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

Seeing the cliff is like being slapped on the face. 

It's probably the most cliché scenario ever – at least, for a character with a death sentence, and unfortunately, one of them is that character. Anything can happen from this point on. It's either they give up already or keep fighting back. Still, most definitely, jumping from there is not an option.

Now, all Lady and Fallon can do is stand near the edge of the cliff as the man draws closer. 

"Get behind me, Lady," he muttered, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him.

"No, you get behind me, Fallon," she argued, knowing quite well that he was in more danger than her. 

"Stop being stubborn. Just stay at the back."

"Stop acting tough. You're the one who's shaking in fear here."

"I'm not shaking! What does that even have to do with this?"

"You can't die, Fallon!"

"Well, I'm not planning to!"

"You don't know that!"

"Yes, I do! Joke's on death if it tries to get me!"

"You're just saying that!" 

Their pursuer arrived to find them bickering like an old couple.

Though flabbergasted, he kept his stoic expression and just stood there in silence, waiting for them to notice his presence. Their banter lasted for a couple of minutes more. If he hadn't faked clearing his throat, though, it'd most likely go on for a little bit longer.

"I'm surprised you still have the audacity to bring your childish fight into this situation..." the man began as he took a few steps closer to the children. 

"Now, why don't you be nice and return with big brother?"

Getting into a guarded stance, Fallon braces himself for the unexpected. Lady, on the other hand, tries to think of a way out, hoping that the plot armor of the villainess is strong enough to keep both of them alive. 

"Return to where? Hell?" he spat out to his captor.

"The cottage is hardly hell compared to what you've got back there. You're not really into heights, I bet. If you go with me quietly, I'll serve you some milk and cookies," he quipped.

"You won't fool us! That house looks like it came straight out of a horror movie! You don't even have an oven there!" she spat out next, earning an incredulous look from the two of them. 

"Oh, I see. I apologize if it scared you, little lady. It does look kind of shabby. I'll make sure to do a renovation."

"No need to! We ain't going back there!"

"Do you really want to do this the hard way? Just what can two helpless kids do, huh?"

"Lots! Kick your sorry ass, for one!"

Fallon is astonished by Lady's intrepidity.

It's reckless of her yet incredible nonetheless. He only hopes that it's not just the idiot in her talking. She may be digging her own grave for all she knows.

"I think I may have to discipline you for a little. I don't really want things to come to this, but…" the man said with a taunting tone before trailing off and pulling out a gun from his pants pocket, making both of them freeze in shock and perturbation.

"Naughty children must be punished."

Fallon forced himself to move and cover Lady.

But she remains firm and still on where she is. She has now begun to glare at their assailant – like, downright glare at him without any fears. It's quite astounding. With that, he can only stare at her in awe, wondering just what is keeping her this determined and daring.

"Listen up, buddy, I know what you're after here…" she then started again, ready to take out her trump card. 

"The reason why you're onto Fallon is because your boss wants to frame Father for the crime."

"Now, what gives you that idea, little lady…?" the man tried to reply in oblivion, but she could tell that she was able to catch him off guard after seeing his eyes widen for the tiniest bit.

"You've got quite the imagination there. Perhaps, you should be banned from reading too many bedtime stories-"

"I'm also sure that you won't kill me. You would try to assassinate him, but not me. I bet you're planning to let me go once you've got your hands on him."

Now, she's got him startled. She knows that he knows what she's talking about. After all, she's the creator of this world. His boss may be the one who had set these events in motion, but she's the one who had allowed all of them to happen in the first place.

It's not just him, though. 

Fallon is absolutely confounded, too. Lady never told him about any of that.

It could be that she was just making those up to buy them some time. But going by their kidnapper's reaction, her words seem to hold weight. He himself was visibly flustered. 

"I'll tell everyone the truth! That it's not Father who ordered this! My involvement alone will serve as proof! You really didn't plan on taking me here with you, didn't you…?" Lady continued to sass the man, stunning him and Fallon even more.

"If you fail to frame my father, won't all that defeat the purpose of this abduction?" 

There was silence for one whole moment.

He could've pretended to know nothing and make it come out like she's just spouting out nonsense. But all of what she said was true. She'd really hit bullseye there. That alone got him suspended – unable to respond immediately. Then again, she couldn't have just merely guessed that. There must be a reason why she knew about their plan.

"So, don't you dare take him away..." Lady threatened as she stepped in front of Fallon and spread her arms wide open as if shielding him.

"Or else I'll sting you!"

--- 

Be a good boy. Be wise and capable. Be a Mireille.

Fallon is expected to be all of those since day one.

He devoted most of his time to studying, acquiring talents, impressing others, and being on his best behavior. It's not that he's being forced to. Just that it's what he thinks he ought to do. Everybody holds high expectations of him, after all – and ever since he realized what it means to be part of this prestigious family, he decided to dedicate his whole life to meeting those standards.

Therefore, in the end, it's only a matter of finding a sense of belongingness rather than fulfilling duties and responsibilities as one is told to do. 

But then, he never would have thought that conforming and obeying all the time would become a way to lose his identity. He just knew that he was only doing what was right and proper. Then, soon enough, he can no longer perceive himself in his truest, purest form. 

Fallon has always been seen as one of the Mireille's – never for who he really is.

That was until a certain Lady came and broke down that belief of his within only a day.

"So, don't you dare take him away! Or else I'll sting you!"

That's quite a nice reference to the bee they found earlier, he thought then. He doubted she even realized she just used such a term, though. She's too occupied spilling venom.

"Now, cut it out already! It's freezing cold here, you know! You're lucky your place is nearby! Why don't you go back to your cottage and make some firewood, huh?!" she went on and on with her sassing, and right then, he had a feeling that she was only buying time at that point. 

However, time can be cruel. If it does not run out, something else is bound to happen in its span. 

In this case, it came when Fallon heard the sound of rocks rolling from a height. Then, before he knew it, the ground beneath his feet gave in. He had actually reached the furthest edge without him realizing it – and he only did when he felt himself falling.

He could not even shout from aghast shock. But to his relief, he was still able to push Lady forward before she could fall together with him – saving her at the very least.

"No! Fallon!" she cried out from horror, hurrying back to the edge as soon as she realized what's going on.

"Freaking stay back for once!" he yelled when he saw her coming after him despite the danger.

"You don't tell me what to do, you dead man!"

Soon, his feet could no longer touch anything – he was really falling. Yet, before he gets to disappear out of sight, he feels a pair of tiny hands grabbing his wrist tightly, keeping him from falling to his death. His eyes bulge wide in shock and disbelief, then.

While Fallon's body dangles from several feet above, Lady goes to his rescue. 

"H-Hang on. I-I got you," she stammered out, doing her hardest to pull him back up but to no avail. 

"You dumbass! Why don't you ever listen to me?! Let go!" he hissed, incredibly frustrated.

"I won't let you die!"

"Then, you'll die, too! At this rate, you really will!"

"So be it! I was supposed to, anyway!"

Too overwhelmed by the situation, Lady didn't realize that she just revealed something from her past right at Fallon's astonished face.