The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 188

Chapter 188 – The Story of the First Time I Met That Man (3)

Michail knew nothing about the world.

“What’s that?”

“What, that statue?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“It’s the emperor, the first emperor.”

He could read and write, but he lacked basic knowledge. He even went as far as to say that the demon king lived in the magic tower because he knew so little about the world.

Watching Michail call the statue of the first emperor an ugly old man, I thought:

‘Wouldn’t it be a sight if he met Olivia.’

At the time, I briefly considered introducing Michail to Olivia.

I thought it might repay the favor to the villainess who had generously given me money by setting her up with a decent dating opportunity.

Olivia might come to terms with it, and it could reduce her stress at the academy later.

However, seeing Michail disregard social status and attempt to defame the royal family brought me to abandon the plan entirely.

If Michail met the young lady, they’d likely fight like cats and dogs.

-You look really mean.

-What…? Do you want to fight? I’m really good at fighting!

-No, if I fight you, I might become a bad person too.

-Argh!

The future was clear without needing to see it.

In any case, Michail knew nothing and showed amazement at trivial things. Unlike his strong portrayal in the novel, Michail was a timid, easily frightened child.

Initially, he was as wary as a drenched cat, but as time went on, he gradually became more cheerful and open.

Perhaps it was from the time I saved him from being swept away in a flood on a day when it suddenly rained heavily that Michail began to expand his world little by little.

He didn’t reject my outstretched hand and began to talk to me slowly.

Sitting alone, hunched under the bridge, when he saw me, his eyes widened, and his hidden smile twitched at the corners.

After finishing my begging session for the day, I made my way under the bridge to find Michail.

“I’m back. The world’s most handsome beggar has found his way back today.”

“Why did you come? Don’t come!”

“Why are you sulking like this? Are you upset because I came later than usual?”

“I’m not upset.”

“Liar.”

I chuckled quietly, observing Michail’s reaction.

I scanned his body for injuries, making sure he hadn’t experienced any harm during my absence, and smiled when everything seemed fine.

‘Looks like he’s okay today.’

Having confirmed Michail’s safety, I casually sat beside him and began unfolding a box.

“I brought a new box today. How is it? The cushion feels great, doesn’t it? I think it would be good to use as a bed.”

“A box is just a box. Don’t call it a bed.”

“For someone who says that, you’ve rather stashed quite a collection.”

“Uh… Don’t look!”

I laughed as I glanced at the pile of boxes he had hidden like treasure in the corner of the pillar. It was funny seeing someone who denied ‘a box is just a box’ hoarding them.

Michail hurriedly covered my eyes and said.

“…Don’t look!”

“I’ve already seen everything.”

“Don’t look! Forget it, forget it, you idiot!”

Rosy blush began to rise on Michail’s cheeks. Hauling boxes as supposedly useless items only to be caught secretly hoarding them must have embarrassed him. I thought I wouldn’t be able to raise my head if I were in his shoes.

Feigning nonchalance, Michail said to me.

“It’s not because I like collecting boxes that I saved them for you!”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah!”

“Then can I pack them all when I leave?”

“Uh…?”

“Right?”

Michail clenched his fists, gazing at the boxes he’d collected with longing eyes.

He wanted to keep the boxes.

But at the same time, he didn’t want to lose his pride. With a face that looked like he was about to cry any moment, Michail reluctantly nodded.

“Yes…”

“Puhaha! No, I’m not taking them.”

I waved my hand, seeing Michail’s dejected expression.

Teasing Michail was delightful.

Opposite to his portrayal in the novel, seeing him get so easily flustered was nice, and I felt even happier about his unwillingness to bend his pride.

I was also pleased to see Michail having grown enough to venture out and scavenge boxes on his own.

Though he still hadn’t ventured beyond the confines of the bridge, it was heartening to see him gradually expanding his range. With a little smile, I placed the chocolates and bread tucked in my pocket atop the box.

I smiled at Michail, whose eyes were wide open.

“What are you doing standing there?”

“Huh?”

“You need to eat too.”

A startled Michail stood there, dazed.

Despite having shared meals more than a handful of times, I didn’t understand why he seemed surprised each time. Having committed no wrongdoing, I couldn’t fathom why Michail was so wary.

Could it be that my previous casual eating in front of Michail while saying ‘I won’t eat what you give me’ had poisoned his mind? Shaking it off with a small smile, I patted the spot next to the box.

“Come quickly.”

“For real?”

“Yeah. It’s boring eating alone.”

Michail, hesitantly approaching, carefully reached for a cream bread.

Amused by Michail’s blatant glances, I gave a small chuckle and nodded.

“Go ahead and eat.”

-Chomp, chomp.

Though it hadn’t been long, I learned one definite thing about Michail.

That Michail had a liking for cream bread.

He preferred those loaded with cream to the ones with just a middling amount.

“Eat slowly; no one’s going to steal it. You’ll get a stomachache.”

I opened the lid of a milk carton and handed it over to Michail.

With his mouth filled with bread, Michail attempted to speak.

“Umwo woo oh!”

“What?”

“Umwoooh!”

“What are you saying? Swallow first and then speak. I can’t understand you.”

“Swallow… Cough cough. You should eat too.”

“Me?”

I spoke, rubbing my empty belly, to Michail.

“I ate before, so I’m full.”

“For real?”

“Yeah.”

I think I delivered that quite suavely.

Carefully, I started a conversation with Michail, suggesting that he could live more comfortably if he came to where I was instead of staying in such a poor location.

Even if I looked like this, I was a relatively successful street beggar. Good-looking, well-natured, and I had a reliable benefactor.

On days when the streets were empty, like today, I sometimes had to skip meals, but mostly, I lived abundantly.

Unlike orphans who starved to death.

With a cautious tone, I offered Michail a piece of chocolate.

“If you come to where I live, you can eat until you’re full.”

“No.”

A curt response from Michail. Considering my feelings, he could at least give it some thought before answering, but Michail replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“I don’t want to go with you.”

“Geez. Why not?”

Michail, clinging to his teddy bear, said in a somber voice.

“What if my mom comes?”

“She won’t come….”

I almost made a slip of the tongue.

I nearly crushed Michail’s hopes simply because I knew the future. I nearly set Michail on a pointless hardship with an answer that was already known.

Seeing closer to making a grave mistake knowing the future, I let out a bitter laugh and said.

“That would be unfortunate, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“I’m just kidding… Here, take this.”

I handed over a crumpled piece of paper and a pen from my pocket.

Though Michail wore a puzzled expression at the paper I handed over, I offered a small smile, intent on planting hope in Michail’s heart.

“Try drawing on this.”

“Draw what?”

“What else? Your mother.”

“My mom?”

At the mention of his mother, Michail’s eyes grew moist, wide and ready to burst into tears.

“Don’t cry, just draw!”

“Sniff…”

“Hey!”

Michail seemed to have a tendency to cry.

After calming him down for a good while, Michail, who drew on the paper I handed him, tenderly smiled while holding out the paper.

The paper bore the likeness of a beautiful woman resembling Michail.

Surely, rooted in good genes, I softly smiled at the sight of such an outstanding-looking woman and spoke to Michail.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Yeah. My mom is really pretty.”

“Indeed, she’s extremely beautiful.”

Michail began to smile proudly at the compliment of his mother.

Tucking Michail’s drawing lovingly into my arms, I said.

“If I see someone who looks like your mom, I’ll tell everyone to let you know. So don’t worry and come with me to the city.”

As someone who knew the future of the novel, I needed Michail to incur more indebtedness to me, thus necessitating us leaving this place.

Besides, this place wasn’t conducive for a child to live alone.

Michail lifted his gaze to me.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

After contemplating for a while, Michail shook his head.

“But I still don’t want to.”

“Oh, come on, why not!”

“Just… I want to be the first one to see my mom.”

“Ah, seriously.”

It took a fairly long time.

To open up the closed doors of Michail’s heart and get him out from under the bridge, it took a lot of time.

Of course, it was impossible to completely lead him out from under the bridge, but Michail eventually took my hand and began to wander the slum streets with me.

“Wow…”

“What do you think, of my territory?”

“It’s cool.”

“Doesn’t it look different?”

“No.”

“…”

Michail said he didn’t like getting things handed to him, so he tried begging himself.

“Try it like me, say, ‘Oh, look, it’s the pretty lady.'”

“That makes me look too pathetic.”

“That’s how you make money. You may not have the looks to steal the ladies’ hearts like I do, but you’re presentable enough….”

Looking at Michail’s beggar’s bowl, earning twice what I made in five hours, gave me a keen sense of the world’s unfairness.

-Darn it!

Really, in many ways, he was an extraordinary kid.

Mentally.

Physically.

He was exceptional.

That’s how we started to develop a relationship that befitted the word friendship.

Yes, friends.

End of Chapter