Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 378  : The Aftermath (2)

 I heave a deep sigh before I walk inside the Foundation. I think I already heard enough for today.

 Lilla, who is about to say something, immediately rushes toward me when she sees me walk inside the Foundation. "Dame Csille! You are here!" She tried to touch my hand but hesitated at the end. "May I know what you are doing here?"

 I frown at her question. "Why are you asking me that question? Of course, I will be here. Have you forgotten that I am the Founder of this Foundation?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Lilla looks back at my other employees before she shakes her head. "Dame Csille, that is not what I mean." She paused and looked hesitantly at me.

 I heave a sigh and smile reassuringly at her. "Just because things don't work the way we expected, it means my world would stop spinning. I still have other things to do. Like running this Foundation."

 Lilla stares at me with her teary eyes. I look around and find all my employees are looking at me like how Lilla is staring at me. I just smile at them. I am grateful for their concern, but right now, nothing can stop Csille from doing what she will do after.  "I know you are all worried about me. But I wouldn't be here if I am still not okay. So, can we all work now? Life doesn't stop just because someone doesn't like you."

 I look at Lilla, who is still staring at me with teary eyes. "Lilla, how is the condition of the patient who got stabbed? Is he doing okay now?"

 Lilla nods her head after. "Yes, Dame Csille. He is doing okay now. In fact, he just got released from here and is now working again. He also told me to extend his deepest gratitude for saving his life. He heard that you gave him your blood, and he is now willing to serve you with his life."

 Serve me with his life? I shake my head. I will already endanger everyone in the near future. How can I bear to watch an innocent person sacrifice his life for me?  "Can you please tell that man that I don't need his life? Only he can own his life and no one else, and if he really wants to thank me, he should live his life happily. That is all I am asking for."

 "Dame Csille..."

 I just smile at Lilla and gently caress her head. "I will be working for today. So, give me all the documents I need to work on. Also, if anyone sees me aside from my family, please tell them I am not here."

 Lilla's eyes widened when she heard what I said. "Dame Csille, I almost forgot. The Count and the Countess with Doctor Pascal came here at midnight. They were looking for you—"

 I nod my head. "I know. I dropped by our house before I came here. So, don't worry. Also, I have some guards with me. Please treat them with care too."

 Lilla nods her head. I was about to walk into my office when she suddenly stopped me. "Dame Csille, about you said just now that you won't receive any guests aside from your family. Does it include anyone from the Astalieu family?"

 I smiled bitterly when I heard that name. Astalieu? Even if I want to see Rufus right now, I know the safest thing to do is distance myself from any Astalieu.  Because that is what I have written, and I need to follow it if I still want to leave this world.  "I won't be receiving any guests, Lilla. Only my family, the Lauretré's, are the ones allowed to see me. I hope that answers your question."

 I didn't wait for her to respond and just walked inside my office. I immediately close the door and lean on it.  I'm sorry, Rufus. I'm sorry if you will be involved in this mess. I don't want to break my ties with you because I already consider you as my friend, but I need to do this. So, I'm sorry. ________________________________

 I spend a couple of hours reading and signing documents. I didn't have much work to do since I had already given Lilla my stamp, and they had already finished checking the documents.

 I put the last document down on my table and stared at the wall clock. It's nine in the morning, and I have already finished my work. I walked outside to check the situation, but I was shocked to see that there were no people asking for help today.  I walk towards Lilla, who is currently talking to one of my employees. "Lilla, what happened? Why are there no people in the Foundation? Is there some sort of event today?"

 Lilla looks at the other employee before she looks back at me. "Dame Csille, I think it is because of what happened last night. Everyone already knows what happened. They are probably concerned about you. They know you are..." Lilla paused and shook her head. "So, they don't want to add to your problem."

 I heave a sigh. I am touched by their concern, but I am worried about those who need urgent help.  "What should we do then? If this continues, I'm afraid those people who are in need of urgent help will not be able to survive."

 Lilla was about to say something when someone spoke behind me. I immediately look back and find my parents and Brother Pascal staring at me worriedly.

 "And I'm afraid if you continue doing this, we'll end up dying in worry. My dear, why didn't you wake us up?"  I smile reassuringly at Mother, who ask that question just now. "Mother, you are here. Did you sleep well?"

 Mother walks toward me and gives me a tight hug. "How can I sleep well if I don't know the whereabouts of my only daughter. Where have you been? Do you know how worried we are for you?"

 I hug her back for a couple of seconds before I break from the hug. "Why don't we go inside my office so we can talk." I look at Father and Brother Pascal. "Let's go?"

 Mother clings to my arms and pulls me to my office. I look back at Lilla. "Let's talk about this later." Lilla nods her head at me as a response.  The four of us, Mother, Father, and Brother Pascal, settled inside my office. We are all sitting on the couch in my office.  Mother is holding my hand tightly while Father and Brother Pascal are looking at me worriedly.

 "My dear, where did you go last night? We were looking for you everywhere, but we couldn't find you. Do you know how worried we are?"

 I heave a sigh. "Apologies, Mother. I just took some time on my own. I don't want to talk to anyone while emotions are still unstable."

 Mother's eyes start to moisten then she hugs me tightly. "I'm sorry, my dear. If we only knew things would end up like that, we shouldn't have agreed with the engagement. We shouldn't have gone to that banquet. I'm sorry if we weren't there for you when you needed us the most. I hope you can forgive u—"

 I shake my head. "Mother, why are you saying sorry? I was the one who insisted on marrying his highness despite all of your disagreement. I was the one who should apologize for not listening to you." I laugh bitterly. "Look what happened to us. I have embarrassed the whole Lauretré family because of my foolishness. I'm sorry."

 I heard Mother sob when she heard what I said. She then gently caress my back. "My poor baby. Why are you thinking about the embarrassment we experienced? Do you think it is more important to us than your feelings?"

 I didn't respond to her question and just hugged her. I will definitely cherish these moments where I can still freely hug them. When I can still make them feel how important they are to me because I know once I cross to the other side, I won't be able to hug them or make them feel how much I love them.

 "Csille, what are you talking about? Who cares if we become the laughingstock of the whole Vrawyth Kingdom? As long as you are safe and happy, we don't care about those things."

 I break from Mother's hug and look at Brother Pascal, who speak just now. I smile reassuringly at him. "Now that you are here, I am more than happy."

 Brother Pascal heaves a sigh and hugs me too. Then he flicks my forehead. "Don't disappear again. Do you know how you made us worried?"  I nod my head and smile at him. Although I know, I won't be able to stick with my words in the future. Because I wii disappear soon. Again.

 Mother hugs Brother Pascal and me for a couple of seconds before she stares at us lovingly. She is about to say something when Father suddenly says something.

 "I should probably resign from the Monarchy."

 My eyes widened when I heard what Father said. Mother and Brother Pascal was also shocked by Father's sudden remarks.

 I break from the hug and rush to Father's side. I cannot let him resign from the Monarchy. It is the only thing that could keep them safe once I turn against the Vrawyth Kingdom, so I cannot let him do that.  "Father, why are you suddenly being impulsive? Have you forgotten how our ancestors pledged their life to the royal family? Are you planning to throw away their sacrifices?"

 Father stares at me, and that is when I realize that his eyes are starting to moisten too. He's probably just forcing himself not to cry. "And what? Let you suffer? I respected his high despite what he did to you before, but how can he embarrass you in front of everyone else? I would understand it if he likes someone else, but to announce that in public while everyone is expecting the announcement of your engagement with him? That is a total slap on your face, and as your Father, how can I let this pass? Even if he is part of the royal family, he doesn't have the right to do that to you." Father looked at me softly and caressed my head. "We have loved you dearly ever since you were born. How can I let anyone hurt you like that?"

 I hug Father while shaking my head. I need to stop him from doing something he will regret in the future.  "Father, can you calm down first? Getting angry wouldn't solve anything, and do you think by giving up your position in the monarchy, everything will change? Nothing will change, Father. In fact, it will only worsen our situation. If you give up your position, then our standing with the nobles will weaken. That means those people who have held grudges onto us all their years will have a chance to strike against us. You will only be putting all of us in a difficult situation."

 I break from the hug and look at Father, who seems like he is in pain. "But what can I do? I don't want to sit still and watch things progress like this. How can I let my daughter suffer? Can I even still consider your Father if I do that?"

 I smile bitterly. I am really grateful for the love they are giving me. If we were only in a different situation, I would never allow myself to endanger this family I always long for, but I know the more I try to save them, the more I am endangering them.  I hold Father's hand and smile reassuringly at him. "Father, don't throw away everything just for me. Remember, no matter what happens, I am still your daughter. So, why do you need to bother by those things or by what will the other people say?" I look at the three of them and smile. "As long as we are okay. Does it matter?"

 I walk towards my chair and sit on it. "Also, my life doesn't stop just because Prince Fraser doesn't want me." I gesture my hand at my surroundings. "I still have you. I still have the Hope Foundation, and I still have myself. So, don't worry. I am okay, and I will be okay."

 That was a lie because no matter how much I convinced myself, the real Csille would be the one who would decide what she wanted to do.  Her decision?  That is something everyone will never expect.