Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 Days have passed, and the atmosphere in the Lauretré residence is changing every day. Gone is the warm and sweet ambiance I can feel every time I return from a long journey.

 It's been days after the failed surprise dinner I have prepared for them, but my relationship with my parents is still the same. I didn't get a chance to talk to them and say sorry because every time I bring up what happened, they always have excuses. It's as if they are avoiding the topic.

 I tried to make surprise dinners a couple of times too, but because they always come home late, it always ends up being eaten by the maids and the kitchen staff.

 My parents don't have any idea that I have tried to surprise them a couple of times already because I ask the maids and the kitchen staff not to tell them. It's no use after all because they are busy avoiding me.

 Even Brother Pascal is ignoring me. After the conversation I had with him in the hospital, he hasn't returned to the Lauretré residence. And when I visit him in the Holycross Hospital, he will treat me coldly. 

 I should be happy now because they have already agreed to do what I want. But I didn't expect this would be the price for it. That my relationship with my family will become likes this.

 I sigh and look up at the sky. I don't know what to do anymore. I know the only solution to fix my relationship with my family is to cancel my engagement with Prince Fraser. But if I do that, I'll be endangering everyone in this world. 

 I mess my hair and groan in frustration. I'm torn. I don't want my family to continue to ignore me, but I don't want to sacrifice the lives of everyone. 

 What should I do? 

 "Hey, don't mess your hair like that. Look how ugly you have become."

 I stop what I am doing and look back. Lo and behold, the second lead of the story, Prince Rufus Astalieu in the flesh.

 I frowned when I realized something was wrong. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the western region? How come you are here already?"

 Prince Fraser's arrival in the capital is also the same day of arrival of my employees that was left behind in the western region. It's the reason why I know he is not supposed to be in the capital.

 Prince Fraser will arrive in the capital three days from now. So, I don't understand why Rufus is here. Couldn't he stand working with Prince Fraser that he chose to return to the capital first? 

 Rufus pouts and sits beside me. I am currently in our garden trying to relax. 

 "Purplany, you're hurting my feelings. Don't you want me to be here? Shouldn't you be happy that I return to the capital now? Why does it seem like you don't want me to be here."

 I roll my eyes at Rufus. "Can you please stop acting? You know more than anyone else that I'm happy when you are here because I have someone to talk to. You know how I hate those hypocrites nobles. But anyway, that's not the issue here. Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to return to the capital three days from now? So, what are you doing here, and when did you arrive?"

 I heard Rufus sigh. "What do you expect? After you leave the western region, my relationship with Prince Fraser becomes worst. I'm sorry, purplany. I tried to control myself, but I couldn't help but feel angry when I remembered how he embarrassed you. So, we always argue with almost everything. In the end, it reached into his majesty's ears, and he decided to call me back to the capital. I just arrived this midnight, and I immediately visited you to check how you are doing. Aren't I sweet?"

 I didn't expect that Rufus and Prince Fraser are still not on good terms. They sometimes argue before, and they always reconcile a few days after. But this time, I think this is really serious.

 Oh no, I just didn't ruin Csille's relationship with her family, but I also ruined Prince Fraser and Prince Rufus' relationship. 

 "The two of you still haven't talked?" I sigh. "But he's your cousin. Isn't it time for the two of you to reconcile?"

 Rufus groans. "How can I reconcile with someone who doesn't feel guilty disrespecting a woman? Yes, he is my cousin, but I won't tolerate that kind of behavior, especially if it's you he is disrespecting. So, no. As long as he didn't apologize to you and admit what he did, I won't reconcile with him."

 I try to convince Rufus, but he is a stubborn person too. He won't listen to my plea. He even got mad at me for defending Prince Fraser.

 "Purplany, are we talking about this again? I want to understand you but what you are doing is beyond comprehension. I don't understand why can't you see how he is treating you." He sigh. "I'm sorry, I won't compromise with this. You can ask me with something else but not these."

 I sigh. I know that once Rufus was decided on a thing, it would be difficult to change his mind so, I didn't force what I wanted. 

 Although I feel guilty because I think I am the reason why this is happening. If not because of me, Prince Fraser and Prince Rufus' relationship will not be like this.

 "Can we talk about something else? I'm not here to talk about my feud with my cousin." Rufus gently caresses my head. "What happened to you while I was in the western region? Can you tell me? I want to know what you have been up to these days."

 I didn't answer him immediately. I take a sip on my tea first before I answer him. I wasn't thirsty. I was just taking time. I need to think about what I should say because I know he'll be disappointed when he knows what I did.

 I am about to answer him when he suddenly grab my injured hand. He didn't hold my hand, though. He is holding my wrist. 

 "What's this? Why did you have a wound?"

 I smile awkwardly at Rufus. "I had some unfortunate accident a few days ago, and I ended up wounding my hand."

 Rufus looks at me with suspicion. He then starts to inspect my bandages. I didn't expect he would open my wound, and when I realized it, it was already too late. 

 Rufus looks up at me and squints his eyes. "What is this unfortunate accident you are talking about, Csille Lauretré?"

 "While I was changing the water in the flower vase, I accidentally dropped it on the floor. When I try to pick it up, I slip because of the water, and the back of my hand landed on the parts of the vase."

 I hope he believes that. That's the only thing I can think of as of this moment. I didn't expect Rufus to open my bandages. I thought he would just check my hand and nothing else.

 Rufus frowns. "I would have believed it if only you didn't avoid looking at me. I know you, Csille. When you lie, you always avoid looking at me." Rufus looks straight into my eyes. "Purplany, tell me what really happened to your wounds."

 I sigh. I guess I have no other choice but to tell him. I'm sure Rufus won't tell it to other people because it concerns about my image. 

 "I punch the mirror. Is that enough? Are you satisfied with my answer, or do you want me to elaborate everything from the start?"

 I only said that as sarcasm, but this guy here, takes it seriously. In the end, he forced me to tell the whole story behind my wounds.

 "You're really nosy, aren't you? I was just kidding when I said that, and you really say yes."

 Rufus raised his eyebrow at me. "You offer it, so of course, I would accept, and this is something that is related to you. Of course, I would like to know."

 I roll my eyes. He and his hunger for gossip. Sometimes I even question if he is a prince because he doesn't act like that most of the time.

 "Okay. I'll just summarize everything because I feel lazy to tell every little detail. So, as you know, my parents call Brother Pascal and me to return to the capital. And as I expected, they call us to talk about the issue between Prince Fraser and I. They—"

 "I'm sure they were enraged because their precious daughter hid the fact that her fiancé is treating her badly."

 I look at Rufus and scoff. "Seriously? Do you want me to continue what happened, or do you want to go ahead and narrate to me what happened? It seems like you are well aware."

 Rufus shrugs his shoulders. "I was just assuming. I didn't expect I was right." He then waves his hand. "Continue."

 If he isn't my friend and a royalty, I would probably throw him out of our house. 

 "Going back to the story. My parents were enraged, and they wanted to cancel my engagement with Prince Fraser. If I didn't stop them, I'm sure there's a big possibility that they wouldn't support Prince Fraser once he is crowned. It's a good thing I convince them."

 "You really love him that much that even after what he did to you, you still ask your parents to support him. I don't understand why Fraser can't see how lucky he is." He then shakes his head. "What happened after? I can hear a but there."

 "But I wasn't able to convince them not to cancel my engagement with Prince Fraser. In my desperation, I end up harming myself to prove to them that I couldn't... live without Prince Fraser." I just whispered the last few words because I was too embarrassed to say them to Rufus.

 Never in my wildest imagination imagined that I would do something like that. That's too toxic. That is not love already, but an obsession, and any obsession is not a good thing. 

 I avoid Rufus' eyes. I couldn't look at his expression because I couldn't even bear to hear myself that I did that. 

 Rufus got silent because of what I said. He was probably shocked by what I did. He remained quiet for a couple of minutes before he made me face him.

 "Csille, are you telling the truth? You hurt yourself just because the Count and the Countess want to cancel your engagement with my cousin?" I can clearly see the disappointment in his eyes.

 I nod my head. I couldn't say anything because I am afraid I'll disappoint him the more I speak. 

 "That is absurd, Csille! How can you do something like that? I know you love my cousin. But that is too much, Csille. He disrespected you. Have you forgotten about that?"

 I sigh. Even if I explain things to him, he wouldn't understand. They will just paint me as someone who is drowning in love. 

 "I know that is not the wisest thing to do, but can you not scold me anymore. My parents and Brother Pascal are already ignoring me for what I did. Are you planning to get mad at me too?"

 "Who wouldn't get mad at you because of that? I would be enraged too. That is..." Rufus didn't continue his words because I glared at him.

 A moment after, he sighed. "Does other people know about your suicidal stints?"

 I look at him as if asking if he is dumb or something. "Do you think my parents will be dumb to let other people know what I did? You know how it can affect my image, right?"

 Rufus nods his head. Satisfied with my answer. "So, what are you going to do with Prince Fraser? He is about to return to the capital three days from now. Are you planning to meet him to talk to him?"

 Meet him? I shake my head. I don't even know what I will do after. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to the time when Csille could control me because those times, I didn't need to think about what I should do next. 

 "I don't know, Rufus. I don't know."

 I haven't even reconciled with my parents and Brother Pascal.. I think I need to focus more on that.