The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 11



11 – Uninvited Guest -1-

It was raining early in the morning.

Perhaps because it was the time to announce the end of summer, the late monsoon had started.

-Dudududu…

The sound of raindrops hitting the window.

My tender heart was already emotionally transformed like soft-serve ice cream.

“It feels like female hormones are coming out.”

Hm. I looked out the window while drinking green tea.

“You probably can’t go to work today. It’s raining too much.”

While looking at the flowing river, I thought about the maid who would be preparing to go to work. She’s a middle-aged lady in her 40s. She has no experience and is an ordinary commoner housewife, but she was employed because she cooks delicious food.

I had told her not to come to work when it rains. She probably won’t come to work today.

I sighed as I looked at the dirty bed sheets.

“What a life.”

I shouldn’t have had breakfast unnecessarily.

I should have let her sleep more when she was asleep.

I woke her up and forcefully made her eat breakfast, thinking about the young lady’s health. But she suddenly turned her face away in a drowsy state. Naturally, the soup was spilled too.

Fortunately, it cooled down.

If it had been served hot, it could have been a big problem.

Hm. The cheap green tea that spread in my mouth felt even more bitter today.

Today is a day off for adventurers.

I told Hanna to rest if it rained heavily yesterday.

It’s been over two weeks since Hanna and I started working together.

The wallet was also full.

Now, even if I ate meat for about five days a week, my wallet didn’t go bankrupt.

The lady’s laughter also increased.

My laughter increased too.

In many ways, I was grateful to Hanna.

‘Quest.’

[Q. Unfortunate extra ‘Hanna’ with a single destiny]

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She is ignored by her father and ignored by the servants, and she always resents her own pathetic talent.

She is thirsty for praise.

·

·

·

1. Compliment to boost self-esteem.

(5/10)

2. Increase ‘likability’ to over 40.

[Likability: 32]

3. Defeat the ‘Elite Orc Inspector’.

(0/1)

Reward: Swordsmanship Lv. 6. Strength +3 increase

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

Failure: The death of Hanna Histania.

────────────────

It seems that there is about one week left.

I thought it would be tight even for four weeks, but Hanna was following along better than expected, so it seemed possible in just three weeks.

Of course, with Hanna’s current skills, it was certain that she would lose if she fought against the Elite Orc Inspector. The Elite Orc is not an ordinary monster, but a special monster with the modifier ‘elite’.

But if we train for about a week and teach her the strategy, I was confident that Hanna could easily catch it.

Hanna’s growth was fast.

Even with small compliments, she blushed in embarrassment but gained motivation and quickly grew and made it her own.

Her willingness to listen and improve even with small advice was something to be proud of. It felt like the heart of a master.

“In a way, she is my first disciple, isn’t she?”

“Because it’s my first time officially teaching someone.”

Hannah is skilled with a sword.

And she loves swords.

It was unfortunate to see her complicated family history, as she displayed such passion in a family that makes a living with swords.

“But her swordsmanship is Level 6.”

According to the settings guide, Level 5 is the highest level achievable through effort for an ordinary person.

The next step is the realm of talent.

It was comforting to think that after awakening, characters like Mihail from novels or the villains would start from Level 6.

Am I also entering the boss category? I was pleased to have reached a level where I wouldn’t lose in a fight on the street. When it comes to swordsmanship Level 6, it’s comparable to awakening and Mihail.

The approaching relationship with Hannah was both regrettable and anticipated in various ways.

-Dudu….

“The rain is getting heavier.”

Rain makes people sentimental.

The fact that water falls from the sky makes the heart resonate.

It’s damp and the laundry doesn’t dry, so what’s so good about it?

“But the sound of rain is nice.”

There was another person who was soaked in emotions like me. The homeowner, who was staring absentmindedly out the window with moist eyes.

“Heh…. That’s good.”

I quietly called Olivia.

“Miss.”

“Hmm?”

The villainess, who was staring intently out the window. Perhaps she was immersed in the delusion of sharing an umbrella with Mihail in the rain. She didn’t respond even when I called her.

I want to disturb this.

The villainess mumbled and continued staring at the window. Our villainess isn’t usually such an emotional person, so is it the weather that changes people?

I felt oddly embarrassed.

-Plip-plop.

‘Plip-plop?’

Before I could even think about feeling embarrassed, I heard a sigh of admiration from the miss.

“Hmm… Tasty.”

I gently placed my hand on the miss’s shoulder.

“Miss?”

A startle. The villainess shrugged her shoulders.

Contrary to her surprised expression, Olivia stood tall, gazing out the window. Normally, one would expect a ‘why?’ in response, but the stubborn demeanor of the young lady made suspicion creep in.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m guarding the house.”

Olivia was diligently watching outside as if she were a guard dog.

“Why are you guarding the house?”

“It’s my job.”

“Your job?”

“I got hired last week.”

“Who pays your salary?”

…”

No response from the villainess.

I turned my head to look at the villainess’s face.

Swoosh. She averted her gaze.

In the brief moment, I saw something brown smudged near the corner of the young lady’s mouth.

I had a hunch.

The young lady was eating chocolate.

Suppressing a laugh, I said to her, “Guarding the house must be tiring, right?”

“Yeah. It’s exhausting, and my energy is drained.”

“Why is your energy drained?”

“Because it’s raining?”

“Hmm. So you need sugar, then?”

The villainess flinched for a moment.

She promptly took the bait I had thrown.

After all, she wasn’t someone who would give up on free snacks.

The villainess vigorously nodded her head.

“Yes. I need a lot of sugar.”

With a serious expression, the villainess nodded her head. Since the sweet smell was already wafting out of her mouth, her solemn voice didn’t inspire much confidence.

However, the villainess, who had no knowledge of the matter, continued speaking with an excited voice.

“If I had enough supplies, I believe I could protect the house more effectively.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

I spoke to the lady.

“But, miss.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it a bit excessive to say that you’ve had so many snacks?”

Startled, the lady trembled.

The villainess, who remained unaffected as if she had seen a ghost, seemed to lack talent in acting.

“What are you talking about? It’s not like I ate anything,”

The lady’s excuse was filled with smoke.

I was relieved that the lady didn’t have any significant intentions in her acting. If she did, she would have been an expert at playing the villain.

The lady moved her jaw joints noisily. I concealed my smile and grabbed her shoulders.

“Even if I don’t know how you stole it, I will confiscate it.”

“No. I saved this!”

“I know the lady I know is not one to save money.”

“No, we became close starting yesterday.”

The villainess stumbled on her words. The lady reached out and pushed my face away.

There was chocolate on her fingers, now on my face.

It was sweet.

There was no current criminal.

“Give it to me.”

“I don’t have any!”

“Well, there’s too much on your hands to deny it.”

“Is that so?”

The lady looked at her own hands.

She nodded and admitted.

She must have realized herself that it wasn’t true.

Olivia took something out of her pocket in a fidgety manner.

It was the chocolate pocket I had brought.

With her clumsy hand skills, Olivia held a small piece of chocolate and made eye contact with me.

She tried to put on a pitiful expression.

But in the face of my stubborn expression, she changed her tactics.

Olivia swallowed her saliva.

“Ricardo. Do you know what to do first when the tax authorities investigate?”

“What? All of a sudden?”

“Evidence destruction.”

-Gulp, gulp.

The lady put the chocolate in her mouth.

“Miss!”

“hehehehe.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her wicked laughter.

“No… hahahahaha, no, seriously!”

Munching on it zealously like a wicked villain, without even offering a bite to the butler, I put my hand on Olivia’s side in frustration.

“hehehe, give it to me!”

“Didn’t they say that if I eat this much, my teeth will rot? You don’t like going to the dentist, do you?”

“Give it to me!”

“I won’t let go until you give me all the hidden chocolates.”

With a burning desire, Olivia reluctantly started to reveal her hidden stash with a sulky expression.

Like a villain who is about to have her embezzled funds seized by a large corporation’s treasurer, she looked as if she had lost everything in the world.

Strangely, she seemed even more dejected than when she was reprimanded by Mikhail.

Under the pillow.

Under the sheet.

And then.

“Why are you hiding it there?”

“Just. It seemed like it wouldn’t be seen there.”

As she took out the chocolate from between her breasts, the lady said. Melted chocolate.

I adjusted my posture.

Gently moving the hand of the wicked lady who was offering me the chocolate, I said,

“Do not put it in there.”

“Why? It’s the perfect hiding place.”

“It makes me uncomfortable.”

I remained seated for a while.

***

The young lady and I looked out the window again.

This time, we held cheap green tea and cheap snacks, staring blankly out the window.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“It tastes bad.”

“…”.

Olivia closed her eyes tightly and swallowed the green tea.

I refilled the empty tea cup, as if trampling on her hope.

“It’s good for your health.”

“…”

Did my concern for her health reach her?

Olivia’s warm gaze was fixed on my hand.

“You brat.”

“Woof.”

I barked softly.

Time passed quickly than I had anticipated.

Perhaps it was because of the two fools who got along so well in killing time, the rain didn’t seem so bad.

The rain was still pouring, and there were no guests coming to the house.

The two fools who showed their true character by clinking their tea cups and emptying them, and then resolved any disputes with rock-paper-scissors, it was entertaining.

“It’s raining a lot.”

“If we go out now, we might lose the game.”

“It doesn’t matter even if you gaslight like that. Snacks today will be covered in green tea.”

“Hmph.”

Outside, it was pouring rain.

The river was also greatly swollen.

It was easy to see the sight of the guards stopping their patrol and returning home.

When it stopped raining, I looked up at the sky with the hope that the rain wouldn’t leak through the ceiling, as if I needed to do repair work on the roof.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes?”

“Who’s coming over there?”

The young lady pointed with her finger towards the busy street of the town. I didn’t believe it. There couldn’t be anyone coming to our house in this weather. Maybe she saw a wet dog in the rain and mistook it for someone.

I lightly replied to dispel the young lady’s misunderstanding.

“No. That’s just a dog.”

“A dog?”

“Yes.”

She nodded her head slightly.

Olivia fell silent again.

I also quietly looked out the window.

“Ricardo.”

Olivia pointed with her finger again, this time indicating somewhere closer than before.

“Who’s coming over there?”

“Are you bored?”

“A little?”

“I’ll tell you a scary story in a while.”

“Eek…!”

Olivia tightly shut her mouth.

I followed Olivia’s finger and moved my head.

‘What is it?’

There really was something.

Something brown was rapidly leaping towards our house.

“Huh?”

That was when it happened.

The quickly approaching something stopped in front of the front gate of our mansion.

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Olivia looked at me.

I nodded silently.

She and I both knew it.

On a day like this, anyone coming to our house is either a ghost or a thief.

With a fearful heart, I scrutinized the main entrance.

“Who is it?”

I asked with my head lowered, and a woman was circling in front of the mansion.

Somewhere, she looked very familiar.

Brown hair.

Wearing leather pants, her shoulders hunched like a wet rat.

“Oh?”

Olivia looked at me curiously.

“Is it someone?”

“It seems so. I’ll go down for a moment.”

“Okay.”

I quickly ran towards the front door.

I grabbed my coat and held an umbrella as I approached the person standing in front of the main entrance.

A woman soaked in the rain was standing in front of the main door.

She was a familiar woman.

I had seen her yesterday too.

I even remembered parting with a smiling face.

She struggled to push the front door open.

“Are you in there?”

A weak voice came through.

“Because I missed the taste of green tea.”

Hannah had come to our house.