Volume 1 Chapter 38, Part 2 Mean Villainess, Know My Past
"W-wait, Rolus, can I listen to that story next to you?"
I had been sitting across from him, but now that Rolus's past story was about to begin, it seemed heavier than I expected, making me a bit anxious.
I wanted to listen as closely as possible, so I hurriedly moved and sat next to Rolus, taking his left hand in mine.
His left hand was cold.
"...Why?"
"Just because."
Seeing Rolus's puzzled expression as he looked at his left hand, I let out a clumsy smile.
"It seems I had quite a few siblings. I clearly remember having 2 brothers. The eldest was raised properly as the heir, and the second was raised as insurance in case something happened to the eldest. The one from earlier is the second son."
"I see."
I nodded while stroking Rolus's thumbnail.
"My sisters who were alive were sold off, and I don't know what happened to my brothers. The people who were supposed to be my parents didn't see people as people."
When I stole a glance at Rolus's expression, there was no emotion on his face.
There was no trace of the fear he had shown earlier, nothing at all.
"The people who didn't see others as people valued money above all else. So, while they might have sent the eldest to school, they didn't send the second son. That must be why he said 'the school I wanted to go to but couldn't.'"
That means the second son was left to just exist in that house without being allowed to do anything... isn't that a living hell?
"...That's a scary story."
"Yes. So, for the second son, I must be an object of hatred, living so freely. In fact, I've seen some of my siblings die, and honestly, I have a preconceived notion that everyone except the eldest and second son is probably dead. After all, the person I thought was dead, who must have suffered worse than me, is here looking clean and well."
It seems my assumption that Rolus would think of me as below him was not wrong.
"...But Rolus, you... um..."
"Yes?"
"You were abandoned... and came here, right? "
"Yes. The people who saw me as a nuisance took me to the territory's cafeteria first. They said to hire me as a live-in servant. Naturally, those who didn't see people as people were disliked by the residents, and I was treated poorly."
So Rolus's original first-person pronoun was "ore."
I just learned that for the first time.
Also, since he mentioned territory and residents, Rolus must have been a noble's child.
"It was master who picked me up when I was in a daze there. Because he picked me up, I didn't die."
When Rolus was brought here, I thought he looked like a skinny bean sprout, but I never imagined he had been abandoned once before coming to this house.
"I had no idea at all."
"Oh, didn't I mention it... Lady?"
I thought I shouldn't cry now.
If I cried here, it would seem like I was sympathizing with him.
But that's not it.
Even though I thought I shouldn't, a tear I couldn't hold back fell onto Rolus's left hand.
"I'm sorry, Rolus."
"No, there's nothing for you to apologize for, Lady."
"I was just happy that you came here without knowing anything. I was so happy to have a friend who is always with me without thinking about anything. I was so happy to have an older brother who would forgive me no matter how much I relied on him."
"Lady...?"
"Considering that you came here at that age, away from your parents, I should have easily guessed that you must have gone through something tough, but I just felt happy, and that makes me feel so pathetic."
How painful must it have been for Rolus to watch me being doted on by my parents and brother all the time?
What a cruel thing I had done to Rolus.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Rolus..."
"Oh, Lady, I am a servant, Lady."
"Don't say that anymore, eh, Rolus, why did you just move a little away from me?"
Rolus, who had been sitting straight until now, slightly leaned back away from me.
Was there anything in the flow of the conversation that would make him lean back?
When I looked up, I met the eyes of Rolus, who seemed somewhat flustered.
"I am not a friend or an older brother, but a Servant, Lady."
"Huh, is that the part you're getting hung up on?"
No way.
Can I have my tears back?
"...No, um, I apologize, but I thought I would eventually be discarded by the people here, so if Lady is happy, then that's good."
Rolus's words gradually trailed off, and by the end, I could hardly hear him.
What did you say?
I leaned in closer, but he just recoiled further, making it pointless.
"A-anyway, Lady. I apologize for causing you trouble today."
"No, I don't think it was a bother. But, can I recognize your original family as enemies?"
"Yes. The people who were probably my family are all a nuisance to you and your family. And the features of my family are this black hair and green eyes."
"Speaking of which, that second son had the same colors, didn't he?"
"For some reason, I don't know the details, but most of the people in that family had those colors."
Genes must be strong, huh?
I don't know, but.
However, if I can somewhat infer from appearances, that's a relief.
"Rolus, don't you have any lingering feelings for your family?"
"No. ...I think I was lucky to be brought to this house."
"Even though you're a Servant?"
"Yes, even though I'm a Servant. My original family never even looked at me. The only one who truly cares about me is you, Lady. Even though I'm a Servant. As expected of a mean noble lady who has had her mean points reduced by 20 thousand."
"Guh, guu...!"
I couldn't find a comeback...!!
Anyway, anyone who harms Rolus is my enemy.
That second son's situation must be very sad, but I can't help both.
I don't have that kind of power.
I must ensure that Rolus's enemies don't get close to him so that I don't lose him.
"But you know, I was a bit like a Mean Villainess today, right? I should get a few points for that, right?"
"That's right. At that moment, I certainly felt like an intimidating young lady. However, after hearing about the Servant's past and feeling sorry and worried, the result is a status quo."
Unexpectedly, it's a zero-sum situation!!
"No, no, no! It's only natural to feel sorry and worried, right!?"
"I am a Servant, Lady."
"I think of you as a Servant, but I also think of you as a friend and an older brother!! "
"Guh, guuh..."
Now it was Rolus's turn to be at a loss for words.
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