This Delusional Voice Keeps Telling Me I’m a Villain

Main Story Chapter 10 Part 1
I’m Glad You’re Happy (I)

Translated by: chocolala
Proofread by: Rose

A little over a month had passed since then. I was dressed in my visiting clothes and came to visit a certain Count’s house. I had an escort with me and as I knocked on the door, a boy came out.  

“Hi, there.”

“I’ve been waiting for you. Urschel-sama.”

I was greeted by Aiden Forgath… No, he was now known as Aiden Hartless.

We chatted together as we walked along the corridors in the mansion.

“How is it? How is life in the Count’s household?”

“The Count has been very good to me. Although a lot of things are unfamiliar to me, the Count… um, Father dotes on me. I’m also doing well with the training to be his successor… Even if I say that I still have many things to learn.”

“No, no, this is just the beginning. Aiden will be fine… He’s also here too after all.” As I said that, Aiden’s cheeks blushed. 

He looked both a little proud and a little embarrassed about it.

How did Aiden come to be adopted by the Count of Hartless? It all began a little over a month ago, just a day before I met Aiden. 

Father let out a sigh, “Ahh, it’s just as I had expected.” 

“What’s the matter, Father?”

“Urschel, you know how we get all the ingredients for your desserts, don’t you?”

“Yes. You order from Count Hartless, right?”

The Count of Hartless, a friend of Father’s, distinguished himself as one of society’s greatest gourmets. In addition to his duties as a count, he also ran a business specialising in the food trade. So, using the best ingredients he personally found, he enjoyed it by also preparing the food by himself.

Consequently, the ingredients for the sweets served during my tea time were procured through this Count. The Count had an excellent eye for taste, so it was only natural for him to get the best ingredients. In addition to the procurement of ingredients, the Count’s trading company was also entrusted with the transportation of materials from the orchards and farms owned by our duchy and other trading companies; Minusle duchy was pretty dependent on him.

Father let out another sigh, “But you know what? Something terrible has happened… That idiot has collapsed from overwork.” 

“Huh?”

“And he’s got no heir, you know. So there’s no one to take his place, and now the business is shut down. This means I can’t buy or transport the ingredients for Urschel’s sweets anymore…”

“Eh, whatttttttt?!!!”

You gotta be kidding me! That’s impossible!!

“Oh, Urschel. Don’t be so downhearted. Two days is all it takes for the trading company to get back up again. So only a couple of days without desserts. But what should we do… If this happens again and again later, we’d be troubled. Why don’t they just adopt an heir or something?” Father grumbled.  

The Count of Hartless was originally a man who only cared about eating. As a result of prioritizing cooking over his own marriage, he had missed many marriages and still had no heir. So, when the Count fell ill, all of his businesses came to a halt.

What should we do, this was a big problem, a very big problem. Although I was sure my sweet time wouldn’t disappear completely, I was not sure how many times the Count would collapse again… No, I didn’t want to think about it. 

I needed someone who could succeed the Count, and who could help him with his work so that he wouldn’t collapse from exhaustion. That’s when I met Aiden. I figured that this was a heaven-sent chance.  

In any case, the House of Forgath would need to be disposed of in the near future following the tasks we, the Minusles, had been entrusted with. Besides, as a pretty boy, Aiden had a good-looking face—very suitable for a sales job. Just by smiling, he could already secure a contract.

In addition, as the next head of the Viscount family, he had received some training as a successor. He had already learned the basics of what it took to be the heir to a County seat. 

So I proposed to Aidan by asking him whether he would like to be Count Hartless’s adopted son. And he nodded in reply.  

I hurriedly sent my father to persuade the Count to agree to the proposal. The Count was surprised at the sudden news of the adoption, but he understood Aiden’s situation and decided to take him in and make him his successor. 

….I was absolutely sure that he would agree, but I was really happy that he took Aiden’s situation into account. And so Aiden was adopted by the Count’s family 

Aiden looked a lot more cheerful. The air of desperation that had been there when we first met was gone. 

Then a boy came along.

“Sorry, I’m late!”

Dressed as a knight, he straightened up and bowed politely.

Um, he looked well too.

“Hi, Didi… Oops! It’s Dominique! Long time no see.”

When I call him Dominique, he…the boy, who used to be called Didi, smiled happily.

“Dominique, I heard you became an apprentice knight?”

“Yeah… Its… It’s because I want to be someone worthy of Aiden.”

Dominique sneaked a glance at Aiden. Then their eyes met, and they both blushed together.

Whee! So pure and innocent!

After Dominique was released from the Viscount’s household, it was Aiden’s wish that he should go with him to the Count’s house. At first, Dominique was adamant that he could not go along because he had tricked Aiden, but then Aiden said the following to Dominique.  

“If you feel guilty about me, live with me. I have already forgiven you, but if you don’t accept it, you can live with me by my side. That’s my punishment for you. So… Um… I want to be happy with you. It’s true that we come from different backgrounds, but… I need you, Didi. I know I was betrayed and I was sad, but… I am still in love with you even more than that.”    

At Aiden’s words, Didi’s eyes widened in surprise… and with tears streaming down his cheeks, he made a vow, “I’ll be beside Aiden. I’ll live together with Aiden… I’ll be someone who suits Aiden. As long as you allow me, a slave, to love you…” 

Aiden hugged Didi as he said, “Of course, of course, I do. Moreover, you’re no longer a slave…” 

Didi was bewildered upon hearing Aiden saying that he was not a slave, Aiden then whispered to him, “From this moment on, you are… my…” 

The words, which only Didi could hear, made Didi gulp. Eventually, Didi turned red and nodded a small approval.

I, I only intended for Aiden and Didi to reconcile when I let them both meet… But, could it be that I unexpectedly had become a love cupid?