I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain

Yohan was called into the dining room looking disheveled. His face was pale because he had a fever the night before.

 

His clothes hadn’t even been washed today, so he was wearing clothes that were soaked with sweat from the night before.

 

The clothes themselves were luxurious uniforms worn by nobles, but because of the condition, they were not very presentable.

 

“Oh, Yohan. You don’t look so well today.”

 

Ella looked at Yohan’s pale face and gave him a concerned look, waving her fan gently.

 

Well,….. he’s been getting sicker and sicker lately.”

 

Sitting in front of Yohan, the Duchess of Medest and Meriel Medes both looked perplexed.

 

It was a rumor that spread throughout the continent that the eldest son of the Duke of Hyrad was a very sick man.

 

But they hadn’t expected him to look that bad.

 

“I apologize to our guests, but if Yohan is too tired, may I ask him to go and rest, even if it is in the middle of a meal?

 

Ella asked the Duchess of Medes as if she was sincerely concerned for Yohan, and Duchess Medes nodded vigorously in agreement.

 

“Yes. I am also physically weak, so I know very well how tiring this kind of public setting can be.”

 

The Duchess of Medes smiled gently and spoke softly to Yohan.

 

“You can go back to your room whenever you want to rest. Never mind us.”

 

“Thank you…”

 

Yohan bowed gracefully, despite his pale face, and sat down.

 

His heavy breathing echoed loudly in the momentarily silent dining room.

 

Ella smiled with satisfaction as she looked at Duchess Medes and her daughter, who were exchanging awkward glances.

 

Ella deliberately told Tezen to come a little late.

 

In that situation, it was clear that if Tezen appeared, he would look much better compared to Yohan.

 

‘But those eyes are creepy, really.’

 

Ella frowned at John’s cold expression.

 

It was only natural that she did not like the presence of Yohan, who was not her biological child, but Duke Hyrad’s eldest son from his previous wife. 

 

But aside from that primal reason, there was something about Yohan that made Ella feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

 

Because something very dark seemed to be gleaming within those eerie purple eyes.

 

It was as if there was something inside him that could never be broken, even if he were locked in a tower.

 

‘He was five years old when he manifested as a wizard.’

 

Ella’s mind went blank when five-year-old Yohan cast his first imperfect magic.

 

She couldn’t let him become the duke’s successor, so she quickly decided to hide his talent.

 

Duke Hyrad still did not know that Yohan was a wizard. He had gone to war when Yohan was two years old before Tezen was even born.

 

In the letter, Ella only said briefly that Yohan was a little sick, but that the children were doing well.

 

He even had his servant forge a letter and enclose it in a way that made it look like it was from Yohan.

 

Anyway, Duke Hyrad didn’t know Yohan’s handwriting.

 

‘Tezen still doesn’t have much magical power…’

 

Fortunately, only Ella and the doctor knew that Yohan was a great wizard.

 

The doctor, who was already in an inappropriate relationship with Ella, turned John’s magic-induced pain into a chronic disease on her orders.

 

“Being a great wizard is actually a poison in this case. Having such great magical power If you leave it alone, your body will gradually weaken because you won’t be able to calm down when it’s crucial. If you leave it for a long time, all of your organs will be damaged and you will eventually be unable to use magic properly.”

 

Fortunately, the doctor said that if left untreated, it would get worse on its own.

 

That was a very easy task for Ella.

 

‘If only there weren’t a damn law that said one man from each family had to go to war I would have killed him without anyone knowing.’

 

But she never knew when the Duke of Hyrad would die on the battlefield.

 

Death was not something that could be avoided even by high-ranking nobles or great wizards.

 

In fact, Duke Medes was also a skilled warrior, but he disappeared without a trace several years ago on the battlefield.

 

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?”

 

Mariel, who couldn’t stand seeing Yohan shivering and struggling to swallow even water, spoke carefully.

 

“If you’re having a hard time, you can go back now, we’re really okay with it.”

 

As expected of Duke Medes’s daughter, who is called the flower of the empire, Mariel was beautiful beyond her sixteen years.

 

With her wavy blonde hair and lovely pink eyes, she looked just like the Duchess of Medes.

 

With her pure white skin, harmonious facial features, and kind and gentle impression, she has already become a socialite in the empire.

 

It was enough to make a stir.

 

‘Isn’t it embarrassing to be a man with an appearance like that?’

 

Ella glanced at John, but he didn’t even glance at Meriel.

 

It was as if he was unimpressed with her, no matter how pretty and nice she was.

 

He slowly put down his glass of water, perhaps glad to hear the words telling him to go back.

 

“Well, I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling well, so I’ll have to leave now—-”

 

The door opened and Tezen came in, looking very stylish. Ella’s eyes instantly lit up with joy.

 

“Sorry, I’m late.”

 

It was a lively gait and a spirited voice that contrasted with Yohan’s.

 

In his arms, he held a squirrel with a pink ribbon.

 

“I have a bit of a headache because of the magic. I was a bit late because I had to get some soothing treatment from the divine beast.”

 

That line was something that Tezen and Ella had agreed on in advance. Of course, being a little late was all planned.

 

Even if ordinary people had some magical power, it wasn’t enough to require a divine beast.

 

So naturally, the conversation will turn to Tezen and the cute squirrel, and it would be subtly implied that Tezen is much better than John.

 

Ella naturally planned to secretly poison Yohan after the war was over.

 

At that time, to prevent rumors from spreading that ‘she killed him because he was afraid that Yohan would take the succession position’, she continued to promote Tezen as a great wizard.

 

Since everyone knows that the magic used by young wizards is unstable, no one will ask Tezen to use magic.

 

He did not even touch John’s body, lest anyone say, ‘Indeed, Madam has tortured him,’ when the Duke of Hyrad returned.

 

Tezen was two years younger than John, so she could excuse his misbehavior as ‘the mischief of his age.’

 

‘Actually, it would be nice if he came back dead after the war…’

 

But the future was unknown, and Ella had to move as cautiously as possible.

 

Therefore, it is a good idea to show off Tezen’s superiority at a dinner with a noble family like the Duke of Medes.

 

‘I impulsively planned this to appease Tezen, who was upset because he couldn’t bother Yohan yesterday.

But the more I think about it, the more I think it was a pretty good decision.’

 

“Oh, my God.”

 

Indeed, Meriel’s gaze, which had been looking at John with concern, immediately shifted to the squirrel.

 

The squirrel was wearing a big pink ribbon and blinking its eyes cutely.

 

“This is my first time seeing a divine beast! Aren’t there only a few of them in the Empire? I heard they’re really hard to find.”

 

Mariel elegantly turned the phrase ‘it’s so expensive’ into ‘it’s so hard to get’ and she looked genuinely impressed.

 

The Duchess of Medest looked at the squirrel in wonder, then added a word.

 

“Magical power that requires a divine beast…Young master Tezen does resemble Duke Hyrad. Duke Hyrad always thinking about purchasing a new divine beast.”

 

The Duke of Hyrad was not so strong that he needed a divine beast, but he still had the probability because he was a pretty strong wizard.

 

Unable to take her eyes off the squirrel, Mariel said.

 

“How do you get your calm? I’ve heard it’s by touch. Oh my god, if I’d known I was going to see the Divine beast today, I should have studied.”

 

Tezen gently stroked the ribbon-tied squirrel’s head and replied.

 

“I guess it’s different for each one, isn’t it? My squirrel put its hand on my forehead. Then, after a while, I really feel better as the pain subsides.”

 

At that moment, with a loud crash, the glass of water in front of Yohan shattered.

 

Suddenly, everyone in the room realized that Yohan, who had said goodbye to them to headed back to the tower, was still sitting there.

 

“Yohan, you have to be careful.”

 

Now that all her goals had been achieved, Ella gave the order in a seemingly solemn voice.

 

“I guess it won’t work out. You’re not in a condition to receive guests, so it would be best to go back. Thankfully our guests have been very understanding

 

In fact, it was not Yohan who broke the glass himself.

 

As emotions began to run wild, the magical power that could not be helped burst out indiscriminately.

 

Because the magic of wizards was extremely unstable anyway.

 

As the maid ran over to clean up the broken glass from afar, Yohan spoke with a clear expression.

 

“No.”

 

His purple eyes were focused on the squirrel in Tezen’s arms.

 

And his voice, which had sagged earlier, was as clear as ever.

 

“I changed my mind. I will continue to eat here.”

 * * *