubled by Yurika’s absence, Mariel approached with a sigh.

 

“No matter how much we tried to stop her, she still left.”

 

Lizzie wiped away a tear and looked at Mariel with a hopeful face.

 

Now that Yurika—who’d been playing the younger sister role—was gone, it was only a matter of time before she won over kind, gentle Mariel.

 

Though Mariel had kept a bit of distance from her, it was probably just because she felt bad for Yurika.

 

“Then Lizzie.”

 

Sure enough, Mariel looked at her with a slightly sad expression and said,

 

“Since Yurika’s not here anymore… shall we talk, just the two of us for a moment?”

 

* * *