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

Maximilian thought that something would go right for once today when he invited Calixtus and Fallon over per Lady's long-time request. 

He wanted to appear in public with his daughter and show everyone that they're getting along well. Both of them spent the whole day together – from dawn until nightfall, he was with her. He even took a day off from his work just to play this charade. Yet, clearly, this plan of his has ended up a failure.

Not only did Lady get lost during the tour at Golden Rose Academy, but Maximilian also had to deal with quite an explosive tantrum.   

Anyone who'd seen them would definitely doubt that they're getting along well. All they did was argue, glare at each other, and make a scene. So, definitely, an utter failure.

Even then, Maximilian is not going to give up here. In one way or another, he would show everyone that they're a nice and happy family. Lady would have to do her role properly for that to happen, though. He needed to at least pacify her – to make her forget about her anger towards him. 

'And that's why I decided to invite Fallon over tonight. I was planning to have Calix only since I had to discuss the latest news about that Xavier with him…' Maximilian thought, already feeling like retiring for the night when he saw Lady and Fallon arrive at the lobby to join him and Calixtus.   

'But then, just what is this? Did I fail again?"

Apparently, the two children are bickering.

His daughter seems to be mad about something. He swears he's starting to suspect that she's got anger management issues. His nephew, on the other hand, looks as if he can't care less. He just keeps snickering at her, seemingly having fun.

"You're such a jerk! Why didn't you tell me I had something on my face the whole time?!" Lady bolted out.

"I said that it looked good on you. You really shouldn't have wiped it off," Fallon teased. 

"It totally ruined the scene that I had in mind! I thought I looked cool when I was explaining things to you!"

"You do look cool. Mustaches are cool."

"They're not!"

"You're gonna hurt Santa by saying that."

"Huh? Santa has a beard, though?"

"Does he?"

That got her thinking.

He made a contented look when she finally went quiet then. In reality, he said that on purpose to make her shut up. She was just not letting up with the whole mustache thing at all, and he could see that everyone around them was already looking on – he really did not want the extra attention.

It was then that Fallon thought he'd never want to go with Lady to public places.

"Fallon…" his father chimed in, appearing before them all of the sudden.

"What's the matter? What got Lady angry?"

Upon seeing Calixtus, Lady instantly snapped out of it, straightened up, and prepared to give a greeting, which all went unnoticed by Fallon.

She's at her best behavior around him, it seems. He actually forgot to ask about this certain attitude of hers towards his father. That's not how she acts towards her own – probably.

Watching her pretend like a good girl in front of him was kind of amusing, though.

"Hey 'ya, Uncle Calix…!" Lady beamed, grabbing Fallon by his arm before linking hers around it as if showing their closeness to Calixtus.

"I'm not angry! Fallon and I were just talking! There ain't no problem at all! See? We're buddies!" 

Her uncle blinked down at her in surprise and confusion. He seems to have not expected such a greeting. But she knows that this is what she has to do. Now that she made up her mind to take his son as her sidekick, she must show him that they are getting along.

"Right, I see. That's good to hear. I thought he'd hurt you or something…" Calixtus eventually replied, bending over his knees before Lady and reaching out his hand to pat her head. 

"By the way, my son told me how you saved him back then. You were so brave. My wife and I truly owe you a lot. Thank you for helping him out. You're a very good child." 

Touched by such a heartfelt expression of gratitude, she can't help but blush a little. What a kind man, was she thought then. Not only did he give her recognition for her efforts, but he's patting her head too – with his face a little close to hers, dazzling her with how insanely handsome he is.

'Kind and handsome. Oh, wow. Why can't my father be just like him?' Lady pondered as she only continued to stare back at Calixtus in silence, feeling so entranced that she could not even utter a response. 

From the side, said father looks quite disturbed.

Maximilian could see it. Lady appears to be fascinated with Calixtus. Surely, Fallon could make that out too.

And as her silence draws on, it gets more obvious. The way her wide, doe-like eyes flash from twinkling to sparkling as they keep on beholding his smiling face is something to go by. Her blush has also gotten even brighter. Now, she appears more than fascinated. That expression might as well be her please-take-me-home-and-adopt-me expression. 

'First, it's my father. Now, it's my brother?' Maximilian brooded, sighing in dismay.

He doesn't know how they do it. He can't figure out just how they can get such a reaction.

Dealing with Lady is tough – children, in general. That's one of the reasons why Maximilian didn't want any, to begin with. But then, seeing Calixtus earn his child's favor right away, and with just a pat on the head at that, is kind of frustrating – it's making his brow twitch. Perhaps, he does that to Fallon all the time, which is why he knows that it works wonders on kids.

"Fallon," he called urgently.

"Yes, Uncle Max?" he replied politely.

"Do you… get patted often?"

"Excuse me?"

Maximilian turns to look at him, then. Fallon pales the moment he does.

He appears to be in a nasty mood. It shows with his deep frown and hooded glare. Seeing that tyrant look on him immediately gets him asking himself if he did some sort of abomination. This is his uncle he's talking about, though. Anything that's moving could make him mad.   

Not wanting to show him how uncomfortable he's making him feel right now, he decided to take a step back. It could be that or he's just really afraid of what he's about to do.

"Say, Uncle Calix, can I visit you and Fallon?"

"Of course, Lady. You're more than welcome."

"Can we also talk again next time?"

"Sure, we can. Don't hesitate to come to me."

"Oh, and please say 'Hi' to Aunt for me!"

"I will. You're such a little sweetie."

"You're so very kind to me, Uncle!"

"Well, you're my dear niece, after all." 

The more Lady and Calixtus talk, the darker Maximilian's expression gets. Fallon badly wants to leave at that moment. 

'If you're jealous, just come out and say it, Uncle Max! Don't torture someone else like this!'

Soon enough, the torment is over. 

It takes a couple of fake coughs from Maximilian to steal their attention and end their exchange. Fallon is not sure if he should be amused or appalled, so he just tries to keep a blank face through it all. But then, much to their dismay, Lady and Calixtus continue to act all amicable around each other up until they make it outside of the mansion.

There, Maximilian had to get in the way again to talk with Calixtus. Lady didn't mind as she just talked with Fallon for the last time and bid him goodbye. 

"I'll send you a message, Fallon! We can call each other, too! Uncle Calix has given me a go-signal!" she chirped ecstatically, elated to learn that she'd be able to contact her cousin from now on.

"Will Uncle Max even allow you to use a phone?" he asked with his arms crossed and his brow lifted. 

"Oh, I'll make sure he will! But if he doesn't, I'll just find a way to borrow one from somebody!"

"You really want to talk with me that much, huh?"

"Of course! I like talking with you!"

He had only meant to tease her then. But when he saw her nod her head and grin at him, he couldn't fight back the blush that spread across his cheeks. Flustered, he looks away immediately. Being with her would probably take a bit more of getting used to. She's just so open with her feelings that it sometimes throws him off guard.

"Hey, look! The stars are so pretty tonight!" she then suddenly enthused, making him turn back to her again before following her line of vision and casting his gaze up at the night sky. 

There, he found a blanket of stars resting on a bed of clouds. There's really nothing about the sight to get all worked up with. It's what he sees almost every night, anyway. But when he looked at his cousin again and found her smiling, looking brighter than the moon itself, he realized that this perception of his could change. 

Fallon would probably start enjoying even the smallest things with Lady around.