The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 238

[Q. To your original form.]

A long time ago.

There was a girl who had an unrequited love for a boy.

He was like a prince from a fairy tale, the kind of person who extended a hand to a girl abandoned by her parents and left all alone.

The first meeting between the girl and the boy could not be called pleasant. After all, the area underneath the slum bridge is far from a romantic place.

A meeting between a beggar and an orphan.

Even though the boy didn’t possess anything extraordinary, the girl grew to like him.

The boy’s devotion opened the hardened heart of the young girl who had always dreamed of being a princess.

But.

Even though the ending of that unrequited love was a tragedy, the girl still liked the boy. Even now, as an adult, she cannot forget him.

After experiencing the sad pain of parting and growing up, the girl met a man.

A man with red hair, similar to the boy.

But his personality was entirely different from a prince in a fairy tale—peculiar, with a violent temperament. A man who said violence was closer than the law. That was the man the girl met as an adult.

The girl disliked the man.

He brought trouble wherever he went.

He showed no mercy.

And justice was nowhere to be found in him. The girl disliked the man.

Yet, the man bore many similarities to the boy.

Without exchanging even a single story.

Without having an honest conversation, the girl hated and resented the man based solely on his fragmented image.

Without knowing the man’s true feelings.

[!] Please listen to the story of the man (Ricardo) you dislike.

1. Show Ricardo your original form. (0/1)

2. Go on a date with Ricardo. (0/1)

3. Hear Ricardo’s true feelings. (0/1)

-Will you accept?

Mikhail clenched his fist.

At the generosity of the blue window, which promised to reveal the truth he had missed, Mikhail clenched his fist and bit his lip.

He hated it.

Facing Ricardo, having a conversation with that man—it made his skin crawl with disgust.

But…

Reward: Whether Lee Minhyuk survives.

Faced with an offer so sweet it could rot his teeth, Mikhail was deeply shaken.

Just once. If he could endure it just once, he felt he could finally receive the reward for all the efforts he had made until now.

Mikhail clenched his fist and suppressed his rising anger. The very appearance of the blue window before him was an affirmation of that child’s survival. Perhaps the blue window would deliver the miracle he had longed for most. With that thought, Mikhail tightly closed his eyes.

“I… can’t give up.”

Suppressing his boiling rage, Mikhail gritted his teeth and nodded.

“I’ll accept.”

-Confirmed.

The blue window glowed brightly, leaving behind faint text before disappearing.

-Covers Ricardo’s eyes.

-Casts magic on the caster, ‘Mikhail.’

Mikhail’s reflection in the mirror began to change under the influence of a small spell.

*

Today, the streets of the capital were peaceful as always.

Having come to the capital after a long time to buy snacks for the Young Lady, I left her behind at the Desmond Estate and sat in a cafe.

-Have a safe trip.

-Yes.

-Bring back some chocolate on your way.

-Yes.

-You should greet your father too.

-Have a safe trip.

“Hmm…”

Though I could have easily bought chocolate in Hamel, I came to the capital with the mindset of a parvenu indulging in luxury, thanks to having more money.

I nodded as I gazed out the window.

“There are so many people.”

As expected of the capital, the streets were crowded.

Students in academy uniforms.

Nobles in dresses.

Couples walking arm in arm, flaunting their affection.

The bustling streets of the capital brought joy to the butler’s rare act of shirking his duties.

‘Sometimes, spending time alone like this isn’t so bad. Though, I’d prefer to spend it with the Young Lady, but that wouldn’t count as proper slacking off.’

It was a shame the affinity window was acting up, though.

[The affinity window cannot be used.]

‘Is this a strike?’

Shrugging slightly at the strike of the affinity window I had found quite useful, I brought the straw to my lips.

-Slurp.

The bitter taste of the coffee filled my mouth. It was a small smile-inducing vitality boost to the butler’s work-weary routine.

“Bitter.”

The time was now 12:50 PM.

There were ten minutes left until the chocolate shop that suited the Young Lady’s picky taste opened.

And the waiting line was long.

As expected of a popular chocolate shop that only opened for three short hours, a long line of people had already formed in front of it.

I let out a small empty laugh as I looked at the long queue in front of the chocolate shop.

“The Young Lady is going to scold me…”

Trying to become a refined butler who appreciated the leisure of a cup of coffee seemed likely to result in failing to buy the chocolate.

Smiling faintly, I took another sip of coffee.

Since I’d be scolded anyway, I thought I might as well enjoy slacking off to my heart’s content before heading back, and I stretched.

‘While I’m in the capital, I might as well stop by the tteokbokki shop and Malik’s newly opened candy shop. That should be enough.’

I enjoyed a moment of leisure as I sipped my coffee.

And at that moment.

“Huh…?”

“…”

“Who are you?”

Through the glass window, I locked eyes with a woman staring intently at me.

Long silver hair.

A white dress.

A woman with a large chest continued to look at me.

“…”

Shaking my head, I avoided the woman’s gaze. She didn’t seem to be looking for me.

It was our first meeting, after all.

And she was far too beautiful.

As someone who wouldn’t forget the face of such a beauty, I shrugged and moved slightly to make it easier for her to find her companion.

To the right.

-Softly.

To the left.

-Broadly.

‘What is this?’

Her deep gray eyes followed my movements.

‘Is being too handsome a problem?’ I briefly thought, but judging by her stern expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Then what could it be? If I had to propose a plausible hypothesis, it might be someone from the Academy who holds a grudge against me.

-Bzzzt.

It didn’t seem to be for a good purpose.

I cautiously extended my finger and pointed to my chest, trying to confirm if I was indeed the person she was looking for.

-Nod. Nod.

Watching the woman nod, I awkwardly smiled and mouthed the words.

‘Me?’

-Nod.

‘Why?’

-…

The woman didn’t answer.

After what felt like a long silent standoff, unable to win the staring contest, the woman suddenly turned her body and came into the store, sitting down in front of me.

“…”

“Excuse me.”

The woman stared at me intently without saying a word.

I spoke to the woman in a serious tone.

“I’m sorry, but this is a one-drink-per-person cafe.”

“Ah…”

Flustered, the woman hastily moved her body and rummaged through her pockets. Despite her clumsy demeanor, it seemed she had a conscience. Watching her fumble awkwardly, I let out a small chuckle and softly observed her as she wandered around looking for her wallet.

‘Where would a dress even have pockets?’

She was quite an amusing woman.

Normally, a woman would carry a bag. I thought she must be someone prone to clumsiness.

‘Guess I have no choice…’

Being a professional pushover, I slowly stood up, ready to open my wallet once again.

“Don’t go!”

The silver-haired woman hastily called out to stop me as I rose from my chair, grabbing my sleeve with a panicked look.

“Go…”

She bit her lip and spoke.

“Please don’t go…”

Seeing her lower her head and trail off gloomily, I let out a small laugh. After all, I wasn’t so heartless as to leave when she had gone out of her way to find me.

Gently removing her hand from my sleeve, I responded to her.

“I won’t run away.”

“…Then?”

“Didn’t I mention this is a one-drink-per-person cafe? I just happened to finish my coffee, so I was on my way to get another. I’ll get you one while I’m at it.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Is there a drink you’d like? Black tea? Coffee?”

Bowing her head, she answered in a small voice.

“Mandrake tea.”

“Pardon…?”

“Why?”

“No, it’s just… I thought your taste was unique.”

With a small laugh, I walked away from her.

Then, I softly asked her.

“What’s your name?”

“Mi…”

Startled, the woman hurriedly covered her mouth, then, after a moment of reconsideration, she opened her mouth with difficulty.

In a very small, timid voice.

“It’s a secret.”

“Then I’ll keep it a secret too.”

I nodded with a faint smile.

I had a feeling I knew who she was.

Though I didn’t know why.

*

At that moment, Mikhail, sitting in the cafe, clenched his fist as he watched Ricardo’s retreating figure.

‘It’s a lie, isn’t it…?’

Mikhail could see it clearly.

-Under the influence of magic.

[Ricardo’s Favorability toward ‘Mikhail’: 71 > 80]

Mikhail felt that something was going wrong.

The unusually high favorability.

The way he spoke kindly.

The fact that Ricardo didn’t show hostility toward him, despite his own rudeness, left Mikhail astonished.

It wasn’t a significant change, but.

A small cogwheel in his heart had begun to turn.

Watching Ricardo approach with a tray of drinks, Mikhail thought.

Let’s just achieve the goal and leave quickly.

Don’t waste time—go back and swing the sword, Mikhail resolved.

“Here’s your drink, Miss Secret.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“And this is mine.”

Mikhail opened his mouth.

Because he believed Ricardo’s true feelings were that he disliked him and wanted to insult him.

“You don’t like me…”

“Ah.”

Cutting Mikhail off, Ricardo spoke.

“You’re beautiful.”

“…What?”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you that since earlier.”