Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 Pax Dea yawns and gets off the carriage. I look at her and wave my hand. "You woke up? How's your sleep?"

 She sits beside me and leans on my shoulder. "It was great. I was probably exhausted with our journey. That's why I fell asleep for hours." She looks at the pot of soup I am cooking. "What are you cooking?"

 We are on our way to the Vrawyth Kingdom now. We've been journeying for a few days already. But because Pax Dea is not used to traveling to a faraway land, she still feels exhausted most of the time.

 I look at the pot of soup. "It's a vegetable soup. Mother and Father suggest cooking this for us to replenish our energy. Do you want some? It's already cooked."

 Pax Dea stares at the pot of soup and nods her head vigorously. "Sure. I'm already famished. Are you the one who cooked this?"

 I take a bowl and pour a soup for Pax Dea. I smile at her. "Yes, I was the one who cooked this. Mother taught me how to cook this when I was still a child. Here, taste it if it'll suit your taste."

 Pax Dea takes the bowl and takes a spoonful of soup. She groans and looks at me. "Csille, this is wonderful. This soup is really delicious. Also, do you put some herbs in here? I can feel my body feeling better."

 I nod my head at her. "Yes, Brother Pascal taught me a little thing about herbs. He said you could put ginseng to a soup. He said ginseng is a popular herb for energy boosting. It also helps boost alertness and concentration. Do you feel better now?"

 Pax Dea nods her head. "Yes, I feel much better. Thanks for your soup." She looks around and frowns. "Where is Uncle and Brother Pascal? I couldn't seem to find them around."

 I looked around too and only found Mother giving orders to the three servants. Mother and Father brought maids to help them with their needs. They also bring two carriages full of guards to secure our safety. 

 Even though the Lauretré Family is not royalty, we are still the most prominent noble from the Vrawyth Kingdom. This alone can cause other people to bring harm to our family. 

 "They are probably looking around the surroundings. Father usually does that every time he travels. He usually looks around every time they take a stop to rest. It is to make sure that there is no threat around."

 Father is a very cautious person. He won't let anything harm his way. Also, with us here, Mother, me, and Pax Dea, he makes sure that no one can harm us. 

 I take an empty bowl and pour soup into the bowl. I am planning to give this to Mother. Since we took a camp here, Mother was busy helping the maids.

 Pax Dea gasps. She then holds my arms and gently shakes them. She puts the bowl of soup first. "Csille, I heard from Father that this path is known for having bandits. Father almost got robbed of by those bandits. Wouldn't that endanger Uncle and Brother Pascal? We should call some guards and look for them." She frantically said. 

 I put the bowl of soup I was preparing for Mother and face the anxious Pax Dea. "Dea, you shouldn't worry. Even though my Father looks like he doesn't know anything about combat fighting. I can assure you that among the guards who are with us, Father is the strongest among them."

 However, it doesn't help at all. Pax Dea still looks around frantically. "But what about Brother Pascal? He's a Doctor, right? There's no way he can fight for his life."

 I smile at Pax Dea. Her concern about Father and Brother Pascal is really touching. Even though she doesn't have any ounce of blood relation with them, she still cares about their safety. 

 "Dea, you should remember that before Brother Pascal becomes a Doctor, he was the heir of the Lauretré Family first. Being the heir means he needs to know about a lot of things. That includes combat fighting, sword fighting, and such. He might look weak, and all but you shouldn't underestimate him because of his looks and his profession. He is on par with Father. So, you shouldn't worry." I look at Mother. "Look, even Mother doesn't worry at all."

 Pax Dea looks at Mother and sighs. "Are you sure about that Csille? I'm still worried." She frantically looks around again. As if any moment from now, she'll run to the woods and look for them.

 I was about to answer her when Father and Brother Pascal emerged from the woods. I immediately stand up and walk towards them. "Father, Brother Pascal, how's the search? Did you find anything suspicious?"

 Father gently pets my head and smiles at me. "We didn't find anything. But we'll let the guards look around again after an hour. You shouldn't worry. We won't let anything happen to you."

 I smile at Father and shake my head. "Father, it is not me who is worried." I look at Pax Dea. "Pax Dea has been asking me to look for the two of you. She is worried that something might happen."

 Father and Brother Pascal both look at Pax Dea and smile. Father puts down his hand and walks towards Pax Dea. 

 Brother Pascal stands beside me and laughs. "Your cousin is definitely a good hearted person. She's worried over someone who isn't related to her."

 I look at Brother Pascal and frown. "Brother, you're wrong. Although Pax Dea doesn't have any blood relation to you and Father, she already sees the two of you as her relative."

 Brother Pascal pats my head and walks towards Father and Mother. I look at them and sigh. 

 It will still take some time before we arrive at the Vrawyth Kingdom. I only have a few days to prepare myself for future changes. 

 I look at the sky and sigh.

 The skies are changing. Rain will start to pour down Csille's way. 

________________________________

 I look at Mother and Father, who are now talking to each other. I took a deep breath before I walked towards them. 

 Mother immediately sees me, and she raises her hand to me. "My dear, you're here. Come. We were talking about you."

 I frown. Talking about me? I sit in between them. Mother immediately holds my hand. "Mother, Father, you are talking about me?"

 "Yes, your Father and I are talking about what will you do after you return to the Vrawyth Kingdom. You know your Father is the only one who handles the whole business of the Lauretré Family. However, you also know that he is the current Count of the Vrawyth Kingdom. He has monarch duties." 

 I nod my head at Mother. I know what will happen next. Since Csille is the only heiress of the Vrawyth Kingdom, she will handle half of the businesses of the Lauretré Family the moment she returns to the Vrawyth Kingdom.

 Father, who is sitting on my right, sigh. "Csille, you know you're the only heir of the Lauretré Family. Although you still have your Brother Pascal, he has already refused to handle the Lauretré business. That leaves us no choice but to push the responsibilities to you."

 I look at Father and smile. They are probably worried that I won't help them with their business. After all, the previous Csille is the kind of person who likes to do things on her own. That's why she always sneaks out before. 

 "Mother, Father, you shouldn't worry. I will be responsible and help Father with our business."

 Father and Mother sigh. "My dear, you really make us proud. You have grown into a fine young lady, and now you're being responsible enough to handle our business." Mother pets my head. "If you find anything difficult, just say it to your Father or to me, and we will help you with it."

 I just hug Mother and Father. Although they are not my birth parents, I still wish they are. They are the reason why I know how it feels like to have a parent who is always there for you.

 I break from the hug when I remember something. I was too preoccupied with the future that I forgot the problem with Lilla.

 "Mother, Father, I have a problem. I hope you can help me decide with it."

 Although I don't want to involve Lilla with the upcoming changes in the Vrawyth Kingdom, I also don't want her to waste her life like that. 

 I just hope this won't affect the storyline. After all, I did not write that Lilla would come to the Vrawyth Kingdom and work there.

 "What problem is it? That you even need our opinions?"

 I look at Father and sigh. "It's about this, Father. You all remember my friend in the Alderrdeen, right? The one I was with, my Graduation."

 Mother tries to think. Her smile widens when she remembers something. "Are you talking about the daughter of the Vassellevé Family of the Frailens City?"

 I nod my head at Mother. "Yes, Mother. She asked me for help before she left with her parents. The thing is, her parents are forcing her to an engagement she doesn't want. She asked me if I could get her any job in the Vrawyth Kingdom."

 Mother shakes her head. "My dear, you know how strict the monarch is when it comes to employment. Only Vrawyth people can be hired. Your friend is from Frailens City. It would be impossible to do that."

 I sigh. "I already said that to her Mother. However, didn't we have an exception? If the owner of the business wants to hire a foreigner, they need to hire someone who is more than competent for the job, and they need to have a recommendation from a noble. Lilla knows that, and she asks me if Father could recommend her. She is willing to take any job as long as she can get away from her parents."

 Mother and Father got silent. They are weighing the cons and the pros. Although there is an exception in the rule, it is still not easy to use that exception. 

 After all, the Vrawyth Kingdom is strict about letting outsiders enter the Kingdom. After the issue with the Strzalka, the Vrawyth Kingdom becomes strict about letting foreigners inside the Kingdom.

 Father sigh. "The Vassellevé Family is an honest family, but with what they are doing to their daughter, it is enough reason to doubt them. Although Lilla is your friend, I still need to ask for his majesty's decision. It is better to ask his opinion first, or else we won't be able to bear the results if any unwanted things happen."

 I nod my head at Father. "I understand, Father. It's the reason why I didn't give her any definite answer because I know how big this request is."

 Father nods his head. "It is good that you didn't decide for yourself, or else it would be difficult for us to change the decision. Anyway, my dear, we will be taking a two days break in Frailens City. You can talk to your friend once we arrive there."

 My eyes widen. "We will stay in the Frailens City for two days? But why? Wouldn't that make our journey longer? Also, you have duties in monarch and also our business. If we continue delaying our journey, wouldn't that make your works piled up?"

 We usually just camp where we stop at night, and after that, we will continue our journey after. So, I don't understand why would they want to take a break in the Frailens City?

 Father shakes his head. "Don't worry about me. I can handle it. Also, I have you to help me when we return. I'm just worried about your cousin, Pax Dea. She is not used to the long journey. I'm afraid she'll get sick if we continue traveling. Don't worry, my dear. We will just let her adjust for a while before we continue with our journey."

 I look at Father and smile. Father is really a nice person. He always thinks about other people before himself. 

 I just wish he pick whom he helps, or else it will bring disaster to him and to his family.