The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Histania Hanna clenched her fists as she looked at Rowen.

She couldn’t understand why her father was here at the Academy, especially at this late hour.

His presence was unwelcome. Seeing his face always reminded her of the nightmare of the Blue Window, making her want to avoid him.

Hanna bowed her head unnaturally as her father called out to her in a rare gentle voice.

“Dad… no, Father.”

Rowen stood silently watching Hanna. Her defiance in continuing to wield a sword irked him, and the vision he had seen plagued him with nightmares. He could only stand there and watch.

Hanna had to know. She couldn’t return to the dorm without answers, knowing she wouldn’t be able to sleep. She clenched her fists and spoke to Rowen.

“Why are you here?”

She ive up.

“…You’re not going to greet me?”

Rowen’s bitter words made Hanna’s expression harden as she responded.

“No.”

“Cold-hearted.”

“Not as much as you were.”

“…”

Rowen nodded at her cold reply.

It was an undeniable fact, and he had no regrets about his past harshness. To Rowen, regretting past actions was a pointless exercise.

What bothered him now was the thought that someone had influenced his daughter’s sudden change in attitude.

Thinking of the man with red hair and strength unmatched for his age, Rowen felt displeased.

-Do you want to be buried in a sunny spot?

That insolent, unpredictable man who had undoubtedly influenced Hanna.

Rowen, sporting a bitter smile at Hanna’s cold response, tried to soften the dark atmosphere.

Today, he didn’t want to lose his temper.

It had been a long time since he’d seen his daughter.

There were things he wanted to say.

And his concern over making her give up the sword hadn’t vanished.

Hanna was a talented child.

Though reluctant to admit he had been wrong, Hanna’s results clearly proved his mistake.

But Rowen couldn’t shake off the fear from the vision he had seen that day. He didn’t want to experience losing someone again.

His wife had been injured.

Due hter.

He was harsh but he loved her.

Having learned only the ways to revive the family, he didn’t know how to give tender love, passing on the education he had received as a child.

And it was far less harsh compared to what he had endured.

He accepted the Academy’s invitation mainly to talk with Hanna again, though there were other purposes.

Rowen gathered his thoughts and spoke to Hanna.

“I was invited to the Academy as a temporary teacher. To teach the growing sprouts.”

“…And you never taught me yet, you’re teaching others?”

Hanna bit her lip.

Her father, an intruder, had come to her sanctuary, and she was frightened.

Michail, sensing the awkward atmosphere, bowed to Rowen.

“I will take my leave now, Sir.”

Hanna’s expression twisted as Michail’s words reached her ears.

She couldn’t comprehend what she had heard. Despite the harsh treatment and never sparring once, now he called him “teacher.”

Hanna tremblingly glanced between Rowen and Michail before speaking.

“Did you just call him your teacher?”

Hanna’s clenched fists turned pale. Ready to charge forward, her piercing gaze caught Michail off guard.

Rowen answered Hanna’s words calmly.

“Something happened while you were away.”

“And that’s your excuse now?”

“Precisely.”

With Rowen’s indifferent reply, Hanna tightened her fists and listened.

“Malik said he wouldn’t take the position of the family head.”

“…Pardon?”

“He said he has a dream. An unrealistic dream.”

Rowen recalled the face of his eldest son who had visited him recently.

-I will give up the position of the vice head.

-…What did you say?

-There’s my sister to take my place… she desires it, and headship means nothing more than wielding a sword expertly.

-Your stubbornness is beyond comprehension. Do you think I’ll entertain such nonsense?

-I’ve thought hard about it. Watching Hanna taught me a lot.

Thinking of Malik’s face, like someone who had found a shortcut through numerous crossroads, Rowen spoke.

“Why do none of you listen to me? Is it funny to disobey your father?”

Rowen’s irritated words made Hanna’s shoulders twitch.

Again. Her father, crushing others when things didn’t go his way.

Most people cowered at his stubbornness. She had too.

She thought she had overcome it, yet Rowen still frightened her.

Seeing Hanna’s lips tightly sealed, Rowen spoke of what had happened.

“Malik said he wanted to prove himself like you did. Even though I never acknowledged him.”

“I never wanted your acknowledgement. You wouldn’t give it anyway.”

“…”

“I want to know if you told my brother to quit like you did me.”

Hanna clenched her fists and asked Rowen.

She had heard a hin voice, she continued.

“Did you tell him to stop like you did me?”

“…Histania Hanna.”

Rowen’s use of her full name was a warning.

A warning from her father of unacceptable insolence, but Hanna persisted.

Regardless of her fear, some dreams should not be trampled on.

Though her dream had been crushed by her father, she didn’t want the same for her brother.

Her first apology was from her brother, filling the void of family, and she knew how heartbreaking and wretched it was not to be supported in what you wanted to do. She clenched her trembling fists and overcame her fear.

“Are you trying to ruin my brother’s dream too?”

Rowen answered without wavering.

“Histania Hanna…!”

The thought of a blunder crossed Rowen’s mind, but he continued, dismissing it with a shake of his head.

Malik wasn’t weak.

“I told him to stop. That the world isn’t kind enough to bet one’s life on the miracles achieved by a few.”

Hanna immediately caught the hint in her father’s reference to a miracle directed at her.

Ignoring the efforts she made, her father’s careless words also disregarded her butler.

With her hands turning cold, Rowen’s voice kept intruding her silence.

“Your bro a new disciple will serve as a warning to your brother…”

Hanna’s cold voice interrupted Rowen.

“…The miracle already happened.”

“Surviving in this damn family was the miracle.”

“When will you stop, Father? Is crushing me not enough? How many more holes do you need to tear in my heart before you’re satisfied!”

Her icy outburst was met with silence. Rowen only gripped his sword tighter, his displeasure evident. He said nothing, displaying his stubborn resolve.

“In time, you will understand my words.”

“No, I will never understand you.”

As Rowen passed by Hanna, he spoke coldly.

“I still haven’t acknowledged your sword.”

Hanna responded with frustration in her voice.

“Please, just stop already!”

Despite proving herself through skill, she couldn’t fathom what more was required for his approval.

Unable to find a reason.

Hanna clenched her fists and spoke, possibly regretting what came next as her anger overflowed.

“Let’s have a duel with your disciple.”

“…Such arrogance.”

“Too much self-consciousness.”

Rowen, hands in his pockets, listened to Hanna’s proposal, thinking it might be the chance to make her drop the sword once and for all.

Rowen, with a haughty look, spoke with surety of victory.

“If I lose, I will return to the family, drop the sword, and follow your words.”

“But.”

Hanna clenched her fists, staring at Rowen. She resented him for trying to bind her and knew this might be the only way to break free.

With resolve, Hanna spoke to Rowen.

“If I win, never appear before me again. Stay away from my life, my wedding, my brother’s dreams, disappear.”

Rowen nodded.

“Fine.”

Confident of his victory.

Believing he would win.

A cold atmosphere spread as the silence amplified the moment.

“Am I not included?”

A grating voice reached Rowen’s ears.

Someone who had been listening all along walked into the training ground with a heavy smile.

Facing Rowen, the person spoke.

“How about a duel between teachers instead of disciples?”

Looking at Rowen with a smile.

“I think that sounds just fine.”

End of Chapter