Page 374 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

That’s what regret is.

No matter how much you dwell on something that has already happened, it won’t change anything. Knowing this, it’s better not to think about it at all.

This was the mindset of the Crown Prince as described in the novel—his optimistic attitude.

He was someone who didn’t let the past hold him back but always looked toward the future.

Even when he allied himself with Wolfgang, Mikhail’s sworn enemy, or when his choices led to an apostle of the cult invading the east, he saw these events as stepping stones toward a better future.

But what if...

“Hmmm~”

What if the consequences of the past were so immense that no amount of mental gymnastics could resolve them? Wouldn’t regret leave a much deeper scar?

I wondered cautiously, pondering if a single choice could create a risk so great it upended one’s life entirely.

In the dark alleys of the western region, as night fell.

Stretching lightly, I waited for someone in the shadows. There was something I needed to take care of before leaving the west.

Of course, there was also the matter of seeing Lady Olivia in her bikini.

While that was the most important task, this other business came second. Checking the time, I lingered in anticipation of an old friend.

“Hopefully, they’ve brought it safely.”

Though "friend" might be a stretch—this person was somewhat intimidating.

“Hmmm...”

The west was a hub of trade, selling many things.

Exotic spices, goods from the east, and even rare items at relatively affordable prices—it was a marketplace unlike any other, far more developed than other regions.

People passed through constantly.

Merchants from foreign lands came and went.

And along with these goods came items that should never fall into human hands—like forbidden "drugs," unregistered "weapons," and, of course, "poison."

But the most fluid and chilling commodity in these shadows was "slaves."

Human lives bound and sold as property—products to be used as expendable tools or shields.

"..."

The moon shone brightly as always.

The dark streets of the western region carried an eerie air, and the frozen sea emitted a faint crackling sound as it began to thaw. It was as if the world was unaware of the significant day I’d just had.

The west was undoubtedly a beautiful place.

With its serene sea and streets filled with laughter, it was no wonder that many nobles sought it out as a vacation destination.

Yet, beneath its bright exterior lay an endless darkness, unseen and unacknowledged by most.

No matter how much darkness and hatred brewed beneath the skies of the west, each new day brought with it a glimmer of hope. This resilience is what made the west beloved by its people.

Tock.

The space around me distorted.

It was as though my visitor announced their presence with this spatial disturbance. The walls enclosing the area fragmented into pieces, the moonlit sky above splintering into countless shards, signaling their arrival.

‘They’re here.’

Tock.

I smiled faintly, lowering my head as a figure carefully stepped through the warped space. I was glad to see my old friend again, knowing they’d bring something of value, as they always did.

“It’s been a while.”

I didn’t know what information she would bring this time, but the arrival of someone who always exceeded my expectations brought a smile to my lips.

“Lady Elicia.”

“Ah, Saint! Even your radiance today blinds me—”

“...”

Her words made me grimace awkwardly. No matter how often I heard it, being called a "saint" never felt natural. If anything, it felt increasingly bizarre.

How could someone like me, so far removed from the concept of righteousness, be called a saint?

I quickly helped Elicia to her feet as she knelt before me, trying to play down the formalities.

“You don’t need to be so formal. I’m no saint, nor a god.”

“To me, you are my savior and my light.”

“Ha... Let’s leave it at that. You did an excellent job with the western matters.”

“My actions were far too insignificant to express the Saint’s wrath. I would’ve frozen the entire western region if I had the strength, but I beg forgiveness for only achieving this much with my limited power.”

“No, you’ve done more than enough.”

Before we delved into the main topic, I asked Elicia,

“Did you find the sibling of the Apostle of Restraint?”

At my question, Elicia shook her head, her response regretful.

“They seem to have fled. I tracked down everyone connected to the Archbishop of Slander, but their trail went cold as soon as I arrived in the capital.”

“That’s unfortunate....”

“I apologize for failing to meet your expectations.”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

I hadn’t done much to deserve her remorse, after all.

Elicia, with a sullen expression, pulled a worn notebook from her cloak and handed it to me.

“I’ve brought what you requested.”

Taking the notebook, I smiled warmly. She’d managed to retrieve it, as expected.

The notebook was filled with names—many names.

From nobles in the capital to commoners and merchants, it contained an exhaustive list of individuals.

Closing the notebook, I asked Elicia,

“The siblings I mentioned before... Are they alive?”

“Are you referring to the beastfolk?”

“Yes.”

“I found them.”

I nodded, expressing my gratitude.

It begins now.

The fall of the Crown Prince.

The life of the Crown Prince, who had soared in the novel, now faced the steep climb of adversity.

And the first step—

[Ka'ar Beastfolk. 2 individuals]

Bidder: Leonhardt Theo.

Was the loss of his sword.

With a cruel smile, I turned to Elicia and spoke.

"Shall we start melting the ice now?"

"I could express the Saint’s wrath a little more..."

"It’s fine. I think they’ve been punished enough."

"...Hmph. Understood."

We’d already caused enough collateral damage to the innocent residents, so it was time to stop. Holding the ledger Elicia had given me, I began walking toward Darbav.

He would put the ledger to far better use than a commoner like me ever could.

But first—

There was one more stop to make.

At the Wolfgang Estate, the Crown Prince was in a fury.

"What is the meaning of this, Marquis!?"

"It’s nothing we can’t handle within our family, Your Highness."

"I heard the ledger has vanished...!"

"It’s a fabricated ledger, I assure you!"

"Silence!"

The Crown Prince had planned to purchase slaves to create his own loyal retinue—beastfolk with powerful combat abilities who would be unconditionally obedient and never betray him.

But everything had been exposed.

The very secrets he, as a Crown Prince, could never afford to have revealed had been laid bare. If this weakness fell into the hands of factions hostile to the royal family, the consequences would be catastrophic.

With trembling eyes, the Crown Prince hastily began gathering his belongings.

"Your Highness!"

Wolfgang shouted as the Crown Prince stormed out of the estate, demanding to know where he was going.

Draping a coat over his shoulders, the Crown Prince answered coldly.

"I’m going to the auction house right now."

"It’s too dangerous...!"

"Silence, Marquis."

"..."

"Do not ° N ?? v ?? l i g h t ° test my patience."

The Crown Prince arrived at the underground auction house, only to be greeted by empty cages.

"...Ah..."

Everything was gone.

The beastfolk he’d intended to turn into soldiers, and all the other slaves housed within the auction house—everything had disappeared. Only the chaotic remnants of the scene greeted him.

His guards lay unconscious, drooling on the ground, and the cold chill of lingering frost enveloped the space.

And in the center of it all—

"What brings you here, Your Highness?"

A red-haired man stood in the middle of the auction house.

"Your Highness."

The Crown Prince clenched his teeth at the sight of Ricardo. He couldn’t fathom why this man was here or how he even knew about the auction house’s location, let alone the whereabouts of the ledger.

A storm of possibilities swirled in his mind.

Ricardo looked at the Crown Prince with a genuinely puzzled expression and asked,

"I was just out for a walk when someone asked for help, so I came by... Are you here for the same reason, Your Highness?"

"No, I came because I received a report about illegal activity in the west. I’m here to investigate."

"Ah... an undercover investigation, I see."

The Crown Prince’s eyes burned with suspicion as he stared at Ricardo.

"Tell me the truth."

"..."

"Was this all your doing? Or are you the one running this place?"

"Me?"

Ricardo chuckled and shrugged.

"What reason would I have to do something like this? I’m just a lowly commoner."

"..."

"If anything, I find Your Highness more suspicious."

Ricardo’s gaze was sharp, tinged with mockery. The most terrifying thing about it was that it conveyed an undeniable sense of truth—something only those worthy of becoming emperor could possess.

Not lies, but truth.

Ricardo mocked the Crown Prince, toying with him, as though he already knew everything.

"Surely, Your Highness would know better than anyone whether my words are lies or not."

"..."

"Why do you look so uneasy?"

"..."

"Perhaps..."

Ricardo smiled faintly and addressed the Crown Prince.

"Is there a reason I shouldn’t be here?"

"..."

A cold shiver ran down the Crown Prince’s spine.

He had no way of knowing how much Ricardo knew or what evidence he might have.

"I trust in Your Highness’s integrity."

"..."

"And in the honesty of Wolfgang, who oversees the peace of the west."

"..."

With a small smile, Ricardo walked past them.

And then—

"Move in!!!"

The western guards shoved past the Crown Prince, storming into the auction house and raiding it.

"Oh, by the way, I was the one who reported this place."

"..."

"I figured it’d be better if someone worse than me disappeared."

Grab.

"Don’t you think so, Your Highness?"