The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 18

It has been three weeks since Hanna’s aura manifested.

Rowen couldn’t lift his head.

Hanna left the house. She said she no longer wanted to stay there, so she stayed at our mansion for a while before returning to the academy.

Since she said she would be staying in the dormitory, I suppose our next meeting will be during winter vacation. Our mansion is in the outskirts, and the academy is in the capital city, so it’s not a distance one can casually visit. It will probably be a while before I see her face again.

After the academy’s vacation ended, the next news I heard of Hanna was on a page of the newspaper.

[The Third Daughter of Histania defeats Mikhail in the Imperial Academy’s Ranking Competition, achieving the top rank among 1st and 2nd-year students…

[In her statement, she said, ‘I was able to stand here because of the person I like the most.’ While speculation suggests her man is either Mikhail or her father, Histania Rowen, she firmly denied it.]

Seeing the photograph printed in the newspaper, I couldn’t hide my satisfied smile.

She was holding a trophy and smiling brightly.

She finally looked as if she had laid down a heavy burden from her shoulders. It felt like I had only ever seen her cowering and crying before.

Strangely, I felt proud, and it made me happy to think that perhaps I had changed her future.

What was most satisfying, however, was undoubtedly Mikhail’s defeat. It felt incredibly good to knock down the pride of someone who lived for his own arrogance—especially since a 2nd-year lost to a 1st-year.

As much as I wanted to see Mikhail’s expression in person, I decided to hold back.

Mikhail and I have an inherently poor relationship, so we could only wish for each other’s misfortune.

In many ways, it was a good time. I earned a lot of money and built connections. Perhaps it was the most meaningful time I spent all year. Just as I was thinking that I should take the Young Lady out for a meal—

Softly—

My eyes met with the Young Lady, who was glaring at me so fiercely that the newspaper might as well have had a hole burned through it.

I quickly folded the newspaper and hid it under the blanket.

“Why are you hiding it? I’m curious too, so let me see.”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, it’s not.”

“If you see it, Young Lady, you’ll grab the back of your neck and faint.”

“No, I won’t. My mental strength is strong.”

The Young Lady bent her arm with all her might, revealing a quail egg-sized bicep. I almost burst out laughing at her insignificant muscles, but seeing her furrowed brow as she seriously strained her muscles, I pinched my thigh to hold back my laughter.

“Look! How’s that? I’m strong, right?”

“Oh…!”

When I clapped and played along, the Young Lady smiled bashfully and showed me her other arm. Seeing her slender arms, I thought I should feed her more meat from now on.

The Young Lady couldn’t let go of her curiosity. She kept pestering me about the newspaper article until my ears nearly bled, so I decided to edit the content to a level that wouldn’t shock her and told her.

“Miss Hanna, you see—”

“A homeless beggar?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Did she buy a house or something?”

“No. It seems she took first place at the academy.”

“Oh…! The beggar succeeded!”

The Young Lady, who looked down on Hanna, who was several times wealthier than us. I decided not to correct her misunderstanding. Preserving the master’s pride is also a butler’s virtue.

If the Young Lady found out that Hanna was wealthier than us, she might start a hunger strike, saying we need to save money.

“Exactly. It must be because we fed and sheltered her well.”

“Right?”

“Of course. Didn’t you also dominate as a 1st-year back in the day?”

With havoc.

The Young Lady smiled brightly and nodded in agreement.

“That’s right! I did cast some magic back then.”

“Indeed.”

The Young Lady, unaware she had been teased, laughed innocently. It felt satisfying to get one over on her.

“Right… Hehe. I did make a name for myself at the academy.”

“With infamy, that is.”

“Ugh…!”

There was a faint wistfulness in the Young Lady’s smile.

She must have been happy about her friend’s good news but also felt a desire to return to the academy herself. I wanted to ask Hanna to visit her soon, but as you know, Hanna was a busy person.

Unlike us, who lazed around at home, Hanna was currently the most famous person in the Empire. Moreover, I had already asked Hanna for a difficult favor, so I felt guilty about making such a trivial request.

-Miss Hanna?

-Please, speak comfortably. You don’t need to be formal with me.

-Ahaha… Maybe I’ll try that someday. After 13 years as a butler, formal speech feels more natural to me.

-But you curse at Senior Ruin quite freely.

-…I have no excuse for that.

-Puhaha…! So, what is the favor?

-Well, you see. If you ever secure a position at the academy in the future…

I cautiously asked her to help with the Young Lady’s re-enrollment. Hanna said she would do her best, but—

-It seems it will be difficult until Senior Yuria graduates. I’m sorry.

The expected letter had arrived.

I wasn’t disappointed or discouraged.

As always, if there isn’t a way, I’ll create one. Though it may take longer than a straightforward approach, I never gave up on fulfilling the Young Lady’s dream.

At any rate, Hanna had left our mansion, and we remained here.

It was then—

“Ahhh! That… that son of a b* is here again!”

The Young Lady, who had been looking out the window, pointed outside while spewing vulgar curses.

I peeked my head out.

A deeply pulled-down hat.

A child standing by the wall with a paintbrush and red paint.

Looking at the child, I spoke.

“Hey, you little son of a b*!”

In front of the Wall Vandal, the mansion’s rules didn’t apply.

***

3rd Floor Student Council Room.

The prodigies who would lead the Empire were seated around a round table.

At the center was Chartia, the Third Princess, flanked by the Disciple of the Master of the Tower, Ruin, the Crown Prince of the Empire, and Mikhail, all facing each other.

A gathering of the academy’s giants.

Their expressions were uniformly grim.

As if they were attending a funeral.

With faces that looked like they had bitten into something foul, they stared at one spot.

Some were displeased about being summoned during their busy schedules, while others were still bitter about their recent defeat and resented being called together.

But what annoyed them the most—

“What? You’re saying we should let that woman re-enroll?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“You’ve really lost it, haven’t you?”

The reason for gathering the academy’s prodigies here was merely because of the Expelled Villainess. And to make matters worse, a junior was at the center of it all.

Ruin, who had his legs propped up on the desk, glared at Hanna. His gaze clearly questioned what kind of nonsense she was spouting.

Hanna didn’t avoid Ruin’s gaze. Instead, she looked at him as if she were stating the most obvious thing in the world.

“Seniors.”

Hanna placed her hand on the table and spoke calmly.

“In this recent Ranking Competition, I surpassed Senior Mikhail and achieved the top rank among 1st and 2nd-year students.”

The Ranking Competition.

A grand festival where students’ standings are reshuffled.

A kind of opportunity for social advancement.

It changes the dormitory tier one resides in.

And alters the quality of cafeteria food—a kind of civil service exam. Hanna’s words carried weight, as she had claimed the top rank in this event.

This meant she was deemed the most talented within her year. Public attention was focused on her, and the academy’s support was concentrated on her alone.

Knowing this better than anyone, Hanna spoke sincerely, without pretense. Thanks to the advice of someone who told her not to be modest.

Hanna intended to make use of her privileges.

“So, what exactly are you trying to say?”

The Platinum Blond Crown Prince glared at Hanna. Judging by the way he rested his chin on his hand, he didn’t look pleased.

If he could, he would mobilize all his power to silence her, but such things were impossible in the Academy, where freedom of expression was permitted.

“I simply thought it would be a mistake to overlook talented individuals for the sake of the Academy’s progress, so I spoke up.”

Hanna had no intention of backing down.

Because she wanted to repay a favor.

And to fulfill her personal desire to attend the Academy alongside the Butler, she stood her ground and spoke.

Of course, the more Hanna retorted, the more the Crown Prince’s expression shifted.

“Isn’t that what the Academy is for? A place to discover the prodigies who will lead the Empire’s future?”

“Indeed. The Academy is a place to nurture talent. But, you see—”

The Crown Prince glared at Hanna.

“This is a place to raise people. Not beasts.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, Senior Ruin is also attending the Academy just fine.”

-Bang!

“What did you just say?”

Ruin conjured a Red Sphere in his hand. With eyes that looked ready to fire it at any moment, he glared at Hanna.

Hanna replied shamelessly.

Because she had already overcome the wall called Mikhail.

She wasn’t intimidated by a mere pebble like Ruin.

“Did I say something wrong? There’s no one else in the Academy who spends all their time fighting like Senior Ruin. Even when you brought the Reenrollment Application with me last time, you were about to pick a fight. The Butler stepped in and stomped you—”

“Shut up!”

Ruin’s face turned red.

Hanna wanted to provoke him further.

“Enough.”

The master of the room did not permit any more commotion.

Normally, she would have pretended to die at the senior’s words, but lately, Hanna felt like her temper was starting to resemble someone else’s.

It wasn’t a good thing.

But it didn’t feel unpleasant.

Rather, she felt happy that she was becoming similar.

From his righteous personality to his beautiful boy-like appearance, her tastes leaned toward Senior Mikhail. Yet, ever since the start of the school term, the Red-Haired Butler had been lingering in her mind. We’re just a master and disciple, though.

Hanna calmed her racing heart and looked at the woman in front of her.

The master of this room.

Currently the Student Council President and the 3rd Princess, Princess Chartia.

She spoke to Hanna.

“So, what’s your main point?”

Hanna spoke politely.

“Please allow Senior Ricardo and Desmond Olivia to re-enroll in the Academy.”

Princess Chartia replied coldly.

“Dismissed. Olivia cannot re-enroll.”

At the same time, Mikhail raised his hand and replied.

With an appearance that could be mistaken for a woman and short silver hair fluttering, he spoke coldly and firmly.

“If those two re-enroll, I will drop out.”

The two of them were resolute.

But Hanna said this to them.

“Then go ahead and drop out.”

On Hanna’s scale, Mikhail weighed less than Ricardo.