The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 319: The Way of Love (3)

A smile blossomed on each of their faces. It was a smile tinged with tears, but it was far from a sorrowful one.

"...Truly." "..." "You've really gone through so much."

The words came out in a shaky voice, caught in the throat. The journey had been long, but the fruit borne from that journey was so beautifully satisfying.

Old memories flashed by, like scenes from a movie.

The moment when the young lady, having lost her legs, chose to shut herself away.

—I'm not going out. —...The weather is really nice today. —I'm not going out. —What if there’s delicious chocolate... —Do you think I'd want to go out looking like this? It’s embarrassing.

The time she nearly became Olivia, the boiled lady, in the bathtub.

—Grrrumble. —Miss? —Eeek... I'm stuck. —Miss!

These memories rushed by like an endless film reel, accompanied by a deep, overwhelming sense of emotion.

“...Hee hee, yes.”

Hope was dreaming of a small future. The future danced in longing for happiness. As if to signal that it was finally time to be happy.

“You've worked so hard, Ricardo.”

They were dancing.

“Ahem!” “The weather is nice.” “It is.”

The young lady and I were sitting on a bench in the mansion's garden.

We looked at each other. We had just cried, so it felt a little awkward, but the bright weather was slowly clearing away that feeling.

“...”

Slowly, indeed.

Watching her, fidgeting and shy, I thought about how commendable she was.

“...”

When our eyes met, she looked at me with a small smile.

“Hee hee.” “...What’s with that smug smile?” “Hee hee hee.”

I found myself smiling as I watched her laugh for no apparent reason.

“What?” “Hee hee... Ricardo.” “Yes?” “I walked.” “Well done.”

She poked her head forward, pursing her lips.

“That’s all you have to say?” “You were amazing.” “Right? I’m impressive, right?” “Yes.” “I’m cool, right?” “Of course.” “Hee hee... Keep complimenting me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her shyly presenting her white hair, her innocence all too apparent.

—Pat.

“Well done.”

As I stroked her hair, it felt soft, like petting a fluffy dog. I could feel the texture with each movement of my fingers.

“You did wonderfully.”

She seemed pleased by the hand ruffling her hair and moved closer to me, closing her eyes slightly.

“You’re the most amazing person in the world.” “Hee hee, I know.”

I continued to stroke her hair, indulging her until she felt satisfied.

‘This is /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ nice.’

Though her body had improved, what was even better was that she had taken her first steps herself. She had always been a passive person, never doing anything on her own.

‘...’

I knew things couldn’t be rushed, and perhaps that’s why I was even more touched by her resolve.

Courage, passion. These things don’t come about because someone else tells you to.

Knowing she would fall, she still took that first step, and I was grateful for that and moved by it.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected to cry.

—Oh...?

‘...How embarrassing.’

Thinking back on that moment, I felt my face grow warm. I wasn’t someone who cried easily, and yet I had shed tears then.

One thing was certain.

“Hee hee...”

I was happy.

After ruffling her hair for a while, I knelt before her on the bench and met her gaze.

—Whoosh...!

“?”

The moment our eyes met, she turned her head away. Even when I moved my head, she’d just ‘whoosh’ and turn again, grinning as she playfully called me a crybaby.

“Crybaby.”

Who was she calling a crybaby? She had seen me cry more than anyone else, yet here she was, trying to lord it over me. I chuckled at her words and looked up at her.

“You cried too, Miss.” “That was because I fell.” “That still counts as crying.” “You just cried for no reason.” “No, I didn’t.” “Eek...!”

I looked at her, smiling softly as she grew frustrated.

“I cried because I was happy to see you stand.” “...Eek?”

She clenched her fist and shouted.

“Why admit it?” “Why not? It’s the truth.” “Grrr... Grrr...!”

I tugged gently at her cheek, chuckling, then looked at her directly and asked.

“So, Miss.” “Yes?” “How does it feel?” “What do you mean?” “How does it feel to stand after all this time?” “Hee hee...”

The young lady blushed, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she looked at me, then quickly glanced away.

“Well...”

Fiddling with her fingers, she nodded and replied brightly.

“It felt good.”

Her voice was tinged with a shy emotion.

Hearing her answer, I nodded slightly, grateful.

“I’m glad too.” “Hee hee.”

I held her hand and looked into her eyes, thinking it might finally be time for us to take another step forward.

“Then, Miss.” “Yes?” “Shall we try again?” —Nod. “If it’s too hard, let me know right away. We’ll have some meat later today.” “Meat...!” “Now then...” “Whew... Just a moment.”

My voice still trembled. My heart was still racing because of the thrill of her walking again. ‘Thump.’ I looked at her treasure pouch, ‘thump,’ thinking of the hard times we’d been through and the progress we’d finally made. It almost felt like a dream.

Although the rehabilitation was hardest on her.

“Shall we try together?”

I wanted to cheer her on. I wanted to support her steps forward with encouragement.

She nodded heavily.

“Yes.”

Our hands met.

Her cold hand. My sweaty hand.

“I’ll pull. Try to stand as best as you can.” “...Okay.”

She closed her eyes tightly.

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“One...” “Whew...” “Two...” “Eek...!” “Three.”

It reminded me of that first time I tried to help her stand.

I wanted to show her that there was a better future, no matter how difficult it seemed. That day, I’d stubbornly pushed forward.

That day, she had cursed at me. And that night, I had cried alone in my room.

It had been sad. It had been bleak. I thought I’d never see that mischievous side of her again.

But now.

“Whew.” “Ricardo, your hands are sweaty.” “...Ha ha, so they are.” “What’s with you being more nervous than me?” “You’re the one trembling, Miss.” “Geh...!”

Two nervous people, but today, we were both trying to be brave.

“Let’s start again.” “Okay.”

I held her hand firmly again, just enough to help her rise on her own.

“Uuuugh...”

She clenched her eyes shut, straining, and trembling. It had been a long time since she’d used those muscles, so a quick response wasn’t likely. But the truth was, no one in that place was trying harder than she was.

“Aaaagh!”

It was a bit noisy.

“That’s good.” “Uuugh!” “That’s it!”

After repeating the process several times, dripping with sweat, she panted heavily.

“Hah... Hah... Hah...”

At this point, she seemed likely to collapse from exhaustion, but after a sip of water, she reignited her determination and looked at me with resolve.

“Again.” “...” “I’ll do it again.” “Yes.” “Whew.”

The sight of her giving it her all was incredible.

And.

“Sniff... Hee hee...”

It was cute.

“Aaagh!”

With a fierce cry, her line of sight rose.

“Huh...?” “Oh...”

The young lady looked at me with wide eyes, as if she couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

“Ricardo.” “Yes...?” “You’re not using all your strength on me, right?” “Yes...” “You didn’t use magic to make me stand up?” “You know my magic’s no good.”

I looked at her with a small smile.

Her trembling legs. Her wide, uncertain eyes.

“You’re standing....”

“...Yes!” “Really...”

I mustn’t cry again. For a moment, I nearly lost it, but I held back and smiled at her.

“You’re amazing...!” “Thank you.”

We didn’t say it, but we were both surprised. I was amazed at her determination. She was elated at the result born from her own resolve.

Of course, the Hand of Rehabilitation had helped, but with a bit more use...

“...”

I was certain she would stand on her own. I had chosen that future. I would make it so. Someday, I knew she would be able to run.

“...”

It might seem like a small beginning now, but good things will come our way eventually. Happiness doesn’t only come to heroes, after all.

The light of that wonderful world that had shone only on others would finally shine on us.

I squeezed her hand, my eyes misting over.

“...Miss.” “Yes?” “You’re amazing, you know that?” “I know.”

She truly was the most unmodest person.

With the mood a bit more relaxed, I joked with her.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to carry you anymore.” “...What?” “Because you’ll be walking on your own.”

Pouting, she shook her head and replied.

“Ugh... No. I’m going to make you carry me.” “...Pfft! You’re going to drain me dry?” “Yep. I’m going to suck you dry.”

Her playful smile made me laugh.

“This is nice.”

We held hands, looking at each other.

We didn’t know how long this journey would last, but we believed it had an end.

“Let’s try again.” “Okay!” “Now...! One, two, three.”

—Thud!

“Oof!”

In the dark room.

Apostle Elicia was trembling.

“I wasn’t... imagining things.”

With fear. With overwhelming terror. Elicia trembled.

Because she had witnessed that man’s death countless times.