Page 131 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

I threw a simple question.

It was because of the doubt whether the Rui in front of me was indeed the Rui I knew.

I threw several questions that he had no choice but to answer.

– Are you stupid?

– Do you want to be hit for no reason?

– Is being hit your preference?

Those were the contents.

Of course, besides these normal ? NоvеIight ? (Original source) questions, I asked a few questions that only Rui could answer, but I thought that such straightforward questions were perfect for distinguishing between truth and falsehood.

The guy who had visited the mansion a while ago showed a strangely awkward reaction when faced with such provocations.

As if he was filtering through, thinking, ‘If it were Rui, he would have reacted like this,’ and his response came late. Looking at Rui in front of me conjuring up fireballs, I thought to myself,

This guy is not a fake.

I sent the young lady and the bear soup out to the yard. It seemed like they might hear unpleasant things if they stayed in the mansion.

Just by looking at Rui’s dark expression, I could sense that he wouldn’t say anything pleasant.

If Rui were to ask for something difficult like dealing with a Cockatrice, I would kick him out.

It’s kind of creepy and bothersome.

I looked at Rui’s shadowed face and took two cups of tea to the table.

Thud. The sound of the tea cups being placed on the table.

I asked him, hoping he would understand that I didn’t have a lot of time to spare for him, “Why have you come?”

“...”

“Speak. Ruin.”

A gentle voice was pushing Ruin.

A visitor who came without a single letter was not genuinely welcome.

So, I gently pushed him further.

“What reason brings you here?”

Feeling uneasy.

I decided to throw a question to see through him. In my mind, there was only one reason he would come to this mansion.

Hans.

I thought he came to inform me about the escape of the villain in the novel I barely managed to catch and hand over.

Asking for help in catching the fugitive. Or requesting information about him.

He probably wouldn’t mention that the Topjoo had caught Hans, but just in case.

If Ruin hears from Topjoo that I caught Hans, I thought he would have no one else to turn to.

As the only one who caught the corrupted Hans and clashed with him.

So I...

Opened my mouth with a light provocation.

“Surely, another incident at Matop?”

“What?”

“It’s a place known for frequent incidents, isn’t it? Matop. There have been rumors of one of the disciples going astray recently, you know.”

“Shut up.”

“Hmm. Are you really going to get mad over this? I believe there’s nothing wrong with what I said.”

“Shut it. Who are you to dare to judge Matap? Do you want to quietly disappear?”

“I see... I apologize for my presumption.”

It seemed like Ruin had veered off from my expectations beautifully. I thought he had come because of Hans, but seeing Ruin getting worked up, I felt like I had made a misstep.

So, what could it be?

Why did this green-headed guy come to the mansion?

It doesn’t seem like he came to see my face, and frankly, I don’t want to see his either.

Well, he’s probably the same in that regard.

Now, I was starting to want to hear Ruin’s story.

I couldn’t help but wonder why this green-headed guy, who dislikes me the most, had come to this mansion, shaving away his lofty pride. The question of what thoughts led him to this mansion kept lingering.

I hope it’s an interesting story...

I wasn’t feeling too great because of the guest who came wearing Ruin’s mask. I felt like going to the headquarters of the heretics right away.

So. I hoped Ruin would tell an interesting story. Otherwise, I could only break Ruin’s mental state out of frustration.

I asked him a cruel question.

“Why did you come then? Honestly, we’re not in a laughing and chatting kind of relationship, are we? I don’t want to see the face of a dirty man like you either.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“I’ll decide based on your actions.”

“Seriously, you’re so rude.”

“You’re worse than me.”

“... “

“Look at me and speak after having a drink. Waiting is tiring.”

Ruin wiped his face with his dry hands, seeming to struggle to make a difficult request with his own mouth.

As an awkward tension filled the kitchen, spilling over into the living room, Ruin slowly opened his tightly shut mouth.

“Recently, I saw Yuria at the bar. Yuria, who doesn’t even like alcohol, was there drinking alone.”

“Hmm... I see.”

“I see?”

“Why are you getting upset? I just answered.”

Ruin, perhaps displeased with the mechanical response, glared at me with narrowed eyes.

“Continue speaking. I am listening.”

“Ah... Okay. I need to hold back.”

“Thank you. So, what is the main point?”

“At that time, I saw something strange.”

“If it’s something strange...?”

-Clank!

Ruin harshly set down the teacup and stared straight at me. Then, in a short and thick voice filled with heavy emotions and jealousy, he said to me,

“You.”

“...”

“You were there.”

“I don’t see what the issue is, I don’t understand?”

“You... sat next to Yuria, who was drinking alone, and talked as if you were close. I was about to leave.”

“Oh...”

“Hmph.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

I wondered if he had come to the mansion for just this reason. I had mentally prepared myself to fulfill a weighty request and even thought about kindly refusing, but I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the thought of Ruin coming to the mansion for such a trivial reason.

Silence lingered.

Ruin’s expression seemed as fragile as someone stepping on thin ice, on the verge of breaking, all because of the mocking laughter escaping my lips.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Well, isn’t it funny? Coming to the mansion just to have a drink with Yuria.”

“Just? Did you just say ‘just’ now?”

“No... *sigh*... Isn’t it amusing, Ruin? Coming here just to drink with Yuria. And...”

I spoke to him with a hint of sarcasm.

“Why are you acting like you have some special relationship with Yuria? I don’t understand English, you see.”

I replied to Ruin with a cold tone.

Did I say anything wrong?

He had no relationship with Yuria, so it was amusing for him to come and talk like this. Ruin abruptly stood up from his chair and glared at me in response to my question.

However.

“...”

Ruin couldn’t say a word.

There was no mistake in what I said, and he probably hadn’t even considered the idea that he still had feelings for Yuria.

A person who keeps bothering me.

What could Ruin, who only thinks this much about Uria, possibly say?

Look. Can’t say a word.

Ruin clenched his fist tightly.

For him, clenching his fist and grinding his teeth in frustration was all he could do in this situation.

I smiled at Ruin and replied, teasingly asking why he couldn’t speak.

“Surely. Are you here to ask me not to see Uria anymore in the future... is that your request?”

“...”

“Playing hardball, huh. But...”

I hesitated in my words and conveyed one fact that Ruin seemed to have forgotten.

What I felt while reading the novel.

The emotions I felt as I was immersed in the novel.

I said to Ruin without hesitation.

“Do you not think you have the right to do this to me?”

“What?”

“If Uria is bothering you, if Uria is being tormented, why would someone who stood by and did nothing while she suffered now ask me for such a favor? That’s what I’m curious about.”

“I didn’t just stand by....”

“Lies.”

I smiled.

“Poor lies.”

Truly.

“Miss Ruin.”

I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Do you like Uria?”

“...Shut up.”

“Well, you see.”

I said some rather cruel words to Ruin. It might sting a bit, no, it might sting a lot, but the logical conclusion in the novel, and her affection too, I murmured hazily into Ruin’s ear.

“Miss Uria does not like you.”

“Perhaps. Well, you see.”

I finally said to Ruin,

“This time, I will ask.”

The most curious question, laden with the meaning of the Oath of the Spectator.

“Do you like Uria?”

From Noble mtl dot com

He posed an unanswerable question.

*

Ruin, who had left the mansion, walked through the courtyard with a dark expression.

“Why is he so pushy, telling me this and that. Like X.”

I couldn’t pull myself together.

Originally, I had intended to tell Ricardo not to interfere with Uria.

Because the more involved with Ricardo, the harder it was for Uria. And when I saw Uria talking cheerfully with Ricardo at the tavern.

My insides are twisted.

Ruin wanted to resolve this emotion.

The tangled emotions from Hans seemed to have stirred up a forgotten memory even more intensely.

If he could erase this feeling, his mind would feel a bit clearer.

Honestly, Ruin had expected Ricardo to accept his proposal.

When it came to matters concerning Yuria, Ricardo was cooperative and tried his best to keep quiet. Ruin thought he would just respond with a simple “Got it.”

But Ricardo had ruined his mood with harsh words.

“Don’t be ridiculous...”

Ruin clenched his fist tightly and muttered in a low voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

He continued muttering to himself, filled with various emotions.

I don’t like it.

It’s just that it keeps coming to mind.

It’s not because I have strange feelings about being with another man. It’s just that being with another man feels disgusting.

Friendship. Yes, just friendship.

And if he protects her.

From Hans.

From any other threats.

If he watches over Yuria, she will come to like him.

Ruin wasn’t impatient.

So.

He wished that some clueless guy wouldn’t meddle.

Especially someone who was no better than himself.

“What the hell, this is ridiculous. What’s with the color of the mansion? So childish.”

Ruin muttered in a slightly raised voice. It was a voice loud enough to resonate throughout the mansion’s yard.

And at that moment.

A strange woman’s voice echoed in Ruin’s ears.

“Hmm?”

Sharp and the voice of the woman he disliked the most responded to Ruin’s soliloquy with a retort.

“What?”

The woman, teaching a bear to give her its paw, slowly turned her head with blind eyes.

“Is it you?”

“...”

“Are you picking a fight with me?”

White hair.

The blind eyes of the woman sitting in a wheeled chair began to darken gradually.

“Sigh...”

Ruin disliked Olivia.

“Hey.”

“Ah...”

“You can’t hear me?”

Simultaneously.

Olivia was frightened.

“I’m asking nicely.”

*

– You’re a disciple of Matapju?

-...

– Bullsh*t.