TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 194
I recalled memories of the past and let out a faint sigh.
The relationship between Mikhail and me now.
I kept sighing because I wasn’t sure if our relationship was the right one.
It was a relationship that had become far too tangled. Mikhail and I had a deep chasm of emotions that couldn’t intertwine, and we were pushing each other away.
I wondered if things would’ve been different if Mikhail’s memories were intact, but there was nothing I could do since the world itself rejected that possibility.
Since That Day, as soon as my body recovered, I went to the Slum. I worried that Mikhail might have been harmed by that guy, and I wanted to let him know that I was alive and well. Knowing better than anyone how hard it is to wait without a promise, I searched for Mikhail and visited the Slum.
-Not here today, either.
The empty Slum greeted me.
Mikhail wasn’t there.
Even after an hour passed and I went back.
Even after a week passed and I went back.
Even after a month passed and I went back.
Mikhail never came.
-What are you doing here? You said we’d play Ball Play together.
-I was waiting for a Friend.
-A Friend?
-Yeah.
-You have a Friend?
-Yeah, I did.
-Hiiiik! But I don’t have one?
-That’s because you’re pathetic.
-Eeeek! I’ll make one too!
In the Slum where I used to live, there was no one left who remembered my existence. The Little Kids who followed me had gone off to find their own lives, and Mikhail was gone too.
According to the Rumor, Mikhail had been adopted into a Nunnery like something out of a Novel. I only learned that information through an informant, who said he had disappeared while holding tightly onto the hand of a Sister who had come on a pilgrimage from a distant region.
Perhaps because I had been unconscious and collapsed for so long, I couldn’t say goodbye to Mikhail before he left, but at least his whereabouts had a fortunate ending.
I looked at the small mound of dirt Underneath the Bridge and let out a Bitter Smile.
[My beloved Hero rests here. – Lee Minhyuk]
The Tombstone, made by tying Wooden Sticks into the shape of a cross, left quite an impression. Seeing a Tombstone with my name on it wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.
After that, nothing much happened.
I followed the Young Lady and received Butler training.
-Hey.
-Don’t speak informally!
-Why?
-I’m paying you!
-That’s true. Then, Brother.
-Alright.
While arguing with the Young Lady, I was solidifying my career path.
At first, I thought grabbing the hand of the Villainess would ruin my life, but after she saved my life, hesitating would’ve been discourteous. With the mindset of fixing a Straw Rope of Hope, I firmly took the Young Lady’s hand.
I did my Best Effort to change the Young Lady’s Future.
The Young Lady’s Success was my Survival, and the Young Lady’s peace was my peace.
I lost weight.
I improved my Appearance.
I worked hard to change my twisted personality.
-Eeeek… Don’t starve me.
-It can’t be helped. The Young Lady’s obesity goes beyond what I can imagine. At this rate, a horrific Tragedy where the Earth’s axis tilts might occur.
-I don’t care about that crap.
-That’s true.
Of course, this process didn’t go smoothly, but it was fun, and because I could smile and follow along during that time, it felt like a meaningful period.
The Villainess who became kind through great effort.
-Tweet!
-What is it?
-A sparrow is chirping.
-I’ll catch it.
-Alright. Cook it deliciously for me.
Others might not know, but as someone who knew the cold Villainess from the Novel, I liked seeing the Young Lady gradually change.
The Young Lady not only placed me in a decent job but also let me receive an education alongside her.
She said she didn’t need a stupid Butler, yet she herself avoided studying.
-Today’s lesson is… Excuse me, Young Miss, who is that person?
-My Butler.
-I see. But why are they attending the lesson with you…?
-Because they’re my Butler.
-I’m sorry, but my lessons aren’t general courses shared with others.
-Just get on with the lesson! It’s boring!
-Young Lady. Speak politely.
-No!
-Do you want to starve again today?
-Eeeek… Just start the lesson.
-More politely.
-Please start the lesson.
The Home Tutor liked me. They said they were an elite teacher, but it had been really tough for them until now. When they hugged me tightly while crying, I patted their back, thinking they must have had a lot built up.
-You’ve worked hard.
-Sniff… Until now, I thought I lacked Talent.
-That’s not true. You’ve raised a Disciple like me, haven’t you?
-Sob…
Thanks to the unexpected trust I earned, I was able to learn a lot.
I learned history, etiquette, and even how to win the hearts of High Nobles, so in the end, I was the one who benefited.
There wasn’t a lack of opposition within the Household.
Darbav furrowed his brow as he looked at Olivia, who had brought me, a scruffy mess.
-Olivia. What is this?
-My Butler. From today, they’re my Butler.
-What happened to the Butler you saved last time?
-I didn’t need them, so I threw them away.
-I thought it was admirable that you picked up an injured Little Kid, but was that not the case?
-Nope. I’m not that nice.
-…Is that so? But no. That one’s too weak to handle my daughter.
-Eeeek, let me keep them!
Even now, I laugh when I think about the Young Lady picking her nose and throwing a tantrum in front of the Head of the Family.
The Young Lady’s Stubbornness was something no one could stop. Thanks to that, I was able to become a part of Desmond without much difficulty.
Recalling everything that happened with the Young Lady would take a lot of Time. Over the 13 years, there were many funny moments and many moments that made me cry. I decided to save those Memories for later, carefully storing them in the drawer of my mind, and smiled.
“It was a good choice.”
When Time passed, and I met Mikhail at the Academy, many things had changed.
Mikhail, who had grown enough to wield a sword and matured mentally. It was a good sight. I even chuckled softly as I noticed his empty hands, realizing he no longer carried a Teddy Bear.
(!)If Mikhail learns of your existence, the Future’s events may change significantly.
Because of that thing called the system, I couldn’t approach him. Though, to be honest, I hadn’t planned to approach him anyway.
Over the 13 years, I had come to prioritize the Young Lady and did my Best Effort to protect the Young Lady’s Future.
Well, what could I do? The Possessor had already sided with the Villainess, but I still tried hard to maintain a good relationship, though it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
From the beginning, Mikhail disliked me, and the Young Lady’s tyranny started back then. No matter how much I tried, we couldn’t get along.
So, I ended up disliking Mikhail too.
I felt really sorry for Mikhail, but at the time, I resented him for being harsh to the Young Lady.
I didn’t raise him like that.
I hadn’t taught him to treat people coldly, but it honestly annoyed me that he forgot the love I gave him and only gave the Young Lady the Cold Treatment.
That’s why I hated Mikhail, and that must be why this relationship continued as it is now.
I didn’t regret anything.
Not even choosing the Young Lady.
Not even the falling out with Mikhail.
There was nothing to regret.
Because I’m happy now.
I let out a small sigh and closed the book of Memories spread out in my mind. Thinking about this wouldn’t change anything now. Knowing that thinking about what to eat tomorrow would be far better for my mental health, I smiled faintly and closed my eyes to end the day.
And at that moment.
-Knock. Knock.
The sound of knocking on the door reached my ears.
“Are you asleep?”
“…”
“I was thinking of drinking after a long time, but I don’t have anyone to drink with.”
I gave a small smile and opened the door.
*
Darbav poured liquor into the glass with a silent smile.
“It’s been a while. Drinking together like this.”
“Indeed. It’s been over three years since I first drank after becoming an adult.”
“Back then, Olivia kept whining about wanting some too.”
Darbav touched his forehead and shook his head as he recalled the Memory.
“It was hard to calm her down.”
“I struggled a lot too because the Young Lady sulked and said she wouldn’t play with me anymore….”
“Pfft! Olivia said that?”
“Yes, she didn’t talk to me for a while.”
“That’s truly unfortunate.”
I smiled faintly and shared a small Boast with Darbav.
“Come to think of it, I recently drank with the Young Lady.”
“Olivia drank?”
At the mention of alcohol, Darbav perked up his ears and looked at me with a face full of Worry.
Propping his chin on his hand with a serious expression and muttering, “You’ve accomplished something big,” Darbav seemed like someone who had a good grasp of what kind of person his daughter was.
Meeting Darbav’s worried gaze, I gave a faint Smile.
“She drank better than I expected.”
“Really?”
“Yes, she did. She drank Fruit Wine, and she handled it well.”
“Olivia has grown up. She even knows how to drink now.”
“That’s right.”
“What about her drinking habits? She doesn’t get violent, does she?”
“Fortunately, she doesn’t.”
“That’s a relief.”
Talking about old stories with Darbav was entertaining.
From his initial thoughts of, “Why did she bring a Beggar?” when he first saw me, to how hard it was to stop the Young Lady from packing her bags and leaving when he refused to take me in—Darbav’s inner thoughts were so engaging that Time flew by.
I was also quite surprised when I heard that he originally intended to raise me as the Young Lady’s Knight.
“It seems it was a good decision to raise you as a Butler. You grew up well on your own.”
“It’s thanks to the support of the Head of the Household.”
“You’re quite good with words.”
At first, I thought the Head of the Desmond Family was a frightening person. After all, he was a villain supporting the Villainess.
Truly, the Desmond Family is a funny Household. Of course, this is the side shown to the members of the Household, but I liked this Household.
The Desmond Family was not a Household to be taken lightly. As one of the Founding Contributor families that didn’t bow their heads even before the Emperor, it was a Household with greater prestige than Histania.
Although its prestige had waned due to the Young Lady’s matters, the name Desmond alone was still like a mighty mountain that no one could ignore.
Especially Darbav, who was before my eyes, was one of the Monsters rivaling the Head of Histania.
One of the reasons the Empire couldn’t move against the Desmond Family was precisely because of this Man. Despite committing the taboo of Dark Magic, the Desmond Family could remain Nobles largely thanks to the presence of Darbav, the Archmage.
As the atmosphere gradually heated up, Darbav swallowed and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes, Head of the Household.”
Darbav was touching his glass.
As if he was about to make a difficult request, Darbav kept fiddling with the liquor glass and let out a Deep Sigh, lowering his head.
“Never mind.”
“You’re doing the worst thing in the world.”
“How did you know?”
“Is it true?”
“No.”
As expected, he was an expert at teasing people.
Darbav let out a small sigh and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Olivia isn’t eating.”
Truly, the Desmond Family is a funny Household.