The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

It’s infuriating.

The anger simmering within me made it impossible to focus, and I couldn’t stop thinking of ways to tear them apart.

"Ricardo..."

"My lady."

"Yes?"

"When a person is truly angry, what do you think they should do?"

Holding a cotton swab in hand, I carefully asked the young lady, who lay with her head on my thigh, how one should handle anger.

"Are you angry, Ricardo?"

"No, I’m not."

"Hmm..."

The young lady crossed her arms, rolled her eyes thoughtfully, and spoke.

"Eat chocolate. That’ll make it better."

"What if chocolate doesn’t help me calm down?"

Frowning, the young lady dug into her treasure pouch, pulled out a piece of chocolate, and handed it to me.

"Eat."

"My lady."

"Yes?"

"You shouldn’t move while I’m cleaning your ears."

"Eek..."

I took the chocolate she handed me, letting out a soft sigh. Even after eating the chocolate, my irritation hadn’t subsided.

The young lady had insisted chocolate would make things better, but the stubborn anger remained, leaving me with an awkward smile.

"It’s sweet."

"How is it?"

"It helped a bit."

"Hmm... hold on a moment. Chocolate always works...."

As she offered me an even bigger piece of chocolate, I carefully asked her a hypothetical question—how she would feel if someone insulted me.

"My lady."

"Yes?"

"What if someone told me, ‘If you’re just a butler, act like one and stay at home.’ How would you feel about that?"

"What?"

Her face turned cold, and she responded in a chilling tone.

"Who was it?"

"Excuse me?"

"Who said that to you?"

"No one did."

"Phew..."

She pouted, muttering to herself, "If that ever happens, tell me. I’ll make them pay threefold."

Ah...

Just hearing her fierce support lifted my spirits a little. I felt like I had a clearer sense of how to handle this.

I couldn’t be too blatant in representing Desmund, but I also couldn’t be too subtle. The person needed to understand that they were facing consequences because of their wrongdoing.

Much as I wanted to go to the Wolfgang family and turn it upside down immediately, I had to bide my time.

Darbav had once told me that this was the moment to hide my sharp fangs.

—Now is not the time.

—But I can handle this discreetly.

—Too many eyes are watching.

—...It doesn’t matter.

—I think so too, but we have to consider the future. Think of Kyle, who must lead Desmund.

—...

—You know the public perception of Desmund isn’t great, don’t you? If it worsens, it’ll be like feeding the enemy.

—You’re right, my lord.

—And Wolfgang has overwhelming support from western citizens, so we can’t just recklessly provoke them.

—...

—If rumors spread that Wolfgang died in the capital, it could lead to war.

—And yet, you’re considering a territorial war against them?

—...The meteor is always a justifiable choice.

Yes, just as Darbav advised, now was indeed the time to hide my fangs. His reasoning was likely what preserved the peace.

But...

Showing my molars instead of my fangs might change things.

Gradually. I’d gnaw at them slowly, bit by bit. No need to rush.

"Fuuuu..."

Even so.

"This is aggravating."

The urge to make those reckless nobles pay hadn’t gone away.

Had they targeted Kyle, I wouldn’t be this angry. If they’d provoked Darbav, I wouldn’t be this enraged. They’re capable people who might scold me for interfering.

But the young lady... she’s different.

"Eek...! My ears are melting...!"

As soon as they called her a cripple, it was as good as declaring the downfall of their family.

Because I decided it so.

I stroked her hair, giving her a soft smile.

"As expected, you’re very wise, my lady."

The young lady smiled back, brimming with confidence.

"I know."

Later, as darkness settled over the room after the commotion, I quietly spoke a name.

"Lady Elicia."

The space around me began to distort.

Effortlessly piercing through the layers of Desmund’s magical barriers, the air warped.

"..."

With a familiar voice, a pale woman’s face began to appear.

With her long black hair cascading down to her waist, Elicia stepped through the space and knelt gracefully before me, smiling.

"Saint’s Apostle, Elicia, presents herself before the Saint."

Her hand over her heart, Elicia’s face was calm, no longer marked by grief or vengeance.

Seeing her, I bowed slightly and greeted her warmly.

"You look well."

"Thanks to the Saint’s grace."

"I did nothing."

"The Saint’s mere presence is a blessing to me."

Elicia’s calm, sincere expression as she spoke so candidly left me with an awkward smile. Hans and the others calling me “Saint” always made me uncertain how to respond.

"Haha... it’s embarrassing."

All I could do was laugh sheepishly.

Elicia glanced at Caliburn, leaning against the desk, and bowed her head.

"...You’ve tamed the cursed sword."

"Not at all. We’re simply companions."

"You’re modest. Such a powerful aura emanates from it."

"Haha... no, not at all."

I smiled humbly and let out a soft sigh.

"In truth, I called you for a rather difficult request."

"If it is the Saint’s wish, I am prepared to do anything."

"There’s no need to go that far."

Thinking of Wolfgang in the capital, I quietly asked Elicia.

"I’d like you to investigate a certain family in the west."

At the mention of "the west," Elicia’s eyes widened.

"A-Ah...!

"What’s the matter?"

"Are you truly all-knowing, Saint?"

"...What?"

"I heard that the disgraced Archbishop has fled to the west. When he lost his restraint, he vanished...."

"Oh..."

"Even this was part of the Saint’s plan."

"..."

With Elicia looking at me in reverent awe, I gave a small smile and shook my head.

"If you could handle my request and capture the disgraced Archbishop, that would be wonderful."

Elicia’s gaze turned cold.

"What should I do for you?"

"Simply investigate..."

"Should I recruit followers for the Apostle?"

"..." "Or shall I turn the west into a sea of blood?"

"...Ah... no?"

Startled by Elicia’s extreme enthusiasm, I let out a nervous laugh and spoke openly.

"I’d like you to find out everything you can about the Wolfgang family. The worst of it, preferably."

Elicia nodded with understanding.

"As you wish, Saint."

"The term ‘Saint’ is a bit much...."

"Then I shall let divine retribution fall upon those who anger you."

"Haha... just call me Saint."

Not wanting her to leave too soon, I inquired about her recent activities.

"How has the Apostle of Restraint been?"

Elicia’s smile was brighter than ever as she answered.

"They are doing well, very healthy. I wish I could introduce them to the Saint, but I beg your pardon as they are not in their best form for an audience."

"I see. I’m glad to hear they’re doing well."

With that, Elicia dissolved back into space, vanishing from sight.

"..."

Alone in the room, thinking of Wolfgang, I chuckled.

"Hehe..."

Well...

—Sigh...

I hope he withstands it.

"My lord, it’s urgent!"

Wolfgang Rui, residing in the mansion provided by the Crown Prince, frowned as his butler burst into the room without knocking.

"..."

Entering a noble’s chambers without permission was a grave breach of etiquette.

"Butler."

"...Forgive me."

"How many times must I overlook your rudeness? After ten years as a butler, you should understand such things."

"I apologize, my lord. The matter is urgent."

Sipping his steaming tea, Rui spoke to the butler in a calm voice.

"If it’s something trivial... there will be consequences."

With an impending meeting with the Crown Prince, Rui found the butler’s intrusion annoying. This was an opportunity to elevate the Wolfgang family’s prestige, and he resented any distraction from his focus on that.

Why the fuss... it was unbecoming of the Wolfgang name.

Growing weary of the butler’s excessive concern, Rui held back, knowing the butler possessed vital information. But if he crossed the line one more time, Rui resolved to erase him from existence.

"Speak."

Granted permission, the butler swallowed heavily and spoke in a trembling voice.

"...The sea route in the west has frozen."

"Is that all...? What did you say?"

"The canal through which ships travel has frozen. Ships have been stranded at the harbor for three days...."

"Wh-What do you mean?"

Rui’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at the butler. Why would the western sea, a noble’s retreat, freeze?

"I’m unsure. Overnight, the canal that ships use to pass through has frozen solid."

It made no sense.

The idea of the western canal freezing...

That could only mean—

"The head of the Golden Merchants Guild has come to demand compensation at the Wolfgang estate. Other guilds are doing the same. The estimated damages total ten million gold...!"

"Ten million...?"

"And it’s not just that. We’re losing three million gold daily."

"Hold... hold on."

A chill ran down Wolfgang’s spine.

‘Could it be...’

He began to suspect this was retaliation from Desmund. But Darbav specialized in destructive magic...

How...?

Only a grand mage like Heinrich or a foreign empress could freeze the sea with ice magic.

Who...

Who on earth?

As Rui prepared for his audience with the Crown ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Prince, he felt his grasp on power slipping.

Meanwhile, the very one who froze the western sea, Elicia, was...

"Blessings upon you."

Preaching in the west.

"The light of His grace shall shine upon you all."

And she said it with a radiant smile.