Page 396 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Crimson blood danced in the air.

"Kill the princess!"

"...How much longer."

"We only need to kill the princess!"

Every time Ricardo’s blade moved, crimson flowers bloomed and faded, leaving streaks of blood on the floor.

"How troublesome."

I was scared. I feared the moment Ricardo’s sword might turn toward me.

"I’m tired of this."

Instinctively, I shut my eyes.

The heretics poured in endlessly, giving me no time to catch my breath. Their relentless attacks, fueled by murderous intent, showed no signs of stopping.

But—

—Slash.

My knight, silent as ever, refused to let these invaders lay a hand on me.

They looked as fragile as moths to a flame.

"..."

—Thud...!

"Aaaahhhhhh!!"

Ricardo’s blade pierced a heretic’s leg, his expression colder than ice, as if to snap me out of my daze.

"Your purpose."

"...Hahaha! I can’t tell you. I’m merely an emissary to fulfill his will...! I fear not death."

—Thud...!

"Why did you invade the palace?"

"Hahaha...!"

"The number of heretics and the Apostles’ locations."

"...You will never stop his will..."

Ricardo’s gaze, cold as steel, shifted above the man’s head rather than meeting his eyes.

"The person you love the most..."

"..."

"Is it someone named ‘Sara’?"

"..."

"You hate this topic, don’t you? Ah, I see you have a new one now."

Ricardo’s expression grew even colder. Gone was the man who always smiled. Now, he cornered the heretic like a predator closing in on prey.

Though the chaos made it hard to focus, I tried to listen closely to their exchange.

"I’ve told you everything...!"

"..."

"Please, spare my family."

"I’ll think about it."

By the time I managed to focus, Ricardo had already extracted the information he needed.

With a heavy sigh, Ricardo drove his sword deeper and let out a chilling aura.

"...Things have gotten complicated."

A crimson aura leaked from Ricardo’s blade, spreading toward the ground.

The moment Ricardo’s sword tip touched the floor—

"Too noisy."

—Snap.

The sound of countless heretics climbing the stairs fell eerily silent.

With a single strike, Ricardo crushed the enemy forces. Sweeping his hair back, he turned toward me and said—

"Let’s go."

He meant we had to leave.

We had just secured a hiding place, but now Ricardo was saying we needed to abandon it. Confused, I bit my lip when I saw the urgency on his face.

"Where... are we going?"

"..."

"Are we heading to the palace?"

"No."

"What...?"

His answer caught me off guard, and my voice trembled as I demanded an explanation.

"Then where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

"No."

The palace was the heart of the empire.

It was where the emperor lived, where all the records and wealth were stored.

Abandoning the palace—

"Are you telling me to abandon the empire?"

Ricardo’s words were merciless.

He met my trembling gaze and moved urgently.

"Your Highness."

"..."

"You must have realized by now—the Second Prince has allied with the heretics. That’s why the barriers aren’t working."

"I know... but if we abandon the palace, the empire is finished."

"We need to run for now."

"Even so...!"

"When Lowen returns, we can start retaking it. It won’t be too late."

I shook as I thought of my father still inside the palace.

"No, we need to go now..."

"We can’t."

I hated him, but he was still my father.

"We have to go now!"

He had to survive to keep the empire intact. Only by ascending the throne through legitimate means could I silence any opposition. If the emperor vanished, the chaos would be unimaginable. I had to return to the palace.

And...

My mother’s keepsake was there.

"I have to go..."

For the first time, Ricardo snapped, raising his voice to scold me.

"Why are you being so stubborn?!"

"Ricardo..."

"Can’t you see what’s happening?!"

"...But I have you."

"I can’t do this alone—that’s why I’m saying this!"

Desperate, I blurted out something foolish.

"This is our chance."

"Chance?!"

"To achieve merit."

"Your Highness!"

"Teo is tied up with the west, and my second brother started a rebellion. If I handle this well, I could ascend the throne myself."

"That’s absurd."

"What if Teo solves the western crisis and wins the people’s favor? All our efforts will be for nothing!"

I was foolish back then.

I wanted my mother’s keepsake. I wanted to save my father. So I pushed Ricardo with unreasonable demands.

I didn’t actually care about Teo, but I thought this was the only way to convince Ricardo.

"And if we don’t go, you won’t be able to save Olivia either."

"..."

"You’ve endured all this for her, haven’t you? I know I’m asking too much, but—!"

The moment Olivia’s name left my lips, Ricardo’s expression hardened. He closed his eyes tightly.

"...Ha."

Back then, I didn’t realize—

I didn’t realize how truly angry Ricardo was in that moment.

"...I really am... a fool."

"What...?"

After a long silence, Ricardo clenched his fists and then let them fall.

"Maybe this ending wouldn’t be so bad."

"What are you saying...?"

"Don’t be mad. You’re scaring me."

He gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Let’s go."

"...That’s your answer?"

"..."

"Then I’ll go alone—"

"To the palace."

"What...?"

Ricardo stood up, brushing off his clothes, and smiled with the same gentle expression he always wore.

"But can you make me one promise?"

"...What kind of promise?"

Ricardo’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"No matter what happens... don’t cry."

"Cry?"

"Just because. I’ve seen enough tears from beautiful women. I don’t want to see any more."

"I won’t cry."

He didn’t say anything after that.

He simply held his sword and extended his hand toward me.

"Good. That’s a relief."

The capital was in ruins.

The streets were littered with bodies, and the cries of those who had lost loved ones echoed mercilessly through the air.

"Block the gates!!!"

"There are too many heretics!"

"Hold the line! Don’t let them reach the palace!"

"...!"

"Ricardo..."

I clutched his hand tightly, looking up at him. Even with all I’d seen, nothing could have prepared me for this.

—Grip.

If he hadn’t been by my side, I would’ve already collapsed and retched.

Holding my hand firmly, Ricardo offered a faint smile and began leading me somewhere.

"Kill them all!!!"

"Do whatever it takes!"

Toward the loudest screams.

Toward the most horrifying cries.

"Where are we going...? The secret passage is that way."

"..."

Despite my hesitation, Ricardo continued moving forward, dragging me toward the chaos.

"Where are we going...!"

"..."

"Stop...!"

"..."

"I said, stop!!"

I yanked my hand free, and as I did, my eyes widened at the sight before me.

"...Ha..."

Someone I hadn’t expected was standing there.

Silver hair.

A white sword that revealed his identity at a glance.

And the only other sword master after Ricardo—Mikhail.

"Mikhail...?"

Ricardo released my hand, letting go of the faint grip he had maintained, and smiled.

"Go with Mikhail."

"What...?"

"He’ll protect you better than I can."

"How did you know Mikhail was here... No, more importantly, why do I have to go with him?"

Ricardo’s bitter smile didn’t fade, nor did he give me an answer.

"What guarantee do we have that Mikhail will even help us? Why?"

"Because I can convince him."

"Impossible. He hates you—"

"I’ll take care of it."

Mikhail looked at Ricardo with cold eyes and let out a sigh—like he was staring at filth.

"Mikhail."

"Is this your doing?"

"Haha... No."

"Don’t laugh."

"..."

"I can finally kill you now."

"You really do hate me."

Ricardo stepped closer, lowering his voice as he spoke to Mikhail.

"I’ll find her."

"...What?"

"You’re still looking for her, aren’t you?"

Before he even finished speaking, Mikhail grabbed Ricardo by the collar, eyes burning with fury.

"How do you know her name?"

"..."

"Tell me!"

"If you grant my request... I’ll tell you."

"If you’ve used her name lightly, you’ll pay the price."

"..."

"...Keep your promise."

"I will."

After that brief but intense exchange, Ricardo turned back to me.

His expression was tinged with regret as he spoke.

"Go with Mikhail from here."

"What about you?"

"I..."

Ricardo looked toward the gates and smiled bitterly.

"I’ll take over Mikhail’s work."

"No. Come with me."

But Ricardo shook his head.

"No."

"..."

"There’s no time. You need to go quickly if we’re going to escape."

"...But!"

"Go. Now."

"...Don’t get hurt."

Ricardo didn’t respond.

As I turned to leave, he called out one last time, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Promise me."

"..."

"Don’t cry."

I nodded, not knowing this might be the last time I saw him.

"I’ll [N O V E L I G H T] be back."

I left him with an awkward farewell, unaware of what lay ahead.

Ricardo stood alone as two men approached him.

Apostle Olaf.

And—

The Empire’s High Priest.

"Hmm..."

Ricardo sat atop the bodies of countless heretics. Rising to his feet, he smiled.

"I’ve been waiting."

The Apostle laughed under his breath, while the High Priest smiled coldly.

"...Not bad."

"..."

"This isn’t how it was supposed to go, but... you caught my attention."

"I’m honored."

"The silver-haired knight must have gone to the palace. With your princess."

"..."

"And here you are, the princess’s ‘dog,’ standing guard."

"..."

"I was planning to make this painful in honor of your restraint, but I’m in a hurry. I’ll end this quickly."

Ricardo’s eyes began to glow red.

"I can’t let you."

Like a knight burning his final flame—

"I made a promise."

He raised his sword and began to fight.