The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 383: The Times Consumed by Revenge (3)

Work is always unpleasant.

Always profoundly unpleasant.

And the more wealth and resources one has, the less appealing this task called "work" becomes.

"..."

Standing in front of the silent office door, I knocked, my expression stiff.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Phew...”

In my hand was a letter bearing the Imperial seal. The name “Leogarde Shartia” was written on it.

Why did she summon me?

It didn’t seem like she called me just because she was bored.

After all, Shartia, the Empire’s princess, wasn’t someone you could meet easily.

Even though I saw her often, meeting her privately as a princess required a lot of preparation.

"...I hope it’s not something bothersome."

Three minutes passed as I stared blankly at the door. Then, with a creak, the door opened, and a woman who appeared to be a maid peeked out, greeting me warmly.

"Hello. What brings you here?"

"Ah, I’m Ricardo, the butler of the Desmont family. I’ve come in response to a letter from Princess Shartia."

"...Ah, so you’re him."

The maid, who looked to be in her twenties, seemed new to the job, judging by her slightly awkward demeanor. She nodded briefly and said, "Just a moment," before disappearing inside.

...Guildmaster.

Even though it didn’t ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) need to be concealed, I already knew her true identity.

That “maid,” or rather the woman disguised as a maid, was none other than the head of the information guild—one of the most knowledgeable people in the Empire.

While the average person wouldn’t notice, I, as a transmigrator who had read the novel, could easily identify Shartia’s retainers.

Had it not been for Malik, she might have already acquired all my information.

A moment later, the guildmaster, still disguised as a maid, reopened the door with a welcoming smile and introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you. I am Ranea, Princess Shartia’s maid."

"It’s an honor to meet you."

"There’s no need to be so formal."

"Well, I’m a commoner, after all."

The guildmaster smiled in satisfaction and led me slowly into the parlor.

As always, Shartia’s office was overflowing with stacks of paperwork. The sheer volume made it seem possible for someone to be buried under the piles. Sighing, I moved forward.

"It’s still as overwhelming as ever."

"The Princess is always busy."

"I warned her she’d collapse from overwork."

"She doesn’t listen to a word I say. Perhaps her friend could give her a firm scolding."

"Haha... She’s not someone who changes just because I tell her to."

Shartia’s stubbornness left no room for compromise.

She had a compulsion that everything had to go through her hands. Knowing how strict she was within the framework she’d established for herself, I let out a small sigh and continued walking.

"The Princess has spoken about you quite a bit."

"About me?"

"Yes."

"I hope it’s in a positive light."

The guildmaster gave a subtle smile and said,

"She said you’re unpredictable."

"That’s a rather generous assessment."

"Hmm... is it?"

"I thought her evaluation would be much harsher."

"Oh my..."

"After all, I’m notoriously hard to pin down. And if I recall, you don’t seem to like predictable people."

"That’s true... Wait, what?"

Leaving the flustered guildmaster behind, I continued forward until I spotted Shartia sitting behind a desk buried in documents.

Ahem...

As always, the Princess lived amidst mountains of paperwork, looking visibly fatigued.

"...Haa, no matter how much I do, it never ends."

It seemed that my actions in the West had left her with plenty of work. Smiling faintly, I rapped on her desk to get her attention.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"...Huh?"

"It’s been a while, Your Highness."

"..."

Shartia’s expression wasn’t exactly welcoming.

"You still look unwell, Your Highness."

"..." "As I’ve always said..."

"..." "You need to take care of yourself."

"...Ugh. Stop nagging."

"If you keep this up, you might die young. I’d be heartbroken if you passed away prematurely."

"...Haa."

As her complex emotions flickered across her face, Shartia let out a long sigh and finally addressed me.

"When did you arrive?"

"Just now. Your capable maid guided me here..."

"Maid...?"

Shartia glanced at the guildmaster, who gave her a playful wink, and let out a deeper sigh.

"Take a seat."

"Thank you."

"...Phew."

Looking around the office, I turned to Shartia and commented,

"You still have so much paperwork."

"There’s a lot to do."

"You could delegate some of it."

"These documents contain sensitive information that can’t leave this office."

"Then I suppose there’s no choice."

As Shartia poured tea, she said,

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

Meeting her sharp gaze, I responded with an awkward smile and lifted my teacup.

"I hope it’s about money."

A sense of calm settled over her.

- He has arrived, Your Highness.

- Has he?

- Yes, shall I let him in?

Just hearing that Ricardo had arrived seemed to soothe the restlessness in her heart.

Though he was someone who constantly brought trouble, and the chaos he’d caused in the West had left her with a splitting headache, the news of his arrival brought an inexplicable sense of peace.

- Yes, let him in.

It felt as though the turmoil in her heart, brought on by the blue screen, was dissipating just because of his visit. It was like returning home.

- It’s still a lot.

She was already aware.

She knew Ricardo had entered her office.

She wasn’t sure how to react, so she remained silent. But Shartia was well aware that Ricardo had sighed at the sight of the overwhelming stack of documents.

Strange.

The mere presence of that man seemed to bring a sense of calm to her otherwise troubled heart. It was strange, indeed.

And when Ricardo knocked on the desk and greeted her—

- It’s been a while, Your Highness.

The storm in her heart had completely subsided.

Ricardo, who always seemed to bring trouble, offered her a small smile as he greeted her.

- You still don’t look well, Your Highness.

To have him comment on her complexion right after arriving...

Idiot.

His reaction was so different from everyone else’s that it caught her off guard. Most people would have immediately dived into the main topic.

- As I’ve always said, Your Highness, you must take care of yourself. If you keep this up, you might die young. And I’d be heartbroken if you passed away prematurely.

What a strange man.

Even now, he was nagging her.

Watching Ricardo silently gaze at her, Shartia’s lips twitched.

She wondered what she should say.

There was only one reason she had summoned Ricardo.

To confirm the "sword" mentioned by the blue screen. She thought that, in order to cure the strange malady in her heart, she had no choice but to play along.

She had hoped that seeing him might change things.

Perhaps, by seeing him, the blue screen would chime again.

Though selfish in her reasoning, she had called him. But now, as she sat in silence, she found herself at a loss for words.

A few questions might be all it would take to determine if Ricardo was the "sword" mentioned by the blue screen.

- Take better care of yourself.

Yet, as Ricardo spoke words of concern, her mind kept focusing on his voice, making her forget what she wanted to say.

- I’m genuinely worried you might collapse.

"..."

Why was he so concerned?

During the Olivia incident, he had been unable to help at all. His words of concern, offered so freely, were baffling to her.

"..."

Even as her silence continued, Ricardo kept talking.

- I assume you summoned me because of the incident in the West...

"..."

- Since I gave the Crown Prince a good blow, it wouldn’t hurt to take a day off.

Shartia listened to his words without a response.

Why is this happening?

Normally, seeing him wouldn’t stir any particular thoughts.

- Just take a day off.

But now, every word he spoke felt strangely warm.

She wanted to say something.

Not personal matters, but official ones. Something constructive, useful to her, something that justified summoning him.

But instead—

- You can leave now.

"...Excuse me?"

- We’re done here. You may go.

- But didn’t you say you had something you wanted to discuss?

What came out of her mouth was entirely unexpected.

- I just wanted to see you.

For a moment, it felt like her blood had stopped flowing.

Ricardo let out a faint laugh and replied,

- I suppose I am quite handsome.

That brazen man.

She acted on impulse.

If Ricardo really was the "sword" mentioned by the blue screen, she thought she might find the answer in his response to her next question.

- May I ask you one thing?

Ricardo nodded, waiting for her to speak. He smiled faintly and replied,

- Of course.

Shartia asked to confirm her suspicion.

- If I were to ask you to become my sword...

"...Excuse me?"

- If I asked you to be on my side, would you become my sword?

He refused.

- So, he turned you down, huh.

The guildmaster, wearing a teasing smile, commented to Shartia. She had never thought the request to serve as her retainer could be described as “being rejected.”

Feeling irritated, Shartia focused on the documents in front of her and replied,

- That’s not what happened.

But she had come to a clear realization.

**- I’m sorry.

That idiot wasn’t the "sword" mentioned by the blue screen.

Relieved, Shartia let out a soft sigh and thought for a moment that perhaps the sword was Mikhail.

As she slowly left the office and walked down the hallway, she stopped in her tracks and let out a bitter laugh.

- What sword could I possibly have...

She already knew.

In this Empire, there was no one truly on her side.

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