Page 245 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

- In Ricardo’s Viewing -

I looked at Mikhail’s eyes cautiously.

"What did you say...?"

Mikhail’s eyes, which initially reflected confusion, soon began to burn with anger.

"How do you know that name?"

"Because I am that person..." I said in a trembling voice.

"Shut up..."

Mikhail demanded to know how I knew the name from a memory that no one else could possibly know. Revealing more emotion than when harming someone, Mikhail shouted in rage.

"Don’t you dare speak of my memories with that filthy mouth."

In the viewing, I awkwardly smiled. I didn’t know how to handle the situation, clearly at a loss.

It was the first time I had been denied when claiming to be myself.

Watching this, I also let out a bitter sigh and shook my head. I couldn’t believe that I was so important to Mikhail.

I was just a friend to Mikhail, but I felt both grateful and awkward that Mikhail had not forgotten me from our memories.

‘This is troublesome.’

In the viewing, I spoke to Mikhail with a calm voice, as if it were nothing, pretending to be unaffected.

"Thank you for remembering me so well."

"Shut up."

"I didn’t expect you to still remember me."

I suppose I’m still me.

I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.

I had always wondered one thing.

How would Mikhail see me once I revealed the truth? Would I be someone significant in Mikhail’s eyes?

A lifesaver.

An old classmate.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected Mikhail to be warm toward me. In my mind, I wasn’t someone significant to Mikhail. But that was just my opinion.

More than anything, I was curious about my own reaction. Since I didn’t fully understand myself, I wondered how I would feel.

Would I laugh heartily about the past, or would I get angry at Mikhail for all the accumulated emotions? I had no idea how I would react if that situation ever came to pass.

In the viewing, I finally started to speak, facing Mikhail, who was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me.

Given the situation, I was exhausted, and my voice, laced with irritation, spoke to Mikhail.

"I’ve done my best, yet Mikhail, you seem to despise me."

"Who are you? Who told you that name?"

"Why is it always the same? Why can’t you just believe what I say?"

"Tell me."

"Sigh..."

In the viewing, I began to hurl sharp words at Mikhail, who couldn’t believe me.

"I’ve done everything I could for you, Mikhail."

"Stop evading and just speak clearly..."

"I tried to help you grow up more comfortably, and I did everything in my power not to burden you."

"Ricardo!!!"

"And I...!!!"

As I slowly revealed the truth, Mikhail’s complexion began to pale.

"That day, I held back the Archbishop’s forces for you...!"

"Please..."

"And when you were drifting in the river, I saved you without expecting even a word of thanks."

"No... This isn’t..."

"Why are you so disappointed in me?"

In the viewing, I shouted at Mikhail, standing in the rain. It seemed that as I spoke, I was being swept up by my own emotions. Foolishly.

"Why is everything I do seen as showing ? NоvеⅠight ? (Read more on our source) off or wrong?"

"...It’s not..."

"Do you hate me that much?"

"..."

"Was I, your childhood friend who stood by you, really so detestable?"

"...That’s not it. I just..."

"Then what am I? I’ve gone through hell just to keep the promise I made to protect you as a child. When the Academy caught fire, I ran in worried that you might be there. Why do I have to be called trash for that?"

In a desperate voice, I poured out my frustration to Mikhail.

"I didn’t kill a friend because I wanted to. Do you think I wanted to be trash? I’m still human. I have a conscience. Yes, I’m trash, but I’m still human."

"..."

"The friend you talk about was aiming for your neck behind your back. Was protecting you really a sin?"

"...Why."

"Why did I do it, you ask?"

In the viewing, it seemed I had more pent-up frustrations than I had realized. Once I started speaking, I couldn’t stop.

The misunderstandings.

The unspoken grievances that had been festering inside me, I spilled them all while clenching my fists.

"Because I made a promise."

"..."

"I made a damn promise to keep you from suffering. That’s why."

"..."

"I hate that you hurt the lady. I want to hit you right now, but that’s the promise I made. Damn it... I keep my word. Unlike your damn mother, I didn’t want to break a promise."

"I didn’t know."

"You didn’t know! Why do you only hate me?"

Watching myself in the viewing, I smiled bitterly. It was a relief to finally say it all, but it wasn’t exactly a proud moment.

I lowered my head and muttered softly.

"Wasn’t that a bit too harsh?"

Even if she is a lady.

‘I guess she doesn’t understand.’

I let out a hollow laugh and nodded.

Mikhail couldn’t say anything. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, soaking the floor, and she couldn’t even look at me.

Sobbing, Mikhail reached out with trembling fingers to grab my sleeve.

"I... I... I’m the bad person. I deserve to die... So please..."

In the viewing, I avoided Mikhail’s outstretched hand and declared the end of our relationship. I cursed her, saying I no longer wanted to be involved with her, and poured out all my bitterness.

"I don’t want anything to do with you anymore."

"Min-hyuk!!!"

"Don’t call me that."

"What...?"

"Like you once told me. Don’t call me by that name with your mouth."

"Ah... Ah..."

Mikhail tried to follow me as I walked away.

Begging me not to leave.

Even when she tripped over a puddle and fell.

Even when the curious stares of the students turned toward her.

Mikhail ran desperately, trying to catch up to the me in the viewing.

"..."

I didn’t feel good.

Seeing that scene didn’t make me feel relieved. Even if I had changed my mind after learning that Mikhail was a girl, it still didn’t feel right to see myself coldly ignoring the desperate girl chasing after me.

‘Idiot.’

I shook my head as I watched myself walk resolutely. If I had been swept up in my emotions at that moment, such a thing might have happened.

I kept my mouth shut, withholding my words.

The perspective shifted.

Mikhail was alone in a dark room, and the scene continued in the viewing.

The rain stopped.

The sun rose.

The moon set once more.

Even as countless days passed on the calendar, Mikhail stayed locked in the dormitory, not moving an inch.

"I’m sorry..."

In the darkness, where no light entered, Mikhail hugged her knees, worrying about someone who would never come, spending her days like that.

Occasionally, someone would knock on Mikhail’s door.

"Mikhail, are you in there...?"

Yuria came by.

"Mikhail, student."

A professor visited.

"If you don’t come out right now, you’ll be expelled, Mikhail."

Shartia urged her to continue her studies, but Mikhail remained locked inside her room, refusing to come out.

"I’m trash..."

Mikhail opened a notebook and wrote a letter. The recipient was Ricardo. At the same time, she wrote to the Min-hyuk she remembered from her memories, pouring out her apologies in letters that would never receive a reply.

"I’m sorry... I’m really sorry."

She kept writing apologies.

"I want to find you, but I’m afraid you’ll hate me. So I’m writing this letter instead. If you tell me not to send it, I won’t. If you say you don’t want to see me, I’ll leave. But please, just this once."

She desperately continued to write.

"Please, just reply to me once."

As she wrote those unanswered letters, Mikhail’s darkness deepened.

"...The viewing is ending."

They had seen different futures.

One man let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh..."

One woman writhed in unbearable sorrow.

"No... This can’t be..."

They both carried heavy hearts after witnessing different futures.

Love.

Jealousy.

Friendship.

The sheet of music filled with complex emotions seemed to finally reach its conclusion.

Not a repeat sign, but a final note.

"..."

The two of them closed their eyes and let their thoughts sink in.

-Thud.

Rain began to fall.

-Thud thud thud.

Raindrops started to fall one by one on my outstretched palm. The raindrops that fell on my shoulder as I walked through the streets of the capital soaked into my collar, slowly seeping in.

I smiled faintly and opened my umbrella.

"Damn."

Speaking now felt like the wrong choice.

I concluded that maybe once I found some stability, I could say it then. Choosing the best possible outcome was probably more beneficial to the life of someone who had been possessed.

"Phew."

Smiling faintly at what had yet to happen, I slowly walked through the streets of the capital.

And then.

-...

Across the carriage road stood a girl soaked in the rain.

I smiled slightly and walked toward her. Covering her with my umbrella, I greeted her.

"Misa."

"..."

"You’ll catch a cold."

Mikhail was staring at me endlessly.

"...I..."

I cut her off, smiling as I spoke.

"Sword."

"..."

"Come learn when you have time."

Her name was Misa.

At the same time, she was my friend.