The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 280

10 minutes ago.

Through the carriage window, I saw a woman kneeling in front of the main gate. Even from afar, her back radiated a sense of untold stories, prompting me to gaze at her with a question mark hovering over my head.

'Who is that…?'

The Young Lady also had a question mark floating above her head as she voiced her curiosity.

"Ricardo, someone’s at our house."

"…"

"...Ricardo?"

"Ah... Just a moment."

Momentarily at a loss for words, I studied the woman’s complexion. I didn’t know who she was or why she had come to the estate.

From the distant view of her back, it was hard to deduce her identity. After all, no one ever came to the Villainess’s Mansion.

When the carriage shifted to an angle where I could see the woman’s face, I finally recognized the visitor who had come to the estate.

'Why is she here?'

My startled thoughts were interrupted by the Young Lady’s even more flustered exclamation.

"Eek...! It’s the chocolate thief."

"I don’t think that’s the case."

"No, no one ever comes to our house."

At the Young Lady’s somber remark, spoken with a serious expression, I let out a bitter smile and lowered my head.

"That’s true."

She was someone I had met before.

The woman kneeling at the estate was.

A character with a sorrowful story in the novel, whose tale couldn’t simply be viewed in a positive light, seemed to be waiting for me in a cold sweat.

With a bitter smile, I stepped out of the carriage. I didn’t think I could give her the answer she was hoping for right now.

"..."

Wearing a heavy expression, I walked over to help her to her feet.

*

In a story no one could fully understand.

"...Why?"

The girl, drenched in blood, was clutching a man with red hair, crying desperately.

"Why... Why… Why!!!"

The girl’s anguished cries echoed sorrowfully across the white Canary Flower Field, filled with both hatred and love.

It seemed the word "love-hate" fit best. The emotions reflected in the girl’s eyes were too complex to be summed up in a single word.

The man in the girl’s arms opened his mouth with difficulty, wearing a faint smile.

"You wouldn’t like it if I said it was just because, would you?"

"Stop joking!!! Just tell me!"

"Haha... Indeed."

The man’s breathing grew weaker and weaker.

In the white Canary Flower Field, his breaths, which could cease at any moment, came with a peaceful smile as he gently caressed the girl’s cheek.

"Do you still hate me?"

"..."

"I suppose you do..."

The white petals fell.

Leaving behind only deep regret.

***

The Young Lady’s estate, visited by an uninvited guest.

The Young Lady furrowed her brows and wore a question mark above her head at the rare sight of a guest visiting the estate.

"Hmmm..."

"..."

"Hmmm...."

Flaring her nostrils as if sniffing, the Young Lady displayed every possible rudeness a master of the estate could show. I pulled my chair back and tried to calm her down.

"Young Lady, it’s impolite to sniff someone upon first meeting."

"I know... I know that. Hmmm..."

"Why are you doing this?"

"It feels familiar."

Startled by the Young Lady’s unexpectedly sharp intuition, I calmed my surprised heart and tried to quell her curiosity.

"Of course it feels familiar. You saw her last time, didn’t you?"

The Young Lady looked at me with an exclamation mark above her head, as if to say she had never met such a person before.

"I don’t know, I don’t remember."

"She’s the owner of the new restaurant in Hamel."

"The one with bad food?"

At the Young Lady’s cold assessment, Ella flinched and lowered her head. Perhaps accustomed to such harsh words, Ella kept her lips tightly sealed, while I gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond. I could also guess what she wanted to say.

To the Young Lady, who muttered, "It feels familiar..." I spoke softly.

"Young Lady."

"Yes."

"Could you please give Gomtangi some snacks on the second floor?"

"No. I want to play with Ricardo. Besides, she doesn’t listen to me, so it’s no fun."

"I’ll prepare snacks for you too, Young Lady. Gomtangi’s snacks and yours. I’ll give you three packs."

"Hmmm..."

The Young Lady nodded and smiled brightly.

"Alright. But, is she Ricardo’s friend?"

"Not exactly a friend..."

Glancing at Ella, who wore a gloomy expression, I carefully thought of words that wouldn’t offend her.

"Let’s just call her an industrial spy."

"Oh... A spy."

Fortunately, the Young Lady didn’t question further and accepted my explanation.

Thus, the parlor was left with just the two of us.

Looking at the empty table, I spoke in a flustered voice.

"Oh right... I’ve been so distracted I didn’t even serve tea. Please wait a moment…."

-Thud.

Ella grabbed my hand as I was about to leave the parlor and knelt down. Her actions clearly conveyed that she didn’t want tea. Seeing Ella kneeling, I reached out to help her up, unwilling to witness a friend’s mother in such a state.

"Please don’t do this."

"...Please!"

"..."

"Please, help me!"

"Sigh..."

"Please let me meet my daughter. I’ll give you as much money as you want...! Please, just let me see her once!"

An awkward silence filled the air.

I, unable to respond.

And Ella, silently waiting for an answer, filled the parlor with her desperation.

In a heavy voice, I spoke to Ella. I wasn’t ready to answer her request just yet.

"For now... please go back."

I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

It had been less than a week since I returned from the Academy, and arranging a sudden reunion between Mikhail and her mother was difficult, not to mention the situation with Shuen. I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

In my mind, a meeting between the two at this time wouldn’t lead to a good outcome. I thought more time was needed.

With difficulty, I nodded and spoke to Ella, who was now sobbing.

"We..."

I gave the best answer I could muster.

"We are not close with her."

***

Night at the Academy.

After thoroughly reading an obscene book in the library, Hanna was walking along the promenade under the moonlight for the first time in a while. Though, the promenade was merely the path back to the dormitory.

"Haaah!"

For Hanna, who enjoyed walking while breathing in the crisp night air, it was nothing short of the perfect relaxation.

Walking under the street lamps, Hanna softly murmured to herself as she recalled the events of the past.

"I want to see him again."

She wanted to see the Butler.

Perhaps because she had spent more time than usual with the Butler, Hanna found herself missing Ricardo even more.

There hadn't been anything particularly sweet between them. Still….

"It was nice…"

For Hanna, the moments she spent with Ricardo always seemed to make her feel truly alive. It was like a sanctuary where she could escape the monotonous and tedious life at the Academy. It was brimming with vitality.

"..."

Just thinking about Ricardo made her heart feel warm. Her heart raced, and her face flushed.

"I must be crazy…"

-Clench.

Hanna gently pressed her pounding heart with her hand and smiled faintly. Then, she touched her earlobe, fiddling with the earrings Ricardo had given her.

"Meeting the Butler was the greatest fortune of my life. How am I supposed to be any happier than this… Hehe."

Hanna felt a warm happiness as she smiled at Ricardo's gift, a gift that added even more fortune to her greatest fortune.

After walking for about three minutes.

"Ohhohoh…!"

In the distance, she spotted a crazy woman carrying a massive black bundle on her back.

"Wow…"

Hanna admired Shuen's back as she walked toward the dormitory. The way she carried such a heavy load without a care and laughed reminded Hanna of the 'Santa Claus' the Butler had once told her about.

"Huff… Huff… Huaaah…!"

'That… that… crazy girl.'

As Hanna approached right up to Shuen, she tried to ignore her and walk past. But Shuen's urgent voice calling out, "Hi… Histania Hanna!" made Hanna close her eyes tightly and turn her head.

"What."

"Ohhoho…! Huff… Huff… Hello, Histania Hanna!"

"Oh… Yeah."

"Haa… Let me catch my breath first."

Shuen exhaled heavily, adjusted the bundle on her back, and continued speaking.

"Are you coming back from studying?"

"Yeah. And you…?"

"I'm on my way home after closing up the convenience store!"

Shuen suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, right!" and dropped the black bundle onto the ground with a thud before rummaging through it.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Uh… No?"

"I knew it! If you don't eat, you'll get sick."

With a bashful smile, Shuen pulled out a lunchbox from the bundle and handed it to Hanna. Judging by the slightly visible packaging, it seemed to be a discarded lunchbox past its expiration date.

Shuen beamed innocently, wearing an expression that suggested she was doing a generous favor.

"Take it!"

"I don't need it."

"Take it anyway! It's a gift from me, Shuen."

"Uh… Okay. Thanks. But can you even eat all this?"

"Nope! It's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow!"

"Uh…?"

"Thanks to starting my job at the convenience store, I can eat alone without worrying about anyone watching. And now, I'm sharing my wealth with you!"

"Is that… a good thing?"

Shuen scratched the back of her head with a wide grin. Judging by her carefree and innocent expression, she genuinely seemed happy.

"Well then, I'll be on my way now…!"

With a bright smile, Shuen grabbed the edge of the bundle and gritted her teeth.

And then.

"Hup!"

-Stagger!

"..."

Looking troubled, she turned back to Hanna.

After glancing at the bundle, Shuen spoke to Hanna in a trembling voice.

"By any chance… do you need another lunchbox?"

"Oh, you fool."

"Hehe…"

Hanna nonchalantly slung the bundle onto her back and headed toward the dormitory. Since they were going the same way, she figured she might as well help.

To Hanna, a student of the Swordsmanship Department, the bundle was so light that she strode toward the dormitory with ease. Shuen, feeling grateful, looked at Hanna leading the way and spoke in a flustered voice.

"St… Stealing is bad!"

"I'm just carrying it for you!"

"Ahaha!"

Shuen tapped Hanna lightly on the back and smiled.

"Histania Hanna, do you want a hot bar by any chance?"

"I don't need it."

"This is a special treat from me. Actually, I secretly took a hot bar that hasn't expired yet!"

"You…"

'Does she not know my brother is the store owner?'

Hanna sighed as she looked at Shuen, who was grinning mischievously.

"Never mind. Forget it."

"What is it?! Are you planning to report me?!"

"No, just… steal moderately."

"Ohhohoh! Of course!"

Hanna continued chatting with the nonsensical Shuen as they walked, and as the dormitory came into view, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

-How many times have you died…?

"..."

With a hint of curiosity, Hanna asked Shuen.

"Hey, Shuen."

"Yes!"

"Is there a magic spell that can turn back time?"

"...What?"

Shuen stared at Hanna with a baffled expression before saying, "Wait a moment," with a puzzled look.

"Uh…"

"..."

"There might be?"

Shuen added that she wasn't sure and then shared her hypothesis with Hanna.

"In theory, it's possible. But…"

"But?"

"It's impossible with regular magic."

"What do you mean…?"

"Every miracle humans can create…."

"Is dark magic."

And at that moment.

-Ding.

A foreboding chime echoed in Hanna's ears.