Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 I look at the ceiling of my room and sigh. My mind couldn't help but think about what happened in the Holycross Hospital. 

 It's the first time Brother Pascal walk out on me like that. He usually attends to my whims and makes sure that I am okay. But this time, he really left even after I pleaded him to forgive me.

 I must really hurt him. I know my parents are also hurting right now, and here I am, doing nothing to make them feel better. 

 "What should I do? I want to do something for them, but what can I do? What can I do to make them feel better? That they will appreciate."

 I get up and look around me. Should I make them a letter? But isn't that too simple? I'm sure they will appreciate it more if I talk to them in person rather than the letter.

 My gaze landed on the flowers in my room. Should I make them a bouquet? They still don't know what a bouquet is, so maybe they could appreciate it?

 But after a moment, I shake my head. I remember that Brown Pascal is allergic to pollen. So, it's not possible to give him a flower.

 If a letter and a flower don't work, what should I do next? 

 I was too busy thinking about what to do when suddenly someone knocked on my door. "Miss? Do you want some pudding? We made you some."

 Pudding? My eyes widen when I think of a bright idea. I guess that would work.

 I immediately stand up and walk straight to my door. The maid was even startled when she saw me open the door.

 "Miss?"

 "Do you know what they will prepare for tonight's dinner?" I look back at the clock. It's four in the afternoon already. Usually, this time, the maids are now preparing for dinner. "Are they starting to prepare the dinner?"

 The maid gets silent for a couple of seconds before she shakes her head. "No, miss. They haven't started yet, but I'm definitely sure they will start in a few minutes. Why? Is there a dish you want to add for dinner?"

 Great! I can do my plan. I look at the maid and smile at her. "Yes, but it's not just a dish. It's the whole dinner."

 "Miss?"

 I didn't answer the maid and walked straight to the kitchen. I hope they will appreciate what I will be doing, and I hope they can forgive me after this.

 The kitchen staff immediately looked at me the moment I walked inside the kitchen. 

 "Miss, what are you doing here?" The head chef immediately walks towards me. He then looked at my wounded hand. "Master Pascal told us not to let you close here or else it can infect your wounds. Please return to your room, Miss, or else Master Pascal will scold us."

 I just look pitifully at him. The head chef has been working in the Lauretré Family ever since Csille was young, and she is pretty close to him. He usually gave Csille desserts behind her parents' back when she was young.

 "But I want to do something. Can you please help me, Mister Head Chef?"

 The head chef frowns at me and shakes his head. The last time Csille asked for his help, she made a huge mess in the kitchen. That's why he is hesitating to say yes to Csille.

 I pout at him. I know that if I act cute, he can't bear to say no to me. "Mister head chef, can you please help me? I promise not to make a mess in the kitchen again." I sigh and bow my head. "I just want to cook dinner for my parents and Brother Pascal. You probably all know what happened, and I want them to feel better. So, can you please help me?"

 The kitchen got silent for a couple of seconds before the kitchen staff started to urge the head chef to agree with my request.

 "Head chef, can we agree with Miss' requests? She just wants to make dinner for the Count, Countess, and Master Pascal. Isn't that a sweet thing to do?"

 The other kitchen staff seconded what the other staff said. I smile gratefully at them. Most of the kitchen staff have been serving the Lauretré Family even before Csille was born. That's why they also care for the Lauretré family.

 The head chef looks at his colleagues before he looks at me. "I apologize, Miss. But I cannot let you work in the kitchen in your current situation. Master Pascal will definitely reprimand us if he knows we let you cook. I hope you understand, Miss."

 His colleagues immediately complained when they heard his decision. 

 "Head chef, can we just help Miss with her request? If you want, we can just do the cutting of ingredients and other things while she's the one who'll season the dishes. She won't need to move her wounded arms, and she can cook for her parents. Isn't that okay?"

 The head chef sigh and nods his head. "Okay, I will let her, but you need to make sure that she won't do anything aside from seasoning the dishes." He then looks at me. "Miss, what do you want to cook for dinner? Just tell us the dishes so we can prepare the ingredients for you."

 I smile gratefully at them. The Lauretré family is really fortunate to have people who are loyal to them. 

 "Thank you for your help. I wouldn't forget about this. About the dish, I want to make lasagna for dinner, garlic bread, and mashed potatoes. It's one of my favorite dishes, and I'm sure Mother, Father, and Brother Pascal will like it too."

 I look at them and frown when I see their confused expression. Did I say something wrong? Why do they look at me as if I just said something strange? The dishes I want to make are one of the simple—

 My eyes widened when I realized what was wrong. I forgot! I forgot that I am still in the fictional world, and those dishes don't exist here. 

 How can I explain things to them?

 "La-sagna? Mashed potatoes? Miss, what is that? I haven't heard a dish called like that?"

 I smile awkwardly at them. I guess I'll just lie again. "I heard about it in the Alderrdeen City, and I was amazed how delicious those dishes are."

 The head chef looks at me suspiciously. Aside from he has always been the head chef of the Lauretré family, he is also knowledgeable about the dishes of other Kingdoms and some Cities, and that includes Alderrdeen.

 How can I forget about it? I should have said it's from the Frailens City. As far as I know, he doesn't know any dishes from there. Now, how can I make him believe that those dishes are really from the Alderrdeen City?

 "Lady Dea once taught me how to cook those dishes. She said it's one of the newly invented dishes in the Alderrdeen, and not everyone knew about it. That's why I wanted to try it. I want Mother, Father, and Brother Pascal to know how delicious those dishes are."

 I look at the head chef, who seems like he is still doubting my words. I anxiously wait for his response. I don't know how to explain it to him if he realizes I am lying. 

 Please, believe me, Mister head chef. 

 A moment after, Mister head chef nods his head. "I guess studying about foreign dishes in the Vrawyth Kingdom is not enough. Look how I don't know about these dishes. Maybe I should ask the Count for a month's break. So, I can visit nearby cities and study their dishes."

 I anxiously smile at him. I can help him with that, but I just hope he won't go to the Alderrdeen City, or else it's the end of me. 

 "If you want Mister head chef, I can help you ask Father for a break. I'm sure Father will grant you a month's leave. I hope it's enough for you to enjoy and learn new things."

 Mister head chef looks at me gratefully. "Thank you, Miss." He then looks at his colleagues. "Okay, everyone, let's help our Miss Csille with her surprise dinner." 

 The kitchen staff cheered when they heard what Mister Chef said. After a few cheers here and there, we all started our cooking. 

 I just instruct them what to do with the ingredients, and they all do my instructions while I check if what they are doing is right.

 After an hour of preparing all the necessary ingredients, I am now layering the lasagna while everyone is looking at what I am doing. 

 "Miss, why do you need to layer it like that? Can't you just put the sauce on top of that... square flat pasta?"

 I pause and smile at the kitchen staff that asks the question. "No, you cannot do that. That's not how lasagna is made, and this pasta is called lasagne."

 "La-lasagne?" She then shakes her head. "But isn't that time consuming?"

 I add another layer of pasta before I answer her. I know they might find this dish weird which is pretty normal because it's the first time they have seen something like this in their entire life. 

 "Yes, but you couldn't enjoy lasagna if you don't do this. Trust me. It'll taste delicious once it is cooked. Don't worry. The reason why I ask you to prepare a lot of ingredients is because I want all of you to taste it."

 They all look excitedly at me. They let me finish arranging the first lasagna set before they do their other task. We still have mashed potato and garlic bread to make.

 I look around the kitchen and smile gratefully at the kitchen staff who are busy helping me prepare dinner.

 "I just hope this will work," I mumble to myself.

________________________________

 It's already past six, and they are still not home. I look at our butler, who is busy checking the furniture. He's making sure no dust can be seen.

 "Mister Butler, do you know when my parents and Brother Pascal will get home? Isn't it late already? Aren't they supposed to be here?"

 The Butler stops what he is doing and looks at the clock. "Apologies, Miss but the Count didn't mention anything to me. Maybe they just have some urgent matters they need to attend to."

 I sigh. Everything is prepared already. I even set up the dining table to make it look presentable, but the problem is, they are still not at home. Even Brother Pascal is still not here. 

 "Will Brother Pascal comes home tonight?"

 The Butler finished what he was doing first before he answered me. "No, he didn't say anything, Miss. Maybe he got busy with his work again. Don't worry, Miss. I'm sure they will return home tonight."

 I really hope so. I don't want to waste not just my efforts but everyone's effort. 

 I waited for another half an hour before I heard a carriage stop in front of our house. I immediately rushed towards the door to welcome them, but I was disappointed when I didn't see Mother, Father, or even Brother Pascal. 

 It's the coachman.

 The coachman smiled politely at me. "Miss, are you waiting for the Count and the Countess?"

 I nod my head. Although I think I already know what he will say next. 

 "The Count has an urgent meeting today, and he said he might probably spend his night in his office. While the Countess has encountered a problem in one of the businesses of the Lauretré family, so she still needs to attend to it. She said she might come home late, and she wants to remind you to sleep early so your wounds will heal."

 I sigh and smile bitterly. I knew it. Although they didn't say anything about what happened this morning, I know they are disappointed with my decision.

 "What about Brother Pascal?"

 I didn't hope much with Brother Pascal too. With what happened this morning? I'm sure he won't go home tonight. 

 The coachman shakes his head. "Apologies, Miss but Master Pascal is currently busy with his hospital duties. The Hospital is still short staff. That's why he volunteered to work for tonight."

 I knew it. They are all disappointed in me. I smile at the coachman before going to the kitchen, where the maids and the kitchen staff are waiting for my signal. 

 They immediately smile at me when they see me walk inside the kitchen.

 "Miss, did they arrive already? Should we arrange the food now?"

 I shake my head and smile at them. "No, the coachman said they will be busy for tonight. So, you can go ahead and finish everything on your own. I'm going to rest now."

 I didn't wait for their reply and immediately went straight to my room. I feel disappointed, but I know I don't have the right to feel like that because I hurt them. 

 Is this how they feel? When I disappointed them with my decision? 

 I smile bitterly at myself.