The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 25

On the way home, carrying cotton candy.

The Young Lady, piggybacked on my back, was still huffing, explaining the truths of life as if her anger hadn’t subsided.

“So! People who pay a lot of money are bad people, I’m telling you!”

“But considering he gave me a meal voucher, is he really a bad person?”

“Huh?”

In the past, the Young Lady once said this:

She taught me that someone who gives you delicious food isn’t a bad person, and if they feel like a bad person, it’s either your judgment that’s flawed or you’re at fault.

As one of the model students who learned the Young Lady’s philosophy, I voiced my dissatisfaction with her teaching.

“That person gave you the meal voucher?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I did my job well?”

The Young Lady suddenly fell silent.

After a moment of contemplation, she nodded and admitted.

“Then he’s a good person.”

“Right?”

“But you still shouldn’t work with him.”

“Why not? He pays well and even bought me delicious food. Isn’t he as good as it gets?”

“Th-that’s because! It’s dangerous! He didn’t even tell you what kind of work it was.”

“I just caught an insect. An extremely rare insect.”

“Ugh… Don’t lie to me!”

To be honest, I know as well.

To earn 1 million gold in just one day, it has to be either work in the endless underbelly or a mission to subjugate a named beast.

If you think about it, I did catch a named criminal, but luck played a big role.

Pascal wasn’t a good match for me.

Since he was an antagonist from the original work, I knew his weaknesses well and could easily exploit them.

I understand the Young Lady’s worries and scolding, but teasing her is so much fun that I’m enjoying this conversation.

“So, what do you think?”

The Young Lady, piggybacked on my back, answered indifferently.

“What? That you paid off the debt?”

“No. I thought that would naturally make you happy. Something else.”

“Something else?”

“Look around here.”

I lifted my head and looked around.

The street was bright even in the dark night.

A street lamp illuminated the area above my head.

Even though it was a weekday, people were bustling through the streets. The street vendors were clapping their hands, trying to attract customers.

Usually, at this hour, we would have turned off the lights and gone to sleep or chatted in the bedroom.

I was curious about how the Young Lady felt about going out after such a long time.

“How does it feel to be outside after so long?”

The Young Lady looked around like me.

The brightly lit street scene.

The excessively beautiful night view made the Young Lady’s eyes sparkle.

The Young Lady buried her face into my back.

Perhaps she found it embarrassing to speak honestly. Hiding her face, she spoke in a soft, delicate voice. I felt like pinching her cheeks.

“I like it.”

“Right?”

“Yeah.”

That’s a relief.

I’m glad the Young Lady liked it.

A part of me had been worried about what to do if she disliked this outing.

After losing her leg.

She had started to dislike meeting people.

She had been living in the massive cage-like estate with no friends or family.

I had been anxious, wondering what to do if she got scared and decided not to go out again after this.

The unexpected appearance of Ruin also contributed to my concerns.

I wanted to create good memories for the Young Lady, and her shy answer eased my worried heart.

It felt like all the hardships melted away.

“Shall we come out again next time? We can visit street stalls and eat chicken skewers. What do you think?”

“…Maybe.”

We made a promise for next time.

Promising to spend the time more enjoyably and meaningfully, we walked lightly back to the estate.

***

On the way home.

Olivia briefly fell asleep.

It seemed she was tired from being outside after so long and exhausted from scolding Ricardo for doing dangerous work.

The broad back of the butler.

It was reliable and sturdy.

As a child, he had looked like a thin twig, and she had thought he’d grow smaller than her. But now, he had grown so much that she couldn’t see his face without looking up, and he had become an adult who could carry her on his back.

Olivia liked Ricardo.

Not as a romantic interest but as a person.

Ricardo was gentle.

He always smiled at her.

And whenever she was in trouble, he would come running. How could she not like him?

Olivia didn’t know how Ricardo felt about her, but she liked him as her butler.

She hoped he thought well of her too.

She had even looked for jobs in the newspaper for him, but since Ricardo paid off all the debt, it had become meaningless.

Honestly, it was frustrating.

That’s why she shed a few tears today.

Not many, just a little.

Just a tiny bit of tears.

She hadn’t expected the debt to be paid off.

He must have gone through a lot.

Olivia hugged the hardworking Ricardo tightly. When her mother used to hug her like this as a child, it felt good.

She hoped Ricardo felt good too.

-Tightly.

The warmth spread through her chest.

The butler’s back, which had stayed by her side for 13 years without change, was broad and warm.

“Hey, Young Lady.”

“Yeah.”

Ricardo’s trembling voice, carried by the waves of sleepiness, resonated quietly in her ears. The low voice added to her drowsiness, but Olivia tried her best to stay awake.

She already felt bad about being carried on his back, so falling asleep would make her feel even worse.

“How have you been these days?”

“Just so-so.”

“I see.”

Silence lingered in the street.

The sound of Ricardo’s footsteps echoed like a lullaby. This kind of silence wasn’t bad either.

Sleepiness crept up on her more and more.

‘I shouldn’t fall asleep.’

Olivia clung closer to Ricardo’s body.

Ricardo flinched.

Olivia didn’t know why he was acting like that.

Is he cold?

No, he should be hot.

It’s still early autumn.

It’s early autumn when even the autumn leaves haven’t turned yet.

Why is he acting like that?

Olivia was worried about Ricardo, who was trembling in weather that wasn’t cold.

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

“Then why are you shaking like this?”

“Well…”

Ricardo let out a sigh.

His ears were flushed red.

“It’s because the Young Lady is clinging too closely.”

“Why? Is my body cold?”

“No, it’s because you’re too close… It’s actually nice. No, no. What am I even saying…”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, you seem sleepy, so please rest. I won’t leave you behind, so don’t worry.”

Indeed, he was a competent butler who knew her condition well. A butler who brought her what she wanted without her saying anything and said what she wanted to hear. But just for today, Olivia decided not to follow the butler’s words.

It had been far too long since they had gone out together.

“I won’t sleep.”

Olivia coldly refused.

The stars were plentiful.

The closer they got to the estate, the fewer people there were, and it felt pleasant.

Olivia looked at Ricardo.

As always, Ricardo was dressed in a black suit, his reddened face hidden as he walked toward the estate.

Doesn’t he ever get tired of that suit?

He always wears the same clothes.

But now that I think about it, something feels off.

A question arose in Olivia’s mind. Why does Ricardo only wear long sleeves?

A year ago. Since that day.

Ricardo’s attire had been stuck at white shirts and black suits.

At first, she thought he stuck to black suits because of something bad that happened.

Later, she thought it was because he didn’t have money and was just wearing the butler suit.

But you know…

Last summer too.

And this summer as well.

Why does he only wear that outfit?

He used to wear short sleeves in the past.

For the past year, Ricardo, as Olivia had seen him, only wore long sleeves.

It was strange.

Olivia, who hated being curious, decided to ask Ricardo directly why he was wearing long sleeves and whether he wasn’t hot.

“Ricardo, aren’t you hot?”

“No. The weather is cool today, so it’s fine.”

“Really? If it’s hot, wear short sleeves.”

For a moment, Ricardo was silent.

Seeing Ricardo’s awkward smile and lack of response, Olivia’s curiosity grew even more.

Did he do something while I wasn’t around?

Does he have an embarrassing tattoo to show?

Or maybe he’s wearing a gold bracelet? Olivia didn’t know, but her hunch told her that Ricardo was hiding something under his clothes.

Hmm…

Olivia brought her face closer to Ricardo’s neck.

She thought she could see something through the collar of his shirt. Pretending to sleep, she opened her eyes slightly and looked at the nape of Ricardo’s neck.

It was a perverted act, but Olivia couldn’t hold back her curiosity.

As Ricardo walked, his shirt opened slightly, creating a small gap.

Through the gap in his clothes, Ricardo’s body was about to come into view.

“Being a pervert is bad.”

Ricardo’s sharp rebuke came as he wrapped his clothes tightly. Olivia’s face burned. She thought her act was flawless, but she got caught immediately.

Especially because she was caught trying to peek at the butler’s body. Olivia couldn’t lift her head.

With a “whatever happens, happens” attitude, Olivia spoke.

“I didn’t look!”

“Lie. I could feel your lecherous gaze.”

“It wasn’t lecherous!”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t look at me like that!”

Ricardo buttoned up his clothes.

As if he wouldn’t allow even the smallest gap. Seeing Ricardo wrap himself up tightly, Olivia felt annoyed.

“I said I didn’t look!”

“Looking is what’s strange.”

Olivia made a vow to herself.

Someday, she would definitely see it.

Olivia resolved herself in her heart.