The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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I opened my eyes in the middle of the night, only to be startled by Amelia’s face being so close to mine.

The distance was so small that I could feel the slow, rhythmic breathing unique to someone asleep.

For a brief moment, I wondered if she wasn’t being too defenseless. But perhaps that thought arose because I still regarded myself as a man.

A same-sex friend she have known for over a decade.

Moreover, a friend who has been assigned to protect her and has carried out that duty for a decade. We were so close that thinking I might do something inappropriate would seem strange to others. Her behavior wasn’t unusual at all.

If she had even the slightest suspicion, she wouldn’t have let me into her room to sleep.

…What kind of expression would Amelia make if I were to break that unspoken rule?

If I were to wrap my arm around her waist right now, pull her close, and steal a kiss.

Would Amelia look at me with a betrayed expression?

Would she glare at me with sharp eyes, tears pooling at the corners, and pour out words of resentment?

……

I pulled back.

The sensation of Amelia’s breathing grew distant.

Though I liked Amelia, having such thoughts wasn’t right. Imagining such things about someone I liked… It felt like something a hormonal teenager would do.

Perhaps I was truly affected by the hormones of this adolescent body. Even though the body was that of a young girl, the soul inside it was male, so I’d likely gotten flustered by seeing someone I liked.

I forced my eyes away from the view peeking through the loose neckline of Amelia’s dress and sat up.

“Phew…”

I exhaled deeply and rubbed my face with my hands.

“……”

As my calm returned, I fell into brief contemplation.

Why had I woken up?

This robust body from Delkis was quite different from the body I used to have. My old body, worn down by drinking and smoking since my college days, had started creaking before it even reached middle age.

This body, however, lacked such flaws, allowing me to eat and sleep well whenever I wished. Once I fell asleep, I rarely woke without a reason.

That didn’t mean I wouldn’t wake up if someone carried me away in my sleep. Whether it was a peculiar trait of people from Delkis or not, I would wake up when something out of the ordinary happened.

The last time I woke up, it was because Pori had climbed onto my face.

I turned my gaze to Pori’s home by the window. There, nestled in a thick blanket inside a basket, Pori had piled up various nuts and was sleeping soundly amidst them.

Hugging an uncracked walnut, Pori looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, and I couldn’t help but smile.

In any case, Pori wasn’t the reason I woke up tonight.

I got up from the bed, careful not to wake Amelia.

Grabbing the sword propped up by the bed, I walked cautiously toward the door.

I pressed my ear against the door and listened for any sound from outside.

“……”

Creak.

A faint sound came from beyond the door.

If this were a crowded place like a marketplace or a ball, I wouldn’t have been able to distinguish a person by sound alone. In fact, I didn’t realize Adele was hiding when I followed her, nor did I sense the Crown Prince approaching at the ball.

Though the Crown Prince had wrapped himself in aura as he moved.

However, this house was exceptionally quiet at the moment. Naturally, a noble’s mansion during the middle of the night had no reason not to be.

The hallways were lit, and occasionally, servants would pass through. But having experienced this daily, I had grown accustomed to it. At the very least, I knew that at “this hour,” no servants would be walking through the corridors. I’d woken up at night enough times to confirm that.

…Still, that didn’t mean I was unaware of this presence.

I silently opened the door.

“…Hyung?”

I called out to the person standing beyond it.

“Oh, you’re awake? My apologies.”

Standing at the door, my brother turned to look at me as he spoke.

“Is there something the matter?”

I examined Harvey-Hyung’s demeanor and asked. It didn’t seem like he had come specifically to see Amelia or me. Although his head was now turned toward me and his body slightly angled in my direction, he had clearly been pacing the hallway moments earlier.

Peeking through the door, I glanced in the direction he had been heading, but all I could see was the long, continuous corridor. At the far end was a tall, narrow window. Though covered by lace curtains, they weren’t meant to block sunlight.

There were a few rooms in that direction, but all of them were unoccupied. Harvey had chosen a room at the far end of this hallway to stay in, so there was no reason for him to head that way.

“Oh, well, you see…”

Hmm.

At my question, Harvey started to say something but then closed his mouth. He touched his chin in thought for a moment, shrugged, and then looked back at me.

“I’ll tell you about it in the morning.”

“…Is it something you can’t tell me now?”

“Not quite, but I think it’d be better if the Lady Grattanmount is aware of it too.”

“….”

I looked up at Harvey intently.

The eyes looking down at me seemed nonchalant, no different from how Harvey usually was. There was no strong emotion I could sense.

But I also knew that Harvey wasn’t the type to say such things lightly.

In the novel, his extreme lack of boldness often left him frustratingly quiet, and he had little flexibility. Yet, precisely because of that, every word he said was the truth.

“I think I need to investigate further to be sure. For now, go back to sleep, and we’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

“…Alright.”

Harvey spoke firmly, leaving me no choice but to nod.

“Good, sleep well.”

“Have a good night too, Hyung.”

Though it seemed like he didn’t intend to sleep tonight, I closed the door after bidding him goodnight.

Returning to bed, I saw Amelia still peacefully asleep.

Her posture had changed slightly. She was now lying on her back, facing the ceiling, though her lower body was still turned to the side. Even under the blanket, her figure was clearly outlined.

…

So, Harvey-Hyung had found something unusual in the mansion, huh?

Alright, then.

I climbed back onto the bed and sat cross-legged.

Placing my sword across my lap, I prepared myself.

Harvey had told me to go back to sleep, and if he said so, it meant the danger wasn’t imminent…

But just in case.

After all, my duty was to protect Amelia.

*

Knowing Amelia would worry if she found out I stayed up all night guarding her, I placed my sword back in its original spot before she woke up and lay beside her.

I waited until she opened her eyes and, when she got up to change, I pretended to wake up then as well.

It wasn’t difficult. If a little less sleep was enough to affect my condition, I would’ve collapsed long ago, back when I spent my days running through the forest as a child.

After getting ready, I went downstairs, where Harvey was already waiting.

“Did you have a restful night, Lady Grattanmount?”

“Yes, of course. And you, Sir Harvey?”

Amelia responded to his greeting naturally, but—

“I have something to report regarding that.”

Harvey leaned forward slightly, his elbows on his knees, his expression serious.

“Pardon?”

Amelia blinked, then turned to look at me.

Understandably, she was surprised by such a response to a typical greeting.

…Nature never lies. It’s been a while.

“Actually, before coming to this mansion yesterday, I scouted the surrounding area—”

“….”

“….”

Wait, he started then?

Not after entering the mansion, but before?

Seeing us silently staring at him, Harvey seemed slightly flustered.

“No, of course, I do not mean to question the Grand Ducal House for providing us with this estate. I know full well how sincerely the Grand Ducal House has treated our family, but threats can appear anywhere, anytime.”

“Oh.”

Hearing that much, Amelia nodded.

From Harvey’s perspective, constantly facing unpredictable enemies, it made sense to be cautious.

“Your love for your sister is truly deep.”

“Ugh.”

“…I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Ughh.”

No, at least deny it a little!

He told me to lose deliberately in a spar with Prince Evan, yet he couldn’t let himself lie?!

“I apologize again if my actions seemed suspicious. It’s become second nature to me due to my work…”

“……”

I wanted to argue against Harvey’s words, but the way he put it left me unable to say anything.

…After all, the comfort I enjoyed here was entirely thanks to my family.