Head Butler of the Fallen Villainess-Chapter 83 : 19th Days (5) | The Resolve of a Lord (2)

"Miss Vivi... I cannot say whether the rumors you've heard are true or false," Anastasia began, her voice firm and resolute. "But what I can confirm is this—"

She took a deep breath... before finally admitting it herself!

"I have indeed committed a crime... Or rather, I have committed a great sin against the Kingdom and the Crown!"

"L-Lady Anastasia...!"

"M-M-My lady...?!"

Both Martha and Bella gasped and recoiled, not expecting their mistress to openly admit her transgression. After all, both of them had tried to protect their mistress's honor...

But... they all saw the unshaken resolve, clearly evident in her expression—!

She did not need their help after all.

"...But even so," Anastasia pressed on, her hand above her chest—her heart—as she continued, "I was not exiled. Instead... I was given a punishment by the Kingdom... to govern this land, and I have accepted this duty."

"Hmm... A punishment, you say?" Vivi mused, curious at the notion that Anastasia was calling it that.

"Indeed... this is a grand task given by the Kingdom of Florentia... and I will not leave this place until I have proven that I can cultivate it into a proper territory worthy of the Kingdom—because I am still loyal to Florentia!"

Her voice grew stronger by the second, as did her resolve and conviction—!

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"It is my homeland—my birthland. It is the land I love...!"

And finally... with a quiet, hopeful resolve...

"...And one day, I will return to it... and I will reclaim my honor!"

A profound silence settled over the room.

Martha and Bella sat frozen, eyes wide, still reeling from their mistress's words of conviction.

Shock, admiration... and something deeper flickered in their gazes.

"M-my lady..." Bella whispered, hands clutched over her chest, as though trying to contain the swelling emotion within.

Martha... clenched her fists—her own lips parted, yet no words escaped. But the trembling in her fingers, the flicker of newfound understanding in her eyes... they spoke volumes.

She too... was astounded by her mistress's conviction...!

And even Sebas, for all his composed demeanor, found himself slightly taken aback.

But not just because of Anastasia's conviction.

No...

It was something else.

A distant memory stirred within him—one that came from his past life.

A memory... of a 'game.' An 'otome game.'

The villainess of that story... standing amidst a field of corpses, her once-elegant red dress drenched in crimson blood...!

Hatred burned in her eyes. The very same emerald orbs that now shone with conviction... of vengeance.

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"This wretched kingdom—this filthy land! The land that I loathed...!"

The fallen villainess howled, her voice laced with 'crimson' malice—!

"One day, I will return...! I will claim my vengeance and burn it all to the ground!!!"

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"—!"

Sebas exhaled, slow and steady, as the memory faded into the back of his mind.

The contrast between that 'scene' and what he was witnessing right now...

It was almost surreal... like a dream clashing with reality.

But in the end... relief settled in his chest.

The Anastasia before him was... different.

She was not swallowed by hatred.

Not consumed by vengeance.

She had chosen a different path.

She was not the fallen villainess of that story anymore...

And... she was not the 'Witch of Crimson' either.

She was now just Anastasia, the upstart lord of this region.

And for that—he was truly relieved.

So...

Clap.

A single applause broke the silence.

Clap. Clap.

Sebas continued, the crisp sound reverberating through the hall.

All eyes turned to him.

Yet, he did not stop. He simply clapped, unhurried, unwavering—

Then, with a small, knowing smile...

"A magnificent declaration, my lady," he praised, his tone calm yet resolute.

Anastasia blinked, momentarily stunned.

Sebas's previously unreadable expression... now had formed into a smile—a proud smile directed at her.

"And I shall hold you to it," he continued, dipping his head slightly. "If that is your conviction, then allow me to assist you in achieving it. You have my word as your butler."

Martha and Bella were taken aback too at first, but then they exchanged glances before—

Clap.

Clap. Clap.

One by one, they joined in, the warmth of their loyalty manifesting in their applause!

"We will aid you too, my lady!" Martha declared, her voice brimming with resolve. "Not just for this land... but for you! We will support you every step of the way!"

"M-me too, my lady...!" Bella nodded hastily, her clapping intensifying. "I-I too will support you, Lady Anastasia...!"

"Everyone...!"

Anastasia's chest tightened. Their unwavering support... it was overwhelming.

She exhaled softly, then nodded.

"Thank you... truly," she said, her voice gentle yet full of gratitude. "I will not take your loyalty for granted!"

Then—

Another set of claps.

Light. Casual. Amused.

Anastasia turned, only to find Vivi smirking at her.

"Well, color me impressed," the Sonic Thief mused; surprised herself. "Not just talking big, but actually making me believe you might pull it off."

"...Shall I take that as a compliment?"

Vivi chuckled at the lord's own amused expression.

"Oh, it is~."

The mood was now lightened. The heavy tension that once loomed over them had finally lifted—as if it had never been there!

And with that shift in the atmosphere, Anastasia, the lord of this land, made an offer—!

"Then, let us toast to this night," she declared, raising her mug of alcohol.

All of them nodded in agreement before raising a mug of their own!

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!!!"

Mugs clinked.

Laughter echoed.

And warmth filled their very hearts and souls.

Yet—

Amidst the festivities, a subtle shift in the air went unnoticed.

Vivi had suddenly fallen silent.

Her smirk had faded, her gaze locked onto the mug in her hand.

This went unnoticed by both Anastasia... and Sebas.

Anastasia herself tilted her head, puzzled. "...Miss Vivi? Is something the matter?"

...No response.

Worried, she followed Vivi's gaze—toward the drink in her hand.

"...Is it the taste? Did something feel off?"

Vivi remained still... then—

"Old Crownguard Bourbon."

The words left her lips in a whisper, yet the weight behind them was undeniable to both everyone else... and especially Sebas.

A brief silence followed... before Bella blinked in realization.

"O-Oh! Yes, that's the brand of the liquor we're serving tonight," the maid quickly addressed, thinking that the adventurer was merely curious about the drink. "I-it's a very rare one, Miss Vivi, b-but Sir Sebas personally acquired it himself~."

"Sir... Sebas."

Vivi's grip on her mug tightened.

And then—

The air changed.

A sudden shift—different from before.

Not tension.

Not unease.

But—

BLOODLUST!

"...So this is where you are..."

In the blink of an eye—

Vivi vanished from her seat.

A flash of silver.

A dagger—drawn and ready to strike.

And her target—

"SEBASTIAN~!!!