I Couldn’t Stop my Childhood Friend from Turning Into a Villain

Tuk– Tuk–

The rain pounded on the window.

The loud pounding woke Liel up. Out of habit, he glanced over to where Lucy lay.

His eyes narrowed as the empty bed came into view.

She didn’t seem to be in the manor.

His eyes glittered with a strange light as he followed Lucy’s trail. Outside the window, the rain pounded.

He walked straight out of the mansion and into the rain without a care in the world.

His footsteps pounded and the rain soaked him from head to toe. His wet bangs obstructed his vision.

Still, he made his way to the back of the mansion without a moment’s hesitation.

“…….”

Liel’s steps were soon cut off.

Lucy, standing in front of a white tombstone, came into his view. Lucy stood in the rain in front of the Marquis Anise’s tombstone.

Barefoot and in her nightgown.

An indefinable emotion surged through him.

“Lucy.”

Maybe he’s being cocky.

Maybe he felt superior, knowing that he was the only one able to receive a response from her.

As she had run to him every time, he conceitedly assumed it would remain the same.

That he could fill the void left in her, just as she had done for him as a child.

“You told me I’d catch a ……cold in the summer.”

Liel said in a wet voice.

To Lucy, Marquis Anise was her only blood, her only family. A family that had been with her since the beginning of her memory.

Even when her parents died, she hadn’t grieved this much.

Partly because she was so young at the time, and partly because Marquis Anise did everything she could to make sure she didn’t feel alone.

Perhaps Lucy had never dared to imagine such a separation from Marquis Anise.

But this sudden misfortune had driven her to the brink.

“Let’s go in.”

He grabbed Lucy’s wrist weakly as she stared at the tombstone without moving.

His wrist, which had become emaciated from not eating right for over a month, was not strong enough. Suddenly, Lucy’s arm overlapped with his mother’s.

“…….”

Luckily, Lucy didn’t struggle and let Liel drag her away. But her eyes were still glassy and unfocused.

Lucy’s drenched hair clung haphazardly to her pajamas. Liel felt bad for her, but he decided that getting her dry was a priority.

Liel turned away from Lucy. Without realizing it, his grip on Lucy’s wrist tightened.

Naturally, Lucy’s eyes went from her hand to Liel’s wrist. The image of his arm, which had grown thinner as hers, was captured in her blurry pupils.

Lucy’s blurry pupils came back into focus.

⁂

In front of Lucy’s room, Liel brushed her hair out of her face and naturally stepped aside to open the door for Lucy, allowing her to enter comfortably.

He let go of her hand and was about to tell her to go ahead and wash up.

“Liel.”

Lucy said.

Liel looked down at her in surprise. He hadn’t heard Lucy say his name this often lately.

“I, uh, I think I’m feeling a little…… better.”

No, she has to be better.

Why did she wait until now to realize that Liel was as devastated as she was?

No, she didn’t really want to know. Lucy had been too busy remembering the Marquis of Anise, who had died, to try to get her mind and body together.

As a result, she paid no attention to whoever was around her.

Part of her felt like she shouldn’t be okay.

Just as Marquis Anise was the only family she had, she was also the only family she had.

Even though she knew she would want her to be happy, even in death, her heart could not easily accept the Marquis Anise’ wishes.

But now she had to come to her senses.

For the sake of Liel, who was losing weight because of her.

“Even if I, uh, get better…… Grandma won’t be upset, will she?”

She asked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Lucy’s eyes reddened as she held back tears.

Liel watched her silently, then spoke up.

“Grandma isn’t like that.”

It was true. Lucy nodded in agreement.

The neck that supported her fidgeting face looked so thin that Liel added something he didn’t need to.

“Rather, if she saw you now, she’d be angry with you…… and with me.”

And she would, if she saw Lucy’s skinny body and rain-soaked clothes.

Liel’s mind flashed back to Anise, who had once scolded him for snacking before meals.

“Why to you…….”

Lucy lowered the back of her tear-soaked hand and looked up at Liel with a face that said she didn’t understand.

The rainwater hanging from the ends of his hair and the hollows of his cheeks poked at Lucy’s guilt.

“Just, I thought she might.”

Because she always scolded him together with her, even when he was the one at fault alone.

So it was only right that when she got in trouble, he also got in trouble with her.

“So, it’s okay.”

Just as he got over his mother’s death because of Lucy, so can she.

“I’m sorry.”

Lucy whispered softly as she watched the droplets of water trickle from the ends of Liel’s hair.

Hearing that, Liel’s brow furrowed in disapproval.

“I know what you mean, but don’t say you’re sorry.”

He shook his head.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

It was something no one had asked him to do in the first place, and yet Liel felt it was his duty to take care of Lucy.

“How could I not feel sorry for you when you look like this?”

Lucy retorted, her body sagging.

“You must be the same weight as me.”

After saying it, she felt even more guilty.

“Don’t worry, that’s never going to happen.”

Liel said, pushing back Lucy’s wet hair. Lucy’s worries were serious, but Liel responded in a joking tone.

“I suppose …… right?”

Good thing, then.

Lucy realized that right now, she needed to feed him a lot. But she needed his permission.

“Starting tomorrow, I’m going to force feed you, even if you don’t want to, okay?”

She started out boldly and ended timidly. Lucy’s eyes, now bright with life, lifted Liel’s spirits.

Liel smiled brightly and replied.

“You can do whatever you want to me.”

But from now on, I want you to eat well. (Liel)

Liel held out his pinky finger. Lucy hesitantly hooked her pinky on Liel’s finger.

Just then, the rain stopped.

⁂

Satisfied with the clear sky, Lucy changed her clothes and left the room.

The first thing she saw outside was Sarah, who had brought Lucy’s meal.

“Ah, miss…….”

Where are you going again……! (Sarah)

Liel had left earlier in the morning, which meant that if Lucy went missing, there was no one to find her.

Sarah looked around in frustration.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t worry, I’ll get something to eat.”

It was the first she had heard Lucy’s cheerful voice in a long time. Startled, Sarah quickly clamped her hands over her mouth.

At the same time, there was a loud noise and the utensils in her hands crashed to the floor.

“Ah……!”

Luckily, the bowl and cup didn’t break. Like Sarah, Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise at the fall.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was just so happy…….”

Sarah sobbed.

The guilty feeling from yesterday reared its ugly head. Lucy walked over to Sarah and pulled her into a hug before going back to her original goal.

“I’m okay now.”

I’m sorry I worried you. (Lucy)

Sarah shook her head at Lucy’s apology.

Then she asked her not to go too far. Lucy hadn’t intended to go far, but she nodded at Sarah’s request.

Unlike yesterday, Lucy’s steps were light as she made her way to Anise’s grave.

When she came to a stop in front of Marquis Anise’s tombstone, she brushed the rainwater off the white marble with her hand.

“Grandma, were you worried too?”

Lucy asked, squatting down in front of the tombstone, her cheeks on her knees.

She could feel the hem of her skirt soaking through the dirt, but she didn’t mind.

“I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t know Grandma any better than Liel.”

In her haste to get her emotions under control, she misjudged. As Liel had said, if Anise were still alive, Lucy would have been in for a scolding.

“Grandma died…… and I thought I had no one left, but there was Liel.”

Lucy was glad she realized it before it was too late.

“He’s like family to me, but…….”

Lucy felt as indebted to Liel as she was grateful to him.

“Can I still come visit Grandma sometimes?”

Not often, but once in a while, if she was having a hard time, she wanted to come over to have her cheer her up.

In fact, even if she didn’t have to ask permission, the Anise she knew would definitely say yes.

“See you later, Grandma.”

Lucy stood up and waved goodbye. The morning sun shone brightly on Anise’s headstone.