The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 97

I felt melancholic.

I used to think that if I smiled brightly, people would turn their attention to me.

Even when I was upset, I smiled.

Even when I was sad, I smiled.

I believed that if I kept smiling, even when being insulted, one day the friends who disliked me would finally look back at me.

It was the only way I could cope with being ostracized.

It was the only form of rebellion I could muster as someone who had nothing. I had resolved to keep smiling no matter what.

But.

I came to realize too late that the burden of emotions I had been piling up had transformed into a massive residue of sorrow without me even noticing.

The foolish days when I blindly believed that smiling would eventually improve these relationships, the moments when I hoped someone would approach me someday, all came crashing down like a mountain hit by a downpour when I saw the word ‘Idiot’ scrawled on my desk that day.

I stood still, staring at the desk.

“What is this…?”

My mind felt like it had gone completely blank.

I couldn’t think of anything.

I just felt as though the hope I had built up all this time was crumbling as I stared at the sinisterly written words.

Behind me, I heard snickering laughter.

-Who did that?

-I don’t know. It was like that when I came in this morning.

-Crazy… But isn’t she crying?

-Wow. Hey…! She’s crying.

-Insane. Puhaha!

Mockery rained down on me as I kept my head bowed.

Instead of comfort like “Are you okay?”, the reactions of my classmates, who treated my sadness as if it were a comedy, made me bolt out of the classroom.

-What kind of equal academy is this…

-They say it’s an academy equal for everyone… What is this..!

Holding back tears, I found a spot in the corner of the recycling station behind the academy and crouched down.

A space that belonged only to me, where no one passed by.

The recycling station, which only filled with people during cleanup time, was the only place where I, someone ostracized, could rest.

A completely private space where no one would say anything to me or pass by.

It was my escape whenever I overheard gossip or backstabbing in the hallways or restroom.

I planned to sit with my face buried in my knees until my tangled emotions subsided. That’s how I had endured all along.

Today, as always, I resolved to calm my heart and return with a smiling face.

Because there was nothing I could do. In relationships that were already broken, there was truly nothing I could do.

Everything I did would seem like a protruding nail in their eyes, and my best efforts would only become a source of amusement for them, which I hated.

So, as always, I crouched here to rest.

While sitting in the recycling station, surrounded by the stench of trash, I sniffled at how pitiful I felt.

-I just wanted to do well…

I felt like I was all alone.

My current self, with no one to help me, felt especially cold today.

-Sniff…

That’s why I think I cried even more that day.

-What did I do wrong for everyone to treat me like this…? I just want to get along with everyone… Why are they doing this…?

-I want to be friends with you too… I like making dolls too… I…! I have someone I like too, and I want to talk about it with you guys…

-Why won’t you include me… Why won’t you even give me a chance?

The memory of crying with my head buried in the desolate recycling station, where no one passed by, remains an unforgettable, bitter memory.

No one listened to me.

The memory of whining alone in silence refuses to fade.

How long did I cry like that?

When the bell signaling the start of class rang, I tried to pull myself together and stand up.

No matter how upset I was, I had to attend class. To maintain my scholarship, I had to attend class even if it was hard and exhausting.

I tried to lift myself up, but my legs, weighed down by my gloomy mood, wouldn’t cooperate.

-I have to go…

Muttering to myself, I pounded my sluggish legs with my fists.

Let’s go. Staying here like this won’t change anything. Let’s go, I urged myself.

About three minutes passed like that.

Just as I was struggling to stand up.

-Why are you crying here?

A gentle voice stopped me in my tracks.

Red hair.

A tall man with striking features and a somewhat fierce impression stood behind me, smiling faintly.

He was the person I liked.

The man I fell for at first sight had appeared as if by fate.

When I saw Ricardo looking at me with a mischievous smile, I was so startled that I fell to the ground.

-Ahhh…! How long have you been there?!

-Hmm… Since you said, ‘What did I do wrong!’?

Ricardo mimicked the part of me I didn’t want anyone to see, and my face flushed red. I had never been so startled or embarrassed in my life.

From what I had observed of Ricardo until now, he didn’t seem like this kind of person, so I was quite surprised by his unexpectedly approachable demeanor.

I thought he would be extremely aloof.

Because he seemed cold.

As I clenched my fists in frustration at Ricardo’s playful antics, I lowered my head and said.

-Let’s go.

-I don’t want to.

-The bell rang. Please go.

-No.

Ricardo replied firmly, like a pumpkin.

Even though the bell signaling the start of class had rung, Ricardo, moving at his own pace, let out a long yawn and carefully sat down next to me.

Then, with an irritating expression, he said to me.

-I’m smart, so I don’t need to attend class.

-…What?

-Jealous?

Ricardo, with a serious expression, said something absurd, and he stared silently at my flushed face.

At my puffy red eyes.

At my tear-streaked eyes.

With a bittersweet smile, Ricardo spoke to me in a calm voice.

-Did you cry?

-No.

-Liar. I saw everything.

-…If you saw, why are you asking?

-Because it’s fun?

Ricardo said confidently.

Was he always like this…?

I felt like the illusion I had of Ricardo in my imagination was shattering, but seeing the sunlight reflected on his slightly smiling face made my heart race uncontrollably.

‘Get a grip…’

-Is there something on my face?

-What?

-You keep staring.

-No. It’s just that you’re handsome…

-What?

-No… What did I just say…! Never mind. I misspoke.

Ricardo smiled as he watched my flustered reaction. Then, he took a small handkerchief out of the inner pocket of his butler suit and handed it to me.

I stared blankly at Ricardo’s hand as he offered me a light brown handkerchief with a faint floral scent. My gaze questioned why he was giving it to me.

-Take it.

-…

-Your hand might fall off.

Ricardo’s hand, which brushed against mine lightly, was soft. It felt even softer than the handkerchief.

Perhaps, because of the emotions I felt at that moment, it seemed even softer.

After receiving Ricardo’s handkerchief, I just stared at it blankly. It had been so long since someone treated me this warmly, and at the same time, the overwhelming emotions of this fateful encounter with someone I had secretly admired began to bubble up.

-Sniff…

-Why are you crying again?

-I’m not crying….

Ricardo turned his head, murmuring to himself, as if to respect my tears.

-You’re really bad at lying.

My first meeting with Ricardo remained an unforgettable memory for me.

-Oh, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself.

Ricardo crouched down beside me and introduced himself.

-I’m Ricardo. I’m in Class 1-1, just like you. Hmm… I’m a troublemaker.

-I’m… Yuria.

-Yuria. That’s a really pretty name.

-Thank you.

Starting with small talk and moving on to trivial daily stories, time seemed to fly by.

Although I thought to myself that I should head to class, the fluttering emotions held me back, wanting to stay just a little longer.

About 30 minutes passed like that.

Feeling a wave of anxiety, I quickly stood up.

-I have to go.

-Why? Stay and chat a little longer.

-It’s just that class…

Ricardo gave an awkward smile and said.

-Ah… Well, you won’t be able to attend class anyway.

-What?

-Hmm…

Ricardo stood up, dusted off his pants, and said.

-You’ll see when you get there.

Ricardo, who moved leisurely, said that attending the academy diligently would only result in stress since it was already a mess.

Surprised by Ricardo’s reaction, I silently followed behind him. Partly because my throat was hoarse from crying, and partly because I didn’t know what to say to someone who spoke so confidently.

Not to mention, the person I liked was right in front of me.

All I could do was lower my head and steal glances at Ricardo’s face.

When I returned to the classroom, I saw the chaotic scene of Class 1-1 in disarray.

My desk, which had been cleaned spotless.

In contrast, the other students’ desks were a complete mess.

It looked like a fight had broken out.

A fierce fight.

And then.

-Where’s Ricardo?!

The shout of a male student, who was searching for Ricardo while bleeding from his nose, echoed throughout the classroom.

-See?

Ricardo gave me an awkward smile and said.

-I told you, you wouldn’t be able to attend class.

Ricardo strode briskly into the classroom, stood in front of the male student who had been looking for him, and smiled faintly.

-Catch me if you can!!!

Ricardo ran like a madman.

*

That evening, I found out.

The person who had scribbled on my desk was the same male student who had been looking for Ricardo.

And right after I fled the classroom.

I overheard, while hiding near the recycling station, that Ricardo had cleaned my desk using the male student’s head.

-I thought he was insane. He slammed the guy’s face onto the desk and said… ‘Wipe it.’ Ugh…

-Crazy bastard, just like his crazy mistress. No wonder his actions are insane too.

-So, what happened after that?

-He probably got suspended.

That day, while hiding at the recycling station.

For the first time, I thought an unwelcome guest was a relief.

Clutching my pounding heart tightly.

I listened to the students’ conversation.

*

The drunkenness is creeping in.

Now slightly tipsy.

It seems my emotions have become a bit intense, reminiscing about old memories.

Yuria sighed as she chewed on a piece of jerky.

“Haa…”

And then, a man with a small smile sat down in front of Yuria, holding a liquor glass.

“Why are you drinking alone, like a tragic heroine?”

Yuria lifted her head.

A man with red hair.

Ricardo was sitting there, smiling at her.