Page 291 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

The lady grabbed the collar of my shirt and let out a puff of breath.

“Take it off!”

Take it off? Did she even understand what she was asking? Laughing in disbelief, I decided to ask her directly.

“Are you harassing me right now?” “No!” “Is it okay if I report you to the Housekeepers’ Human Rights Committee?” “There’s no such thing.” “I’ll start one today.” “Heeek! Just take it off!”

Her eyes were deadly serious. She looked as though, if I didn’t take it off, she’d crawl on the ground and tear it off me herself.

‘This is a bit scary...’

“...” “What?” “No, let’s think about this rationally. I’m a man, and you’re...” “A noble.” “...?” “It’s fine. I’m open-minded and can accept it.” “But I’m not okay with this.” “I’m fine.”

Once again, I found myself sighing deeply at the young lady’s frequent and thoughtless demands. Was she really going to make me undress?

With her stubborn personality, she wouldn’t stop until I did. And there was no running away from this either.

‘This isn’t easy...’

I appreciated her concern, but still, we were opposite genders, and there were many things to be mindful of. Especially since, if she saw my perfectly sculpted body, she might just fall for me.

“Hmm.”

But seeing her casually picking her nose, I doubted that scenario.

Chuckling at my own overthinking, I sheepishly turned toward the entrance of the cave where the rain poured down. Gripping the edge of my soaked shirt, I looked back at her.

“Are you really sure you want me to take it off?” “Take it off!” “Really, really sure? I’m going to do it.” “Eeeek! Just take it off! Who’s going to take care of you if you catch a cold?” “Well, that’s true, but...”

Eyeing her serious expression, I began to undo the buttons of my shirt one by one. As my pale skin slowly came into view, she let out an exaggerated gasp.

“For real, no comments afterward.” “Yeah, I’m not even interested, so don’t worry.” “That stings a bit.” “I’m fine with it.” “...”

With all the buttons undone, I paused for a moment, pondering my next move as I watched the rain fall.

I felt shy just stripping down entirely. But covering myself with my shirt would seem too cowardly. And then there were...

The scars.

“...”

Even though the dark stains left by the black magic had faded, the scars that marred my skin remained, jagged and hard to ignore.

I feared she might find them repulsive. After all, I wasn’t some barbarian. My body was littered with marks that weren’t easy to overlook or dismiss.

These rough scars, like tree bark.

Sighing heavily, I hesitated, then finally took off my shirt with care.

“I’m taking it off.” “Yeah.” “If you fall for me because of this, it’ll be troublesome.” “Eugh...” “It’ll hurt my feelings if you hate it, though.” “Heeeek!” “Fine, fine.”

The young lady, gazing at my silhouette in the dim firelight, let out a small sound of admiration.

“Wow, Ricardo...” “Yes?” “Your body’s really nice.” “Told you.” “You’re like a statue. It’s like there’s a demon living in your back.” “Pfft, what? What’s with the sinister comment?” “No, really! You’re all chiseled and big and...”

My nerves melted away at her innocent words. I’d been so tense, but now I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I wrung the water from my shirt at the cave entrance, then sat back down across from her.

“Kuhh...!”

An awkward smile crept across my face.

“Still, taking it off feels kind of refreshing.” “...” “Lady...?” “Hiccup...!” “My lady?” “Hic...!”

Sitting by the fire, the young lady suddenly bowed her head. She was hiccupping and trembling as her shoulders shook.

“Sniff.”

It was a heavy, painful silence that was hard to break.

Unsure of what to do, I fidgeted awkwardly. This was new to me. Just a moment ago, we were joking about my muscles and scars, and now she looked as if she might burst into tears.

Even for her unpredictable nature, crying out of nowhere was difficult to handle.

Seeing her glistening eyes welling with tears, I floundered, unsure where to place my hands.

“Why are you...?” “Sniff...” “Are you hungry?” The young lady shook her head, wiping her eyes with her sleeve as she spoke softly.

“No... Ricardo, your body...” “Ah.” “It still looks like it hurts...”

The scars.

Looking down at my own body in the firelight, I awkwardly tried to cover the marks. It seemed I had predicted this reaction correctly.

Ugly and unsightly scars.

Even though the young lady had once told me it was okay, I had always feared that seeing them in person might make her react like this. I wasn’t particularly hurt by it.

After all, it wasn’t easy to look at something so disfigured.

“They’re a bit strange, right...?” “...” “I’ll cover them up quickly.”

In a hurry, I grabbed my soggy shirt. The fabric clung to my hands, but I didn’t care. Now wasn’t the time to worry about discomfort. I began slipping my arms into the sleeves.

As my wrist was just about to enter the damp fabric...

“Uuugh...!”

The young lady shook her head, grasping the wet shirt tightly in her hands. She refused to let go, her tear-filled eyes staring downward as she spoke in a shaky voice.

“Don’t wear it...” “My lady.” “Hic...”

In a voice choked with emotion, she insisted.

“Don’t wear the shirt...” “But it’s a bit inappropriate.” “What’s inappropriate...” “Well...” “Be quiet, Ricardo. You’re cold...” “Still, the scars are... unsightly, aren’t they?”

She shook her head and softly spoke the words I longed to hear.

“They’re not unsightly.” “Sorry?” “Not at all... they’re not ugly.” For a moment, I was speechless. Even if it was just a kind lie, it was nice to hear.

“I’m the one who’s not okay with it. I want to show you only my best, but these scars... they’re embarrassing.” “They’re not embarrassing!”

—Bear?

Gomtangi, stirred by her sudden outburst, lifted his head to see what was going on, then sighed and lay back down.

Ignoring Gomtangi, the young lady continued, her voice firm.

“Even if you’re embarrassed, I’m not. In my eyes, you’re strong, you’re like a flower, and... and...”

As she tried to come up with more compliments, she nervously counted them on her fingers. Her earnest effort made me smile, and I asked her gently.

“Then why are you crying?” “That’s because...!” With a clenched fist, she finally spoke.

“Because it’s my fault you got hurt...” “No, it’s because I’ve been too reckless with my body...” “Don’t lie!!” “...” “We promised not to lie anymore! I already know...! Don’t hide it from me...”

Drops of water from the damp cave floor fell heavily near the fire’s light.

“I... I like you no matter what you look like.” “...” “I’m not embarrassed, I’m proud, and I want to brag about you to everyone.” “But you still won’t say I’m handsome.” “Ugh! Don’t joke around!” “Haha...! I’m just happy to hear these things, that’s all.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Her clumsy outburst brought a genuine smile to my lips. I’d been worried about her hating my scars, thinking they were disgusting. But now...

“Sniff...! Hic...!”

Seeing her now, teary-eyed but smiling, my fears melted away. Even if her words were lies, I was grateful for them.

I asked again, greedily, wanting to hear it one more time.

“Really? You’re proud of me and want to brag about me?” —Nod. Nod. “And you even think I’m handsome?” —Shake. Shake.

“That’s not true.” “Pfft...!”

Her honesty made me chuckle as I offered my gratitude in return.

“I feel the same.” “Huh?” “I’m proud of you, too, my lady. I want to brag about you to everyone.” “I’m already like that.” “...”

Under the flickering firelight, I carefully reached out and held her delicate ankle.

At my touch, her shoulders trembled, and she tried to hide her legs under the blanket.

“Don’t touch...”

Ignoring her protest, I gently caressed her rough feet, continuing to speak.

“You know, my lady.” “...” “To me, you are also beautiful and radiant, just like you said I am.” “No, my legs are ugly and hideous.” “Who told you that? Luin? The academy students?” —Shake. Shake.

“No one said that.” “See?” “But they’re still ugly.”

Even though she tried to push my hand away, I held on ◆ Nоvеl?g?t ◆ (Only on Nоvеl?g?t) gently, refusing to let go as I continued stroking her feet.

“To me, you are the most beautiful person in the world.” “You’re lying.” “Even if you took a potion that made you look like Gomtangi.”

—Bear?

“Even if your face became unrecognizable.” “...” “You would still be beautiful to me.”

I smiled softly as I patted her head.

“In my eyes.”

—Gulp.

“You are beautiful.”

With a bright smile, I looked at her and continued.

“Very much so.”

With teary eyes, she nodded and smiled back at me.

“Yeah...!”

And then...

—Bear.

Gomtangi suddenly bit her on the head.

“Eeeek!!! Why are you biting me?!” —Bear...! “Eeeek!!! Ricardo! Turn him into clothes!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was simply happy, here and now, in this moment.