Page 271 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Love can be the thin line that turns one into either a savior or an enemy.

“Hehe, honey!”

“Why, my baby.”

“I missed you.”

For some, love leaves the most meaningful memories in life, but for those whose love doesn't last, a confession can transform a good relationship into something entirely different.

Just like it did for the lady.

"..."

In front of the academy fountain, I sat on a bench, holding an iced coffee, watching couples pass by with a faint smile.

“They’re enjoying themselves.”

Once, I too dreamed of a life filled with pink hues like that. Now, here I am giving out relationship advice.

There are too many things I missed out on as someone who transmigrated.

“Idiot.”

Honestly, I’m just a coward.

I’m the type of coward who won’t confess unless I’m sure of the other person’s feelings. I might speak carelessly, but the moment I sense the other person doesn’t feel the same, I hide.

To be honest, I’m not qualified to teach Shuen anything about romance. I’ve never dated anyone, let alone had the courage to pursue someone. So, I can’t say I’m in a position to be teaching others....

But still, maybe I could give advice about love that’s doomed from the start.

Because I’m the kind of person who hates seeing beautiful girls cry and is obsessed with them. That’s justification enough, right?

“...”

About ten minutes passed in a daze when I heard a sharp, haughty voice behind me, a voice full of self-love.

“Commoner! You were thinking up another ridiculous idea, weren’t you?”

“...Did you arrive?”

“Ohoho...! I just got here! Making a commoner wait is a noble’s duty!”

“You’re 20 minutes early, though.”

“Urk...! Be quiet!”

Shuen, who had arranged our meeting to align with our mutual days off, was glaring at me, a crossbody bag slung between her ample chest.

Bowing at a 45-degree angle, Shuen looked as if she were showing off her figure, perhaps unconsciously, and I let out a faint chuckle as I patted the seat next to me.

“Have a seat. I’ll spread out a handkerchief for you.”

“Oh... how thoughtful of you, commoner. Thank you.”

“A noble’s backside is precious, after all.”

“You... your commoner mouth is filthy!”

Shuen flushed and lowered her head.

“So, have you mentally prepared yourself for today?”

“Why... why would I need to prepare anything? I just came to hear your ridiculous nonsense!”

“Haha! I’m honored. Well then, please listen carefully. I guarantee it’ll be entertaining.”

Feigning indifference, Shuen nodded her head primly as she pulled out a notebook. She claimed not to care, but her thorough preparation made me smile.

“Shuen, your reactions are so amusing.”

“Don’t laugh!”

Today’s conversation wasn’t going to be anything grand. We weren’t discussing the fate of the academy or the kingdom’s political climate.

It was something personal—her love story.

I thought back to the words she had once said to me as I watched the couples by the fountain.

“Yes, I like Michail.”

“I figured as much.”

“Are you going to mock me for it? For a noble loving a commoner? No matter what you say, I’m going to be with Michail. So, go ahead.”

“No, I just asked because it’s obvious.”

I let out a small sigh and turned to the fidgeting Shuen.

“You said you like Michail, right?”

“...”

“You said you want to be with him.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are you so embarrassed? Didn’t you proudly declare at the convenience store, ‘I’m going to be with Michail!’?”

“Don’t imitate me!”

“Haha! You’re so amusing.”

With a gentle smile, I began to share the thoughts I had organized in my mind.

“To be clear, I have no intention of helping you and Michail get together. Frankly, I don’t think it’ll happen.”

“You’re cursing me!”

“Exactly. I’m advising you not to confess.”

“I never said I would!”

I gazed at Shuen, whose lips were now pouting in protest.

“I have a feeling you will, though. Am I wrong?”

“I don’t know. Stop asking.”

Shuen’s hesitant lips were enough to make me stifle a laugh as I shook my head.

“Michail doesn’t like attention. Especially public confessions. When my lady did that, he absolutely hated it.”

“Ugh...”

“I wouldn’t expect someone like you, a noble with a sense of dignity, to have such romantic notions. Although, there have been plenty of people like my lady who have.”

“Ugh...”

“What would you do if you got rejected...?”

Shuen clenched her fists, looking at the ground. I decided to tease her a bit more.

“You won’t, will you?”

“Of... of course not!”

“I was just worried you might be one of those fools who publicly confesses at the fountain, saying, ‘Everyone, please bless us!’ and then getting rejected by Michail.”

“...”

Shuen went silent, realizing I had struck a nerve.

“I’m glad you’re not that kind of fool, Shuen.”

Her confidence took a heavy blow.

All I could offer were words of advice, because that’s all I could do.

After all, it’s an impossible love. The more false hope I give her, the more miserable she’ll become. So, I chose my words carefully.

“The most important thing is to make Michail like you.”

“...Make him like me?”

“Right now, Michail doesn’t even know your name.”

“...That’s true.”

“You haven’t even properly introduced yourselves. If you confess now, don’t you think that’s a bit problematic?”

“I hadn’t thought about that. I just assumed my charm would win him over...”

“Ah...”

I shook my head sympathetically. It seemed like her entire mindset needed a complete overhaul.

In the novel’s progression, Shuen would soon have more contact with Michail.

They would end up working on a shared assignment that would bring them closer. Naturally, they’d get to know each other and grow more familiar.

As Shuen’s feelings deepened, Michail would start to notice a familiar presence in her—he would begin to see her as a reflection of my lady.

Clinging. Loving. Being controlled by her emotions.

Then, ‘boom.’

It would all fall apart.

Watching Shuen passionately take notes, I decided to guide her toward a path that would at least hurt her less.

“Confessing is best done in private.”

“Got it.”

“And don’t do it at the fountain.”

“I said I got it!”

I had successfully prevented a public embarrassment.

“And instead of flaunting your nobility, showing genuine sincerity is better. Michail harshly rejects false sincerity. In fact, if you write down what you want to say and read it, he might actually appreciate it more.”

“...”

“At the very least, he won’t yell at you out of pity.”

“You’re a devil!”

“Haha... sorry.”

It wasn’t the best course of action, but it was different from the worst outcome the novel had shown. As someone who had already experienced the worst, it was the best advice I could give.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke to Shuen.

“This is probably the most important thing.”

“...Gulp.”

“Lastly...”

“Lastly!”

“Use me.”

Shuen stared at me with trembling eyes.

“What do you mean?”

I smiled brightly.

“Who do you think Michail dislikes the most?”

“...”

“The person who could create the biggest common ground with him and provide endless conversation topics.”

“You...”

“That’s right. Me.”

Once someone gets under Michail’s skin, it’s hard for that ° N ?? v ?? l i g h t ° irritation to disappear.

“It’s simple. Shuen, hate me.”

“What?”

“Things will get better.”

Her relationships. Her future.

When you have someone to blame, things tend to ease up.

“I’m not as kind as you think I am, Shuen.”

She needed a villain in her life.

Strange rumors began to spread around the academy.

Someone had been stealing supplies intentionally.

Training dummies and mana detectors could be brushed off, but the items going missing were high-value tools, ones that students would find difficult to obtain.

Magic staffs that improved spell efficiency and distillers for making potions. Tools that could be easily resold were disappearing, and all the rumors pointed to one man.

The new convenience store clerk.

Since Ricardo’s arrival at the academy, students had been looking at him with suspicion as these incidents occurred.

“Isn’t it him?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I came back to class for something I forgot, and I saw him entering the academy.”

“Shouldn’t we report him?”

“Not yet. We don’t have solid evidence.”

“If he gets caught, he’ll have to compensate us for all the missed practice.”

“...”

Sitting calmly at the register, Ricardo smiled as he waited for the right time.

“It should be soon.”

Michail and Shuen’s group assignment.

The academy's thief-catching task.

Of course, I wasn’t the culprit.