The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 144

Chapter 144 – Protecting Yuria (1)

Yuria cried in my arms for a long time.

She kept repeating, asking how I recognized her, why I noticed her, and lamented that she didn’t want to show this side of herself, that she really didn’t.

Yuria’s seemingly endless tears finally stopped with the words, “Thank you so much for finding me.”

She took a deep breath and looked toward the ballroom beyond the curtain.

It was time to return to the ball.

If we stayed on this open balcony, we’d surely become a target for the heretics. Plus, leaving our posts for too long would cause trouble for both of us.

Taking Yuria’s trembling hand, I thought about an encouraging line. After all, she’d need some support to return to the ball.

“Miss Yuria.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be too scared.”

“…Is it that obvious?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Yuria took a deep breath and patted her cheeks.

“Ha. Will it be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Ricardo being with me. I’m worried there will be strange rumors.”

“It’s fine. If anyone says anything, I’ll just deal with them.”

“What?”

“Just kidding.”

It seemed Yuria wasn’t aware that her face had returned to normal. Since there was no mirror on the balcony, she couldn’t have noticed.

‘How should I tell her?’

Suddenly saying, ‘The magic is broken,’ would be too strange. Hmm.

Pointing to the faintly visible mirror through the curtain, I lightly tapped Yuria’s cheek.

Startled by the sudden touch, Yuria flinched and looked at me.

“Eek…! Why did you do that?”

“Would you look at the mirror?”

“What?”

“The mirror over there in the corner of the ballroom.”

Following my pointed finger, Yuria turned her head. The faintly visible mirror through the curtain reflected our figures.

A boy with red hair and a girl with a beautiful face.

The face that had received much criticism was gone, and the heroine’s beautiful face was reflected in the mirror.

“Huh…?”

Surprised, Yuria touched her face with her hands. Unsure if it was a dream, she pinched her cheeks and alternated between looking at the mirror and me. Realizing it wasn’t a dream, she screamed.

“Huh? Huh? Huh?!”

“Even if you look at me like that, I don’t know. I don’t know why Miss Yuria’s face changed either.”

To ease the tension, I joked with Yuria.

“Maybe a prince kissed you.”

“What…?”

“Just kidding.”

“I don’t know.”

Yuria hit my shoulder with her fist, her face turning red. Seeing her grumbling to not make such jokes, she looked much better than before.

‘Now, that’s Yuria.’

The bright and energetic heroine Yuria from the novel. Seeing her slowly regain the innocent smile and bright demeanor that had captured many hearts, I let out a sigh of relief.

I subtly extended my hand toward Yuria.

“Shall we go back now? It wouldn’t look good for the star of the ball to be sulking in a corner.”

Just like a scene often found in romance novels, I reached out my hand to Yuria.

Seeing Ricardo’s smiling face illuminated by the soft light from the ballroom, Yuria stood there blankly.

“Why are you just standing there? You’re making me feel awkward.”

Yuria stared at me as if she had been struck on the head with a hammer, making me give an awkward smile.

‘Ah, maybe this was a bit much.’

Thinking I might have overdone it, caught up in the atmosphere, I awkwardly lowered my extended hand.

At that moment.

-Grab.

Yuria’s soft fingers tickled my calloused palm as she took my hand.

“Yes…! Let’s go!”

With her swollen eyes forming a smile, Yuria looked at me and smiled brightly. Her smile was like a clear autumn sky with no clouds, and seeing Yuria’s smile, I also smiled back.

“Just trust me from now on.”

“I’ve trusted you for a long time….”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Today, Yuria was holding my hand tightly.

As if she would never let go.

*

-Clack.

Seeing the two figures emerging into the ballroom, Ruin put down his wine glass and spoke.

“What is this.”

“Don’t be nervous and just look at my handsome face.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it true?”

“Well… yes, but.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. I was talking to myself.”

Yuria was holding Ricardo’s hand.

Seeing Yuria, who had run away to the balcony with a face full of freckles, now walking in with a shy smile, Ruin felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

‘Why is Yuria coming out from there?’

Seeing Yuria wearing the dress he had given her, slowly walking out with the person he hated the most, Ruin clenched his fist and glared at Ricardo.

An unexpected turn of events had occurred.

While Ruin was lost in complex thoughts, the voice of the student council president reached his ears.

“What? It’s Yuria. When did she arrive?”

“…”

“Ruin?”

“…”

Without hesitation, Ruin walked toward Yuria.

As he walked, his heavy footsteps caused a female student who had mocked Yuria earlier to let out a short scream, but Ruin ignored it and kept walking straight ahead.

‘Why is she coming out with that guy.’

‘She should have told me she arrived.’

Ruin was infuriated. Seeing Yuria, wearing the dress he had given her, with the person he hated the most made him furious.

Although he felt good that she wore the dress he had given her, he was extremely displeased that she showed it to Ricardo first.

Shyly lowering her head and holding Ricardo’s hand, Yuria walked toward Ruin, who shouted at her.

“Yuria!”

Ruin’s voice echoed loudly in the ballroom.

Despite his loud voice that everyone in the ballroom could hear, Yuria ignored him, holding Ricardo’s hand tightly.

“…”

It was outright disregard. A cold neglect that Ruin had never experienced before.

Having never been ignored by Yuria like this, Ruin felt a chilling sensation from his shoulders.

‘Why…?’

As the question crossed his mind, the murmuring of people began to reach Ruin’s ears.

“It’s Yuria.”

“When did she come? Wow. But why is Yuria so beautiful?”

“Right? But who is the guy next to her? He’s totally my type.”

“Oh… he’s crazy. But why are those two together?”

The envious gazes of the students were directed at Yuria and Ricardo. All the compliments of how well they looked together and how handsome Ricardo was were directed at the person Ruin despised the most.

Seeing Ricardo stealing the attention that should have been his, Ruin began to lose his grip on reality, and when he came to his senses, he found himself gripping Yuria’s wrist tightly.

Yuria frowned in pain from the strong grip.

“Ugh…”

Noticing Yuria’s pained expression belatedly, Ruin tried to let go of her hand, but Ricardo’s cold voice stopped him.

“Let go.”

“…Shut up.”

“Let go if you don’t want to die.”

Ricardo’s eyes glowed red as he glared at Ruin.

Ricardo’s boiling voice was filled with deep hostility, unlike before. Feeling Ricardo’s murderous intent, Ruin felt as if his legs were about to give out.

‘This bastard….’

Barely overcoming the overwhelming murderous aura, Ruin spoke to Yuria.

“Why did you come so late? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

“…”

“I was so worried because I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“…”

“But Yuria, you look really beautiful today.”

Ruin smiled slightly and looked at Ricardo.

“Thanks for wearing the dress I gave you.”

Ruin felt a sense of superiority, thinking he was chosen, but his arrogance was quickly shattered.

“Let go.”

Yuria shook off his hand roughly, glaring at him with cold eyes.

“You said you didn’t want to be associated with an ugly girl.”

“What…?”

“Why are you surprised?”

Ruin reached out to grab Yuria’s hand again, but Yuria avoided it irritably and spoke with a cold expression.

“You said that to me.”

Gathering his thoughts, Ruin tried to recall when he had said such a thing. Despite his confusion, seeing the bandages on Yuria’s fingers made him fall silent.

‘Huh…?’

Yuria answered coldly.

“Do you really not know?”

The pieces of the puzzle began to fit together in Ruin’s mind, creating a sense of dread.

“You said that to me. Why are you pretending not to remember?”

Seeing Yuria’s unfamiliar, emotional outburst, Ruin’s eyes wandered in confusion.

The puzzle pieces were starting to fit together.

“I’m Yuria.”

“Shut up, Yuria isn’t as ugly as you. Watch your mouth.”

The sorrowful image of the freckled girl quickly tore through Ruin’s mind.

*

‘Oh…’

Yuria grabbed my hand and said.

“Let’s go. Leave the trash behind.”

Honestly, I was quite surprised by Yuria’s unexpectedly strong demeanor.

I had thought she would say, ‘I can understand,’ and forgive him, but I admired the way she firmly cut ties with him.

‘I would have done the same.’

Who would like hearing curses openly? No one.

I brushed past Ruin, who was staring blankly at Yuria’s back, and whispered quietly.

“What did I tell you?”

“…”

“Ruin, you really are good for nothing.”

As we passed by, Ruin lowered his head, staring blankly at our retreating figures.

-Rumble…!

The chandelier lights began to flicker.

**

“Yawn.”

Olivia was bored.

Her butler on leave wasn’t there to keep her company. Though he was a nagging butler, it seemed she missed him now that he was gone.

“I’m bored.”

‘What is Ricardo doing?’

Olivia glanced at the desk in boredom.

-If you’re bored, read this.

-No.

-Then don’t read it.

-No.

A book Ricardo had left behind.

Thick and without a title, it looked uninteresting.

“I’m not reading it.”

Yawning, Olivia looked at the stars hanging in the night sky.

“One star.”

“Two stars.”

“Three stars.”

As the bored Olivia counted stars into the triple digits.

-Rumble…!

Dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

“Oh…”

-Flash!

Red lightning began to pour down toward the academy.

End of Chapter