Page 312 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

"Ahem...!"

In many ways, it seemed Mikhail had grown up well. Not in the inappropriate sense, but in both mental and physical aspects, he had matured significantly.

I swear on my conscience.

"Uh..."

Even in the darkness, it was clear. Mikhail's face had turned as red as a ripe peach.

I glanced at Mikhail, and with a bashful voice, I spoke.

"That... must have been difficult to hide." "Ah..."

Mikhail shyly nodded and carefully opened his mouth to speak.

"I wrapped it... with bandages." "Ah, I see." "It's been growing recently, so I have to use two bandages now..." "You don’t need to explain it so specifically." "I ° N ?? v ?? l i g h t ° thought you’d be curious..." "..."

We spent a few awkward moments in the darkness.

—Rumble...

A faint vibration came from the ceiling. As dust began to fall, Mikhail turned to me with trembling eyes and pouted.

"What do we do...? The ceiling again." "Shh." "Huh?" "Just a moment."

Mikhail closed his eyes tightly and looked at me, his gaze filled with determination, as if he were brimming with life. I almost laughed at the sight, but I held it in, knowing he’d feel embarrassed if I did.

I smiled softly and said to him,

"My friend is here." "Friend?" "I told you I called for a friend." "But how... we’re trapped..." "There are ways."

I winked at Mikhail as I explained.

"Telepathy."

—Boom!

—Thud!

Mikhail clutched his chest as if his heart were hurting, his face reddening. A swordsman’s most important asset is a healthy heart, but seeing him like this made me think of some herbal remedies that might help.

‘I'll need to send him some mandrake tea.’

About a minute after I reassured Mikhail, a loud noise echoed from above, followed by a booming voice.

"Saint!!!"

Mikhail, hearing the faint call, lifted his head and muttered softly.

"Saint...?" "..." "Did they just say ‘Saint’?" "...Ignore it."

Mikhail, looking bewildered, nodded heavily and stared up at the ceiling.

—Crack...

With a soft thud, bits of stone began to fall, and the pale light of dawn filtered through the ceiling.

"Is it morning already?" "...It seems so."

Light.

As a sliver of light crept into the dark space, Mikhail reached out to feel the warmth.

"It’s warm." "Looks like the rain stopped." "Thank goodness."

Hearing the sound of someone digging closer, I smiled faintly. Under the growing light, Mikhail looked at me and beamed.

"We can get out now!" "You seem overly excited. Did you not enjoy being alone with me?" "No, no... Honestly, I wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer...!"

"Saint!!!"

At the sound of Hans’s voice from above, I let out a wry smile.

We were almost out now, but...

Sigh...

I couldn’t shake a lingering worry.

‘My lady...’

I had no idea what I would say to her, especially with the excuse that we were late for bath time... It was going to be a headache.

Particularly since the future was even more daunting. Sooner or later, I would have to introduce Mikhail to her. I needed to find a reasonable way to handle it.

The issue between Mikhail and my lady was a sensitive one that I couldn’t easily interfere with.

The fact that Mikhail was a woman. And the strained relationship between Mikhail and Olivia due to past memories. There were too many delicate aspects to just gloss over.

If my lady found out Mikhail was a woman...

"...I’ll kill her."

She’d be deeply hurt, and I was afraid of that.

Honestly, even if my lady were to see Mikhail now, I doubted she’d have anything nice to say. After nearly three years of estrangement, I still had no idea how to resolve the tension between them.

I had barely managed to sort out my own feelings, but my lady...

‘Ugh... It’s terrifying.’

Just imagining it scared me.

I gazed up at the sky, a worried expression on my face.

‘Well, somehow it’ll work out.’

At this moment, I couldn’t see a clear solution, so I set the complicated thoughts aside and offered a gentle smile to Mikhail under the softening light.

"My friend has arrived." "..." "Don’t be startled. You know them, too." "Yes." "It may not be the best connection, but they’re not a bad person..."

—Growl?

"Huh?"

Through the hole in the ceiling, a familiar face peeked through, and I was filled with questions.

‘Why are you here?’

—Growl!

And then, Mikhail...

"Oh... Hello. I’m Ricardo’s friend, Missa." —Growl growl. "You have a lot of fur. You seem very gentle." —Growl. "Can I pet you?" —Growl growl. "Thank you." "Missa, that’s my pet." "Oh..."

Mikhail had mistaken Gomtang for my friend.

As Gomtang dug through the ground, making an exit for us, I heard Hans’s voice from above.

"Saint!"

The familiar voice brought a smile to my face. I had asked him to come quickly, but I hadn’t expected him to arrive this fast. If only we could fix this whole "Saint" thing.

However...

"..."

‘Who is that?’

I squinted at a silhouette that appeared above the hole.

If it was a heretic, this would be a problem.

Someone was sitting in a chair, nodding off. With white hair.

‘Hmm?’

Wait a minute... Gomtang and Hans are here, so... Could it be...?

A terrible premonition washed over me as I turned my trembling gaze toward Hans and asked,

"Hans." "Sniffle Saint, I was so worried! I couldn’t finish everything neatly, and it’s all my fault! Please punish me!!" "Shh." "Sniffle Yes, yes..." "Hans." "Yes, Saint." "That person up there." "Yes?" "Is that our lady?" "Yes, it is." "..." "I tried to sneak out, but she caught me. The saintess asked me to bring her along." "Sigh..."

Mikhail was trembling as he looked at Hans, still unaware that Olivia was here. He seemed more startled by Hans than anything.

With a calm face, Mikhail nodded slowly, trying to convince himself that everything was fine. Little did he know about the much greater danger waiting above. I glanced at Mikhail’s oblivious expression, then turned away.

—Boom...

"Missa." "Yes...?" "Listen carefully." —Nod. "What do you think will happen when you meet my lady?" "Olivia?"

At the mention of Olivia’s name, Mikhail’s expression turned hesitant, and he awkwardly bowed his head.

She still didn’t know how to deal with Olivia. As someone who had kept her gender a secret and been forced to remember painful memories, Mikhail wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.

Clenching her fist, Mikhail finally responded.

"I don’t know."

I spoke softly to her.

"Do you think it will end well?" "No." "Then run."

I swallowed nervously as I felt the sharp gaze from behind Hans.

"My lady is here."

Mikhail’s face stiffened.

We emerged from the pit, stretching as we breathed in the fresh air.

"Ahhh!!" "We survived..."

The air was so refreshing it felt like the best medicine, but...

—Boom.

Under my lady’s piercing gaze, I couldn’t even smile.

Her nostrils flared as she glared at Mikhail, speaking in a huffy voice.

"Who are you?" Mikhail glanced at me, took a deep breath, and replied to my lady. She seemed to think it wasn’t the right time to reveal everything, and fortunately, it seemed like my lady hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

"Uh... I’m Missa." "Missa?" "Yes."

Olivia gave Mikhail a sharp look before nodding slightly, seemingly done with her evaluation.

"Phew..."

I thought I was going to die.

Olivia, still glaring at Mikhail, wheeled herself over to me and shouted,

"Ricardo!" "Yes." "Ugh! I’m mad at you!" "Haha... I’m sorry." "Why’d you leave me out of the fun?" "Is that why you’re upset?" "Yes!" "Next time, we’ll go deeper together." "Okay."

Her anger disappeared in an instant.

She glanced at Mikhail and then muttered to me,

"Ricardo, about her." "Yes?" "Bring her to our estate." "What?" "She’s injured."

Olivia glared at Mikhail as she spoke.

"She’s in serious condition." "You’re a doctor now?" "Yeah. I think she’ll pass out in three seconds." "Really?" "Yeah. Just a feeling."

I appreciated Olivia’s kindness, but still, bringing Mikhail to our estate...

—Thud.

"Huh?"

Olivia shrugged as she looked at the collapsed Mikhail.

"See? I told you she was in serious condition." "Wow." "She’s out of magic, and her arms and legs are fractured. Her ribs must be broken too." "I may have kicked her..." "Did she start the fight?" "Yes." "Then you did well."

With a satisfied smile, Olivia nodded and asked me,

"Hey, Ricardo." "Yes?" "Is she your friend?" "Well... sort of." "Hmm... is that so?"

Olivia gave Mikhail acold stare and muttered under her breath.

"Fine, I’ll allow it for now."

Mikhail slowly opened her eyes in a strange bedroom, her face twisted in pain from the throbbing aches all over her body.

The effects of the potion that kept her hair long would last about seven hours, so she still had time left. As she clenched her fist, she thought to herself,

‘I still have time.’

And then,

"You’re awake?"

At the sound of a cold voice, Mikhail's heart began to pound.

It was Olivia.

With her white hair flowing, Olivia sat in a chair, looking down at Mikhail. She met Mikhail's gaze without hesitation and said,

"Hello." "..." "It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

Olivia’s expression was colder than ever.

"You know who I am." "..." "I think I know who you are too."