The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 264

The woman standing before me was named ‘Shuen.’

She was the cherished eldest daughter of the Marquis Tetra family, known for producing scholars. Her defining traits were her arrogant demeanor and her tendency to spout empty words.

Above all, she was an extraordinary woman, having two parents who were chosen as the Tower Master’s foster children due to her exceptional magical talent.

Hanna disliked Shuen.

“Oh-ho-ho!!”

-Zap.

“Ho-ho….”

Since childhood, Hanna had no desire to befriend a pampered princess. She didn’t want to get entangled with a woman whose head was full of flowers.

Hanna sighed and tried to leave. Talking to Shuen felt like it might make her lose brain cells.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll be going.”

“Wait a moment!”

“What?”

At Hanna’s cold response, Shuen looked flustered, biting her lip. Then, as if realizing something, she timidly raised her hand and let out her signature ‘Oh-ho-ho’ laugh, before confidently smiling and speaking as if nothing had happened.

“Histania Hanna. You.”

“What?”

“You haven’t forgotten that I’m your rival, have you?”

“Rival…?”

At the word “rival,” Hanna gripped her sword. Even though she was tolerant of concubines, she found it unbearable to give the butler to someone like Shuen.

“W-W-Wait a moment!”

Though Shuen might boast a generous treasure pouch, it was laughably insufficient compared to the Young Miss. Hanna glared fiercely at Shuen’s chest, taking a stance.

Shuen, startled by Hanna’s sudden shift, frantically waved her hands.

“What are you doing?!”

“What do you think? Establishing discipline as a concubine.”

“What? Senior Mikhail is married?!”

“Senior Mikhail?”

“That’s right!”

At Shuen’s bold words, Hanna brightened and released her grip on her sword. She realized it was a misunderstanding. Mikhail was someone she didn’t mind anyone taking.

Hanna waved her hand dismissively and spoke to Shuen.

“What, you were talking about Senior Mikhail?”

“Of course! Who else in this world would suit someone as perfect as me? You said it yourself—there’s no one as upright as Senior Mikhail.”

“That’s ancient history. I thought you liked the butler.”

“The butler?”

“Someone with flowers in her head wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh-ho-ho~! A compliment, I see.”

“Exactly.”

Watching the corners of Shuen’s lips curl upward, Hanna let out a hollow laugh. Her antics were annoying, but Hanna found her oddly endearing.

Feeling pleased, Shuen began questioning Hanna. She was happy to receive a compliment but felt she had just heard something strange.

“By the way, Hanna. Does that mean you don’t like Senior Mikhail anymore?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Why?”

“As the vice president of the ‘Misamo’ fan club, I can’t just let that slide.”

“That exists?”

“Yes, it’s a venerable club that’s been running for three years. You’re a member too, Hanna.”

“…?”

“I added you!”

“Why?”

“Just because!”

Shuen’s carefree expression, as she proudly admitted to being empty-headed, made Hanna shake her head with a hollow laugh. By now, her feelings toward Mikhail had shifted from good to bad.

Mikhail.

He was someone Hanna had liked in the past. She admired his sense of justice and unyielding convictions, even harboring a favorable opinion of him—not as someone she loved, but as someone she wanted to emulate.

But now…

There was no longer a place for Mikhail in her life.

Hanna wore a bitter smile as she pushed Shuen’s face away, who was flaring her nostrils.

-Splat.

“I don’t like him anymore.”

“What?”

“You can have him.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, I don’t like him anymore, so you can just take him.”

Shocked by Hanna’s words, Shuen dropped the hand covering her mouth to the floor. Like a goldfish, she opened and closed her mouth, mumbling in disbelief.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

To Shuen, the idea of not liking the most handsome man in the world sounded like a lie. She couldn’t fathom a woman disliking a beautiful boy.

Shuen placed her hand on Hanna’s shoulder and wore a sorrowful expression. With a pitiful gaze, she began to console Hanna, thinking she understood her feelings.

“Hanna, even if it’s a gem you can’t have, it’s still free to cherish it in your heart.”

Hanna recoiled, swatting Shuen’s hand away.

“What are you doing, you creep?!”

“Hanna.”

“Ugh…”

“I understand your feelings too. Senior Mikhail is just too popular with beauties, right? Senior Yuria, Princess Chartia… And above all, someone as perfect as me is interested in him.”

“You slipped your name in there, didn’t you…?”

“Hanna!”

Shuen grabbed Hanna’s hand, her eyes sparkling.

“Our ‘Misamo’ is always open. Some members have been rejected by Senior Mikhail, while others admire him in their hearts.”

“I told you, I don’t need it! And stop putting my name in there. I don’t want to be someone with a past.”

“Hanna!”

“Ah, enough already!”

Shuen looked at Hanna with pity.

“Don’t deny your feelings.”

“Sigh… How much of your head is a flower field?”

Realizing Shuen wouldn’t leave easily, Hanna decided to tell her the truth. If she didn’t, Shuen would keep clinging to her.

“Actually, I have someone I like.”

“Someone you like?”

“Yeah. Someone way more handsome and kind than Senior Mikhail.”

“Are you dating them?”

“No…”

Hanna smiled shyly and said,

“It’s someone I want to date.”

Hanna began tidying the books on her desk, trying to hide her embarrassment. It was the first time she had admitted this to anyone, not even her older brother. Saying it out loud made her face flush.

Shuen pouted her lips and hugged her ample chest.

“Histania Hanna… has a crush?”

“N-No! That’s not it.”

“The Academy’s Iron Wall… in love?”

Shuen’s expression gradually stiffened. At first, she looked at Hanna with pity, but the thought of someone better than her beloved Mikhail bruised her pride.

“I can’t accept this.”

She was upset.

“It’s fine. I approve of him.”

Shuen’s eyes widened in shock, her pupils trembling. She staggered, grabbing the edge of the desk for support.

“Are you saying you don’t like him anymore?”

“How many times do I have to say it, Shuen? By now, you should get it.”

“No, I can’t understand it. There’s no man in the world more handsome than Senior Mikhail. And no one more perfect than him, except for God.”

“Well, he might be a different kind of god.”

“Did you just insult my idol…?”

“No, it was a compliment.”

“This is your first warning. If you get three, you’re out of Misamo.”

“Please, do me that favor.”

Shuen ignored Hanna’s words and spoke her mind.

“You’re being deceived right now. You’re just compromising to save time by settling for someone like that!”

“Shuen. Watch your words.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“If you insult him, I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“…Hiccup!”

Shuen avoided Hanna’s gaze and muttered.

“Anyway, I can’t forgive you…! As the vice president of Misamo, I can’t let a deserter like you go unpunished!”

Hanna let out a deep sigh and shook her head, wondering what to do with this fool.

“Is that all you have to say after showing up for the first time in a year?”

“Well, it’s because you wouldn’t hang out with me! I came because I was bored, but you’re just spouting nonsense! You promised during the entrance ceremony that you’d follow Senior Mikhail around with me…!”

“When did I ever make such a promise?”

“Shameless woman!”

“How long are you planning to keep up with this Misamo nonsense?”

Shuen puffed out her chest proudly, tears welling up in her eyes, and declared.

“I’ll do it forever! Because Senior Mikhail and I are destined to be together!”

Hanna shook her head, thinking once again that it was best not to get involved.

“Tsk. And yet, you’re someone who badmouths the Swordsmanship Department?”

“Senior Mikhail’s face is magical!”

“Then is your chest magical too?”

“What?”

Shuen lowered her head, staring at her chest that obscured her view of her shoes, and muttered in confusion. Then, her face turned red, and she began to huff angrily.

“Ch-ch-ch… Chest?! What did you just say?!”

“I’m leaving. I have a lot to do today.”

“Histania Hanna!”

Shuen had no friends.

“Huuu…! I can’t forgive you…!”

To be precise, she had no normal friends.

Much like a certain someone who had been expelled.

*

Today, the Desmond Estate was peaceful as usual.

“Hmmnya.”

The Young Lady, picking her nose, widened her eyes and looked at me.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes, Young Lady?”

“Why don’t I have any friends?”

At the Young Lady’s obvious question, I smiled faintly and answered.

“Because you’re too exceptional, Young Lady.”

“Right?”

“That was a lie.”

“Youuu!”

Watching the Young Lady twirl her fist, I thought to myself. If she wanted to have more friends, she’d need to be reborn.

“Oh, by the way, Young Lady.”

“Hmm?”

“I need to step out for a moment.”

The Young Lady, pulling my cheek long, tilted her head with a question mark in her eyes as she looked at me.

“Are you going out to play?”

“No. Someone called for me.”

“Who?”

“Well…”

-Ricardo, stop by the Academy for a bit.

-The Academy is a bit inconvenient for me.

-I want to install that convenience store you mentioned last time, and I need your advice.

-Oh… You’re planning to install it at the Academy?

-Didn’t you say so? A place with lots of people and a focus on convenience would be ideal.

-That’s true, but…

I stopped the Young Lady from putting her finger in her mouth and gave her an awkward smile.

“A friend who treats me to meals.”

“Ah…!”

The Young Lady took out a piece of chocolate from her Treasure Pouch and handed it to me.

“Take this too.”

“Why?”

“If you receive something, you should give something in return.”

I nodded, putting the Young Lady’s chocolate into my pocket.

‘I should buy her some chocolate separately.’

After all, the items from the Treasure Pouch weren’t exactly hygienic. Not that I had any desire to collect them, of course.