The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

46 – Jung-sil seems difficult.

As soon as the morning sun rose, the Histaenia siblings prepared to leave the mansion.

Hanna had to go to the academy, and Malik had to return to the knights by cutting his vacation short. It was regretful to see them go, but they couldn’t detain the busiest people in the empire.

I didn’t even get to talk to Hanna.

I wanted to hear how she talked about Mihail, how she had been since that day, but coming back earlier than expected left me with lingering regrets.

I handed the prepared paper bag to Malik at the entrance.

It was a paper bag containing tteokbokki recipe and a homemade cake. Malik glanced into the bag and gave a slight smile.

“Did you make this yourself?”

As expected from the master of the culinary industry.

He immediately noticed it just by looking at the clumsy packaging.

I forced an awkward laughter and answered Malik. Usually, it would have been proper to buy from a nice dessert shop. But there were no open shops, so I made the cake myself.

I hope he enjoys it.

“Yes, hahahaha… There were no open shops at this hour, so I made it myself. I can’t guarantee the taste, though.”

“You’ll only incur losses if you open a shop at this hour.”

Malik was wearing a satisfied smile.

During his apprentice butler days, the young lady had spoken.

Sending a guest away empty-handed is not proper etiquette. After coming such a long way, it would be quite disappointing to return with empty hands.

“Ricardo, don’t you bring gifts when you fight at parties?”

“Today, whose hairpin did you grab?”

“Silvia.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s around. A plump and unattractive girl.”

“Still, a hairpin…”

“She’s just a parasite who leeches off me for food!”

“Well done. Do you know where Yeong-ae’s house is?”

“Oh? Anyway, you won’t give gifts if we fight?”

“No.”

“…That’s disappointing.”

It was a lesson learned from the young lady’s experiences.

Malik and Hanna seemed to appreciate this consideration, and they exchanged smiles while expressing their gratitude.

“We’ll eat well.”

“We will!”

Before leaving through the front door,

Hanna turned around to look at me.

Blushing and giving me a meaningful, concerned look, as if she had a fever. Out of worry, I instinctively placed my hand on Hanna’s forehead.

“What?”

Her face turned as red as a persimmon.

I realized my mistake too late.

Touching an unmarried woman’s forehead was something I had ingrained in my body from serving the young lady. In a past life, I would have been flogged for it.

Hanna’s eyes widened.

“W-What… What is it?”

With a look of confusion, she muttered, “I heard of this thing called ‘flirting’ only in rumors,” as she tried to fan her hot face with her hand, blowing out warm breath.

I quickly removed my hand from Hanna’s forehead, and I also didn’t forget to bow and apologize.

“I’m sorry. I thought your face was so red that you had a fever.”

“My face is red…? Uh, well… um…”

Hanna made a strange noise. She touched the spot where my hand had been and looked at her face. She pointed to her flushed face with her hand and said,

“I don’t have a fever… well, maybe I do. If you touch it again…”

“I’ll bring some fever medicine.”

Hanna waved her hand vigorously.

“It’s not necessary. I was just… so surprised.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you don’t have to apologize, but one more time… No, never mind.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I have some first aid supplies at home.”

“It’s really okay. I mean it!”

Watching this, Malek smiled like a seasoned middle-aged man.

“Youth… cough!”

Hanna elbowed Malek in the side. It seemed to hurt, but I wonder if he’s okay.

There was a sound like bones cracking…

Malek held his side and couldn’t move for a while.

A cool breeze blew through the open front door. The morning sun was rising, and the birds were chirping.

Malek straightened his clothes and reached out his hand to me while soothing his side. It was a rare sight for a nobleman to request a handshake from a commoner. Even in an academy where equality was guaranteed, it was not something you would see often.

“The ‘Porche 1st model’ we talked about yesterday will probably be completed by December at the earliest. I’ll send the thank-you letters…”

“I’ll send about ten tightly packed pages.”

Malek looked serious.

“Don’t bother writing the letter because I can’t read it.”

His pride was hurt in many ways.

We said our final goodbyes.

Hanna held me tightly and winked at me, saying something meaningful like ‘next time for sure,’ and Malek rolled his eyes in anticipation of the new menu to be launched soon by his forest friend.

Malek urged Hanna, who was hugging me like a cherished doll.

“Let’s go.”

“Just a little while longer.”

“We don’t have time. We have to visit the store, so we can’t waste any more time.”

“Brother, are you not going to the Royal Knights?”

“You can go a little later.”

Malik was more sincere in his side job than in his main job.

Before leaving, Malik turned back and said to me. He said he just remembered something he had forgotten.

“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you this. It seems that the academy students will come to Hamel soon.”

“The academy students? Are they coming for a group meal or something?”

“No, they said they will test the undiscovered dungeon. Did you know about it?”

I knew.

Because a new story is about to begin.

The awakening story of Mikhail.

I knew that the story of Uriah being kidnapped by the cult and Mikhail going to rescue her would start here in Hamel, for a while now.

That’s why I found a way to replace my right hand.

I lowered my head.

“I didn’t know.”

Hoo. Malik, who let out a long sigh, took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He was about to light it.

– Swish.

Hannah’s hand swiftly passed by and threw Malik’s cigarette outside the fence.

“Don’t smoke. It stinks.”

“…It won’t smell if I smoke outside.”

“Just don’t smoke.”

“…”

Malik said to me with a faint gaze.

“Do you have a younger sister?”

“No, I’m an orphan.”

Malik nodded his head.

“That’s good.”

Malik looked at the discarded cigarette outside the wall with a faint gaze and let out a sigh.

From Noble mtl dot com

“It was a mast….”

“Anyway, I thought it wasn’t a good meeting, so I told him. I don’t think it would be good for you or those brats over there to meet.”

Malik said directly without beating around the bush. That’s how Malik’s personality was, and that’s why he said those words.

I nodded softly and expressed my gratitude.

“I’ll have to stay at the mansion for a while.”

“That’s up to you.”

Hannah left the mansion with a regretful expression.

***

Inside the carriage heading to the capital.

Hannah asked Malick, who was reading blueprints.

He had been giggling and laughing as if he were reading a risqué magazine, looking like a sick person.

“What is that?”

“An adult magazine.”

“Are you crazy?”

“No.”

Malick chuckled softly.

“Kids shouldn’t look at it.”

“Where is it? Show me.”

“I don’t want to.”

Malick concealed the blueprints in his arms.

He was afraid he’d be found out for spending 3 million gold.

Even for the prestigious Hystania family, 3 million gold was a hefty sum. It could be solved by embezzling from the family’s finances, but he might hear some complaints.

He shouted it out first, but when he realized it was too large an amount, it became a problem he’d have to carry to his grave. A self-indulgent estimate.

But, the “Porsche 1” was worth it. You had to shout it out first to see if it stirred a man’s heart. And once he promised to do it, keeping the promise was what a knight did.

– Am I a knight?

Malick let out a bitter laugh, thinking of the words of the competent butler.

Three million gold. It wasn’t his house’s name, but it was crazy to just offer it like that. He didn’t think he’d become this person.

He had spent a lot of money, but it wasn’t a waste.

The gift he received was worth it, and the fact that he could sit with his sister made it all thanks to that guy.

“Sorry for being bad all this time? Are you joking…? I thought I was going to die because of my brother and sister… Now you’re saying sorry?”

“Why? Did I wake you up to bring Father here?”

– Or did you want to play the big brother role now? Go learn martial arts from Dad, Mr. Impressive. I’m going to live my own life.

I didn’t give up because of that guy.

– Scared?

I knew I would tease him endlessly if I kept meeting him without changing.

Thanks to him, I realized my shortcomings.

I realized how lacking I was. It feels like I’m even more attached now.

I bumped into him, apologized, and got rejected, but after persistent effort, my younger brother accepted my apology.

– I didn’t want to forgive or anything, I tried to get out of this wretched family. But…

My younger brother cried.

For the first time in front of me.

– I’ve been waiting for these words like a fool all this time… It’s too unfair.

For the first time, I had a proper conversation with my younger brother, and thanks to that guy, I realized how much of a trash I was.

It must have been a bargain for 3 million gold.

Malik let out a deep sigh.

“I wonder what Father will do.”

The second one said to get rid of Hanna, and Father just closed his mouth and tolerated it… Even if I think about it, it’s a family with no solution.

Hanna isn’t even thinking of seeing Father’s face. Stuck in between, Malik let out another sigh.

The carriage continued towards its destination.

Through Hamel and into the capital.

Around the time the palace came into view from the window.

Malik threw a question at his younger brother.

“Young one.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you like that guy?”

– Smack!

Hanna stamped Malik’s back. A vivid red handprint remained. Malik had a hunch that he’d be in trouble when he got home.

Nevertheless, Malik said it.

Because his younger brother’s reaction was amusing.

“He’s half good-looking, and he’s talented, so he’s definitely a good groom.”

“…Keep it down.”

“This older brother supports his younger sister. It seems like he doesn’t even have a fiance.”

Hannah tilted her head.

“Yeah…”

“Huh?”

Hannah, leaning against the window, let out a deep sigh and said.

“I’m not really sure.”

“Was there a fiancee?”

“No. I just think there’s something similar.”

Hannah blurred her words and looked out the window with vacant eyes. The events of last night kept coming back to her mind.

– “Princess, don’t you like Senior Mihail?”

– “Huh…?”

The princess’s face was startled.

It wasn’t the embarrassment of being caught liking someone, but a truly surprised expression.

– “Ah… that.”

The princess said decisively.

– “I don’t think I like him anymore.”

Hannah was bothered by the princess’s awkward smile.

‘It seems like it will be difficult for them to be together.’

Hannah was observant.