The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 14

The Imperial Knight Commander.

Histania Rowen.

In the novel, he appeared as Mikhail’s mentor. Overflowing with affection for Mikhail to the point where it was unimaginable to think of him as a neglectful father who couldn’t even celebrate a birthday, he was portrayed as a caring character who cherished and adored the heroine like his own daughter.

Although he was taciturn and not very talkative, I remember him as a reliable support for the heroine. In the novel, it was mentioned that he cared for the heroine because she resembled his deceased youngest daughter.

I quite liked him too.

Because his backstory of being the strongest knight who lost his beloved daughter was both tragic and understandable in how much he cared for the heroine.

There was no mention of Hanna in the story. The only references were in scattered scenes where the Knight Commander, saying, “It was my fault…,” was comforted by the heroine.

I thought of him as a somewhat considerate father, but in hindsight, he was just a man filled with belated regrets.

Like an alcoholic.

Because when drunk, he acted like a dog, and upon sobering up, he begged for forgiveness while staring at his wrecked room. That image was no different from an alcoholic. While I believe anyone can regret their actions, perhaps because he directly influenced Hanna’s death, I couldn’t find it in me to feel sympathy for him.

Honestly, it was a meaningless complaint.

No matter what judgment I passed on him, nothing would change.

I couldn’t just go and trample the Knight Commander myself, nor could I tell him, “If you keep acting like that, your youngest daughter will die.”

But something felt unsatisfying.

A father who ignored birthdays.

A daughter who braved the downpour to come to the Villainess’s House.

Overlaying the image of her crying her heart out over a plate of tteokbokki, it was impossible to see the Knight Commander in a positive light.

How could I deliver a blow to that man? While pondering what gift would be the greatest and most meaningful to Hanna, I came up with an idea.

-From now on, Miss Hanna will train at our mansion until the start of the school term.

-What?

-You have to defeat Mikhail.

Achieving growth that would surprise even the Knight Commander.

And then coldly rejecting her father, saying, “I don’t need your help,” committing an act of unfilial behavior that would deal the harshest blow to the Knight Commander’s heart. Until now, Hanna had been a devoted daughter, so a brief moment of rebellion could be excused. If she were kicked out of her home, we could hire her as a maid at our mansion.

Of course, the wages would be stingier than salt.

It was an extreme conclusion, but I was certain there was no better gift than this.

A week passed quickly.

During the week at the mansion, though we fought and bickered frequently, we grew quite fond of each other and developed a friendship.

-Beggar!

-Who are you calling a beggar!

-If not a beggar, then what are you? Not even going home!

-I-I-I do have a home!

-Then go to your home!

-…Sniff.

Though the Young Lady’s resistance was fierce, it was still a meaningful time.

For Hanna, the week might have been spent practicing swordsmanship alone, but I believe the week with us was a time for her to grow both mentally and technically.

-A birthday gift?

-I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just brought what came to mind.

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Potion of Strength [A].

◈ When consumed by someone with a Physical Strength stat of ‘+30’ or lower, the stat increases by ‘+10’.

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-You’re giving me something this precious? This… isn’t this something money can’t even buy? A potion you can’t even get on the black market.

-Think of it as an investment.

-No, this is too much for me. I have some sense of shame. How am I supposed to repay this favor? I absolutely can’t accept it.

-Take it.

It was a potion I had made countless times using the knowledge from the original work. I had given it to the Young Lady and even taken it myself—a sort of health tonic.

While it was easy to make, I avoided selling it on the black market because I feared it might endanger my life. But this time, it served as both a human experiment and a cheap birthday gift, which was rather convenient.

Of course, Hanna burst into tears while holding my hand at that moment.

-Why are you being so nice to me? I’ve always treated you harshly and thought of you as a terrible person in my heart.

-You thought of me as a terrible person?

-…No.

-That’s understandable. I am quite annoying, after all.

-You really know how to ruin a touching moment, Butler.

-That’s one of my talents.

Unlike the sorrowful smile she had shown at the mansion, this time, her smile was mixed with joy, and it was a pleasant sight.

Hanna had grown stronger.

While the potion played a significant role, the effort and time she dedicated within the mansion created ample opportunity for her to grow on her own.

And so, today, a week later.

Hanna and I were preparing for the final step.

‘Quest.’

[Q. The Tragic Fate of the Short-lived Extra ‘Hanna’]

Neglected by her father and ignored by the servants, she constantly resents her lack of talent.

She is starved for praise.

·

·

·

1. Praise her to boost her self-esteem.

(9/10)

2. Raise her Favorability to ’40’ or higher.

[Favorability: 51]

3. Defeat the ‘Elite Orc Gladiator.’

(0/1)

Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 6. Strength +3 Increase.

Hanna: Swordsmanship Lv. 4, Beginner Aura (C).

Failure: Death of Histania Hanna.

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The quest was now nearing its end.

I had diligently raised Hanna’s self-esteem through praise and built up significant Favorability with her over the course of the week.

A Favorability score of 51, to be exact.

While not enough to guarantee anything, it was akin to a relationship where a fresh graduate would lend you 3 million won without a word.

A Favorability of 60 signified a close friendship.

Approximately the level where they might lend you 10 million won. I wasn’t sure, as only a few people had ever raised Favorability above 60.

As for a Favorability of 70 or higher… no one had ever achieved that, so I didn’t know. What was certain, though, was that the Favorability of 51 between Hanna and me was by no means a small number. If anything, it was quite high.

Confirming the high Favorability score, I bowed my head to the Young Lady, who was glaring at me with a pouty expression.

“I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be back.”

Both of us bowed politely.

Hanna and I.

And the Young Lady, sitting on the bed like a queen, nodded her head regally and spoke with her chin held high.

“Don’t come back. Play with me instead.”

Her alluring voice tempted me to join her in the path of unemployment. For a moment, I considered unbuckling the sword at my waist, but the weight of responsibility as the head of the household barely held me back.

Was this the power of a professional slacker?

I was genuinely frightened by her incredibly seductive voice.

Watching this, Hanna let out a deep sigh.

“Butler, please stop indulging her. It’s because you keep playing along that the Young Miss keeps whining to you.”

“It’s fine if she does.”

Olivia crossed her arms arrogantly. Her provocative smile, befitting a true villainess, made Hanna clench her fists tightly.

“Why is it fine? Is the Butler yours?”

“That’s right. Ricardo is mine.”

“What?”

Hanna looked at me.

I gave a small nod in response to her question.

“Actually, I signed a slave contract that completely disregarded human rights 13 years ago. Of course, I haven’t been paid for 12 months, either.”

That’s a lie. I’ve never signed a slave contract, let alone an annual salary agreement. The Young Lady and I only have a verbal agreement based on trust. But this must have hurt the Young Lady’s thick pride.

“Ugh…!”

Sure enough, the Young Lady let out a peculiar scream.

“Pfft.”

Hanna mocked Olivia with a victorious smile.

“An employer who can’t even pay!”

“A homeless beggar!”

The two were oddly mismatched yet strangely compatible in the strangest ways. They seemed like they’d never get along, but before you knew it, they were sticking together. Maybe it’s because they like the same person.

I really wish they’d get along better.

Since they might end up going to the Academy together….

Actually, I have a small favor to ask of Hanna.

It’s a favor to help us get a chance to re-enroll if the heroine graduates and Hanna takes the president’s position at the Academy. That’s partly why I’m trying to be nicer to her.

I feel bad for asking such a favor, but if she beats the Elite Orc Gladiator and then Mikhail this time, I plan to carefully bring it up.

If she refuses, it’ll be unfortunate. But I won’t think badly of her and will just look for another way.

Hanna and the Young Lady are still bickering fiercely. Their ability to insult each other without crossing the line was quite impressive.

Especially Olivia.

“Does the Young Miss even know how amazing the butler is!?”

“I do! He makes tteokbokki! And fried chicken!”

“Not that!”

“Then what’s so amazing about him!”

“Ughhhh….”

Hanna glanced at me.

“He’s kind, strong, and, well, just amazing!”

“I know!”

The fact that the Young Lady, who would’ve cursed harshly in the past, had softened so much in such a short time was touching. Normally, Hanna’s hair wouldn’t have survived.

Hanna has improved a lot too.

Lately, the atmosphere in the estate has brightened. The late monsoon season is over, and now only the final hurdle remains.

Watching the two chatter away, I greeted them.

“I’ll be going now.”

***

Inside the massive estate.

A middle-aged man sitting in a dining room densely decorated with decorative swords on the walls spoke with a leisurely smile.

“How close is the eldest to mastering aura?”

“In about three months, he should be able to use Beginner Aura.”

“Hmm….”

The middle-aged man smiled in satisfaction.

His name was Histania Rowen.

The proud head of the Histania Family.

Histania Rowen.

With light brown hair.

Even during meals, he carried a sword at his waist, a testament to his obsession with swords.

Rowen gazed at his children one by one with his dark eyes. His children, who had grown up properly. Beautiful children who resembled both him and his wife.

They were late bloomers among their peers, possessing talents that made him proud to call them his own.

Though they were far from meeting his standards, they weren’t so lacking that they couldn’t catch up.

He envisioned a future where his son would succeed him as the Royal Knights Commander and become the Sword of the Empire.

And his daughter would inherit the Household Knights and elevate the name of Histania.

However, one thing weighed on his mind—the youngest daughter who wasn’t present. Among his three children, she was the least talented.

Despite being told she had no talent for swords, she still clung to them. Hanna, the only blemish in the family, was Rowen’s biggest concern.

With her insignificant talent, swinging a sword would inevitably tarnish the name of Histania, so Rowen was always dissatisfied with his youngest daughter’s swordsmanship.

A week ago, the last image of his youngest lingered in his mind.

-Father, today is my birthday. If it’s not too much trouble, could we have a duel?

-I’m busy right now.

-It’ll only take a moment.

-Didn’t you hear me say I’m busy?

Rowen wished Hanna would give up the sword.

Not out of warm fatherly love, fearing the dangers of learning swordsmanship, but out of a desire for his untalented youngest daughter to face reality. That’s why he pushed her harder and criticized her more.

He even humiliated her in front of her friends.

And ignored her among the family.

To an outsider, it might seem cruel, but Rowen believed he wasn’t wrong.

His siblings had also faced neglect and comparisons from their father, realized reality, and found their own paths to success. Rowen himself had succeeded thanks to his father’s harsh education, so he was certain Hanna would succeed if taught the same way.

Wounds make people stronger, after all.

But strangely, Hanna’s last appearance lingered in his mind.

-Why! Why is it only me? Did I say I’d inherit the head of the family? Or ask you to teach me the Household Swordsmanship? I didn’t even make a difficult request…. Can’t you just once, just this once, treat me like you do my older sister and brother?

The image of his youngest daughter shouting in frustration echoed in his head.

‘I should look for her.’

He’d heard from the servants that she’d run away, so he wondered if he should send someone to find her. After all, this time, she’d been gone for a whole week.

‘When she comes back, I’ll give her a stern talking-to.’

It was then.

“Father, is your visit this time because of Hanna’s birthday?”

His eldest son broke the silence and cautiously spoke. His arrogant personality and exceptional talent were evident.

Though Rowen worried about his son’s arrogance, he thought such confidence was better than his timid youngest daughter.

Rowen shook his head as he replied.

“No.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I received a report about disappearances in the Hamel Mountain Range. The Imperial Family asked me to investigate.”

“The Hamel Mountain Range?”

For a moment, the eldest son’s expression, which had been neutral, cracked. Rowen didn’t like what he saw. A knight should know how to hide their emotions. Was he scared of the disappearance cases? His lack of basic composure was disappointing.

‘Still far from ready.’

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Rowen continued answering his eldest son’s question.

“They say A-Rank Adventurers have been disappearing one after another in the Hamel Mountain Range. The Emperor suggested I take a vacation while investigating, so I came down here.”

“I see.”

“Exactly. Especially since the adventurer’s corpse found near the Orc Encampment was grotesque… What’s wrong?”

Rowen set down his fork as he noticed his eldest son’s expression twist at the mention of the adventurer’s corpse.

A wrinkle formed between his brows.

This was the second time. His son’s lack of basic discipline was deeply displeasing. But the words that came out of his eldest son’s mouth left Rowen speechless.

“Actually, there’s been a report that the youngest has been working as an adventurer lately. And… her primary activity area is said to be the Hamel Mountain Range….”

-Ding.

At that moment.

A clear, sharp sound pierced through Rowen’s mind.

Rowen couldn’t regain his composure.

Because the blue window in front of him was saying something absurd.

Something he couldn’t believe.

Something he mustn’t believe, leaving Rowen frozen in place.

[Today is the death anniversary of Histania Hanna.]

[Quest ‘Sinner’ achieved.]

◎You have earned the right to view ‘A Portion’ of the original work.

◎You can view ‘A Portion’ (The Death of Histania Hanna).

For a moment, Rowen’s blood ran cold.

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