The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 240

Mikhail took me to many places.

A cafe.

A dessert cafe.

Then back to a restaurant.

Not even an hour after leaving the tteokbokki shop, we returned to another tteokbokki shop. I let out an empty laugh, a question mark practically hovering over my head.

“We’re back again.”

The flustered woman stared blankly at the tteokbokki shop’s sign, frozen in place.

“Ah…”

I directed a question at her. How could she suggest going on a date and then act like it was already over?

I should have realized it back when she was shoveling cake into her mouth at the dessert shop. She was breezing through the schedule like someone who had never been on a date before. Well, perhaps that was to be expected.

“Are we eating again now?”

I looked at Mikhail, who had lived his entire life as a man, and smiled.

“I’m not even hungry yet.”

“Ah… Well…”

“Miss Secret Girl.”

I smiled at Mikhail, who was standing still, and asked,

“Where are we going next?”

“…”

“I’m really looking forward to it. You’re not saying this is the end, are you?”

“Well…”

“You said you’d try to win me over… but you’re far from ready to be taken as a disciple.”

-Hwaak.

Mikhail’s face flushed red. With his strong sense of pride, he couldn’t tolerate being looked down upon.

Normally, Mikhail would have said, “No, there’s still plenty left!” But now, he seemed unable to come up with a plan, biting his lip and lowering his head.

“It can’t end like this. There’s still a quest…”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just wait a moment.”

I watched Mikhail hurriedly move his head, searching for a place to go, and fell into thought.

‘A date, huh.’

I hadn’t been on many dates myself, so I couldn’t think of anywhere special either. Though he was a handsome butler, the person I was dating was unique.

-Eeeek! Chocolate!

Letting out a small chuckle, I carefully grabbed Mikhail’s wrist.

I thought back to the things she had wanted to do as a child.

-Ikuminhyuk!

-Lee Minhyuk.

-…Anyway! When I grow up…

-Yeah.

-I want to go to a festival, wear pretty clothes, and have fun.

-Mhm.

-I want to put money in a begging tin, too.

-Oh, that’s interesting.

-And I want to drink with you.

-Drink?

-Mom said drinking makes you feel good.

-I don’t think she meant that in a good way.

Recalling the trivial conversations we had underneath the bridge covered in moss, I held Mikhail’s wrist.

Startled by the sudden physical contact, she looked at me blankly with wide eyes.

“Uh…”

“Follow me.”

“What?”

“Haven’t you run out of plans?”

Mikhail blankly followed, letting me lead her by the wrist.

She gazed at my red hair as she moved her feet, guided by the hand holding her wrist.

We walked along the street.

-Here, 10 gold.

-Why are you giving this to me?

-Put it in that person’s begging tin.

-What?

-I thought you might want to try it at least once.

We also went to a festival.

-Ta-da. A cat ear hairband.

-I don’t need something like this.

-Come on, try saying “meow.” If you wear these ears and talk to animals, they’ll understand you.

-Really…?

-No, that’s a lie.

-Sigh… I’ve never done this before, so it feels awkward.

-It’s fine. You’re naturally pretty, so it works.

In front of the fountain, we gazed at the night sky, taking in the blue Milky Way.

‘This is fun.’

I spent the time until nightfall completing the tasks she had said she wanted to do back when she was in the slum, all while staying by Mikhail’s side.

Mikhail’s cold expression gradually began to soften. The face that had seemed ready to leave at any moment now bore a subtle smile, and the shoulders that had flinched at the touch of my hand were now relaxed.

Watching Mikhail enjoy the festival, I smiled and stopped in front of a chicken skewer stall.

“Miss Secret Girl, shall we have some chicken skewers?”

“Huh? No… Yes?”

“Chicken skewers.”

Mikhail nodded slightly.

She fiddled with the cat ear hairband on her head and smiled brightly.

“Yes.”

Of course, her voice was louder than usual, thanks to the playful teasing of the street vendor.

-You two make a great couple.

-No!

-We’re not.

Mikhail had shed her stiff demeanor and was now enjoying the moment as a woman. She walked lightly, as if freed from shackles, breathing in the free and peaceful night air.

“There’s a circus over there…! Let’s go.”

“Shall we?”

Smiling, I watched Mikhail grab my hand and pull me toward the crowded street performance venue.

Seeing Mikhail in her white dress, laughing brightly, she looked like a girl her age, and it made me smile.

‘She looks just like an ordinary student.’

I didn’t like Mikhail. There were still too many unresolved issues and things I couldn’t accept.

But just for today, I wanted to treat Mikhail as I had back in the slum, not as a memory tainted by the academy.

I was tired of complaining all the time.

Maybe I had made all these choices because I wanted to see her like this. Choices that felt like sacrifices or burdens.

Led by Mikhail’s hand, I enjoyed the festival for quite a while.

Time passed, and the bright moon rose into the night sky.

The sun had set on the night sky,

and the moon, a lantern of captivating emotions, had taken its place.

The street stalls began to close.

The capital city’s Friday festival came to an end, and as the date neared its conclusion, I stopped in front of a cozy tavern with a good atmosphere and held Mikhail back.

“Miss Secret Girl.”

“Yes?”

“This is today’s final schedule.”

“Pardon? Ah…”

Mikhail, hearing the word “final,” looked disappointed and glanced at the tavern. Perhaps regretful that the night had already fallen, he lifted his head and displayed an awkward expression.

“It’s about time we part ways, isn’t it? Hence, the final schedule.”

Smiling faintly, I pointed at the tavern in front of us and tugged on Mikhail’s wrist.

“You’re not underage, are you?”

“No…”

“Then how about a drink? To get to know each other better and to commemorate forming a new mentor-student relationship, a drink seems fitting.”

“…”

Mikhail nodded.

It would be the first time we drank together.

Since meeting Mikhail, I had never once shared a drink with him. As I thought about what we might talk about, I opened the door to the tavern.

Two beers and squid.

It wasn’t a grand menu, but I ordered a simple drinking snack and cautiously clasped my hands, looking at Mikhail.

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

“…”

Mikhail didn’t reply but nodded.

“That’s a relief.”

“…”

“By the way, Miss Secret Girl.”

“Yes…?”

“How long do you plan to keep wearing that headband? I mean, I do like that you’re still wearing the gift I gave you, but isn’t it a bit embarrassing?”

Apparently fond of the cat headband I had given her, Mikhail kept wearing it. With an exclamation mark practically hovering over her head, she quickly moved her hands.

“Ah! You should’ve told me sooner!!”

“Puhaha…! I thought you were wearing it on purpose.”

“Why would I do that!”

Watching Mikhail flail her hands in a flustered panic and let out a loud scream, I burst into laughter.

The liquor glasses kept emptying.

Clink, as we toasted with cold glasses.

Clink, as we shared stories about the day.

“You startled me earlier. Glaring through the glass window like that… I thought it was a duel challenge.”

“…Hiccup. Should I challenge you to a duel?”

“No.”

“You’d just go easy on me anyway…!”

I clinked glasses with a lady who had erased the name Mikhail.

It was nice.

It felt refreshing and pleasant to drink with Mikhail, free of anger, and to see her memories thriving. It was comforting to adapt slowly, and it brought a colorful array of emotions.

‘If she could laugh like this, why was she like that at the Academy…?’

Letting out an empty laugh, I cautiously posed a question to Mikhail, whose eyes were hazy with drunkenness.

“Hey, Miss Secret Girl.”

“Yes?”

Looking at her, I asked.

“What do you think of me?”

“What?”

“You must have some impression of me—not from rumors, but from today. I’m curious about how I came across.”

Looking at her, I sought an honest answer.

Just as I wondered about the time Mikhail had entrusted to me today, I asked her to rate Ricardo as a person based on the day.

“You know, I’m not exactly a good person.”

“…”

“Even at the Academy, I was somewhat of a famous person, so I doubt you haven’t heard any rumors about me.”

“…”

“I just want to hear your impression of me based on today alone.”

“…”

Mikhail hesitantly opened her mouth.

Muttering the keyword “just today,” she cautiously began to speak.

“I didn’t dislike it.”

“…”

“I’m still not sure, but you seemed like an interesting person.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

Smiling faintly, I raised my glass.

“I suppose I did alright.”

This time, Mikhail threw a question at me. Perhaps unwilling to be the only one answering, she took a gulp of her drink and opened her lips.

“Then, may I ask you a question as well?”

“Of course.”

With trembling lips, Mikhail spoke to me.

“What do you think of a person named Mikhail?”

“…”

Mikhail’s question was sharp.