Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Csille smiles widely at Prince Fraser. "Your highness, you shouldn't apologize. I heard from Father that you were out of the capital to check the situation in other regions of Vrawyth. I'm actually happy for you. You're finally starting to do the things you always wanted to do."

Csille remembers Prince Fraser telling her how much he likes to help rule the monarch, and now he is doing it. She feels happy for him. 

Prince Fraser stares at her. "Csille, I hope you're happy in Alderrdeen. I heard from the Count the achievements that you received. I'm proud of what you have become."

Csille beams at him. "Your highness, I only did that because of the promise I said to you. I'm glad you appreciate what I have done."

Csille takes the spoon, and she is about to take a bite of the pudding, but her hands stop mid-air.

"Csille, about the engagement..."

Csille puts the spoon down and anxiously looks at Prince Fraser. She didn't say something and just let him continue his words.

Prince Fraser sighed. "Father already talk to me about our engagement. Our engagement will be officially announced a year from now."

Csille just nods her head. Although what Prince Fraser said is a piece of good news, she still feels that there's something more to it. He won't talk to her just to tell her about their official engagement. 

Prince Fraser got silent. He takes the goblet and drinks the wine on it. "I want to talk to you about our engagement. We all know that I was forced to this engagement—"

Csille immediately stands up and bows her head. She knew it was her fault. If she didn't mention to her Mother that she has a crush on Prince Fraser, then this engagement would not exist.

"I apologize, your highness. I know it's my fault. However, I didn't mean to tie you to an engagement you didn't mean. I only casually mentioned it to my mother. I didn't expect that because of it, they will make us engage with each other." Csille looks at Prince Fraser. "If you want..." She grits her teeth. "If you want, I can cancel our engagement. I..."

Prince Fraser raised his hand at her. "You don't need to. Please, sit down." 

Csille sighed in relief. She only said those words to make Prince Fraser thinks that she never intended to tie him to her. 

She sits down and waits for Prince Fraser to continue his words. "Let's make a deal, Csille."

Csille looks at Prince Fraser. "Your highness?"

"In a year's time, if we didn't fall in love with each other and fall in love with another person. We will cancel our engagement."

Csille's nail dugs on her palm. But even if she wants to get mad at him. She cannot lose control. 

Fraser why? Do you really don't want to be engaged with me? 

"But what if... what if we didn't fall in love with someone? Will we cancel our engagement?"

Prince Fraser sighed. "If we didn't fall in love with someone in a year's time, our engagement would not be canceled even if we didn't have feelings for each other. However, if someone falls in love with another person, that person will be the one who will cancel our engagement."

Csille takes the goblet with trembling hands. "Do I have another option, your highness?"

Prince Fraser stared at Csille, but he didn't answer her. 

Csille takes a sip on her drink to try to cover up her anxiety. He didn't answer, so that means she doesn't have any other choice but to agree with him. 

She puts down the goblet and stares straight at his eyes. "That won't be me."

Prince Fraser frowns. "That won't be you? What do you mean?"

"It won't be me. That person who will fall in love with someone else will not be me." Csille drinks the wine in her goblet in one gulp. "Because I know it's only you. It's only you whom I will love in this lifetime."

Csille looks at Prince Fraser's expression trying to see his reaction, but he remains stoic. He didn't say something and just started to eat his meal silently. He acts as if he doesn't hear anything.

Csille sighed and started to eat her meal too. After eating her fill, Csille excused herself and went to breathe some air. She needs to stay far away from Prince Fraser, even just for a minute, or else she'll lose control over her emotions.

After a few minutes, she walks straight to their table. She didn't find Prince Fraser there. Only the owner. 

"Lady Csille, his highness, Prince Fraser had something urgent to do, so he told me to wait for you and pass his message. He already prepared a carriage that will bring you back to the Alderrdeen School."

Csille smiled at the owner. But the disappointment in her eyes cannot be unnoticed.

Csille averts her gaze. Trying to control the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. She can already feel a lump in her throat. 

Her eyes wander at the surroundings trying to force down the sob that wants to get out of her mouth. Her sight paused on the flower lying on the table. 

She walks towards the table and picks it up. Csille looks back at the anxious owner. "Where did this flower come from?"

The owner almost jumps because of her sudden question. He looks at the flowers in her hand. "This... Lady Csille, it was already lying there when I came here. Maybe Prince Fraser leaves it there."

Csille looks at the flowers and smiles bitterly. Striped Carnation? The flower for refusal. Csille looks at the sky and sighs. 

Fraser, I will make sure that it is only I. It is only I who will end up with you. So, if this is a challenge, I will make sure that I will be the one who will end up as a victor.

________________________________

"I couldn't believe I would see his highness, Prince Fraser, this close. It's like a dream."

"His side profile looks so handsome. I have never seen someone so perfect as him. Even Prince Joachim cannot be compared to him."

"Have you heard that aside from being gorgeously handsome, he is also one of the smartest students in his batch? As expected from a Gold Exemplar."

"There's also a news going around, that his highness Prince Fraser is already starting to do his monarch duty at the very young age of fifteen."

Csille takes a deep breath to calm herself. She knows it'll be too lowly for her to get over such silly things. 

Prince Fraser is one of a kind man in this world. So, it's understandable if many ladies are head over heels to him. 

Csille stares at Prince Fraser's back. Since Prince Fraser is part of the Exchange program, he will need to attend classes in the Alderrdeen School. More than half of his classes are the same class as Csille. 

Fraser...

It's been a week now after her last conversation with Prince Fraser happened. After their meal, they didn't say anything to each other at all. Even if they became classmates, he didn't bother to talk to her. It's as if she becomes a normal student he doesn't know.

And even if Csille wants to push herself to him. She didn't do it because she knew he wouldn't like it. So, she got contended watching him from far apart. Like those admirers he had.

"Hey, who's the hot man beside his highness?"

"Don't you know? He's Sir Farren. He's the personal knight of his highness."

"Isn't he the one who won Gold Exemplar pin five years ago? I didn't know he would be a handsome guy too."

"He's not just handsome. He's also smart and brave. I heard his second placer in their batch ranking. He's also strong."

Csille sigh. All these mumblings are making her lose her temper. Although, she cannot blame them. It's rare to find two guys who are not just handsome but also intelligent. They also came from the strongest Kingdom among the seven Kingdoms. Of course, it's understandable if ladies would die to be noticed by them.

It's a good thing that the Professor arrived on time, and the class started. It's the finals, and everyone is already busy with their research. It's their final year in Alderrdeen, so everyone is doing their best to flaunt their skills. Most students who graduated here become famous figures in their Cities. If they get lucky, they can receive an invitation to work in one of the Kingdoms.

Csille focused her attention on the lesson, but her eyes couldn't help but wander in Prince Fraser's direction.

Fraser, there will come a day that I will stay by your side. I will make sure of that. 

________________________________

I slump my body on my bed and groan. My classes just ended, and I still need to work on my presentation. 

"Why does Csille get to take the boring classes, and I get to take working on the presentation? Isn't that unfair? She gets to avoid doing her research, and here I am, working hard for something that I won't get recognized of." I grumble.

Although I am inside Csille's body. Technically, the recognition will be given to Csille Lauretré and not to Ysavel. Isn't that unfair?

I sigh and stare at the ceiling. "When will they leave Alderrdeen? I'm already tired of all these taking over the body. Csille is already nineteen years old. It's already been ten years. How come I still couldn't control her body?"

Never mind. I already know the answer. I glanced at the window, and something caught my eyes.

I look at the flower in the vase. It's the flower that was left behind on their table. When Prince Fraser asks Csille for a conversation, Csille takes it home, although she is not sure if it was Prince Fraser who left it behind.

Striped Carnation. The real Csille thought that it was the Flower of Refusal. However, for someone who made a thorough study about the Language of Flowers, the Striped Carnation also means I wish I can be with you. 

But if it's the real message behind that words. It's impossible that it came from Prince Fraser. The scene where he made a deal with Csille was written by me, and at that time, Prince Fraser is already decided not to continue their engagement since he doesn't have feelings for Csille. Although he doesn't close his door. As long as he falls in love with her, he will not cancel the engagement.

But I also know more than anyone else that Prince Fraser will never fall in love with Csille.

I sigh and shake my head. Why do I need to complicate things? Prince Fraser probably wants to say that he doesn't want to be engaged with Csille. Or maybe he was rejecting Csille's semi-confession.

I close my eyes. I don't want to think anymore. I'm tired. 

________________________________

I looked around and frowned when I saw the crowd of people cheering my name. They look so happy. 

"Are you ready, Csille?"

I looked at my side and found my Father smiling lovingly at me. I frown. "Father, what are you doing here? And," I look around. "Is there an event today? Why does everyone seem so happy?"

Father laughs. "Csille, my precious daughter. It's your wedding. Have you forgotten?"

I got frozen because of my Father's words. "My wedding?" I am getting married! 

I started to panic. Who is the groom? Why am I getting married all of a sudden? This cannot be. Csille cannot get married, or else the story will get ruined. If that happens, I'm afraid this world will cease to exist.

However, before I could react, the wedding chimes started, and Father slowly guided me to walk in front of the huge door of a chapel. The guard opens the door. 

People who are sitting stand up the moment they see Father and me walking on the red carpet. They are all smiles and clapping their hands. 

My eyes widened when I realized the identities of the people clapping. They are the noble families of the Vrawyth Kingdom. 

I look in front and find Prince Fraser and Rufus standing beside each other. 

Don't tell me...

We stop in front of Prince Fraser and Rufus. Father wipes his tears and takes my hand. "Your highness, please take care of my only treasure." He then gave my hand to Prince Fraser.

Prince Fraser nods his head at Father and smiles. "Count, I swear on my throne that I will treasure Csille Lauretré-Astalieu. You don't have to worry, Count. Your daughter is in the safe hands."

I feel my tears start to fall. I couldn't believe what is happening. Am I really marrying Prince Fraser? 

Prince Fraser kisses the back of my hand before he guides me in front of the altar.

I couldn't believe what was happening. I didn't even notice that the Priest started the wedding. My mind was too clouded when I came back to my senses the priest was now asking us.

"Your highness, Prince Fraser Astalieu. Do you take Lady Csille Lauretré to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

I look at Prince Fraser and anxiously wait for his answer. But before Prince Fraser can answer the Priest, I feel something pulls me. I close my eyes because of the force. 

When I opened my eyes, I found myself sleeping in my room. I sigh. 

What does that dream mean?