Page 349 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

-Thump... Thump...

Once again, a peaceful day in the parlor of the young lady’s estate.

"Ooh..." Gulp... "That's right..."

In the parlor, the Desmont family, with clenched fists, gazed intently at the young lady seated in the Fairy Model One, each one swallowing with bated breath.

Darbav’s eyes were brimming with tears as he held back his emotions.

"Sniff... Olivia, don’t push yourself."

Kyle kept bowing his head, raising and lowering it as if he couldn’t bear to watch.

"Hah... I can’t watch. What if she falls...?"

Rosanna, too, was wiping her moist eyes with a handkerchief, her gaze fixed on the young lady.

"Sniff... You can do it, my daughter."

The young lady seated in the Fairy Model One clenched her fists tightly, looked at me, and I nodded in encouragement, sensing she had mentally prepared herself.

"Whoo...!"

The Fairy Model One was trembling.

The young lady’s hand, positioned to steady her weight in the wheelchair, was trembling slightly. A bead of sweat trickled down from her focused brow, and seeing this, the smile that had been on my lips faded.

I was anxious.

It wasn’t the fear of her failing. After all, success or failure can depend on one’s condition. What I feared was the possibility of her feeling disappointed if she fell in front of her supportive family, potentially crushing her spirits.

"Eeek...!"

‘You’re doing great.’

"Eeek!!!"

The young lady, receiving all the family’s focused attention, mustered her strength and began to move, her body slowly rising from the wheelchair as the Desmonts began to murmur in awe.

"Olivia!!!" "That’s amazing... my sister." "Hic... it’s a miracle."

I felt proud. It wasn’t my achievement, but seeing the young lady earn such admiration filled me with pride.

Slowly, very slowly. The moment began, as she took her first steps after so long confined to sitting.

It wasn’t a grand step.

"Whooo!"

Some might compare the young lady’s steps to a newborn calf’s wobble and sneer.

"Eeeeek!!!"

But everyone here was watching her steps with a deeper significance than anyone else could imagine.

"Whew!"

Standing, the young lady took a deep breath in front of those whose eyes had reddened. With her hand on her chest, she steadied her breathing, glanced at me, then grinned brightly with a small chuckle.

"Haha."

Her clear smile brought a smile to my lips as well. The tension in my heart transformed into joy.

Though she was the young lady I served, I couldn’t help but think of how admirable she was. Or perhaps it was just my bias clouding my judgment.

And so.

"It’s not over yet!"

‘Show them how wonderful you are, my lady.’

The young lady extended her hand to stop Darbav, who was about to embrace her, adding a cryptic statement that there was more to come.

"Uh..."

Darbav, frozen in place, looked at her extended hand and nodded. Then, as she started taking careful steps, his eyes widened.

"This is..."

One step.

"Olivia..."

Two steps.

The young lady’s expression, focused on her steps, was not what one would call graceful. Her lips were pursed as she concentrated solely on walking.

Beside her, I provided commentary. It felt like the words she’d want to say.

"Her current record stands at two steps." "No way...!" "Ricardo, don’t pressure her." "...Mom believes in Olivia."

"This very moment, she is setting a new personal best!"

The corners of the young lady’s mouth twitched. Her lips quivered as if she’d heard the exact words she wanted to hear. Smiling, I raised a thumbs-up in her direction.

Because I believed she could do it. And so.

"Eeeeeek!!!"

-Thump!

I prayed for her to show them her best.

-Drip. Drip. Drip.

That evening, following the young lady’s much-celebrated “First Steps Ceremony,” as it had come to be called.

After finishing dinner, I entered the bathhouse and smiled at the familiar figures seated ahead of me.

Men who had muscle to spare, more suited to warriors than wizards.

Darbav and Kyle sat in the bath, engrossed in recounting the events of the day.

"She was incredible." "Yes, she was." "Not one, but three steps. We need to hire an artist to immortalize it." "Good idea. I’ll seriously consider it." "How about calling it ‘First Steps for the World’?" "Perfect."

It was truly a gathering of devoted father figures.

I approached with a small smile and casually asked if they’d enjoyed the day.

They had barely arrived, exclaiming, "Olivia...! We must see Olivia," parking their carriage hastily in the yard. I’d been caught off guard, but at least I’d finished cleaning. If they’d come mid-cleaning, it would’ve been a whole mess.

Having successfully completed the ceremony, I approached them slowly and struck up a conversation.

"Did you enjoy your day?"

"Hmm?!" "Mhm." "Hahaha..." "Ricardo." "Yes, Ricardo."

They both nodded, their gazes drifting through the misty steam before they nodded once more.

"It’s as fearsome as ever." "...The empire’s finest. No, the world’s finest, I’d say." "Oh... uh. Thank you."

Darbav nodded in response.

"Take pride in it. This is the highest praise men can give."

My face grew warm at Darbav’s bold compliment, delivered with a straight face. They weren’t exactly ordinary men either.

"May I sit here?"

"Of course." "Take a seat."

I gingerly dipped my toes into the water, settling next to Darbav and Kyle, and let out a deep breath. The warmth enveloped my body, easing the tension.

A brief silence fell.

Darbav. Myself. Kyle. We all sat in quiet reflection.

And then.

"...Your body."

Darbav broke the silence, addressing me.

"Are you alright?"

Darbav, his gaze on the bathhouse wall, asked if I was well. Kyle’s lips pressed tightly as he stared into space, closing his eyes slowly.

I wondered why they were asking about my well-being. Today was all about the young lady. Why were they asking me this? But it seemed Darbav sensed my confusion and added more.

"I overheard you and Kyle talking."

"..." "That you were sacrificing your health."

‘Ah...’

"I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I happened to hear it."

"..." "That you were damaging your health to help heal Olivia’s legs." "That’s not true."

Darbav ignored my denial and continued, as if he knew a half-truth wouldn’t work here.

"The price is your lifespan, right?"

"..." "Without such a sacrifice, no miracle of this scale could occur." "It’s not dark magic." "Whether it’s dark magic or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve chosen to sacrifice yourself for Olivia, and that angers me."

"...That’s..."

Darbav took a long breath and spoke with a heavy voice.

"When you first came to this estate, I wasn’t thrilled."

"..." "When Olivia brought you home, saying, ‘He’ll be my butler,’ I wasn’t too pleased. Plenty of intelligent people wanted to work here, even nobles, so why choose a boy from the slums? I even wondered..."

"..." "Yes, I even wondered if you were a spy sent by another house. As you know, Desmont has many enemies." "I see..."

"Since Olivia liked you and doted on you, I thought you’d eventually leave due to her... unique personality."

"..."

"But you stayed, learning what Olivia liked and disliked, and bringing her joy. Her personality isn’t exactly sweet, as you know."

"So you noticed."

"Haha! Of course. If not for Desmont, this house would’ve been long wiped out."

Darbav laughed heartily, glad that Olivia had been influenced by my presence.

"She’s a blessing."

"..." "When the family was in crisis, your knowledge was a great help."

"..." "I no longer doubt you and even feel pride."

Darbav took a deep breath and said:

"I’m glad Olivia has taken after you. So..."

Darbav closed his eyes tightly and spoke.

"Stop with the reckless acts."

"..." "I no longer wish to let my selfish desires harm you."

"..." "When I heard your conversation with Kyle, I turned a blind eye, as a father would... but no more."

"..." "We must continue on together."

There was a glistening in Darbav’s eyes.

"I’ve dreamed enough good dreams."

Meanwhile.

In the women’s bath, Rosanna was washing Olivia’s hair. The two, mother and daughter, each covered with a towel, were chatting as Rosanna carefully washed Olivia’s hair.

"Hehe..." "Stay still." "Eeeee..."

Rosanna spoke quietly as she washed Olivia’s hair.

"Olivia." "Hmm?" "What do you think of Ricardo?"

Olivia turned her head to look at Rosanna.

"...Huh?"