Page 379 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Hearing the story from a different perspective, Shartia felt a new, unfamiliar wave of emotions wash over her—ones that made her question everything she had known until now.

"...No way. That idiot couldn’t have thought that far ahead."

"Are you sure? From my perspective, it seems like Ricardo went out of his way to look out for you."

"Really?"

"Think about it. Back when Desmont’s influence was at its peak, who would dare criticize Desmont Olivia, especially someone referred to as the 'Devil of the Empire'?"

Shartia had always thought Ricardo was incapable of such foresight. At the time, it had never even crossed her mind.

"You! Didn’t you say you’d appoint someone competent as acting president?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

"Then why is Olivia sitting in that chair?!"

"Isn’t it reassuring? No one can challenge her authority."

"I can’t even stop her!"

"That’s unfortunate."

"I should never have trusted you..."

"Let’s give her a chance. I believe in her."

"..."

"She received the best education Desmont has to offer and countless private lessons. Well, except for when the tutors gave up out of sheer frustration... But still, there’s no one better suited for the acting president role!"

At the time, Shartia believed Ricardo had simply wanted Olivia to experience the role of student council president. She thought it was one of his whimsical stunts.

"Who started the fire?"

"Eek?! Wasn’t it you?"

"What?"

"You look suspicious. You’re ugly."

"...?"

"Suspicious! Arrest him!"

She had assumed Olivia’s brief presidency was Ricardo’s way of repaying her kindness.

She never realized that Ricardo’s "solution" might have actually been an act of genuine care.

"Didn’t the staff’s attitude toward you change after you returned?"

"..."

"They started saying things like how reassuring it was to have you around, or they began checking in on you more often, didn’t they?"

"Well..."

"I think the biggest change was how the students looked at you."

Shartia’s gaze trembled as she looked at the guildmaster.

"What...?"

Now that she thought about it, there were many things she had overlooked.

When she returned to the academy, more students greeted her warmly than ever before.

"Hello, President!"

"Oh... Hi."

"Don’t get sick! We don’t want to suffer under her again."

Even the staff, who usually only did their jobs and left, began actively taking on tasks and sharing the workload.

"I’ll take care of this before I go."

"Huh? But that’s my job."

"Let’s work together. If you collapse again, it’ll be a problem for us too. Ha ha!"

If anyone other than Olivia had been acting president, such changes wouldn’t have occurred.

At the time, Shartia had only seen Olivia’s stint as president as a disaster, but now...

"If it had been someone more average, they would’ve shifted all the responsibilities onto you after your return. You might’ve had an even harder time."

Shartia’s doubts began to spread, like the first warmth of spring chasing away the winter cold.

"Wait..."

Pieces she hadn’t noticed before started falling into place.

Incidents she had once dismissed as failures or bad memories began to take on new meaning.

The things Ricardo had done for Olivia turned out to be for her benefit all along.

"I committed insubordination."

"What...?"

"A second-year senior insulted Miss Olivia—and you—so I beat them up."

"Are you insane?"

"A little, yes."

Even actions she had once thought incomprehensible now seemed to have brought her great benefit.

"The pink-haired girl..."

"Yuria?"

"Yes."

"What about her? Did you fight again?"

"No. I thought she’d be good for the student council."

"Oh... I was planning to recruit her anyway."

"So I brought her here."

"Wait, what?"

Ricardo had even shielded the student council from criticism by creating distractions.

"What has the student council been doing?! You should’ve prevented this before the incident!"

"We couldn’t have known a high troll would appear in the assessment dungeon..."

"Take responsibility—pay restitution or resign!"

"Oh, that? That was me. It looked cute, so I..."

"You WHAT?!"

"Wait, you’re not a troll, are you?"

"You son of a—!"

All of it.

"Shh. The Empire’s treasure should only see the best sides of things."

Ricardo had been her shield, taking the hits in her place.

"Wait..."

Shartia recalled something Ricardo had said long ago.

"Why are you such a reckless idiot? Can’t you just act like a normal student?"

"I’d like to, but wouldn’t that be boring?"

"Mind your own business."

At the time, she thought he was just insane.

"...Ha."

Now, she realized everything Ricardo did stemmed from her.

"That idiot..."

She chuckled softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. It felt like she was realizing it too late, but she resolved to repay him properly someday.

As for why he went to such lengths for her, she still didn’t know. It was impossible to imagine that someone who always called for "the lady" could harbor N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t feelings for her.

"What’s my ideal type? Are you perhaps..."

"Shut up. I’m asking so I can set you up with someone decent. We can’t have someone with their head in the clouds like you causing trouble."

"That’s hurtful."

"Hurry up and answer."

"I like pretty girls. Oh! By the way, I plan to have many wives. If you’re interested, I can give you a number now..."

"Idiot."

Surely not...

Shartia shook her head with a dry laugh. It felt like understanding Ricardo’s true intentions would take at least another ten years of study.

"Forget it."

With a faint smile, she looked at the guildmaster.

"Anyway, Ricardo’s a good person."

"He certainly seems that way."

The tea in their cups was almost gone, signaling that their conversation was coming to an end.

The guildmaster picked up his teacup carefully, looking at Shartia meaningfully.

"With such a connection, I imagine you’re on good terms now?"

"Of course, I’ve done my part to..."

Wait.

Shartia froze mid-sentence, staring blankly at her teacup.

Had she ever truly considered how she treated Ricardo?

The troublemaker who always caused chaos—what kind of life had he led at the academy? Had she ever wondered?

"I..."

She had always assumed Ricardo had no troubles of his own.

Ricardo, who was always smiling.

Ricardo, who never lost to anyone.

Ricardo, who always seemed capable.

"It’s a terrible day. Let’s skip work together."

"No."

"...Aw."

She had never bothered to ask about his struggles or his stories.

And so—

"Haven’t seen him around lately."

"Were you waiting for someone?"

"No... Just noticed the guy who always came by isn’t showing up."

When Ricardo stopped coming, she had dismissed it as a whim.

Now, the thought that she might not have been there for him when he needed it most sent a chill through her.

"Princess?"

"..."

Ricardo had never shared his burdens with her.

"You’re losing points."

"What?!"

"You’re skipping class."

"I’m keeping you company, aren’t I?"

"I’m busy."

"Should you treat your savior like this?"

"If you hadn’t handed the council to Olivia, I might’ve been nicer."

"Aw..."

When he had truly struggled—

"President! They’re saying Olivia used dark magic!"

"...What?"

"We need to convene the committee immediately."

"Hold on... just hold on."

She had done nothing to help.

She had received so much from him.

"This meeting is to determine the fates of Ricardo and Olivia."

"Expulsion. No question."

"..."

"I agree—expulsion."

All she could do was ensure he could return, purely because she wanted to see him in her office again.

"..."

What had I been doing all this time?

The thought stung like a barb. Why had she done nothing? Why hadn’t she noticed?

When Ricardo reached out his hand, what had she done?

"Princess."

"..."

"This will probably be the last time we meet at the academy."

"If you’re here to make some ridiculous request, leave. I don’t want to get involved."

"I just wanted to see you."

"..."

"Well, I wouldn’t want to see myself either."

"..."

"Take care of yourself."

"..."

"And don’t overwork yourself. If you collapse again, I won’t be able to save you."

"..."

"You’re the Empire’s treasure, after all."

What had I said to him that day?

"If you had kept an eye on the lady, none of this would’ve happened!"

"..."

"I was dragged into this investigation because of you. Do you think I’m tied to dark magic too?"

"...I’m sorry."

"If you had just—!"

What expression had he worn then?

"Truly..."

Oh...

"I’m sorry."

She couldn’t remember. The only thing that stuck in her memory was his slumped shoulders, looking like a criminal despite doing nothing wrong.

And she—

"Get out."

"..."

"Make sure that lady never sets foot in this academy again."

She had driven the knife deeper.

She remembered the mocking jeers of the students as he and Olivia left.

"Get lost!"

"Don’t ever think of coming back here!"

"I’ll never forgive you!"

"I knew this would happen from the start."

"Serves you right!"

What had I been doing then?

"..."

The smile that had lingered on her lips slowly faded away.

And then—

—Ding.

A chilling sound pierced the air.