The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 383-384

Work is always unpleasant.

It's always extremely unpleasant.

If I had enough money and capital, the task of work would be even more unpleasant.

"..."

In front of the silent office door.

I made an awkward expression and knocked on the office door.

"Hoo..."

I had a letter in my hand, sealed with the imperial seal. It was a letter with the name 'Leogard Chaltia' written on it.

'Why did they call me?'

It didn't seem like they called me because they were bored.

It was someone you couldn't easily meet. Chaltia, the imperial princess of the empire.

Even if I saw her often, it would take a lot of preparation to have a private audience with the princess.

"...I hope it's not something troublesome."

After about three minutes, the door I was staring at opened with a creak, and a woman who appeared to be a maid peeked out and greeted me warmly.

"Hello. What brings you here?"

"Ah, I am Ricardo, the butler of the Desmont family, and I came after receiving a letter from Princess Chaltia."

"...Ah. So it's you."

The maid who came to greet me was a young woman in her twenties. With a naive expression, the maid, who seemed to have become a maid not long ago, bowed her head and then went inside, saying, "Just a moment."

'...Guild Master.'

I knew her identity without having to hide it.

A moment ago, the maid, or rather, the woman disguised as a maid, was the person who knew the most information in the empire.

Most people wouldn't notice, but I was an incarnate who had read the novel, so I could easily recognize Chaltia's retainers.

The head of the information guild, who might have had my information earlier if it weren't for Malik, opened the door again and greeted me with a welcoming smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rania, Princess Chaltia's maid."

"It's an honor to meet you."

"You don't have to be so formal."

"I'm just a commoner."

The head of the information guild looked satisfied and slowly led me into the reception room.

Chaltia's office was, as always, filled with countless documents scattered around. I moved my feet with a sigh, as if someone might be crushed to death by the mountains of documents.

"Still a lot, I see."

"The princess is always busy."

"I told her that if she works like that, she'll collapse."

"Because she doesn't listen even with her nose... If you're a friend, tell her strongly."

"Haha... She's not the type to change even if I say something."

Chaltia's convictions are stubborn, so it can't be helped.

Chaltia is the type of person who has a kind of compulsion that things must go through her hands. Knowing the strict princess within the framework she has established, I let out a faint sigh and walked slowly.

"I've heard a lot of stories about you from the princess."

"About me?"

"Yes."

"I hope it's something good."

The guild master said with a faint smile.

"The princess said you're unpredictable."

"That's not a harsh assessment."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

"I thought you'd give me a harsher assessment."

"Oh my..."

"I'm so unpredictable. I know you don't like people who are predictable, either."

"That's right... Yes?!"

"Unique information is more valuable."

Leaving the flustered guild master behind, I slowly moved forward and looked at the princess sitting at her desk piled high with documents.

"Khm..."

The princess, who was always living among the piles of documents, looked tired.

"...Haa, there's no end to it."

Apparently, she has a lot of work to do because of what I did in the west. I tapped the desk with a small smile towards Chaltia, who didn't notice me.

"Huh...?"

"It's been a while, Princess."

"..."

Chaltia's expression wasn't good.

"You still don't look well."

"..."

"Didn't I always say that?"

"..."

"That the princess always has to take care of herself."

"...Ugh. Nag."

"You could die early like that. It would break my heart if you die young."

"...Haa."

While I was hesitating at her expression, which seemed to contain many emotions, Chaltia sighed and spoke to me.

"When did you get here?"

"I just arrived. Thanks to the capable maid..."

"Maid...?"

Chaltia sighed deeply after seeing the guild master winking.

"Sit down for now."

"Thank you."

"...Hoo."

Looking around the office, I said to Chaltia.

"Still a lot of documents, I see."

"Because I have a lot of work."

"I think you can use people."

"Because they're documents that contain information that shouldn't be leaked to the outside."

"Then there's nothing I can do."

Chaltia said, bringing tea.

"I called you because I have something to say."

I looked at her glaring eyes and held up my teacup with an awkward smile.

"I hope it's about money."

My mind is at ease.

The moment I heard the word that Ricardo had come, it felt as if the troubled feelings within me settled down calmly.

That guy always brings trouble. Especially the headache caused by what that guy did in the west, yet the news that Ricardo had arrived made my heart feel strangely at peace.

It felt as if the sickness in my heart, caused by the blue window, was subsiding just by his visit. As if I had come home.

I knew everything.

That Ricardo entered the office.

I was only silent because I didn't know how to deal with it, but Chaltia also knew that Ricardo was sighing at the piles of documents.

'Strange.'

It felt as if the troubled feelings had stabilized simply by his approach. Strangely enough.

And when Ricardo knocked on the desk and greeted me.

The troubled feelings subsided calmly.

Ricardo, who always brings trouble, greeted me with a small smile.

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The first thing he says after coming after a long time is about my complexion.

'Idiot.'

I was quite surprised by Ricardo's words, which showed a different reaction from others. Normally, people would immediately move on to the main topic.

He's a strange guy.

Ricardo, who just nags right away.

Chaltia blinked, looking at Ricardo, who was standing in front of her without saying a word.

She wondered what she should say.

"..."

There was only one reason why she called Ricardo.

To confirm the existence of the 'sword' that the blue window had mentioned. She thought she had no choice but to go along with the situation to cure her suddenly acquired heart disease.

She wanted to see if it would change.

She was even selfish enough to bring him in, hoping that the blue window would 'ding' again if she saw Ricardo, but she was silent because she couldn't think of what to say.

She felt like she could know if she asked a few questions. She felt like she could know if Ricardo was the 'sword' that the blue window was talking about.

"Take care of yourself more."

Forgetting what she wanted to say, she kept focusing on Ricardo's words of concern.

"I'm really worried you might collapse."

"..."

Why is he worried?

Chaltia couldn't quite understand Ricardo's actions, who only spoke empty words without any compensation, because he couldn't help during the Olivia incident.

"..."

Ricardo kept talking, even in the continued silence.

"I think you called me because of what happened in the west..."

"..."

"Since you gave the Crown Prince a good hit, it's okay to rest for about a day." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Chaltia listened to his words without saying anything.

'Why is this?'

Normally, she doesn't have any thoughts about him.

"Rest for about a day."

She doesn't know why, but his every word feels warm since she's been concerned.

Chaltia was about to speak.

Not personal stories, but public stories. She intended to satisfy the reason she had called Ricardo by engaging in constructive conversation and gaining information to her advantage.

But.

"You can go now."

"Yes...?"

"Because I'm done. You can go."

"Yes? Didn't you say you had something to say?"

Words that she hadn't thought of came out of her mouth.

"I just wanted to see you."

It felt like her blood stopped for a moment.

Ricardo said with a wry smile.

"I'm pretty handsome."

'That shameless guy.'

A sudden thought came to mind.

If Ricardo was the 'sword' that the blue window had mentioned, she knew what answer he would give to the question she asked.

"Can I ask you something?"

Ricardo nodded and waited for the words to come out of Chaltia's mouth, and then, with a small smile, replied.

"Of course."

Chaltia said to confirm.

"If I ask you to be my sword..."

"...Yes?"

"If I ask you to be on my side, can you be my sword?"

She was rejected.

"...You were rejected."

The guild master said to Chaltia with a mocking expression. She was rejected. She said she was rejected from the request to become her retainer.

Annoyed, Chaltia replied, looking at the documents.

"No."

She realized something for sure.

That fool isn't the sword that the blue window talks about.

Chaltia sighed in relief and thought. If that sword is Michael.

Walking slowly out of the office, Chaltia stopped.

Then she let out a hollow laugh.

"What kind of sword would I have..."

She knew that she didn't have anyone on her side in this empire.

Inside Shartia's office, filled with silence.

"Of course..."

Shartia let out a hollow laugh, watching the spot where Ricardo had left.

"Right..."

It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed.

Deep down, she had hoped Ricardo would be on her side. He was the most coveted person in this empire, so his firm refusal felt a little disappointing.

More competent than anyone.

Having someone who worried about her more than anyone by her side felt like it would give her strength she didn't have, so honestly, it was inevitable that she felt disappointed by Ricardo's refusal.

In a way, Ricardo's refusal was only natural.

To Ricardo, who had been away from the academy until now, she had only been a burden, never a source of strength. Perhaps the request she made to Ricardo today was nothing more than a childish tantrum.

"..."

That was how she had lived her life until now.

She hadn't lived a life helpful to others. Just when she thought no one would willingly offer a hand to someone like her, who had only looked out for her own survival and failed to be of help...

-Knock. Knock.

The sound of someone's knock broke the silence.

"Oh...? Has he returned?"

The Guild Master, teasing Shartia, looked towards the door where Ricardo had left with a small smile.

"It doesn't seem like he left anything behind, that's strange. Ah, is it because he left you, Your Highness?"

"Don't tease me."

"...Hahaha!"

Shartia watched the Guild Master leave to open the door and said again not to tease her.

It was nothing, yet seeing the Guild Master walk as if skipping, more excited than she was, only made her sigh more.

"Besides him, no one else is scheduled to visit the office today, so I'll let him in right away."

"Haa..."

"But..."

-Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Did he knock like that?"

As the emotional knocking echoed once more, a chilly silence fell inside the office. Ricardo, whenever he had visited the office before, had only ever knocked once.

"No...?"

Knowing Ricardo, who, despite his unusual behavior, was more patient than anyone, Shartia spoke with a trembling gaze.

"Something's wrong."

"..."

"Ricardo waits until someone comes out. Besides, he just saw us in the office... so he would have waited."

As an ominous feeling washed over them, the Guild Master quickly began to move.

"It must be an uninvited guest."

As their cold gazes were fixed on the door, a familiar—no, an unpleasant—man's voice began to be heard from the other side.

"Shartia."

"..."

"I know you're in there, so don't make me wait. Come out."

Hearing the man's voice, Shartia's eyes began to tremble coldly. It was difficult for her to bear hearing the voice of the villain who had created such an unforgettable moment for her.

"...!"

The Guild Master, recognizing his voice, moved quickly.

"We need to hide the documents."

"..."

"Your Highness?"

"Ah... yes, we must move quickly."

The documents on the desk would be trouble if seen by others.

The moment the Guild Master's cold gaze met Shartia's, she began to hide the documents on her desk without hesitation.

She opened a locked drawer, put them inside, and placed academy-related papers on top of the important ones, starting the work of diverting attention.

-How long do you intend to make me wait.

As the man's voice, laced with irritation, rang out again, the Guild Master's expression changed as if she had never smiled, and she began to walk towards the door.

"I'll buy some time."

"...Please do."

With the sound of the door opening, the same lines she had said to Ricardo could be heard. But unlike the tone from a moment ago, it was a stiff voice.

-Hello. I am the handmaiden of Her Highness, Princess Leogard Shartia...

And the sound that returned was the man's sarcastic rebuke of the Guild Master.

-Is it acceptable to keep royalty waiting like this?

-...My apologies. If you could tell me the reason for your visit, I will relay it to Her Highness...

-Ha... You're telling me to wait? Who is ordering whom right now?

-I'm sor...

-Do you want to die?

The man's voice was impossibly arrogant. It exuded a coercive feeling, as if he knew his own power better than anyone.

"Haa... haa... I have to hide it quickly."

Bad memories came to mind.

-I made it possible for a wench with no family name to bear the name 'Leogard', shouldn't you know your place and crawl?

-I'm sorry... brother.

-Brother? Did you just call me brother?

-...N-No, that's not what I meant.

-Hah... this won't do. I'll have to tell Mother. That's the only way an uneducated girl will learn her place.

-...Anything but that, please...!

It was making her remember the pain she had been hiding.

A small tremor began in Shartia's hands as she hid the documents.

'Why.'

Why did he come?

He's someone who has no interest in me.

He's someone who hasn't shown the slightest interest in her since she became an adult, so why. Just as her head began to ache from the unanswerable question of what whim brought him here, the sound of the door closing roughly was heard.

-Open it.

-I cannot let you in without Her Highness's permission.

-I know she's in there. Tell her to come out right now.

-...Please wait just a moment!

The Guild Master looked at Shartia with a troubled expression.

"Your Highness."

"..."

"The 2nd Prince has come to see you."

"I know."

"He is demanding the door be opened right now. Should I open it?"

The rhetorical question 'What should I do?' was not asked. The Guild Master, who knew the 2nd Prince's personality better than anyone, was not even considering the possibility of refusal.

Just by piecing together the rumors, one could deduce the 2nd Prince's character.

Vicious.

Cruel.

His personality of crushing those he dislikes with power.

Having received intelligence on the 2nd Prince's actions, who knew better than anyone how to use the advantage of his powerful mother's backing and his royal authority, the Guild Master also thought that the only thing she could do now was to hide anything he could find fault with.

Because the 2nd Prince was a ruffian who wouldn't hesitate to kill if his mood was soured.

The Guild Master, standing by the door, looked at Shartia and spoke with a serious expression.

"You just need to remain calm."

"..."

"Just think of it as stepping in shit and respond calmly."

-BANG!

-Open up.

-BANG! BANG!!

-This is an order as royalty, I said open up right now.

Shartia clenched her fists and nodded.

"It's something I have to face eventually anyway."

She steeled her resolve and prepared herself.

"...Hmm."

Leaving Shartia's office, I muttered to myself with a pleasant smile.

"Being too handsome is also a problem."

To think she called me because she wanted to see me.

My mood lifted by my good looks that work on anyone regardless of status, I was walking down the academy stairs with a light step.

"...If I put on makeup, I feel like I could even conquer the world."

Anyway, asking me to be her sword...

Having heard such an unexpected question, I couldn't quite calm my surprised heart. I never thought I'd be asked to become her vassal.

"...Haa."

I'm such a great person that I knew I'd be scouted someday, I just didn't know it would be today.

"...The life of a popular person is tough."

Still.

Being complimented by a beautiful woman felt good. It meant my value had increased that much, so I felt a certain pride.

The prim and proper Shartia would probably only ask me to be on her side.

I couldn't accept because the Guild Master was there, but I thought I could help. I didn't know specifically what she wanted me to do, but I was willing to help in any way I could.

"..."

There's such a thing as loyalty. Besides, she was a beauty.

Getting on the good side of someone who will become the emperor, not just a princess, wasn't a bad thing either, so I thought it wouldn't be bad to start building up favorability points now.

At this point in time, Shartia was originally supposed to be going through a hard time.

Pushed back by the Crown Prince's pressure.

She had to fight against a sudden betrothal and the forces threatening her mother.

Furthermore.

-...I can't do it!!!

In the Academy's missing person incident, she had been defeated by Elisia, the Apostle of Gentleness, and was in a poor mental state, making her quite unstable.

Of course, she overcame it with the help of Yuria and the supporting characters and became stronger, but in the novel, Shartia was destined to have a rough time.

The most difficult of those hardships was.

-Bump.

"Huh?"

What the.

I sighed as I looked at the platinum-blond man who had bumped my shoulder and walked past.

'He didn't even apologize.'

The man's action of not apologizing and spitting out a curse was arrogant.

"Watch where you're going."

"..."

"I'm busy today, so I'll let it slide just this once."

Normally, I would have separated his shoulder from his body to personally remind him of the importance of shoulders, but I held back because I didn't want to see blood inside the academy.

"...Tsk."

'Should I kill him?'

No.

I had to think of Shartia, who would have to deal with the aftermath. She was already busy, and if an unsolved murder case occurred at the academy, she would surely grab the back of her neck and collapse.

"Maybe I'll go to the washroom."

Thinking I had stepped in shit, I let out a small sigh, went into the washroom, and washed my face. Suddenly, picturing Shartia still buried in documents, I felt like I wanted to help her.

"Should I ask her to go for a drink?"

Because she's the type who can't rest unless she's forced to.

Thinking that today was the day I would see a drunk Shartia, I headed to her office with a happy smile.

-...Please stop.

I looked at the chaotic scene inside the office and my expression turned cold.

"Ah..."

I was pissed.