The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Alone in the training ground, Histania Hanna closed her eyes, lost in thought.

So far, she had taken the time to calmly reflect on the will she held within her sword.

‘I don’t know.’

Ricardo had said iood but also, an endless ambition is acceptable.

– Is it not dull to start with a purpose for the sword? I am someone who accomplishes things quickly. Ah, was that too annoying?

It certainly was annoying, but Hanna could understand Ricardo’s words. The butler was someone who always kept his word.

So she could trust the butler’s words and think of them as the correct answer.

‘My sword is…’

Hanna wielded her sword just for recognition.

Stubbornly, she held the sword, waiting for the day her father’s warm hand would pat her head.

Without knowing anything about the sword.

Without any support from the family, she trained herself with a wooden sword, hitting practice dummies from her childhood.

That was why she had to wield the sword.

In a path she could not see the end of, the purpose given to her, like a shepherd guiding his sheep, left her with only one choice. She nodded and followed it.

She thought that was the only way to be happy.

She believed that proving her existence was only through the sword. During those times, her dream collapsed, and the extension of that dream started again.

It was an extension of earning her father’s acknowledgment.

A conclusion that would be achieved someday.

It could be achieved today.

It could be achieved thirty years from now; a goal with a definite conclusion.

Having a clear conclusion might be good, but thinking about it again, she realized this conclusion might not be a happy ending.

A sword for others.

Even she thought that starting the sword for the sake of others would not lead to a good path. She thought that after receiving her father’s acknowledgment, she might experience burnout like someone without a goal.

She would give up on further development, satisfied with what she had accomplished.

She thought she would spend her remaining time being coddled and with the butler, to increase the time spent together.

It would be happy if she had that time, but that was not the conclusion she desired.

Hanna wanted recognition.

As a swordsman.

As a person.

She wanted to be recognized by her father for her sword and to be trusted by her benefactor as a disciple.

Just like seeing the butler’s face put her at ease, she wanted to be that kind of person to him.

Hanna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

And then she slowly drew her sword.

Not to mimic the butler, but to show her true intent, she concentrated on the sword. The answer derived from countless hours of contemplation and practice was to find her sword.

Hanna knew well that she couldn’t mimic the butler.

She wasn’t strong enough to peer into the endless abyss. She knew she was lacking even to scratch the surface.

Thus, Hanna thought.

To put her original desire into the sword.

She wanted to be trusted by the butler.

She wanted to be someone important to the butler.

She thought about putting the desire to cut down everyone threatening the butler into the sword.

That was her way of repaying the grace she received… or her wish.

A bit cowardly, but she wanted to stand by Ricardo and envision a future with him through the sword.

And she wanted to be together.

She wanted to grow as a swordsman, not as a burden, and stand beside him as a woman.

Hanna poured her desire into the sword.

‘I want to have it.’

A happy life.

Attention from the butler.

‘I’m tired of compromising.’

She was tired of giving up something because of her father and hiding her feelings due to the burden she carried.

Of course, it was natural to keep order for the position of mistress, but she didn’t want to lose the second position to anyone.

So.

Hanna poured her desire into the sword.

‘I will have everything.’

This greed, this selfishness.

And.

The violence to break everything hindering Ricardo, she poured into the sword and swung it.

-Scrape.

Simultaneously with the intuition that she had achieved something came a familiar ‘ding’ alarm.

[Q. The First Love of the Villainess Histania Hanna.]

In the story you are unfamiliar with, you were someone who received Ricardo’s affections.

In that story, you became Ricardo’s protagonist.

Ricardo became your butler.

You gained a foothold to slowly rise from the hardships of your family with Ricardo’s help.

Of course, during the process, you said hurtful things to Ricardo and poured out insults like, ‘What do you know to tell me what to do?’ But he stayed by your side and whispered hope.

That story is unknown to anyone, though.

(!)Defeat Michail in the duel.

Reward: You can read the 41st special episode “The First Love of the Villainess Histania Hanna.”

She had one more reason to win.

***

Michail raised his sword.

Even after thinking about it dozens of times.

To find the unreachable reason.

What his purpose in wielding the sword was. At the same time, with what mindset he should wield the sword, Michail could not determine.

He already knew the answer.

It was to protect innocent people from villains like Ricardo. That was the conclusion he had reached and the purpose of the sword he held.

But his heart kept wavering.

A foreboding intuition that fundamentally, something was wrong crept up within his heart. Michail could not find what this fundamental mistake was.

The reason he first picked up the sword was because of a certain boy.

The boy he liked the most.

-Why did you defend me?

-Kid, you’re weak.

-I’m not weak.

-Is that so?

On the day bullies took away the teddy bear his mom bought him. The boy stood up for him like a hero, holding a wooden sword.

Like a prince from a fairy tale, the boy wiped the blood dripping from his nose and smiled.

He was cool.

The boy wielding a sword to protect someone was.

He wanted to be like that.

He wanted to protect someone as the boy did.

The boy told him back then.

-Because you’re weak, I protect you.

-…What if I become stronger?

-Pfft! There would be no chance of that even if you died. Even if I don’t want to protect you, I have to. Wait… I’ll be the strongest in the latter half… Alright! Then you can protect me at that time.

-I protect you?

-Yes, until you’re weaker than me, whatever happens, I’ll protect you.

-Really?

-Yeah. But you have to keep your promise too.

-What?

-When you’re stronger than me, you protect me.

That day, he first grabbed a wooden sword.

He vaguely remembered holding the wooden sword the boy had left behind and smiling while holding a sword.

It was enjoyable.

The fact that he, who always received help, could protect someone made him happy and expectant.

He still remembered swinging the sword secretly under the bridge, dreaming of one day being able to protect the boy, as the boy had said.

The desire to protect the weak never changed.

Resolving the grievances of the weak and letting them know there was hope was what the boy wanted and the burden he had to bear.

So…

I will become strong.

Rowen, watching Michail’s sword, opened his eyes with interest.

“Hoo…”

The aura emanating from Michail was pure and contained the emotion of violence, unlike before.

Rowen paused and quietly observed Michail’s realization as the aura flowed gently.

Michail closed his eyes and swung his sword.

-Scrape.

And then

Michail also heard a ‘ding’ notification.

A devil-like suggestion filled with a temptation he didn’t want to refuse clouded Michail’s eyes.

-A quest has arisen.

[Q. The Reason You Raise Your Sword.]

A long time ago, you had a friend. A precious friend you let go with your own hands.

Due to someone’s scheme, you’ve been cursed to not recognize him, but you cherish him as a being like spring.

It’s a memory.

A very old memory.

The weight of your unspoken sins and the burden you bear is flying towards you like an arrow.

The boy you longed for might be alive.

He endured many pains, persecutions, and wrongs because of you, but didn’t hate you.

Well, whether he’s alive is a different story.

(!)Defeat Hanna in the duel.

Reward: You can read the 15th special episode “The Secret of the Day You Left Behind.”

He had one more reason to win.

*

A peaceful afternoon.

I was walking through the capital streets with a smile.

“What kind of charm should I buy?”

Even though I don’t believe in superstitions, having one could be comforting, so I smiled and walked toward the shops.

While passing the streets, I saw a charm symbolizing luck in front of the shop.

A four-leaf clover earring symbolizing luck.

With a smile, I decided on the gift and slowly walked into the shop.

And then.

I opened my eyes slightly.

[Q. Michail’s Protector.]

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Reward: You can read the 16th special episode “The Danger of Truth.”

Let’s postpone it just a little longer.

End of Chapter