The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 385-386

Fear approaches.

The storm brought by an ill-fated relationship was brewing fearsomely in Chaltia's heart.

"..."

Her brother, who had arrived unannounced, spat ridiculous words at her.

"Chaltia. Punish that insolent maid yourself."

"...Yes."

"If you don't punish her properly, I'll do it myself. You know what that means, don't you?"

-Nod...

"Right, I hear you're doing well these days."

"..."

"I heard our older brother caused some trouble."

He was asking her to be his ally.

He made it sound plausible.

"You know that if brother takes the throne, both you and I will be left out in the cold, right? I heard a rumor that if he becomes emperor, he's going to banish all the royals from the palace... You know it too, once we leave the capital, we lose all our power."

And the condition he offered was insolent beyond measure.

"...You, keep our brother in check."

"What?"

"You're the student council president. Brother is a student at the academy. If you keep spreading bad rumors about him, his position as Crown Prince might be in jeopardy, right?"

The expression on her brother's face as he smiled slyly was unbearably arrogant.

"What... do you mean by that?"

"I heard you were smart. Was that rumor wrong?"

"..."

"Do I have to explain every little thing for you to understand?"

"No... Brother, I understand what you mean, but..."

"I want to be the Crown Prince, so I'm asking you to help me."

"...What?"

She was angered by her brother's words.

Did he think the position of emperor, which carries the lives of countless citizens, was something one could easily obtain just by wanting it?

"The Emperor of the Empire..."

Her trembling lips before her brother finally parted after a long hesitation. No matter how frightening he was, she was enraged by his intention to take the throne for free, as if it were mocking all her own efforts.

"Do you think it's a position you can get so easily?"

It was her first act of rebellion.

Someday.

No, it was the first rebellion against the person she had only thought of defying, vowing she absolutely would, but never could.

"..."

Chaltia looked at her brother, who was glaring at her in silence, and steadfastly continued to speak.

"Brother... you said long ago that you weren't interested in power."

"...Little sister."

"That's why Father didn't teach you political science... Why all of a sudden..."

He was no different from Tae-oh.

When Tae-oh wanted to learn about society, he was busy playing. After becoming an adult, he was busy living a debauched life, drunk on women. She was infuriated by his words, that he was now coveting the emperor's throne.

But.

"People are bound to get greedy. A person of my stature can't be satisfied with just one position."

"...What?"

"Brother messed up big time, didn't he? He managed to barely get a leash on the Desmonts, whom even royalty can't mess with carelessly, but he made them run wild again. His influence is going to be greatly diminished now, isn't it?"

"..."

"This is the chance. It's a chance for us to overtake brother and grab a position."

"Ha..."

"If I personally make the sacrifice and take the disabled Desmont lady as my wife, then an imperial authority that no one can dare touch will be complete, I tell you!"

Chaltia bit her lip hard and said.

Because she could clearly see what would happen if that man heard his words now. Knowing that something much bigger would happen if his hands were to reach the lady, Chaltia squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

"Stop talking nonsense..."

"...Huh?"

"Why should I have to help you, brother?"

"What do you mean, why? You have to help because you're my little sister. You have no idea how much I've cherished you."

"Cherished...?"

"You're getting a bit insolent. I let you be for a while and you're already acting up."

"Do you know how dangerous it is to touch the Desmont lady? If you touch the Desmont lady now, the Desmont family could raise a flag of rebellion against the imperial family. Knowing that..."

"Chaltia."

"For someone who should know better to say such things...!"

The 2nd Prince's eyes were cold, and his hand holding the teacup was trembling as if he would throw it at any moment.

"If you had helped me this time, I was thinking of changing the poor treatment your mother receives."

"...Why are you bringing up my mother?"

"If that stupid head of yours had been of any use to me, I was going to treat you like my real sister."

"..."

"I was going to find you a good match and marry you off to a decent family."

"A political marriage, I presume."

"Yes, for someone with your dirty bloodline, that much treatment would be more than you deserve."

The 2nd Prince said, letting the tea in his hand trickle onto the floor.

"But what is this."

"..."

"Your busy brother made time to come see you, and all you do is talk back..."

"..."

"Because I'm holding back, I look easy, don't I? You see me as a complete ruffian, just like our eldest brother."

"You are a ruffian. A ruffian even our father has given up on."

As soon as Chaltia's words ended, the 2nd Prince's eyes began to grow cold.

"What?"

A hand goes up.

"..."

As if to remind her of a memory from childhood.

"It seems you still haven't come to your senses."

He begins to dance on the fuse.

"...!"

The documents on the desk began to dance in the air from the prince's rough touch. The papers she had spent hours organizing were sullied by the tea soaking the floor, and sadness began to well up in Chaltia's eyes.

"Yes... I suppose it's right for an ill-mannered sister to be scolded by her older brother."

"...!"

The hand that was about to slap her cheek hesitated.

Because he knew he couldn't carelessly strike her now that she held the position of 3rd Princess.

Lowering the hand that was about to strike, the prince started a rampage, throwing everything in the office.

All sorts of profanities filled the air.

"...!"

Life-threatening intimidations were being made.

"From now on, starting with your mother, things will get very difficult."

"...Stop."

"For the crime of giving birth to a daughter who doesn't know her place, she'll be ostracized by the other mothers. I'll make sure your fourth mother, who takes care of her, suffers the same fate."

"Stop... it..."

"Why? Are you scared?"

When will this hell ever end?

Yes, she knew that compared to what others went through, her hell was a problem born of privilege, but...

"This won't do. Let's wash away some of that dirty blood for the first time in a while."

For Chaltia, this moment that crushed all her rights and pride felt worse than the hell they experienced.

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"Follow me."

When...

'I don't want to...'

When will I see the end of this hell?

If I become emperor and seize power, will it end?

"..."

Or must I put an end to this life for it to end?

There were too many things to protect, so she couldn't put a period on it. There were many things she wanted to do, and life was still enjoyable, so she had no desire to end it.

But.

"Your Highness..!"

"It seems you want to die too..."

When she faced him, his eyes having gone wild, it felt like darkness was closing in.

Her father.

Her commoner mother.

This situation where she had to be treated this way.

She hated it all.

Because it felt like she had become an infinitely weak person.

Knowing there was no one to take her hand even if she reached out in this place where no one would save her, she, standing in an ambiguous position of power, could only swallow her tears and scream.

"Please...!"

Please stop.

"Please...!"

The moment the words that cast aside her pride were about to leave her mouth.

"Ah."

A cold voice quickly brushed past Chaltia's ear.

It was a fleeting moment.

"Annoying."

The prince's face was crushed.

-CRACK!!!!

She saw the face of the prince, who took great pride in his beauty, being crushed by a giant fist.

The prince, who had been slapped, glared daggers at the man who hit him, his eyes bulging. And the moment slanderous words were about to pour from his mouth.

"Shh."

The man who hit the prince raised a finger to his lips with a cool smile.

"What are you doing in the sacred academy? So vulgar."

"What do you think you're doing...! How dare you strike the face of royalty...!"

"Ah."

The red-haired man whispered, as if telling a secret that others shouldn't hear.

"It would be troublesome if you were too intoxicated, Your Highness."

"...What?"

"It seems you go to the west quite often."

"..."

"Shouldn't you come to your senses?"

"What are you talking about..."

"Spouting nonsense like a madman..."

Ricardo approached the prince who had fallen to the floor, bent down, and whispered in a voice too low to be heard.

It was too quiet to hear.

"Your pupils are abnormally dilated."

"You..."

"You don't even have the strength to hold a teacup, so perhaps you should get high in moderation."

The prince glared at Ricardo with a trembling voice and said.

"...Who are you? Who told you such a thing...!"

Before the voice, thick with rage, could spread, Ricardo began to spit out murderous words at the prince.

"2nd Prince."

"..."

"My name is Ricardo, butler of the Desmont family."

"..."

"I am also the exclusive butler of Lady Olivia Desmont, a humble commoner who has a poor reputation in this empire."

Ricardo's eyes, as he politely clasped his hands and greeted him, were filled with killing intent.

"And."

As if to announce how confident he could be.

"I am also an information broker who knows many things in this empire."

"..."

"Does that explain things?"

He began to announce the return of the lion to him.

"I suggest you watch your mouth."

The prince, who had never bowed to anyone, dropped his head the moment his eyes met Ricardo's.

Chaltia was being dragged away.

"Where are we going...!?"

She was being dragged by Ricardo's hand before she could even say thank you.

Ricardo said nothing, as if he were angry.

"Just follow me."

"What...?"

"It's because you do nothing but work that you get pushed around by an underdeveloped brat like him."

What do you know.

The moment Chaltia's resentment turned into an arrow.

"We've arrived."

Chaltia's eyes began to widen.

"To my own secret garden."

Ricardo's hand grabbed Shartia's and led her away.

"Where are we going...?!"

She didn't know where they were going.

No, she didn't want to know.

She hadn't known Ricardo would come back to the office, and she hadn't wanted to show him her vulnerable side.

Right now, she was filled with nothing but a sense of shame. So much so that she wanted to hide somewhere no one could find her.

The person she was now wasn't the dignified princess, nor the decisive student council president, but simply a defeated girl.

"Stop..."

She didn't want to follow Ricardo.

Ricardo let out a deep sigh at her and spoke.

"Just follow me."

"What...?"

Know where you're going.

"Isn't it because you do nothing but work that you get pushed around by someone not even half a man?"

What do you know.

The surly thought, 'What do you know about a life of being tormented for so long,' entered her mind.

But.

-Squeeze.

Ricardo's hand, holding hers without hurting, was warm, and she couldn't bring herself to retort. He wasn't gripping her wrist with enough force for her to pull away.

Enthralled by the gentle warmth from Ricardo, she had walked for what felt like an eternity. Then Ricardo stopped, took a deep breath, and opened his tightly shut mouth.

"We're here."

-Whooooosh...!

A field of white flowers.

A field of white flowers so bright it hurt her eyes.

The wind blowing from the hill brushed past her hair, and her disheveled locks began to settle down calmly. Just like her mood right now.

-Whoosh...

"..."

It began to settle down calmly.

It was a strangely calming place. She had never been here before, nor did she have a hobby of looking at flowers, but her complicated feelings began to sink into the abyss, and a feeling of 'serenity' began to approach her.

"How is it?"

Letting go of her wrist, Ricardo smiled brightly, walked slowly into the center of the flower field, and stood before her.

"Where is this...?"

To her question, Ricardo smiled like an inventor showing off his masterpiece and began to speak.

"It's pretty, isn't it?"

"..."

"Haha...!"

Ricardo stretched out his hand as if embarrassed and said.

"I think this is the first time I've invited someone. Ah... I did bring the young lady once, so I guess it's not the first time."

"..."

"Welcome."

"..."

"To my own secret garden."

Ricardo's red hair, swaying with the wind, held a warmth. Like the fading red sunset.

Shartia reached out and touched a fully bloomed white flower. The petals, wrapping softly around her hand, were so thin they felt like they could tear at any moment, but the sensation on her hand was pleasant.

Ricardo spoke with a contented smile.

"They say the flower language of the iris is 'purity'."

"Purity...?"

"Yes, it's a flower language that doesn't really suit me, but isn't it pretty?"

"It is..."

"Oh, by the way, this is an iris field I secretly made when I was attending the academy. It may not look like it, but this is private property. It's my land, bought with my saved salary."

"...It must have been expensive."

"There was a rumor that it was haunted, so I was able to get it cheap."

"..."

Ricardo gave a broad grin to Shartia, who was glaring at him with suspicious eyes, and extinguished her doubts by saying, 'I've never seen a ghost so far.'

"Well, you might say it's unmanly for a guy to be growing flowers... but it's surprisingly fun."

"..."

"Of course, I left it pretty much abandoned.... I was surprised to see how well it had grown."

Ricardo let out a hollow laugh and led her to the center of the iris field.

"Would you like to come closer?"

"...Yes."

The faint scent of flowers surrounding them tickled the tip of her nose. A sweet, earthy scent. Smelling the fragrance that seemed to follow its flower language, Shartia muttered to herself.

"It must have been hard to get so many white irises."

Ricardo smiled faintly as if it were no big deal and replied, pressing his thumb and forefinger together like a shady nouveau riche.

"There's nothing money can't buy."

"You're insufferable."

"Being too humble makes one look even more insufferable."

"..."

Irises looked relatively unique compared to other flowers. The closed buds seemed to be hiding their beauty, as if to conceal it.

"It's pretty."

But the moment the buds opened wide, the plain appearance vanished, revealing the hidden beauty, which was unusual. Though all flowers are like that.

"It's really pretty."

The irises, which had been hiding in their white buds, were now wide open, showing off their beauty, and butterflies were sitting on the yellow stamens, working diligently.

Ricardo gently approached Shartia, who was touching the petals, and whispered his feelings in her ear. That few people had been brought here.

"This is a place only I know."

"..."

"A few students who love exploring might know about it, but until I left the academy, it was a hideout that only I knew."

"..."

Shartia spoke to Ricardo with a mumbled voice.

Why... are you showing this to me.

"Why are you showing this to me?"

"..."

"Because I thought the flowers would be in full bloom by now?"

To his question met with another question, Shartia let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.

"Haa... I showed you a pathetic side of myself."

"Not at all. You were absolutely beautiful."

"What are you saying. Are you looking for a scolding."

Ricardo shrugged with an awkward smile.

"You endured it well. If it were me, I would have punched him."

"You already did punch him."

"...That was his fault."

A floral breeze was blowing gently. It felt as if a spring breeze was blowing in her heart, as if happy to be with Ricardo.

The gloomy mood from just a moment ago was being refreshed, and mixed with the scent of flowers, she was regaining her composure.

Shartia lowered her knees from where she had been standing blankly, and lay down, looking up at the sky.

"Heave-ho...! Haa... it feels good to rest."

"Doesn't it?"

"Yeah... it really does."

"Would you like to sleep for a bit?"

"Maybe..."

Shartia closed her eyes and thought.

He really is a coveted person.

A guy who has the bravery to fight without being intimidated in front of his lord's nemesis. And the fangs to stomp on the nemesis trying to bite his lord's neck.

Especially.

-Whooooosh.

She was so envious of this guy's very existence, who leisurely sat in a flower field and forced her to rest.

Shartia smiled brightly and let out a sigh.

"Okay. I'll just sleep a little."

She thought it would be best to just rest today.

Her older brother's tyranny.

The task of pressuring the Crown Prince.

Today, she decided to put aside her complicated thoughts for a while and enjoy a leisurely rest. That's what her prim and proper butler would want.

"...I'll just sleep for a tiny bit..."

Shartia obediently decided to grant Ricardo's wish.

I think I fell asleep for a moment.

-Lady Shartia.

-...

-Lady Shartia.

"Huh...?"

Lying in the field of white flowers, I frowned at the man who had come to my side. As if asking why he was waking me from a sweet slumber.

The man gave a small smile and stroked my head in the dream.

-Are you here again?

-...

-If you sleep carelessly on the street, you'll get a stiff neck.

I was accepting the man's touch as if it were a matter of course.

-Shall we get up? The wind seems to be getting chilly.

The man's expression was not visible.

It was just hidden in dark shadows, so I couldn't see what expression he was making, whether he was smiling or not.

But what I could know for sure was.

'He's gentle.'

The man cared for the me in the dream.

The me in the dream whined, scattering my platinum-blonde hair let loose in the flower field.

-I want to sleep more.

-It's already been three hours.

-It's okay to sleep more.

-I'm worried, so no.

-Haa...

Even at my irritation-filled whining, the man shrugged as if it didn't matter and stroked my hair.

The wind blew.

And.

-Don't be impatient. It's okay not to be so impatient.

I had spat out cold words at the man.

They were business-like, stiff words. Not words spoken from one person to another, but words so stiff they were devoid of affection.

-My revenge is the same as yours anyway. So don't be impatient.

-Is that so.

-You live a tiring life, too. Me as well.

-This is my job, after all.

-What's so important about a promise made to that dead woman.

-Still, I made a promise.

-It's not your fault, so why are you doing this. Stupidly.

-...Because I don't want to let her be forgotten.

The me in the dream gnashed my teeth and clicked my tongue.

-Stupid fool.

-I hear that often.

Just as another torrent of abuse was about to be directed at the man, the man whose face was not visible bent one knee and hugged my body.

-But now...

-...

-I'm doing this because I want to stop the tears of a beauty who cries every dawn.

-...

-Stupidly.

-You...

The moment the sunlight hidden by the clouds was about to reveal the man's face.

"Lady Shartia."

A voice was heard vividly in my ear.

"It's time to wake up."

It was the man who familiarly overlapped.

And.

-Quest completed.

A chilling notification began to be heard in my ear.