The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 166

It feels like it’s been a long time since I laughed so hard I held my sides.

Watching Malik dance with a serious expression, and seeing Hanna hide her face while muttering, “Why is he doing that?”—both Malik’s serious dancing and Hanna’s reaction were equally amusing.

I couldn’t help but let out bursts of laughter.

Even though he was wearing a mask and I couldn’t see his expression, he was probably concentrating with a stiff face.

Still, he danced well. I’m not just saying that—it was genuinely impressive.

The mask that covered his face added a dreamlike aura, and the uniquely powerful dance movements only a man could produce were so dazzling and sharp that it reminded me of a former idol.

It made me wonder if he learned swordsmanship just to dance.

Thanks to the boss’s exceptional dancing skills, I was able to stay focused until the performance ended.

I found myself both laughing at and admiring this different side of the boss, which helped me stay immersed in the performance.

As time flew by, I felt regretful. Turning to Hanna, whose face was as red as a tomato from embarrassment, I spoke to her.

“Are you alright?”

“…”

“Miss Hanna?”

“Huh!? Oh, yes, I’m fine.”

Hanna, whose soul seemed to have left her body, let out a deep sigh while shaking her head as she watched Malik bid farewell on stage.

“No…”

Feeling both pride and embarrassment at the same time, Hanna was surprised. She had always thought of herself as a bubbly person, but she never imagined Malik could act so outrageously.

Until her brother apologized to her, she hadn’t known this side of him.

A man who only cared about swords.

A man who valued family honor above all else.

A man she thought had no affection for his family. Yet, it seemed there were many hidden aspects of her brother she didn’t know.

In truth, he cherished his family more than anyone.

He was someone who liked things other than swords. Hanna realized this far too late.

On the day he apologized, her brother had shared his true feelings with her.

It was a strange emotion.

A feeling she wouldn’t have experienced if she hadn’t received his apology—a secret about her brother she might never have known if she hadn’t become an adult.

As she saw the smile behind her brother’s mask, Hanna slowly began to smile as well.

-Thank you.

“No… really.”

-Thank you too.

Watching her brother step back with his left foot and bow like a gentleman to the audience, Hanna slowly lifted her head, which she had lowered in embarrassment. She heard the thunderous applause directed at Malik.

-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!

Shyly, she raised her hand and began to clap.

“What are you doing…”

Hanna disliked her brother.

At the same time.

She was proud of him.

*

On the way back to the estate after the performance.

Amid the bustling crowd, I held Hanna’s hand tightly as we exited the theater.

Hanna’s expression looked cheerful.

With a subtle smile, she kept glancing back at the theater, as if she felt regretful about leaving.

I thought she’d be upset after watching her brother’s dance, but I was relieved to be wrong.

Seeing Hanna’s subtle smile lifted my mood as well, and I smiled with satisfaction while gazing at the sunset sky.

Stretching under the soft orange glow of the afternoon sunlight, I spoke to Hanna.

“That was fun.”

“…It really was.”

Hanna let out a small laugh as she spoke.

“It was really fun. I didn’t even expect it to be.”

Hanna’s voice, though calm, carried a hint of excitement. It was as if she was proud of her brother.

“It was really fun.”

Hanna squeezed the hand she was holding tightly as she spoke.

“It’s all thanks to you, Butler.”

Brushing back her brown hair that swayed in the sunset breeze, Hanna smiled.

“What did I even do?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to experience this moment.”

“You’re too kind.”

“No… I mean it.”

After a brief pause, Hanna hesitated to continue speaking.

Was it the sunset stirring her emotions, or was it Malik’s new side that had triggered her feelings?

Hanna’s gaze, filled with gratitude, sadness, and joy, was directed at me. Her honest words, carrying a mix of emotions, were something I accepted quietly without making a fuss.

I didn’t think of myself as the extraordinary person Hanna described. To me, all the hardships she overcame were thanks to her own strength.

Of course, as a third party, I had helped her, but all I did was give her a little push. It wasn’t something I could take credit for.

Even though I’m not exactly a humble person.

Gazing at the setting sun, I spoke with sincerity, conveying that it wasn’t my doing.

“I think it’s because Miss Hanna did well.”

Hanna remained silent for a long time, holding my hand as we walked. Quietly, she dragged her shoes along the street.

The unfamiliar sound of her shoes echoed irregularly in my ears.

-Click.

-Click.

-Click.

The more awkward her footsteps grew, the closer we got to the lodging, and the time for farewell gradually approached.

Hanna’s time, filled with regret, stretched on.

She didn’t want to let this moment pass meaninglessly.

She wanted to say thank you.

She wanted to stay longer.

She wanted to keep holding this hand.

But since she didn’t want to burden the butler, who had to return to the Young Miss, she kept these feelings hidden inside. Yet, Hanna couldn’t help but feel deeply regretful about the fleeting time.

In a quiet voice, Hanna opened her mouth to speak.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Miss Hanna.”

Hanna called me once more. Like a child seeking attention, she called me again, as if asking me to say her name one more time.

“Butler!”

“Yes, why are you calling me?”

Hanna let out a shy smile and lowered her head. Watching her walk awkwardly, I matched her pace with a small smile.

Looking at the sunset, Hanna spoke.

“Do you know something?”

“I know I’m handsome.”

“Pfft! Not that.”

Hanna stretched out her words as she spoke.

“Do you know that you’re reeeally important to me?”

“Really important, huh? That’s quite the high praise.”

“You’re reeeally, reeeally, reeeally important to me.”

Hanna squeezed the hand she was holding tightly as she spoke.

“I mean it.”

Then, she slowly began to share the thoughts she had been holding in her heart.

“I don’t know what you think, but I’ve always only received from you, Butler.”

“Awakening my aura at an early age.”

“Getting closer to my brother…”

“Being able to stand up to my father…”

“Because… none of it would have been possible without you, Butler.”

Hanna’s smile, which had been lingering on her lips, slowly began to fade. It wasn’t a heavy emotion like sadness, but rather gratitude that made her bite her lip. Looking unsure of what to do, she gave a bittersweet smile.

“Ah, what’s wrong with me…? I must’ve told such a boring story, right? I feel like I haven’t properly thanked you all this time… I wanted to say it today…”

I spoke to Hanna with sincerity, as I always did.

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

Without any pretense in my emotions.

Having witnessed all the effort she had put in so far, I was able to say these words. If that weren’t the case, I might have taken credit, but the Hanna I knew was someone who had endlessly persevered. I enjoyed a brief moment of silence before speaking slowly.

“I merely gave you a little push, Miss Hanna.”

Hanna shook her head.

“No, that’s not true. I…”

Hanna shook her head vigorously in denial. I gently took her hand and spoke.

“Miss Hanna.”

“Yes…?”

“Please, have a seat here.”

I guided Hanna to sit on the bench. Taking off my jacket, I draped it over her skirt and knelt on one knee to look at her.

Hanna, flustered, looked at me with trembling eyes.

Seeing Hanna’s awkward smile, I said, “Why are you about to cry? We had so much fun,” and lightened the heavy atmosphere.

Squatting in front of Hanna, I pulled a bandage from my pocket and showed it to her.

“Ta-da.”

A bandage with a rabbit drawing on it.

Seeing the rabbit I had drawn myself, Hanna burst into laughter and asked.

“What is that…?”

“What do you think? Isn’t it cute?”

“It’s cute.”

I carefully removed Hanna’s shoe and gently placed the bandage on her heel.

Hanna, startled by the bandage approaching her reddened wound, looked at me with wide eyes.

“I’m not hurt though….”

“You’re not very good at lying.”

Hanna fidgeted with her fingers and murmured, asking how I knew when she hadn’t shown it.

“How did you know?”

“There’s nothing I don’t know.”

“Liar.”

Hanna let out a shy laugh and lightly swung her foot. Holding her gently swaying foot, I carefully placed another rabbit bandage on her other ankle. Hanna gazed at the bandage with a soft smile as the cute rabbit drawing sat on her ankle.

While gently caressing Hanna’s tired feet, I spoke.

“I don’t know how you’ll take this, but I think you’re an extraordinary person, Miss Hanna.”

“No, I’m not…”

“You keep trying in places where no one notices.”

“…”

“Even when you don’t achieve results, you don’t give up. You keep trying, and even when you fall, you get back up as if nothing happened. I know how hard that is. Of course, I wouldn’t know from experience, but still.”

Hanna’s legs, which had been swinging like a gentle breeze, came to a stop. Even without looking at her face, I could tell she wasn’t smiling.

Because I could hear the sniffle above me.

“Sniff. Ah… What’s wrong with me? Is it the pollen? My nose keeps running.”

“Must be. The pollen…”

Even on a street without a single blooming flower, Hanna’s excuse about pollen was something even a fool could see through.

I simply smiled softly and continued to gently caress Hanna’s feet.

“So, Miss Hanna.”

“Yes?”

“Please don’t say it’s nothing. You’re an amazing person, and if you keep saying otherwise, others will get jealous.”

“What are you saying? If you keep talking like that…”

I slipped her shoe back onto her foot and slowly lifted my head, catching sight of Hanna’s face with her eyes glistening with tears.

Hanna rubbed her eyes with her hand and shook her head.

“Don’t look…”

“Why not?”

“It’s embarrassing.”

Letting out a small chuckle, I dusted off the dirt from my knee and turned my back to Hanna.

Hanna, looking at me with startled eyes, hesitated and glanced around nervously. I whispered softly to her.

“I’ll give you a ride without anyone knowing, Young Lady.”

“…”

“It’ll be our little secret.”

Hanna smiled shyly and replied.

“Okay…”

Carried on my back, Hanna murmured softly.

“I like you…”

Her voice was so faint that I couldn’t hear it, but Hanna continued to whisper her feelings.

“That’s why… I…”

With a heart full of shyness and embarrassment.

“I like you.”

Hanna whispered.