The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 349



349 – The Overwhelmed Deathmunt Family -3-

At Rosanna’s question, Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise. It was something she had never really thought about before.

“…Huh?”

“…”

“Well, he’s a good person…”

Rosanna interrupted Olivia’s words as she lathered her hair, as if to say that wasn’t the question she was asking.

“I’m asking not as a butler, but as a man. What do you think?”

“…Huh?”

Seeing Olivia’s flustered expression, a faint smile appeared on Rosanna’s lips. It had been a long time since she had seen her daughter so flustered and less than honest.

It was amusing.

At the same time, Rosanna felt a pang of sympathy for Ricardo.

It seemed like there was still a long way to go.

Rosanna spoke curtly to Olivia. This is what I think; what do you think?

“Mom likes Ricardo.”

“Uh…?”

“Mom really likes Ricardo.”

Olivia turned her head to look at Rosanna and said,

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“That’s not okay. Dad would be sad.”

“Oh ho ho…! What are you saying right now! I mean, I think Ricardo is a decent person.”

“…A decent person?”

“He cooks well.”

“Yeah.”

“He works hard, is perceptive, and on top of that, he’s quite charming. Most importantly, he knows how to please you, Olivia.”

“…That’s true.”

“And he’s good-looking, so I’m saying I’d be happy if Ricardo became my son-in-law.”

“…Son-in-law?”

Olivia frowned. Her mother’s suggestion to take an interest in something she had never seriously considered was not particularly welcome.

Love.

The winds blowing from a place that had tasted great failure still felt frightening.

Not yet.

Yes, not yet did she want to think deeply about love…

As Olivia tried to finish her thoughts, she heard Rosanna’s warning in her ear. A warning that if she lingered too long with hasty thoughts, it might be too late.

“Right now, you might feel at ease with the seat next to Ricardo empty, but if you hesitate, another girl might take that spot.”

“…”

“Don’t you ever think about that, Olivia? The desire to be the first and not to be taken away?”

“…Ugh.”

“I heard recently that Lady Histania seems to be interested in Ricardo…”

Olivia pouted her lips and turned her head away.

“…I don’t know.”

Shyly, indeed.

Rosanna couldn’t help but smile at Olivia, whose face was flushed. It didn’t seem entirely hopeless.

“Shall we call it a day for now?”

It wouldn’t be good to tease her too much, given how shy she was. Rosanna decided to stop here and promised to continue later.

“I’m going to wipe the bubbles off, so close your eyes.”

“Okay.”

– Splashhh…!

Olivia, drenched in water pouring over her head, squeezed her eyes shut and thought of Ricardo. The foolish, silly, and amusing butler.

“…”

Her face felt hot.

As if her mother had poured hot water over her.

“I don’t know…”

It was burning.

*

“Answer me.”

Darvab said to me with a sad expression. That I had had enough good dreams.

I didn’t know how Darvab had come to hear this story, but I thought it would take a lot of conversation to clear up the misunderstanding. I appreciated the concern, but I had an unyielding stubbornness of my own.

“Just say you’re going to stop.”

– Crack…

I couldn’t give Darvab the answer he wanted.

We were almost there.

Finally, hope was visible in the despair that had seemed endless, and we had reached a point where neither of us would be hurt. It would be too disappointing to give up now. No, we had come too far to turn back, so I couldn’t respond to Darvab’s words.

I wore a stern expression and retorted back at Darvab.

“I can’t do that.”

Kyle, who had been quietly watching me, suddenly shouted with a cold gaze. As if to say not to hold onto futile stubbornness and to follow my father’s words.

“Father is thinking of you.”

“I appreciate that. I truly am grateful for your concern and for looking out for me.”

“Then… you should just quietly follow your father’s words. It would be good for you, for me, and for Olivia.”

“But.”

I said with a faint smile.

“How can that be, when we’re so close? Happiness is right in front of us….”

“…”

In response to the bitter words, Darvab and Kyle fell silent. After all, they were the lady’s parents and family. Perhaps more than anyone, they were the ones who wished for her to walk forward, swallowing their breaths with complex expressions.

For them, telling me to give up must have taken immense courage.

“I cannot give up.”

“Even if you are cast out?”

“I would gladly accept it. If it is for the lady’s sake.”

“…You fool.”

Darvab let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

“Why do you say that?”

“…”

“Why go this far?”

“…”

“Is it out of pity for Olivia, or to repay a debt of gratitude?”

I smiled faintly and shook my head. It implied that if I had chosen to sacrifice for such reasons, I would never have even begun.

“She is the cutest person in the world.”

I spoke my honest feelings.

“She has the worst personality, yet at the same time, she is the kindest… Stubborn, but she also knows when to bend her will and show consideration.”

“…”

“Above all….”

“…”

“Isn’t she the most beautiful in the world? I am her butler, after all.”

Darvab lowered his head as he spoke. He considered himself generous regarding his daughter, yet felt that I was even more so.

“You’re completely smitten.”

“Haha! I can’t help it. I must protect the lady’s smile, as her butler.”

“Ha…”

Darvab swept his wet hair back and said,

“Honestly, I want to knock you down. It feels like those who don’t listen need to be corrected by force.”

“…”

“But… looking at you now, I think it wouldn’t make a difference. It feels like I’m seeing my younger self.”

Darvab let out a long sigh and spoke.

“I won’t stop you. It’s selfish of me, but I want to see Olivia run too.”

“…Thank you.”

“But you must promise me one thing.”

Darvab looked me straight in the eyes as he replied.

“Don’t die.”

“…”

“The promise to protect Olivia’s smile. You must keep it until the very end.”

“…Understood.”

I nodded with a smile, filled with the conviction that I could uphold it.

“I will definitely keep it.”

“Alright… I understand.”

Emerging from the bath, Darvab looked at me and said.

“Follow me.”

“Excuse me?”

“I need to see if you have what it takes to protect my daughter.”

Darvab’s expression turned cold as he issued the threat, his face resembling that of a bear robbed of its cubs.

The conversation seemed to have ended well, so why the grim look?

“I have no intention of giving my daughter to someone weaker than me.”

Ah.

“Come out to the yard.”

This is bad.

*

In the mansion’s yard stood Darvab, Kyle, and me.

Kyle was glaring at me with fierce eyes, while Darvab was warming up.

Like an instructor preparing for battle, Darvab stretched lightly, frowning at me as I stood there in a daze.

“Why are you just standing there?”

“Huh?”

“You need to warm up too. We’re going to spar now.”

“Ah… well…”

Darvab let out a hollow laugh and spoke to me.

“Did you not say you wanted to see your daughter happy? If so, isn’t it a father’s duty to ensure she possesses that strength?”

“Still, that doesn’t mean…”

“Draw your sword.”

The darkening villain, Darvab, from the novel.

In the original story, Darvab was a powerful sorcerer, a grand mage.

A monster capable of raining meteors upon the capital and obliterating the empire.

Faced with such a formidable antagonist, one so strong that I wouldn’t have been able to defeat him without the combined efforts of Rowen and Mikhail, I awkwardly raised my sword.

—Mr. Caliburn.

—Yes.

—I will borrow your strength.

—Feel free to use it anytime. I am a strong lady, after all.

I looked at Darvab, pondering.

‘Will I be able to reach him?’

With Darvab, whom I had never fought before, standing before me, I gripped my sword, hiding my anxious heart.

Darvab smiled faintly and said,

“There will be a measure.”

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t fall in one blow.”

—Crack…

A massive surge of magical power flowed through me.

My hands and feet.

I could feel my entire body being reinforced by the raw magic. I also sensed an instinct that warned me a misstep against Darvab’s fist could lead to disaster.

“…Die, you thief.”

“What?”

“I’m coming.”

With a short shout, Darvab kicked off the ground and began to leap toward me.

In an instant, he was right in front of me, swinging his fist toward my face. The punch approached faster than I had anticipated, and I reflexively swung my sword.

Not with the blade, but—

“…Huh?”

With a knife.

The moment Caliburn’s blade glinted, Kyle rubbed his eyes and looked at me. And then.

– Thud, thud, thud.

“…”

Darvab, who had just smashed the wall, also looked at me, his eyes trembling.

“Haha… I couldn’t control my strength.”

Darvab grimaced, grinding his teeth.

“This is why I hate being a knight.”

The sparring continued.

– I’m sorry.

– …

– Ah… I’m sorry.

As the sparring went on, worry began to accumulate on Darvab’s face, and in the final moment, as he was sent flying into the air by Caliburn.

– … Try to block this.

It was only after Kyle intervened to stop the massive meteor from crashing into the mansion that the duel came to an end.

– Let go!!!

– Please, hold on!

– If you use magic, my daughter…!

– Father!!!

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly and smiled.