Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 I look up at the sky and sigh. It's another day. Last night Rufus took the Ruby necklace to Prince Fraser, and after that, I never heard anything from them. 

 I woke up late this morning and was informed by the maids that everyone is now training. Having no choice, I decided to train for today. I already skipped yesterday's training. I don't think it will be fair to the others that I always skipped training. 

 The competition is about to start next week. The Queen's visit will be on Wednesday, and it's already Monday today. So, I really need to train hard.

 I was about to enter the Etiquette room but was shocked when I saw Prince Fraser sitting in one of the chairs inside. He immediately stands up when he sees me open the door.

 "Csille." He mumbles.

 I take a deep breath and sigh. Remember Csille. You had a deal with him already. You shouldn't care anymore.

 I walk inside the room. "Prince Fraser, may I know if you need anything from me?" I casually ask him. 

 I put my belongings in the cabinet and stared at the things on the table. Eve already prepared the things I will need for my training today. 

 Painting? I sigh, I know how to draw, but I'm not great at designing drawings. My imagination is limited only to writing. 

 Prince Fraser walks in front of me. I look at him and frown. What is he planning to do? He stops a few meters away from me. He then takes my hand and holds it. "Csille, I'm sorry about the last time, I wa—"

 I shake my head at him and break off from his hold. I walk towards a corner where the painting stand can be seen. "You don't need to explain, Prince Fraser. What you said is right. Our engagement is not official, so I shouldn't have asked too much from you." I said while dragging the stand close to the window.

 Prince Fraser follows behind me. "Csille, that's not true. Official or not, I already consider you as my fiancée. I just don't know what gotten to me that day and why did I say that. I swear, I never intended to say those words. I couldn't control myself. Please, believe in me, Csille."

 I sigh and look at him. "I believe in you, Fraser, and honestly, you don't need to explain." He immediately smile at my words.

 "So, you're not mad at me?"

 I shake my head. I take an empty canvas and put it on the stand. "I'm not mad at you. It's my fault too. I said things that were rude, so I understand why you got mad too me. I should be the one saying sorry. I already cleared things between us but look what I just did. I'm sorry if I'm doing contradicting things."

 I am about to take a brush, but Prince Fraser holds my hand. "Let's forget about our deal, Csille. Let's get back together."

 I break off from his hold and stare at him. "No, Fraser. I thought you already agreed to it. I'm not taking it back. It's the reason why you don't need to explain things to me. You are right. I am not officially your fiancée. So what's there to explain? We're only friends."

 Prince Fraser is about to refute, but I cut him off. "I'm not mad at you, but my decision is final now. I won't take back my decision, and you already agreed to it. So, you actually don't need to explain things now, and as you can see, I'm quite busy here, Prince Fraser. May I have some peace?"

 I heard him sigh. "Okay, but remember this, Csille, even if we're still not officially engaged, you will always be my fiancée." After saying those words, he immediately leaves me alone.

 I sigh in relief. I thought he would insist on talking to me again. I slump my body on the chair and stare outside the window. 

 Our situation is really complicated. I want to stay away from him, but when the real Csille takes control of my body, all she wants to do is to be with Prince Fraser. How can I explain the changes in my temperament? 

 When will the day come when the Prince Fraser now will hate me. So even if the real Csille takes over my body, it won't be difficult for me already.

 I just hope soon because I am already losing excuses to use to him. Although I know I will be in pain if that happens, but I know sooner or later it will happen. Even if I don't want it to happen.

________________________________

 I just finished with my training, and I am about to enter my room when I see Princess Paislee leaning on the wall beside the door of my room.

 I frown. What does she want? I just talked to his Crown Prince, and now I need to deal with her too? I'm exhausted. Can they give me a break? 

 Princess Paislee stood up straight when she saw me. "Lady Csille."

 I look at her and sigh. "Sir Farren, do you need anything urgent? I'm exhausted today, and I actually want to take an early rest."

 She scratches her nape. "Can I talk to you, Lady Csille? It's something important."

 I frown. Important? There is one thing important for Princess Paislee, and that always concerns Prince Fraser. What would she say again? Will she matchmake me to Prince Fraser again? Will she say that I am making a mistake? 

 "Something important? Is it too urgent? I'm really exhausted, Sir Farren." And I'm so done talking about Prince Fraser. It's all about him, him, and him. But no one even asks about me. Am I a side character here?

 I hear her sigh. "It's important, Lady Csille. It won't take long, I promise you."

 I sigh and open my door. Okay, okay, everything is important for you except for my rest. "Come inside."

 I sit on the bed and let her decide where she wants to sit. I'm not in a good mood today because of what happened with my conversation with Prince Fraser. It is what I should do but not what I want to do. 

 Princess Paislee sits on the chair and stares at me. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting you, but I need to tell you something important." She pauses and sighs. "Lady Csille, are you talking to Prince Joachim?"

 I raised my eyebrow at her. Why does everyone seem so concerned about Prince Joachim? Although I don't feel comfortable with him, I just don't understand why does everyone seem so cautious of him. I also didn't expect her to talk about him. I thought she would be talking about what happened the last time between Prince Fraser and I. But I guess it's better to talk about Prince Joachim than to talk about Prince Fraser.

 "I'm not close with him, so I rarely have interaction with him. However, I was with him the whole day yesterday. Why do you ask, Sir Farren?"

 Her eyes immediately widened when she heard what I said. "You were with him the whole day?" 

 I nod my head in confusion. I didn't expect she would have a big reaction when she heard that I was with Prince Joachim. Why would she react that way, though?

 "Yes, is there something wrong?"

 Princess Paislee stands up and starts to walk back and forth. She then shakes her head. "Everything is wrong, Lady Csille. That Prince is a very dangerous one. You shouldn't interact with him anymore."

 I frown. Prince Joachim is a dangerous person? Although I don't feel comfortable with him, but I don't think he would be dangerous. Isn't her accusation too much? How can a neglected, disabled Prince of a Kingdom can be dangerous? Can he even do anything without any help from his guards? 

 I also heard from Rufus that the guards beside him are people of his brothers. So, I'm definitely sure those guards won't do dirty things for Prince Joachim. So, I don't understand how can Prince Joachim be dangerous?

 "Dangerous? What do you mean dangerous? How can a disabled person be dangerous?"

 Princess Paislee stops walking and stares at me. She then sighed and sat beside me. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but I think you should know that Prince Fraser is doubting Prince Joachim."

 Prince Fraser is doubting Prince Joachim? But why would he doubt him? "I don't understand. Why would he doubt Prince Joachim? That doesn't make sense. Haven't we proved that there's no alliance going on between the three Kingdoms?"

 Princess Paislee nods her head. "There is really no alliance. Prince Fraser made an investigation and found nothing suspicious between the three Kingdoms. However, we find something suspicious with Prince Joachim. The forgotten Prince of the Yesian Kingdom."

 "Suspicious? What do you mean?"

 "Prince Fraser thought that Prince Joachim might be the one who is working in the shadows."

 My eyes immediately widened when I heard what she said. Prince Joachim is the one working in the shadows? But the Vrawyth Kingdom has always been friendly with the Yesian Kingdom. Why would he do that? What will he get if the Vrawyth Kingdom falls down?

 "Yes, Lady Csille. Prince Fraser is doubting Prince Joachim. I shouldn't have mentioned this to you since we still don't have concrete evidence right now."

 I shake my head. "Wait, how can you say he is the one behind all of this?"

 "We found some clues that are pointing to him. Although we still don't have enough proof to prove that it was him. But to make sure, I hope you won't interact with him for the time being. We don't know if Prince Joachim is a friend or a foe."

 I nod my head at her. I never intended to interact with him again. I still don't feel comfortable with him even after what happened yesterday, and after hearing Princess Paislee's words, I think it will be best for me not to see him.

 "If that's the case. I won't interact with him again then. But there's one thing I don't understand."

 "You can ask me, Lady Csille. As long as I can answer it, I will answer it."

 "You said Prince Fraser has done an investigation about Prince Joachim, right? But why didn't he tell us about it? If he finds something wrong with him, why isn't he informing us?"

 It's something I don't understand. Prince Fraser isn't the type who would do that. But I don't think Princess Paislee is lying too.

 Princess Paislee sighed. "Actually, I shouldn't have told you this. If Prince Fraser knows about this, he will definitely be mad at me. But I think you need to know about this since it's concerned about your safety." She pauses. "The reason why Prince Fraser isn't informing all of you about this is because he knows he doesn't have enough proof to prove his claims. He wants to say about this to all of us after he gathered enough evidence to prove Prince Joachim isn't a good person."

 I nod my head. That sounds like Prince Fraser. He wouldn't make a move without even making sure that everything is accurate.

 "I see. But wouldn't it be better to say it to us? Especially now that the Queen will be visiting us? At least the Queen can help us decide what to do."

 Princess Paislee shakes her head. "No, Lady Csille, we cannot tell the Queen about this!"

 I frown. Does she need to have a big reaction like that? I was just suggesting. 

 Princess Paislee sighed. "Lady Csille, Prince Fraser wants to be sure before he tells the Queen about this. Remember what happened to our assumption that the three Kingdoms are allying with each other? He was afraid that he would make the same mistake again. If he told the Queen about his doubt, everything would change for Prince Joachim. Although we still don't have proof about our claim, his reputation will definitely be affected, and that's not what Prince Fraser wants."

 What she said is true. If ever their claims were wrong and we tell it to the Queen, Prince Joachim's image will be tainted. Once the seed of doubt was planted, it will be difficult to change.

 "That's why I hope you would stop seeing him already. Not until we prove that he is innocent."

 I nod my head at her.. After all the things we talk about? I don't think I will want to have a conversation with him again.