The Villain’s Ending

Chapter 31

Coloring (13)

Estelle hit Perion.

First with her fists, then with her feet.

Like a child splashing in puddles on a rainy day.

The only difference was that what splattered everywhere wasn't muddy water.

Dull thuds echoed through the empty room.

The sound of flesh and bone colliding, erupting screams.

All those sounds mingled, creating a grotesque din.

The sight of the stout middle-aged man being crushed, making sickening noises, was not a pleasant one.

The room was filled with the mixed smells of metallic blood and dust.Perion resisted at first.

He swore, and he struggled.

But it was no use.

There was nothing superfluous about Estelle's movements.

As if it were something she had been doing for a long time, it was natural and skillful.

With one kick from her, the sound of several of his ribs breaking was heard.

"Ah, no! My arm is broken! Ugh!"

Perion's arm was bent at a grotesque angle.

The sound of bone breaking echoed sharply.

Estelle paused her movements for a moment.

And then, she gently placed her hand on his broken arm.

A soft light emanated from her hand.

Crack.

The sound of bones returning to their place was heard.

Perion's scream turned into one of shock.

He stared at his perfectly healed arm, as if unable to believe it.

And then, Estelle kicked that arm again.

Thwack!

She was smiling.

A faint smile played on her lips.

But her eyes were not smiling.

When Perion was almost on the verge of death, she would heal him.

And then she would hit him again.

Without tiring at all, mind you.

Though his body was healed, the pain did not seem to disappear.

Now, nothing but terror remained in his eyes.

Perion no longer looked at Estelle.

His gaze was directed towards me, standing in the corner of the room.

His eyes held his last desperate plea.

"P-please... save me...!"

His voice was hoarse and ragged.

Bloody spittle and saliva mixed, dribbling down his chin.

"Anything, I'll give you anything! Money! Women! Anything!

Please, stop that crazy bitch!"

He began to crawl towards me.

Dragging his broken body, leaving a trail of blood on the floor.

Blood splattered from his body, dotting my pants and shirt.

A warm, sticky sensation.

The metallic smell stung my nose.

I somehow thought it was disgusting.

"Aren't you two talking to each other?"

"No, I don't want to exchange words with him."

She was holding Perion by his hair.

As if holding a dirty rag.

"I'll go downstairs for a bit."

My voice was so calm it surprised even myself.

Like someone who, finding a boring play tedious, simply announced they were going out for some fresh air.

Estelle looked at me.

My reflection was in her eyes.

She tilted her head slightly.

"Hm? Oh, right. Watching him get butchered is a bit disgusting, isn't it?

You can rest downstairs. I'll be down as soon as I'm done."

She turned her gaze back to Perion.

Without a word, I left the room.

From behind me, Perion's screams were heard again.

The sound grew fainter and fainter as I descended the stairs.

The first floor was quiet.

The servants Estelle had put to sleep were sprawled throughout the hallway.

They were all asleep with peaceful expressions.

As if dreaming very deep, sweet dreams.

The sight felt somehow surreal.

I carefully made my way to the dining room, being sure not to step on them.

Looking towards the window, I saw moonlight dimly entering through it.

I took out a white, clean cup from the cupboard.

Then I found a kettle and boiled water.

I tore open the bag of coffee beans; their strong aroma suggested they were quite high-quality.

I ground the beans and put them in a filter.

I slowly poured hot water.

The sound of coffee dripping quietly echoed in the room.

The rich aroma of coffee faintly covered the metallic smell of blood that had assailed my nose.

I waited for the coffee to finish brewing and poured it into the cup.

Steam rose in wisps.

Leaning back in a chair, I enjoyed the coffee's aroma.

The warmth of the cup felt pleasant.

So much so that the faint noises still coming from upstairs could be casually ignored.

Just then.

The mansion's door was heard opening cautiously.

Creak.

I didn't turn my head.

I remained still, holding my coffee cup.

Light, hesitant footsteps.

The footsteps stopped in front of me.

I slowly turned my head.

A young girl stood in the darkness.

I didn't remember her name, but I remembered her face.

The girl who always stuck to Kyle like a shadow.

She wasn't wearing a school uniform, but it was definitely her.

She seemed to be the very person 'Lavin' used to mock, sneering, "Why is a mere girl playing at being a knight?"

Honestly, my thoughts haven't changed much even now.

Born into a prominent noble family, she could have fallen in love with a decent person and lived happily, so why does she live like that?

While some have their cherished engagements broken, are kicked out of their homes, and are watching a crazy Saintess's snuff film, that is.

To be raised like a precious jewel by one's family, only to live a life following others around instead of a happy, loving life with someone.

She stared blankly at me.

Her gaze swept over the servants sprawled in the hallway, lingered on the bloodstains on my clothes, and then moved to the coffee cup I was holding.

Her eyes were wide.

Her lips trembled.

She tried to say something, but no sound came out.

"Um..."

The moment I tried to open my mouth, she screamed.

"Eek!"

She drew the sword from her waist.

But her hands were trembling uncontrollably, making the sword tip shake wildly.

The sight looked more pathetic than threatening.

"L-Lavin Edelgard! When I first heard it, I thought it was just a rumor!! Don't resist, just surr—"

"When I heard it," she said.

Thinking back, I recalled Seraphina grabbing me and repeatedly asking if I was still going to church.

But before she could even finish her sentence, a sound from upstairs reached us, but it only briefly crossed my mind.

Creak.

It was Estelle descending the stairs.

At that sound, the girl, startled, looked in that direction.

Her face turned stark white with terror.

As if she had seen a ghost.

"Eeek!"

She trembled uncontrollably and stumbled backward.

Then she turned and started running away frantically.

She staggered and almost fell, but she didn't stop.

Thud!

She bumped her face into the wall once, massaged her forehead, then got up again and dashed out.

And then, silence returned to the dining room.

I briefly gazed at the door through which she had vanished.

Then I turned my gaze back to my coffee cup.

The coffee had cooled down a bit.

I slowly drank the remaining coffee.

Not long after, Estelle came down.

She was stretching with a refreshed expression.

As if she had just woken up from a very invigorating sleep.

Her black priest's robes were now so smeared with blood that they appeared blackish-red.

Even in the darkness, the sticky texture seemed palpable.

"Mmm, refreshing."

She hummed a happy tune as she approached me.

"What happened? I heard some strange noises downstairs."

She naturally took the coffee cup I was drinking from and took a sip.

Then she frowned.

"Ugh, it's bitter. No sugar?"

"How would I know? It's someone else's house."

Just then, Estelle's gaze landed on something on the floor.

It was a small silver pendant.

An ornate crest was engraved on it.

Estelle picked it up and handed it to me.

"Is this yours?"

"No. Someone dropped it while running away."

"Ah, that. Hmm. This is the first time I've been caught."

Instead of answering, I took the coffee cup back and took a sip.

Estelle giggled at the sight.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to tell them. That you and I have been offering prayers of repentance at the church since last night, you know. Very devoutly, just the Saintess and you, all night long."

She put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer.

A mixture of blood and a faint scent of wine emanated from her body.

Rather than being disgusting, it was somehow a peculiar smell.

"By the way, you're much handsomer than I thought. You're similar to Levina, which isn't really my type, but maybe that makes you even better."

"Suddenly?"

"What can I say, you're too calm, that's your problem. Even in this situation, you're brewing coffee."

"No, the beans looked quite good. I'm sure the owner would have wanted them served."

"Well, that pig. It'd be a miracle if he didn't drug them before serving, at least."

She took the coffee cup from my hand again and took a sip.

This time, she didn't frown.

"But this coffee, it actually tastes pretty good. It's fine once you get used to it."

Her red eyes stared intently at me.

"Anyway, it means you've finally gotten a bit uglier now.

When I first saw you, you looked shockingly identical. I thought you were my adult self."

Estelle came closer and caressed my face, then pinched my cheek.

It didn't hurt.

Only now did I understand why she always touched my face every time we met.

Perhaps she was literally trying to see someone else's face overlaid on mine.

Her fingers, which had been caressing my face, brushed against the bloodstains on my shirt.

"This won't come out easily. I'll buy you a new one.

Later, let's wear casual clothes and walk around town together sometime. I've always wanted to do that."

She laughed as if pleased.

Then she wrapped her arm around my neck and brought her face close.

So close that our noses almost touched.

"In a few days, come out to play again, just like today."

From her breath, a mixture of coffee, blood, and sweet wine scents wafted.

We returned to the church.

Estelle brought some clean clothes from somewhere and told me to change.

While I changed, she pushed two long benches together to make a bed.

She brought soft cushions from the altar, laid them down, and covered them with a purple velvet cloth.

It looked quite convincing.

"Alright, lie down."

She said, looking at me after I had changed my clothes.

Estelle had also taken off her blood-stained black priest's robes and changed into ordinary white priest's robes.

"...Here?"

"Of course. You're supposedly offering prayers of repentance with me all night long, aren't you? No more talking, just lie down."

When I lay down on one side of the pushed-together long benches, they creaked.

But it was more comfortable than I expected.

Estelle lay down beside me.

We looked up at the ceiling side by side.

Moonlight streaming through the stained-glass windows shimmered on the ceiling.

No one spoke.

Only the faint sound of our breathing echoed softly in the quiet church.

Estelle's body heat was felt beside me.

It was warm.

"...Hey."

After a long while, Estelle spoke.

"Never mind. Good night."