The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 317: The Way of Love (1)

I am harboring the feeling called love.

A difficult emotion, one that I cannot easily speak of to anyone.

For some, love might be a warm and heart-stirring feeling, while for others who are experiencing fading love, it could be the fear of facing a goodbye. I held this small, delicate feeling inside my chest.

Under the shade of the blue Milky Way spread across the night sky, I gazed quietly at the young lady who lay asleep in her bed.

"Mmm...”

White hair. Sharp eyes. With her angelic face as she slept, she held tightly onto the bracelet I’d given her.

"Mmm... bracelet... food..."

A faint smile appeared on my face at her sleep-talking. Despite her elite, noble appearance, her sleepy mumbling was endearing.

“Mmm... nom nom...” “Hair is not for eating.” “Ugh... The chocolate’s spoiled...” “...Pfft! Oh, I must stay quiet.”

I carefully tucked the hair she was chewing back behind her ear and whispered softly. I couldn’t let her wake up. Although, knowing her, she probably wouldn’t even notice if someone carried her away. But a servant should always be cautious.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Could she have heard that little whisper? She clutched the bracelet closer and smiled blissfully.

“Hee hee hee...” “It’s a good sight.”

Maybe it’s the moonlight, but I feel more sentimental tonight. I find myself thinking about what love means to me.

Is it like the mermaid's tears that turn into foam, or the heart of Sleeping Beauty, who received a prince’s kiss?

“...”

I’d never experienced love, so it was hard to put it into words.

I’d never dreamed of some grand, fairytale romance. I didn’t have the luxury to.

Many people, at least once, want to be the magnificent hero of a fairy tale. But not me... I never received love, so giving or receiving it felt awkward and clumsy.

How should I put it? It’s like a story that began but can’t find its ending. My unrequited love is still ongoing.

“...It’s difficult.” “Grrrrrrk...!” “It would be nice to have an answer sheet, though that wouldn’t be very fun, would it?” “Mmm... nom nom...”

Watching the lady under the moonlight, I let out a small smile. She’s sound asleep, completely unaware of my feelings.

“My lady, you truly are a villainess.” “Mmm... huh? Nom... nom...”

Her reaction to the word "villainess" brought a smile to my face. # Nоvеlight # She always made me smile, especially when she was asleep.

She really is an amusing person.

“...”

My love seems to be full of hardships.

Taking care of someone who is unwell. Not being able to take her pain for her. This love, where I can do nothing but watch, sometimes feels like a difficult journey.

It’s tragic, really.

When did I first realize I was in love? It certainly wasn’t love at first sight.

—What are you looking at! —...? —Eeek! —???

“Pfft...!”

It wasn’t a heart-throbbing moment straight out of a drama, so I don’t think it was love at first sight.

She was such a unique person. And I knew that about her from the start.

‘I truly don’t know.’

I used to think I’d never get close to the feeling of love, but now, just looking at her face brings a smile to mine... I’m in big trouble.

The lady who moved into the room of my heart out of curiosity has grown so much that now I can’t imagine my life without her.

Even if I asked her to leave, she wouldn’t be able to.

At first, I thought she was a villainess I didn’t want to get involved with. I even avoided talking to her. But now, her mere laughter is enough to clear away any misgivings I had. How can I not find that amusing?

—Wow... you beggar...! —Beggar...? —Paw! —Paw...? —Paw...! I’ll give you a treat! —Does she think I’m a dog...?

Thinking back, our relationship shouldn’t have developed like this, but to others, it probably looked as if it were straight out of a drama.

A beggar from the slums and a noblewoman from a prestigious family. The Desmond family may not have the best reputation, but they wielded enough power that even the Emperor couldn’t easily disregard them. And now, the story of a noble lady rescuing a child from the slums and that child awakening as a Swordmaster and dreaming of love...?

‘...It really does feel like a drama.’

If you take away the title of ‘possessed,’ it could easily be made into a youthful romance. But the fact is, I’m just a regular person involved in a very special connection, so the story doesn’t feel that strange.

“Grrrrrrrrk.”

The young lady, a noblewoman, was peculiar in many ways.

“...”

Well, not that she would ever realize that.

“Grrrrrrrrrrk!” “My lady... you’re going to burst my eardrums.” “Mmm... nom... nom...”

So when did I fall in love?

“...”

‘I don’t know.’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find a reason why I’d fallen for her. She didn’t particularly treat me well, nor did she show any extraordinary affection... How should I put it? It’s like I was hit so many times that her presence seeped into me.

—Fetch! —I’m a person, you know. —Eek! Then I’ll fetch it myself. —...? —Throw it!

When I see her face, I feel good, but I don’t know when that feeling began.

Even when she picks her nose or throws tantrums, I find it cute. I’m suffering from severe butler syndrome, and I sigh softly as I shake my head.

“Zzzzzz...”

I looked at her peaceful sleeping face and chuckled.

“No, that’s not it...”

I guess I was wrong from the start. Looking for a reason to fall for her was the mistake.

The lady I serve is the most beautiful person in the world. No matter what anyone says, the idea that I couldn’t help but fall for her is the only truth.

Over thirteen years. I’ve had run-ins with nobles.

—Hey, Olivia! Why are you dragging a commoner around? Isn’t it embarrassing? —Ugh...! —Please hold back. I’m fin... Where did she go?

—Die!!! —...?

She was once kidnapped by robbers aiming for her money.

—Eek! Why are you so late?! —I got lost, you see. —It was scary! —Haha... I apologize. —Ugh... —Next time, don’t follow strangers offering you chocolate. —...Ugh. —I’ll give you more chocolate. —Okay...

There were unforgettable wounds she received at the Academy.

—Olivia, don’t you feel embarrassed hanging out with that commoner? He smells weird, too. —Oh, Ricardo? He’s like a dog. He does whatever I tell him to. —Pffft...! What’s that?! —...Y-Yeah? Is it funny? —Yeah! Hahaha! You’re so funny.

—Thud.

—Ouch! Which brat... Oh...? You heard that? —Ah... No. Let’s go eat.

There weren’t only good memories.

Sometimes, when she’d say something careless, it would hurt. Talking to her felt like talking to a wall, and I’d sigh. So at the Academy, I had to distance myself a bit.

I wondered what this all was.

I knew she was a villainess, but I still felt hurt. At the same time, I felt a sense of loss, as if it didn’t mean anything.

But still.

—Sniffle... —...? —I don’t have any friends... —... —I have to apologize to Ricardo too...

Seeing her sulk over her notebook would make all my resentment fade away. It dissolved my desire to be the protagonist in this story.

No matter how hard she tried, she never quite fit in. But if I could be the one waiting for her when she returned, that would be enough.

‘Yeah, it’s a foolish thing to do.’

One thing’s for sure, my lady isn’t a nice person.

She’s not like the heroines in fairy tales who sing about peace, nor is she a dove who exercises restraint. She’s someone who acts on her instincts. She eats when she’s hungry, sleeps when she’s tired, curses when she’s angry.

And yet.

—Why... Why does everyone avoid me...?

She has a soft heart.

She’s not straightforward, but she’s more honest than anyone else. She’s the worst villainess in the world, yet the kindest one. That’s why I think I like her.

And that’s why I’m serving her.

To me, she’s not only my master but also the most important person in the world.

Even when she drives countless knives into my chest. The years we’ve spent together—thirteen years—have given me the strength to bear it.

By now, I can tell if the knives she throws are lies or not. Of course, Mikhail made things tough at the Academy, but even that I can now look back on fondly.

Twisting the novel. Honestly, if I had been afraid of that, I wouldn’t have approached her.

Maybe that’s why I like her.

She’s cuter than anyone else.

“Mmm...”

She snores louder than any princess in the world.

“Grrrrrrrrrk!”

She’s more beautiful than any princess in a fairy tale.

—I’m pretty!

I love how she relies on me, though she hates depending on others.

Tonight, I reached out.

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Toward her legs.

I’m not afraid of shortening my lifespan. If a better future, a moment where we can laugh together, could become a good memory for her, that would be enough.

My lifespan has extended now. With no more fears holding me back, I decided not to hesitate.

I want to play again. Not on the roof of a Ferris wheel, but running alongside my lady.

It’s not a grand wish, but I hope this dream will come true as I placed my hand on her leg.

“Have a pleasant dream...”

—Breaking the Limit tests the limit of ‘Hand of Healing.’ [The enhanced ‘Hand of Healing’ is used on Olivia’s leg.]

With a slight tremor, I smiled.

She may not be able to walk right away, but as long as my stubbornness reaches her one day, I could rest easy tonight.

This is the way I love—my foolish, clumsy way of loving her.