The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

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As with the lives of all people in the world, the way nobles live their lives varies so much that its impossible to definitively say, “This is what a noble’s life is like.”

For example, the mornings of a regional lord begins their days early. My father’s mornings, and those of the Grand Duke of Grattanmount, were no exception. A lord, being the ruler of their small kingdom, had administrative tasks to handle from the morning.

Since power was concentrated in the hands of the lord, they had to handle everything from complex and significant petitions to personnel issues and trials within the territory. This left very few days in the year when they could truly rest. Even on the one religiously sanctioned rest day per week, if an urgent issue arose, it took precedence.

Naturally, Amelia, who often assisted the Grand Duke with such matters, also had early mornings. And since my job was to follow Amelia, I, too, became an early riser.

In the case of Delkis, the administrative workload was lighter compared to the Grand Duchy. However, living in the countryside, far from the city, made idleness a luxury. I already developed a habit of waking before dawn to prepare and hunt, so that kind of life wasn’t too difficult for me.

On the other hand, the lives of nobles here in the royal capital were markedly different.

Even in this world, without conveniences like electric lights, much of the “culture of leisure” seemed to revolve around the night. Balls, operas, banquets, and smaller gatherings were all nighttime affairs. Nobles would stay up late, sometimes even until dawn, only to finally sleep at daybreak and wake up in the afternoon for a meal that served as both breakfast and lunch.

Even for those who didn’t indulge in many forms of entertainment, life in the city tended to slow down. Few received formal education, and even those who did rarely had lessons early enough in the morning to require much preparation.

Even Amelia seemed to relax a bit after adjusting to this lifestyle.

When we fell asleep last night, it seemed we hadn’t fully drawn the curtains. A single beam of sunlight had slipped through the thick curtains and landed right on my face, waking me up.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Amelia.

I had fallen asleep in Amelia’s room last night.

The bed, usually occupied by Amelia alone, was wide enough for two people to lie side by side comfortably.

We had stayed up talking in bed until we fell asleep. It seemed we had drifted off while lying face-to-face.

Despite tossing and turning during the night, the first thing I saw upon waking was Amelia’s face.

Amelia’s face, serene and breathing softly with her eyes closed, looked incredibly peaceful.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. While Amelia was always beautiful, the sight before me was slightly different from her usual demeanor.

A face devoid of tension or wariness, completely relaxed.

Her usually well-combed, flowing hair was slightly disheveled. A stray strand had fallen over her lips, giving her a slight disheveled look.

And yet, she was all the more beautiful for it.

Would it be alright to move just a little closer?

Touching Amelia’s body felt like something I shouldn’t do, but moving just a little closer—surely that would be alright?

As I was thinking this, I found that I have already inched closer to Amelia.

Her peaceful breathing became more audible.

If I got any closer, the exhalation of my breath would surely reach her lips.

With that thought, I chastised myself internally. What kind of thoughts am I having? Even to myself, it felt like a perverse thought.

“Mm…”

A small sound that escaped from between Amelia’s lips made me freeze.

Even though I had convinced myself it was okay to move closer, now that our faces were so near, I began to worry if I had overstepped.

Would Amelia be startled upon waking up? Would she find it overwhelming?

Though I knew Amelia was open to same-sex relationships, it didn’t mean she was in love with me. Even if she did love me, it wouldn’t be in a romantic or sexual way, but rather a fondness one feels for a close friend.

Amelia shifted slightly, as if uncomfortable, and then slowly opened her eyes.

Her blue eyes calmly met mine.

Had I gotten too close?

Was Amelia displeased?

For a moment, I was filled with such thoughts—

But then, Amelia’s lips curved softly into a smile.

“Good morning.”

In a soft whisper, she greeted me.

“…Good morning.”

I returned her greeting, fully aware of my pounding heart.

*

The schedule for classes at the Tower of Magic was designed to accommodate the leisurely pace of noble society.

Classes were held four times a week, from 1 PM to 4 PM.

However, since the Tower of Magic served as a sort of academy within the story, this three-hour schedule often fluctuated.

While it was essentially a place to learn magic, sometimes there were overnight stays, and students would stay late into the night to talk.

Perhaps because the fees were significant, the Tower of Magic approached its lessons with great seriousness. The students, too, were no less earnest.

“Lady Grattanmount.”

The first person we encountered upon arriving at the Tower of Magic was Diane.

As before, her perfect bun-like hairstyle looked almost edible, and her dress was exceedingly extravagant. It wasn’t as gaudy as the one she wore at the ball, but it still didn’t seem suitable for everyday wear.

The dark blue dress, adorned with an abundance of lace, resembled the color of Amelia’s attire. Of course, Amelia was dressed in a relatively simple combination of a shirt and skirt rather than a formal dress.

In truth, it was Amelia’s and my outfits that were unusual. Noble children typically wore extravagant clothing even for casual occasions.

“Lady Delkis.”

Diane greeted Amelia politely before turning to me with another courteous bow.

I returned Diane’s greeting just as politely.

In the original story, Diane had committed numerous foolish misdeeds, but she hadn’t yet done anything terrible here. Or if she had, we weren’t aware of it.

At most, she had pressured her tutor to stop teaching Adele, but that hadn’t significantly impacted Adele’s life.

…I felt a bit guilty saying this, but considering Adele’s family situation, perhaps it was better for her current circumstances.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“Of course, Lady Diane. Did you rest well, too?”

“Yes, in times as peaceful as these.”

Diane exchanged light pleasantries while her gaze subtly scanned our surroundings.

I could guess whom she was looking for. Most likely Adele.

However, Adele hadn’t arrived at the Tower of Magic yet.

Should we start picking her up with our carriage from next time? After all, both Amelia and I had spare time in the mornings, and it wouldn’t take more than ten minutes.

“The Tower of Magic’s doors are open; should we go inside now?”

Amelia addressed Diane.

Now that I thought about it, the doors had already been open when we arrived.

Had Diane been waiting for Amelia?

…

Well, Diane waiting for Amelia wasn’t as big of a concern as the possibility of the Crown Prince being inside, waiting for me.

Even as we entered the Tower of Magic, Adele hadn’t arrived.

*

“I’m pleased to see most of you have gathered here.”

Adele wasn’t the only one missing—several others were absent as well.

Notably, the Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen.

I had no idea why. Was he planning to skip this session only, or did he have no intention of attending the lessons at all?

Frankly, I would’ve felt much more at ease without the Crown Prince’s presence. However, it was unsettling that Adele was among the missing students.

When we spoke yesterday, Adele seemed certain she’d attend. Had she changed her mind?

“Now then, before we begin, allow me to reintroduce myself—”

Just as the Archmage of the tower was speaking, the classroom door swung open with a bang.

“Sorry I’m late!”

Adele entered the room, her forehead glistening with sweat.

“Lady Carlins. I’m glad we get to meet again today,” said the Archmage of the tower, entirely unfazed by her tardy entrance.

“You’ve arrived just as the lesson was starting. Please take any available seat.”

“Thank you…”

Still catching her breath, Adele scanned the classroom and our eyes met.

When I nodded to the empty seat next to me, Adele broke into a bright smile and ran over to join us.

…What on earth had happened?