The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 33

An awkward atmosphere lingered over the dining table.

Preparing dinner with dazzling skill, I glanced at the dining table where a tense mood hung in the air.

“…Ughhh.”

“…”

Two women stared at each other with awkward eyes.

The Young Lady, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, stole glances at Yuria. Meanwhile, Yuria, savoring cheap green tea, looked at the Young Lady with an expressionless gaze.

Observing the awkward tension between them, I thought to myself.

‘This feels like a disaster…’

After hearing about Yuria’s situation, the Young Lady readily allowed her to stay at the estate.

-Yuria became a beggar?

-She was robbed by bandits on the street and lost her wallet, apparently.

Since she had lost her wallet after parting ways with Ballack, it wasn’t a lie.

Upon learning that Yuria was completely penniless, the Young Lady briefly displayed the wicked expression of an Evil Villainess.

-In exchange, I’ll eat with you.

-What?

-I haven’t eaten. I’m hungry.

-Won’t it be awkward?

-Ricardo. I’m the master of the house. And the Desmond Family doesn’t bother with things like awkwardness.

-Oh…

Though she spoke boldly while invoking the family name, the Young Lady found herself unable to say anything in front of Yuria.

Like a mouse drenched in rain, the Young Lady nervously fidgeted. It seemed the Desmond Family was quite adept at being self-conscious after all.

As the awkward atmosphere persisted, the Young Lady awkwardly waved at Yuria. Her stiff, robotic movements as she waved her hand left no doubt that she was attempting a greeting.

“Uh…uh…h-hi?”

The Young Lady successfully completed her greeting.

She looked at Yuria with a proud smile.

“…”

Yuria responded with silence.

“Ugh…!”

Clenching her fist tightly, the Young Lady glared at Yuria. It seemed she was annoyed that Yuria hadn’t acknowledged her greeting.

The Young Lady looked at me as if I were a cat robot with a 4D Pouch.

“Ricardo!”

“Yes.”

“Help me…”

Seeing the Young Lady’s bright, shining eyes, I chuckled softly and said.

“Good luck.”

“Damn it…”

Meeting the Young Lady’s resentful gaze, I plated tonight’s dinner.

A plate with steam rising from it.

As the food was placed on the dining table with a clatter, the previously sulky Young Lady let out a puff of air.

“Oh…!”

No matter how great a butler I am, it’s practically impossible to prepare a meal that satisfies everyone in such a short time. It was late, and there weren’t many ingredients available.

Having left the house unattended for three days, there wasn’t much meat left in the fridge either.

So, I made cheese tteokbokki.

A dish the Young Lady liked.

And one that Yuria had enjoyed during her Academy Days.

Yuria’s eyes widened as she looked at the tteokbokki on the table. It was the first time she’d seen it since the Academy.

A dish only I could make.

Something neither of them could replicate.

Back when we were at the Academy, I had made it for Yuria a few times, and it seemed she still remembered the taste.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had this.”

Yuria picked up a fork, ready to eat.

The Young Lady did the same.

“It looks delicious…”

“You’re drooling.”

Seeing the two women staring at the plate with drooling mouths, I couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.

-Clap.

I clapped my hands and said.

“Let’s eat.”

Before eating, the Young Lady glanced around. She scanned the kitchen as if she had lost something, so I asked her, fork in hand.

“What are you looking for?”

“The Village Chief of Green Algae Village?”

“Ah…”

Right.

I left him outside and didn’t bring him in.

I stepped away briefly to look for the unconscious Ruin.

***

An awkward dining table without Ricardo.

Clatter. The sound of scraping plates filled the silence between the two.

Yuria quietly ate the tteokbokki on her plate, while Olivia kept nervously watching Yuria.

-Drip, drip…

Olivia poured a glass of water and handed it to Yuria. She had noticed the sweat beading on her forehead as she made a hissing sound.

“Here, drink this. It’s spicy.”

Yuria pushed the water cup back. Shaking her head, she firmly said.

“I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry about me.”

“Hiccup…”

Olivia’s shoulders trembled.

Ricardo still didn’t return.

Olivia was annoyed at Ricardo for not coming back yet, even though he had said he’d leave Ruin on the third floor.

However.

Olivia had secretly been waiting for a moment alone with Yuria. There was something she wanted to say.

Olivia glanced at Yuria nervously.

Then clenched her fist tightly.

Yuria continued eating her tteokbokki in silence.

Olivia had something to say.

To the most skilled User of Divine Power she knew, someone who could diagnose a person’s physical condition with just a touch.

She wanted to make a request.

A shameless request, considering she was the perpetrator who had caused harm.

She knew Yuria wouldn’t agree, but she felt she’d regret it if she didn’t say it now.

Olivia decided to seize this moment, while Ricardo was absent, to speak to Yuria.

It was the fundamental reason she had insisted on attending this uncomfortable meal.

“Uh…um…”

“…”

“You know, that thing…”

Her trembling voice struggled to cross her lips.

It was a simple matter of saying, ‘Can you do this for me?’ Yet her heart pounded furiously, making it feel impossibly difficult.

Olivia was frustrated with herself.

‘I have to say it before Ricardo comes back.’

She could already imagine the look on that foolish butler’s face if he found out about her request. He’d surely say it was fine, but with a bitter expression. Knowing this, Olivia felt a sense of urgency.

“That…that is…”

While she hesitated, Yuria, having finished her plate, placed her fork roughly on the table.

“Sigh.”

Yuria let out a long breath.

Her expression was far from bright.

Looking at Olivia with a face that seemed ready to retreat to her room at any moment, Yuria made Olivia stammer.

“Uh… you know…!”

Olivia reached out to Yuria, silently pleading with her to stay and listen for a moment instead of heading to her room.

If she missed this chance, she’d have to write a letter, but she doubted Yuria would even accept it.

Olivia extended her hand, trying to grab Yuria.

“Ricardo’s hand is injured…!”

Yuria interrupted Olivia’s words.

“Olivia.”

Yuria’s voice echoed across the dining table. She called Olivia’s name firmly, her tone cold. Olivia gulped, swallowing dryly.

Yuria leaned her elbows on the dining table.

She looked as if she were a civil servant forced to do something she didn’t want to, her demeanor exuding boredom. Olivia tensed at the sight.

“I heard it from Ricardo.”

“Heard what?”

“Your legs.”

Yuria glanced at Olivia’s frail legs.

Thin and emaciated.

She looked at the legs that had grown weak and limp from years of inactivity and spoke.

“Ricardo told me they’re uncomfortable for you.”

“…”

Olivia lowered her head.

‘Ricardo said something like that.’

Olivia was always a step behind Ricardo. This time, she thought she had been quicker, but as the master of the house… she couldn’t lift her head.

Creak. Yuria rose from her chair.

She slowly walked toward Olivia, continuing to speak.

“I don’t believe things unless I see them myself. Honestly, when I saw you being carried down by Ricardo earlier, I thought you were acting.”

“…”

“You know, I don’t want to get involved with either you or Ricardo. And you don’t want to get involved with me either, right? But… after what happened today, it’s been bothering me a little… so this time, I’ll make an exception.”

Yuria trailed off.

“You should thank Ricardo.”

Plod, plod. Yuria approached Olivia and placed her hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

A soft green light began to fill the kitchen.

The power that made Yuria a “Saintess” in the novel.

[Miracle.]

The miraculous power that could heal any illness began to heat Olivia’s shoulder.

To Yuria’s eyes, Olivia’s physical condition appeared like an anatomical diagram.

From indigestion.

To obesity and blood pressure issues.

She could see exactly what was wrong with Olivia’s body.

The specific parts of her body causing her pain were slowly revealed through the hand resting on her shoulder.

And then.

“…Huh?”

Yuria removed her hand from Olivia’s shoulder.

***

An hour later.

Hiding in a corner of the kitchen, I watched the Young Lady sitting alone on a chair.

Her slumped shoulders.

Her tearful eyes.

She looked utterly drained.

Slap. I lightly slapped my cheek to snap myself out of it. I couldn’t let her see me looking dejected.

Judging by her expression, the conversation hadn’t gone well. Unfortunately, it seemed that way.

I approached the Young Lady with an awkward smile.

“Ahaha… I’m sorry. The third floor was quite messy, so I was a bit late.”

“Ricardo.”

A cold voice rang out.

She was probably about to scold me for meddling in something I wasn’t asked to.

I knew it was presumptuous of me.

But I felt this might be the last chance.

I knew the Young Lady wouldn’t like me asking Yuria for help, but I wanted to cling to even a sliver of hope, so I made the request.

At first, Yuria refused, but after my persistent pleading, she reluctantly agreed.

-Just this once. Because you saved me earlier. I’ll help you just this once.

-Thank you.

-But… are you sure you don’t want to treat that cut on your hand?

-Don’t worry about it. It’ll heal quickly. I recover fast.

The Young Lady glared at me.

And she spoke briefly.

“Don’t do things like this.”

I replied briefly.

“I refuse.”

“I said don’t.”

“I can’t do that.”

Because I didn’t want to give up either.

The Young Lady let out a deep sigh.

Then she reached out her hand to me.

“Carry me upstairs.”

I naturally turned my back to her.

***

On the way up to the second floor.

The Young Lady, carried on my back, spoke to me.

“Ricardo, to be honest, I had a little hope.”

“…”

“I thought maybe Yuria could heal my legs.”

“…Did you?”

“Yeah.”

The Young Lady buried her face into my back and didn’t move.

“But if my legs get better, I won’t be able to ride on your back anymore, so maybe it’s not entirely a bad thing… I actually like being carried on your broad, sturdy back.”

The Young Lady forced a cheerful tone.

I said to her.

“I’ll find a way to heal you no matter what.”

The Young Lady replied briefly.

“Don’t overdo it.”

I nodded at her words.

And so, morning came, and Yuria and Ruin had left the estate.