The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

A late night with torrential rain pouring down.

At the quiet entrance of Hamel Village, the loud sound of knocking echoed.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

It was a time when no one would be awake.

Since 3 a.m. was the hour when everyone would be in bed.

-Bang! Bang..! Bang...!

"Is anyone there?"

Even so, the man desperately knocked on the door, braving the rain.

Grinding his teeth at the lack of a response.

The man looked anxious.

Despite being drenched in the downpour without an umbrella, he kept glancing behind him, grinding his teeth, worried that the person on his back might get wet. He adjusted the layers of the raincoat wrapped around them.

"Please..."

-Bang. Bang. Bang.

The man continued knocking on the unyielding door.

Pressing his forehead against it, pleading desperately.

He simply kept knocking.

*

One hour earlier.

"Yawn..."

Unable to fall asleep, I was walking toward the Young Lady’s room. I was worried she might not be able to sleep because of her cold.

The coughing sounds I heard were rough.

And the faint, restless groans were impossible to ignore.

-Cough... Cough.

"Looks like sleeping is out of the question."

Carrying a basin filled with water, I paused in front of the Young Lady’s room door. I hesitated, wondering if I might wake her unnecessarily.

-Huff... Huff...

Beyond the door, the Young Lady seemed to be struggling. Her breathing sounded hoarse, like that of someone suffering from a severe cold.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

Even when I knocked, she didn’t hear me.

Even when I called her name, there was no response.

Frustrated, I took the liberty of opening the Young Lady’s room door. After all, she hadn’t answered no matter how much I called.

-Clatter!

"Young Lady!"

As soon as I entered, the stifling heat of the room made me furrow my brow.

"...Young Lady?"

When I placed my hand on her forehead, it was burning hot, like touching a flame. It was almost too much to bear.

-Groan...

She had said she wouldn’t get sick.

She had even hooked pinkies and stamped a promise with me, yet here she was, clearly unwell. Seeing her like this, I let out a bitter smile and quickly moved into action.

-Crash...!

We had to go to the hospital.

Since I wasn’t a doctor who could cure her cold, and since I was too much of a coward to watch her suffer in her condition, I think I just ran without thinking.

-Squelch.

Because of the rain, the streets were filled with mud. The sticky mud clung to my shoes as if refusing to let go, but I gritted my teeth. If my body wavered, the Young Lady would suffer.

"Ugh..."

The faint groans coming from the Young Lady made my heart race and my thoughts narrow. Like a fool, really.

Surely, there must have been a better way, but my urgency left no room for such thoughts.

As I ran, I glanced at the Young Lady on my back, wrapped snugly in a dark green raincoat, and asked softly.

"Young Lady..."

"Huff... Huff..."

"..."

Clenching my eyes shut, I pushed forward through the rain.

Hoping, praying, that someone would answer the knocking.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

I pounded on the unyielding door.

***

-Cough...

Olivia was dreaming.

-Ahhh! It’s the witch eating chocolate!

-Stop eating! How much more are you going to eat?

-Bring them back! Bring them back, I said!

Surrounded by chocolate soldiers.

Standing alone in the Imperial Palace, with the citizens of the Chocolate Kingdom throwing chocolates at her.

Even as she listened to the angry cries of countless chocolates, Olivia smacked her lips. She didn’t like how the rebellious citizens were ungrateful for her efforts to conquer them.

-Be quiet.

-Aaaaaah!

-I’ll eat it all.

The Chocolate Kingdom was falling into ruin.

In the midst of her massacre.

Suddenly, the sun rose brightly in the sky, and the chocolate soldiers began to melt.

Olivia reached out regretfully to grab them, but their fragile forms melted away under the scorching heat, making it impossible to hold onto them.

-Why is everything disappearing?

With a sullen expression, Olivia clenched her fist.

-This is boring.

Her body started to shake.

As if she were riding a carriage at full speed, her body jolted uncontrollably.

"Ugh..."

Overwhelmed by the persistent nausea, Olivia slowly began to wake from her dream. She felt that if she stayed in the dream any longer, she’d be swept away by the melting Chocolate Kingdom.

"Ugh..."

Leaving behind her sweet dream, Olivia slowly opened her eyes.

-Gasp... Gasp...

’A horse...?’

Squinting her eyes open, Olivia let out a groan as a throbbing headache hit her. She felt so dizzy she thought she might throw up.

"Ugh..."

Her body was burning.

Her head was spinning.

Just earlier, she had been able to endure the pain, but her condition had suddenly worsened, leaving her gasping for air.

’Creak...’

Her throat felt scratchy and sore.

Her body shivered uncontrollably from the chill.

Even though Ricardo had told her not to kick off the blanket, she had wrapped herself tightly in it. But now, it felt as though she were in the middle of an icy wasteland, unbearably cold.

’Ugh... I can’t get sick.’

Recalling her promise with Ricardo, Olivia muttered softly.

"If I get sick, I’ll get scolded..."

She had hooked pinkies and made a promise with Ricardo, but she had broken it so easily. Thinking about how worried Ricardo would be, Olivia’s face crumpled into a pout.

It seemed she had caught a proper cold.

"Cold..."

Her body was burning. Intensely so.

Nevertheless, Olivia let out a bitter smile despite her trembling body. Her current state seemed paradoxical to her.

"Ugh..."

Olivia thought it would be nice if Ricardo could place a wet towel on her forehead. That might ease her headache a little.

But.

-Swaaah...

Since Ricardo was asleep, he probably couldn’t come.

"Cough..."

Olivia tried to open her tightly shut eyes as she coughed. She felt sorry for Ricardo, but she thought she might have to ring the bell. She had tried to endure it, but it seemed she had caught a serious cold.

"Mmm..."

Olivia struggled to lift her eyelids.

And.

-Squish. Squish.

She found herself waking up in an unfamiliar place.

"Huh...?"

Everything around her was dark.

She was sure she had been sleeping in her room, but it felt as though she was outside. The sky was dark, and rain was pouring down relentlessly.

-Swaaah...

The sound of frogs croaking echoed in her ears.

-Squish... Squish...

And the sound of someone stepping on mud continued to ring out.

"Where am I..."

Where could this be?

Contrary to her panicked thoughts, her mind wasn’t clearing up easily. Her head hurt too much.

-Squish.

She could hear the sound of wet pants brushing against each other, and a man’s rough voice echoed in her head.

Strangely enough...

-Please open the door! She’s burning up...!

’Huh...?’

Only after the pounding headache in her head subsided a little did Olivia begin to regain her senses.

-Please.

She finally realized.

That this wasn’t her room but outside. And that she was on someone’s back—it didn’t take long for her to figure that out.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Is anyone there?!"

-Bang!

"Hah... Damn it..."

Olivia saw red hair in her line of sight. Hair soaked from the rain, with water droplets dripping down.

He seemed to be in such a hurry that his running figure looked pitiful. As if he were in more pain than she was.

"Haah... Please!!!"

’Don’t be angry... It’s scary.’

The man carrying her seemed very upset. His breathing was rough, and his voice was slightly agitated. Yet, strangely enough, she felt at ease. It felt even more comforting than being at home.

-Swaaah...

The man’s broad back felt so warm.

The rain continued to pour.

And the raincoat was shielding her from it.

"Ugh... Cough... Cough."

"Young Lady!?"

"Mmm...?"

"Thank goodness... Please hold on a little longer."

Olivia rubbed her eyes at the familiar voice.

And her eyes met with the man who sighed in relief.

Red hair.

Broad back.

And a comforting warmth.

"Ricardo...?"

Olivia called out to Ricardo in a trembling voice. Ricardo wasn’t wearing a raincoat. He had covered her with it instead, leaving himself exposed to the rain. Olivia’s eyes quivered at the sight.

"Ricardo... You’re getting wet."

"Hah... Hah... I’m so glad."

Despite his clothes getting soaked in the pouring rain, Ricardo was smiling in relief. He was bound to catch a cold at this rate.

Olivia, on the verge of tears, spoke to Ricardo.

"Wear... something. You’ll catch a cold."

"It’s fine."

"No, Ricardo... Cough... Cough...!"

"I’m fine. I’m more worried about you, Young Lady."

Ricardo turned his head with a faint smile.

"You’re in a lot of pain, aren’t you?"

"Yeah... My head hurts."

"Just hold on a little longer. I’ll figure something out."

"My body is freezing too. It feels like... being completely naked and buried in the snow... I’m shivering so much."

"...That’s quite a vivid description."

"And..."

Ricardo continued to move busily while listening to her complaints. His pupils trembled with fear, but he was putting on a brave front, which made her heart ache.

"Ricardo..."

"Yes."

Olivia bit her lip tightly as she spoke, hoping he wouldn’t worry anymore.

"I’m not sick."

"..."

"I’m all better now."

Ricardo slowed his running pace and came to a stop. Then, looking at her with trembling eyes, he spoke in a slightly angry tone.

"Young Lady."

"..."

"I’m fine. So please don’t tell such lies."

"..."

"Don’t do that."

Olivia hugged Ricardo’s neck tightly and nodded.

"I’m sorry."

Ricardo silently kept running.

The rain kept pouring until it finally stopped.