The Real Villainess

Rooftop

FELIX WAS READING A BOOK in his office when a knock echoed through the room.

He called out, "Enter," without lifting his gaze. The door opened, and Aurelia stepped inside.

"I'm sorry for barging in so suddenly my lord, I hope you can spare me some time." Aurelia stated, feeling anxious about the matter.

Without looking up, he asked, "What do you want?"

Aurelia fidgeted nervously, her fingers twisting together as she looked down. "I-I wanted to ask you something, my lord," she stammered.

Felix sighed, finally raising his eyes to meet hers. Seeing his intense gaze made Aurelia even more anxious.

Despite all the uncertainty and anxiousness she felt, Aurelia closed her eyes as she kept pushing herself to tell the lord what she really wanted to tell him.

"My lord, I don't think I can watch over the lady as you ordered," she finally confessed, her voice trembling. She had been wrestling with this for a while, finding Freya difficult to monitor.

Freya's unpredictability—running around or disappearing—had made Aurelia's task nearly impossible to accomplish.

"Why not?" Felix asked, not breaking his stare. He was puzzled, confused as to why.

Aurelia's heart raced. "I keep losing track of the lady, my lord. I can't seem to do it right."

Felix's glare intensified. Aurelia stood still, hoping for some compassion.

"If you can't do it properly," he began, standing up and leaning on his desk, eyes still locked on hers, "Try harder. Don't come here and tell me you can't do it. I know you're pregnant, but that's no excuse. I'm not asking you to run around the Ducal estate. All you need to do is watch Freya here in the Estate. It’s not that difficult."

Aurelia felt a mix of embarrassment and determination. Felix was right, she hadn't been giving it her all. She resolved to try harder, not only for the job but to find a way to escape the estate with her child.

After being dismissed, she thought, I must find someone to father this child.

"DEAR old friend!" The Prince greeted Contessa with a hug.

"Your Highness! You’ve grown taller than me," she teased, making Zavier chuckle.

"You were always taller because of your heels. And since when did you start calling me 'Your Highness'?"

They sat down, and tea and cookies were served. Contessa sipped her tea before speaking. "Alright, would you like to hear some kind of news that will surely intrigue you?"

Zavier's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "I am open to hearing your news dear old friend."

"It's about your fiancée," she said, smirking. No matter how petty she is, she just couldn't stand and watch.

His brows furrowed. "What is it that you mean?"

"Perhaps, you have heard about the rumors circulating between your Fiancé and our dear friend Vik."

"Oh my, you have misunderstood Contessa. They're business partners–" he began, but she cut him off.

"Really? Your highness it seems like you're turning a blind eye on such a matter that concerns you the most." She stated, gaslighting Zavier more upon

Zavier was speechless, searching for an explanation but finding none. His Highness can't think of it, Freya would never do such a thing.

Contessa got the reaction she wanted. "I have a proposal your highness—since you seem to don't believe anything I have just said, why don't we investigate for ourselves?"

"No, I cannot agree with you on that."

Furrowed brows, Contessa asked. "Pardon? I think I have misheard you Zavier."

Zavier sighed. "You have not, I said what I said. It feels wrong, I'm sure Freya would soon confess if she ever does such thing."

"Are you seriously risking that? You are blinded Zavier, what does that lady have other than acting all high and mighty?" The lady's mad, this isn't the answer she was hoping for.

None of this is going according to her plan. "Loving her seemed to be my duty and purpose, I don't think I can ever allow myself to stop her from being happy. Even in someone else's arms."

"With all due respect, you have lost it your highness. I just hope one day you'll recognize the effort I made in telling you how impudent she really is." And then she slightly bowed. "I shall take my leave now, your highness." She stated before leaving Zavier.

"Freya." Freya looked behind to see that it was Felix. She tired to talk but it seems her tongue was stuck fro some unknown reason. "Murderer."

When she tried to look away, Zavier and Vik showed themselves. "When are you going to die?"

Everywhere she looks, everyone of them spoke the same thing. "Die already."

Trying to escape, she was then choked by her old self. "Please, just die."

Rising from her bed. She got scared to the point that her heart started to beat faster than it could have ever been.

To ease the pain, Freya decided to take a walk around the estate where she found herself on the roof, where Felix was already sitting, looking at the dark sky.

She sat beside him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Felix turned to glare at her.

"I should be the one asking you that."

"Well, I don't even know how I got here, I just did. Tell me, what are you doing here?" Curious Freya asked as she stared into the night sky filled with stars but no moon.

Felix continued to glare, making Freya frown at him. "Are you deaf? I asked a question, hello?"

"You always makes things worse for me, does that make you happy?" He didn't give Freya a chance to state her side. "Don't answer that," he interrupted, making Freya more upset.

Silence settled between them. Freya wondered why Felix was always so rude to her, even when she tried to be nice. "Why are you always rude to me?" she asked suddenly, catching Felix off guard.

"What?" His brows furrowed.

Freya sighed. "Why are you always mean to me? I tried to be nice to you yet you always get mad no matter how kind I was."

"Kind?" Felix laughed at her instincts. "I'll just leave, you can sit here by your self." He stood up but felt Freya gripping on his pants.

"Don't leave me."