Page 400 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

There are memories that cannot be erased.

— I'll kill you.

The memory of hating someone who shone so brightly because I couldn’t be the protagonist.

Back then, I was cruel.

— Why did I become a monster...

— ...

— Whose fault is it that I ended up like this?

The one who shone stood before me, his expression darkened. Even when he heard my cold words, even when I cursed him.

— Are you hurt anywhere?

He only asked with a pained expression.

At that time, I didn’t know what was right or wrong. I couldn’t find the answer.

— I hate you.

There was nothing left for me to protect.

No one left to praise me.

The only way I could find light was by clinging to something twisted. I couldn’t find the right path.

Living in a season of hatred—that was the time I lived in.

By the time I realized I had been played by their schemes, it was already too late. I had ruined everything.

— Are you... awake?

What was I thinking back then?

What kind of expression did I wear as I lived in that season of hatred?

Regret?

Sorrow?

Anger...? I don’t know. I didn’t want to go back. I didn’t want to think about it again.

He was someone who shone brighter than anyone else.

A person so beautiful that I wondered if the world had been made just for him.

Exceptional looks.

Strength that surpassed anyone else.

And courage that I could never dare to match.

To someone as broken as me... He didn’t need to apologize for not protecting me.

He was someone who shouldn’t have risked his precious life for someone like me, a mere passerby.

More than the one with the qualities of a hero.

More than the woman born with the gift of a great mage.

More than me, who bore the title of Saint.

Far more precious.

— You should’ve killed me.

— How could I?

— Why... why didn’t you just kill me back then? Why did you keep saving me? Why...! Why did you turn me into trash?

— Because I failed to protect you.

— I can protect myself...!

— Then that’s enough.

He was someone so brilliant... that he made me feel pathetic.

— That’s fine with me.

— Don’t smile like that... please...

— I’m happy.

A shining person.

Bang!

Another peaceful morning at the Desmont Mansion.

Snort. Snort.

Olivia woke up, flaring her dry nostrils as she faced a refreshing morning. Her mouth felt like a desert, probably because she had snored too much last night.

“Hmmmm...”

If this continued, ★ ?????????????????? ★ Olivia wouldn’t be able to sing like a nightingale to wish the Empire well-being. She sighed, flaring her nostrils again.

“Heeek...”

With sharp eyes, Olivia began searching for a glass of water. This was all for the sake of the Empire, of course.

“Water.”

Clunk.

“Water...”

After waving her hand through the air a few times, Olivia successfully grabbed the glass. She smiled faintly and began to drink.

Just as she finished her refreshing sip and was about to shout out for the Empire’s safety—

“Cough...!”

Olivia’s eyes widened at the faint metallic taste rising in her mouth.

Assassination.

An attempt had been made to assassinate the most beautiful lady of the Desmont family.

Her eyes grew even wider as the sharp, sour taste lingered in her mouth.

“Heeek...”

It tasted strange.

Like sand filling her mouth—dry and coarse—but with an oddly revitalizing flavor as if her ruined body was returning to normal.

“It tastes... healthy?!”

It was vegetable juice.

“Heeek!!”

Tears welled in Olivia’s eyes as she glared at the offending drink. Clearly, the insolent butler had finally devised an assassination plot.

Ordinarily, she would have summoned Ricardo and demanded an explanation.

“R-raid... Ugh!”

However, years of habit weighed her down, stopping her from even calling the arrogant butler’s name.

“Heek...”

It must have been Ricardo’s plan. Who else could be this meticulous? Enraged, Olivia shut her eyes and spoke with a resigned expression.

“Air raid alarm...!!!!”

Ah... how refreshing.

Click... click...

As if waiting for her morning declaration, footsteps echoed from the hallway.

The round sun has risen.

“Heek...”

Get up from your bed.

“Heeek...”

The first thing to do is brush your teeth... Ahem.

Olivia stared blankly at the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

“I’m dead, so don’t come in.”

“Oh dear... it’s a big deal if someone assassinated Lady Desmont.”

“Not something for the assassin to say.”

“His Lordship permitted it.”

“Bad father.”

“A powerless servant must obey their master, after all.”

Creak...

The door opened. Olivia grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Ricardo, but he tilted his head slightly, dodging it with ease. Olivia looked as if the world had crumbled before her.

“Yawn... If you want to hit me at that speed...”

“Heeek!!”

The insolent butler.

*****

“Ahem.”

I gazed at the sulky young lady who had just survived her ‘assassination attempt’ and smiled brightly.

“How was the special vegetable juice?”

“It felt like eating raw bell peppers.”

“Correct answer.”

“Youuuuuu...!”

“I added bell peppers, broccoli, and mandrake extract.”

“Y-Youuu...!”

“You look so energetic now. If I get the chance, I’ll make it for you again.”

“Youuuuuuuuuu!!!”

Seeing the young lady’s distressed expression somehow lifted my spirits. Relieving stress like this always seemed to improve my mood.

“They call this ‘fattening up the livestock.’”

“Huh?!”

“Because we need to keep you healthy before we eat you.”

“I’m not a pig.”

The young lady backed away while touching her stomach nervously.

“Oink.”

“Stop making pig noises.”

“Oink, oink.”

“What kind of animal is that supposed to be?”

“Ricardo.”

As much as I wanted to force her to finish the rest of the juice—

“Baaah—”

Judging by the way she glared at me with dead eyes, it felt like I’d lose all my hair before that could happen. I decided to let it go.

After clearing my throat, I began discussing today’s schedule. It was going to be a busy day.

“Today’s plan is...”

“Food.”

“Yes, first, breakfast with the Duke downstairs.”

“Mhm.”

“Then rehabilitation exercises in the morning.”

“...Mhm.”

“After that, we’ll have the lunch I prepared.”

“Okay.”

“And finally, we’ll head down to Hamel.”

“Huh?!”

The young lady froze mid-motion as she reached for her treasure pouch and stared at me with wide eyes.

“I don’t want to go home.”

“Why not?”

“If I go home, I’ll have to eat vegetables.”

“If you stay in the capital, I’ll just keep plotting assassination attempts.”

“Nooooooo! I hate vegetable juice!”

“If you keep being picky, you might really turn into a pig.”

“I’m too pretty for that.”

“Even bears eat better than you.”

“Youuuuuuuuu!!!”

I dodged the flying pillow with ease and smiled at her. Compared to the past, she was waking up earlier and earlier.

[9:30 AM]

She was slowly becoming a proper adult.

“Anyway, since there have been unsettling rumors lately, we’ll head down to Hamel early. We can’t leave the house empty for too long.”

“Rumors?”

“You did threaten the Crown Prince back in the west.”

“Oh, right. I told him to go cry to his daddy if he made me mad.”

“That’s why we’re leaving early. His Lordship will probably get much busier too.”

“Hmm... Are we taking Watery with us?”

“It’s not ‘Watery.’ It’s ‘Tang-Tang.’”

“Same thing.”

“I was planning to take it, but I’m not sure if we can keep it since there’s no pool at home.”

“We can just put it in the bathtub.”

“Are you planning to turn it into seafood stew?”

“Wait, no?”

“...”

Seeing her serious face, I let out a sigh and reluctantly helped her into Chair-1.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Mhm.”

“Today’s side dish is steak made by Lady Rosanna herself.”

“Whaaat?!”

Wiggle.

At the mention of meat, the young lady’s toes wriggled excitedly, and I murmured quietly.

“You’ve improved a lot.”

“Mhm?”

“Your legs. You can wiggle your toes now, and it looks like you’ll be walking soon.”

“Mhm. That’s why I’m working hard on my exercises.”

She nodded energetically and smiled.

It was such a beautiful smile that I wished this moment could last forever.

Smiling, I asked her,

“Young Lady.”

“Mhm.”

“What’s the first thing you want to do when you can walk again?”

“Hmm?”

She grinned and answered,

“It’s a secret.”

“There are no secrets between us.”

“Huh?”

I barely held back my laughter as I patted her head.

“You have to tell me later.”

“Mhm.”

“Don’t say it’s a secret again when the time comes.”

“I promise.”

“No fighting.”

“Wha—?”

“Wait... Is it fighting?”

“...”

The young lady gave me a mischievous smile.

“It’s a secret.”

Honestly...

“That’s disappointing.”

She really was adorable.

“Fatherrrrrrrr!!”

“Oliviaaaaaaa!!!”

“Ricardo tried to kill me!!!”

“How dare—?!”

“I hate you too, Father!”

“...I want to be reborn.”

What an adorable family.