The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 378



378 – The Story of When She First Met Him -5-

Hearing the story from a new perspective felt different from the emotions she had known until now.

“…No way, that fool wouldn’t think that far.”

“Really? No matter how I think about it, it seems like Ricardo was considerate of the princess.”

“Is that… so?”

“…Think about it. Who could dare to insult Lady Desmond when she was spreading her wings the widest? Especially to the lady who is called the demon of the empire.”

Ricardo thought that far. At that time, he really didn’t feel anything strange.

-You…! You said you put a smart person as the acting president!

-Yes! That’s right.

-But why is Olivia there?!

-Isn’t it reassuring? No one can stop a lady with power.

-I can’t stop her!

-That’s unfortunate.

-I shouldn’t have trusted you back then…!

-Just wait and see.

-…

-I believe in the lady. She received the best education and numerous private lessons from the Desmond family… ‘Of course, the teachers were so amazed by her brilliant mind that they gave up teaching her…’ Still! There’s no one more suitable for the acting president position than the lady!

Surely, Ricardo thought that Olivia’s eccentricity was because he wanted her to become the student council president at least once.

-Who is the arsonist?

-Eeeek?! Isn’t it you?

-Me…?

-You look ugly.

-…?

-Eeeek! Suspicious!

Olivia’s experience as the student council president was considered a favor to him.

So.

-Arrest her!!!

Ricardo didn’t think that his ‘alternative’ was ‘favor.’ Until now, no, until just a moment ago.

“Hasn’t the attitude of the executives changed since the princess returned?”

“…”

“They say they feel alive because of the princess. They often come to tell me not to get sick.”

“…That.”

“I think the biggest change is the way the students look at the princess.”

Shartia lifted her trembling eyes and looked at the guild leader.

“Huh…?”

Come to think of it, there were quite a few things I missed.

When I returned to the academy, there were many more students who greeted me warmly.

– Hello, President!

– Oh… yeah.

– Don’t get sick! We don’t want to be tormented by that demon….

The officers who used to just do their own work also took the initiative to share the tasks.

– I’ll just finish this and go.

– Huh…? That’s my job.

– We should do it together. If you collapse like last time, we’ll be in trouble too… haha…!

If the student who took the temporary president position wasn’t Olivia, this wouldn’t have happened.

There were too many complaints and demands from the students for one person to handle.

At that time, I only thought Olivia had messed things up.

“If it were someone mediocre, they would have been busy passing everything to the president, so it might have been harder when you returned… but maybe not.”

I thought I could avoid the arrows because Olivia, who handled everything her way, was the temporary president.

A small doubt began to spread like spring ending winter.

“Huh…?”

And the elements I hadn’t noticed started to fit together.

Things I thought were bad memories began to look different from another perspective.

The things I did for Olivia turned out to be for myself.

– I committed insubordination.

– Huh…?

– A second-year senior was badmouthing you. They also insulted the princess, so I beat them up together.

– Are you crazy?

– A little…?

Even things I thought were beyond human comprehension started to seem like they brought me great benefits now.

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– The pink-haired girl.

– Yuria?

– Yes.

– Why? Did you fight again?

– No. I think she’ll do well if she joins the student council.

“Ah… I was just about to recruit you…”

“So I brought him along.”

“Huh?”

He even covered up the useless mess that would have made the student council look bad.

“What was the student council doing…! They should have taken action before the accident happened!!!”

“Who would have thought a high troll would appear in the evaluation dungeon…”

“Take responsibility…! Either with money or by resigning…”

“Ah, I did that.”

“What?”

“It looked cute, so I just… Wait a minute. Are you a troll too…”

“You son of a…!!!”

All of it.

“Shh. You should only see the good things about the Empire’s treasures.”

He was acting as a shield, taking the hits for her.

“Huh…?”

A long time ago, Ricardo’s words came to Shaltia’s mind.

“Why do you act like such a madman? Can’t you live like other students?”

“…I want to, but wouldn’t it be boring if I stayed still?”

“Mind your own business.”

Back then, he seemed like a madman.

“…Ha.”

Now, looking back, she realized it was all because of ‘me.’

“That fool…”

Shaltia muttered to herself with a smile. It seemed like she realized it too late, but she was determined to repay him properly later.

She still hadn’t found the reason why he did so much. She couldn’t imagine that the guy who always looked for the lady liked her.

“My ideal type? Are you perhaps…”

“Shut up. I was going to introduce you to someone nice later. Having someone with a head full of flowers like you in society is a headache.”

“Hmm… That hurts.”

“Hurry up and tell me.”

“I like all pretty girls. Ah! By the way, I’m going to have many wives. If you’re interested, I can give you a number now…”

– Crazy guy…

No way…

Shartia let out a hollow laugh and shook her head. It seemed like even ten years of studying wouldn’t be enough to understand Ricardo’s true feelings.

‘Enough.’

Shartia looked at the guild master with a faint smile, reminiscing after a long time.

“Anyway, he’s a good person. Ricardo.”

“It seems so.”

The tea in their cups was gradually reaching the bottom, as if signaling the end of their conversation, leaving just one sip.

The guild master carefully picked up the teacup and spoke to Shartia, implying that if they had such a connection, they must have a good relationship now.

“It seems you took good care of him at the academy, Chairman.”

“Yes, in my own way…”

Huh…?

Shartia was momentarily at a loss for words at the guild master’s question and stared blankly at the teacup.

She had never thought about how she treated Ricardo.

She wondered how she had treated the guy who always caused trouble, and at the same time, she had never been curious about what kind of life Ricardo was living at the academy.

“I…”

She thought there would be no problems because he was always smiling, and she believed that worries were far from him.

Because it was Ricardo.

Always smiling.

A capable guy who never lost to anyone.

– The weather is bad, would you like to skip with me today?

– No.

– …Hmph.

She never thought about listening to the story of the person who gave others smiles.

So.

– He hasn’t been coming around lately.

– Are you waiting for someone?

– No… It’s just that the guy who used to come often hasn’t been showing up.

At some point, she thought Ricardo’s absence was just a whim.

Thinking that she might not have been there for him when he truly needed help, her pupils began to tremble. As if she had committed an unforgivable sin.

“Princess?”

“…”

Come to think of it, Ricardo had never talked about his worries.

– You’re losing points.

– Eh?

– You’re playing during class.

– I’m playing with the princess.

– I’m busy.

– Is it okay to treat your lifesaver like this?

– If I hadn’t handed over the student council president to Olivia, I would have been kinder.

– Hmph…

When he was truly struggling.

– President! Lady Olivia has used black magic…!

– …What?

– We need to convene the committee quickly.

– Wait… just wait a moment.

I couldn’t be of any help.

Even though I received so much.

– We will now begin the meeting regarding the disposition of Ricardo and Olivia.

– Expulsion. Absolutely.

– …

– I agree with expulsion.

All I could do was create a place for him to return to. Just because I wanted to see him come to the office and chatter like before.

“…”

What was I doing back then?

A naive thought turned into a question. Why didn’t you do anything all this time?

When Ricardo was struggling so much, where were you and what were you thinking? Did you even start to repay the man who saved your life? The answer to the returning question was silence.

At that time, I laughed because I liked the moment.

I thought Ricardo would come as always.

“…What was I doing?”

When he occasionally appeared after leaving the academy, I wondered what kind of things he would stir up. What problems he would solve.

In reality.

“…”

The thought that he had done nothing began to fill him with a sense of humiliation.

“…”

The guild master looked at Shalltear and spoke.

“Is something the matter?”

“This is…”

No.

It was neglect. One-sided.

What did I say when Ricardo reached out his hand?

-Your Highness.

-…

-It seems this will be the last time we meet at the academy.

-If you came to make a strange request, leave. I don’t want to be entangled in complicated matters.

-…I just wanted to see your face once.

-…

-Right… I wouldn’t want to see my face either.

-…

-Take care of yourself.

-…

-Don’t overwork yourself. If you collapse again, I won’t be able to come to save you.

-…

-Aren’t you the treasure of the empire?

What did I say that day?

-If you had taken better care of the princess, this wouldn’t have happened!!!

-…

-Because of you, I was investigated. They even suspected me of being involved in black magic.

-…I’m sorry.

-If only you had…!

What was his expression like back then?

-Really…

Ah…

-I’m sorry.

I couldn’t remember.

His expression, I mean.

All I could recall was his shoulders slumped like a criminal, even though he had done nothing wrong.

And I…

-Get out quickly.

-…

-Make sure that proud lady never sets foot in this academy again.

I had driven a dagger into his heart.

I remembered the faces of the students who sneered at their departing backs.

-Get lost!!

-Don’t ever think about coming back to the academy!

-I’ll never forgive you.

-…I knew this would happen from the start.

-Serves you right.

What was I doing back then?

“…”

The smile that had been on my lips slowly began to dry up.

And then.

-Ding.

A chilling notification rang in my ears.