Page 136 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Another peaceful day at the Desmundt mansion.

Darvab, who had left work earlier than usual, stopped unwrapping his scarf and stood still at the sight of an unfamiliar guest.

-Zigzag.

A strange current flowed.

Darbav, who had never received any notice of a visitor, faced the guest confidently in front of the entrance, engaging in a staring contest.

The guest, sitting expressionless, gazed at Darbav with round eyes.

“Father.”

The woman began the conversation with an arrogant remark. Darbav, hearing the guest’s first words, replied with a stern expression.

“Yes, Olivia.”

“Yeah.”

Without further words, the two women faced each other. They exchanged intense glances as if understanding each other’s thoughts without speaking.

Darbav, loosening her scarf, asked Olivia.

“Did you come because you missed your father?”

“No. Ricardo left me and went away.”

“Really?”

“No. Ricardo took a vacation. He came to visit.”

“I see.”

A smile formed on Darbav’s lips.

Darbav was excited at the thought of spending time with her daughter after a long time.

But, what’s that?

Darbav looked at the black furball sitting modestly next to Olivia. It didn’t seem like the type of creature to keep as a pet. There would be many issues raising such a beast as a pet. Feeding it would be quite a task, and Darbav was uncertain if the creature could survive when hungry.

– A bear.

Darbav pointed at the black fur ball sitting next to Olivia and asked, “Olivia, what is that?”

“A bear.”

“I get that, but why is it next to you?”

“It’s emergency rations.”

With a stern tone, Bear Soup, who had been casually looking at Darbav, turned his head to look at Olivia.

– A bear?

Though unable to understand animal language, Olivia felt like the beast was spitting out harsh words. As Bear Soup locked eyes with Olivia, she put a finger to her lips, lost in deep thought.

– A bear.

“Hmm...”

-Grrr.

“Uh...”

Darbav, intrigued by his daughter’s seemingly communicative behavior, asked, “Are you having a conversation?”

“No. I don’t understand a word of what it’s saying.”

“Then why are you reacting?”

“If you ignore him, won’t he feel bad?”

Darbav considered his daughter to be quite considerate. Taking care of animals too, wasn’t she a lover of animals? Of course, she had an endlessly cold personality towards humans, but still.

Proud of Olivia becoming an animal lover, Darbav was pleased.

Olivia found a peaceful point of agreement with Gomtangi through a mysterious staring contest, and she started to elaborate on her previous statement while gently stroking Gomtangi’s head.

“It’s not an emergency ration to cancel, it’s medicine.”

-Gom?

“What?”

-Go-ohm?

“It’s unavoidable.”

Gomtangi resented Olivia.

And Darbav too.

“It’s about bears...”

He wanted to raise a bear.

“I want to raise one too.”

*

I’ve had many thoughts.

About this episode.

I pondered whether to smoothly conclude the episode through the intervention of the possessed or to believe in the protagonist’s own strength.

There were many obstacles to personally helping, and the penalties for trusting the protagonists were too severe.

Uriah’s corruption.

It was an unrevealed content even in the side stories. The fact that Uriah, who had the color of innocence, would corrupt was something I had never imagined.

Moreover, Uriah’s corruption meant that the core of the novel would be shaken.

With such penalties at stake, entrusting the world’s fate to protagonists like leftovers is an absurd story, isn’t it? Sigh...

And three rewards.

Vitality information and hidden talent of magic. Lastly, the +100 mana attribute was an irresistible enchanting ? Nоvеl?g?т ? (Continue reading) reward.

Especially, the information about vitality was even more enticing.

As I consumed vitality, the burden on my body was increasing. The pain that occurred every time I used it might be related to vitality, like catching a cold that one doesn’t usually catch.

Without knowing specifically what vitality was being consumed for, it was a daunting task to use it recklessly.

So far, I knew two pieces of information.

Vitality does not recover over time, and even if it decreases, it does not affect the attributes.

All other information about vitality was unknown, and I had to discover it through experience.

Therefore. I must find out.

There were significant penalties for failure.

And rewards for success made it impossible to ignore the quest.

And as I made my decision.

I was standing in front of Yuria now.

“Ricardo?”

Yuria’s eyes widened at my sudden appearance. She probably didn’t expect me to be in a used clothing store, or even in the capital.

I looked at the surprised Yuria with a small smile.

“Yes, it’s me. How have you been?”

“How come you’re here?”

“I needed some clothes too.”

I turned my pants pocket inside out to show Yuria.

“As you know, I don’t have much money, do I? When I heard the Empire was hosting this event, I rushed here in one go.”

Yuria was staring at me with vacant eyes. I was probably the only one who had come all the way to the Empire from Hamel just to buy a single outfit.

I lightly tapped Yuria’s forehead, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression, and smiled.

“Why. Have you never seen a flower beggar before?”

“No... it’s just that.”

“Hurry up and choose. All the good clothes will be snatched up.”

A faint blush appeared on Yuria’s face.

[Yuria Lv. 32]

[Occupation: Academy Student/Virginity Candidate]

[Affection Level: 10]

From Noble mtl dot com

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Friends/Volunteering/Justice/Handsome Men/First Love/Benefactor of Life/Father/Ricardo/Blossoming First Love/Ballroom Dance]

[Disliked Conversation Topics: Olivia/Hardships/Followers of Other Religions/Own Incompetence/(New!)Embarrassed...]

I could tell that she was embarrassed by the sight of herself picking out a dress at a flea market.

The affection level window indicated so, and in the novel, there was a description of Yuria feeling embarrassed when choosing a second-hand dress.

While other students were picking out new dresses, Yuria must have found herself comical searching for a second-hand dress that someone else might have worn.

Therefore, I treated Yuria as delicately as possible, opening the episode in accordance with her mood.

I repeatedly rummaged through the pile of clothes, keeping my gaze fixed on it, and casually said to Yuria,

“Second-hand seems quite decent.”

“...Do you think so?”

“The cost of living is harsh. Even when I was attending the academy, I often bought and wore second-hand clothes.”

“The academy provides uniforms...”

“I only wear servant’s clothes.”

“Oh...”

“If you look closely, you’ll find many good things.”

Once again, I delved deep into the pile of clothes, searching for something.

“Where did I put it... I remember putting it here.”

As the time spent with Yuria lengthened, her stiff expression gradually softened into a more relaxed one.

Digging through the pile of clothes, Yuria spoke in a soft voice.

“I thought Ricardo wouldn’t like these things.”

“It seems you don’t have an eye for people. If it’s cheap, he’ll go crazy for it.”

“Since you’re with Olivia, I thought you only wore expensive clothes.”

“Hmm... I see.”

Nodding in agreement with Yuria’s thoughts, I acknowledged that until her downfall, she had been like a tree that generously gives. It was true that she had been treated well, better than most nobles in terms of salary, clothing, and food.

Since Yuria’s words were accurate, I silently continued rummaging through the pile of clothes without any particular reaction, while Yuria slowly began to reveal the story she had been holding inside.

“My friends would dislike this, so I couldn’t suggest going together.”

“Indeed, it would be awkward to introduce such a place to friends.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t it best to monopolize good products? Eliminating competitors and getting the best clothes is the purpose of this market.”

I delved deep into the pile of clothes a few more times.

I slowly began to pull, feeling the soft texture hanging on my fingertips.

“...I found it.”

Yuria’s face was redder than usual.

“Ricardo, aren’t you embarrassed to act like this? Wearing clothes others discarded, finding decent ones, and laughing – isn’t that embarrassing?”

“No?”

As I gradually brought the soft fabric into my body, I spread a mischievous smile towards Yuria.

“Don’t you have clothes like this?”

“Huh...?”

A pure white dress.

As the dress Yuria had seen a while ago emerged from the pile of clothes, she widened her eyes and covered her mouth.

“No... why this dress...”

“This is what luck looks like.”

Let me tell you in advance, this dress was a brand-new item bought with my money.

It wasn’t as expensive as a lady’s dress, and as a newly rich person stepping into Young Rich, this level of extravagance was an expense I could easily afford.

So.

“Take it.”

This was a gift for Yuria.

If she wore a recognizable dress, she could be found even if her face changed.

You never know.

Likely, the affinity will hit rock bottom.

So, it felt like a tracker.

In this event, Yu-ria briefly lost her beauty by Hans’ hand.