The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen – Chapter 232

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 232

Drunkenness creates the courage to speak.

Sometimes, that courage became the key to spitting out the sediment remaining in the heart, and other times, it became a catastrophe that invited anger.

The words Hanna spat out contained two elements.

A key to the heart she couldn’t share with others, and a bullet of timing that could upset Yuria.

After hearing Hanna’s words, Yuria bit her lips tightly and remained silent.

-I’m not that kind.

‘…’

Yuria could fully understand the meaning behind Hanna’s words. No matter how clueless and foolish she might be, she wasn’t that oblivious.

Yuria understood the meaning of ‘If your feelings are half-hearted, disappear.’ Hanna’s narrative kindly explained it.

Yuria had a lot to say.

She wanted to say that the time of wavering over half-hearted feelings had ended, but Hanna, drunk, spoke her true feelings to Yuria without pause.

“I’m not kind like Butler. Maybe it’s because I’m an ignorant woman, but if I think something is a hindrance, I cut ties with it.”

“Like Senior Ruin.”

Hanna muttered the last words softly and stared straight at Yuria’s face.

“I know my words are presumptuous. But I felt I had to say this, at least to you.”

“…”

“I liked Butler first.”

Looking at Yuria, who was frozen like ice, Hanna spoke firmly. There’s an order to these things.

“I don’t know what Butler means to you.”

“…”

“A feeling similar to mine, but somehow different. I know it’s a complicated relationship. That’s why I don’t understand your feelings.”

Hanna shrugged as she spoke about her situation. She admitted that she was just a coward who couldn’t confess her love properly.

“Butler is a fool.”

Yuria knew it too.

She knew how much of a fool Ricardo was.

And Yuria could understand why Hanna brought up such doubts.

Until now, she had only shown a negative side of herself. Avoiding the topic and deflecting conversations whenever Ricardo was mentioned—Yuria didn’t deny that this had left a negative impression on Hanna.

Hanna spoke to Yuria.

“It’s not like I don’t know about you. I heard at the Academy what Butler said to you and what happened.”

But still.

-Fwoosh!

-Ricardo’s Side Dish Set 1, Seafood Pancake complete.

“I can’t help but take Butler’s side. If you still harbor bad feelings toward Butler, I can’t help but hate you.”

“Because I want to be a good person to Butler, who has no one on his side in this world…”

“Because he’s the most special person to me in this world, it might sound arrogant, but I wanted to say this.”

Hanna knew her words were aggressive toward Yuria. She understood how difficult it was for Yuria to accept her siding with Ricardo despite knowing their tangled relationship.

Having barely pulled out the words she had kept inside, Hanna exhaled lightly and emptied her liquor glass.

Yuria, who had been listening silently to Hanna’s words, let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

“Why do you like Ricardo?”

At Yuria’s fundamental question, Hanna smiled faintly and answered.

“Me?”

“Because when I wanted to die from how hard it was, he was the one who lifted me up…? Maybe because he was the light in my life that was on the verge of becoming a withered flower, I like him.”

Thinking of those terribly difficult times, Hanna gripped her liquor glass tightly.

“Because he was the person who gave light to someone like me, who might have lived an insignificant life unnoticed by anyone.”

Hanna knew too.

Even with the fragmented story she had heard, she knew it was natural for Yuria to hate and resent Ricardo. If she were in Yuria’s position, she wouldn’t have been able to easily forgive or tell someone to like him either.

But still.

“He was the first person to tell me I had value.”

Truly.

“The person who extended his hand to me, who had been neglected, and gave me the gift of a miracle. I know my words are selfish, but…”

Borrowing the courage from her drunkenness, Hanna spoke.

“I really like Butler.”

Clenching her fist, Yuria lowered her head and spoke to Hanna in a trembling voice.

“Is that all?”

At Yuria’s question, Hanna smiled brightly and answered.

“No.”

“…”

“I like Butler because he’s handsome. Because he’s more caring and better looking than any The Man in the world, I like him. Does that sound too shallow?”

Yuria lightly nodded.

She could nod because she understood Hanna’s simple yet definitive reason. After all, she too had fallen for and liked Ricardo for similar reasons.

Thus, she could answer without fear of Hanna’s warning. Even if all misunderstandings weren’t cleared up, Yuria, like Hanna, couldn’t give up on The Man.

Even if misunderstood.

Even if the misunderstandings weren’t resolved.

Perhaps she had liked Ricardo all along, so with confidence, Yuria spoke.

“You asked me how I feel about Ricardo.”

Looking at Ricardo, who was striding between tables with plates in both hands, Yuria spoke.

-Oof! Ricardo’s Side Dish Set 2, Addictive Hot Dog.

-Hiiiik! The hot dog is longer than my arm!

-I put some effort into it.

-Ooooooh!

“I feel the same as you.”

Even though he was foolish and had hurt her, she liked him.

Realizing that the wounds had come from his care for her made her like him even more. Above all, because he was so handsome, Yuria couldn’t give up on these feelings.

“I like Ricardo too. So much that every other The Man in the world looks like a squid compared to him.”

“What….”

“What do you mean? Just like you, I’m someone who’s hooked on Ricardo.”

Yuria chuckled as she looked at Ricardo, who was bringing over a plate.

“Does that sound too shallow?”

“Pfft…”

Before long, Ricardo arrived at Yuria and Hanna’s table, placing the side dishes down and expressing concern, “Why are you drinking so much?” with a smile.

Looking at Hanna, Yuria mouthed silently.

‘This is why I can’t help but like him.’

*

At that time, Chartia, who didn’t fit in with the banquet, was sitting alone in a corner, sipping liquor.

-Goom.

“Don’t eat that.”

-Goom.

Though the fact that her companion was Gomtangi was a flaw.

Sitting face to face with Gomtangi and enjoying the drinking session, Chartia smiled mischievously and fully indulged in the moment.

Because she liked this kind of routine.

It wasn’t because she didn’t have close friends. She simply preferred being alone and chose a place without people. It wasn’t because Gomtangi was there. She definitely didn’t think the smelly beast was cute.

“Chartia, here’s the side dish…”

“Eeeek!”

Bringing over the side dish, Ricardo raised a Question Mark on the Head as he saw the Princess sitting on the floor, drinking.

“Why are you sitting on the floor? There are so many tables.”

“Ah… well…”

Chartia, sitting on the floor, glanced at Gomtangi and bit her lip. It was strange for the Empire’s Princess to be sitting on the floor, showing such improper behavior.

‘I should get up.’

‘I should maintain a dignified and elegant appearance befitting a Princess.’

-Goom.

Chartia, unable to run away from the fluffy creature in front of her, hesitated for a long time before letting out a deep sigh and removing her hand from the floor.

“I was just here.”

Ricardo smiled and placed the food in front of Gomtangi, who was sitting opposite of Chartia.

“Gomtangi is really cute, isn’t she?”

“…”

“Our Gomtangi likes it when you put your hand in her mouth. If you put it in too deep, she might eat it, but she likes it because it tastes like meat.”

-Gooooom!

Ricardo crouched in front of Gomtangi and extended his hand. Gomtangi, naturally sniffing Ricardo’s Hand Smell and licking it, began to gnaw on his hand while growling.

“Fascinating, right?”

“It is. Won’t it bleed?”

“Gomtangi isn’t that dumb.”

Chartia, grinning, buried her face between her knees and smiled.

“She’s adorable.”

Chartia enjoyed the peaceful routine.

For the first time, she felt that this place, where she could laugh without worries, was better than the Imperial Palace, where she was neglected as a powerless and incapable Princess.

*

On the day everyone left.

Watching people board their carriages after the eventful Tea Party, the Young Lady wore a Sullen Expression.

“I didn’t get to have a Pillow Fight.”

“You can do it next time, can’t you?”

The Young Lady, disappointed she couldn’t have a Pillow Fight because she got drunk, waved her hand wistfully, regretting she couldn’t show off the swing she had practiced before the Tea Party.

“Goodbye.”

As the footsteps of those leaving carried away their regrets, we cheerfully wrapped up the Tea Party and exchanged farewells.

“Thank you for enjoying it.”

“It was fun. Please invite me again.”

“This kind of Tea Party is nice too.”

“Gomtangi…”

-Gom.

“…”

Looking at Chartia, whose eyes were brimming with tears, I asked.

“Are you crying?”

“Ah… no!”

“Feel free to come by if you’re bored.”

With a kind smile, I said to Chartia.

“I’ll host you for 10 gold per hour.”

Thus, the Young Lady’s first Tea Party ended successfully, with Gomtangi becoming the Butler of her wallet.