The Villain Wants to Live Quietly

Chapter 7. Good People, Bad People (4)

The air felt outside was not much different from usual.

The image of Emilia talking with Sir Stefan, and the image of Tanya smiling in the seat next to me. Because I didn’t feel any discomfort at all.

But why? The eyes of the two people sitting across from each other with the wide spread table in between did not meet once throughout the meal. It’s too unnatural to dismiss it as a coincidence.

“I don’t know if the dinner suits the taste of the long-awaited guests.”

After wiping his mouth with a napkin and rinsing his mouth with water, Sir Stefan looked around the audience and asked for their impressions. To be honest, I didn’t even know if the food was going into my nose or mouth, but I nodded out of politeness. It is to the point where I feel guilty for trying to answer such a generous treatment with a pretense.

“Tanya.”

“why?”

I called Tanya’s name in a low voice so that the rest of the crew couldn’t hear. I couldn’t ask the details right now, but I had to know for sure that something had happened between the two of them. That’s how you’ll be able to mediate or find a solution.

“What happened with Emilia?”

“… Why do you think so?”

Something happened. I don’t know what to think, but the tone of my voice subconsciously went down.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“… It’s not a matter of telling or not. It was my fault in the first place.”

“Is it your fault?”

My mind was dazed by the unexpected reply. What do you mean? Wasn’t it the fault of both sides? The atmosphere was too cold to believe that either side was at fault unilaterally. Normally, in such a case, a situation would have to be staged where Tanya clings to Emilia saying she is sorry.

“yes. There are things that even friends shouldn’t say… It’s too wordy.”

“What the hell… … .”

I was going to ask about everything, but I couldn’t speak anymore because the atmosphere of the meal was slowly falling apart. Afterwards, the two of them should have a chat while drinking tea, or at least have a three-way meeting with the three of them accompanied by Emilia.

“Everyone go back to your room and get some rest. Oh, Lord Stenbaum, would you like a glass of wine with the two of us?”

“Because I don’t mind drinking. Very nice.”

Those three are wine together. Something doesn’t go well with the picture.

Come to think of it, according to what I heard from Emilia, I’ve never seen Sir Stefan and Sir Rebecca drunk. I don’t know if it’s that thorough self-management or weekly… Perhaps Sir Rebecca was the latter, I thought.

I was worried that I might be taken away by Julia’s wife after the meal, but fortunately, I think this will save me a lot of time. Because there are things I need to do first.

“Ah, Sir Stefan. The meal was really good.”

Sir Stefan, who was about to get up and leave the restaurant, approached me. His face instantly brightened as he hurriedly got up from his seat, greeted him, and expressed his superficial sentiments.

“I’m glad that’s the case. I’ve always wanted to treat you to a meal someday, and I’m just glad I finally got that chance.”

“hahahaha… … .”

sorry. Sir Stefan. I can’t even taste the food I’ve been treated to for a long time… If this matter is resolved quickly, I will serve you even the food I made myself.

That’s how I handed him an apology that I couldn’t convey to him on the inside, and kept a smile on the outside. Sir Stefan and Lady Julia left the restaurant, followed by Sir Rebecca, leaving only us and a few maids.

“Hey, Emilia… … .”

“Ludwig.”

The moment I was about to call Emilia and talk to her for a while, she instead cut me off and walked right up to the door.

“sorry. Could you please leave me alone for a while?”

“… … .”

Holding onto the doorknob and turning her head, she saw a sadness she had never seen before. An expression I hadn’t seen on Emilia, who always hugged me and affirmed me. I couldn’t help but stare blankly at her as she left without saying anything.

You make that face too. On the one hand, I felt powerless and helpless at the thought that I did not know everything about her. Maybe Tanya didn’t really want to ask about the details. Sometimes knowing the whole truth isn’t a good thing.

“Tanya, how are you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Can you talk to me? To be honest, I came out proud, but I have no intention of prying at you unless you really want to reveal it.”

A weak sound came out without my knowledge, but this was my true intention.

Even if I knew what happened between the two of them in the first place, there is no guarantee that it will be resolved. It was just sad. The current situation seems to have split the relationship between the woman I want to protect and my precious friend.

Of course, as there is a saying that time solves things, we cannot rule out the possibility that things will be resolved at some point even without me stepping out. However, it was not comfortable to wait while sucking my fingers.

“Why?”

“Why?”

“If you want to restore the relationship between me and Emilia, you’ll have to ask why. Why don’t you dig more?”

Her hair-like pink eyes looked up at me as if she wouldn’t allow them to escape.

“Do you want to talk?”

“To be honest, I hate it.”

“That’s it. Of course, even if you think that I am your friend and that we are so close that you want me to tell you about your worries, there are times when I cannot tell you because I am a friend.”

People tend to think that the deeper the bond, the more they can tell each other what they can’t say, but that’s just a clichéd stereotype. Sometimes, the closer you are to each other and the more knowledgeable the person you are confiding in is, there are words that cannot be said openly.

It is said that this is the type of person who can bring out the troubles buried deep in the bar he first visited. At least I think so.

“okay.”

“You want to talk? I told you beforehand, but I have no intention of forcing you.”

“Do I look like someone who forced me to speak? So, I was wrong for a long time.”

Well, the image of the world’s Tanya forcibly opening her mouth to someone and expressing her worries. It is a sight that can never be painted.

Anyway, fortunately, it seems that you have an idea to sit down for a conversation. You can listen to Emilia’s story later. So, where would be the best place to have a conversation? There must be a possibility that someone else will come and go to have a conversation over tea in the drawing room.

“How is my room?”

“uh… Wouldn’t that be a bit like that?”

Perhaps having read my intentions, Tanya suggested that we talk in her room. I’m grateful for your kindness, but going to a woman’s room at such a late hour is a little… But if I take Tanya to my room, it seems that there will be more room for misunderstanding.

“Then shall we go there?”

“Where?”

Are there any good places? Tanya leaves the restaurant with twinkling eyes as if to follow her. However, perhaps because of her short stature, her stride was narrow, so she quickly caught up with me.

“What, what is it? Why are you walking so fast?”

“Maybe you are slow.”

“But before… … .”

Tanya was about to say something, but she burst into a sigh and shut her mouth. Is there a fact that you have realized something?

“what’s the matter? Tanya.”

“Oh, nothing. Let’s go quickly.”

“… … ?”

What. It seems that I get a lot of strange feelings from Tanya today. Even though it was Tanya Ansberg, who was no different from usual. Is it just because of my mood?

* * * * * * *

I went back to my room and buried my face in the pillow. It seemed like Grita had said something as she passed by the door, but I couldn’t hear it properly. Because my head was so complicated, there was no room for anything else.

“Tanya, why did you say that… … .”

Tanya was a dear and dear friend to me. That’s why there were worries that I couldn’t tell you, and there were still stories that I was hiding. I had always harbored the thought that someday I would be able to speak, but I just hid it thinking that the time wasn’t yet.

Feeling uncomfortable with Tanya today, I asked for a conversation, and for a long time, we started to tell each other what we couldn’t tell each other. Tanya meekly confessed that it was a lie that she had been out of the garden saying she was sick. It was something I had guessed through these eyes, so I wasn’t particularly surprised. The problem was what followed.

‘I like Ludwig. But Emilia is also precious. therefore… I’ll take good care of Ludwig.’

Tanya has a crush on Ludwig. That fact alone didn’t surprise me much. It had been on my mind since Tanya had sent me a letter the other day. I don’t know what Ludwig himself thinks, but to me, he was more wonderful than anyone else and nobler than anyone else. Even if something against her happened, she thought it would be possible.

Of course, I didn’t mean to give up on Ludwig. He occupied a large place in me that no one else could replace, and he had no intention of yielding to anyone who came. Even if the opponent is the most precious friend to me.

But that didn’t mean he wanted the other person to give up. Even if I had been in Tanya’s position, I would not have yielded Ludwig to Tanya. It’s not that I don’t value Tanya. It was because he did not want to lose his existence as Ludwig to someone else.

‘Are you really satisfied with that?’

‘yes. I’ve decided to be the bad guy I don’t want to miss Ludwig or Emilia either.’

‘If you really wanted Tanya to become a villain, shouldn’t you make Ludwig your lover and ask me to remain your friend?’

Tanya’s words were full of holes. It didn’t make sense, and it lacked logic. Even so, I tried to push the idea straight ahead. I didn’t like that.

‘I’ve thought about that. But it was far from the ending I thought.’

‘In what way?’

‘I like to be safe. If I get rejected by Ludwig and Emilia finds out… Maybe I won’t be able to maintain a relationship with either side anymore. That’s what I thought.’

lie. Tanya was a girl far from safe. They led their sickly bodies to find secret bases, and when they went to the mountains together, they expressed their joy by rolling down the hills with their whole bodies. At least the Tanya Ansberg I knew.

‘That doesn’t suit Tanya.’

‘Then, wouldn’t it be that the me that Emilia knew so far was strange? I’m a woman like this.’

‘but… … .’

Tanya expressed the image she had shown so far as if it were a lie. Even so, I couldn’t say anything negative about it. Just as I didn’t show my real face to Tanya, I thought that Tanya might be the same.

‘Why are you angry? Emilia. everything is fine The three of us can continue to be friends, and Emilia can approach Ludwig without any worries… … .’

Before Tanya’s words could finish, voila. The sound echoed and Tanya’s face turned to the side. It was the first time. What I did to Tanya.

Even in the midst of that, I think it’s very fortunate that I lost my strength. Otherwise, Tanya would have been in such a state that she couldn’t even go out to dinner. That doesn’t mean my violence is justified.

‘why… … .’

As the emotions that had been suppressed in my heart flowed down my throat, something hot hit my throat. Took. and touched

anger? No, it wasn’t like that. It was more painful and painful than that. It was too complicated an emotion to simply dismiss it as a single expression.

‘It’s the first time I’ve been hit by Emilia. It’s very painful.’

A bitter smile formed on Tanya’s lips as she touched her cheek. But I vaguely knew. What Tanya called pain was not a heated cheek, but somewhere in the corner of her heart. Although I can’t pinpoint the location, I’m sure it’s about that.

‘Tanya, do you know why I hit you?’

‘I do not know. I honestly didn’t expect it to hit me.’

Tanya looks at me as if asking me to explain why. My fists clenched on their own.

‘Tanya and Ludwig are precious people to me. I don’t have a benevolent personality enough to tolerate hurting my precious person.’

‘… … .’

‘Nevertheless, Tanya cursed at my two precious people. I easily gave up on the man I loved, talked about it as if it were no big deal, and suppressed and hurt the heart of my most precious friend. I can’t stand anyone like that.”

I’d rather be honest. I also came to have a crush on Ludwig. So, as a friend and a rival, I wanted you to extend your hand and ask me to take good care of you.

I didn’t run all the way because I wanted to have the man my friend gave up on. Even if there is a bitter fight between you and Ludwig in the future, even if the day comes when one of you puts on a sad face when the outcome is decided. Even if that loser has to end with me.

I didn’t want to see a scene where my friend cursed at two precious people.

Tanya. I don’t know what kind of heart you acted on, but I don’t think it’s like consideration. It’s just an act of withdrawing because you didn’t want to hurt yourself more, and it’s just your last struggle pretending to be for me.

I don’t want to be used as a means to get you back, and I don’t intend to insult the man I’ve come to love with your mouth.

So, Tanya, I will sever ties with you from now on. If you can’t go further because I’m your friend, I’ll cut the link and turn my head so you can go.

At least until you get to the ending you really want.