Page 282 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

“Dad... Dad... please, save me...!”

In the scene where his daughter’s desperate screams echoed, Loen stood there blankly.

‘...’

His entire body was soaked in blood. His face was wet with tears. He stood frozen in front of his daughter, whose voice had grown hoarse.

Though he knew the scene before him was a dream, as he had seen it every night, his legs—driven by a ★ ?????????????????? ★ father’s instinct—moved toward her, even knowing it wasn’t real.

"Histania Hannah...!"

Loen knelt in front of Hannah, but his hands couldn’t reach her. Like a sinner only allowed to observe, his hand grasped the empty air, powerless to change anything.

How pitiful.

The head of a noble family, reduced to tears. Yet the weight of his emotions, never lightening over time, forced him to repeat the same actions again and again.

When his own father died, he hadn’t shed a tear, and now he thought how pathetic he looked, crying in a mere dream.

“Hannah... please... open your eyes...”

Regretting the things that hadn’t even happened.

And then, just as his daughter’s breath faded away,

Loen woke from the nightmare.

“Hah... Hah...”

Loen wiped the sweat from his face. His cheeks were wet—he must have cried in his sleep.

"Pathetic."

Sitting on his bed, Loen let out a hollow laugh, muttering quietly to himself.

"No matter how much I train my body, I can’t seem to train my emotions..."

He had swung his sword countless times on many battlefields, led many to victory, yet in this nightmare, victory always eluded him. Loen chuckled bitterly at the thought.

In his dreams, he was weak—helpless—and he couldn’t even lift his head.

Still, Loen didn’t think his decisions were wrong.

It was all for his daughter. For his family. For the future of his house.

Even if it seemed stubborn, he didn’t believe that following the path laid out by his ancestors, who had built the current Histania, was a mistake. If he were wrong, then they must have been wrong, too.

But...

Don’t ever show yourself to me again.I will not inherit the head of the Histania family.

The results of the choice he believed was the best shook his emotions, even if only faintly.

His daughter had left him. And his eldest son, whom he had raised without want, had gone in search of his "dream."

“...”

Was this truly the right path?

When the outcome seemed so tragic.

Was his stubbornness still justified?

Loen sat on his bed, endlessly repeating these thoughts, finally starting to grasp what had gone wrong.

The cause didn’t seem far away.

All the arrows pointed in the same direction, yet he was denying it, perhaps because he didn’t want to admit it.

And so, Loen decided to visit someone.

It’s because you lack the ability to teach.

The young man who had been the start of everything. If anyone could give him a straightforward answer, it would be him.

“...”

Loen sighed heavily as he watched the rising sun.

At the lady’s mansion in Hamel.

-Clink.

Loen sat in the reception room, looking down at the steaming cup of tea in silence.

“...”

What exactly had he come to say?

I looked at Loen, who had requested a private audience, and responded to his silence with silence of my own. I didn’t really have anything to say, either.

‘... Is it because of the heretics?’

I gave a faint smile and offered Loen a polite greeting, urging him to speak, hoping he wouldn’t drag out the suspense any longer.

“Welcome to the Desmund estate, Lord of Histania.” “...” “I’m not sure if it suits your taste, but the tea is brewed from mandrake root. It’s good for vitality and health, so please enjoy.”

Loen gazed at the steaming tea for a moment before giving a slight nod.

“Thank you.” “It’s an honor to host the Sword of the Empire.”

I couldn’t figure out why Loen had come to the mansion. It wasn’t as if we had a particularly good relationship, and it didn’t seem like he had come to see the lady.

There was something I could guess, but considering how quiet he had been so far, it didn’t seem likely.

As if sensing my confusion, Loen finally opened his mouth, breaking his long silence.

“...You’re Ricardo, right?” “Yes, that’s correct.” “I heard you’ve been making a name for yourself in the capital.” “It’s nothing.” “And in the north as well.” “...”

Seeing my expression harden, Loen reassured me in a light tone, as if to say I didn’t need to worry.

“Only a few know. You don’t need to be concerned about rumors spreading.”

I kept my silence.

His words might not be compliments. It could be caution or suspicion. Considering how deeply involved I was with the heretics, it was reasonable for him to have doubts.

“I’m not here to scold you. I simply wanted to acknowledge your accomplishments at a young age.” “Thank you for the praise.” “I would ask why you’re trying to hide your deeds, but... I’ll refrain. That conversation would take too long.” “Thank you for your understanding.” “But there is one thing I’d like to ask.”

Loen’s voice grew heavier as he posed his question.

“Was the apostle strong?”

Without hesitation, I answered. There was no way to sugarcoat the strength of an apostle.

“Yes, extremely strong.”

Loen gave a small nod and asked another question.

“How many people do you think could face them?” “I don’t know many, but I would say perhaps you, the Lord of the Magic Tower, and the head of the Desmund family.” “Then about four people, including yourself.”

Loen nodded again and added, “That makes five, including you.”

I could see why he thought that, considering figures like the Mercenary King, the Blue King, and the Empress. But since they weren’t friendly toward the empire, I didn’t bring them up. I shrugged slightly and gave a modest answer.

“I don’t consider myself to be of that caliber.” “Your humility is excessive.”

For the first time, Loen lifted his gaze to look directly at me. He set his cup down, studied me briefly, and murmured, “You’ve become quite the monster,” with a small nod of acknowledgment.

I clasped my hands together as I sat in front of him.

“So, what is it you’d like to say to me?” “I’d like to speak a bit more.” “Is it because you want to recruit me into the knights?” “Your arrogance is remarkable. The Imperial Knights don’t take violent men like you. And being strong doesn’t guarantee a place with us.”

Loen took a sip of tea, moistening his throat, and spoke in a more relaxed tone.

“You were Hannah’s teacher, weren’t you?” “...” “The reason I came today isn’t as the Sword of the Empire. I came as Hannah’s father.” “Perhaps we should have spoken more.” “You might be the only person in the empire who can speak to me like this. Even the emperor wouldn’t dare. You’ve got guts.” “I only act this way because I believe it’s worth it. After all, I’m meeting with a parent.” “...”

Loen let out a heavy sigh, looking at me as if unsure where to start.

It wasn’t about the heretics. It wasn’t about recruiting for the knights. It was about Hannah...

I wasn’t sure what he was going to say, so I focused on his next words. If this were the Loen from the novel, he’d have something warm to say. But the Loen I had encountered in person had never shown a hint of fatherly affection.

Before he could say something strange, I gave him a warning.

“If you’re planning to talk about the last duel, I won’t say anything.” “...Why would I bring that up?” “There’s no other reason for you to seek me out.” “Is that really how you see me?” “I’m sure others see you the same way.” “...”

Loen took another sip of tea.

Muttering to himself, “He doesn’t lose a single word,” he rubbed his dry hands over his forehead.

“Ricardo.” “Yes.” “How do you see me?” “As the strongest person in the empire.” “That’s not what I meant. I’m asking how I appear as a father.”

I smiled slightly and asked him a question in return. He would need to be ready for what I had to say.

“Are you sure you want to hear it?”

Loen gave an awkward smile and nodded, as if to say any answer was fine, as long as it helped with his internal struggle.

Without any sugarcoating, I spoke directly to him.

“I think you’re the worst.” “...” “To someone like me, who grew up without parents, you seem like a father who only cares about his own stubbornness.” “...” “As Hannah’s teacher, and as an individual, I view you very negatively, to the point where I’d like to throw you out.” “...”

Loen asked me with a heavy expression.

“Then what should I do? Should I acknowledge Hannah’s sword, or should I fully support her future?” I shrugged and responded to Loen’s stiff words.

“How should I know?”

How could I know? I’m an orphan who’s never even met my parents.

“All I’m sure of is that Miss Hannah won’t accept any gifts you offer her.” “...” “I think your entire perspective is fundamentally flawed, Lord.”

Loen gave a heavy nod.

“I see. Yes...”

Loen began to acknowledge it.

“From the very beginning, it was all wrong.”

He admitted his mistake.

And...

“Eeeeek...!”

Olivia was bored.