Head Butler of the Fallen Villainess

Not just Martha and Bella, but even Anastasia froze at his words—her breath hitching as her head finally lifted to meet his gaze.

Because what he said next… would shatter whatever illusions they had left.

"…Because the truth is—this wasn't just a punishment." His gaze settled on Anastasia, unwavering.

"This place—this so-called Grand Task of yours, my lady… you were sent here to die."

"—!"

They all instantly stiffened, their bodies going rigid as the weight of his words settled upon them like a crushing boulder.

And then... silence.

A deep, suffocating silence.

The three of them were frozen in place, unable to react—unable to even breathe.

Because the truth they had all tried so desperately to ignore... had just been spoken aloud.

Laid bare by the butler's unflinching words.

Anastasia's hands clenched tightly in her lap, her knuckles slowly turning white. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak—but no words would come out.

No denial. No protest. Because... she couldn't.

She couldn't refute this truth.

Neither could Martha. Neither could Bella.

Because this was the reality of their situation.

And deep down, they had always known it.

They'd tried to hide it away for so long... but now the butler had finally broken that fragile illusion.

"...No reaction, huh...?" Sebas's voice broke the heavy silence, his gaze sweeping over them... with a look of pity. "Well... I suppose that means you all understand exactly what I mean."

Martha could only grit her teeth in deep frustration, the feeling of weakness once again crawling back into her as she turned away—not just from the piercing eyes of the butler, but also from her mistress. To look her in the eye now... would be unbearable.

Bella's own two hands trembled in her lap, fingers digging into the fabric of her maid's skirt... not just because of the truth itself, but because of the creeping dread that slithered up her spine—the dread she had tried so hard to mask with false bravado.

And then... there was Anastasia. Her gaze lowered, her chest tightening with every passing second... a feeling of helplessness welling within her, threatening to swallow her whole.

But again... none of them were able to speak up against this.

And so... Sebas continued.

"This so-called 'Grand Task'—this noble mission of atonement—is nothing more than an old tradition. A convenient way for the kingdom to dispose of political nuisances," he stated, his voice level, unwavering. "It has been used time and time again... to rid themselves of those they deem... troublesome."

He held out his hand, counting his fingers with each example.

"Minor nobles, influential figures, even members of major noble houses—those who have outlived their usefulness or posed a potential threat to the Crown. All of them... were sent here to 'prove their worth'—to 'prove their loyalty to the kingdom' in lands where survival is little more than a cruel joke."

His words cut deep, slicing through whatever feeble hope they might have held onto.

Anastasia's breath was shallow, unsteady. Martha's fists trembled at her sides. Bella swallowed hard, gripping her own wrist as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

And then—

A whistle.

Low, drawn-out, laced with mild amusement.

It was Vivian.

"Well, well... You sure know a lot about this shady crap, don'tcha, Sebastian~?" The Sonic Thief smirked, resting her elbow on her knee as she shot Sebas a knowing look.

Sebas only raised an eyebrow at the smirking Vivian, while the three silent women barely reacted—still reeling from the weight of the butler's words.

But Vivian? She only chuckled in amusement, shaking her head.

"...I'm just repeating what I've heard before, Vivian," Sebastian said evenly, his tone unreadable.

"Do you, now?" She shot him a look of amused doubt, her lips curling slightly. However, her eyes glimmered with something else—curiosity, perhaps. "Y'know, I did ask you once before what you thought about the Crown... and as I recall, you said that you couldn't care less~."

Sebas... didn't respond, maintaining his usual impassive expression at Vivian's teasing grin.

"And not just that—" she continued, grinning from ear to ear, "—I also vividly remember that one time, Sebastian~."

"That one time?"

"You don't remember? Well, I don't blame you if you don't, seeing that it was probably not that important to you... but," Vivian tilted her head slightly, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips, "I saw it firsthand—when the Crown invited you to some big fancy banquet after you took down that Alpha Wolf Fenrir~."

"...Oh, yeah. That one."

"Glad you remember~. Though... what was it again?" She tapped her chin, feigning deep thought before snapping her fingers. "Oh, right! You told the Crown's envoy to 'fuck off~'!"

She burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the memory.

Sebas... only sighed, running a hand down his face. "I'm pretty sure I didn't give them the bird."

"But you did give them the meanest glare known to man!" Vivian shot back, still laughing. "Hah! You should've seen those poor sops pissing their pants! Just one look from you and they nearly dropped dead from sheer terror! Hahaha!"

Sebas could only sigh again, rubbing his temple.

Vivian's laughter continued to hum in the air, a constant background noise that refused to fade. However, the air around them all was still thick with the weight of everything that had been said by the butler.

The butler himself exhaled quietly... his gaze shifting back to Anastasia and her two aides.

"Sigh... putting aside where I learned all this, the real question..." Sebas finally spoke again, his voice calm... yet pointed. "If this 'Grand Task' is nothing more than a convenient way to get rid of nuisances... why doesn't the public even know you were sent here at all?"

Anastasia's breath caught. Her fingers twitched slightly before curling into the fabric of her dress.

"What...?"

Her heart pounded in her chest, her eyes widening as she snapped her gaze to Sebas.

"The only thing that people know... is that you went missing," he continued, his gaze steady. "Which means... the Crown made sure they never heard the truth."

The weight of his words pressed down on her like a stone in her chest. She had assumed—no, she had resigned herself to the fact that the world saw her as an exile. A fallen noble meant to atone. But this... this was something else entirely.

"You're saying... they never even announced my exile...?"

Sebas... simply nodded his head, before meeting her gaze again, unflinching.

"Now tell me, my lady... why do you think that is?"