Reforming the Villain Family - Chapter 31

After that day, I tried to minimize going outside my room as much as possible.

“Are you planning to stay in your room today too?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to go out.”

“How strange, you haven’t gone out for a walk these past few days…”

“You’re not feeling ill, are you?”

Sophia placed her hand on my forehead with a worried expression. Not wanting to worry her, I forced a bright smile and said:

“I love playing with Delma and Sophia in my room the most!”

“Oh, my…”

“Young miss…! We love playing with you the most too!”

Moved by my sudden confession, Sophia covered her mouth, while Delma hugged me tightly.

‘Well, it’s not exactly a lie.’

Wrapped in Delma’s embrace, I secretly let out a deep sigh.

The truth was, I couldn’t tell them I was scared to go out because I had accidentally hurt Clemens’s hand when I ran into him in the library last time.

‘They probably don’t know I went to the library anyway.’

Fortunately, it seemed Clemens wasn’t going around talking about what happened that day.

Regardless, I couldn’t help but stay up for several nights worrying about all sorts of things.

‘I’m really scared.’

In the original story, Clemens was known for returning what he received in kind.

It meant that whether it was an accident or not, he would pay back anyone who caused him harm exactly as he received it.

Of course, on the surface, Clemens had said it was fine. However, he was such a skilled deceiver that I couldn’t easily trust those words.

“Didn’t you agree to go to the library together last time? If you go to the library yourself, there will be even more books. You can choose and read them yourself, young miss.”

“If you go, there will be lots of fairy tale books that you like, young miss.”

My heart wavered greatly at Sophia’s words.

‘I even left behind the ‘Legend of the Dragon Part 2′ that I had just found.’

In my dazed state, I had left the book behind.

“If you go see for yourself, I’m sure you’ll like it, young miss.”

Seeing how they kept trying to get me to go outside, it seemed they were worried about me wanting to stay in my room all the time.

‘Would it be okay if we go to the library together?’

Even if I ran into Clemens again, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to me in front of them.

“Are you really not going to go?”

At Sophia’s final suggestion, I pondered with a serious expression.

‘I can’t stay cooped up in my room forever anyway.’

Besides, I was feeling rather stuffy after being in my room for the past few days.

With a determined face, I securely fastened the bag I always carried and stood up.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Sophia and Delma chuckled at my appearance.

* * *

“The library is this way.”

Last time, I had arrived at the library more quickly through the back stairs, but this time Sophia guided me through a different route, so it took a little longer to get there.

“Ta-da, this is the library!”

As we arrived at the library, Delma flung the doors wide open. As I was about to enter without a word, Delma spoke with a puzzled voice.

“You don’t seem very surprised? I was amazed when I first came here.”

“W-wow! So many books! It’s amazing!”

“Right? It’s the first time you’ve seen so many books, isn’t it?”

Delma said with a proud expression.

“I knew you’d like it, young miss! There are lots of fairy tales over here!”

Delma led me to the fairy tale section of the shelves.

I hadn’t noticed when I came alone last time, but there was also a separate space next to it where one could sit and read books.

“If there’s a book you want to read, pick it out, and I’ll read it to you.”

“Then I’ll go get some snacks while Delma reads to you.”

Sophia and Delma efficiently divided the tasks between themselves. After confirming that Sophia had left the library again, I moved towards the bookshelves.

“Then I’ll pick out some books, so does Delma need to stay here?”

“Yes, pick out lots of books you want to read.”

After making sure Delma had settled in her spot, I hid myself behind the bookshelf.

‘Where was that book shelved again?’

It wasn’t hard to find. The book I had dropped last time was still lying on the floor, apparently untouched by anyone.

‘Found it!’

I lowered the bag I had been carrying on my back to the floor. Before I could even open the bag, the silver snake poked its head out first.

Startled, I quickly hid the book behind my back.

[Are the humans all gone?]

“No, I’m going back to Delma, so you can’t come out.”

[Is that so?]

As usual, the silver snake slipped back into the bag without fuss. But soon after, the snake’s head popped out again.

[By the way, it’s strange.]

“What is?”

[Other humans can’t wait to show me off, but…]

“?”

[Why does it seem like you’re trying to hide me?]

“M-me? When?”

[Even now, you’re just keeping me in the bag all the time. I don’t want to run into other humans anyway, but why are you trying to hide me?]

My eyes rolled unconsciously. I decided I should insist that I hadn’t done such a thing.

“I haven’t done anything like that?”

[Really?]

Lowering my gaze slightly, I could see the silver snake glaring at me with its eyes narrowed into thin slits.

“Yeah! I’m just being careful because I thought you didn’t like it.”

[…If that’s the case, well, tell me again later when all the humans are gone.]

Fortunately, the silver snake seemed to accept it without much concern. The snake hid itself back in the bag.

Worried that the snake might come out again, I carefully pulled out the book I had hidden behind my back.

‘Since it’s a divine beast, it can probably read too, right?’

The “Legend of the Dragon Part 2” book explained various methods for sealing divine beasts.

‘It might get angry if it sees this.’

I thought I should read this book without the silver snake knowing.

I gently pushed the book into a separate compartment of the bag, away from where the silver snake was. I felt a bit guilty, but I told myself it was all for the silver snake’s sake.

The reason for seeking a method to seal the divine beast was ultimately for the sake of the male lead and the divine beast. Of course, separately from that, the silver snake would likely be furious, but that was beside the point.

It might try to scold me, saying how dare a mere human attempt such a thing.

‘Who told you to keep following me around?’

Blaming it all on the silver snake, I took out a fairy tale book that caught my eye and went to Delma.

However, I had to stop in my tracks before even reaching Delma.

“Young miss, you’re here?”

Delma approached me with a smile. As she took the fairy tale book I had brought, she followed my frozen gaze.

“Diane, hello.”

The blonde boy greeted me kindly with a gentle smile.

“The young master also came to read books.”

Clemens smiled softly at Delma’s words.

“Yes, you don’t need to mind me.”

Isn’t he sitting too close for someone who says not to mind him?

With mixed feelings, I settled down a bit away from where Clemens was sitting.

“The Chicks’ First Outing, you brought this fairy tale book! This one is really fun, I’ll read it to you enjoyably!”

I tightly gripped Delma’s clothes beside me.

‘It should be fine since Delma is here.’

* * *

…And such thoughts of mine didn’t last very long.

Because Delma left the library entirely, saying, “I wonder why Sophia is taking so long?”

I was startled and tried to grab Delma quickly, but she just said, “I’ll be right back!” and left.

So in the end, even Delma had gone, and I was left alone in the library with Clemens.

In the awkward silence, I tried to keep my eyes fixed on the fairy tale book, then slightly raised my gaze.

‘He’s really concentrating.’

Unlike me, who was constantly watching him nervously, Clemens didn’t seem to care much whether we were alone or not.

Seeing him like that, I was able to relax a little.

‘Delma and Sophia will be back soon anyway.’

That’s when Clemens closed his book with a thud. Then he quickly scanned the surroundings.

‘Is he done reading?’

Just as I was about to feel relieved thinking he might leave soon, Clemens spoke in a clear, deliberate voice.

“Ah, I’ve lost it again!”

“…”

“What should I do?”

I glanced at him briefly. Clemens was looking straight ahead with his chin resting on one hand.

‘He must be talking to himself, right?’

With that thought, I gently placed the fairy tale book on my lap.

As I was about to open the fairy tale book, pretending to look at the pictures, I heard another sigh that seemed to make the ground sink.

“Haa, what should I do?”

“…”

“Losing it again is really a big problem…”

Clemens sighed deeply.

It was annoying to keep hearing him sigh, making it impossible for me to just ignore it.

‘No, no. He’s not saying this for me to hear.’

Although it was somewhat concerning, I thought it would be better to pretend not to notice.

I focused my attention back on the fairy tale book.

And inevitably, another sigh was heard.

“Haaah…”

I pressed my lips tightly together, then gently closed the fairy tale book.

I raised my head again, but Clemens wasn’t looking in my direction.

His posture of staring straight ahead really made it seem like he wasn’t paying any attention to me at all.

I unconsciously bit my lip and furrowed my brow.

‘Could he be saying this for me to hear…?’

I thought about it seriously, but in the end, I concluded that he wasn’t.

‘Delma and Sophia will be back soon anyway…’

“Haaah…”

“…”

“I wonder if there’s anyone who could help…”

“…”

“Come to think of it, the hand that was injured then seems to hurt more now…”

At those words, I could no longer ignore him and abruptly closed the fairy tale book.

“Um, Clemens.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have something on your mind?”

“Why? Do I look troubled?”

In contrast to his worried appearance just moments ago, Clemens’s face now bore his usual gentle smile.

“Oh, never mind…”

Before I could finish speaking, Clemens’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“It is quite a serious concern, actually.”

As I thought. I also became serious in response.

‘Am I meddling unnecessarily?’

But now that I looked closely, Clemens’s hand still had a bandage on it.

Although the bandage was small and not very noticeable.

But if it was a concern caused by his injured hand, it was all my fault. Maybe it would be better to help even a little bit.

I gathered my courage and said to Clemens.

“Tell me. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll help.”

“What if it’s a difficult problem?”

“Still, they say sharing your worries makes them lighter.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from Sophia.”

“I see.”

Despite my words, Clemens shook his head.

“But it’s still a difficult problem for a 4-year-old baby to listen to.”

Baby, huh. I narrowed my eyes.

Although I might look like a small child with stubby arms and legs on the outside, inside I was already at a level where I knew everything there was to know.

‘Because I have memories of my past life.’

“It’s okay, tell me.”

“Will you listen if I tell you?”

It was somehow a meaningful statement. However, already feeling indignant at being called a baby, I quickly nodded.

“Since the baby is so worried, I’ll tell you.”