TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 118
[The perspective shifts.]
The Blue Window whispered into Olivia’s ear with an emotionless voice.
-At that time, you didn’t know.
-You didn’t know anything about why your Butler left. You simply thought he resigned because he was in a bad mood and assumed he would return someday.
-You didn’t even consider for a moment that Ricardo left your side because of the aftereffects of Dark Magic. That’s how you were back then.
-You were a foolish person.
-Just like your Butler at that time.
The Blue Window’s voice carried no emotion. Despite the cold tone of its steady pitch, it seemed as if sorrow was intertwined within the voice of the Blue Window.
Strangely enough.
-Time flows.
-You continued attending the Academy as before and still liked Mikhail. You were lost in his appearance and kept up your foolish unrequited love.
-You gave Mikhail expensive gifts you never gave to your Butler, and without Ricardo around to interfere, you freely caused trouble.
-Of course, as time passed, your relationships with others deteriorated.
-The absence of the Butler, who was always by your side, didn’t strike you as a danger.
-Rather, you were pleased, thinking you were liberated. The Butler, who always acted as your restraint, was nothing but a hindrance to you.
-Even your parents didn’t stop you, so you thought, ‘Who are you to interfere?’
-Sometimes, you missed him. When Mikhail spoke harshly to you or when everyone turned their backs and spat Bad Words at you, you missed the presence of the Butler who used to comfort you.
-In your honest heart, you thought Ricardo would return. You didn’t believe Ricardo would abandon the time you spent together and the friendship you shared. And, of course, your money as well.
-Contrary to your thoughts, Ricardo’s absence lengthened.
-And your life began to grow heavier.
-No one remained by your side. Though no one was there from the start, the absence of the Butler deepened your Loneliness.
-You were precarious.
-Tempted by the thought of looking through the Black Magic Book once again.
-The perspective shifts.
-You catch a glimpse of Ricardo’s life after leaving you.
-Six months after Ricardo submitted his Resignation Letter. You view Ricardo’s life after leaving Olivia.
-You…
The Blue Window spoke with a trembling voice.
For the first time, the Blue Window’s voice revealed emotion, speaking with a tremor as if a deep knot in its chest was unraveling.
-Regret it.
*
-Cough!
As soon as you open your eyes, what you see is the Red Blood trickling from Ricardo’s mouth.
With violent coughing, the Red Blood sprayed across the room, staining the white pillow and blanket with a vivid crimson hue.
-Cough… cough..! Haah… haah…
The coughing didn’t stop.
Even after a long time, long enough to think it would subside, the rough breathing, as if it could cut through skin, didn’t cease.
Ricardo’s groaning grew more intense as he clutched his chest, and his face contorted with pain.
-Painkillers… Where are the painkillers?
What greeted Olivia as she opened her eyes was Ricardo lying on an old bed.
Ricardo’s figure, lying in a place even more shabby than the small room in the estate where he used to live, looked pitiful in Olivia’s eyes.
‘You said you were doing well…’
Olivia spoke to Ricardo with a trembling voice.
‘You said you’d live well with the money you saved…!’
The image of him, who had said he would open a Store in a quiet Outskirts town and live peacefully, was nowhere to be found. Ricardo’s appearance, far removed from peace and seemingly estranged from happiness, was not what she had imagined.
‘What is this, you fool…!’
Olivia looked at Ricardo with trembling eyes.
Even though she had heard that he couldn’t overcome the Dark Magic, Olivia’s heart had remained steadfast.
Though slightly shaken, she believed Ricardo would overcome it. She had thought that after six months, he would have conquered it with confidence.
But the sight of him now made her doubt her faith.
A Strong Wind blew through Olivia’s heart. The faith that had held a fleeting Hope wavered like waves rippling in the wind.
-Ricardo couldn’t overcome the Dark Magic.
The Blue Window once again reminded Olivia of her mistake.
‘I know. I know that too.’
Olivia’s heart burned as the calm female Voice echoed in her ears.
-Ricardo transferred the Side Effects of the Dark Magic, which you should have endured, entirely onto himself. He used his skill, Limit Break, to pour it all into you, hoping you wouldn’t suffer even a little.
‘But Ricardo is healthy now…’
The Blue Window rebutted Olivia’s murmuring with a cold voice, as if questioning her.
-There’s no difference.
-If Ricardo hadn’t been lucky back then, the Ricardo you’re seeing now would have been your reality.
-Should I say he wasn’t lucky?
-Ricardo now has less than 4 Months left to live.
-That’s why Ricardo bid you Goodbye through his resignation.
The Blue Window spoke quietly.
It said he was lucky.
The Blue Window’s dry and detached tone pierced Olivia’s chest like an Awl, leaving her staring at Ricardo with hollow eyes.
‘Don’t say such nonsense… Ricardo is strong! He won’t lose to something like this!’
Olivia once again vented her Resentment at the Blue Window. She retorted angrily, insisting Ricardo wasn’t weak.
But, as always, the Blue Window responded with Neglect.
4 Months.
It said Ricardo had only 4 Months left.
Even though this was a fantastical space that couldn’t happen in reality, the Blue Window’s voice, announcing Ricardo’s Limited Time Left, sounded more terrifying to Olivia than the cry of a deer in the middle of the night.
‘That won’t happen.’
Olivia shook her head.
Because she wanted to deny it.
But Ricardo’s face flashed through her mind like a Life-Flashing Memory.
Until now, no matter what hallucination she saw, she had never seen a future where Ricardo died.
Though she had seen hallucinations of herself grieving over her death or getting hurt, she had never seen a hallucination where she could no longer see his face.
He always smiled brightly.
Ricardo’s Bright Smile, always by her side, lingered in her mind.
Even though she could see him once the hallucination ended.
Olivia was scared.
Her mind was filled with the negative thought, ‘I’ll never see him again,’ and she felt as if tears were about to well up.
Even though it was just a world within a hallucination, the thought of never seeing Ricardo again was the most terrifying thing for Olivia.
As her vision slowly cleared, she began to see Ricardo lying on the bed.
Ricardo’s figure lying on the bed looked emaciated.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his breathing was labored. Though his Entire Body still bore the muscles that once filled it, their former grandeur was nowhere to be found.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ricardo stared at the Ceiling with weary eyes.
Ricardo, struggling to breathe with his heaving chest, seemed to be in excruciating pain, his eyelids Trembling.
Olivia reached out to him with trembling hands.
[Observer’s Perspective.]
Unfortunately, the Blue Window didn’t allow it.
-Haah… haah… Even this medicine doesn’t work anymore. Damn.
Ricardo shook his head, tossing the medicine bottle under the bed.
Ricardo’s weary figure, shoving a white pill into his mouth, weighed heavily on Olivia’s heart.
-I wonder if she’s doing well.
Swallowing the pill, Ricardo furrowed his brows and muttered as if speaking to himself.
Olivia didn’t need to think hard to know that the person he was worrying about was her.
-With my body like this, I can’t even go to see her.
As Ricardo’s body, revealed slightly from under the Blanket, came into view, Olivia let out a dry breath at the sight of the Wounds covering his shirtless torso.
-Disgusting, even to me.
The Wound starting from Ricardo’s Right Hand looked even more horrifying than when I secretly peeked at it in the Wardrobe back then.
The Necrotic Skin spread across his Entire Body, consuming his upper torso, and even creeping up to the Nape of his neck, strangling the very essence of his life.
Now, the Bed sheets were Filthily stained with Pus and Blood oozing from his body. Olivia couldn’t lift her head.
‘Is this because of me?’
As Olivia stared blankly at Ricardo.
Ricardo, whose glass of water had run out, began to move his body to get out of the Bed.
He placed his hand on the Bed for support.
Exhaling a Deep Sigh, he slowly reached out toward the Wooden Wheelchair beside the Bed.
No cushion.
Ricardo’s pitiful figure, reaching out toward the plain Wooden Wheelchair made entirely of wood, made Olivia extend her trembling hand to push the Wheelchair for him.
[Observer’s Perspective.]
But, as always, the Cold Blue Window didn’t allow her insignificant touch.
-One. Two… Three…! Hup!
-Thud!
-Haha…
Ricardo was laughing.
Even as he stared blankly at his unmoving legs and let out a Deep Sigh toward the Ceiling, the smile didn’t disappear from his lips.
Olivia’s face twisted at his laughter.
‘You fool…’
Because he looked like a Fool, alone in the Lonely Room with no one else around.
Unlike herself, who always had someone by her side, Ricardo’s solitary figure seemed unbearably pitiful.
At the same time, a feeling of guilt crept in.
While she covered her eyes in sadness, Ricardo’s low voice pierced Olivia’s chest coldly.
-Well, I think it’s fortunate. At least I don’t have to show her this side of me.
Without lamenting his situation, he simply.
-But… I do miss her, Young Lady.
Kept smiling.
-I’m glad that I’m the one in pain.
-The perspective shifts.
[The 3rd Side Story, ‘A Villainess’s Sad Love Story,’ Chapter Two: ‘I’m Ashamed of You,’ begins.]
-In this story, Yuria comes to Hate you.