Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 334  : Sanctuary (1)

 Days have passed, and I got too busy with my work at the Foundation. I usually work until the evening. That's why half of the documents scattered in my office before were now gone.

 I looked up when I suddenly heard a knock on my door. Lilla is currently peeking her head behind the door. "Apologies for my interruption, but a letter with no return address arrived today. Do you want to read it, Dame Csille, or do you want me to throw it?"

 Letter with no return address? It's rare to find a letter like that here. Messengers or the sender doesn't usually accept letters without a return address because this kind of letter usually doesn't have anything good in it.  I frown, but I still wave my hand and let Lilla in. Lilla sat on the chair in front of my table and gave me the letter. "I know that people usually throw these kinds of letters, but I remember you told me before to accept any kind of letter cause it might contain something important. That's why I came here to ask you what I should do about that."

 I nod my head at Lilla and slowly open the letters. My eyes widened when I realized that the letter was from Mister Saintillevé. He was just informing me that he got discharged from Crest Hospital already, and we could meet this morning. He said he would send a carriage that would fetch me from the Foundation.

 It's the meal I promised with Mister Saintillevé. I didn't expect I would hear from him this soon. Isn't he rushing? n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 "Dame Csille? What is the letter about? Is it bad news?"

 I almost jumped when I heard Lilla's voice. I almost forget she is still in my office. I calmly close the letter and put it in the drawer of my cabinet.  "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." I said nonchalantly. I need to make sure that she will not doubt anything. I cannot let anyone know about my connection with Mister Saintillevé. I don't want to involve anyone who is important to me in this.  Lilla frowns. "But you looked shocked while you were reading the letter. Is it something I should be concerned about? Is it a threat letter? Should we ca—"

 I smile reassuringly at Lilla. "Lilla, it's just an empty threat. You shouldn't worry about that. I have received countless threats from other people. This is nothing to me now. So, you shouldn't get worked up. All they can do is to threaten me, hoping to see me cower, but I can assure you that they wouldn't do anything to me."

 What I said is half truth. Ever since Csille was young, she had heard countless threats and badmouths against her that she had already got used to it. Because she knows those people couldn't do anything to her.

 Also, I am sure that nothing will happen to me because this is not a threat letter. Aside from that, I am the villainess. How can something happen to me if the climax is about to happen? The story won't be the same without the villainess, so I'm sure nothing will happen to the villainess.

 Lilla looks at me hesitantly before she nods her head. "Are you sure there's nothing we should worry about? Shouldn't we tell this to the Count so he could do som—"

 I shake my head at Lilla. "Lilla, do you know how many threats my Father receives every day? I don't want to worry him anymore. So, I hope you can keep this between us." I look at Lilla and sigh when I see the anxiety in her eyes. "I know you are worried, Lilla. However, there is really nothing you should be worried about. Everything is okay, and everything will be okay. Trust me."

 Lilla takes a few deep breaths before she looks at me. "I trust you, Dame Csille."

 I actually feel touched seeing how concerned she is about my safety. I was really fortunate that Csille met her. As a person who lives a noble life, it's rare to see someone who genuinely cares about me. So, I'm really grateful to Lilla. ________________________________

 After convincing Lilla, I finished the remaining few documents on my table before I left my office.  "Dame Csille!" Lilla was shocked when I bumped into her. It looks like she is about to go to my office. "These are the documents you asked me early this morning."

 I nod my head. "Lilla, can you just put it on my table for now? I have something to do outside."

 Lilla's eyes widened. She then leans towards me and whispers, "You are going out, Dame Csille? But what about the threat letter you received?"

 I gently tap her head and smile reassuringly at her. "Haven't I told you that those are just empty words? So, you shouldn't get anxious because of that. I'll be okay, Lilla."

 Lilla heaves a deep sigh and nods her head. "Take care then. Don't worry about the Foundation. Mairenn and I will take care of it on your behalf."

 I smile gratefully at her. After a few more reminders, I immediately get out of the Foundation. It's a good thing the coachman is not here. He was with my Father today, so I don't need to worry about him.

 I look around, trying to see the carriage Mister Saintillevé is talking about in the letter, but I don't see any carriage.  I frown. He didn't tell me what time he would fetch me. Maybe he was waiting for me while I was working and he got tired of waiting, so he left. But if he left, how can I find Mister Saintillevé?  I was about to go back inside when a carriage stopped in front of me. The carriage is a plain looking carriage. Not the typical carriage nobles or royals would ride. It doesn't also look like a carriage that you can hire because those carriage has a simple design on them, unlike this one that is just a plain carriage. No paint, no design, and such.

 Maybe someone owns it? Some people usually buy carriage for their business, and most of them doesn't even bother designing the carriage because it's a waste of money for them. Maybe the owner wants to ask for help from the Foundation. I wait for someone to get off the carriage, but even a few minutes have passed, no one gets off the carriage.

 I frown. It doesn't make sense. A lot of carriages pass by the Foundation, and it's an unspoken rule that if it's a busy road, you cannot park your carriage on it.  I heave a sigh and knocks on the door of the carriage to remind the coachman that it is not right to park here. But instead of moving the carriage, which I expect him to do, he opens the door.  I peeked inside to ask the coachman, but my eyes widened when I saw a familiar face. Isn't he one of the guards of Mister Saintillevé?  The guard smiled politely at me. "Forgive me if I cannot open the door for you, Dame Csille. Master was just afraid that someone might recognize me, so he told me not to get off the carriage for your safety."

 I nod my head and get inside the carriage. I didn't mind that he didn't open the door for me. I just wished he had told me earlier that it was the carriage I was waiting for instead of making me stand in front of the carriage. But I would be petty if I complained. That's why I decided to just shrug it off. After all, it's just a small matter. I don't want to make a biggie out of it.

 I smile reassuringly at him. "I understand. Thank you for fetching me."

 The guard heaves a sigh and smiles at me. "It's my honor to fetch you, Dame Csille."

 The carriage then starts to move. I looked around, trying to see where he would bring me. Although I am confident that Mister Saintillevé wouldn't have any plan on harming me, I still want to know where I am.  I frowned when I noticed that we were moving to an unfamiliar place. I didn't expect that there was still a place in the capital of the Vrawyth Kingdom that I hadn't gone to.  The carriage moves for a few minutes before it stops in front of a small house. I mean, if it's the standard of houses in this world, it is already considered a small house. But if I will based it on the standard in the real world, it is already big enough to be occupied by ten persons.

 I was immediately welcomed by a few maids and the other guard who was with Mister Saintillevé when we got into an accident. The other guard opens the door of the carriage and helps me out. "Dame Csille, thank you for coming here. Our Master has been waiting for your arrival."

 I gladly accept his hand. "Thank you. It's my honor to be here." I look around the place, and I gasp when I see how beautiful it is. The house looks like a mystical forest house. It's something you would see in fictional movies. "It's beautiful. I didn't know there was a place like this in the Vrawyth Kingdom. It's as if I was transported into another place. This looks so magical. How did you manage to find a place like this? Why did I only know about this just now?"

 "It's because this place didn't exist ten years ago. Our Master bought this unwanted barren land to an old couple whose son has an unknown disease. And that is how this magical place started. It used to be a barren land. You couldn't see any flowers to trees in here. Even animals don't want to come here because of how barren the land is. My Master was the one who made all of this from scratch. He nourished the land, and when it was suitable for plants, he started to plant trees and flowers everywhere. He was also the one who built this house from scratch." The guard who opened the door of the carriage said.

 I look at the house and gasp. He make all of this from scratch? That is amazing. I didn't know that Mister Saintillevé is skillful and talented. He was able to create a place like this?  Also, he isn't just creative. He is also a kind person. To buy a barren land? Who would do that? Although, I heard from Father that the Saintillevé are not really bad people. They still help people from time to time. It's probably one of the reasons why the people still respect them.  I was about to say something to the guard when the door of the house burst open, and Mister Saintillevé walked out of the house. "Allan, are you boasting about the house again? Haven't I told you to stop telling those stories to our visitors?"

 The guard who was telling the story about the house bows his head in a respectful manner. "Master, please forgive this guard. I was only proud of what you have done to this place. And seeing how Dame Csille was fascinated with it, I couldn't help but tell her the story. I know you have told me before to stop doing that, and this guard knows his mistake. Please punish me according to my mistake."

 I look at the guard. Who looks nervous, but I can sense that it's not because he is scared. I look at Mister Saintillevé and wait for his reaction. But he just heaves a sigh and shakes his head.

 "And how many times would I have told you that you should stop doing that. It's already enough that you know your mistake. You know I would never do any punishment to my people."

 Allan looks up at Mister Saintillevé and kneels suddenly. "I apologize, Master. I would never repeat my mistake."

 My eyes widen when I see him kneeling to Mister Saintillevé. Although some nobles love to show their authority to their servants, it is still a new thing for me. After all, my parents don't do that to our people.  I heard Mister Saintillevé sigh. He then helps Allan stand up and put his hand on Allan's shoulders. "Allan, you are my people, and I don't punish my people. So, stop punishing yourself for something so small."

 Allan nods his head like a child who was consoled by his mother.  I just looked at their interaction, and I realized that the Saintillevé Family is not how my parents describe. They aren't the bad guys. Although in my novel, I didn't give much explanation as to why the Saintillevé does 'that'.  But now I understand.