The Villain Wants to Live a Quiet Life

With about two weeks left until the coming-of-age ceremony, I had to work hard on preparations alongside the other family members.

Setting aside my own reputation, the ceremony of the eldest son of the Aiphretz family couldn’t be taken lightly.

“To think I have to memorize even the attendees… I’m not sure whose ceremony this is anymore.”

“It’s troublesome, but it can’t be helped.”

The task given to me was simple.

To memorize important people among those attending the ceremony.

In my hand was a paper with rough portraits and names of heads of families ruling baronies and above.

Even though it’s called a coming-of-age ceremony, it’s just a birthday. Why do I have the most work to do? Can’t we just receive congratulations and be done with it?

Although 12 years have passed, it’s still hard for me to understand noble family ideologies with my values.

“Matilda, don’t you think this is a bit strange too?”

“As the future head of the Aiphretz family, you should be able to overcome this much.”

“Sigh…”

The woman helping me with this seemingly useless memorization process is Matilda.

She’s been my teacher since childhood, instructing me in etiquette, this world’s academics, and various knowledge as my personal tutor.

Wearing a monocle on one eye, always exuding a haughty and intellectual impression, she was also the person I found most difficult to deal with.

Isn’t a teacher supposed to feel both the farthest and closest after all? That’s exactly how Matilda was to me.

“You really don’t give an inch, do you?”

“It would simply be unacceptable if I, who has taught you since childhood, were to lose in eloquence.”

“That’s true.”

I’m not sure if I’ll remember well by matching portraits to names.

While scanning the paper, I found a notable name.

“This man is…”

“You’re referring to Lord Stefan.”

That’s right. ‘Stefan Fatid Bayemühren’.

As can be guessed from the surname, he’s Emilia Bayemühren’s father and the first count family head to receive a middle name directly from the current king.

The middle name Fatid is probably the name of the previous queen consort.

I heard that those who made deep contributions to the royal family sometimes receive the name of a previous queen consort as a middle name, and Stefan must be one of those cases.

In this world, a middle name was like a kind of medal.

“I heard that the lady you gave your heart to is from the Bayemühren family…”

“Who gave their heart to whom?”

If Emilia heard that, she might have drawn her sword immediately. Fortunately, she’s not here.

Interestingly enough, Matilda is being especially teasy today. As someone who knows her personality well – strict when teaching but different in private – I found it troublesome.

Having known me since childhood, she knows my personality to the same degree and sometimes treats me like a younger brother, making her a difficult opponent.

“I heard you gifted her a moonlight rose.”

While I was busy reciting and memorizing the names of people on the paper, Matilda spoke up again.

I can’t tell if she’s here to help or hinder me at this rate.

“I didn’t know it had already reached your ears.”

I hadn’t told anyone about the moonlight rose except my parents and Paula.

From the start, few people even knew that a flower was blooming in the garden. It wasn’t something to brag about either.

“To gift the moonlight rose you cherished so much and say you have no feelings… Young Master, you’re not being honest.”

She’s not listening. It wouldn’t matter what I say at this point.

As Matilda continued to tease, I went back to memorizing the people attending the coming-of-age ceremony.

Among them, I see some fierce-looking people. I’d rather not freeze up and be unable to speak when I see their faces on the day.

“Despite being almost of age, you still act as a child.”

Matilda seems to see me as a pure-hearted boy who has feelings for Emilia but is too shy to express them.

“Leave it. Stop meddling in others’ love lives.”

“Oh my, are you admitting it’s a love life?”

Damn, was it a leading question? I guess I have no choice but to completely shut my ears.

Matilda is indeed difficult to deal with. In some ways, I feel it’s even harder than dealing with Emilia.

Maybe I’m just weak to women.

 *          *          *          *          *          *          *

I rushed out of my room at the news of a letter arriving from the Aiphretz family. I wanted to confirm if my guess about its contents was correct.

Father would probably be in the reception room today too. One of Mother’s hobbies was playing the harp, so there was always a harp slightly shorter than me set up in the reception room.

And Father enjoyed watching Mother play the harp with contentment. I thought this might be why they’ve maintained such a good relationship until now.

“My lady. What brings you here?”

Waiting in front of the reception room door was Dana, Mother’s personal maid. It seemed she was acting as the doorkeeper today.

“Are Father and Mother inside?”

“Yes, they are. Please wait a moment.”

At my words, she immediately knocked on the door and, after getting permission from both of them, guided me inside.

The harp melody I heard from outside the door enveloped my ears ever so softly. As expected, Mother’s harp skills seem to be improving day by day.

“Welcome, Emilia. What’s the matter?”

“Nothing special. I just heard a letter had arrived, so…”

Mother stopped playing the harp and asked about my business.

I had rushed over at the mention of a letter arriving, but I hadn’t prepared an excuse, so I waved my hands in embarrassment.

“It arrived from the Aiphretz family. I remember that’s the family you visited recently.”

“Yes, Father.”

For some reason, my face flushed at Father’s words. It felt like my secret had been exposed.

I had told Father about visiting the Aiphretz family, but I hadn’t mentioned Ludwig. Since he had always been worried about my marriage prospects, I didn’t want him to make any assumptions.

“It’s nothing special. It seems to be an invitation for the eldest son’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

As expected. I had to desperately hold back from screaming out of the emotion that suddenly welled up inside me.

Ludwig. He hadn’t forgotten our promise.

“Are you planning to go?”

“We should. Although there hasn’t been much contact in our generation, I hear the previous heads of the Aiphretz and Bayemühren families were close friends.”

I wonder how long ago this story is from, given that even Father speaks of it as if it’s hazy. It must be at least several hundred years ago.

“This is a good opportunity. I’ve been wanting to see the boy you met.”

“What?”

Just as I was inwardly clenching my fist and about to cheer at the fact that I could meet him again, Mother said something unexpected.

She wants to meet him? Mother? Is there a reason?

“You’ve always hated going out, so I was curious about the person you went to meet on your own.”

“Um, Mother. Ludwig and I aren’t in that kind of relationship…”

“Ludwig?”

Ah, I can’t believe I made such a mistake. Out of nervousness, I ended up calling him Ludwig instead of Young Master Aiphretz in front of Mother.

Cold sweat ran down my back as I rolled my eyes around looking for a solution, but there was none. You can’t unspill water, and there’s no way in the world I can take back what I just said.

“Could it be… the eldest son of the Aiphretz family is named Ludwig?”

“Y-yes, Mother.”

“This is unusual. You, who have never called a man by his name…”

Mother stared at me with eyes even wider than when she first saw the ice curtain in the northern mountains, as if truly surprised.

How can I get out of this? I didn’t want to reveal his existence to both of them yet. I wanted to approach our relationship more as Emilia the woman than as the young lady of the Bayemühren family.

What followed was a silence so uncomfortable it felt like bile would rise.

I had a faint hope that Mother might start playing the harp again at a time like this, but unfortunately, no such miracle occurred.

Not long after, the sound of Father’s teacup hitting the table filled the room, breaking the silence.

Was it just my imagination, or did the sound seem strangely irritable?

“The eldest son of the Aiphretz family… It might be good to meet him on this occasion.”

“…”

Leaving the slowly cooling red tea untouched, Father smiled as if truly looking forward to it. Somehow, I feel like I’ve committed a great wrong against Ludwig.

I’m sorry, Ludwig. I’ll definitely apologize on the day of the ceremony. Though, by then, it might already be too late.

translator’s corner

ludwig boutta get kicked in the shins ;-;