The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 383



383 – The Times Consumed by Revenge -4-

Inside Shalltear’s office, filled with silence.

“Of course…”

Shalltear let out a hollow laugh as she watched Ricardo leave.

“Yes…”

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed.

She had secretly hoped that Ricardo would become her ally. He was the most coveted person in this empire, so it was a bit disappointing to be firmly rejected.

More capable than anyone.

If someone who cared about her more than anyone was by her side, she would feel strength she didn’t have before. Honestly, it was inevitable to feel disappointed by Ricardo’s rejection.

In a way, Ricardo’s rejection was natural.

To Ricardo, who had been away from the academy until now, she had been a ‘harm,’ never a help. Perhaps the request she made to Ricardo today was nothing more than the tantrum of a naive child.

“…”

That’s how she had lived her life until now.

She hadn’t lived a life that was helpful to anyone. As she was about to think that there was no one who would readily extend a hand to someone like her, who had only sought her own survival and had not been helpful.

– Knock. Knock.

She heard someone knocking, breaking the silence.

“Huh…? Has he come back?”

The guild master, teasing Shalltear, smiled slightly as he looked at the door Ricardo had left through.

“It doesn’t seem like anything was left behind, but it’s strange. Ah, is it because we left the princess behind?”

“Don’t tease me.”

“…Hohoho!”

Shartia said, watching the guild leader who was leaving to open the door. Don’t tease me.

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It was nothing, but seeing the guild leader walking as if he was excited made her sigh.

“Anyway, no one else will come to the office today except for that person, so I’ll let them in right away.”

“Sigh…”

“But…”

-Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Did that person knock like that?”

As the emotional knock echoed once more, a chilling silence fell inside the office. Ricardo, who had visited the office until now, had only knocked once.

“No…?”

Knowing Ricardo, who was usually strange but had more patience than anyone else, Shartia opened her trembling lips.

“Something’s wrong.”

“…”

“Ricardo waits until someone comes out. Besides, he saw us in the office just a moment ago… so he would have waited.”

As a sense of foreboding washed over her, the guild leader hurriedly began to move.

“It must be an uninvited guest.”

As their cold gazes were directed beyond the door, a familiar, no, an unpleasant man’s voice began to be heard from beyond the door.

“Shartia.”

“…”

“I know you’re in there, so don’t keep me waiting and come out.”

Hearing the man’s voice, Shartia’s eyes began to tremble coldly. Hearing the voice of the villain who had created an unforgettable moment was something she couldn’t handle.

“…!”

Knowing his voice, the guild leader quickly moved.

“We need to hide the documents.”

“…”

“Princess?”

“Ah… we need to move quickly.”

The documents on the desk would be troublesome if seen by others.

The moment the guild master’s cold gaze met Shalltear’s eyes in the air, Shalltear began to hide the documents on the desk without hesitation.

She opened the drawer with the lock, put the documents inside, and started placing the academy-related documents on top of the important ones to divert attention.

-How long do you plan to keep me waiting?

As the man’s voice, tinged with irritation, echoed once more, the guild master changed her expression as if she had never smiled and began to walk towards the door.

“I will buy some time.”

“…Please do.”

With the sound of the door opening, the conversation she had with Ricardo began to be heard. Unlike the tone she had heard earlier, it was a stiff voice.

-Hello. I am the maid of Princess Shalltear of Leogarde…

And the returning sound was the man’s sneer, rebuking the guild master.

-Is it okay to keep royalty waiting like this?

-…I’m sorry. If you tell me what brings you here, I will convey it to the princess…

-Ha… Are you telling me to wait? Who is ordering whom right now?

-Sorry…

-Do you want to die?

The man’s voice was unbearably arrogant. It exuded an oppressive feeling as if he knew his power better than anyone else.

“Haa… Haa… I need to hide it quickly.”

Bad memories come to mind.

-I gave a nameless girl the name ‘Leogarde,’ so shouldn’t she be crawling on her knees in gratitude?

-I’m sorry… Brother.

-Brother? Did you just call me brother?

-…Ah..no, that’s not what I meant.

-Ha… This won’t do. I need to tell mother. Only then will an uneducated girl know her place.

-…Please, anything but that…!

It was bringing back the pain she had been hiding.

A small ripple began to form in Shalltear’s hand as she hid the documents.

‘Why.’

Why did he come?

He was someone who had no interest in her.

Since becoming an adult, he hadn’t shown her the slightest bit of attention, so why. What whim brought him here, she couldn’t understand, and her head began to ache as she heard the rough sound of the door closing.

-Open it.

– “Without the princess’s permission, you cannot enter.”

– “I know she’s inside. Tell her to come out immediately.”

– “…Please wait a moment!”

The guild master looked at Shaltier with a troubled expression.

“Princess.”

“…”

“The second prince has come to see you.”

“I know.”

“He is demanding that we open the door immediately. Should we open it?”

The question of ‘What should we do?’ was not heard. The guild master, who knew the second prince’s personality better than anyone, did not assume that refusal was an option.

Even the rumors alone were enough to infer the second prince’s character.

Savage.

Cruel.

If something displeased him, he would use his power to suppress it.

The guild master had heard about the second prince’s actions, who knew how to use the backing of his powerful mother and the authority of the royal family to his advantage. Therefore, the only thing the guild master could do now was to hide anything that could be used against him.

The second prince was a madman who would not hesitate to kill if something displeased him.

Standing beyond the door, the guild master looked at Shaltier with a serious expression.

“Stay calm.”

“…”

“Think of it as stepping on dung and respond calmly.”

– Bang!

– “Open it.”

– Bang, bang!!

– “As a member of the royal family, I command you to open it immediately.”

Shaltier clenched her fist tightly and nodded.

“This is something we have to face sooner or later.”

She steeled herself and prepared.

*

“…Hmm.”

As I left Shaltier’s office, I muttered to myself with a satisfied smile.

“Having such a handsome face is a problem.”

He said he called me because he wanted to see me.

Feeling good about the beauty that transcends status, I was lightly stepping down the academy stairs.

“…If you put on makeup, you might be able to conquer the world.”

Anyway, asking me to become a sword…

I couldn’t calm my surprised heart after hearing such an unexpected question. I never thought I would hear someone ask me to become a retainer.

“…Haa.”

I knew I was an outstanding person, so I thought I would be scouted someday, but I didn’t expect it to be today.

“…The life of a popular person is tough.”

But still.

Hearing compliments from a beauty made me feel good. It meant my value had increased, so I felt somewhat proud.

There would be no one else but me that the stubborn Shaltia would ask to become an ally.

Although I couldn’t accept because the guild leader was next to me, I thought I could help. I didn’t know exactly what she wanted me to do, but I was willing to help within my capacity.

“…”

Because of loyalty. And she was a beauty too.

It wasn’t a bad thing to be in the good graces of someone who would become an emperor, not a princess, in the future. I thought it wouldn’t be bad to start building favor now.

At this point, Shaltia was supposed to be going through a tough time.

Being pressured by the crown prince.

Having to fight against forces threatening her sudden engagement and her mother.

Moreover.

-…I can’t do it!!!

She was in a very unstable state due to the bad mental condition inflicted by Elysia, the apostle of Onyu, during the academy disappearance incident.

Of course, she became stronger by overcoming it with the help of Yuria and the supporting characters, but in the novel, Shaltia was destined to go through a rough time.

The most difficult hardship among them was.

-Thud.

“What?”

What is this?

I sighed as I looked at the platinum-haired man who bumped my shoulder and passed by.

‘He didn’t even apologize.’

The man’s behavior of not apologizing and spitting out profanity was arrogant.

“Keep your eyes open.”

“…”

“I’m letting it slide today because I’m busy.”

Normally, I would have separated his shoulder from his body to remind him of the importance of shoulders, but I didn’t want to see blood in the academy, so I held back.

“…Tsk.”

‘Should I kill him?’

No.

I had to think about Shaltia, who would have to clean up the aftermath. She’s already busy, and if an unsolved murder case occurred in the academy, she would surely collapse clutching her neck.

“Maybe I should go to the bathroom.”

Thinking I had stepped in something unpleasant, I sighed lightly and went to the bathroom to wash my face. Suddenly, I thought of Shaltia, who was still buried in paperwork, and felt the urge to help her.

“Should I ask her to have a drink?”

She wouldn’t rest unless forced to.

Determined to see Shaltia drunk today, I headed to the office with a happy smile.

-…Please, stop.

I looked at the mess in the office with a cold expression.

“Ah…”

I was annoyed.