The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 281

Choice is something that comes to everyone.

Even in moments when you don't want to make one.

Even in moments so difficult that breathing feels burdensome. Choices were things that appeared regardless of time or place.

For Histania Hanna, the most terrifying choice was one that could cause Ricardo pain because of her decisions.

After all, to him, she was nothing but a burden.

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[Q. The Misguided Pride of Histania.]

In a story you don't remember.

You were on the brink of death because of an impulsive decision driven by emotions, made in an attempt to earn your father's love and your household's recognition.

In the cold cave, your body was battered, and the sticky moss of the cave was devouring your bloodstains.

As you faced the end of your life, a red-haired man who had come to gather herbs appeared before you.

It was a miracle.

That he appeared in front of you.

There was no other word to describe it but a miracle.

At that time, the man, who was a stranger to you, took you in, and your body was in a state indistinguishable from that of a fallen villainess.

Unable to eat on your own.

Dragging a limp leg.

As a swordsman and as a child of your household, your self-esteem hit rock bottom. There wasn't even any self-esteem left to fall further.

You despaired.

You sank into an endless abyss, deeper and deeper. You repeatedly had dark thoughts, wondering if it would be better to just die.

But you couldn't die.

-Did you sleep well? The weather is nice today. Haha...!

Perhaps it was true that you couldn't die. The man's care broke down the walls of your heart.

Even so, you disliked the man. You grumbled, pushed him away, and told him to leave you alone since you couldn't do anything for him.

You had no room to trust anyone.

At that time, your heart was burdened with wounds that exceeded the threshold of what you could endure.

Even so, the man cared for you.

Though you didn't know how, the man whispered the words you most wanted to hear every night and embraced your wounded self.

'You can do it.'

'No matter what anyone says, I believe in you.'

'You're beautiful. Of course, not as much as the Young Lady, though.'

As if he knew all of your pain.

Time passed like that.

When the time came for you to leave the estate.

You made a promise with the man.

'Don't get hurt.'

A promise that could never be fulfilled.

You made a choice.

To become a better person.

And to sever the cruel ties of fate by returning to 'Histania.'

But there was no one in the household to support your decision, and contrary to your hopes of starting anew, your father's reaction was cold. Instead of comforting your injured self, he criticized your incompetence.

'You have no talent.'

You ended up doing something you shouldn't have.

In endless despair, you had nowhere to return to, and the only thing you could grasp was the place you knew best.

You were afraid to return to him.

Because you were ashamed.

Because you were scared.

Because you were angry.

You thought that if you returned as a proud person, as someone who couldn't be looked down upon by anyone, you could appear as a better person to him.

Even if that path wasn't one praised by others.

That day, you made the wrong choice.

And he made a choice for you.

The ending of this story will be a happy one... But, well.

I don't think the light within you during that process will be insignificant.

(!) Receive Histania Rowen's sword once. (0/1)

(!) Hear a heartfelt 'apology' from Histania Rowen. (0/1)

Reward: Unlock the 72nd side story, 'In Despair.'

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Hanna stared at the Blue Window before her with trembling eyes.

'Why...?'

The curse that always spoke ominous stories had appeared again.

At first, she thought of it as a compass pointing her toward resentment, but after witnessing visions of death, Hanna had grown fearful of the Blue Window.

Because God's kindness didn't seem to have appeared to her with good intentions.

Hanna lifted her trembling gaze to read the text, and she felt her fingers stiffen and her mind go blank.

'...'

It felt like it could really happen.

'No...'

She didn't want to see it anymore.

Because it was terrifying to have such choices forced upon her when she had resolved to live in the present.

'No....'

Shuen furrowed her brows as she looked at the trembling Hanna with a puzzled expression, wondering if she was acting this way because she wanted to change the flavor of the lunchbox.

"What's wrong?"

"..."

"Do you need more lunchboxes?"

Since Shuen couldn't hand over her pork cutlet lunchbox or inari sushi, she watched Hanna with a serious expression.

"Ah... It's nothing."

Hanna's uneasy gaze made Shuen fall silent. Looking at Hanna, Shuen asked in a worried voice.

"Did something happen? Did you leave your wallet in the classroom or forget a book?"

"..."

"If you're scared to go alone, I can go with you! I'm braver than I look! I can even sleep alone, and as long as I have my attachment doll, I can listen to ghost stories and sleep under a blanket!"

"..."

Hanna lightly shook her head, realizing that Shuen's presence wouldn't be much help, and spoke with difficulty. She said it was nothing.

"Go on ahead. I just remembered something urgent I need to do, so I'll come up later."

"I'll do it with you! I'll just drop off the lunchbox in my room and come right back down!"

"Even though they say there's a ghost in the Academy?"

"Hiccup...! Alright!"

-Ugh!

Without a moment's hesitation, Shuen slung her bundle over her back and headed to the Dormitory. After all, seeing a ghost was scary no matter what.

"If something happens, call me! My room is 503!"

Hanna sat down where Shuen had left, exhaling roughly.

This time...

It felt different from before.

*

Another peaceful day at the Young Lady's Estate.

The Young Lady was fiddling with Gomtangi's paw pads, smacking her lips.

"Young Lady."

"Mmph."

Though there was no such thing as bear paw jelly in this world, I couldn't understand why she was smacking her lips like that. Watching her touch Gomtangi's paw pads with a look that screamed she wanted to bite them, I let out a dry laugh and shook my head.

"It's a loss."

"Ah... Indeed!"

"You're late."

I asked while watching the Young Lady nibbling on Gomtangi's paw. Why was she doing that?

"Young Lady."

"Why?"

"Why are you ignoring Gomtangi?"

"I'm biting her."

The Young Lady pointed at Gomtangi, who was drooling on her head while biting her hair, and then spoke again. Her actions clearly demonstrated her belief in "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," and I let out a dry laugh, nodding.

It wasn't exactly wrong, after all.

Lately, the Young Lady had been getting along quite well with Gomtangi.

"Is it tasty?"

"No."

"Then why are you biting her paw? There are other parts, you know."

"Bear's trotters."

"Do you want pig's feet?"

"Mm."

Smiling at the Young Lady's refined taste in recommending tonight's menu, I nodded.

"Shall we have pig's feet for dinner, then?"

"Mm. Make it spicy."

"Understood."

I stood up lightly and removed Gomtangi from the Young Lady's head. Judging by how much this little one liked her head, it seemed she thought it was a lollipop.

While stroking Gomtangi's head, who clearly didn't want to let go, I gently scolded her. No matter how much she liked the Young Lady, treating her master's head like candy was unacceptable.

-Gooooom.

"Come on. I'll give you food."

-Gomgom.

"And I'll give you a snack, too."

-Gom.

Gomtangi was obedient to my words.

About ten minutes passed like that.

The Young Lady, staring out the window, cautiously spoke to me.

"Ricardo."

"Yes."

"Are you considered handsome, Ricardo?"

"Pardon?"

Momentarily at a loss for words due to the sudden question, I stared blankly at the Young Lady and shrugged. I wondered if over thirteen years of gaslighting had finally worked.

"Yes."

"Oh... How annoying."

"You're even more annoying, Young Lady."

"It's fine because I'm pretty."

Unable to refute her statement, I nodded lightly and tugged at her cheek.

"Heeek!!! It's going to rip!"

"I'm fine with that."

"Eek!!! I surrender...! I surrender!"

As I glanced at the Young Lady wiping the drool off her cheek, I decided to ask her a question this time. A slightly uncomfortable one.

"Young Lady."

"Yes."

"How strong are you?"

"Huh?"

The Young Lady stared at me blankly for a moment before smirking and replying.

"It's a secret."

She truly was an amusing person.

"Eek!!! Don't pinch me!"

Another ten minutes passed like that.

We looked out the window at a man knocking on the estate's door and then exchanged glances.

"Ricardo. There's a guest."

"Doesn't seem like my guest."

"Doesn't seem like mine either."

Looking at the man with brown hair, I closed the curtain.

Histania Rowen.

An uninvited guest had arrived at the estate.