Note: I know this is late but I’m changing Sparkles, Rosiel’s horse name to Cutie
The weekend had arrived.
I went out with a small bag.
“Mister, please go downtown.”
“Yes, Miss.”
An impressive coachman took me from the Marquis’ mansion to downtown.
“You have to be back by nine at the latest. The carriage only runs until then.”
“Of course. We have to comply with working hours.”
For some reason, the villain’s family didn’t seem likely to pay their employees overtime. I didn’t want to bother him, so I’ll just buy a gift and come back early.
“Wow.”
Just like when I first arrived here, the capital was still full of attractions to see. A burning fire inside a crystal ball caught my attention. There were a lot of fun things, right?
I looked around. Perhaps because it was the weekend, there were many people in the city.
‘Everyone is wearing nice clothes.’
The nobles of the empire all looked relaxed, happy, and peaceful.
I took the fruit candy sold on the street and walked slowly.
I managed to choose a few of the gift lists I had written.
“A doll, a magic tool, a toy building set…”
They were gifts that a boy would like, but the most attractive of them were the dolls.
“I was going to give a doll to Roziel as a gift… I should also give a doll to Blandis.”
It was definitely not because I was lazy. Blandis also liked dolls.
“I gave you a dragon last time, so this time I’ll give you another dragon.”
The more dolls you have the better. Besides, the black dragon was lonely, right? He should at least have a girlfriend.
I arrived at the doll store shortly after walking. Now that the days were getting warmer, there were many children holding their parents’ hands.
“This! Buy me this!”
As expected, people’s lives were all the same.
In the spacious doll shop, I could see children stretched out in various places.
“If you don’t buy me one, I won’t go home.”
“Then don’t go. Live here.” The parents’ response was the same.
I looked happily at that and found a clerk.
“Where are the dragon dolls?”
“Dragon? It’s in the popular section. Follow me.”
The popular section was filled with dragon dolls by color.
“Is the black dragon sold out?”
“Yes. It’s very popular these days. It’s in stock tomorrow. Would you like to make a reservation?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Since the novel ‘The Legend of the Black Dragon’ was a hit, black dragons had become popular among boys. The dragon that I had previously presented to Blandis was also a black dragon.
‘What color should I buy?’
It was probably better for the mind and body to have a brighter color than the darker one. If I bought something gloomy for no reason, it might set fire to his desire to become a villain. After contemplating for a long time, I carefully chose a white dragon doll.
A white dragon that appeared as a rival of the black dragon!
This guy would surely be able to capture Roziel’s heart.
‘Please, doll!’
Then, I chose a doll for Blandis. I wanted to buy a red doll for Blan. Among them, a doll with a cute ribbon on its head captivated my heart.
The round eyes gave me a similar feeling to Blandis.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Yes, thank you for your business.”
That was how I bought two, white and red. The dolls held in my arms were very cute. I packed the doll well in a large shopping bag.
‘I’m sure you’ll like it.’
There was not a boy who existed in this world that hated dragon dolls. It was when I left the store with excitement.
“Huh.”
I saw a familiar figure from afar. I couldn’t see everything because I was wearing my hood low to hide my face before, but I had good eyesight as a knight dealing with swords.
“Those pure eyes and cute lips…”
Although it was a short moment, I could immediately recognize that the character was Roziel Evelian.
‘Why are you here?’
Not to mention, in a suspicious outfit.
Above all, this noisy downtown did not go well with him.
As the son of Marquis Evelian, he could do whatever he wanted, but he was in a position to purchase things with just a noble gesture from the mansion.
‘Or is there something else to see?’
What would the boy who would become the villain in the future do in the city?
I bit my lip.
Was all the innocence you showed me a lie…
I was suddenly afraid. He was a villain who was such a good actor.
I stopped thinking and moved my body.
‘I’ll have to check it out myself.’
I followed him carefully. Where he arrived with his hood on. It was not a weapon shop, nor a guild specializing in poisoning…
‘An ice cream shop?’
Ah. When I saw him at the banquet, he loved sweets. But you didn’t come all the way here just to eat ice cream, right?
It was here.
He came out with a five-layer ice cream cone in his hand.
I could see the corners of his mouth twitching through the hood. He looked very happy.
“…”
The chocolate ice cream was sucked into the thick lips like an inhaler.
Were there any special ingredients in that ice cream?
Out of curiosity, I also bought ice cream.
“Hmm.”
It was just normal delicious ice cream.
I hid in the crowd and followed him to his next destination.
“Are you going to buy cotton candy?”
Roziel, who had already finished all the ice cream, came out with cotton candy in both hands. He was a young boy who seemed to be bouncing around like a rabbit in excitement.
The cotton candy larger than his head was like a cloud, so it seemed like it would send him into the sky.
‘How cute.’
Suddenly, I cast my doubts far away and admired his cute face. At that time, Roziel, who was walking excitedly, suddenly found something and hid in the alley.
I followed him and hid next to a nearby stand.
‘They’re servants of Evelian.’
They were wearing the maid clothes I often saw in the mansion.
Whether they were going on errands or not, the maids were a small number of people.
‘Wait, to hide after seeing the maids..’
Looks like he snuck out, huh?
Somehow, it was strange that Evelian’s precious body came out alone.
‘You mean you just went out to eat ice cream and cotton candy?’
He was acting so young and immature.
‘No, if you look at what Roziel has done so far….’
It was quite possible.
I glanced at him.
Roziel hid in the alley and was watching the maid’s movements without showing his face. Roziel was diligently eating cotton candy in his hand while he was hiding.
Look at that lack of patience.
“…”
As expected, he was still a child by nature.
‘So he was not a bad guy by nature… Oh, this is a lot better.’
I tried to think as positively as possible.
‘Wait a minute.’
At that time, I had an idea that crossed my head.
‘I can’t believe I got another opportunity like this.’
An opportunity to play with him and get close.
Roziel and I got along much better than before due to the night walk. We even chatted about trivial things at the training center.
It was certainly an opportunity from heaven to meet him accidentally in such a good city to play.
“Oh! Roziel?!”
I jumped up from my crouched body and shouted. Roziel, who was timidly licking his fingers in the alley, was surprised to see me.
“Yu-?”
Reflexively trying to call me, he was startled and lowered the hood he was wearing even lower.
“Wh-who are you?”
Then, he raised his voice and pretended not to know me.
I put my hand on my waist.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“It-it’s my first time seeing you…”
The end of his voice trembled slightly.
You’re not talented in acting. As expected, even a scary villain must not be perfect.
“Cutie. You wouldn’t say you forgot Cutie, right? How could you forget last night so quickly?”
It was strange to say last night, but Roziel faithfully understood.
He nodded reluctantly as if he couldn’t lie about Cutie.
“Oh, I know you.”
“Who am I?”
“Yuria…”
“I’m dying.”
“…Zeos.”
Only then did I loosen up.
“What are you doing here?”
“That… well.”
I took off his hood.
“No!”
Roziel was startled and put on his hood again. As if he shouldn’t show his face.
“What are you hiding?”
“There are a lot of people here who recognize me. Especially my hair color…”
“Ah.”
His silver hair stood out.
I nodded and asked suddenly.
“That means no one should recognize you, right?”
Roziel became quiet, perhaps because I hit the nail on the head.
“Yes…”
“Why?”
“Because I came out secretly.”
Also.
“What is there to hide? You just have to boldly lead the knights and go out! That would be much safer. You can get around in a carriage without bothering to walk.”
“No. My father doesn’t like me to go out.”
“The Marquis?”
Roziel nodded.
It was said that all noble children in the capital were strictly controlled, and it must have been true.
“Alright.”
I nodded and grabbed his wrist.
“Come here.”
The place I went holding his hand was a wig shop.
The bald men of the capital gathered and were eagerly choosing wigs. Among them, I bought the most ordinary brown wig and put it on him.
“Look. Your head is completely covered, right?”
“Yes.”
He liked that he didn’t have to wear a hood, but.
‘Agh, why must you be so handsome…’
He was still a noticeably handsome boy.
I thought his beauty would dim if I covered his bright silver hair with a wig.
Eventually, I had to buy an additional mask at a nearby general store.
“Now. Where’s the next destination?”
I casually asked where he was going.
He tilted his head.
“You want to come with me?”
“Yes. That’s why I bought you a wig and a mask.”
“Why?”
“Why, I’m trying to play with you.”
“M-me?”
“We played together in the forest. Wasn’t it fun then?”
“It was fun.”
“So let’s play together again this time.”
He nodded quickly at what I said.
His eyes looked excited.
“My next destination is a chocolate shop… No, wait a minute. I’ll think about it.”
“Just go where you want to go.”
“No. To a place that girls would like…”
He suddenly changed the route.
I couldn’t believe it was a place that women would like. It was like he was thinking of me a lot.
I waited silently because I was curious about what would come out of his cute lips.
“There’s a cafe nearby. There’s a pretty terrace… and the cakes are delicious.”
“Great. I like cake, too.”
I followed him as he led.
He seemed to be familiar with the geography of the city. No, it was more like he knew the exact location of his favorite store.
Roziel moved forward without wandering.
(SATVC) Chapter 1May 27, 2021In “Survive As The Villain’s Cousin”