The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 76

The darkness crept into Olivia’s room.

After dining out at Friends of Forest for the first time in a while, Olivia patted her full stomach and stared at the door.

“Heut… I’m so full.”

Wearing a pointed hat.

Olivia smiled a pleasant smile.

With the world seeming to shine from her fullness, Olivia was waiting for the gift presentation ceremony to mark the end of her birthday.

“Hmn.”

Olivia didn’t have high expectations for the gift.

She was well aware of their tight financial situation, so she guessed that the only gifts Ricardo could afford would be something like a scarf or gloves.

Even so, Olivia was deeply satisfied with her day.

They had eaten at Friends of Forest, and Ricardo had bought her everything she wanted.

Having spent a day eating everything she had craved, Olivia resolved not to cling to or expect anything from the gift, as it was more fulfilling than receiving an expensive present.

Olivia was ready to be happy with even a small gift.

“Why isn’t he coming…”

The butler, who had gone to fetch the gift, still hadn’t returned even after ten minutes.

-You’ll be surprised, so please wait.

With those cryptic words, the butler had gone down to the first floor. Though she didn’t want to get her hopes up, her heart couldn’t help but race.

Now, the only person left to celebrate her birthday was the butler.

The friends who used to shower her with expensive gifts had left her side after her downfall, and the nobles who had wagged their tails to gain favor with her household had stopped sending even a single letter once their ties were severed.

She no longer had any family left.

There were no friends left to celebrate her birthday either; Ricardo was all she had.

Ricardo, who always celebrated her birthday.

Ricardo, who would greet her on the morning of her birthday with a “Happy Birthday” and a wrapped gift he had prepared himself, had stayed by her side through the years.

‘I really treated him so badly…’

Yet Ricardo had consistently celebrated her birthday.

Even the birthday of a wicked villainess who had cruelly shoved his wrapped gifts into the wardrobe without even opening them.

She had even coldly rejected the scarf he had knitted himself, but Ricardo hadn’t been disheartened and had appeared the next year with a different gift.

-Happy Birthday.

-It’s cheap.

-I spent a bit more money this time.

-What money…

-Then why don’t you give me a raise?

-Eeeek…!

Even her past self must have known.

How sincere Ricardo was about her birthday.

Despite being a mere employee, Ricardo had given her extravagant gifts like gold bracelets.

Or gem-encrusted hairpins.

Or scarves he had made himself.

Or even rings made of pure gold.

Ricardo had given her gifts far beyond what she could afford.

He had spent a month’s salary—or even three months’ salary—on gifts, yet she hadn’t worn them.

Because she was embarrassed to show them to others.

As a noble of Desmond, it was humiliating to wear them, and they weren’t flashy enough. Olivia had shoved Ricardo’s gifts into her wardrobe every time.

‘Foolishly.’

Was it the sixth year since Ricardo had started celebrating her birthday?

Ricardo’s gifts began to change.

They became less expensive.

Not flashy accessories.

But things like perfume or sweets that wouldn’t catch others’ eyes. Though she hadn’t said she was embarrassed to wear them, his heart must have broken after seeing her never wear his gifts even once.

Olivia knew her past self had been terrible.

She couldn’t claim to be kind now, but she acknowledged that she had been far sharper when she proudly bore the name of Desmond compared to her current self, and Ricardo knew that too.

She had grown up like a greenhouse flower, with those around her praising her unconditionally instead of offering sharp criticism.

Her personality couldn’t help but become twisted.

Not that those people were bad.

It’s just that a bit of regret lingered. If there had been even one more person like Ricardo to offer sharp criticism, she wouldn’t have treated him so harshly.

“…What a terrible woman.”

Olivia wore a bitter smile as she reflected on her past mistakes.

She resolved to take care of things properly from now on instead of discarding them.

If she received chocolate, she would eat it happily, and if she received a gift that wouldn’t disappear, she vowed to cherish it.

-Thud… Thud… Thud!

The sound of the butler’s footsteps climbing the stairs echoed from beyond the door.

With a loud thud, Ricardo set something down in front of the door, as if carrying something heavy.

Without pause, he went back down the stairs, then hurriedly climbed back up again, his footsteps bustling.

“What is he doing…?”

At the sound of Ricardo’s busy footsteps, Olivia tilted her head in curiosity and clenched the hem of her skirt tightly with her fist.

With a bashful smile, she lowered her head, thinking, ‘I can’t help but have expectations.’

Olivia couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

-Phew… It’s done.

From beyond the door, she heard Ricardo muttering that he had finished preparing.

Knock, knock, knock. Ricardo opened the door.

“Young Lady, may I come in?”

With a creak, the door opened.

“Puhahahaha…! What is that…!”

Ricardo’s face, still wearing the makeup she had seen that morning, came into view.

Olivia clutched her stomach and laughed.

He was wearing a baggy red outfit.

With a ridiculous white fake beard and a red ball stuck to his nose like Gomtangi’s, Ricardo’s appearance was hilarious.

“Ahahaha… Haa… Puhahahaha!!! What is that!”

Pointing at Ricardo, Olivia smiled brightly.

“Ahem… I’m Santa.”

Ricardo spoke in a solemn voice.

Santa.

Though Olivia didn’t know what Santa was, she thought it must be a very funny figure.

Ricardo let out a sigh, set down the red bundle he had been carrying on his back, and spoke.

“Hohoho, Merry… no, Happy Birthday.”

In his ridiculous getup, Ricardo wished her a happy birthday. Seeing her eyes filled with anticipation, he gulped nervously.

He seemed to feel pressured by Olivia’s soft gaze.

“Ahem! So, um…”

Perhaps finding the situation amusing himself, Ricardo struggled to hold back his laughter.

Olivia spoke honestly to Ricardo, who was awkwardly acting.

“Ricardo, you forgot your lines.”

“Don’t make me laugh. It’s hard to stay in character.”

Ricardo was committed to his role.

Pushing away Gomtangi, who was jumping up to lick his face, Ricardo opened the bundle.

He pulled out chocolate shaped like gold coins.

“Oh…!”

Then he took out a scarf to fend off the cold winter.

“Hiiiik!”

Finally, he pulled out thick fur clothes.

With a solemn expression, Ricardo began to speak to Olivia.

“Ms. Olivia.”

“What?”

“You should speak respectfully to Santa Claus.”

Olivia glared at Ricardo with a sassy expression.

“No.”

“…Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

It was difficult for the butler to maintain his persona.

Ricardo, looking at the gifts placed on the floor, began to speak. Starting his year-end review, he recounted the wrongdoings and disappointments of the year.

“Do you remember stealing chocolate in March?”

It had been a silly prank.

Olivia nodded along with Ricardo’s teasing tone.

“Yeah. I stole one.”

“That’s a lie. You stole three. I’ll confiscate 10% of your gifts.”

With the word “confiscate,” Ricardo picked up the chocolate gold coins he had dropped on the floor and put them into his bag.

When Olivia protested, saying it was unfair to deduct from her birthday gifts, Ricardo’s commitment to maintaining the persona proved more stubborn than expected.

“Hmm… In June, you stole the gold coins I left on the desk, so I’ll confiscate 50%.”

“Eeeek! This is violent! I resign!”

“I refuse.”

Under Ricardo’s meticulous investigation, Olivia’s gifts began to dwindle. Now, all that remained were three chocolate gold coins.

Olivia stared at Ricardo with a face full of irritation.

“You’re mean!”

“It’s the fault of a young lady who lived as a naughty adult.”

Ricardo offered words of advice, encouraging her to live kindly in the future. As he put the three remaining chocolates into his bag, he spoke.

“Overall, this year…”

“Gulp…”

“You cried far too much, young lady.”

“No..! That was because you upset me, Ricardo…”

“Shh. I won’t listen to excuses.”

Seeing Ricardo put all the gifts into his bag, Olivia pouted and held out her hand.

“Give it.”

“No.”

“Giiiive it!”

“Our company’s policy is not to give gifts to crying adults…”

Returning to his persona, Ricardo looked at her outstretched hand and said,

“However.”

Ricardo gently held her pale wrist and gave a small smile.

“The butler’s prepared gift is still left.”

Holding her wrist, Ricardo smiled softly and began rummaging through his pocket.

And then.

“Huh?”

He started to place something sparkling around her wrist. As the cold sensation touched her skin, a familiar bracelet design came into view.

A bracelet encrusted with diamonds.

“Oh… Oh my… This…”

Flustered, Olivia stammered like a fool. She wanted to ask why it was here and how he had gotten it, but her choked-up emotions left her unable to speak.

Letting go of Olivia’s trembling hand, Ricardo said,

“It suits you. It really suits you…”

Ricardo, tugging at his fake beard with a happy smile, looked at the bracelet on her pale wrist and said,

“Happy birthday.”

“This… This is so expensive…”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Olivia looked at the bracelet and spoke.

Her voice trembled with emotion.

Ricardo shook his head and replied lightly, as if it were no big deal.

“I put in a little effort.”

Ricardo, who always gave gifts that touched the heart.

Olivia, on the verge of tears, shouted,

“It’s expensive…!”

“That’s why you should wear it well.”

“This… Sniff… Sob…”

Sniffling as she wiped her runny nose, Olivia looked at Ricardo and said,

“It’s so… expensive…!”

“So, do you dislike it?”

“No…! I… I’ll wear it… really well…”

Ricardo looked once more at Olivia’s pale wrist adorned with the bracelet and spoke. He was relieved it suited her. Relieved she liked it.

Holding her pale hand tightly, Ricardo said,

“Next time, I’ll give you an even better gift.”

“This one… is already amazing!”

Hugging the bracelet tightly to her chest, Olivia cried.

She felt like she would never forget this year’s birthday.

***

Ricardo, with an awkward smile, glanced at the wooden box he had hidden behind the door.

[Fairy Unit 1]

‘I’ll give it to her a little later.’

Ricardo smiled happily.