Page 315 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Another troubled day at the Histania household.

Sitting in his study, Loen stacked the books he had finished reading and nodded to himself.

"Up to this point, you've been a terrible father!" - How to Become a Good Father, [Advanced Edition]

A father who always says "no" is not a good father."No." (Depiction of a sad child)

"I'm saying this for your own good!" (Depiction of a crying child)

A good father listens to his child's opinions and supports them. Only then can he be called a good father.

"You're doing well." (Depiction of a smiling child)

"I may be old and out of touch, but someone like you, who takes after me, will surely do great things." (Depiction of a child with tears of joy, clenching a fist in determination)

Of course, unconditional approval can have a negative effect, but if you maintain a balance and ? Nоvеl??ght ? (Exclusive on Nоvеl??ght) offer support, you can be a reliable father.

Having read this insightful passage, Loen nodded and jotted down notes in his journal.

"A father who supports his children is a good father..."

Loen smiled slightly as he wrote the elegant words in his notebook. The books had provided him with the knowledge to take one more step forward in his journey of being a better father, correcting the many mistakes he'd made along the way.

"It's difficult..."

Despite his determination to become a good father, there had been little progress. Though his relationship with his daughter had improved to the point where they exchanged letters, their exchanges were still distant.

"Did you have dinner?""Yes."

The short, sparse replies in their letters highlighted the lingering distance between them.

He had seen his friend's letters.

"Is Olivia happy at the academy?""Father...""I see."

Though it wasn’t particularly helpful, the emotional distance in those letters was evident.

His friend's letters felt close.

His own... felt distant, formal, and awkward. There was an undeniable tension in the air between him and his daughter, Hannah.

It was all his fault, the consequences of his past actions. But even knowing that, he couldn’t help but feel anxious. A guilty man’s heart couldn’t escape its own turmoil.

"How foolish..."

Becoming a Swordmaster should have taught him patience, but instead, he found himself avoiding it. The thought struck him as immature, but still...

"Yes, Father, have you eaten?"

Loen smiled as he reread his daughter’s letter, pleased that at least this time, he had made the right choice.

Among all his previous mistakes, choosing the right path now felt meaningful.

"That’s good."

Loen felt content.

"..."

How much better it would have been if he had acted like this from the start. Holding Hannah’s letter in his hand, he closed his eyes.

Malik. Hannah. And his second daughter, Rosi.

If only he had realized sooner, he could have been a better father to his children. Though he hated regret, a self-deprecating chuckle escaped him as the feeling gnawed at him.

"This is difficult..."

With three children whom he loved dearly, he had only just begun this race, and the road ahead was still long.

Loen knew that favoring only Hannah was not right. He had always favored his other children before, but now he wanted to ensure that all his children received equal love. That was the only way to be a good father.

"I should go."

Loen lifted himself from his heavy chair and left the study, walking down the hallway.

He passed by Hannah's room, where a cold breeze blew. Then he passed Malik's room, full of documents. Finally, he stopped in front of Rosi’s tightly closed door.

"It would be nice if she’s here."

Rosi was currently practicing swordsmanship at the estate. After graduating from the academy, she had expressed her intention to hone her skills at home.

She was spending her days training, determined to join the Royal Knights, despite her lacking abilities. Loen knew she must be going through a lot of emotional turmoil.

She had set her sights on an impossibly high goal, but Loen believed in her. She was his flesh and blood, and he had promised himself not to rush her.

"Haa..."

Taking a deep breath, Loen knocked heavily on Rosi’s door.

—Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

‘She must think it’s a servant. I’ll surprise her.’

—Creeaak.

With a small smile, Loen opened Rosi’s door.

And there she was.

"F-Father?"

Rosi’s tired eyes met his gaze as she sat in her chair, trembling as she looked at him. Clearly, she had thought a servant was entering, since she hadn’t bothered to tidy up the scattered notes around her. Loen smiled gently at her.

The book had said the first step to being a good father was to smile often.

In the past, he would have walked out without a word, disgusted by the messy room. But Loen had resolved to change, so he picked up one of the fallen notes with a small smile.

And then.

As a piece of paper fluttered to the floor, Loen’s eyes froze.

“You’ve been working hard... Hm?”

Loen’s gaze faltered.

“What... is this?”

He had expected to see notes about swordsmanship, but the drawing in front of him was far from what he imagined.

— "No! Not that big baguette...! I can’t take any more...!"

Loen’s eyes widened at the unexpected image on the paper.

“...” “...”

He had no idea what to say.

“Uh...”

Rosi’s hands were shaking as she lowered her head, and in a trembling voice, she spoke.

“F-Father...” “...” “This isn’t... I mean, I didn’t draw this...!” “...”

Loen closed his eyes, trying to steady his thoughts.

He was trying to recall what the book had said about situations like this. The beginner’s guide? The intermediate? The advanced...?

‘It’s not there...’

There had been no chapter in the book on how to handle something like this. Loen found himself in a panic, unsure of what to do in this unexpected crisis.

‘...This is quite awkward.’

“Father...!” “...” “That... it’s not what it looks like!” “Shh.”

Suddenly, a passage from the book flashed through Loen’s mind.

— "A father who always says ‘no’ is not a good father."

Nodding to himself, Loen sighed, furrowed his brow, and spoke in a careful voice.

“The drawing...” “Yes?” “Did you draw it?”

“I...”

Rosi hung her head low, clutching the paper tightly in her hands. She knew that if her father found out, he would rip it to shreds, just like everything else.

Even though she loved drawing, she knew her father would never allow it.

Neither lies nor truth would change his mind, so Rosi chose the less dangerous path.

—Clench.

“I’m sorry.”

Rosi’s trembling voice was directed at Loen.

“I drew it.”

“...”

“But I’ve been practicing my swordsmanship, too! Drawing just helps me feel at peace...”

“...”

“I haven’t neglected my training at all... I like drawing... I mean, it helps with my focus!”

Rosi shut her eyes, bracing herself for her father’s cold reaction. She was sure he would forbid her from ever drawing again.

“...”

The thought of having to give up what she loved made her heart ache.

Perhaps this was the feeling Hannah had talked about. The pain was sharp.

— "Come home." — "No. I’m going to do what I want, freely." — "Do you know how bad the atmosphere is at home because of you? Mother can handle it, but Father...!" — "You don’t understand how I feel, sister." — "..." — "Brother made a place for me, but it’s the same here."

Rosi thought she could hide it until the end, but her pride faltered. As her father’s hand reached out, she shut her eyes tightly.

“I'm s-sorry...”

Though her father had never once raised a hand to her, she was certain he would this time.

But.

—Pat.

“I see.”

The warm touch on her head made Rosi open her eyes in surprise.

It was gentle.

So gentle, she thought it was the warmest feeling she had ever experienced.

“Father...?”

Looking up with trembling eyes, Rosi saw Loen smiling awkwardly at her.

“You drew it well.”

“...”

“I didn’t know you had such a talent.”

“Huh...? What did you say?”

Rosi couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her father had praised her, and the comforting touch of his hand on her head felt unreal.

But the warmth on her head made her heart race.

Loen spoke to her gently.

“You’ve been drawing in secret?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because... it’s embarrassing...”

“Well, it is a rather... difficult genre to show to others.”

Rosi stammered, trying to explain herself.

“I don’t always draw things like that! It just so happens that you caught me with the... you know, more explicit part!”

“...”

Loen smiled awkwardly, clearly not wanting to know any more details.

“You’ve grown up.”

“...”

Loen took in the sight of his daughter.

The daughter who had always shown him such a stiff and formal face now appeared calm and relaxed for the first time.

Today, Rosi’s shoulders seemed lighter.

‘So this is what it is.’

Loen, who had wandered without finding answers, now believed that he had found the right path. Understanding his children, rather than pressuring them for the sake of their family’s legacy, was the correct answer.

It was ironic that the child he thought had no talent was the only one who continued the legacy of the sword. But now, none of that mattered.

“It’s amazing.”

Seeing her father’s pleased expression, Rosi cautiously spoke.

“Would you like to see more?”

Loen nodded heavily.

“Let’s do that.”

— "Ugh, kill them...!"

Although many of the drawings were quite embarrassing, Loen smiled warmly as he watched his daughter excitedly show off her work.

It felt like he had finally found the right answer. His heart felt a bit lighter.

Not forcing his children down a path, but letting them find their own.

“Rosi.”

“Yes? Oh... have I taken up too much of your time? I’ll go back to my sword training...!”

“Let’s take a break from the sword for a while.”

“Father...!”

Loen spoke with difficulty, having finally opened his mouth.

“Do what you love.”

“...”

“I’m sorry for everything.”

Tears welled up in Rosi’s eyes.

After Loen left the room.

Rosi wiped away her tears and pulled out a sheet of letter paper from her drawer.

"To Hannah."

It had been a long time since she had last spoken to her sister, who had run away with the help of their brother.

— "Why should I meet with her!" — "Just do as I say." — "No!" — "If you don’t, I’ll tell Father about your drawings." — "...!"

They hadn’t resolved things peacefully.

Only now did she understand.

Hannah had gone through a lot.

And it was Hannah who had changed their father.

Rosi’s heart swelled as she realized that her father’s stubbornness had finally been broken by Hannah’s perseverance.

So.

Rosi wiped her tears and picked up her pen.

“...I wonder if it’s too late.”

Histania was changing.

Little by little.