The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 165

I didn’t know much about Histania Hanna.

What she liked.

What she disliked.

I didn’t know anything about her hobbies.

Although the Affinity Window provided some information, there was a clear difference between experiencing something firsthand and reading about it.

Moreover, since she wasn’t a character mentioned in the novel, I knew relatively little about her compared to Yuriana Mikhail.

The only reference in the novel was Rowen’s reminiscence of missing his youngest daughter. Beyond that, there was hardly any mention.

All I knew was that she was the youngest daughter of the prestigious sword family, the Histania Family, and that she had died young.

-Does it feel very awkward…?

I hadn’t known that she was this shy either.

-Right… It doesn’t suit me, does it?

I also hadn’t realized that she was a beauty whose appearance could rival Yuria’s.

Of course, not as much as the Young Lady, but it was undeniable that she was as beautiful as a violet in full bloom.

***

As usual, I headed to the meeting location 30 minutes early and saw a girl pacing nervously in front of a bench.

“Haa…”

“Ahhh!”

“Get a grip, Histania Hanna! The book said it, didn’t it? A confident woman can win over a handsome man!”

For some reason, the brown-haired girl, placing her hand on her chest and taking deep breaths, was circling around the bench.

“Alright…! Alright…!”

Seeing Hanna retrace her steps like a pendulum, I chuckled and walked toward her slowly.

“Why are you here so early, Miss Hanna..?”

“Eek…! When did you get here?!”

“Since you were playing tag with yourself around the bench?”

Hanna’s face turned as red as a tomato. Stammering, she said, ‘Y-you saw me from there?!’ and let out a scream, covering her face with her palms.

Watching her, I added with a smile.

“I was just about to ask if I could join in, but what a shame.”

“Don’t talk to me…. From today, I’m a dead body who died of shame.”

“That’s fine because I’ll bring you back to life.”

Stomping her feet, Hanna shouted, ‘Ah! Don’t tease me…!’ and hit my chest with her fist.

As expected of a swordsman.

-Thud, thud…!

Her punches packed quite a bit of force.

Hanna kept her face buried in her hands for a while. Her face, flushed with embarrassment, remained hidden as she slowly peeked out after some time.

As she tucked her fallen hair behind her ear and lifted her head, I smiled and gazed at her intently.

The moment Hanna’s face, which I hadn’t seen clearly before, came into view, I was at a loss for words.

It felt as though my breath had stopped.

I was more surprised than when I witnessed the Young Lady’s disastrous attempt at makeup. Not because it was funny or cute, but for the opposite reason.

Hanna was just too beautiful.

Hanna had dressed up.

Not in a dress full of frills or a bright dress, but in casual clothes one might see in everyday life. The only unusual thing was that her outfit was something rarely seen in this world.

I thought I had dressed neatly in my uniform, but Hanna’s effort far outshone mine.

With light makeup.

A short leather skirt that reached her thighs.

And a white sweater and leather jacket that accentuated her figure—Hanna’s appearance was reminiscent of modern fashion.

She looked like someone you’d believe was an idol.

No, perhaps she even exuded a freshness beyond that. I found myself momentarily speechless, staring at her blankly.

“Um… Butler?”

Hanna fidgeted with her fingers and looked up at me.

Noticing my sudden silence, Hanna seemed puzzled and couldn’t keep still.

“Does it look very strange?”

Even though I wanted to say, ‘You look beautiful,’ I couldn’t bring myself to speak as I looked at Hanna, who was shyly avoiding my gaze.

It suited her so well.

I was surprised that she had arrived much earlier than the agreed time, and then surprised again by her transformed appearance.

“I’ve never worn something like this before….”

“Oh no, it must look really weird….”

Looking at me with trembling eyes, Hanna muttered to herself, unsure of what to do.

Seeing Hanna, who seemed ready to rush back to her lodging to change, I quickly grabbed her wrist and shook my head.

“Where are you going?”

“W-well, I think the outfit looks too strange.”

“No…”

“It looks really weird, doesn’t it? I’ve never dressed up before…”

Shaking my head firmly, I said.

“You look stunning.”

“What?”

Hanna looked up as if her system had crashed.

Her lack of confidence made her lower her head, but now she timidly raised it, her eyes wide with surprise. Smiling, I said.

“You’re so beautiful that I couldn’t find the words.”

“What is that supposed to mean… I’m such a fool that I might actually believe you.”

Hanna blushed and shook her head. Like a shy elementary school student, she fidgeted with her hands, moving them like a rocking chair.

Holding onto Hanna’s wrist firmly, I spoke honestly about what I felt.

“Truly…”

With a trembling smile, I added.

“You’re beautiful.”

[Histania Hanna Lv. 38]

[Job: Academy Student]

[Favorability: 100]

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Ricardo/Benefactor/Compliments about Outfit/Swords/Dolls/Compliments about Effort]

[Disliked Conversation Topics: Ricardo’s Insults/Malice toward Ricardo/Derogatory Remarks about Olivia/Father/Histania/Orcs/Her Weak Self]

*

After finishing a simple lunch, Hanna and I began walking toward the theater to watch the dancer’s performance.

“Wow… There are so many people here.”

Hanna spoke in a trembling voice as she looked at the densely packed crowd.

So many people.

Nodding at Hanna’s words, I replied.

“Indeed. I never knew Hamel could have this many people. It’s the first time I’ve seen more people than the line of friends waiting in the forest.”

There were many people who had come to see the dancer’s performance.

The visit of the Empire’s most famous dancer seemed to have stirred the imperial citizens living in the outskirts.

Hanna, looking at the crowd, glanced at my empty hand absentmindedly.

Her gaze flitted between my large hand and her own, as if she had something to say. Tilting my head, I asked Hanna.

“Is there something on my hand?”

“Huh?!”

“No, I just noticed you were staring at it.”

“Ah…”

Fidgeting with her fingers, Hanna shook her head and muttered in a disappointed voice, ‘It’s nothing.’

Hanna lowered her head, looking dejected.

Smiling faintly, I took Hanna’s hand.

“Huh…?”

Hanna, startled by the warmth of my hand, looked at me blankly. Her expression openly questioned why, and I smiled gently as I spoke in a calm voice.

“There are so many people that I might lose you.”

Because I was speaking while looking ahead, I couldn’t see Hanna’s face. I wondered what I would do if she disliked it, but it was still better than losing her. With a cautious heart, I asked Hanna.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can let go.”

“Ah… no, it’s fine!”

“Is that so?”

I chuckled faintly and looked at Hanna.

“Uh… uh…”

Hanna, looking at our clasped hands with a foolish expression, stammered. Smiling, I walked toward the theater, and Hanna held my hand tightly, following behind me.

How should I put it?

It felt… fluffy, I suppose.

Even though our first meeting started off as the worst, the bond between us had grown stronger, like the arrival of spring.

When I cleaned up using Ruin’s head, she must have been quite startled, yet she didn’t shy away and approached me instead. I was grateful to Hanna for that.

If it weren’t for Hanna, I would have been too preoccupied paying off my debts, and perhaps I might have been driven out with the Young Lady to live a bleak life in a one-room space.

Thanks to Hanna, I met Malik.

Thanks to Hanna, the Young Lady gained a friend.

Thanks to Hanna, I came to know what it means to have a friend.

To me, Hanna was like a benefactor. I wasn’t sure if Hanna thought of me, who had done nothing, as her benefactor, but I sincerely considered her mine.

Even so.

“Phew… My heart feels like it’s going to burst.”

She seemed to be resembling me little by little, but even this side of her only appeared endearing to me.

It’s natural for a teacher to cherish their disciple, and in truth, Hanna was adorable. Smiling faintly, I held Hanna’s hand tightly.

Hanna’s fingers twitched slightly, wriggling in my palm. I gripped her hand even tighter.

“It seems like it’ll be fun, doesn’t it?”

“Yes…”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“Me too, I can’t wait…”

Hanna stared at me intently, then shyly lowered her face to the ground.

“What did you say?”

“Just… that I want to keep doing this with you, Butler.”

“Well, I am rather handsome.”

“…”

Hanna blushed and said.

“That’s true.”

And so, as we sat in our seats, we let go of the hands we had been holding.

-Hmm…

Looking at a familiar man’s face, I burst into laughter.

“No way, puhaha, Boss!”

“Brother!”

-Shh.

The empire’s greatest dancer.

No one had ever referred to the dancer who performed wearing a fox mask as a woman.

Hanna brushed her face with her hand as she watched Malik dance passionately on stage, while I couldn’t help but laugh as I focused on the man’s dance.

“Was this the busy matter you mentioned…?”

-Spin~!

He really does dance well.

No matter how I look at it, Malik seems to be the protagonist of this novel.