TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 69
One of the empty rooms in Olivia’s estate.
Hanna, lying alone in the Dark Room, was spending a sleepless night.
She had recklessly sought out Father.
She had been disappointed in Father.
She had been rescued by Ricardo that day.
Hanna’s eyes wouldn’t close on such an impressionable day.
-That is my precious Disciple.
As today’s events flashed by like a Life-Flashing Memory, Hanna’s face burned with embarrassment.
“What do I do….”
Unable to stop thinking of Ricardo’s figure, Hanna kicked the Blanket with her feet.
“He was really so cool….”
After all, something she’d only seen in a Fairy Tale had happened to her.
Ricardo, who appeared like a Comet amid her Hardships and Trials, though his entrance from the Ceiling had been unremarkable, seemed more dashing to Hanna than anything else.
His Red Hair fluttering amidst the dust shone brighter than the Red Sun to Hanna’s eyes, and his calm demeanor looked just like a Prince from a Fairy Tale.
It felt as though Time had stopped. As though only the Butler and she existed in that place, her Entire Body shivered, and a lump of emotion rose within her.
The Butler, who had been solely focused on her.
Herself, who had been crying out of frustration.
From the gaze of the Butler, looking at her with heavy eyes, Hanna couldn’t deny it.
That she loved him. That The Man.
Lying on the Bed, Hanna held her right hand up to the Moonlight softly shining through the Window.
A small and slender right hand.
The warmth of Ricardo, who had held her hand as they left the estate, still seemed to linger in her hand.
Though Ricardo’s hands were rough, full of Calloused Skin from his Job as a Butler, she couldn’t forget the Warmth she had felt at that moment.
-That is my precious Disciple. Someone you cannot treat carelessly.
Hanna clutched the hand, which still held that lingering Warmth, close to her chest. She wanted to feel it again, as it calmed her Troubled Heart.
Hanna liked that Warmth so much that she wanted to immediately go to the Butler and ask him to hold her hand again.
“I must be crazy…”
In the Darkness, Hanna thought to herself.
‘Why is he doing all this for me?’
She hadn’t done anything for him.
She had only ever received.
‘Why would he step in for me without hesitation?’
Feeling both guilt and gratitude toward Ricardo for the growing debt in her heart, she reflected.
‘Even though I only cry foolishly and give him nothing in return… I’ve received so much.’
This time, Hanna felt guilty about placing the debt of her love onto Ricardo’s shoulders.
Honestly… today.
She had thought Ricardo would back down.
She had thought he would utter pleasing words and disappear under Father’s Pressure.
Everyone who had grievances with Father had done so.
Whether it was about business matters.
Or about territorial issues.
They would bow their heads in front of Father, claim fault, and yield their stance. She thought Ricardo would do the same.
Not because Ricardo was weak, but because it was the natural thing to do.
That it wasn’t something he should get involved in.
That he would turn his back and leave her behind.
Because, if she were Ricardo, she would have done the same.
But.
Ricardo did not back down.
In fact, he gritted his teeth and stubbornly endured it all.
-Do you wish to be buried in a Sunny Place?
With words that pierced through, he boldly spoke.
Watching Ricardo say everything she’d ever wanted to say to Father.
It was exhilarating yet also made her envious.
Because it was something she couldn’t do.
Because she was scared and frightened.
Because she had endured it all this time.
Because she had suppressed her Emotions.
But Ricardo had done it so effortlessly. As if it were the most natural thing, he stood up to Father with confidence, protecting her without hesitation, and even pulled her out of the Fence of Histania with his Warm hands.
‘Again… it’s the Butler.’
Ricardo, who had always opened the door for her in her hardest times.
Hanna could no longer deny it.
That she liked him.
-Thump… Thump…
Her heart was racing like crazy.
As if it were broken, it kept calling out Ricardo’s name.
“Love…”
The emotion called love was too difficult.
At the same time.
Hanna began to like the emotion called love.
She thought she wouldn’t be able to deny it.
That she liked Ricardo.
How could any woman not like The Man who saves her every time, even if he were the ugliest man? If he always reached out his hand in her hardest moments and gave her a Bright Smile, even a Nemesis would fall for him.
Though their first meeting had been The Worst….
Now Hanna found herself wanting to see him again and again.
Moreover, he was handsome.
Hanna had fallen for Ricardo so much that she even began to suspect that Ricardo might like her too.
There was no escape.
There was no way out.
With her racing heart urging her not to deny it, how could she possibly deny it?
She wanted to see him even now.
Because of this incident, Ricardo’s presence had firmly taken root in Hanna’s heart.
Someone she could never let go of.
And the person she was most grateful for.
Though the ticklish feeling of these Emotions was new to her, she wasn’t sure if she could do well, but one thing was certain: she wanted to stay by Ricardo’s side.
She wanted to hold his hand and visit the sea, and be led by his rugged touch as they wandered through the Marketplace.
“Now, what am I supposed to do…”
Hanna uttered a small grudge-filled remark toward Ricardo, who had stirred her heart, and smiled.
“If I like you any more than this… really…”
The gloomy feelings caused by Father were being forgotten because of one person.
A lot had happened.
The Man who had put an end to it all.
Hanna liked him.
Though she was supposed to return to the Academy tomorrow… she didn’t want to go back.
However, for greater Success.
To appear before Ricardo with a proud demeanor, she needed a new stepping stone.
Not for the name of Histania anymore, but for herself, and to become someone worthy of Ricardo, Hanna resolved to work hard.
If she was going to present herself as a Gift, she thought she ought to have splendid Wrapping Paper.
That was the Best Effort she could give Ricardo, and her utmost answer to the debt she could never repay.
The last night at the Villainess’s House was coming to an end.
A New Family Member had joined.
Lady Olivia’s estate, still a Peaceful Estate where food was loved.
Hanna liked this place.
It put her mind at ease.
Because her most favorite person was here.
Hanna was envious of the addicting peacefulness, but now it was time to prepare to move forward.
For today only, she indulged in peace.
From tomorrow onward, she resolved to live as Histania Hanna again. No, just as Hanna. She closed her eyes with determination.
And.
[Would you like to view it?]
After confronting the Postponed Truth she had put off, she decided to start again.
Hanna clenched her Fist tightly.
Now, she thought she could overcome it. No matter how frightening the past she would see, she had already resolved never to return to that place.
Knowing that avoiding it wouldn’t lead to the Correct Answer, Hanna looked at the Blue Window and muttered quietly.
“Yes. I’ll view it.”
[41st Side Story]
[The viewing of ‘If He Hadn’t Been There…’ begins.]
Hanna began to fall into deep Sleepiness.
***
[The viewing will start in 10 minutes.]
She opened her eyes in a Familiar place.
The Blue Meadow.
This place, where Familiar Birdsongs could be heard.
It was the mid-slope of the Hamel Mountain Range, where she had visited dozens of times with Ricardo.
Hanna stretched her chest and inhaled the refreshing air, her eyes holding a meaningful light as if she could endure whatever was shown to her. To loosen her tension, she struck her cheek hard enough to make a sharp sound.
Her mind cleared.
The suffocating tension seemed to ease a little.
“Phew… It’s probably nothing.”
Hanna mentally prepared herself.
She had already let go of any lingering feelings toward Father, and she had an idea of what past would appear.
She expected to be surprised, but she was confident that it would not be different from now. She was no longer as weak as before.
Had the 10 minutes to prepare her mind passed?
[The viewing begins.]
With the Blue text, a Familiar woman’s face began to appear.
Brown Hair.
The Youngest Daughter of Histania.
Her Past Self’s face was cast before her eyes.
Her expression was unpleasant.
Her eyes were swollen.
The footsteps climbing the mountain were unbearably heavy.
-Why… why is it only me?
-I can do well too.
-I can try hard too.
Her Past Self, climbing the mountain while wiping Flowing Tears.
Spouting negative words, resenting her lack of Talent, with Empty Eyes staring into the void—her Past Self.
How much had she cried? Her eyes were red and swollen, and the Sword Gripped in Hand trembled violently.
-I’ll show them that I can do it too. Then Father… Older Brother… Older Sister will see me differently.
Her longing for Family’s Love.
It was a Familiar sight.
‘How foolish.’
Hanna silently followed behind her Past Self.
And.
-Thwack…!
Failing to properly wield her sword, her figure crumpled under the Orc’s Club began to appear before her eyes.
-Kyaaahhh!!!
Hanna’s face began to contort with Fear.