Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 148 - : Preparation

 "Thank goodness you come out. Are you attending the visit tonight?" Rufus asks anxiously. 

 I saw him walking back and forth in front of the tea room. He is probably worried that I won't join the fun tonight. 

 I smile sadly at him. "I'm sorry, Rufus, as much as I—"

 Rufus shakes his head. "That's okay. I understand if you won't help us. I saw how you were terrified earlier. I think it will best for you, not to att—"

 "As much as I want not to attend the visit but how can I miss the fun? I am the reason why the Saiven royal siblings are visiting us. Do you think I will miss this chance?" I wink at him.

 Rufus sigh in relief. "You almost got me there. I almost believe you would leave us behind. Thank goodness you got to your senses." He leans close to me. "What did Prince Fraser said to you? He looks like he is rather in a good mood when he walks out of the tea room. Did the two of you reconcile already? Are you together again?"

 I raised my eyebrow at him. Oh, yeah. How can I even forget what he did? This traitor. I cross my arms and glare at him. "Oh, you want to know what did Prince Fraser said to me? You want to know what happened? Really?" 

 Rufus smile awkwardly at me. "Csille, I," he laughs awkwardly. "Actually, forget I ask that. I'm heading back to the others." He tried to run away, but I immediately catch his arms. 

 "Not so fast, Astalieu. Where do you think you are going? We still haven't settled our scores. Why are you running away now?"

 Rufus looks at me with a cheeky smile. "Purplany, can you let me go. Just this once," he looks at me pitifully, and I look at him with disgust. Rufus, with a pitiful expression, doesn't look bad. It actually looks cute on him. However, I'm not used to seeing this side of him. 

 "Don't look at me like that. Do you really think that will work on me? You got to be kidding me, Rufus."

 I let go of his arms. He then stands up straight and looks at me with a guilty expression. "Okay, I know I did something wrong, and I'm sorry. It's just that Prince Fraser ask me what happened. If only you can see his expression that time, you would also tell him what he wants." Rufus sigh. "I know I shouldn't interfere between the two of you, but I got worried about you, Csille. You should see how terrified you look when you saw Prince Fraser."

 I sigh. I actually understand why he did that. Why he sell me out to Prince Fraser. I just feel betrayed a little. I told him that dream because I thought I could trust him. 

 "Purplany, I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't do that. But I thought only Prince Fraser could help you take that fear you feel. I know my words won't have an effect on you. So, when Prince Fraser asked anxiously what's wrong with you, I didn't have any choice but to tell him your reason. I know only he can help you. I'm sorry if I didn't warn you. I just want you to feel better. I'm worried about you, purplany. So, please forgive me. If it will make you happy, you can hurt me so you can feel better."

 I sigh. I walk towards him and pinch his cheeks. "I know you only did that for me, and thank you for that."

 "So what did the two of you talked about? Are you together again?" He moves his eyebrows up and down. 

 I just laugh at him and walk towards the receiving area. Rufus immediately follows me. "Hey, answer my question. What happened?"

 I just ignore his question. Rufus and his nosiness. Sometimes I even forget that he is a guy because of his hunger for gossip.

 "Are you okay now, Lady Csille?" 

 Leander immediately stands up when he sees me walking towards them. Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee stand up also when they see me.

 I smile at Leander. "Yes, Senior. Thank you for asking. I feel better now."

 He walks around me. Checking if I am okay. "That's great to hear then. I was wor—" he stops talking, and I notice his ears starting to get reddish. "I mean, we were all worried about you."

 I tried my best not to raise my eyebrow at him. I think I know what he wants to say. This guy, I thought he already gave up.

 "Lady Csille, are you okay?" Princess Paislee asked worriedly.

 I bow my head at them. "I'm sorry if I made all of you worried. I just had a nightmare this morning, and something triggered me to remember it."

 Rufus helps me to stand up straight. "Purplany, you don't need to say sorry. We all understand you. As long as you are okay now, then everything's okay."

 Leander steps up. "Prince Rufus is right. You don't need to say sorry. You don't know how much we are worried about you. We're relieved that everything's okay now."

 "Lady Csille, are you sure you're okay now? Maybe you should take a rest for tonight."

 I shake my head at Princess Paislee. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm sure I am okay now. Also, my presence will be needed tonight. How can I bear to lock myself in my room knowing that you are all facing traitors?"

 I take a deep breath and look at Prince Fraser, who is staring at me intently. I can see intense emotion in his eyes. He then avoids my stare and sighs. "Now everything's okay. We should start talking about what we are going to do tonight."

 I feel Rufus lean on my ear. "I thought everything's okay between the two of you. What did really happen inside the tea room? He was in a good mood when he walks out of the room. Why isn't he talking to you again?"

 I just shrugged my shoulders at him and sat on one of the sofas. The rest take their seats too. Rufus and Leander are sitting beside me. While Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee are sitting on the sofa in front of us.

 "We all know that this visit is important for our Kingdom. In this visit, we will know if the Vrawyth Kingdom will continue to remain as the strongest Kingdom among all or to fall in the hands of our rival Kingdom, the Aeslaerean Kingdom." Prince Fraser pauses and looks at all of us. 

 "We need to make sure that everything will be okay for tonight's visit. We will follow the plan we all talked about earlier. Csille and I are the ones who will act as the host for this visit."

 My eyes immediately widen when I heard what Prince Fraser said. I look at Rufus and glare at him. This guy didn't even mention that to me. It's a good thing that Prince Fraser and I had a deal tonight, or else I would have locked myself inside my room. 

 Rufus didn't even look at me. I sigh and listen to what is Prince Fraser is saying. Rufus didn't explain in detail what will happen tonight. So, I need to listen to what is Prince Fraser is saying, or else I might make a mistake tonight.

 "And we all know that the visiting process includes drinking." Prince Fraser took the black wooden box inside his vest. "I will be the one who will put the pill in Prince Reeve's drink while the three of you, Prince Rufus, Leander, and Sir Farren, will be entertaining Prince Reeve."

 "Csille," he looks at me. "You will be the one in charge of entertaining Princess Roese. I know Prince Reeve loves his little sister, and for sure, he won't let the others get close with Prince Roese. So, I want you to be always be beside her so Prince Reeve won't get anxious." He then looks at three guys. "Rufus, Leander, and Sir Farren, make sure that as much as possible you will avoid any interaction with the Crown Princess of the Saiven Kingdom."

 The three guys nod their heads. I feel Rufus lean on me again to whisper. "Does he wants us to stay from Princess Roese, or does he wants us to stay away from you?" 

 I immediately look at Rufus and make a face at him. How can this guy think something like that at this time? Really?

 Prince Fraser stop talking and stare at us. "Do you have something to share with us, Prince Rufus?" He asks in a serious tone.

 I immediately sit straight and avoid Rufus' eyes. He's the only one mentioned by Prince Fraser. I don't know him.

 Rufus clears his throat. "Nothing, I was just asking Purplany about something."

 Prince Fraser raises his eyebrow at Rufus. "You're asking a question? Is that too important that you couldn't wait for me to finish explaining things before you ask her?"

 I feel Rufus elbowing me. "I'm sorry, I'll stop now."

 I peek at Rufus, and I almost laugh at his expression. Serves him right for thinking about nonsense things.

 Prince Fraser looks at me. "Csille, you will be the one who will deal with Princess Roese. I'm sure Prince Reeve won't let her dear sister to drink alcohol." He looks at Leander. "Give Csille the sleeping pill."

 Leander took something inside his pocket and gave it to me. I look at the pill in my hand. 

 "That is a dissolvable sleeping pill. Just put it in her drink, and in just a few seconds, the pill will be dissolved. All you need to do is to make sure that no one is looking when you do that. If you cannot find a good timing, just call me, and I will assist you, okay?"

 I nod my head at him and put the pill inside my pocket. I will make sure that I will flawlessly do what I need to do for tonight.

 "If we see that the pills are working, that is when we will suggest to them that they can stay here for tonight. Csille and I will deal with the guards. Csille, you will put Princess Roese in one of the rooms on the first floor. If you need help, you can ask one of the Saiven guards so they can be assured that their Crown Princess will be safe. While Prince Rufus and I will bring Prince Reeve to the other room on the first floor. We will wait for midnight before we do something to Prince Reeve."

 I frown. I don't understand why we would need to wait for midnight if we can interrogate him immediately. 

 Prince Fraser probably sees the confusion in my eyes. That's why he explains things in detail. "Midnight is the perfect timing for us to move. This is the time when the guards from the Saiven Kingdom won't be too cautious with us since they are all expecting that we are already sleeping in our own rooms. We will take that opportunity to strike then. While everyone is asleep, we bring Prince Reeve in the underground dungeon of this building."

 My eyes immediately widen. "Underground dungeons? There is an underground dungeon in here? Why does the Count didn't mentioned this?"

 "Because he doesn't want us to know about it. That dungeon was made by the Rulers of the Saiven Kingdom before. That's where they punish those maids and guards who are working in here before."

 I gasp. I didn't know that the Ruler of the Saiven Kingdom before are that ruthless. Punish? I don't think that is simple punishment. They wouldn't build an underground dungeon just for a simple punishment. I'm sure they were torturing those maids and guards.

 Prince Fraser sigh. "Yes, the Count hide the existence of the dungeon because they don't want us to learn about the horrifying behavior of their previous Ruler. It's the same reason why this residence was closed because of that incident."

 What? They assigned us a residence that has a dark past? They know the Vrawyth Kingdom dislikes abuse and torture. How can they dare to let us live in a place where horrifying things happened? They are really too much.