Never Die Villain

"Sherry, are you hungry?"

"...Not particularly." Sherry tilted her head. "I had more than enough to eat in the carriage."

"Hm."

Ilya looked down the street before letting out a sigh.

"That’s unfortunate. Volnograd is the only place in Severye where you can get proper Volnograd pelmeni."

"Pelmeni?"

"The filling is made from freshly butchered venison and wild boar caught in the southern forests. They wrap it the same morning it’s served, then boil it in a broth that’s been simmering since dawn. Every other city freezes the filling before transporting it north, so it never tastes quite the same."

"...You can actually tell the difference?"

"After coming here enough times, you start noticing."

"Right..."

With that, Ilya turned into one of the narrower streets branching away from the city’s main avenue.

Unlike the larger taverns that catered to merchants and caravans, the establishment he sought was little more than a small family-owned shop hidden between two weathered wooden buildings.

"This is the place."

"Oh... wow."

Sherry looked up at the modest storefront before following Ilya inside.

A small brass bell chimed from above as the wooden door swung open, and the warmth waiting within immediately washed away the chill from outside. The aroma of simmering broth, roasted meat, and freshly baked rye bread filled the room.

"It hasn’t changed much..."

Ilya’s gaze wandered across the familiar interior.

Time had left its marks upon the building, yet for him, somehow, the place still felt exactly as it had years ago.

"My mother used to bring me here whenever we passed through Volnograd."

Sherry smiled. "Lady Mariya?"

"Ah..." Ilya shook his head. "No."

He looked toward one of the empty tables.

"My real mother."

"...."

Sherry immediately lowered her head.

"I-I’m sorry, Master Ilya. I wasn’t thinking."

"It’s fine," he said. "Most people assume that anyway."

With that, he pulled out a chair for Sherry before taking the seat across from her. His eyes wandered toward the kitchen, where the sound of fresh pelmeni being prepared behind the counter brought back memories he hadn’t revisited in years.

"She always insisted we stop here whenever we traveled through Volnograd," Ilya said. "Even if the convoy was pressed for time, she’d somehow persuade the coachmen to spare half an hour. She always said no journey should begin on an empty stomach."

A faint smile crossed his face before fading just as quickly.

"She’d order enough pelmeni for everyone traveling with us. The coachmen, the guards, the maids... she never liked the idea of anyone setting off hungry."

"She sounds like a lovely woman."

"She was," Ilya said. "I don’t remember much from when I was little, but whenever I think of her, this place is always one of the first memories that comes to mind."

Sherry smiled softly. "I’m sure she was very happy whenever she came here with you."

Ilya looked toward the kitchen, where another batch of pelmeni was being lowered into a pot of boiling broth.

"...I hope so."

Before either of them could continue, a young waitress approached their table with a small notebook in hand.

"Welcome. Have you decided what you’d like?"

"Two bowls of Volnograd pelmeni," Ilya replied. "One in the traditional broth."

"And the other?"

"The mushroom broth."

The waitress nodded as she jotted everything down.

"Anything to drink?"

"Tea."

"Two?"

"Yes."

"Got it, boss. I’ll have your order out shortly."

As she turned to leave, Sherry opened her mouth.

"E-Excuse me... It’s Lord—"

"Sherry."

She immediately stopped.

Ilya looked up from the menu and shook his head.

"It’s fine."

"Ah...?"

"There’s no need to make a ruckus over something like that."

Sherry hesitated before lowering her gaze.

"...Understood."

The waitress blinked, sensing she had interrupted something without quite understanding what it was, but neither of them offered an explanation. After a quick, awkward nod, she excused herself and returned to the kitchen.

"You can’t expect everyone to recognize the members of the ruling family," Ilya said. "Most people spend their entire lives without ever meeting one of us."

"...."

"And to be honest, I’ve never been particularly fond of the attention. So, this is... nice."

Sherry looked at him for a moment before smiling faintly.

"I think I understand. When I first learned I was going to serve a member of the Grand Ducal House, I was terrified. I imagined someone... much more intimidating."

"So what’s your impression of me now?"

"It’s..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "...Very sad, Lord Ilya."

"...?"

"Ah!" She quickly lowered her head. "F-Forgive me. I didn’t mean to speak so rudely."

She clenched her hands together on her lap.

"I just... It’s very complicated..."

"Complicated?"

"Yes... I’ve only been with the household for a short while, so I don’t know everything. But... The way everyone treats you feels... different... Especially Lady Anastasiya..."

Ilya remained silent.

"I know it’s not my place to comment on the affairs of the Grand Ducal House," Sherry continued, "and perhaps there are reasons I don’t understand, but... every time I watched the two of you together... It never felt like I was looking at siblings..."

"Is that so? I suppose you’re not wrong."

He rested his elbow against the table, tracing the rim of his teacup with a finger.

"Anastasiya and I have never had what most people would call a normal relationship. Appealing to her heart was never going to change anything, so I stopped trying a long time ago."

He shrugged.

"It doesn’t matter. What we have now is what works for us."

Sherry remained quiet for a few seconds before speaking again.

"I grew up in a family of four."

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

"My older brother used to tease me all the time, and my little sister would cry whenever I refused to play with her. We argued over the smallest things almost every day, and there were times I genuinely thought I couldn’t stand either of them."

She let out a chuckle.

"Even so... they’re still the most important people in the world to me."

Her smile slowly faded.

"So... when I look at you and Lady Anastasiya... I can’t help thinking it’s a little lonely..."

"Lonely, huh?"

Neither of them spoke after that.

Sherry lowered her eyes before reaching across the table and placing her hand over his.

"You’re a very kind person, Lord Ilya."

He looked up.

"I don’t know what happened between you and your family. I know it’s not my place to say something so presumptuous. But... I hope that one day, you’ll have someone who cherishes you the same way you cherish the people around you..."

For a moment, Ilya looked at their joined hands.

"...Thank you, Sherry."