An empty room in Olivia's mansion.
Hannah was lying alone in a dark room, having a sleepless night.
Go to your father without thinking.
Disappointed in my father.
A day saved by Ricardo.
Hannah's eyes did not close on this impressive day.
-You are my precious disciple.
Hannah's face flushed brightly as today's events flashed before her eyes.
"oh my god…."
Hannah kicked the blanket as she kept thinking about Ricardo.
“It was so cool….”
Because something that I only saw in fairy tales happened to me.
Ricardo, who appeared like a comet before her, a man full of hardships and trials, was an unsightly figure, falling from the ceiling, but to Hannah, he felt more wonderful than anything else.
His red hair fluttering in the dust seemed to shine brighter than the red sun in Hannah's eyes, and his calm appearance made him look like a prince from a fairy tale.
It felt like time had stopped. Goosebumps ran down my spine and a tugging sensation washed over me, as if I were the only one there, the butler.
The butler who only looked at himself.
I was crying in frustration.
Hannah had no choice but to admit it, seeing the butler's gaze that was filled with sorrow.
I love that man.
Hannah, lying in bed, looked at her right hand in the soft moonlight shining through the window.
A small, slender right hand.
When she came out of the mansion, it seemed like the warmth of Ricardo holding her hand still lingered in her hand.
Ricardo's hands were rough and calloused, as if he had been living his life as a butler, but he still couldn't forget the warmth he felt back then.
-He is my precious disciple. He is someone you cannot treat lightly.
Hannah hugged the hand that still held her warmth tightly. She wanted to feel it again, and it calmed her troubled mind.
Hannah liked this warmth so much that she wanted to go to the butler right away and ask him to hold her hand.
"I think I'm crazy..."
In the darkness, Hannah thought.
'Why am I doing this to you?'
And I didn't do anything.
I just kept receiving it.
Why does he come forward without hesitation?
I felt sorry for Ricardo for the growing debt of gratitude, but at the same time, I felt grateful.
'I just cry like an idiot and don't give anything back... but I've received so much.'
This time, Hannah felt sorry for placing the burden of her love on Ricardo's shoulders.
Honestly... today.
I thought Ricardo would back down.
Because I thought I would be crushed by my father's momentum and just say nice things and disappear.
Everyone who had a grievance against their father did so.
Business-related issues too.
Also issues related to the territory.
He bowed his head and relented, admitting it was his fault, before his father. I assumed Ricardo would do the same.
It's not that Ricardo was bad, it's just that it was natural.
That it was not a matter for him to get involved in.
I thought he would turn around and leave me.
If I were Ricardo, I would have done the same.
but.
Ricardo did not back down.
Rather, I gritted my teeth and accepted it stubbornly.
-Do you want to be buried in a sunny place?
Spit out words that cut through your heart.
When I see Ricardo, who has been telling his father everything he has wanted to say.
It felt refreshing and envious at the same time.
Because it was something he couldn't do.
Because it's scary and frightening.
I've been holding back for so long.
Because I suppressed my emotions.
But Ricardo had done it without a second thought. He had stood up to his father as if it were natural, had embraced him with dignity, and had even freed him from the Histania fence with a warm hand.
'It's the butler again.'
Ricardo, who always opened the door for me when times were tough.
Hannah could no longer deny it.
That she likes him.
-Thump...thump...
My heart is pounding like crazy.
It seemed as if he was broken and kept calling Ricardo's name.
"love..."
The feeling of love was so difficult.
at the same time.
The feeling of love began to grow on Hannah.
I don't think it can be denied.
I like Ricardo.
What woman in the world wouldn't like a man who always saves her? No matter how ugly he is, if he's there to help her in her most difficult moments and always gives her a bright smile, she can't help but like him, even if he's her enemy.
Our first meeting was the worst….
Now, Hannah was someone I wanted to see more and more.
And he was also handsome.
Hannah was so infatuated with Ricardo that she began to suspect that he might like her.
There is no way to escape.
There was no way out.
My pounding heart is urging me not to deny it, but how can I deny it?
I still want to see you.
This incident solidified Ricardo's presence in Hannah's heart.
A person you can never let go of.
And the person I am most grateful to.
This was the first time I felt this tingling sensation, and I wasn't sure if I could handle it well, but one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to stay by Ricardo's side.
I wanted to hold his hand and go to the sea, and be led by his rough hands as I walked through the downtown area.
"Now, what do I do..."
Hannah smiled, spitting out a small word of resentment at Ricardo, who had torn her heart apart.
"If it gets better here... really..."
The depressed feelings I had towards my father were being forgotten because of one person.
A lot has happened.
The man who put an end to those things.
Hannah liked him.
I had to go back to the academy tomorrow... but I didn't want to go back.
But, better success.
He needed a new foundation to appear before Ricardo with confidence.
Now, Hannah decided to work hard, not for the name Histania, but for herself and to become someone worthy of Ricardo.
If you've decided to give yourself a gift, you'll want to have some nice wrapping paper.
That was the best he could do for Ricardo, the best he could do to repay a debt he couldn't repay.
The last night is coming to an end in the villainess's house.
There are new family members.
Princess Olivia still lives in a peaceful mansion where she loves to eat.
Hannah liked it here.
My mind feels at ease.
Because my favorite person was here.
Hannah was so envious of the almost addictive peace, but now she had to prepare to move forward.
Just indulge in peace today.
Hannah closed her eyes, vowing that from tomorrow on, she would once again live as Histania Hannah. No, simply as Hannah.
and.
[Would you like to view it?]
After seeing the truth that had been put off, let's start again.
Hannah clenched her fists.
I thought I could overcome it now. No matter how terrifying the past was, I had decided not to return to it.
Knowing that if she tried to avoid it, she wouldn't be able to find the answer, Hannah muttered softly, looking out the blue window.
"Yes. I will take a look."
〈41st Side Story〉
[The reading of 'If He Were Not There...' begins.]
Hannah began to sink into deep sleep.
***
[10 minutes before viewing begins.]
I opened my eyes in a familiar place.
Green grass.
This is where you can hear the sweet sounds of birds.
It was the middle of the Hamel Mountains, where I had visited dozens of times with Ricardo.
Hannah puffed out her chest and took a breath of cool air. Her eyes opened with a knowing expression, ready to handle whatever was shown, and she slapped her cheek, making a "slap" sound to relieve the tension.
My mind becomes clearer.
The suffocating tension seemed to have eased a little.
"Huh... Okay, it won't be a big deal."
Hannah prepared herself mentally.
Already, my attachment to my father has disappeared and I can already predict what kind of past will come out.
Hannah was sure it would be no different than it was now, though she might be surprised. She wasn't as weak as she used to be.
Ten minutes had passed while I was mentally preparing myself.
[Browsing begins.]
A familiar woman's face began to appear along with blue writing.
With brown hair.
Histania's youngest daughter.
His past face appeared before his eyes.
His expression was not good.
The eyes were swollen and puffy.
The steps going up the mountain were extremely heavy.
-Why... are you only doing this to me?
-I can do it too.
-I can work hard too.
His past self was climbing the mountain, wiping away his flowing tears.
My past self, spewing negative words and blaming myself for my lack of talent, with empty eyes.
How much had she cried? Her eyes were red and flushed, and the sword in her hand was trembling.
-I'm going to show that I can do it too. Then my dad... my brother... my sister will look at me differently.
Oneself who longs for the love of family.
It was a familiar sight.
'I feel stupid.'
Hannah silently followed her past self.
and.
-Tsk...!
The image of himself falling to the orc's club without being able to swing his sword properly began to appear before his eyes.
-Gyaaaah!!!
Hannah's face began to contort with fear.