Why Did I Become the Villainess?

I was busy preparing all the necessary documents for the temporary shelter when I heard someone knocks on my office door. I just arrived in the capital last night, and now I am here in my office preparing all the necessary documents for the transfer of the villagers. 

I look up and find Lilla standing in the doorway. "Apologies for the interruption, but here are the finance reports you have asked me to work on. Forgive me for asking, but may I know what you are planning to do with this? Are you in doubt that someone is stealing from the funds?"

Lilla walks to me and puts the finance report I ask her. I put down the document I am currently working on and skimmed the finance report. "No, that's not the case. I'm planning to do another project, and I want to see first if the Foundation can bear the expenses."

I nod my head when I see the total funds the Foundation currently has. I didn't expect we still have this much money. I thought after the things we did in the western region, the funds wouldn't be enough. This means I don't have any reason not to continue the joint project. At least with the project, I can help the monarch save money. 

"Project? You're planning to do a big project again, Dame Csille? But I thought you said you wouldn't take any huge project after the western region? May I know what is this project all about?"

I take the report and the documents I will be needing for today. Then I stand up and look at Lilla. "Lilla, can you take care of the Foundation today? I still have things I need to finish for the transfer. Leave all the urgent documents for today on my table, and I'll work on that later. Also, can you please tell Mairenn to meet me outside? We need to visit the place for the temporary shelter."

Lilla immediately go and look for Mairenn while I organize all the documents I will be needing. I look at the finance report and sigh. I guess I also need to visit his majesty later to talk about the joint project. 

I take a deep sigh and look at the clock. It's already nine in the morning. I still have a lot of things to do. 

Another busy day for me, I guess.

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"Dame Csille, are you sure you want to rent this for three months?" Mairenn look at the three-story buildings. "Wouldn't it drain our funds for this month?"

I look at Mairenn and sigh. The rent for the temporary shelter is also huge amount. If I don't plan on agreeing to the joint project, then I wouldn't have any problem with it. However, now I have decided to agree with it, these expenses will definitely drain our funds.

But I don't have much of a choice, right? If I don't rent this, where will the villagers go? I'm sure all of them wouldn't want to spend three months in tents. 

"Don't worry about that, Mairenn. I'll find a way to make some funds. By the way, have you checked if everything is okay with the buildings? We need to make sure that the villagers will be comfortable in it."

"Don't worry, Dame Csille. I already checked everything, and they are all okay. Also, I have talked with the owner yesterday. She said if anything is wrong with the rooms, she will shoulder all the expenses on repairing. So, there's really nothing to worry about."

I nod my head in satisfaction. Mairenn and I just finished our ocular visit to the temporary shelter. It's an old inn that was closed for a few months because no one is staying in the inns. 

It's a good thing Mairenn found this, or else I don't know what to do with the villagers anymore. I look at the contract in my hand and sigh. "Mairenn, can you do me a favor? I have others things to do after this so I cannot return to the town. Can you please go there and inform everyone that there is already a temporary shelter. Also, can you give this letter to his highness, Prince Fraser?"

Before going here, I made sure to write a letter for Prince Fraser. It's a letter saying I am already agreeing with the joint project and that I'll be talking to his majesty this afternoon. I still have other things I need to clear about the project before I sign the agreement.

Mairren is about to respond to me when someone calls my name. A very unexpected visitor.

"Professor? What are you doing here?"

What is he doing here? I thought he had already returned to his Kingdom. So, how come the King let him come to the Vrawyth Kingdom? I thought the King kept him in the dark?

He smiles warmly at me. "Lady Csille." He shakes his head. "It should be Dame Csille now, right? It's been a long time since we saw each other. How are you doing? Also, can you not call me Professor? We're not in school anymore, so I am not your Professor."

I smile awkwardly at him. I don't understand why I feel uncomfortable around him again. It's probably because I haven't seen him for months now. 

"Prince Joachim, may I know what brings you here and how long have you been staying here?"

Although it's common for royalties from other Kingdom to visit the Vrawyth Kingdom, but they usually ask permission from the King before they come here. How come I am not informed of his arrival? 

When royalties visit the Vrawyth Kingdom, they usually have an announcement for it. It is to make sure that everyone will treat those royalties properly. So, I don't understand why I haven't heard about his arrival.

Prince Joachim smiled at me. "Have you forgotten, Dame Csille?"

Forgotten what? As far as I know, I haven't forgotten anything. I raised my eyebrow at him. "Apologies, your highness, but I don't quite seem to understand what you are saying. What did I forget?"

"Prince Fraser's birthday is just around the corner, and you know that his majesty, King Simmond, always invites royalties from other Kingdoms. This year, I was the one sent to represent the Yesian Kingdom."

My eyes widen when I remember it. I got too busy helping the villagers that I forgot this important event—the turning point of Csille Lauretré. 

How can I forget about Prince Fraser's birthday banquet? The banquet that will be the cost of war among Kingdoms. 

It also means I am almost at the part where I stop writing. This world follows my second version of my novel and not the first version. That means I badly need to find the head Virtouse now, or else I don't know what will happen if we reach the part where I stop writing.

"Dame Csille? Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"

I blinked a couple of times when I heard someone call my name. I look at Prince Joachim and shake my head. "Apologies, Prince Joachim. I just remembered something that's why I couldn't respond immediately, but I am okay. Thank you for asking." I pretend to look at my time watch. "However, please excuse me, Prince Joachim. I still have a lot of things to do right now, and I really need to go."

Prince Joachim smiles warmly at me. "Yeah, I hear all your endeavors. Aside from being the first Dame to be crowned as the next Queen of the Vrawyth Kingdom, I also heard you are the Founder of Hope Foundation. The Foundation that has been helping the Vrawyth Kingdom with all the tragedies that happened. I heard the western region, which was known as the abandoned region of the Kingdom, has changed drastically because of you. Everyone is praising you for that. They said you're not just a beauty but also a good natured person."

I smile awkwardly at him. How am I supposed to respond to that? I know that my deeds have been known by the Vrawyth people. However, I wasn't expecting it is also known outside the Vrawyth Kingdom.

I'm sure I will cause a huge sensation once they hear the good natured person before becomes a devil in the future. 

I feel someone tugs the hem of my sleeves. "Dame Csille, you'll be late with your meeting with his majesty. You need to go now if you don't want to be late." Mairenn whispers in my ear.

Holy moly! How can I forget about that too? I was too engrossed talking to this Prince that I forgot those important matters.

I look at Prince Joachim and bows my head. "Apologies, Prince Joachim, but I really need to go now. I have a meeting with his majesty, and you know that it is rude to make a King wait, right?"

I was about to pull Mairenn towards our carriage when Prince Joachim suddenly said something. "I understand that you're busy. However, can you give this Prince a chance to have a meal with you? It's been a long time since I saw you. It wouldn't hurt if I would like to catch up on things, right?"

A meal with Prince Joachim? I feel uncomfortable just by talking to him. Does he think I would torture myself and have a meal with him? Also, we're not even that close. So, I don't understand why he would want to have a meal with me.

To catch up? I barely talked to him five years ago, and in Alderrdeen, I only talked to him because he is my Professor. What will we be talking about?

Forget it! I'll just say yes to him and find a way to turn him down in the future. It's rude to turn down a royalty, and because I am in a rush, I didn't have time to turn him down without offending him.

I nod my head and smile at him before I drag Mairenn away without even waiting for his response. We run towards the carriage, and I immediately ask the coachman to maneuver the carriage away from the place. 

Mairenn, who is still catching up her breath, looks at me and asks, "Dame Csille, why did we run from Prince Joachim? Isn't that rude? Wouldn't he take it against you?"

Why did I run? I don't even know. I just don't feel comfortable around him. I look at Mairenn and smile reassuringly at her. "Don't worry. Prince Joachim used to be my Professor in Alderrdeen, so there's really nothing to worry about. Also, I already explained to him that I still have a meeting with his majesty. I'm sure he understand why do I need to run."

Mairenn looks at me, still hesitant, and nods her head. I heave a sigh and let her. I know no matter how much I convince her, she will still worry about me. 

Also, I still have other things I need to think of. First, I don't understand why Prince Joachim is here. I didn't mention the visitors on Prince Fraser's birthday, so it's okay for him to be here. However, I still don't understand how did he become the representative of the Yesian Kingdom. 

Everyone knows how the King of Yesian Kingdom despises Prince Joachim because of his disability. So, it doesn't make sense at all how did he manage to make his Father agree with this. It is only possible if something happened to Prince Joachim's siblings, but that is impossible too. Knowing the pampering attitude of the King and Queen of the Yesian Kingdom? How can something happen to his siblings? 

However, it is still a mystery how he becomes the representative of the Yesian Kingdom.

I shake my head. But I think that is not something I should worry about first. I need to worry about Prince Fraser's banquet. It's almost near. I am really becoming the villainess now.

What am I supposed to do? I'm still not prepared for it. I still haven't accepted my fate. Also, I haven't even met the head of Virtouse. What would happen if I couldn't find him?

Why do things feel like happening too soon? So soon that I am already panicking now. I know I have written what is happening, but I couldn't still help myself but be scared. 

I'm really scared, but I don't have any other choice but to face this.. I just wished that at the end of this road, I'd end up returning to my own world.