I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Even though it was the grand mansion of the Duke of Winkaiser, the basement was no different from any other.

It was dim because sunlight couldn’t reach it, damp and humid, and, as a result, the space was dominated by the smell of mold.

“Watch your step.”

Even while descending into the basement, Ricardo displayed his chivalry by escorting me. I held onto his hand firmly as we descended the stairs one by one.

When we reached a door that looked much sturdier than any ordinary door, the two servants or guards standing watch recognized Ricardo and bowed.

“Nothing out of the ordinary, I presume?”

“Yes, of course.”

One of the guards took a key from his belt and opened the door, revealing another corridor.

Though it wasn’t a particularly long corridor, it was still of considerable length, and the only lighting in the place was a single torch in the center, making the surroundings even gloomier.

The servant holding the torch entered first, followed by one of the guards.

Ricardo was next, and just as I was stepping inside, the door behind me creaked shut. Startled, I turned around, only to hear the sound of the door being locked.

Why would they lock the door with people still inside?

“Just in case.”

Ricardo spoke as if he knew why I was surprised.

“Just in case of what?”

“In case he tries to kill us all and escape, we lock the door.”

Ricardo’s explanation made me frown.

Hey, Mister Knight. You said you’d protect me before we came down here, and now you’re talking about us all getting killed?

“It’s just the rule of the Winkaiser mansion basement. It may be called a basement, but it’s practically a prison.”

Indeed, his words rang true.

On both sides of the corridor were thick, solid-looking doors lined up in a row, and within them lay only dead silence and faint darkness.

Even as a joke, it couldn’t be described as a pleasant environment. It was clearly a space meant for imprisoning people.

“This way.”

When the servant shone the light on one of the doors, the guard who had come with us took out a ring of keys. He skillfully selected one key from the bunch that all looked identical and opened the door before us.

The door opened with an unpleasant sound, and the man who opened it stepped back. Ricardo moved forward and peeked inside to check if anything was amiss. Once he confirmed there was nothing unusual, he gave a slight nod in my direction.

The servant with the torch entered first, dispelling the darkness, and Ricardo stepped in boldly.

Being unfamiliar with such a place, I felt a bit nervous as I took a step inside.

The space was just as I had imagined. The basement, without a single window, was dim, damp, and had an odd smell.

The only thing in the empty room was that man.

“Hey.”

As if accustomed to the situation, the servant lightly kicked Paolo, who was lying on the floor.

He twitched.

Was he trying to get up? I squinted, watching closely, but Paolo merely slumped back down again after a slight movement.

“Hey! Get up!”

The servant kicked him a bit harder. Paolo twitched again, but that was all.

“Do you think this is your bed at home?”

Finally, the servant bent down and roughly shook the man with one hand.

“Ugh… Ah…”

With a small groan, Paolo finally regained consciousness.

His eyelids trembled as he struggled to open his eyes. He pressed his bony arm against the floor to push himself up, looking at us with dazed eyes.

His face was just as pitiful. He was so emaciated that his cheekbones were prominently visible, and his cheeks were hollow.

Since it had been over a month since I was attacked in the carriage, he must have been locked up here for the same period.

Considering the time, it made sense that the once-knightley Paolo had now taken on the appearance of a starved, sickly horse.

“Ah… Ah!”

As Paolo’s weary eyes landed on me, a groan tinged with panic escaped his lips.

Was he simply shocked to see a noble lady like me in a place like this? Or had he recognized the very person he had tried to harm and was now panicking?

It didn’t matter either way.

“Paolo.”

Ricardo, too, didn’t seem to care about his reaction and called out his name.

Paolo flinched at the sound of his name but avoided eye contact, as if it wasn’t his name being called.

“I already told you last time that there’s no use pretending, didn’t I?”

Ricardo maintained a stern attitude as he stepped closer to Paolo.

“So? Did you think it over well last night, the offer I made?”

“……”

Paolo still avoided eye contact, acting as if Ricardo’s proposal had nothing to do with him.

“I heard you joined the Second Order of Knights not too long ago, so why are you so determined to remain loyal to Viscount Wensbury?”

“……”

“Did he promise you something? Or does he have some dirt on you?”

“……”

Ricardo asked again, but Paolo remained silent.

He kept his mouth firmly shut, staring down at the cold floor.

And I stood behind Ricardo, quietly looking down at him.

Before coming down here, no, before deciding to confront him, I had many thoughts.

What kind of person is he? Would the memories of that day resurface when I see him, filling me with fear, terror, or perhaps anger?

But when I finally faced Paolo, I was surprised at how neither the memories nor the emotions of that day came back to me.

Instead, I was preoccupied with thoughts of how to get him to talk, how to persuade him to join our side, and how to use him to strike a blow against Viscount Wensbury.

“Paolo.”

When I quietly called his name, I saw his shoulders flinch.

I had suspected it since he reacted when he first saw me, and indeed, he responded to my voice.

“I’ve heard that the Sprendo Knights have a mission to protect children, honor the elderly, and respect women.”

I took a step closer. Ricardo, who was standing in front of me, looked between Paolo and me for a moment before stepping aside to let me through.

“But you failed to uphold that mission, didn’t you? You said you wanted to become a knight, so why did you do it? Why did you revert to being a mercenary who would do anything for money, instead of becoming a noble knight? Wasn’t your intention to join the order to become a knight?”

“……”

Paolo still didn’t speak, but he was clearly reacting to my words.

His shoulders were trembling, and his bowed head was shaking as well.

“Are you afraid of him?”

I didn’t need to specify who “he” was.

Both Paolo and I knew.

“But there’s no need for you to fear him. The person you’re so afraid of is nothing more than a phantom.”

Slowly, Paolo lifted his head.

“He’s not the knight you once knew. He’s a fallen knight who has abandoned chivalry, a scoundrel who won’t hesitate to kill for power and his own desires.”

I was merely planting seeds.

“And you must know that you’re of no use to him anymore, that he’s already discarded you. In fact, he’s probably hoping that you’re dead by now, leaving no trace behind.”

Perhaps I wouldn’t see the sprout right away. It would take time for the flower to bloom and bear fruit.

“Did Ricardo tell you? About how the Viscount, when he almost got caught for his deeds because of his closest confidant, killed that man with his own hands?”

Fortunately, in this cold basement where not a single ray of sunlight reached, there was plenty of time for the seeds I planted to grow, nourished by doubt, fear, and regret.

Paolo wasn’t going anywhere.

“Even if you choose to die here, it wouldn’t be a bad option. Who would know? Whether you die here or leave alive, no one would be the wiser. After all, there’s no one looking for you.”

Again, Paolo’s shoulders twitched.

Was he reacting to the idea of his death, or his life?

“And don’t think for a moment that your words alone could dictate our fate. Even without your testimony, we have more than enough evidence to bring him down.”

“…W-what do you mean by that?”

For the first time, Paolo spoke.

His voice, unfamiliar to even himself after such a long silence, sounded raspy and deeply sunken.

“Exactly what I said. Even without your testimony, we can ensure that Viscount Wensbury disappears into the annals of history.”

What I said was a lie, at least at this moment. I planned to make it true in the future, but for now, it was a lie.

But I was skilled at lying, and I looked straight into Paolo’s wavering eyes with a calm face as I spoke.

“You don’t have to bear all the burden yourself. You’ll just be one of the many pillars.”

My words caused Paolo’s eyes to waver even more.

If he had to take on all the responsibility, the choice would be difficult. But if he could share it, the decision would be much easier.

“If you help us, we will compensate you. It may be difficult to live again as Paolo of the Second Order of Knights, but at least you could start anew under a different name.”

As if making a very discreet offer, I lowered my voice slightly and spoke to Paolo.

“Think carefully. Will you die here as Paolo, or will you walk out under a new name?”

After watering the seed I planted, I turned to leave.