The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 17: Birthday Gift (4)

At the summit of Hamel Mountain

When I came to my senses, I saw the knights of the Histania family apprehending an insect in human disguise.

"Let me go–––! I will kill that bastard! What does my face resemble! A mantis? Don't disregard art!"

"Oh… Insects can swear too?"

"Aaaargh!!"

In the novel, the villain responsible for hundreds of deaths made such a lonely exit.

He wasn't a good person, but the adventurer hunter did a good deed at the last moment. Perhaps it was his way of repaying for making him realize the truth of a kind lie.

He left with the 300,000 gold bounty on his head as a parting gift. It was the moment I learned why a swordsman versed in three-sword style had turned into a bounty hunter.

As I waved off the adventurer hunter with a beaming smile, Hanna's expression remained frozen.

"…"

Because there, right before her eyes, stood the protagonists that had forced her to this place without giving her a chance to relish the thrill of soloing an elite orc.

Hanna's face was stiff with tension as she looked down at the ground.

"Histania Hanna."

A middle-aged voice reached her ears. A voice as heavy and solemn as a lion's.

I had thought it impossible to discern stature from voice alone, but the man before us made it possible.

Histania Rowen.

The sword of the empire and, at this point in the novel, the strongest person.

I looked him straight in the eyes.

Steady pupils.

Bright brown hair and the empire's treasure sword at his waist. He was precisely the image of the knights' captain described in the novel.

"Aren't you going to answer when your father is calling?"

An annoyed woman's voice chimed in. Standing at Rowen's side, arms crossed, was a woman looking at Hanna and me alternately with her heavily made-up eyes and cat-like slits.

She seemed to look at us with disdain.

Of course, I didn't view her favourably either.

After all, she must be one of the factors that led to Hanna's death in the original story.

"Hey. Answer."

Hanna didn't respond to the woman's question. More precisely, she couldn't respond. At the woman's small shout, Hanna flinched and discreetly moved closer to me.

The woman, arms crossed, waiting for an answer. It seemed as though she would keep looking at us until the sun went down, so I kindly answered for her.

"Yes."

"Not you."

"Didn’t you call for me? I thought I should give you my account number."

"Are you joking?"

"No, I'm serious."

"Are you crazy?"

"I'm quite sane, thank you."

A sharp exchange ensued.

A fight between a rude woman and a man who cared about money. It was hard to decide who was better, but having been educated by a villainess for 13 years, I seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

"Who are you to pick a fight?"

"And who might you be?"

"Hey… Histania Hanna. You hang out with this kind of man because you have no friends? Like attracts like, I see."

"Ah, it's your sister. I thought she was too rude to be a noble. My apologies."

"This son of a–"

"Bark."

As the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Hanna hurriedly spoke up.

"Both of you, please stop."

It was a shame.

A bit more bickering, and I would have been able to extract some juice. I glared at Hanna's sister, promising a next time.

The conversation between the two relatives began after Hanna's response.

"Why have you come here?"

"…On a matter of business."

"Then, tend to your business and leave. I too have my business to tend to."

Hanna spoke coldly to her father.

On any other day, she wouldn't have spoken to her father like this. Maybe she would have expected praise for single-handedly defeating an elite orc, twisting and turning in anticipation. But today, she wasn't happy to see her father. Instead, she was irritated.

Rowen was perplexed by Hanna's rebellion, something he had never before seen, but he didn't take it seriously.

Because he knew Hanna feared her father.

The gentle youngest daughter who always followed his commands. She must be throwing a tantrum over her last birthday. He was certain she'd calm down at his word.

Rowen thought.

This opportunity was the right time to break Hanna's sword for good. After the hallucination, he decided he could no longer indulge her any further wandering.

Hanna's will didn't matter to him.

"A father finds nothing more distasteful than a person wielding a sword without talent."

His well-intended words deeply wounded Hanna. The directness, coming from a head convinced his choices were the best, couldn't possibly come across well to Hanna.

"You lack talent."

"…"

"Wielding a sword itself is meaningless. No matter what spirit brought you up this mountain or what thoughts inspired you to pick up the sword, even you know you'll never reach their realm. You're neither the famed Michail of the Royal Academy nor your brother or sister."

"…"

"You are my child, but I must say, you're hopeless."

Hanna's mouth seemed unwilling to open.

Was it from disappointment?

Or had belated adolescence arrived and she was ignoring her father's words? Personally, I hoped for the latter, but Hanna's clenched fist and bowed head looked more like the former.

Rowen confiscated Hanna's sword.

"If you want my recognition, give up the sword. No matter how much you swing it, you will never meet my eye."

Was it okay to speak to his daughter like that?

My fondness for the captain of the knights continued to plummet.

Of course, his fondness for me was nonexistent.

[Histania Rowen Lv. 100]

[Profession: Captain of the Royal Knights]

[Affinity: -42]

[Favorite Topics: The honor of Histania/Talented swordsmen/Praise for his children]

[Disliked Topics: Incompetent fathers/Untaxed swordsmen/Histania Hanna]

We both seemed to detest the same things. Fortunately, they didn't overlap.

Rowen's selfish words knew no end.

"There's a reason I ignored you and discriminated against you. I thought you were smart enough to understand why."

"But still, the sword…!"

"Quiet."

Clang. Hanna's sword hit the floor. Witnessing the sword given by her father carelessly discarded, Hanna's eyes reddened.

Talent.

What was so great about that damned talent? Even the butler told her she had talent, so why wouldn't her father acknowledge her?

She knew she lacked talent, having been told repeatedly by her father and her sister and brother to the point of getting bored.

But, what right do you have to say that when you've done nothing for me? You've never advised me on a different path nor comforted me with warm words. Do you think you have the right to criticize me?

Hanna answered only by clenching her fist. It was her sole act of defiance.

"When you return home, start by withdrawing from the academy."

"Father!"

"You’ll never think of the sword again. Besides forbidding entry to the training grounds, I will have every sword in your name destroyed."

Rowen had made up his mind.

No more chances.

"If you still can't give it up, I'll consider arranging a political marriage."

"I will never do it."

"If you manage to wield aura, I'd acknowledge you, but that's impossible, isn't it?"

"That's ridiculous…"

"That's how I feel. You’re undertaking a task so absurd, it's exceedingly displeasing."

"Did I ever ask you for much? Each and every time, all I got from you was displeasure! Did I ever ask you for anything significant?"

By now, tears were streaming down Hanna's face. Why did this woman shed so many tears, I wondered, seeing her cry more often than smile.

"I won't ask you to teach me anymore."

"…"

"I won't fly the family name high and wield a sword anymore. That’s right… Just disinherit me, that'd be simpler. It’s good since you never considered me your daughter anyway."

"Didn’t I tell you to be silent?"

Thud. Hanna knelt down.

She was pleading, clasping her hands together in front of her father.

"Please… please just leave me be. Let me be, as you always have."

If it were me in that situation, I would have spat how filthy and petty it was and left home. Perhaps because I am an orphan without parents, the sight of the family before me elicited not a hint of envy. Instead, my relationship with the lady seemed more harmonious.

I wanted to intervene, but I couldn't. I had learned that family issues should be resolved by the family.

However.

I was feeling too upset to stay silent.

"I apologize for interrupting, but may I ask on what basis you've determined that Miss Hanna lacks talent?"

I scanned everyone before me with a steely look, implying that if they had complaints, they should voice them now, but be prepared for the consequences, all while speaking in a deliberately pleasant tone.

"Are you perhaps blind? If you had eyes, you couldn't say such a thing. Right, Miss Hanna?"

"Uh…?"

"That's right?"

Hanna, who was kneeling on the ground, looked up at me. Her dirtied knees further soured her mood.

I tried to help Hanna up, but her legs seemed too weak to stand.

She looked at me as if to say this shouldn't be happening, but my anger had long since dissolved.

My image is already at rock bottom anyway.

Even if I get more insults here, it's just treading water. There's nothing to lose.

"Has the head of the Histania family ever fought an elite orc at your age?"

"…And who are you?"

"I am a friend of Miss Hanna."

"State your name and the family you belong to."

"I refuse."

I cut off Rowen.

What more could you do to me if you knew who I was, except more of the same disregard?

I had no intention of answering the captain of the knights' questions. I had no desire to engage in conversation with someone who judges a child based on their talent.

"Seeing as you haven't answered, it must mean you haven't. Of course. The kind of person who would challenge an elite orc at this age…"

I gave Rowen a hard look.

"…must be someone determined to die."

Suppressing the malice he almost murdered her with, I spoke openly to him.

"Only a kind of maniac who knows they’re likely to die would do such a thing."

Rowen glared at me.

His children did the same,

As did his knights.

But what can you do about it?

You're the ones in the wrong after all.

I have no intention of treating those who tormented the lady's friend like guests. Be grateful that I haven't insulted you.

I praised Hanna.

Even though no one else acknowledged her,

I had to. Because that way, her efforts so far wouldn't have been in vain.

"Miss Hanna made it possible. Isn't that amazing? Why aren't you applauding? I think it's impressive."

I said with a hint of irritation.

"Have any of you done something like this?"

I looked at Hanna and spoke.

"Miss Hanna, you have the talent to learn. It’s the teaching talent that's lacking, someone who ran away because of it. Despite that, you haven’t been able to display your talent."

Hanna, who was crouching, looked up at me. The look she gave me was as if she had seen a prince on a white horse, like she had been waiting for someone to fight by her side.

[Hanna's affinity has increased by +30.]

I smiled weakly at Hanna and said,

"See, you do have talent."

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Q. The quest [Doomed to Die Young, The Tragic Extra ‘Hanna'] has been completed.

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Suddenly, a golden aura burst from Hanna's hand, and she flung herself into my arms.

"Happy birthday."

The late gift had finally arrived for Hanna.