The Villain Wants to Live a Quiet Life

Emilia said she would return to her family home right after lunch.
For me, this was a lifeline, though as much as I wanted to let out a cheer, I managed to hold back.

Ironically, as much as I felt relieved that she was leaving, I was still a bit disappointed that I couldn’t see her more.
Although I don’t know what will happen once the dead ending comes, she’s still my favorite heroine. Just being face-to-face with her was somewhat enjoyable.

“Ludwig, what are your hobbies?”
“Hobbies… I don’t really have any. If anything, it would be reading.”

What a question, like something from a blind date. I almost spit out the tea I was drinking but managed a reply.
Even though I said reading, I wasn’t exactly reading works by esteemed philosophers or classic novels.
It’s just that this world also has literature, so I occasionally read things that pique my interest.

“Don’t you like swordsmanship?”
“Unfortunately, my body doesn’t keep up. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not particularly good at it.”

My swordsmanship skills are average at best.
Of course, I can’t accurately define average in this world, so it’s just a rough estimate, but I don’t think I’m any better than that.
In fact, the mentor who was teaching me gave up and left.
Even my father eventually had enough and discouraged me from learning more.

Perhaps he didn’t want to see his only son struggling and hitting a wall so early.

“How about learning from me? Modesty aside, I think I’m quite skilled compared to our peers.”
“It would be an honor, but I don’t want to burden you, Emilia.”

She’s a genius in swordsmanship who will one day be called a sword saint.
If she were to teach an ordinary person like me, she might get frustrated and lose whatever goodwill she’s built up.
I didn’t want to meet my dead end so soon.

On the other hand, Emilia seemed displeased with my words and showed her discomfort openly for the first time since coming here.
Did I say something wrong? I don’t think I said anything that could be misunderstood.

“Ludwig, do you dislike learning swordsmanship from me?”
“How could that be? I just don’t want to take up your time…”
“I’m fine with it. I find teaching swordsmanship to a friend quite enjoyable.”

I’m cornered. There’s no way out of this.
Refusing her offer at this point would essentially be like ignoring and spitting out everything she said.
But even if she teaches me, how? Isn’t she supposed to return home today?
She commented earlier about how busy she’d be when she returned home due to her packed schedule.

“Don’t you have to return home today? I can’t hold up your busy schedule.”
“That’s right. But isn’t your coming-of-age ceremony in three weeks?”
“Pardon?”

Why is my coming-of-age ceremony suddenly being brought up?
Of course, I mentioned it myself, but I couldn’t see the connection between swordsmanship training and the coming-of-age ceremony.

“I’ll finish my schedule before then and come to attend your ceremony.”
“I’m grateful that you’ll attend the ceremony. But what does that have to do with training?”
“After that, I’ll have some free time. I can stay here and teach you swordsmanship then.”

That’s such great news that I feel like bursting into tears. But please, Emilia, could you not do this?
Swordsmanship training doesn’t happen in a day or two; it would take at least a few weeks to months.
During that time, I expected my stomach would be so twisted that I’d be throwing up several times a day.

“I-I’m grateful, but staying away from home for too long might be hard on you, Emilia.”
“It’s fine. Even though it’s only been two days, I’ve learned that there are many good people here. If it’s really not possible, I may consider speaking to the head of the family directly.”

The Emilia who seemed to see through my thoughts just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
She maintained her stance gently but firmly.

You should be going to the protagonist, why are you allocating time to a supporting villain who might die at your hands…!

Ah, Father. If you can hear your unworthy son’s telepathy, please respond immediately…!
This is my only wish. If Emilia makes a separate request later, please reject it outright.
As a strict father, regardless of nobility, you wouldn’t casually allow an outsider to become a long-term guest in our main house, right?
I haven’t been taught such things by you, Father.

“Ah, it’s already time… I should be heading back.”
“I see. I heard the carriage arrived a while ago, so we should hurry a bit.”

Fortunately, it seems this topic can end here.
Emilia checked the pendulum clock at the end of the dining room and stood up.
I heard that the carriage sent from the Bayemühren family had already arrived while we were having breakfast. That’s quite fast.

As I guided her out of the main building, I stopped the servants who were about to come out to see her off.
Since the eldest daughter of the Bayemühren family came as a guest, normally my father, as the head of the family, should come out himself.
But since both my father and mother were absent, I had no choice but to see her off alone.
There was no point in filling the space with servants, and I didn’t think she would like that either. At the very least, I should send her off with a gift.

“Emilia, is there any gift you’d like?”
“A gift…”
“Even though we’ll see each other again in three weeks, I feel regretful parting even for a short while. Please don’t feel burdened and tell me.”

I didn’t think she was the type of character whose affection would increase with just one gift.
The Emilia in the original story had almost no material desires. After all, as the eldest daughter of the Bayemühren family, there probably wasn’t much she didn’t already have.

Still, even if it’s a bit awkward, I wanted to show some appreciation for meeting her.
Even if our relationship becomes twisted someday, even if the day comes when I meet my death at her hands due to the original story.
Couldn’t I at least give her a gift, one to remember the day I became friends with my favorite heroine?

“Then… could I have one flower?”
“A flower?”

Of course, rare flower species can be quite expensive, but I felt it seemed insufficient as a gift for her. Not a bouquet, just a single flower.
But I couldn’t bring myself to offer something else instead, overwhelmed by her gaze.
It’s as if her eyes say she didn’t want anything more than that.
If that’s the case, I’ll give her the most meaningful flower I can.

Leaving word to wait for just a moment, I immediately ran to the garden.
A horse tied to the carriage neighed as if asking if it had to wait longer, but I ignored it.

No matter how regularly the garden is tended, there are always thorns among the bushes.
Especially near the flowerbeds where beautiful flowers bloom.
Although these were flowers I had carefully cultivated, I didn’t hesitate to disturb them just for today.
I managed to pluck a slightly different-looking flower from among the red roses.

“Here it is…”

A white rose.
While common in my previous world, white roses here are called “moonflowers” and belong to a unique species that originally didn’t exist.
Yes, the moonflower mentioned in the original title “Swear by the Moonflower” is this white rose.
According to the setting, roses that have absorbed moonlight for a long time occasionally change. I had found one that bloomed quite a while ago and secretly hid it in the flowerbed.
This one has been living strong for nearly two years, but it seems we must part ways today.

I carefully dug it out and immediately returned to Emilia with the white rose in hand. My hands were covered in dirt, but I had no time to worry about that.

“Haa, haa… I’m sorry. It took a bit long.”
“No, I’m sorry for making such an unreasonable request, Ludwig.”

I shook the dirt off my hands and brushed off the soil clinging to the rose stem, then I carefully held it out.
Recognizing it as a moonflower, Emilia’s eyes widened.

“Is this… perhaps?”
“Yes. I wanted to give you a good gift as a memento… Fortunately, I remembered this one.”
“It’s such a precious gift. Is it really okay for me to accept it?”
“It’s to commemorate becoming friends, so I didn’t want it to be something trivial. Please accept this, Emilia.”

Even here, the flower language isn’t much different, and the white rose corresponding to the moonflower carries the meaning of respect.
Of course, a flower can have more than one meaning, so there might be a few more, but that’s the only one I remembered.
And I wanted to gift her this flower, out of respect and admiration as a friend.

“Since it’s a flower, it will wither someday… but I hope you’ll cherish it until then.”
“…”

Emilia stared at the flower in her hand without responding to my words.
Then, while glancing between my still dirt-covered hands and my face, she seemed to make a decision and took off a ring she was wearing.

That’s definitely…

“This is a divine artifact my father gave me. He told me to use it when I obtain something I never want to give to anyone and want to keep forever.”

I know that too. That’s the item Emilia used on her beloved sword Deinhart when she obtained it in the original story.
A ring imbued with magic able to grant an object eternity. Surely she’s not going to use it on a single rose?

“W-Wait, Emilia. Using such a precious item on just a single flower… Even if it’s a moonflower, it’s not the only one in this world. You should use it after more careful consideration…”

Although moonflowers are rare, this isn’t the only one. Perhaps her family could even obtain one or two moonflowers if they tried.
I appreciate her desire to cherish it, but I thought it was too hasty an action and tried to stop her.

But she gently shook her head and met my gaze with calm eyes. As if no more words were necessary.

“There might be more moonflowers blooming somewhere in this country. However, this is the only one you’ve given me with your heart, Ludwig.”
“B-But still…”

Despite my attempts to stop her, Emilia activated the spell residing in the ring.
A blue light shone on the moonflower, and after a short while, the jewel embedded in the ring lost its light.
Watching this, Emilia smiled satisfactorily as she caressed the petals of the moonflower.
The flower bowed its head gracefully without the slightest disturbance. It seems the magic has successfully taken effect.

“I’ll be going now, Ludwig. See you at the coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Alright. Then, at the ceremony…”

Emilia gracefully curtsied, holding the ends of her dress, then climbed into the carriage while caressing the flower in her hand.
Soon, the horse neighed loudly and the carriage departed, leaving only a cloud of dust in its wake.

As expected of the main heroine. The man you should be charming isn’t me, damn it.

translator’s corner

she’d better not crumple that flower ;w;