TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 119
Once again, my vision darkens.
-That’s why. I told you, we should have fired him earlier. We should’ve hired someone with a good academic background and strong work ethic.
Through the blurred vision, I faintly hear my own voice, dressed in a Black Dress.
My voice, speaking in an almost excited tone, was chattering away with a sharp subject like scraping a broken dish, as if finding it amusing.
-Rather, it’s fortunate that the bug decided to quit. He was just wasting money.
‘…’
Olivia didn’t have to think hard to know who the “bug” referred to.
‘Shut up.’
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a Lavish Banquet Hall.
A Lavish Banquet Hall where everyone was dressed elegantly and everyone was smiling.
Unlike Ricardo’s Shabby Room I had just been in, there was an overly extravagant chandelier hanging under the stage.
There, I stood, dressed in a Black Dress, smiling alongside the Noble Ladies.
Holding a glass of Violet Wine, I tilted it under the light and swirled it, my expression seemingly brimming with excitement.
-So, so…! What did you do?
-What do you mean, what did I do? I told him to leave, saying even the air he breathed was wasted.
-Puhaha. Crazy! Didn’t he cry?
-What would crying change? It was the truth.
The Me in the Illusion seemed pleased to have someone to talk to after a long time.
Although I pretended not to get close to people, in truth, I envied those with many friends. I seemed excited.
Making up words I hadn’t even said.
Exaggerating provocative topics was something I often did during my Academy Days.
I wanted to appear strong and, at the same time, gain the upper hand in relationships.
I was clumsy at making friends.
A poor excuse, but if it weren’t for Ricardo, there wouldn’t be anyone I could call a friend. I didn’t know how to make friends.
People liked me if I gave them money.
They were moved if I bullied someone they disliked on their behalf, and friends approached me if I had power. I thought I had to show that kind of image, and that’s the only way I knew how to make friends.
Ricardo emphasized the importance of friendship and encouraged me to be warm, but I didn’t want to go through such a troublesome process. As always, the people around me approached me only because of my power.
But in reality, when my household fell into Downfall, all those people left.
Still, I liked it.
Because I wasn’t lonely.
-Puhaha!
Laughter echoed.
Although The Me in the Illusion didn’t know, the current me could tell their laughter was filled with pretense.
Even my face, enjoying such attention, seemed to be full of pretense.
In this Social Gathering Space full of fakes, I took a step closer and spoke to the illusion of myself with a trembling voice.
‘Ricardo is sick.’
My voice kept trembling.
‘Ricardo is… very sick.’
Toward myself, who was spouting malicious words about Ricardo, Olivia spoke with a trembling voice.
‘So, don’t say things like that…’
Ricardo’s face, lying on the Bed, kept fleeting through my mind. The image of Ricardo, looking as if he could collapse at any moment, lingered in Olivia’s eyes.
‘Ricardo is very sick…!’
While The Me in the Illusion, who couldn’t hear the increasingly rough breaths, simply kept laughing.
Slowly, the music of the Ball began, and as people wearing the masks of pretense started disappearing one by one with their Dance Partners.
I, as always, was left alone, standing in solitude.
A Deep Sigh could be heard.
-Boring.
No one approached me, dressed in an elegant Dress.
No matter how beautifully I dressed up, the person I truly wanted to show it to wouldn’t even glance my way, and my pathetic self felt even lonelier.
While Yuria and the dazzling Mikhail were surrounded by people, like a flower blooming on a cliff, I was alone, sipping wine in solitude.
-Annoying.
The illusion of myself lowered her head and muttered softly.
-What’s wrong with my personality that they act like that? If I just stayed quiet, I could at least keep my bowl.
-What exactly is the problem?
-What did I fail to do for him to quit?
-Idiot.
The Me in the Illusion still seemed angry. She looked as if she found Ricardo, who cursed as he left, detestable and wanted to scold him if he ever returned.
-Just wait until he comes back.
The emotions of waiting for Ricardo couldn’t be hidden.
Olivia spoke to herself in a gloomy voice, saying there was no time to be foolish like this, looking at herself with trembling eyes.
‘He won’t come back… He can’t come back.’
It was nothing more than dreaming of something that could never be seen again. That was The Me in the Illusion.
After a long time, from afar, a familiar pink-haired woman began walking slowly toward me, standing alone.
Wearing a Plain Light Blue Dress, the woman approached with small, quick steps, glanced at me, placed her hand on her chest, and let out a Deep Sigh.
-You can do it. Just ask.
With a soft mutter, The Me in the Illusion frowned as she watched the woman approaching her.
-Excuse me…
-Hah. What is it? You’re ruining my mood.
-Could we talk for a moment, Lady Olivia?
The one who approached me, standing alone in solitude, was Yuria. With Bright, Shining Eyes like a Frightened Rabbit, Yuria fidgeted with her hands, nervously inhaled a Deep Sigh, and couldn’t meet my cold gaze.
Having endured much bullying, and perhaps because Ricardo wasn’t there, the Thief of torment had grown stronger. Yuria, suppressing the pounding Heartbeat, cautiously asked.
-Where is Mr. Ricardo? You don’t seem to be with him these days.
-What?
-Perhaps…
Yuria lowered her head and swallowed nervously.
-Is Ricardo… very sick?
-What nonsense are you talking about?
-Well, that’s…
-You and I aren’t close enough to exchange pleasantries, are we? It’s disgusting for a Dirty Commoner to speak to me.
Normally, Yuria would have walked away by now, but this time, she stood her ground with her trembling legs.
Finding Yuria’s shaking legs amusing, The Me in the Illusion smirked as she looked at them.
-He quit.
-What…?
-I said he quit.
Yuria’s face began to fill with confusion. Her expression twisted even more than when I usually bullied her.
-What do you mean? Ricardo quit?
-How would I know?
-No, that’s not…
-Stop bothering me and get lost. I’m in a bad mood.
-That can’t be….
-What?
Yuria roughly grabbed Olivia’s hand as she tried to leave.
-Did Ricardo say anything to you?
-No, he didn’t.
-Please, think carefully.
-Stop annoying me and get lost.
-Olivia!
Suddenly, Yuria tightly gripped Olivia’s hand with trembling eyes.
-Huh? Olivia?
-Get a grip and listen to me.
-It seems like you’re the one who needs to get a grip. How dare you call me by my name.
-Please, just listen to me.
Yuria’s hands were trembling. Her eyes, as if she had seen a terrifying Monster, quivered as they looked at me.
-I am a Healer.
-So what if you’re a Healer? Are you telling me to get a health checkup?
-No.
The Me in the Illusion looked down at Yuria’s hand, which was holding hers, as if it were filthy. With a disgusted expression that seemed to say she wanted to shake it off immediately, Olivia glared at her. Yet, Yuria bowed her head and repeated her words, asking her to think again.
-I saw Ricardo in the Capital City a while ago.
-…What?
-He looked so different that I almost didn’t recognize him, but it was definitely Ricardo.
Upon hearing news of Ricardo’s whereabouts for the first time in a long while, Olivia’s eyes began to tremble. It was a subtle change, but ripples started to form on Olivia’s face.
-He bought a bunch of medicine from the Pharmacy. I couldn’t see clearly, but it looked like Painkillers. Really strong Painkillers.
-…You must have seen it wrong.
-That could be true. It could be, but…
Yuria grabbed Olivia’s wrist with her trembling hand.
-It was so scary…
-It was so scary that I had to ask.
Yuria looked at Olivia with trembling eyes.
-There’s nothing wrong, right?
-…
-There’s really nothing wrong, right?
At Yuria’s continued questioning, Olivia pressed her lips together tightly before spitting out cold words. Though a suspicion of “what if” crept into her heart, she comforted herself, thinking there was no way, and spoke in a Low Voice.
-What does that have to do with me?
-What?
-Whether he dies or not, what does that have to do with me?
Yuria lowered her head and spoke in a Cold Voice.
-Watch your words.
-Hah…? What did you just say?
-If…
It was an expression I had never seen before.
-If something happens to Ricardo…
Yuria’s expression, filled with Killing Intent, was.
-Be prepared.
*
On the way back after the banquet had ended.
In a corner of the Street, a man wearing a Black Hood was sitting on a Wooden Wheelchair.
The Man, seated on the Wooden Wheelchair, was silently watching Olivia from a hidden spot.
Walking along the Street with the Noble Ladies, Olivia glanced at The Man and shuddered.
For some reason, a strange familiarity made her hesitate in her steps. Just as she was about to turn back, one of the Noble Ladies standing beside her frowned and spoke.
-Did you see that man’s hand? It’s so grotesque.
-Why?
-Look at his armrest over there.
In Olivia’s eyes, The Man’s Hideous Hand, resting on the armrest, came into view.
Rotten, disfigured, and covered in hideous scars, the hand was visible to Olivia.
Olivia frowned as she looked at The Man.
-How disgraceful.
When she looked back at The Man again.
He was covering his face with his hand, his shoulders trembling faintly.
[The perspective shifts.]
[The final chapter of “The 3rd Side Story,” ‘A Villainess’s Sad Love Story,’ begins with ‘I will always be on your side, Young Lady.’]