316 – The Way of Love -1-

I harbor the feeling of love.

A difficult emotion that I cannot carelessly speak of to anyone.

Some might say that this feeling of love is warm and makes the heart swell, while for someone whose love is fading, it might be expressed as the fear of facing separation. I held this feeling tightly within my heart.

Under the shadow of the blue Milky Way spread across the night sky, I gazed softly at the young lady sleeping on the bed.

“Um-nya…”

White hair.

Sharp eyes.

The lady, who evokes the image of an angel just by her sleeping form, was tightly clutching the bracelet I had gifted her.

“Hmm… bracelet… something to eat…”

A faint smile crept onto my face at her sleep-talking. Despite her appearance being that of an elite young lady, her murmurs were endearingly cute.

“Hmm… yum yum…”

“You don’t chew on hair.”

“Ugh… the chocolate has gone bad…”

“…Pfft! Oh dear… I should be quiet.”

I gently whispered as I tucked her hair behind her ear, careful not to wake her. After all, she was a lady who wouldn’t even notice if someone were to carry her away, but as her caretaker, I had to always be cautious.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Did she hear my soft whisper?

The lady hugged the bracelet even tighter to her chest and smiled bashfully.

“Hehe…”

“You look lovely.”

Perhaps it was the moonlight. Tonight, I found myself feeling more sentimental than usual, pondering what love truly meant to me.

Was it the tears of the mermaid princess that vanish like bubbles, or the heart of the sleeping beauty awakened by the prince’s kiss?

“…”

Having never experienced love, I found it hard to express.

I had never dreamed of a magnificent love like the protagonists in fairy tales, nor did I have the luxury to dream.

Everyone thinks at least once about becoming a wonderful protagonist from a fairy tale, but… since I’ve never received love in my life, both receiving and giving love felt awkward and clumsy.

What should I say? Perhaps it’s a fairy tale that has begun but hasn’t reached its conclusion. My unrequited love is still ongoing.

“…It’s difficult.”

“Ugh…!”

“I wish there were an answer sheet, but that would probably be boring.”

“Hmm… slurp slurp…”

As I gazed at the lady illuminated by the moonlight, a small smile broke across my face. She was deep in slumber, unaware of the world around her.

“It seems you are indeed a villainess.”

“Hmm… huh? Ugh… slurp slurp.”

The lady reacted to the word “villainess.” Her sleeping form always brought a smile to my lips.

Truly, what an interesting person.

“…”

It seems my love is filled with hardships.

Caring for the wounded.

And not being able to share their pain.

This love, which offers nothing in return, feels like a somewhat arduous journey.

Regrettably so.

I wonder when I first became aware of the feeling called love. It surely wasn’t love at first sight.

-…What are you looking at!

-…?

-EEEK!

-???

“Pfft…!”

It didn’t feel like the kind of heart-pounding encounter you’d see in a drama, so I never thought I would fall for someone at our first meeting.

After all, they were such a unique person.

I knew that much.

‘I really don’t understand.’

I thought I would never get close to the feeling of love, but now, just seeing their face makes me smile… It’s a big problem.

The heart I offered out of curiosity has grown to the point where the lady residing in my room has become indispensable.

Now, even if I ask her to leave, she can’t.

At first, I thought she was a villain I didn’t want to get entangled with. I was reluctant to even converse, but now, just her laughter has reached a level where it shatters my calculations with a ‘clack,’ making it impossible not to find it amusing.

-Woah…! Beggar…!

-Beggar…?

-Hand!

-Hand…?

-Hand! I’ll give you a snack!

-Do you think I’m a dog…?

Even upon reconsideration, it shouldn’t be a relationship that has developed this way, yet the picture presented to others was drawn as convincingly as a drama.

A beggar from the slums and a noble family.

Though the Desmund family had a poor reputation, their influence was such that even the emperor wouldn’t dare to look down upon them. A noble lady saving a child from the slums, and that child awakening as a sword master while dreaming of love.

‘…There’s no drama at all.’

If you take away the title of “possessor,” it could easily be turned into a century-defining romance youth story, but the truth is, their meeting was so special that it didn’t feel out of place.

“Ugh.”

The noble young lady was peculiar in many ways.

“…”

Well, the person in question probably had no thoughts about it.

“Ugh!”

“Miss… my eardrums are going to burst.”

“Hmm… slurp… slurp…”

So, when did you fall in love?

“…”

‘I don’t know.’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find a reason for falling for the young lady. She hadn’t treated me particularly well, nor had she shown any extraordinary affection… What should I call this feeling? Perhaps I should say I’ve seeped into that person.

-Ask her!

-But I’m a person.

-Eek! Then I’ll ask.

-…?

-Throw it!

Seeing her face makes me feel good, but I can’t pinpoint when that feeling started.

Even her picking her nose looks cute, and her pouting seems adorable too. I, who have fallen seriously ill with a severe case of butler syndrome, shook my head and let out a faint sigh.

“Sniff…”

I looked at the young lady’s peacefully sleeping face and let out a soft chuckle.

“Not at all…”

I realized I might have been thinking about it all wrong. The very act of trying to find a reason for my infatuation was misguided.

The young lady I serve is the most beautiful person in the world. No matter what anyone says, it’s only natural to fall for her.

Over thirteen years.

There had been times when nobles had picked fights with her.

“Hey, Olivia! Why are you hanging out with a commoner? Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Shut up…!”

“Calm down. I’m fine… Where did she go?”

-Die!!!

-…?

There was a time when the lady was kidnapped by robbers after money.

-Why did you come so late!

-I got lost, you see.

-I was scared!

-Haha… I’m sorry.

-Ugh…

-From now on, you shouldn’t follow strangers just because they offer you chocolate.

-…Ugh.

-I’ll give you more chocolate, though.

-Okay…

There were moments at the academy that left unforgettable scars.

-Olivia, aren’t you embarrassed hanging out with that commoner? He even smells weird.

-Oh, Ricardo? He’s just a dog who does whatever I tell him to.

-Puhahaha…! What’s that!

-…Really? Is it fun?

-Oh! Puhahahaha! You’re really funny.

-Thud.

-Ouch! What a bird..! Huh…? Were you… listening?

-Ah… no. Let’s go eat.

Not all memories were good.

Sometimes, the lady’s casual remarks would hurt, and there were times when I felt like I was talking to a wall, letting out a sigh. That’s why I had to keep my distance at the academy.

What could this be?

Even knowing she was a villainess, I felt a pang of disappointment, and at the same time, a sense of deprivation in feeling like it was all nothing.

Yet, despite it all.

-Sob…

-…?

-I have no friends…

-…

– I need to apologize to Ricardo too…

Seeing the young lady, who was sulking with her notebook open, made that feeling lift lightly. It was enough to make the desire of the possessor to be with the protagonist fade away.

Despite her earnest efforts, the young lady always circled back to the same spot, and if there was someone waiting for her there, that alone was enough.

‘Well, it is a foolish thing to do.’

One thing was certain: the young lady was definitely not a good person.

She didn’t restrain herself like the heroines in novels or the doves that sing of peace; she acted on instinct. If she was hungry, she ate; if she was sleepy, she slept; if she was angry, she cursed.

Yet, the young lady was.

– Why… is everyone avoiding me…?!

She was a tender-hearted person.

Not honest, but the most honest person. The worst villain in the world, yet the kindest villain of all. That’s why I think I like her.

For that reason, I serve her.

To me, she is my lord and the most precious person in the world.

Even if sometimes I feel like countless daggers are piercing my heart. After thirteen years together, I was able to endure it.

Now, I can discern whether the daggers I let slip are lies or not. Of course, I struggled at the academy because of Mikhail, but I was grateful that even that could now be seen as a memory.

Twisting the story of the novel.

Honestly, if I had been afraid of that, I wouldn’t have approached the young lady at all.

So perhaps that’s why I like her.

She’s cuter than anyone.

“Mmhm…”

Among all the princesses in the world, she snores the loudest.

“Ker-ack!”

She’s more beautiful than any princess from a fairy tale.

– I’m pretty!

I liked that the young lady, who hated relying on anyone, leaned on me.

Today, I reached out my hand.

Towards the young lady’s legs.

I’m not afraid of my lifespan shortening. A better future. If the moments we can laugh together can remain as better memories for her, that alone is enough.

Now, my lifespan has increased.

And now that there’s nothing left to fear.

I decided not to hesitate.

I want to play again.

Not on the Ferris wheel, but to run with the lady.

It’s not a grand wish, but I hoped my dream would come true as I placed my hand on the lady’s leg.

“Sweet dreams…”

– The limit-breaking ‘Rehabilitation’s Touch’ tests the boundaries of its capabilities.

[The enhanced ‘Rehabilitation’s Touch’ is applied to ‘Olivia’s’ leg.]

A small tremor accompanied my smile.

Though the lady might not be able to walk at once, I closed my eyes comfortably, hoping that this stubbornness would reach her someday.

This is just the way my foolish love expresses itself.