Lady Misfortune: Daddy, I'll Be A Righteous Villainess!

Fallon notices how the look on Maximilian's face suddenly shifts. 

It contorts from vexed to perplexed. He continues peering at whatever it is he just spotted, eyes narrowed and hooded – sharp. It seems pretty serious. He is getting a bad feeling about this. 

Lady, on the other hand, was completely oblivious of what kind of expression he was making. She just went on with her rant, already getting aggravated at Maximilian for always thinking ill of Weiss.

"For the last time, Father, he wasn't doing anything…" she huffed with her arms crossed, brows scrunched together. 

"He's close with both me and Fallon. I've always wanted you to get to know him more. But you're the one who kept insisting that I-"

"Lady…" he muttered under his breath, abruptly cutting her off.

"What are those on your wrists?"

She blinked at her father in surprise. Then, she looked down on her wrists –

And found visible patches of black that appear to be small bruises.

Lady recoiled in shock. They were not there earlier. Almost instantly, she recalled what Bryce did – that sucker had really gone and done it. She didn't expect that his grip was strong enough to leave marks on her. It's true that it's painful, but she didn't pay attention to it – she's used to pain, after all.

She'd been sick all her life before. Not to mention, she's abused and mistreated.

These bruises are nothing at all.

"Lady, I'm asking you. What are those?"

At least, to Lady, it's no big deal. But to Maximilian, it appears that it is.

In fact, it's enough to make him the angriest he's ever been in a long time.

Lady went cold-stiff at the sight. Everyone else who's there at the moment has also shuddered in fear. Maximilian is rarely this mad. 

Whenever it does happen, hell will surely be raised. 

"T-They're…" she stammered out, trying to stay calm.

"They're f-from the a-accident too."

"Just what in the world happened…?" he demanded as he walked closer to her. 

"Is it that boy? Did that boy do this?"

"F-Father! I already t-told you! Stop blaming Weiss all the time! I-It's not him!"

"THEN, WHO?"

"Urk… I-I-It's…" 

Lady is slightly trembling at this point. 

Her father is being absolutely terrifying. Now, she fears for her cousin's life more than ever. It seems that it's not enough that his funeral has already been planned out by her friends. From here on out, only doom awaits him.

Lady is not sure which one of the three of them is the scariest. Fallon had almost committed murder, Weiss had laid out a perfectly crafted murder scheme, and Maximilian seemed to have an intention to do both. 

The look on her father's face is just downright forbidding – bordering sinister. To add to that, he has this dark, evil aura that can straight up rip someone apart. 

"Fallon…" Maximillian called without looking at Fallon when Lady still refused to talk.

"Tell me everything that happened." 

She flinches at that, internally screaming. He just really has to go to him all the time – and that boy can't even tell a single lie. She's now in danger of being exposed.

'I don't know about Weiss and Fallon. But I'm sure Father will do what I think he's gonna do…' Lady winced, mentally panicking. 

'I mean, this man almost killed me with his looks many times before! I managed to survive those dagger-eyes somehow, but I know it's only a matter of time before he really snaps! He'll be a serial killer if he's not a businessman, and because he hasn't met his fated one yet, there's still a chance that he might turn into a psychopath!' 

Maybe it's just her, though. Maybe she's just exaggerating.

Nonetheless, Lady is not willing to take the risk. 

Her father must never join the dark side by using his nephew's body as a human sacrifice. It's her duty to help preserve his morality as his daughter – and as his creator as well. She will not let him flip. It's the least she can do after screwing up the plot and failing to have him meet his future family.

'Fallon. Oh, please, Fallon! Lie for once.'

She turned away from Maximilian to sneak out a pleading look at Fallon, hoping that she could telepathically communicate with him. But before Lady could even make an attempt, she went still at the sight the greeted her then.

He looks livid. Calm but livid. He's quiet, too. But definitely livid.

'Oh, boy,' she thought, gulping. 

Now, his steely, shady look rivals Maximilian's. She wonders if Fallon is actually his son.

They're really alike in so many ways.

'You… Why didn't you say anything earlier?' was what his expression was basically telling her.

'I didn't know either, okay? I just saw it now,' was what she tried to secretly relay in reply to that. 

'Oh, yeah? Now that I'm looking at you, I can even see it from here.'

'Why didn't you notice yourself, then? I'm telling you. I didn't hide it.'

'Suspicious.'

'What is?!'

On any other day, she would have been impressed by how well they could communicate with just their facial expressions. But at this moment, she is too occupied with an internal crisis.

'I'm gonna tell on you,' was what Fallon's last look seemed to be saying before breaking eye contact with Lady and facing Maximilian once more. 

Thrown into a panic, she starts fidgeting nervously, hands flailing about. She watches as he paces toward them. His strides are as cool as usual, but the air around him is daunting. She can't help but gulp again, tense all over.

"I know what happened, Uncle Max, and I would explain it…" Fallon said calmly then trailed off, glancing briefly in Lady' direction.

"For now, though, can we please have dinner? I'm starving."

At that, Maximilian blinked, and Lady was stumped.

He said that so seriously that they thought for sure he was really going to do it. It's a nice save, though – even after her stomach suddenly rumbled out loud at the mention of dinner. He would've probably laughed at her if it wasn't for the current situation. But he remained stony-faced this time, so she just kept the embarrassment to herself.

"Y-Yeah. I'm starving too, F-Father." 

Maximilian sighed.

He needs to put the matter aside in the meantime. Of course, he would not let these kids starve – still, he'll make sure they'll continue this talk. No matter what, he's going to make them confess. He can already feel that this is going to be a long night.

"Right. Let's eat for now."

And so, to the dining hall, they went.

---

Lady felt like having a stomachache the whole time.

The atmosphere didn't become lighter in the slightest. In fact, it may have had only gotten heavier. That's especially the case when dinner is over. 

"Come with me to my study, Fallon."

Maximilian left the dining hall and took Fallon with him while Lady went upstairs to change into her eveningwear. 

She had seen him look at her before he took off. She had known then that he would really confess everything. 

'Well, if he truly wants to do it, I can't stop him anymore…' she thought to herself as she sat on the stool in front of her vanity mirror, making it easier for Sylvia to brush her hair that was still soaked-wet from the shower. 

'It's not that I don't want him to know. I just don't want him to worry. It's the same as those two. I find it troublesome when they're troubled too.'

Until now, Lady finds it hard to believe that Maximilian actually cares.

She did not do anything special that could have earned his favor – much less his love and affection. It was either she had long given up on that or she never tried at all. She knew it was not worth it in the first place. It was not for her to take. 

So, she just stayed the way she was. She didn't change anything about herself. From causing people headaches to stirring up troubles, she continued to mess around. She was so certain that those who hated her would hate her more because of that. 

Yet, as it turned out, Maximilian went soft. Lady was bewildered, of course.

"Hey, Sylvia."

"Yes, Young Miss?"

"Do you think Father likes me?"

At her question, she felt Sylvia stop brushing. Lady looks at her reflection on the mirror, head tilted to the side.

"Why did you ask, Young Miss?" she inquired, staring at her straight in the eye.

"O-Oh, ummm… Nothing. I-I just felt like asking," she stuttered, blushing lightly.

"I understand why you would have doubts. But rest assured. I can tell that your father loves you fondly." 

"Uh-huh. I'm not too sure about that."

"Hmmm… Let's see. Ever wonder why he always makes a fuss over your friend?"

"Pft. You also noticed that he's always fussing over him, huh?"

"Everyone here does, and everyone knows why. You're the only one who doesn't seem to see it."

"Wait, what? See what exactly?"

"That your father is jealous."

Right then, Lady stopped breathing.