Page 252 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

[Your vitality level has been significantly adjusted.] 61% 100%

The vitality cost when using 'Hand of Rehabilitation Lv. 2' is reduced from '3%' to '0.5%'.

"..."

In the dark of night, alone in the room, I took a deep breath and covered my eyes with my sleeve.

"That was close."

The marathon I had been running for the past three years. I had almost faced a crisis right before the finish line. I was trying to calm my racing heart. I was so close to the end. If it had all ended right there, it would have been too disappointing, and that shock hadn’t yet subsided.

"Sigh."

I was really almost there. Just a bit more, and it felt like I would finally see some results. If I had been just a little slower, everything might have been for nothing.

"That was good timing."

There were still no noticeable signs in the young lady’s body. Other than the slight return of feeling in her legs, there was nothing else. Although this was already a significant improvement compared to before, humans are creatures of greed, and it's hard to be satisfied.

If I had to put a percentage on it, I'd say we were at about 40%. The amount of vitality I had poured into it wasn’t small, and the time for a reaction was approaching. I felt that the time for pouring water into a bottomless pit was coming to an end.

"Just a bit more..."

Just a bit more, and I felt like we might see some good signs...

I shook my head, chastising myself for getting ahead of myself. I reminded myself not to be impatient.

The survival issue had been mostly resolved by now. All that was left was to be patient, and a brighter future would be within reach. I mentally whipped myself to stay focused.

But then...

"How am I going to explain this to Lady Rosanna...?"

I had never been scolded by Rosanna before, who usually only praised me with kind words. I was at a loss for how to handle this situation.

And I even talked back to her.

I understood what Rosanna was saying, but I also had my position, so I couldn’t just bow my head and say, "Yes, ma'am."

What about the people left behind?!

"...Ha."

Yet, strangely, I felt good about it. I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt good to know that someone was worried about me.

In my previous life, I had no friends, no parents, and no one to mourn for me. But here, there were people who would be sad even over a small injury. It made me smile, thinking about how, in my previous life, I didn’t even have anyone who would hold a funeral for me.

"I must be doing something right."

I had never wanted to die for someone before, but now that feeling had changed a lot, and I was happy to see the rewards of my efforts.

In my past life, whenever I did someone a favor, I’d hear people talk behind my back.

Does he ever do anything other than work?I don’t know. He works on weekends, saying he has to send money to the orphanage. By the way, should we take him to a club? He’s got a good face; maybe he can be our lucky charm.Ugh. If we bring him, we’ll end up eating cheap food. Just let him work.

"..."

Yeah.

"Why was I so desperate back then?"

Now, I think sacrificing myself so the young lady can be happy is the best choice, but back then, why didn’t I just enjoy life?

I let out a hollow laugh and shrugged. Thinking about the past wouldn’t change anything now. After all, I was happy back then, and I’m happy now.

I wasn’t unhappy.

Maybe it’s because I’ve always been an optimistic person, but I think I’ve lived a pretty good life, both in my past life and in this one.

Well, in my past life... I died in battle, but... Oh, come to think of it, there was one thing I regretted.

'The military.'

Damn it. I should have delayed it for two more years.

"Ha~ Whatever."

I stretched and let go of the pointless thoughts. Overthinking things never did any good, anyway. Besides, with all the problems involving Mikhail and the cult, my head already hurt. If I kept thinking, my brain cells would definitely complain, so I decided to focus on the approaching footsteps with a small smile.

Creak.

Stealthily.

I hadn’t noticed it while talking with Rosanna, but now that I was alone in the [N O V E L I G H T] room, I could hear the footsteps approaching.

Carefully lifting their toes.

Creak.

And holding their breath.

Huff...

Was it really necessary to hold their breath? I let out a small laugh and walked towards the door, planning to surprise this late-night intruder.

Are you asleep...? You shouldn’t be sleeping...

I could hear the sound of someone taking a deep breath and fidgeting fingers. And then...

"You shouldn’t pick your nose."

I heard the sound of a sniff and someone hastily wiping their nose with their sleeve. This visitor, who was showing every possible unseemly behavior a noble could exhibit, made me chuckle as I slowly opened the door.

Creak...

"Miss, how many times have I told you not to pick your nose?"

"Eek...!"

A small figure, barely visible without lowering my head, peeked up at me with tousled white hair sticking out.

With her finger aimed at her nose. Her mouth open in an "O." The young lady, with wide eyes, pointed her finger at me.

"Ricardo!" "Yes." "Want some?"

"...?"

Truly, she was the cutest noble I had ever known. Watching her, who had retained the same cuteness since she was a child, I suppressed my laughter and shook my head.

"No, I’m fine." "Oh..."

The young lady nodded and wiped her finger on her clothes. Despite everything, she wasn’t so dirty as to completely disregard her noble dignity. She shook her head, trying to maintain a dignified expression as if nothing had happened.

"Knock, knock." "The door’s already open." "It’s just polite." "Oh. I should learn that." "Mhm."

The young lady then reached into her pajamas and pulled out a piece of chocolate, offering it to me.

"I brought a snack. Do you want to share it?" "Shall we?" "Mhm." "But will one be enough? We both have mouths to feed."

The young lady looked seriously at the unopened chocolate wrapper. She seemed reluctant to share, yet she knew that not sharing would make her seem petty. So, with a determined expression, she squeezed her eyes shut and extended the chocolate to me.

"L...let’s share it! I’ll split it with you." "Oh... How generous." "I came to share it, so we have to keep it a secret from Mom and Dad." "Haha! Understood."

I lowered my voice as I led the young lady into the room, mindful of the others sleeping in the house.

Once inside, she looked around with wide eyes. Unlike the mansion in Hamel, the room here was large and neatly organized, which seemed to fascinate her. She punched the bed, opened and closed the curtains, repeating these actions with a sense of wonder.

With a puff of air, she exclaimed,

"So this is a man’s room...!" "Don’t make it sound so inappropriate." "It’s my first time...!" "What about the time you hid in my wardrobe?" "Heeyong!"

She was always someone who spoke her mind.

After setting out some tea and the chocolate on the small table, I sat the young lady down in a chair and smiled at her.

"So, Miss." "Mhm." "What brings you here at this late hour?"

I gave her a small smile, thinking that there must be a reason for her troubled expression and her visit at such a late hour. The young lady loved her sleep, so I figured there had to be a hidden reason for her visit.

"...It’s nothing. I just wanted to share some chocolate with you." "Hmm... Is that so?" "Mhm."

She stared at the table with a stiff expression. It was obvious from her fidgeting fingers beneath the table that she was lying. Her transparent attempt at an excuse made me smile wryly as I rested my arms on the table.

"There must be a reason why you came to see me so late." "Hiccup..." "Are you short on allowance?"

Shakes head.

"Is there something you want to buy?"

Shakes head.

"Hmm..."

The young lady shook her head, avoiding answering directly. She was trying to prove she had no ulterior motives by remaining silent and shaking her head, leaving me with a puzzled look as I slowly sipped my tea.

'What could it be?'

I still couldn’t figure it out.

When she finally split the chocolate in two, she handed me a piece that was less than a quarter of the original size, with trembling hands. She cautiously spoke up.

Her gaze fixed on the table below.

"Hey, Ricardo."

She spoke in a somber tone.

"By any chance..." "Yes." "Are you..." ‘Yes?’ "...fixing my legs?"

Her sudden question left me momentarily speechless. I hadn’t expected such a question, and my mind couldn’t keep up. The young lady, who had been straightforward with her words, looked down, unable to meet my gaze.

She clenched her small fists and spoke again.

"Ricardo... are you... fixing my legs?"

"Did you lie about finding medicine, and are you studying to heal my legs?"

"Are you... hurting a lot, but still trying to heal my legs...?"

I awkwardly smiled and shook my head at her question.

"...No, why would I do something like that?" "..." "If I had been doing that, you’d be walking by now, wouldn’t you? You know me, I’m very good at my job. If I were to do something like that, I’d make sure it was worth it, with additional pay...."

The words that spilled out were haphazard, disjointed. I couldn’t even keep track of what I was saying, or what point I was trying to make.

The young lady watched me as I rambled on.

With both fists clenched. Biting her lip, she looked straight at me.

"Hey, Ricardo." "Yes, Miss."

The young lady spoke in a trembling voice.

"I think you would do something like that." "...What?" "The Ricardo I know."

With eyes that looked ready to burst into tears.

"Would do something like that... and it scares me."

She said to me.