Who is the Villain?

Chapter-14

'This. Is. Fascinating.'

Lucien intended to visit the library the next day, however, things turned a different way. She had to stay in her chamber for 5 days. Firstly, she had been going through a process of waxing, which has been her worst experience. It felt as though her skin was about to peel off, and secondly, it was a stone massage. It made her forget about her harsh day and almost napped the entire time till sunset.

The next thing was when she was fully prepared to go, Alina invited her for another evening tea. She thought for a moment about whether she should attend or visit the library and it turns out, it was better to attend the party. Her reason was to see how those consorts would react to Renee's return.

Renee's the main character from the novel, 'Seven Roses' and, it's impossible for her just to disappear like that. She'll be bought back again and again and, even if she is to die, she'll be revived magically. It was impossible for the female protagonist to die before falling in love with the male protagonist in a romance story.

Lucien expected one or two more people to have an incredible expression when they saw Renee walk in however, she didn't expect more than ten or maybe fifteen of them to have a pale faces as though they had seen a ghost.

Lucien gambled, if one of the side characters were that dying lady, she'll had an expression she had never expected. And it turns out that there was more than one.

That lady who got transmigrated into her favorite novel, if she finds out that she was nothing more than an extra character, she would do anything to take the female lead position, no matter what. It was just a conclusion Lucien had thought. She wouldn't have to bother about it but, that lady knows about the novel and she knows that Lucien is the main villain. Which means, she'll do anything to put her in a spot of death traps.

It wearied Lucien not to think about Renee but she couldn't when she was planning to go back home alive in one piece.

"Lady Renee, how were you able to come back?" One of the ladies asked curiously.

They still decided to sit for their evening tea in the same greenhouse.

"Yes, I'm as curious as the others. How was it possible?"

"I thought you were no longer coming back again when you told us you were going to meet His Majesty."

Every one of them began to murmur in question. Lucien was in relief that no one was paying attention to her after what had happened at the last tea party and the banquet.

"Lady Renee, do you mean you don't want to find the cure?" Dorothy finally spoke, she was seated beside her.

"Were the words you spoke off just an empty vessel?" Her tone was fragile and timid. Eyes filled with glistering moisture. A look that could deceive anyone as though she had just been betrayed.

Lucien just stares in disbelief. Dorothy wasn't just any innocent pure girl, she was concealing something from that gentle smile. 'A wolf in sheep's clothing.'

As Dorothy spoke, everyone began muttering. It may be low but, it was loud and clear for Lucien.

"It seems like the Nightingale family are just with words."

"And here I thought, she was willing to save those people's life."

"Yeah, I guess she couldn't bear to see someone taking the empress seat. I guess she has as well fallen for the Emperor."

"He..he..he... What a sly lady."

As much as it pissed Lucien, she kept quiet. She couldn't interfere with the female lead plot line. 'No wonder, the flow just got turned over.' She calmly sips her tea as her gaze was fixated on that particular person who was sitting beside Renee.

"I...I'm worried now." Dorothy's cheeks began to turn red as her voice became somewhat sluggish.

'Seriously? What the...?'

Lucien just wanted to puke out the tea she had sipped.

"W-who will save us now from this horrible disease~?"

'YOU GO AND SAVE THEM IF YOU CARE THAT MUCH.'

Murmur erupted more about the disease which had no cure yet. There were mutters of what they should do or where they should go now. Lucien just wanted to flip the table and shout at them that they were all going to die.

"~I-I'm sorry..." Dorothy wipes her fallen tears when someone beside her hands her a napkin. "I shouldn't be saying that to Lady Renee. It was so rude of me."

However, those ladies began to soothe her.

"Don't worry Lady Dorothy. It's not your fault."

"Yeah, you shouldn't be apologizing."

"If someone has to apologize, it should be Lady Renee for giving us fake hopes."

'Ah, I see.'

As Lucien observed. She understood what was going on now. 'That dying lady wants to put the FL in a position which will destroy her image.' 

Renee was known as the saint who saves the empire through her knowledge and wisdom. She was as well known as a lady with beauty and grace in the novel. Every reader was aware of the FL who becomes the most powerful empress before she died at the hands of the antagonist. Any reader who was intrigued by the plots of the novel and were to send to this world as a side character and not the main, they would be filled with greed and desire, and, anger.

After all, when they had seen the emperor on the first day of his appearance in the hall. No one would say 'No' to becoming his empress or to be his wife.

Lucien eventually understood what that 'dying lady' was planning. Her goal was to drag down the FL. She knows what is going to happen in the future and will use any means to put it to her own advantage even if she was just an ordinary side character which the author never mentions. Lucien could already picture the dirty works that is about to happen. It annoyed her.

Lucien wonders how the FL was going to handle her unforeseen future which had already been seen by someone.

"I apologize, Lady Dorothy," Renee finally spoke with a little bow. "I didn't realize I made you distressed so much about how I've spoken to you and everyone." There wasn't the slightest anger in her facial or in her tone. It was soft and warm. "Nevertheless, fear not, I haven't backed on my words. I've said that I'll find the cure."

Everyone turned silent as Renee continues. "Lady Dorothy, I'm so pleased to know that you've such hope in me." Renee gently pressed her hand against her chest. "I will be continuing how I said so."

"H-how?"

Dorothy slightly shutters her question.

"The reason I asked for an audience with the emperor was for this. I plead him to let me work here as I stay for 2 years."

*gaps*

They were all startled. Renee was reasoning the day she asked for an audience with the emperor. Everyone thought she had left but it wasn't.

"However, why are you away for a week?" A purple hair lady questioned who had been silent the entire time ever since the beginning of the tea party. "I don't see the reason here."

Everyone's attention was turned toward her who has a slightly exposed cleavage.

"Ah, Lady Cresella," Renee turns to her. "I've things which I needed for my work so I asked the emperor to grand me one week away to be home."

"His Majesty didn't refuse?"

"No, he accepted after some thoughts when I explain my reason." Renee honestly answers unaware of what was happening.

"Ah, I see." Cresella grabs her cup and sips her tea. "I recently heard a rumor among the maids that His Majesty was arranging a hall." She pours herself some more tea from the teapot. "Could it be that the arrangement was perhaps for your work?"

No one spoke but looks back and forth between Cresella and Renee. Renee somehow didn't like how she was questioned. She questioned in concern but her tone say otherwise.

"I'm not sure Lady Cresella, although I was informed that a room would be arranged for me, for my work."

Cresella smiles with her hand across her lips. "Oh my! His Majesty must have favored you a lot."

The silence was what everyone received. No one wasn't dumb enough to know what Cresella was speaking about. However, it was a different message for Renee and Lucien to understand.

'Who is she?'

Lucien surprisingly questions with a wide eye. This lady has just dropped a bomb on the table that made everyone shut their lips tight. 'She plays her card well.'

"Lady Cresella, it's not–"

"I apologize, Lady Renee," Cresella quickly interrupts as she stood up from her seat. "I said some meaningless word but I've to excuse myself. I hope you'll forgive me." She bowed and walks away with her maid following her from behind.

'So...wait..wait...wait...' Lucien's mind echoed, 'who is that dying lady? I thought it was Dorothy but that lady Cresella....?' Lucien sighs herself munching more tart.

'Everyone seems to be attacking the FL and now they are aware of her. I'm glad that I'm not the FL.'