Page 175 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

In conclusion, the bet was postponed.

Until the day Rowan’s term as an external instructor at the academy ends. It was postponed for 15 days.

-Not yet.... It means I can’t win. It hasn’t been long since I became the master’s disciple, and I don’t have any stamina left after finishing my training.

-Wouldn’t it be less embarrassing to do it now? Because there is an excuse to surround you.

-You shut up...!

-Your words are harsh. I said it after thinking about it.

Thanks to Mikhail’s trivial excuses, Rowan was able to avoid insulation. I had asked him, but it wasn’t easy to accept.

-That’s enough.

-Conditioning is also a skill.

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-Think about it logically. Mikhail has been my disciple for...

-Won’t your esteemed disciple prove it? Why are you afraid to face a duel with me, a user of the same aura, and a talent acknowledged by the Empire’s Sword?

-I can’t accept.

-What a coward. The Empire’s Sword.

Mikhail and Rowan’s banter, as if they were heroes stalling for time to transform, irritated me, but it couldn’t be helped.

Neither Hannah nor Mikhail would accept it if the match were held today.

A match that left only awkwardness was meaningless. To break Rowan’s stubbornness, it couldn’t be done that way.

The only thing I was worried about was Mikhail’s growth rate. The story that would initiate Mikhail’s growth, which had been stagnant for a while, was approaching.

He was the nominal male lead, a guy who would eventually become the world’s strongest in the novel’s finale. I couldn’t ignore him.

With his own strength.

And talent.

Of course, it was possible with Rowan’s guidance, hardship, and a stroke of luck, but there was no denying that Mikhail had risen to his position with his own strength.

Because he had faced many hardships.

That’s why I was worried. I wondered if Hannah could keep up with Mikhail’s growth.

A character who didn’t appear in the novel.

Hannah of Histania.

She was a variable because she was someone I didn’t know yet, but at the same time, she knew a lot.

Just looking at the words of the Blue Spear, it was clear that she had the talent to surpass Rowan, the talent to become the ‘Empire’s First Sword’, but no one knew when the flower of her talent would bloom.

The fact that the balance was tipped by uncertain information, which could be in her 20s or even 30s, was an undeniable reality.

No matter how the situation turned out, Mikhail would face hardships and overcome them.

“Hmm...”

That much is certain.

I have to make her win somehow.

That was the best I could do, and my reward for Hannah’s faith.

When your disciple gains courage, it’s not something a teacher can sit still for and just cheer them on with a ‘Do your best!’

All I had to do was tell Hannah what I knew about how to defeat Rowan.

And Mikhail couldn’t have grown miraculously in 14 days, and ◆ Nоvеl?g?t ◆ (Only on Nоvеl?g?t) it was still a long way from the start of the story about his growth.

Even if Mikhail grew rapidly under Rowan’s guidance, we would grow too.

I spoke to Hannah, who was blankly staring at the spot where Mikhail and Rowan had left.

I asked her why she looked so gloomy.

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Ah... It’s just complicated. My mind is all over the place, and I’m wondering if I can win... I’m upset in many ways.”

“We haven’t even started yet.”

I said, looking at Rowan’s departing figure.

“Neither Hannah nor I have started yet.”

That steadfast back.

As I watched the back of the Empire’s Sword,

I said with conviction.

“We can win. We can.”

I can still get stronger.

Both Hannah and I.

It’s an arrogant thought, but I believe that if I set my mind to it, I can become stronger than anyone.

If fate, hardship, and luck are on my side, I think I can surpass even the Empire’s Sword or the Apostle of the Heretics.

It’s an arrogant thought indeed.

This incident made me think a lot.

A sense of vigilance, a warning to my stagnant self perhaps. Seeing Rowen overcome his hardships inspired me.

I need to work harder than I am now.

It’s embarrassing to be weaker than my rival’s master, so I should at least be on par with him.

That’s the duty of a teacher to protect their student’s pride.

I stroked Hannah’s hair with a small smile. Hannah couldn’t lift her head as her hair calmly fell down.

“I’m sorry. I acted on my own.”

“It’s alright.”

“I wanted to be of help... I’m sorry that I only ever receive help.”

“No, I’m the one who received a lot of help from Hannah. You don’t need to apologize.”

“I...”

I smiled gently as I looked at Hannah, who couldn’t lift her head due to her guilt.

“It’s alright.”

It was a dark night.

There was still time before daybreak, and we had a lot of time to spend together.

I grabbed Hannah’s hand and dragged her to a chair that was placed outside the training hall. Hannah, who was dragged without knowing the reason, just silently followed me.

I took out a small handkerchief from my arms and placed it on the chair. Even if the academy was well-cleaned, there was still dust.

It’s a gentleman’s duty to not let dust get on a lady’s clothes, so I smiled and sat Hannah down on the chair.

“There are a lot of stars out tonight.”

I started with a small greeting.

I greeted her to calm my heart, which was still flustered from the sudden incident, and Hannah nodded her head and replied to my greeting.

“Yes... there are a lot of stars. I didn’t know there would be this many.”

“Right?”

Hmm...

“Sometimes, you need to take it easy like this. To just gaze up at the sky without thinking about anything.”

“...”

“You must have had a hard time?”

“...”

Hannah didn’t answer my quiet question.

There probably weren’t many people who asked her about the process of her efforts. She would probably be used to the words ‘run’ or ‘keep running even if you fall’ or ‘don’t run and just stay still’, so I didn’t press Hannah for an answer.

I just quietly spoke my thoughts that I had after watching Hannah until now.

“I think you must have had a hard time.”

“...”

“How tiring must it be to run without a destination?”

“...”

“Do you know that?”

I sat next to Hannah and pointed to a twinkling star. I think that star was called Polaris, but since this is a different world, it might not be. But it was the brightest star, so I smiled and ignored it.

“Stars shine by burning themselves. It’s painful and difficult, so why do they work so hard? No one notices, but it’s funny that a shining star looks foolish.”

I said, looking at Hannah, who was staring at the star.

“Many people don’t know what efforts a star makes to shine, so it’s funny to say that it’s pretty.”

“But don’t I know? That the star is shining with all its might.”

“There’s one more person today.”

I smiled brightly at Hannah.

The wind is cold.

The cool breeze blows like a song of the night, cold and warm at the same time.

The wind blew and scattered my hair, and I stroked my hair and looked at the stars.

‘What is it?’

Hannah was looking at Ricardo.

She was blankly staring at Ricardo, who was shining brightly like that star.

Sparkling.

Gorgeous.

Warm and fuzzy at the same time.

With emotions rushing in, Hannah just looked at Ricardo without saying anything.

I smiled slightly at Hannah’s silence and said,

“Sometimes I think that way. Is there anything I need to do when no one notices?”

“I mean, being accused, hated, and cursed, do I really need to suffer like this?”

“But you know.”

I exhaled softly and said. It was awkward to say out loud, but at the same time, it was something I wanted to say to Hannah.

“Someday, they’ll all find out.”

“That’s weird.”

“It’s like I know Hannah’s efforts.”

I smiled slightly and took my hand away from the star. I guess this kind of embarrassing talk doesn’t suit me.

I waved my flushed face and said to Hannah,

“Aren’t you cold?”

“No, I’m not cold. Are you okay, Butler?”

“I’m cold.”

Hannah’s eyes widened at my playful words. I laughed a little as Hannah flinched as if she was going to take off her coat.

“Just kidding.”

“What the...!”

“I’m not cold because I bought expensive clothes.”

I smiled slightly.

Hannah and I talked a lot.

How have you been?

Isn’t this winter too cold?

I guess the main topic was the young lady. It was my favorite topic and a story that Hannah could sympathize with.

– The princess is making money?

I never thought I would be talking about the young lady with someone, you know.

– I should introduce you to my side job next time.

It felt different talking like this.

– The princess is on a diet...?

– Yes. She suddenly decided to lose weight.

– She’s not sick, is she?

It’s fun being able to talk about this with someone else.

– Why do you hate chocolate, Butler-nim?

– Because the young lady likes it.

– hahahahaha...! What is that.

– It’s also half-serious, but it’s too sweet, you see.

I was grateful that there was someone who was curious about me.

I didn’t have many people I could call friends in this world. It was the same in my previous life.

There weren’t many people who could put up with my difficult personality, and I had lived my life centered around the young lady.

I had no regrets about my narrow circle of relationships.

She was someone I chose.

And she was a beautiful person.

I had no regrets either.

After talking for a while. I dusted off my pants and got up from my seat.

Hannah looked at me and raised her head. I smiled slightly at Hannah’s gaze that followed my every little movement and looked at the training ground.

“Are you a bit less nervous now?”

“Yes.”

After hearing Hannah’s answer, I turned my shoulders and stretched. It was time for me to do my job as a teacher.

I spoke to Hannah in a light voice.

“Then let’s get started. If you’re going to win, it’s better to win for sure than to win with difficulty.”

Hannah slowly got up as well.

As she opened her eyes straight and looked at me, I thought her gaze was reliable.

“It won’t be easy. Because I’m going to teach you much more intensely than before.”

-Nod.

“I can win.”

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Before going down to the training ground.

Hannah grabbed my collar and said.

“Excuse me, Butler-nim.”

“Yes.”

Hannah exhaled deeply and bowed her head, and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Because you’re pretty.”

Hannah stopped and didn’t move for a long time.

I stood there for a long time, blushing.