The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 395



395 – The Final Moments of the Knight Who Knew Everything -4-

Red blood dances.

“Kill the princess!”

“…Until when.”

“Only the princess needs to die!”

With every movement of Ricardo’s hand, the blooming flowers leave a trail of crimson blood on the floor before disappearing.

“Are you going to be a nuisance?”

I was scared. I was terrified that Ricardo’s sword would be aimed at me.

“I want to stop now.”

Instinctively, I closed my eyes.

The horde of heretics continued to pour out without a moment’s respite. Their onslaught, fueled by murderous intent as they looked at me, showed no signs of abating.

But.

-Slice.

My silent knight did not allow the heretics to harm me.

To the point where the invaders seemed like moths to a flame.

“…”

-Thrust…!

“aaargh!!!!”

As if to wake me from my bewilderment at the sudden situation, Ricardo plunged his sword into the heretic’s leg, his expression cold.

“The purpose.”

“…Hahaha! I cannot say. I am a messenger to fulfill his will…! Death does not scare me.”

-Thrust…!

“The purpose of invading the imperial palace.”

“Hahaha…!”

“The number of heretics and the position of the apostate.”

“…You must never defy His will…”

Ricardo’s cold gaze looked above the man’s head instead of his eyes and spoke.

“The one you love the most…”

“…”

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“Is it a child named ‘Sara’?”

“…”

The topic you dislike… Ah, it seems you just found a new one.”

Ricardo’s gaze began to turn cold. He was pressing the heretic so hard that it was hard to remember his usual smiling face.

Although I couldn’t hear the detailed conversation between Ricardo and the heretic in the chaotic situation.

“I told you everything…!”

“…”

“Please, just don’t touch my family.”

“I’ll think about it.”

By the time I tried to focus and listen, Ricardo had already obtained the information he wanted.

Ricardo, who had ended the heretic’s life, sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Then he lowered his sword, exuding a chilling aura.

“…Things have gotten complicated.”

The red aura leaking from Ricardo’s sword began to spread towards the ground. And the moment Ricardo touched the tip of his sword to the ground.

“It’s too noisy.”

-Thunk.

The sound of countless heretics climbing the stairs suddenly stopped, as if the world had gone silent.

Ricardo, who had crushed the heretic army with a single strike, brushed his hair back and approached me.

“Let’s go.”

He said we had to leave this place.

Though we had barely secured a hideout, Ricardo’s words left me bewildered. But seeing the urgency in his expression, I bit my lip.

“Where… are we going?”

“…”

“Are we heading to the Imperial Palace?”

“No.”

“What…?”

When Ricardo’s response echoed back, I questioned him with a trembling voice. What was he saying?

“Then where are we going?”

“We’re heading to a safe place.”

“No.”

The Imperial Palace is the heart of the Empire.

It’s where the Emperor of the Empire resides, and where all the ledgers and treasures are kept.

Such a palace.

“Are you saying we should abandon the Empire…?”

Ricardo was coldly telling me to abandon it.

Ricardo began to move urgently, staring straight into my trembling eyes.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

“As you might have guessed, the second prince has allied with the heretics. That’s why the barrier isn’t working.”

“I know… But if we abandon the palace, the empire is finished.”

“Even so, we must flee now.”

“But still…!”

“When Rowen returns, it won’t be too late to start the recapture.”

I spoke with trembling eyes at Ricardo’s words, thinking of my father inside the castle.

“No, we have to go now….”

“We can’t.”

I hate him… but he is my father who gave me life.

“We have to go now!”

For the empire to survive, he must live. Only by ascending the throne through legitimate means can we avoid any backlash. If the emperor disappears, the repercussions would be unimaginable, so we must return to the palace.

And…

My mother’s keepsake is there.

“We have to go…”

For the first time, Ricardo raised his voice, scolding me for my unyielding stubbornness.

“Why are you being so stubborn…!”

“Ricardo…”

“Can’t you see outside…?!”

“…But you have me.”

“Isn’t this because it’s too much for me alone!”

In my confusion, I blurted out something foolish to Ricardo.

“This is our chance.”

“…Chance?”

“A chance to make a mark.”

“…Your Highness!”

“Teo is absent because of the situation in the west, and if my second brother is causing a rebellion… If I handle this well, I could ascend to the throne.”

“…Nonsense.”

“What if Teo resolves the situation in the west and is revered by the people?”

“…”

“He would be hailed as the hero of the west. If they exalt him as a king, all the hardships we’ve endured would be for nothing…?”

I was foolish back then.

I made an unreasonable request to Ricardo because I wanted to bring back my mother’s keepsake and save my father.

In truth, I wasn’t worried about Teo… but I thought this was the only way to persuade Ricardo.

“Then, you won’t be able to save Olivia either.”

“…”

“You went through all this trouble because of her. I know it’s an unreasonable request. But…!”

The moment the word ‘Olivia’ left my lips, Ricardo’s expression turned cold, and he closed his eyes tightly.

“…Ha.”

At that time, I didn’t know.

That Ricardo was truly angry at that moment.

“…I am really… such a fool.”

“Huh…?”

Ricardo, who had been silent for a long time, clenched his fist and then dropped his hand.

“Ending it like this might not be so bad.”

“What…?”

“Don’t be angry. It’s scary.”

Ricardo shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Let’s go.”

“…Is that your answer?”

“…”

“Then I will go alone…”

“To the Imperial Palace.”

“Huh…?”

Ricardo, who stood up and dusted off his seat, spoke with the gentle smile he always showed.

“Can you promise me one thing?”

“…What promise?”

Ricardo smiled brightly and said.

“No matter what happens… you must not cry.”

“Crying?”

“Just because. I’ve seen too many tears from beauties, and I don’t want to see any more.”

“Not crying.”

Ricardo was silent.

He simply held his sword and extended his hand to me.

“That’s a relief.”

*

The streets of the capital were devastating.

Corpses from the attack of the heretics piled up in the streets, and the sorrowful cries of those who lost their loved ones echoed horrifically in my ears.

“Block the gates!!!”

“There are too many heretics!”

“Stop them somehow! Don’t let them get further into the palace!!”

“…!”

“…Ricardo.”

I tightly held Ricardo’s hand and looked up at him. Even for someone like me who had seen so much, this scene was unfamiliar.

“Squeeze…”

If he hadn’t been by my side, I would have been retching already.

Holding my hand tightly, Ricardo smiled faintly and led me somewhere.

“Kill them!!!”

“Handle it somehow!”

The place where the sound is the loudest.

The place where the screams echo the most.

“Where are you going…? The secret passage is that way.”

“…”

Despite my hesitant movements, Ricardo firmly led me to the source of the sound.

“Where are you going…!”

“…”

“Stop…!”

“…”

“Stop it!!”

The moment I roughly shook off Ricardo’s hand, my eyes widened at the scene unfolding before me.

-Ha…

Someone I never expected was standing there.

Silver hair.

The white sword that instantly revealed who he was. And the swordsman who became a Sword Master after Ricardo… It was Mikhail.

“Mikhail…?”

Ricardo smiled as he let go of the hand he was barely holding onto.

“Go with Mikhail.”

“What…?”

“Mikhail is better at protecting than I am.”

“How did you find where Mikhail is… No, more importantly, why do I have to go with Mikhail?”

Ricardo gave a bitter smile and didn’t answer.

“There’s no guarantee that Mikhail will help… Why?”

“Because I can persuade him.”

“Impossible. You don’t even get along with him…”

“I can solve that problem.”

Mikhail, looking at Ricardo, sighed with cold eyes. As if he had seen something disgusting.

“Mikhail.”

“Is this your doing?”

“Haha… No.”

“Don’t laugh.”

“…”

“I can kill you now.”

“I’ve earned your hatred, haven’t I?”

Ricardo began to speak in a small voice to Mikhail, who was wielding a sword.

-I will find him.

-…What did you say?

-Haven’t you been looking for that person all this time?

Before Ricardo could finish his words, Mikhail grabbed Ricardo by the collar and started glaring at him.

“How do you know his name?”

“`

“…”

“Speak…!”

“If you grant my request… I will tell you.”

“You must pay the price for selling that person’s name.”

“…”

“…You must keep your promise.”

“…Yes.”

After having an inexplicable conversation with Mikhail, Ricardo walked back to me and began to speak with a regretful expression.

“From now on, you should follow Mikhail.”

“What about you?”

“I…”

Ricardo looked beyond the castle gate and gave a bitter smile.

“I have to continue what Mikhail was doing, right?”

“No, you come with us.”

Ricardo shook his head and replied.

“No.”

“…”

“There is no time. Go quickly. That’s the only way to escape.”

“…But!”

“Hurry.”

“`

“…Don’t get hurt.”

Ricardo did not respond.

Ricardo, who held me back as I was leaving, gave me a wistful look and said goodbye.

“You must… keep your promise.”

“…”

“Because I don’t like crying.”

I nodded at Ricardo’s words and disappeared in front of him, not knowing that this would be the last time.

“I’ll be back.”

I awkwardly said goodbye.

*

Two men arrived in front of Ricardo, who was standing alone.

Apostle Olaf.

“Hmm…”

And.

The priest of the empire stood before Ricardo.

“You’re not… Mikhail.”

Sitting on top of countless corpses of heretics, Ricardo dusted himself off and smiled.

“I’ve been waiting.”

The apostle scoffed at Ricardo’s words, and the priest of the empire gave Ricardo a cold smile and said,

“…Not bad.”

“…”

“Although it turned out differently from the original purpose… it bothered me.”

“That’s quite an honor.”

“The silver-haired knight must have gone to the imperial palace. With your master.”

“…”

“So, as the princess’s ‘dog’, you are guarding this place.”

“…”

“I intended to make you suffer in memory of the dead restraint, but I’m in a hurry, so I’ll send you off comfortably.”

Ricardo’s eyes began to glow red.

“I can’t let you go.”

Like a knight burning his last flame.

“Because I promised.”

He began to swing his sword.