The Childhood Friend of the Villainess in a Romance Fantasy

Translator: Elisia

Editor/Proofreader: TempWane

━━━━━━♡♥♡━━━━━━

In truth, the ending where Amelia and Adele ended up together in the novel couldn’t be described as a completely happy ending.

After all, in this era, it was impossible for homosexuality to be fully accepted. Perhaps to prevent the story from becoming overly grim, the church forces that openly persecuted homosexuality were not directly depicted, and the two received some degree of congratulations from those around them. However, the reality was that Amelia gave up everything she had and left with Adele, leading to the story’s conclusion.

The narrative said they lived happily ever after, so from their perspective, it could be called a happy ending. But considering that they had to abandon everything, it couldn’t be called a completely happy ending.

If Amelia were to ever choose me instead, a similar ending would await us.

Though judging from how Amelia had never shown such emotions towards me, it was more of a fantasy on my part.

But what if, when Amelia and Adele finally unite, I am included in the rights she has to give up?

Amelia didn’t take me for granted. She always paid me a certain amount. Although the House of Delkis was a vassal family of Grattanmount, loyalty couldn’t be bought for free.

From the perspective of the Grand Ducal House of Grattanmount, the sum wasn’t significant. But for an individual, it was a considerable amount.

Of course, I didn’t care about money as long as I could stay by Amelia’s side. But what did Amelia think?

Would she consider me, lingering by her side, a hindrance when she left to live alone with the one she loved?

Would she see me as someone trying to negate her choice?

Such anxieties would rear their heads in my heart whenever Amelia and Adele showed signs of getting closer.

If the person I liked were to like someone else, and if that affection were so much greater than their feelings for me that they’d even abandon our relationship, I would have to let Amelia go. That was the right thing to do.

But even as I thought that, I found myself displeased whenever Amelia grows closer to Adele. Despite knowing Adele was a good person who wouldn’t hurt Amelia.

“That’s why I think it makes more sense for me to take Adele instead, since my horseback riding skills are better.”

And that was why I said such a thing.

“…It’s true that you’re a better rider, but I’m the one who invited Adele. As the host, I should be the one to escort her.”

“Even so, I’m your escort, aren’t I? It’s my job to handle things so that my master isn’t inconvenienced, and that includes taking care of this.”

At my response, Amelia briefly gaped at me before furrowing her brow.

“No, this is about the pride of the eldest daughter of the Grand Ducal House of Grattanmount. Our family, as people of the North, also protect the borders. While the Delkis people guard the most dangerous areas, borders exist in more places than just there, right?”

“You’re the eldest daughter of that family.”

“And I’m here as a representative of that family too.”

“Which is exactly why someone should assist you in that role. Nobles have appearances to maintain, and in such cases, it’s natural for the escort to take on those tasks.”

“So you’re saying that because I’m the representative and you’re under my employment, all the dirty work should fall to you?”

When Amelia said that, the expression on her face made me realize that something was amiss.

Yet, even as I noticed her frown, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

All I felt was a vague sense of fear.

And that fear, tangled with my thoughts about Amelia and Adele’s relationship, kept me from complying with Amelia’s insistence.

“Well, that’s only natural. I… I’m just trying to do what I’ve been paid to do.”

“…”

Amelia pursed her lips tightly at my words.

Her gaze felt sharper than usual.

*

“Even so, I’m your escort, aren’t I? It’s my job to handle things so that my master isn’t inconvenienced, and that includes taking care of this.”

When Elsie said that, I was momentarily at a loss for words.

I… I had never thought of Elsie as merely my escort. Of course, formally, ours was a relationship where money exchanged hands. Elsie was my friend, but that didn’t mean she could do everything for free.

Our closeness was one thing, but matters involving money needed to be clear. Even if it was between friends.

But then, to what extent did Elsie perceive her time by my side as “work”?

To me, Elsie was a friend. No, not just any friend—a true, irreplaceable friend.

When I said irreplaceable, I meant it literally.

In truth, I had very few people I could call friends in this world. The maids who served me were friends, in a sense, and there were a few children back in my hometown with whom I exchanged words. But those children could not be considered my equals in friendship.

Even if I made friends in the royal capital… Thinking back to the original novel, the only people who’d approach me would be those like Diane, eager to form “power groups.”

For those children, the main reason for befriending me would be my power and status. Money might be a secondary reason.

Such relationships could be called friendships, I suppose.

But the bond I had with Elsie was entirely different.

It should have been different.

“Which is exactly why someone should assist you in that role. Nobles have appearances to maintain, and in such cases, it’s natural for the escort to take on those tasks.”

I knew.

I already knew.

After all, the relationship between Elsie and me also started as one between a Grand Duke’s daughter and a baron’s daughter. For a long time after we met, Elsie called me “Your Highness,” and even now, she still addressed me formally as “Lady Grattanmount” in front of others.

But I—

—When did I begin treating Elsie “sincerely”?

Was it when I saw her genuinely enjoying simple things despite being a noble herself?

Was it when she offered a method she claimed was a secret, dipping boiled potatoes in sugar, a strangely familiar method?

Was it when she sat in a dimly lit room, twisting straw into rope, saying her strength wasn’t much help to her family, yet still striving to be of use?

Or was it when she fearlessly stepped forward, sword in hand, even at such a young age, to face an enemy that tore through the air?

Thud, thud, thud—The sound echoed in my ears.

It was likely the sound of my own heartbeat.

A sound Elsie couldn’t hear.

“So you’re saying that because I’m the representative and you’re under my employment, all the dirty work should fall to you?”

What kind of expression had I been making when I said that?

Was my face red with anger, brows furrowed in displeasure, raising my voice as if insisting my argument was correct?

Could it be, even slightly, that Elsie saw my expression as something pressuring her?

“Well, that’s only natural. I… I’m just trying to do what I’ve been paid to do.”

In the end, that was Elsie’s response to my words.

And I pursed my lips in silence.

Yes, that was Elsie’s job.

And I understood that the fact that she was being paid wasn’t the reason we had become close friends.

What Elsie was referring to was “her job,” meaning the duties visible to others. An escort knight wasn’t supposed to burden their employer with their tasks.

The issue wasn’t about what the knight thought personally; it was about how others perceived the knight’s attitude.

And such perceptions directly affected the knight’s reputation.

For Elsie, who couldn’t become a warrior for her family, she wouldn’t have wanted her reputation as a knight to be tarnished, even if the one she was protecting was a close friend.

It was something I could have understood with just a little thought… So why did I find the idea of Elsie was getting closer to Adele so displeasing?

Even though I was the one who had brought Adele into the picture.

…

…No, I knew the truth.

I was afraid that Adele might take Elsie away from me.

If Adele became close to Elsie—

Of course, Elsie wouldn’t become Adele’s escort knight, nor would she abandon her position by my side. But wouldn’t she talk more passionately about Adele than about me, even while standing in the same place?

Would the bright, pure smile she showed when talking to me be reserved only for Adele?

Gradually, little by little, wouldn’t we naturally grow apart, until one day, when the time came for us to part ways, she would wave her hand with a smile, as if it were the most natural thing, and we would separate without a second thought?

…I didn’t want that.

Even after parting ways, I wanted Elsie to miss me. As much as I would miss her.

…And I knew that such thoughts were selfish and wrong.

“…Then, if I order you to do so, are you saying you’d obey that command?”

I said that right after I thought of myself as a terrible person.

It wasn’t until after the words left my mouth that I was startled into silence.

That wasn’t something one should say to a friend.