The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 113

The evening of the day we returned from the capital.

After having a hearty dinner, I looked at the Young Lady, who was lying politely on the bed. With her hands neatly folded over her stomach and wearing a white sleeping cap, she was counting the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling with bright, sparkling eyes.

“One star. Two… Three… I’m hungry again.”

-Blink, blink.

“Please go to sleep quickly.”

“I won’t.”

“It’s late.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

The Young Lady firmly declared her intention not to sleep. With bright, shining eyes, she announced her breakup with drowsiness, claiming that my efforts to put her to bed tonight were insufficient.

The Young Lady, who had been absentmindedly counting stars, turned her head and stared intently at me, who was awkwardly standing nearby, and asked.

-Broadly.

“Is there something on my face?”

“You’re ugly.”

At the Young Lady’s insolent personal attack, I flicked her white forehead with a light snap that made a small “tok” sound.

“Ack!” The Young Lady’s scream echoed. Her reaction was so satisfying that a smile crept onto my lips.

As she rubbed her forehead with her fingers and shouted, “It feels like I’ve grown another head!” I sighed and demanded she retract her earlier statement.

“Where in the world would you find a butler as handsome as me? Apologize.”

“There are plenty. So, no apology.”

“Haha. Your forehead looks particularly wide today. It’s a good thing there are so many spots to hit.”

I raised my finger, loaded with another flick, right in front of the Young Lady’s eyes. At the threatening gesture, the Young Lady tightly shut her eyes and screamed.

“Eeeek! Spare me!”

Seeing her hurriedly cover her face with the blanket in a flustered manner, a small smile escaped my lips.

“Pfft…! Please don’t make a kind butler like me into a bad person.”

When the Young Lady was younger, I used to threaten her by saying that staying up late would make her as short as a yodeler, which got her to sleep. But after realizing the harsh reality that growth plates are a limited-edition product for teenagers, such threats no longer worked on her.

‘I just want to get her to sleep quickly.’

I wanted to rest because I was feeling under the weather.

Sleep deprivation isn’t good for one’s health, after all.

In a weary voice, I whispered into the Young Lady’s ear, urging her to sleep.

“Aren’t you tired? You were nodding off in the carriage earlier.”

“Hmm… That wasn’t me.”

“Then who was the one drooling on my shoulder while sleeping?”

“A ghost.”

“If you keep joking, a maiden ghost will appear in your dreams tonight.”

“Eek.”

She must be afraid of ghosts, as the Young Lady furrowed her brows and pulled the blanket over her head. Seeing the outline of her face protruding from under the blanket, a small chuckle escaped me.

My head had been throbbing for a while, but seeing the Young Lady’s adorable behavior made me feel like my fever had subsided a little.

The Young Lady peeked out from under the blanket and glanced at me.

“But what can I do if I still can’t fall asleep?”

“Even if the wardrobe slowly creaks open in the middle of the night and a ghost comes out?”

“That…”

The Young Lady began to sweat and avoided meeting my gaze. Then, with a shy smile, she spoke to me bashfully.

“Ricardo would catch it for me, wouldn’t you?”

“I’m afraid of ghosts too, you know.”

“Ugh… Ricardo, you coward.”

“Puhaha…! Still, I’ll do my best to catch it. If I can’t, you’ll have to sleep with me.”

“No way. Ricardo, you snore.”

“Isn’t that better than a ghost?”

Smiling softly, I patted the Young Lady’s head. Her fluffy hair slipped through my fingers, and the soft sensation brought a gentle smile to my face.

“Ugh… I’m not a puppy.”

“You’re so fluffy; it feels nice.”

“Eeeek! Stop it…!”

The Young Lady frowned and waved her hands in protest. Despite her strong resistance, telling me to pet the sleeping Gomtangi next to the bed instead, I playfully ruffled her hair.

“Ugh… I shouldn’t have worn the cap.”

The Young Lady sighed as she looked at the sleeping cap that had fallen to the floor with a pitiful gaze.

“That’s why you should go to sleep.”

“Hmm…”

The Young Lady shook her head, refusing to sleep. She seemed to be in a good mood, as it had been a while since she hadn’t felt drowsy after eating.

“I’m not sleepy. I feel like I could stay awake all day.”

“Please refrain from saying such dreadful things.”

“Why?”

“Overtime is the bane of society.”

“…”

Pouting her lips, the Young Lady grumbled.

“Is looking at the most beautiful face in the world considered overtime?”

True to her villainess nature, the Young Lady shamelessly made such a remark.

However, I had no rebuttal, so I kept my mouth shut.

After all, it was true that the Young Lady was beautiful.

Even without the bias of being smitten, the Young Lady was an extraordinary beauty. Her elegant looks and the treasure pouch that enhanced her charm made her all the more captivating. Although her brazen self-praise was annoying, it was hard to deny the truth in her words.

But.

“I’m handsome too, you know. Handsome enough to make a living off my looks.”

“Pfft.”

“What is that unpleasant laugh supposed to mean?”

With a villainess-like smile, the Young Lady covered her mouth with her hand. Chuckling softly and opening her crescent-shaped eyes, she shook her head.

“Ricardo, drawing lines on a pumpkin won’t turn it into a watermelon.”

“Where did you learn such refined expressions?”

“It was in ‘Father, You Can’t Do This!’ The fallen daughter-in-law said it to the abandoned mother-in-law.”

“…?”

“Why? It’s a wholesome philosophy book.”

“…?”

After the incident on her birthday this year, I had thoroughly censored her books, but it seemed inappropriate content still lingered in her favorite reads. Shaking my head, I picked up the forbidden book from the bedside table.

“This is confiscated.”

With a look of despair, the Young Lady spread her hands wide and shook her head.

“No…! That’s my master!”

“You don’t need such a depraved master.”

“Ugh… Taking back something you gave is the worst thing in the world.”

“Did you learn that from this book too?”

“Yep.”

“Alright. Incineration it is.”

Clenching her fists, the Young Lady let out a sullen sigh.

“Don’t burn it… It’s precious to me.”

“There are other books, aren’t there?”

“But this is a book Ricardo gave me.”

Wow… That’s cheating.

Fiddling with her fingers and wearing a dejected expression, the Young Lady’s sweet whisper made a smile escape my lips.

“No… Ha.”

I already felt feverish from the cold, but hearing the Young Lady’s shy confession made my head feel like it was about to explode. It reminded me of a sigh from my previous life that went, “Hawawa…”

Unable to control the corners of my mouth, I found myself smiling foolishly.

“Alright. But you have to sleep now.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

At the same time as making the promise, the Young Lady tightly shut her eyes and lay down, turning her back with her lips pouting as if sulking.

“Are you upset?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t sulk. I’m quite good at sulking myself.”

“Hmph!”

As if she intended to announce her sulking to the entire neighborhood, the Young Lady huffed and puffed with an exaggerated “Hmph, hmph!” Seeing her disgruntled demeanor, I sat gently by the bedside and whispered softly to ease her disappointment.

“Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tour of the estate.”

“I’m still sulking.”

“You’ll be amazed when you see the renovated estate. I even made a room filled with things you’d like.”

“What kind of things?”

I pressed my lips together with a mischievous smile.

“It’s a secret.”

“Ugh…”

“If you don’t sleep now, I’ll show you in a week instead.”

“That’s unfair.”

“Well, unfairness is a trait of unattractive people, they say.”

“Eeeek… Fine, you’re right. I’ll forgive you.”

Seeing the Young Lady’s curious expression, now willing to engage in conversation, I smiled and gently stroked her hair.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Okay. Goodbye.”

“Sweet dreams, Young Lady.”

Just as I let out a spirited “Hup!” and tried to stand up.

-Grab.

The Young Lady suddenly grabbed my sleeve, halting my steps.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes?”

Half-hidden under the blanket, the Young Lady spoke to me.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

“Pardon?”

“Your face is really red.”

I touched my burning cheeks and maintained a calm expression. I assured her that I’d be fine after some rest, so she shouldn’t worry.

“I think it’s because I just saw the most beautiful Young Lady in the world.”

At my playful remark, the Young Lady chuckled but repeated the same question.

“You’re really not sick, right?”

“My eyes hurt a little.”

“Why?”

“Because your halo is just too dazzling.”

“Hehe…”

The Young Lady smiled pleasantly and waved at me.

“Don’t get sick.”

“I’m always healthy because I don’t have picky eating habits like you.”

“Eeeek!”

“Sweet dreams.”

After turning off the lights in the room, I pressed my burning forehead and walked to my own room.

“I feel dizzy.”

Thinking that I’d feel better after some sleep, I trudged along with heavy steps.

***

And so, the next morning arrived.

Olivia, as always, blew the reveille toward the sky, carrying her wish for Ricardo, who was sleeping in the next room, to come quickly.

She also carried her desire to quickly satisfy her curiosity about today’s breakfast menu.

As Olivia greeted the morning sunlight with a pleasant smile, she shouted toward the estate’s ceiling.

-Air Raid Alarm!!!

Olivia’s voice reverberated loudly throughout the estate.

If she waited about a minute, Ricardo would surely open the door.

Olivia hid her twitching lips and stared at the door.

‘When will he come…?’

Even after a minute passed.

Even after three minutes passed…

Even after ten minutes passed, the door didn’t open.

Flustered, Olivia muttered to herself.

“Huh?”

No one came to find Olivia.