The Villain Wants to Live a Quiet Life

A young lady of a count’s family visited the Aiphretz mansion without any prior notice.

The servants must have been in a panic. The biggest problem is that they weren’t the only ones panicking.

Guided by Hans, I walked through the long carpeted hallway towards the reception room.

Whilst calm on the outside, my mind was in utter chaos.

‘No. No matter how skilled Emilia is, she couldn’t have reached the level of a sword master yet. There’s no need to be scared in advance.’

Her reaching the level of a sword master is a story from at least 4 years in the future.

Moreover, we have no connection, so there’s no reason for her to harbor any hostility towards me.

I just need to ask why she came here and talk to her as calmly as possible, as with any other guest.

I should keep things smooth, without giving her reason to either like or resent me.

After all, it would be impossible for someone with my level of eloquence to gain the favor of the one called the Ice Sky Flower in the story, known for her extreme coldness.

“I’ll be back, old man.”

“Ho ho, you sound as if you’re going off to battle, young master.”

The old man doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that I’m about to open this door feeling like I’m truly going into battle.

Although I can’t say it out loud… Old man, just in case, let me say goodbye in advance. Take care.

– Creak.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I heard that the young lady of the Bayemühren family has come to see me.”

I greeted her according to the etiquette I had learned to the point of nausea. Not too much, but without being frivolous.

The girl, who seemed not to have heard the door opening, turned her head just then.

The first thing that caught my eye was her pale blue eyes as if milk had been poured into them.

Her platinum blonde hair reached her waist, and the way she had braided part of it and pushed it back like a headband added to her elegant appearance.

Although she was wearing a dress, it was neat and clean rather than flashy, and I found it strange that I found it suited her.

It was a dress that would suit a female swordsman so well that I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a sword hanging at her waist.

Before me is Emilia Bayemühren, the main heroine of “Swear by the Moonflower” and potentially the one who might take my life someday.

Although she still looks young due to her age, her beauty that earned her the name Ice Sky Flower was undeniable.

She’s like a flower bud just before blooming.

Yet ironically, she possessed a beauty incomparable to all the women I’ve seen since coming to this world.

“I’m sorry for visiting without notice, Young Master Aiphretz. I’m grateful that you’ve agreed to meet me so suddenly.”

16, no, she must have had her birthday already, so 17?

Anyway, her graceful demeanor and gestures were hard to believe for someone so young. Even though her tone was kind, there was a coldness to it.

Indeed, she lives up to her name as the Ice Sky Flower. Just looking into her eyes makes me feel like I’m freezing.

As I approached the table after greeting her, Emilia curtsied again, holding the ends of her dress. I bowed my head in return.

“Please don’t worry about it. More importantly, may I ask why the young lady wished to see me…?”

I’ve never made a name for myself in academics or martial arts. Although I learned the basics as per my family’s teachings, I didn’t make much progress.

On the other hand, Emilia showed talent in swordsmanship around the age of ten.

Moreover, by the age of 17, she would be unmatched by anyone her age.

There’s not much in common between her and me except for our age group and both being from count families.

So I guessed she probably came on behalf of her family or had a specific request. Of course, I couldn’t think of anything specific.

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

What could she be hesitating to say? Anxiety turned into cold sweat, running down my back.

By the way, she looks like a flower sitting there.

Maybe it’s because I was interested in flowers back in my world due to my family running a flower shop that I see her that way.

Contrary to my tense state of mind, her cherry-like lips opened, and what came out was completely different from what I expected.

“I heard rumors that the Young Master Aiphretz knows a lot about flowers. As I’m also interested in flowers, I came to have a conversation about them.”

“Flowers… you say?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, flowers? Of course, I do know a lot about flowers, but I didn’t know it was rumored to that extent.

Moreover, was there ever a setting where Emilia was interested in flowers?

I only remember a scene where she learned about flowers and practiced flower arrangement as part of her bride’s training and mental discipline because she didn’t know much about them.

Well, come to think of it, there was no mention in the original story of Emilia meeting Ludwig at such a young age, either.

Their first meeting was when she was introduced to Ludwig through Georg when she was 20.

“I do have some knowledge about flowers… but I didn’t know it was rumored to that extent.”

“Is that so? I only heard it by chance, so I’m not sure of the details.”

Well, not all rumors spread throughout the whole world.

There’s a possibility that some story about me spread within the Bayemühren family through some chance encounter.

I guess I reacted too sensitively.

Flowers, huh? I don’t mind talking about them, but I’m still uneasy about whether the conversation will go smoothly.

But then again, if word spreads that I turned away the young lady of the Bayemühren family who came to visit, I can’t imagine what kind of rumors would circulate at the social gathering three weeks from now…

I’m truly caught between a rock and a hard place. Of course, I only have one choice.

“I understand. If you’d like, I can show you the flowers in our family’s garden.”

“Thank you, Young Master Aiphretz. I caught a glimpse on my way here, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Was Emilia’s personality always like this? In the original story, she was so cold that even the protagonist could barely speak to her when they first met.

Could it be that her personality was a bit different when she was younger?

“Hans, are you outside?”

I called for Hans, who would be just outside the door, and he immediately entered the reception room as the door opened.

“The young lady wants to see the garden. I’ll guide her myself, so dismiss the servants. Just have refreshments prepared at the garden table.”

“Understood, young master.”

It’s not for me to say, but the main house’s garden is being tended under my direction.

It was me who changed its once dull appearance, tidying up the place and adding the seasonal touches.

Other than that, I’m just a half-baked young master without any notable achievements… But what can I do? My goal is simply to live peacefully and avoid the dead end as much as possible.

“Shall we go, Lady Bayemühren?”

“Thank you.”

I escorted her out of the reception room, walking beside her.

According to proper etiquette, I should have offered her my hand and guided her if she took it.

But since I haven’t even had my coming-of-age ceremony yet, it seemed like an old-fashioned custom that might make her uncomfortable, so I didn’t.

Of course, it was also partly because I was nervous.

Just as I was about to deliberately create some distance, feeling uncomfortable under her silent gaze…

– Hug.

Emilia suddenly hugged my left arm. And with such growth at this age?

As I stiffened my body and carefully turned my head, she just smiled without saying anything.

“Um… are you not uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine. Should I move away a bit if you’re uncomfortable, young master?”

“Ah, no. This much is…”

What’s wrong with her?

I could understand her being gentle, but this wasn’t something Emilia would typically do. It’s as if she’s a completely different person.

But contrary to her kind attitude, the look in her eyes as she gazed at me was strangely cold.

Those eyes seemed to be trying to peel away my facade. I felt like a frog in front of a snake.

We arrived at the garden, with my back sweating profusely, though she didn’t notice. The flowers blooming in the spring weather greeted us.

Emilia smiled and approached the colorful flowers in full bloom, seemingly pleased by the sight.

All the while still holding onto my arm.

“It’s really beautiful. I heard that most of this garden was arranged by you, young master.”

“The rumors are exaggerated. I’m still lacking, so I learn a lot from our professional gardener.”

“Is… that so?”

The strange pause in her speech bothers me. Her tone was as if she hadn’t expected me to say such a thing.

“Since when have you been interested in flowers, young master?”

“There wasn’t any special occasion. I just became interested at some point… It’s an unusual hobby for a man, isn’t it?”

As I joked that I was trying to learn this because I wasn’t born with any particular talents, Emilia nodded calmly while continually observing me.

With a serious look in her eyes, as if waiting for something.

What on earth is this young lady doing to me?

translator’s corner

;w; yesh