Chapter 1: Banish the Wicked Villainess |
[Expel the villainess to the monastery.]
Drip.
Red paint trickles down the wall.
"Damn it."
Graffiti expressing the commoners' anger mars the wall of the mansion once again.
Ricardo, now 23 years old, sighed as he wiped the persistent graffiti with a rag.
‘How did I end up in this situation?'
Why was he, doing the job of a janitor? While lamenting over his miserable life, he overheard the conversation of the patrolling guards in the alley.
"Captain, isn't this Olivia's house?"
"Incredible… I heard she was dismissed from her family. It appears to be true. For a noble, her wall looks… haunted."
Thump, thump.
The captain's straightforward voice echoed off the wall.
"Skip the patrol here and move on."
"But should we still survey the area?"
"It's the house of the notorious villainess, isn't it?"
He turned to recall the figures of the two men.
[Hollum Lv.20]
[Occupation: Captain of the Town Patrol]
[Favorability: -20]
[Preferred Conversation Topics: Justice]
[Garamba Lv.15]
[Occupation: Town Patrol]
[Favorability: 0]
[Preferred Conversation Topics: Women]
‘So this is where my taxes disappear to.'
He sighed deeply.
The mansion was sloppy in its appearance.
The statement about it appearing haunted annoyed him.
The audacity of a simple patrolman to look down on a Viscount’s daughter was stunning.
"Those tax-squandering rogues."
Their lack of respect for their employers irked him, but their disregard for the appearance of the mansion's wall angered him more.
The same mansion owned by his employer.
***
Desmond Olivia.
She was the villainess in the novel [The Strongest at the Academy Adore Me] that he had read.
She envied the attention the female protagonist received.
She liked the male lead who harbored a crush for the female protagonist. But when her efforts failed, she took out her frustration on the female protagonist—a typical villainess move.
That villainess was his employer, Desmond Olivia.
Olivia was quintessential of nobility.
Until the female protagonist appeared in the scene.
She was revered as a high society darling, her exceptional magical talents and potent family background made her quite sought after.
Despite her status, she had a soft heart—for it was she who saved him when he was a slum orphan.
He was her servant.
Indeed, my past self owed Olivia a life debt 13 years ago.
It wasn't a big deal. About a week after my possession, when I tried to discipline a child who would become a black mage and was almost beaten to death, Olivia saved me.
She declared that I was pitiful and even offered me a job at her mansion.
Since she was predestined to suffer a tragic early life in the original story, I had tried to avoid her, but unintentionally became involved and resolved to repay her kindness.
For 13 years,
I did my utmost to prevent her from suffering the same fate she did in the novel.
– Miss, you should lose some weight.
– Shut up, Ricardo!
– Just exercise quietly.
I slowly improved the things she was mocked for in the original story.
Whether they were external or internal.
– Miss, you shouldn't lash out recklessly.
– But that girl called me flat-chested!
– Hmm. Well, you still shouldn't.
– Why not!
– At times like these, you should command me, your subordinate, and I will handle it for you.
I bribed the forces that endangered her in the original story with money, taking revenge on my own so that her grudges would be directed at me instead.
For 13 years.
I proudly state that I did my best to support her until adulthood. I was confident that I could save her from the tragic choices she made in the original story.
At least until she joined the Academy as an adult.
The Academy I attended for the first time after becoming an adult.
It was there that Olivia met a certain commoner man.
The handsome Michail, who becomes a hero in the second half of the novel.
He was the minor male lead who caused Olivia's tragic end in the original story.
Olivia fell for Michail, a one-sided love.
Honestly, I couldn't blame her.
I knew he was supposed to be good-looking, but I didn't expect him to be so handsome.
Outstanding character and handsome looks.
A perfect man, without any shortcomings.
Even I, as a man, was amazed at how handsome he was. Any woman looking at him must have been captivated. Michail was unfairly attractive.
Regardless, Olivia liked Michail.
She claimed it was because he saved her when she fell into a lake, but to someone who knew her ending implicated Michail, it was a horrifying story.
So, I tried to discourage Olivia.
– Do you know, Ricardo? I think I've met my destiny.
– You mean that gentleman?
– Shut up.
– Hmm. Is he handsome?
– Yes! He's very charming and kind!
– But I'm handsome too, right?
– Ugh…
I scolded Olivia when I caught her surreptitiously following Michail.
– That's illegal, Miss.
– But I'm curious about Michail's daily life, what can I do?
– Now matter how curious, who installs surveillance magic tools in someone else's house?
– Doesn't everyone do that normally…?
– I'm more perplexed about the status of your mind, Miss.
When Michail practiced swordsmanship at the training ground, I went there and shouted robustly to diminish his affection towards her.
– Ricardo! Michail has already defeated three opponents.
– Woo─! If I were him, I could defeat you in one stroke.
– What─!
– I'm also proficient with a sword too. I'll go down and demonstrate. I'll break that gigolo's nose and return.
After that, Michail defeated me quite thoroughly.
The more I interfered, the deeper Olivia's feelings for Michail grew.
They say that enduring adversity makes one seem noble. Are you suggesting that I ignore the hardship I'm experiencing because of you?
Regardless, towards the end of the first semester, Olivia confessed her feelings to Michail. She didn't want another girl to steal him away, so she blurted out her confession.
– Michail, I have feelings for you.
– I'm sorry, milady.
Michail's cold rejection resulted in Olivia bursting into tears.
Everything mirrored the original story.
‘Curse it.'
Michail preferred the female protagonist. That's why he rejected Olivia.
‘That rascal. No girl has a larger chest than Olivia. Is he a Lolicon?'
Regardless of who confessed to him, he rejected them.
Even when third imperial princess confessed.
Even when the head mage's daughter confessed.
Even when Olivia confessed.
His constant response was ‘I'm sorry.'
From this point onwards, Olivia's life mirrored the original story.
She was overtaken by an uncontrollable madness and attempted every scheme to win Michail's heart.
She even tried offering an astronomical amount of money.
– I don't accept money obtained from the suffering of commoners.
– What…?
She tried to threaten him using his vulnerabilities.
– If you don't date me, I'll ensure that the girl you like can't even step foot in the Academy.
– I won't indulge in such vulgarity. Kindly desist.
When intimidation didn't work, she kneeled and implored.
– Please. Just be with me for a month. I'll treat you like a king.
– No.
Ultimately, as in the original story, Olivia resorted to bullying the female protagonist.
– Don't associate with a commoner tramp like her.
She disrupted every party that the female protagonist attended, seeking to spoil her experiences.
– Ricardo, do you see that vulgar girl?
– No, I don't.
– Shut up and look properly.
– …
– Lock her in the closet until the party concludes.
– Do we really need to go that far?
– That's preferable to killing her, isn't it?
– As you wish.
Yet, the female protagonist triumphed over adversity, like a true heroine.
As one would expect from the female protagonist.
The crown prince aided her.
The head mage's disciple aided her.
The whole world was on the female protagonist's side.
And so, when the first semester concluded,
Olivia was utterly devastated.
The Viscount who had favored Olivia, who was once gilded, gave up on rehabilitating her, and even the servants who had been fond of her began to treat her as the family's discard.
After the end of the first semester, I was the only one left at Olivia's side.
But deep within, I felt a sense of relief. I was glad that she hadn't made the extreme choices that she had in the original story.
When I first found myself in this world, I was solely focused on my survival, but now, my biggest hope was for Olivia, with whom I shared 13 years of struggle, to grow up healthy.
She may have lost her wealth and status, but I believed it would be better than the original narrative if she could live peacefully in exile in the countryside.
However, life didn't align with my wishes.
– Miss, this can't continue.
– Quiet. Michail is mine. He's mine… He has to understand this.
– Please get a grip! You know very well that no matter what you resort to, nothing will change!
– Silence! What would a slum dweller like you, who almost died of starvation, understand? You think that being with me for so long has elevated you? You are nothing but an opportunist servant… keep quiet and stay still!
She resorted to using black magic, forbidden by the Empire.
In the Empire, even the imperial family would be punished for using black magic. It was certainly unacceptable for a mere Viscount's daughter.
Undoubtedly, she would be disowned by her family.
And lose all her remaining assets.
Her beloved dresses.
Jewels.
The servants who had once flattered her.
Clearly, she would lose everything.
But a love-stricken Olivia resorted to black magic in an attempt to brainwash Michail.
– Kyaa─! Wah─!
– Miss!
– Ricardo, my legs! My legs! My legs!
Predictably, the result was a failure.
The physician claimed,
– The after-effects of black magic burned down all the magical circuits.
– And what's that got to do with her legs? Why can't the young miss move her legs?
– It seems that the nerves connected to her lower body were also burned when the circuits were damaged.
– What does that imply? Can you convert your diagnosis into simple terms?
– She won't ever be able to regain the strength to walk─
– Pardon? Repeat that.
After this, Olivia's life was over.
She was embroiled in a scandal.
Abandoned.
Left with nothing but a grand mansion.
Olivia was now far removed from her days as the delight of high society and even the ability to walk was beyond her reach.
***
After scrubbing the walls all day, the foul words that had besmirched the walls were finally hardly discernible.
With the mistress fallen, I wasn't swamped with chores. My main responsibility was to attend to the bedridden young miss.
Nearly time to conclude this task, followed by feeding the young miss her dinner, then my duties for today will be over─though considering the fine imposed for using black magic, keeping my sanity can be quite a challenge.
There's more than one or two tasks awaiting me.
I need to find a way to help Miss Olivia pay for her treatment.
With the family's support cut off, I had to manage to secure our living expenses.
A part of my heart was withering due to our lack of resources, but knowing that Miss Olivia hadn't made the tragic choices like in the original story was consoling.
I dunked the dirty rag into the bucket.
The water in the bucket was filled with residue from the old cleaning water.
It felt good to have accomplished something.
What should I prepare for tonight's dinner?
"Perhaps the steak that young Miss likes…"
The sky was shockingly clear.
The clearer it is, the quicker the paint dries. I quickly rushed to fetch water in the bucket and rinse the rag.
Suddenly,
– Bam!
A loud noise came from young Miss Olivia's room.
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