The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 393-394

The way Chaltia looked at me was strange.

"...?"

Like someone who had committed a great sin, she couldn't meet my eyes. Like someone who had many questions but couldn't bring herself to voice them.

'Is she looking for the bathroom...'

The first thought that came to mind seeing Chaltia's anxious gaze, who had always shown a confident side, was a biological need.

'...This is a problem.'

Still, I couldn't tarnish a lady's reputation, so I forced an awkward smile and spoke to Chaltia.

"...Lady Chaltia?"

"..."

"Knock knock?"

Unfortunately, there was no reply.

The bathroom is in the right hallway of the shop... I wanted to tell the seemingly urgent Chaltia, but I couldn't easily open my mouth in front of people, so I was waiting for an opportunity to take her.

"Huuuum? Why aren't you saying anything?"

But before I could, Shuen, with her cursed lips that could rival the Lady's, cut in.

"In times like these, a slap to the head might make her listen!"

"What are you doing!"

"This Shuenjel! For the peace of the world...!"

At Shuen's bold appearance, Chaltia, who had been silent, let out a deep breath and began to mumble her words.

"...It's nothing."

"What?"

"I... I would never abandon you."

"...?"

A giant question mark floated above my head at Chaltia's incomprehensible words. I hadn't expected her to say something strange instead of being about the bathroom.

However, I didn't offer any counter-argument to Chaltia's serious-looking words. It seemed she had already gone through something unpleasant, and I didn't want to poke her 괜히.

I smiled slightly and patted the seat next to me.

"Would you like to sit? There's an empty chair right here."

"I, Shuenjel, do not permit you to join us."

"Why does the student council president need your permission?"

"Because I am the strongest person in the academy. No one in the academy can do anything without this Shuenjel's permission...! Ouch...! Why did you hit me!!!"

"Because a fool needs to be hit to come to their senses."

"Come to me! Holy Sword!"

"Like it would."

"Huck...!! This Shuenjel has returned to being an ordinary Shuen!"

Seeing Chaltia's awkward expression, which seemed to have deepened in thought at the sight of the two bickering, I smiled slightly and asked.

"Lady Chaltia."

"Huh...?"

"Would you like to sit?"

"..."

"You look very tired."

"..."

"It hasn't even been three days since I told you not to overdo it..." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It's fine. I've rested enough."

She's a foolish person.

A stubborn person who doesn't listen.

For me to enjoy my happy unemployed life, Chaltia's health must be in good condition...

"If you continue like this, I will have to resort to special measures."

"..."

"Kidnapping..."

The moment the word kidnapping was heard, Hanna and Shuen, who had been bickering, brightened their eyes and pushed their faces towards me.

"I want to be kidnapped too!"

"Me too...!"

"This Shuen...! A woman of devilish charm whose ransom is at an all-time high! Now is your chance, commoner! A young lady's three sizes are..."

"Shut up...! Butler, me too...! I didn't get first place, but I won't lose in terms of name value!"

An awkward smile formed on my face.

"I didn't know your passion for learning was so strong."

Because their passion to become stronger was immense.

"You'll see me until you're sick of me during this summer vacation anyway."

"What...?"

"There's something like that."

I smiled cruelly, took Chaltia's hand, and sat her down at the table. Judging by her complexion, it seemed she had gone through a lot.

"Would you like a hot chocolate latte?"

"I'll have coffee..."

"Coffee, which is bad for your health, is rejected."

"...Ugh."

"If there are no other objections, I'll have a sweet chocolate latte."

Chaltia's gaze was fixed on my back as I left with a small smile. Burdeningly so.

"I'll be back."

Chaltia, who remained in the seat Ricardo had left, looked at the bickering Shuen and Hanna and cautiously opened her mouth.

"...Aren't you guys supposed to be in class right now? The professor posted a notice about night practice."

"Heh!"

"Haha..."

As if things weren't complicated enough, Chaltia sighed at the spectacular antics of the academy's problem children. The first-ranked student was absent without leave, and the ace of the swordsmanship department was skipping class.

And all because of.

-Could I have a sweet chocolate latte? With lots of whipped cream on top.

That one man.

"...What's wrong?"

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Shuen, who had been staring at Chaltia, chugged her coffee with all her might and asked. What are you doing, spacing out like a fool?

"Judging by your expression, you seem to have a problem."

"..."

"Huhu, as expected...! This Shuen! Not only is my appearance perfect, but my inner self is also perfect, so I can listen to the student council president's worries!"

"Haa..."

"Tell this Shuenjel what's on your mind!"

"..."

"Come on...! Before the commoner comes back!"

"Haa."

Chaltia looked at the excited Shuen and shook her head. This wasn't a problem she could tell others about.

"..."

She wanted to ask something else, rather than worry about the identity of the blue window.

If she was a child of the Tetra family, who were well-versed in philosophy, she might be able to give an answer on a matter of conviction.

"You know, Shuen."

-Nod. Nod.

"Let's say you were the emperor and you had one competent, loyal subject by your side."

"This Shuenjel won't rebel! I don't have much of a lust for power! And I don't want to get my head chopped off."

"...Listen."

"Keep talking!"

"The loyal subject, who wins every battle on the battlefield, has one request. If that request is a lie I made up, what would you do?"

Shuen answered without a moment's hesitation.

"I'd have to kill him."

"...Huh?"

"If he's too competent, he becomes a danger to the monarch."

Those were not the words of a child from the Tetra family, who had a deep knowledge of philosophy. The word 'kill' was far from the answer of philosophy.

Philosophy is not a literature that fosters consideration and altruism, but it is a study that contains at least a minimum of altruism. Contrary to her expectation of a different answer, Chaltia was quite flustered by Shuen's words, which were exactly what she had thought.

"He could threaten me. If he found out that the help he'd given me, to the point of breaking his bones, was a lie, wouldn't he point his sword at the emperor first?"

"..."

"That's what I would have done. Of course, this Shuen would have somehow created the reward the loyal subject wanted."

"...If that's not possible."

"Then you shouldn't have told such a lie in the first place."

"He was someone who wouldn't have been swayed without a lie."

"Then you have to give up."

-Grind.

"It would be more efficient to give up and find another way."

"Without him, I wouldn't even be able to try...!"

The moment the emotionally charged words were about to leave Chaltia's mouth.

"I have a different opinion."

I, who had brought a steaming hot chocolate latte, expressed a different thought.

I hadn't intended to interfere in the two women's conversation, but it seemed they were having an interesting discussion without me.

At my sudden appearance, Chaltia's eyes widened and she looked at me.

"Different?"

"Yes."

"What's different?"

I answered with a small smile.

"If I were the loyal subject you mentioned, Lady Chaltia, I think I would just let it go."

"I told you I lied...? That person followed the emperor only for that... and it was all a lie."

"Yes."

"It was a relationship that started with a lie from the beginning. I lured a competent person with an absurd lie because I wanted to have him... but you'd let it go?"

Chaltia's dedication to the discussion sparked my own. I had always liked these kinds of conversations.

Not about the future.

Not a serious political discussion, but a debate stemming from mere fantasy.

I was intrigued.

It reminded me of the old days, when I would seriously discuss futile topics at a drinking party. So I put aside my playfulness and answered seriously. Imagining that the 'loyal subject' in Chaltia's story was me.

"Would he not have known?"

"...Huh?"

"Didn't you say you offered an absurd condition? I don't know what the condition was, but if it was something that couldn't be done with the emperor's power, then he must have joined hands with the person who would become the 'emperor' rather than for the 'purpose' in the first place."

"What does that mean... it's hard to understand."

"It's simple."

I nodded at Chaltia's serious reaction and began to speak slowly.

"It means that the 'loyal subject' probably followed the emperor himself, not the 'reward'."

"..."

"If that 'loyal subject' were 'me'. I don't know about others, but that's what I would have done."

"If it were you?"

"Yes. And..."

I placed the chocolate latte in my hand in front of Chaltia and gave her a playful smile.

"I think I'd forgive a pretty person."

It's chaotic.

Because I heard those words from his own mouth. My thoughts seemed to become even more chaotic.

The Ricardo in the viewing definitely had a look of being deceived by my lie. Besides, given the Ricardo of that time, it seemed he would have had no choice but to accept my proposal like a drowning man clutching at a straw.

I would have done the same.

If I had lost a precious person, I would have held on, even if those words were a lie.

"..."

Sitting in the dark office, Chaltia squeezed her eyes shut and covered them with her sleeve.

"How foolish..."

Ricardo's words were childish.

Pretty.

What is that fool saying?

At the same time, I felt good.

But.

If it were me.

"I would have acted like Shuen."

I was certain I would have acted differently from Ricardo's opinion. If it were me, I would have used it as leverage and repeated the lie to keep him by my side.

Or.

I would have killed him.

I don't know because the 'me' in the viewing is not 'me'.

Those feelings at that time.

No, I don't think I can ever pin down the feelings that the 'me' in the viewing felt.

But.

"..."

The Ricardo in the viewing had met his 'death', and I could guess that that 'death' was caused by 'me'.

I could no longer deny it.

No, after being shown this much, it would be even more foolish to deny it.

-Would you like to view?

The existence of 'a story no one knows' is...

"Haa."

The current 'me'.

I have to make a decision now.

I can't keep avoiding it forever.

Chaltia squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mouth.

"The viewing... no."

Let's see the end of this story.

"Tell me my (the tyrant's) story."

-Part 2. Viewing of 'The Broken Sword' begins.

With the voice from the blue window, Shartia's vision went black.

Let's see her own ridiculous state. And whether Ricardo would truly move as she had said.

-Creeeeak.

She wanted to see.

The imperial palace banquet hall, full of high-ranking nobles.

"Princess Shartia!"

"..."

"Congratulations on subjugating the Apostle of Temperance!"

"..."

"To think you would purge the Apostle of Temperance so soon after capturing the Archbishop of Slander! I, Count Dimitri, am moved by Your Highness's valor."

Numerous nobles were surrounding me, extending their hands.

Asking for just a moment to speak.

Asking what she thought of their competent child.

It had only been two years since she joined hands with Ricardo, yet the 180-degree change in the nobles' reactions almost made her laugh.

-Creeeeak.

It was amusing to see those who had lost their connections belatedly extend a hand. They hadn't paid her any attention when she had fallen to the bottom.

Who would have known that the Crown Prince, whom they had supported with all their might, would be greatly weakened by Wolfgang's betrayal? And who would have known that her second older brother would raise a rebellion against the Crown Prince?

It was nothing short of a farce.

-Your Highness! I have brought a specialty from my domain. Please have a taste...

-Step aside. Her Highness is currently speaking with the Count.

-Your Highness!!

The sight of nobles fawning to curry favor, and Theo and her second older brother fighting as if to kill each other, was nothing short of a farce.

Everything.

"Do not approach Her Highness any further."

It was because of this guy.

The one who strangely knew so much information and could make them dig into the weaknesses of Theo and her second older brother.

"Your Highness, could you step back a little?"

Everything was possible because Ricardo was there. Everything, because he was there—no, because it was him, she had been able to come this far.

"..."

Ricardo lightly extended his hand, stopping the approaching nobles. A smile formed on her face at the sight of him protecting her so sensitively, as if she were his precious person. His loyalty was directed solely at her.

"Stop it, Ricardo."

"But."

"I can protect my own body, so go over there and get something to eat."

"...But."

"Hurry."

The sight of Ricardo walking away with his shoulders slumped like a dejected puppy keeps weighing on her mind.

Because she liked it.

And because she felt a sense of loss.

It keeps catching her eye, shimmering. Even though only two years have passed.

She thought that Ricardo, wearing a formal uniform instead of his usual butler attire, looked surprisingly cool.

From the muscles his clothes couldn't hide.

To the sword at his waist.

His appearance felt so different that it seemed a young girl's heart had found her.

-Thump. Thump. Thump.

And it had only been two years.

The weight of her heart, which had grown larger than she expected, felt like it was turning her into a fool. It was sweet enough to rot her teeth.

Just like now...

She had told him to go eat, but she pretended not to see Ricardo watching her from afar, turning her head with a faint smile.

'That fool...'

Her chest grows warm.

Because of that fool's unwavering loyalty, her heart simultaneously begins to grow more anxious. Afraid that one day that fool will find out about the lie she told.

-Grit.

She was scared.

She was scared of what kind of expression Ricardo would make when he found out about the lie. Scared of what words Ricardo, who was always smiling, would spit at her. Her greatest fear was him leaving her side...

She was only a few steps away from becoming emperor.

The position that everyone had dismissed as absolutely impossible was now within reach with just one more step.

Revenge for her father's indifference.

-Father, you know... what my second brother did...!

-Shartia, what are you saying in the imperial palace!

-Father!

-I will pretend I did not hear what you just said.

-You were the one who brought Mother to the imperial palace. You!!! To this hell!!

-...Do not call it hell. You too are in that position thanks to this hell.

Revenge for her abusive older brother.

-Did you have a good talk with Father?

-...

-What a shame, it seems Father has no intention of punishing me.

-Why... did you do it.

-Hmm?

-I said, why did you do it! I did nothing and lived so as not to be an eyesore...! Why!

-Not an eyesore, you say.

-...

-Your very existence is an eyesore.

Just one more step and she could achieve it.

How surprised would her mother in the sky be? She was the one who had so strongly advised against getting involved in politics, but now, seeing her standing in the middle of it all, dancing with a sword...

"...Ha."

It felt as if her chaotic mind was calmly settling down. Because she had once again realized what she had been running for until now.

She could think about Ricardo's matter later.

-Excuse me, beautiful lady. Would you care for a cup of tea?

-No.

-Ahem... I was trying to win you over with my charm, but actually, I'm Her Highness's knight. I'll tell you tales of Her Highness's bravery...

-Still no.

Because that fool still seemed to believe her.

"..."

There wasn't much time left until she achieved her revenge, so she thought the best thing to do now was to focus on her own work.

She felt sorry for him, but.

-Looks like another failure today.

She wished he would go along with her selfish self.

Because she wanted to atone for her actions towards him in her own way.

The people who hated him.

The people who had turned against him.

And she harbored a plan to reveal the truth to those who had misunderstood him, so while it was far from enough to compensate for the lie she had told Ricardo, she wanted to be at least a minimal source of strength for him.

Of course, she intended to continue the purges as well.

Over the course of a year, she had learned many things she hadn't wanted to know, and she thought it was time to clean out the filth of the rotten empire all at once.

Send Theo to the frontier.

Let her second older brother rot in prison. And confiscate the title of the noble who had caused her mother's death.

Just imagining it...

"Another failure today."

Just as her emotions were about to be steeped in madness, Ricardo's low whisper made me compose my feelings. She didn't want to show him this side of her.

It seemed his prepared lines didn't work on the opposite sex, and at the sight of Ricardo returning earlier than expected, I let out a hollow laugh and lifted my head.

"Must have been a bad line."

"I don't think that's it."

"..."

"With my perfect face and sweet voice..."

"Yeah, yeah~"

"This is a serious problem. My good looks not working is..."

"I told you I'd find you a good match. Why are you doing that."

"...Sad."

"There must be one somewhere. A woman who is pretty, has a good body, platinum blonde hair, and a strong family."

"Is that a real person? No, more importantly, why would such a woman like me."

"You never know."

I gave Ricardo a playful smile and put on a light expression.

"So, what information did you find out?"

As the order left her lips, Ricardo glanced around and began to speak in a small voice. There was a reason for Ricardo's flirtations.

"It seems the Crown Prince and the Emperor have had a falling out."

"To what extent? If it's ambiguous, the information is useless. You know how much Father dotes on Theo."

"It doesn't seem to be an ordinary matter. It's probably because of Wolfgang starting a rebellion."

"True... they still haven't caught the rebel forces."

"The Emperor is said to be refusing a private audience. Perhaps the Emperor wants the Crown Prince to resolve Wolfgang's matter himself..."

"The moment he asks for help, his position as Crown Prince is over."

"That would be right. Of course, the Crown Prince doesn't have the power to catch Wolfgang right now. So he will ask for help."

"Still, don't let your guard down. He's not someone to be taken lightly."

Seeing Ricardo's serious face didn't make her feel very good.

Because she couldn't predict how long this loyalty would last.

As she got closer to her goal, whenever she felt herself taking a step closer to the truth, she realized what a truly terrible person she was.

So.

"I will definitely give you the national treasure, so don't worry."

She became sharper and more difficult.

"..."

"You just have to believe in me."

"..."

"Don't betray me."

"..."

Unlike the days when she had started out with dependence, greed and anxiety for him had grown, and she often ended up acting childishly towards this guy.

Ricardo, as if unaware of this anxiety, smiled slightly and replied.

"No matter what happens, I am on Your Highness's side."

"..."

"Even if it means my ruin."

There it is again.

"...You."

The sad smile on Ricardo's face as he laughed made her heart ache.

"Is there something you wish to say?"

"...No."

"Is that so?"

Not yet...

It's not time yet.

Just as complicated thoughts were causing a painful ringing in her head, Ricardo extended a small hand and said to me.

"A dance."

"Huh?"

"Would you like to dance?"

For a moment, her breath caught at the sight of Ricardo in his dark red formal uniform.

Normally, she would have retorted with, 'Why would I dance with you,' but she had been so mesmerized by his appearance that she ended up offering her hand.

"..."

"..."

Their joined hands were warm.

The music echoing around them.

The man she was with was also satisfying, making her happy.

So much so that she couldn't remember the impending catastrophe.

And so.

One day.

Two days.

A month passed.

-It's a rebellion!

Tragedy struck.