The Villainess’ Kindergarten

It’s been three days since leaving for the capital. And I was languishing in the carriage. It was nice to see the dense red forest and the high autumn sky for a day or two, but seeing the same thing for three days really felt like death. The rattling of the carriage was so bad that I thought it would be better to take a crowded subway.

I felt like I was going to get motion sick, so I opened the window a little.

Baridas was considerate of me and passed through the village every day to spend the night, so I felt sorry for asking him to stop the carriage just because it was difficult.

As I was leaning in the carriage, staring blankly at the ceiling, I heard Baridas’ voice outside the window.

“There is a village near here, so let’s rest there for a while and then go.”

It was a welcome sound to hear. As he said, soon a small village began to appear. It was smaller than the villages I had seen so far, but the atmosphere reminded me of the Alps and I let out an exclamation. It was a really pretty town.

At that time, a man who appeared to be a nobleman ran towards us. He smiled at Baridas, a smile that seemed somewhat kind.

“It’s been a while, master.”

Master, the knights waiting at that title seemed to send a chill down their spines.

This was because they knew what happened to those who called Baridas a master after he became a Duke. But no trace of anger could be found on Baridas’ face. Rather, he opened his mouth with an expression of pleasure.

“Long time no see, Dimitri.”

Dimitri? When I heard his name, I tilted my head. It was because it was a name that sounded like something I had read in the original. If what I remember is that he must have been quite an important person… At that time, my eyes caught the knife strapped to Dimitri’s waist. It’s not common for nobles to wear a sword on a regular basis.

At that time, a person came into my mind. Ah, it’s him.

At the academy that Baridas attended, he had to return home every vacation. However, Baridas did not want to return home, and it was his distant relative, Dimitri, who took care of him every vacation. In the original, he was described like this: He was a teacher, friend, and father to Baridas. Therefore, Baridas had no choice but to mourn his death.

Only then did I remember. The fact that he dies in the original …Did I kill him? Since the cause of most evil is Blood, I automatically felt like I was the culprit in all the incidents.

At that time, Dimitri’s eyes turned to me.

“This person is…?”

His brown eyes met mine. The moment I saw his benevolent smile that seemed to know everything, I felt like I had committed something.

…I don’t remember, but I didn’t kill him! Probably!

When I couldn’t bear to shout and was shouting in my heart, Baridas’ hand came up on my shoulder. At that moment, when he was looking at his hand that was resting very slightly, Baridas quietly opened his mouth.

“This is my fiancee.”

Dimitri’s eyes widened at his words. And soon, a smile spread across his lips.

“I see. Congratulations.”

Nodding his head to his words, Baridas lowered his hand from my shoulder. 

I looked up at Baridas. I could see that he seemed to be in a better mood than usual, and it seemed to make me feel better too. It goes without saying, but I thought the two seemed to get along very well.

“How about spending the night here today?”

At Dimitri’s words, Baridas looked at me as if to make a decision.  It didn’t really matter because I also wanted to see more of the village. And we might be able to find a clue as to why Dimitri dies. Although it was strange, he was an important person to Baridas, so I wanted to save him if I could.

“I like it.”

A bright smile spread across Dimitri’s face at my answer.

“We will take care of everything while you are here.”

Guided by Dimitri, we headed to the mansion where he was staying. The mansion had a somewhat cathedral-like atmosphere, and I felt it suited it well.

While going to the mansion, Dimitri told me about the old days of Baridas and the village he ruled. His words and actions were gentle, and I could feel that he cared about me through his actions. I didn’t know if I could think of it this way, but I felt like I had become a daughter-in-law who was loved, so I didn’t feel bad.

We headed to the restaurant and Dimitri sat in front of us and Baridas next to me. Soon after, the meal prepared by Dimitri was served. Ricotta cheese salad sprinkled with gold dust, a duck tied with a red ribbon, and even a roasted suckling pig with an apple in its mouth.

I’ve only seen it in movies, but this was my first time seeing it in real life.

Perhaps because they put a lot of effort into it for us, even the plates were shiny and shiny.

“I will eat well, thank you.”

A smile bloomed on Dimitri’s face at my greeting. He smiled proudly and handed me the steak.

“Go ahead and eat it.”

The food prepared by Dimitri was very good. The meat seemed to melt and the salad was light and delicious. While I was eating ice cream for dessert, a driver approached Baridas.

“Duke, Edward is on a rampage.”

Baridas sighed at his words.

His horse, Edward, was a famous horse with a pedigree that Baridas received as a gift from a foreign king. However, he still had the temperament of a wild horse and liked to run wild, and at that time, only Baridas, who recognized him as strong, could stop him. Because of that, he couldn’t leave him at the ducal house, so he always took him with him, but every once in a while, he would go on a rampage like this.

In the end, Baridas stood up to sanction Edward.

“I’ll be back soon.”

He got up from his seat, and I felt that he was alone with his father-in-law, so I looked at Dimitre. Just as I was thinking about what to say, I heard a loud cough coming from Dimitri.

“Cough!”

Startled by the sound of coughing, I looked in Dimitri’s direction and saw the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. At that moment, Dimitri’s eyes met mine. For a moment, my mind went blank and I looked down to avoid his gaze. And when I looked at him again a little while later, the blood on the corner of his mouth had already disappeared.

Before I had time to ask, Baridas came into the room.

I could tell. The reason Dimitri died was not in a good way. But I couldn’t bear to ask him a question in front of Baridas, who seemed to know nothing.

After finishing our meal, we were led to the living room.

The parlor had the same cool mint scent as Baridas’ room. The scent seemed to show how deep the relationship between the two was, so I couldn’t say anything as I watched Dimitri’s eyes.

Dimitre must have realized that fact at that time and opened his mouth.

“Master, can you do me a favor?”

At his words, Baridas nodded his head without hesitation.

“Sure.”

“It’s been a while since I wanted to drink the tea you brewed for me.”

There was something about Baridas and Dimitri that fit but didn’t fit together. Baridas, who had been looking at Dimitri for a moment, stood up.

“What about you?”

I looked back and forth between Baridas and Dimitri and nodded, trying not to show off as much as possible.

“I’d like too.”

Baridas walked out of the room, and an awkward atmosphere formed between Dimitri and me. Just as I was wondering what to say, Dimitre opened his mouth.

“You saw it, right?”

Why were the men here so perceptive?

I hesitated and nodded slightly.

He burst out laughing at my actions and opened his mouth.

“Please keep it a secret.”

Ah. I see.

I chewed my lips.

Dimitri knew. That his own life was numbered. This was a problem I couldn’t solve, whether I remembered the original or not.

“I have lived enough, so I have no regrets. Master is not alone anymore.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips. It was a smile that seemed a little sad.

“Even if I’m not around, please take care of  the Master.”

It was an arranged marriage without love. Dimitri would also know that fact. Still, the reason he was telling me this wasn’t because he was worried about Baridas. Because he knew that after he left, Baridas would fall. Seeing him, I suddenly thought of my mother.

My fists automatically gained strength. I felt like crying, so I lowered my head and opened my mouth.

“…If it’s okay with me… I will try.”

Dimitri smiled softly at my words. 

At that moment, Baridas entered the room. As soon as he appeared, a warm scent came into the room. The car had been brought. I quickly managed my expression and smiled.

“It’s been a while since I tried it, so I don’t know how it tastes.”

As I took a sip of the tea he had brewed, the strong mint scent that permeated the room gently spread into my mouth.

She was not a fan of mint, but she really liked his tea.

“It’s delicious.”

Baridas smiled as if he was glad to hear what I said.

Dimitre seemed to like it as well, nodding his head and savoring the tea he brewed. As if this time was very precious, as if I wanted to capture every single moment.

* * *

The next day, we boarded the carriage and were seen off by Dimitri. For some reason, Baridas boarded the carriage with me instead of Edward, and this was the first time in three days excluding the first day of leaving for the capital. As someone who knew his tact, I felt like he knew.

But he didn’t say anything.

At that time, when I was absentmindedly listening to the sound of the carriage rattling, Baridas opened his mouth.

“What were you talking about?”

I hesitated as to what to say, and eventually gave up Dimitri’s hand.

“I didn’t say much.”

Baridas smiled at my words. It was a sad smile that somehow resembled Dimitri’s smile.

He knew.

Baridas seemed to know Dimitri better than he thought.

“I’ve known this for a long time, but why are you trying to hide it?”

Baridas sighed, looked at me, and opened his mouth.

“I think I’ve caused you unnecessary worry. It’s something I’ve been planning on doing for a long time. It’s okay if you don’t worry too much.”

He seemed to know what Dimitri would have said to me. I felt sorry for ruining their relationship with a pointless lie.

“No, I just lied for no reason… sorry.”

“What is there to be sorry about?”

Baridas gently stroked my head. He was the one who should be comforted, but he felt like he was comforted in reverse.

‘He will live long, he will overcome.’ I couldn’t bear to say that. Because he was going to die in the not too distant future.

After hesitating, I opened my mouth.

“…When Dimitri was with Baridas, he seemed happy. Really.”

Baridas burst out laughing at my words. It was a clear and cheerful laugh that seemed really happy.

After a while, he stopped laughing and looked me in the eye.

“I’m glad you saw it that way.” he said. 

His mouth was smiling, but he still had a sad expression.

 

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Translator Note: