The Villain Wants to Live a Quiet Life

People change when goodbyes have been said.

Recalling the phrase she had seen somewhere, Paula observed her master intensely training alone in the garden from early morning.

The longer the farewell and the deeper the bond, the more dramatically the person might change.

Such a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

As nearly two months passed since Emilia’s departure, Ludwig had changed quite a bit.

It wasn’t that he was depressed or that his personality had changed.

He was as calm and leisurely as ever, not looking so gloomy that his sadness needed to be alleviated.

However, the biggest change was the increased time and passion he invested in himself.

“You’ve worked hard, Young Master.”

“Thank you.”

As she approached him and handed over a water bottle, he snatched it and gulped it down.

His hair and nape were now drenched in sweat. Paula smiled gently as she wiped the sweat from various parts of his face.

“As the days are getting hotter, wouldn’t it be better to train in the training hall?”

“It’s fine. I’ll be washing up anyway, and it feels refreshing.”

“Oh, Young Master…”

Although she said that, Paula had a rough idea of why he insisted on swinging his sword alone in this garden.

After all, this was the place where he and Emilia had trained together every morning until her departure.

If she mentioned this point, her dishonest master would surely deny it, waving it off.

It would probably make for quite an amusing scene, but she decided to hold back today.

“Did you read the letter that arrived yesterday?”

The first letter Emilia sent after leaving the Aiphretz mansion.

When he received it yesterday, his face – though it might not be an appropriate comparison for a man – bloomed like a radiant flower.

No wonder Diana had delivered a piercing remark, saying “Son, you seem happier than when your parents return home” to him as he giggled over a single letter.

Ludwig cleared his throat and averted his gaze as the memory of yesterday seemed to resurface vividly.

He thought he had controlled his emotions well, but yesterday he was so happy, he momentarily lost his reason.

“What did Miss Emilia say?”

“As she said before, she’s become the Sword Saint’s disciple. She was complaining that she’s not even allowed to properly hold a sword yet and is being pushed around.”

As he recalled and shared the contents of the letter he had read yesterday, she nodded slightly with an expression of understanding.

The Sword Saint was a renowned female swordmaster who had never raised a top disciple before.

Someone of that caliber would surely have considerable convictions in teaching. It seemed even Emilia was no exception.

To think that Emilia of all people would complain.

Paula tilted her head slightly, finding it hard to imagine such an ill-fitting scene.

She was a woman who seemed like she would smile through any adversity.

Perhaps people are fundamentally the same, regardless of their position.

“So that’s why you put extra effort into your training today.”

To think that the reason for his fierce sword movements was hidden here.

Paula looked at him with a strange smile, as if uncovering a mischievous younger brother’s prank.

“…You’re really a ghost. How did you know?”

Ludwig’s expression began to change moment by moment in response.

Since there are no Buddhas in this world, it was like playing in the palm of a goddess.

The heat in his body from his intense movement moments ago suddenly cooled, giving him goosebumps.

“The power in your sword was stronger than usual. Although I’m a layman regarding swords, I’ve watched you enough to notice that much difference.”

“You say it as if it’s obvious…”

Ludwig dared to assert that even Emilia wouldn’t have easily noticed such a subtle difference if she were here.

It wasn’t that he underestimated Emilia’s insight, but rather that he held Paula in such high regard.

He wasn’t sure if he should take this positively, however.

“You don’t know much about swords, but you’re sharp in other, strange areas.”

While Paula performed most of her duties as a maid perfectly, she knew little about martial arts.

She could use light self-defense techniques, but they compared little to wielding a sword.

This was largely because the Aiphretz family was not a martial arts family.

“Don’t you want me to be able to serve as a guard like Miss Greta?”

Greta, Emilia’s maid and guard, belongs to the prestigious martial arts family, the Bayemührens.

Therefore, from a young age, she had grown up learning various combat arts, including swordsmanship, as part of her basic education.

Paula had always tried to fill this gap, but it was often thwarted by Ludwig’s dissuasion.

“What guard… Forget it. I don’t want to experience holding your corpse.”

He would say things like this.

“Sometimes, I feel like you don’t see me as a maid, Young Master.”

Paula laughed subtly.

He could guess what she meant by those words, but it was too embarrassing to say it himself, so he turned his head and replied gruffly.

“Don’t ask suddenly. It’s too embarrassing.”

“I think it’s good to express your true feelings sometimes, Young Master.”

It was clear that she had said this to tease him.

He thought about ignoring it completely, but the reason he couldn’t was due to his nature.

The worry that she might get upset if he kept his mouth shut.

Although it wasn’t a worry a master should have for a maid, given his view of Paula, it was possible.

“Fine. I think of you like an older sister. Happy now?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually say it… I’m a bit embarrassed.”

“You’re the one who told me to say it!”

Ludwig, who had been properly caught off guard for once, couldn’t help but shout in frustration.

It was a day when he particularly missed Emilia.

 *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Emilia had only two people she could call friends.

One was Ludwig Aiphretz, a man she had come to hold too deeply in her heart to simply call a friend.

He was like a lamp that illuminated her path and guided her to the new road she should take.

And the other person was Tanya Ansberg.

The second daughter of Count Ansberg’s family, who, despite some difference in family prestige, had known Emilia since childhood and shared a deep connection with her.

If Ludwig was the person who illuminated and guided Emilia’s path, Tanya was the one who stood by her side and walked silently with her.

“The Young Master of the Aiphretz family… is the man Emilia has taken to heart?”

A sulky voice came out of Tanya’s mouth as she twirled her flowing pink hair around her finger.

It was a rumor she had never heard before. It was even more unbelievable because Emilia hadn’t said a word about it to her until just before she left.

But her father, Til, nodded firmly with a confident attitude as if there was evidence for his statement.

“That’s right.”

“Where did you hear such news, Father?”

“I heard it directly from Lord Stefan on my way back.”

If that was the case, the source was too certain to be dismissed as a rumor circulating among the families. No, at this point, it could be considered fact.

However, Tanya’s head refused to easily accept it.

Who was Emilia? She was her precious friend, more dignified and noble than any man.

Although he might be the future head of a count’s family, she wasn’t the type of person to fall head over heels for some unknown colt whose name wasn’t even known.

Her mind began to warn her that he must have used some kind of trick.

“Father, could you send a letter to the Aiphretz family?”

“A letter?”

“Yes. I want to meet this man Emilia has fallen for in person.”

At this incredibly bold request, he let out a sigh and fell into thought, finding it strange as well.

Emilia was the girl who rarely left the mansion, reclusive as she is, and had no one she could call a friend except for his daughter, Tanya.

For such a child to suddenly have a man she was in love with… When he first heard this story from Lord Stefan, he thought hearing must have worsened with age.

“Alright.”

In the end, he reluctantly agreed, partly to satisfy his own curiosity.

He was worried that his scatterbrained daughter might make some mistake, but if the man was good enough to win Emilia’s heart, wouldn’t he understand with a generous mind?

Possibly a truly irresponsible action for the head of a family, but what could he do? Like father, like daughter.

“Even if the visit is arranged, don’t be disrespectful to their young master.”

“What do you… How do you see me, Father?”

“My scatterbrained daughter who’s half a man.”

“Father!”

His ears were ringing from her sudden exclamation.

Til nodded, attempting to calm his daughter’s anger, and cleared his throat to change the atmosphere.

He knew that continuing the conversation further would only be to his disadvantage, so he needed to change the subject.

“Do you have a reason for wanting to meet him?”

“I want to check if he’s suitable for Emilia.”

“Hmm… Well, I understand your concern considering you’ve been friends since childhood…”

He knew the feelings his daughter held for Emilia.

Rather than simply a friend, it was more like a vague admiration.

Tanya, who had a weak constitution despite her erratic personality, used to always say that she wanted to be like Emilia, who was always strong and dignified.

To meet the young master of the Aiphretz family must be for this reason too.

When admiration becomes too distorted, it can sometimes twist more greatly, compared to that of friendship or love.

The feeling that her friend, who seemed to always be there like a noble flower blooming on a cliff, might leave.

The emotion blooming in her chest right now would be aptly called jealousy.

After all, jealousy exists even in friendship and admiration, not just in love.

“Tanya, remember one thing.”

“What is it, Father?”

“If he’s truly the man she’s taken to heart, he must have that much charm. Whether it’s his abilities, personality, or appearance.”

“I… suppose so?”

What on earth was he trying to say?

Tanya tilted her head in confusion. In response, her father sighed as if frustrated and continued.

“I don’t think it will happen, but just in case, don’t give your heart to him.”

“Oh Father. You’re worrying about unnecessary things.”

Tanya had seen quite a few men from prestigious families, but so far, not a single one had caught her fancy.

She hadn’t even experienced her first love yet, so thinking her standards might be too high, she hadn’t even considered looking for a man after that.

For someone like her to develop romantic feelings? For whom?

No matter how much it was her father’s advice, it couldn’t have been any more unnecessary at this time.

Watching his daughter confidently declare that it wouldn’t happen while leisurely sipping her tea, Til couldn’t shake off an inexplicable sense of unease.

translator’s corner

mm sure tanya sure :T