Saving the Villain

The ambiance at the dinner table was quiet, awkward, and uncomfortable to be in. Cosette squealed internally, complaining at how come her handsome father, whom she could also fangirl over, was being too silent! She felt like making a sound would annoy him. Conrad was intimidating even without trying.

When Cosette joined him at the dining table, her father, Conrad Blac, only cast her a cold glance. He only looked at her one time and then ate without a word. This was something new to her, it wasn't for Conrad or the servants on standby.

Everyone except her was already used to the stiff atmosphere between the two. Cosette was too prideful and her father wasn't the affectionate type. Together? It was total silence.

Their personality was what caused the two to be what they were now: distant, and never talked unless it was important. Just like what was described in the novel.

'What am I supposed to tell him?' she wondered, distressed that it seemed Conrad didn't plan on striking a conversation! 'Ugh..! Sister Cozie… this is too much of an assignment!'

Cosette glanced at Conrad, who was eating elegantly like a real elite he was. She couldn't deny that Conrad's appearance was akin to Cosette's cold front but much more mature. Although his unchanging expression added allure to his charm, she didn't know how to break the ice with this man.

Just then, her eyes lit up as an idea flashed across her mind.

Cosette cleared her throat to get her father's attention. When she knew Conrad cast her a look, she sported an indifferent look while slicing through the steak.

"I gained a friend yesterday," she spoke, making Conrad quirk a brow as this was the first time in a long time his daughter spoke something… trivial. It was almost as if his ever strict daughter wanted to engage in a conversation with him.

"Our meeting was a little… strange, but we still became good friends in the end," she added with a shrug.

"I see." Conrad nodded while she set her eyes back to him. "That's good, then."

'Is that all he had to say?' she mentally clicked her tongue, but then remembered that Conrad was a man of few words. Not to mention, he didn't know how to talk to his daughter, as it had been a while since she spoke sweetly to him or expressed his emotions properly.

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line as a shallow breath slipped past her lips. Her plans to make Conrad and Cosette closer were harder than she thought. It wouldn't easily get fixed as if nothing happened in just one dinner.

'Sorry, sister Cozie. If I can stay longer, I wanted you to get closer to your father. But…' Her thoughts trailed off as she sighed for the umpteenth time. '… I think this is all I can do.'

She was sad, obviously.

She wanted to do something for her second favorite character in this world. But pushing her luck could have a negative effect and raise suspicion. Although she had told herself multiple times that doing drastic changes wouldn't change the story since it was all a dream. A part of her told her she still needed to stay cautious. Hence, she was being careful — even though she believed she shouldn't.

The dinner ended in silence as neither of them talked again after that brief conversation. Cosette and Conrad parted without saying a single word, leaving this heaviness in her heart as she returned to her room.

Lying on the bed, Cosette rested an arm on her forehead while staring at the ceiling.

"It's strange that this dream feels like my reality," she muttered, revisiting the events that occurred ever since she awoke in this dream.

It wasn't the usual dream where it would skip at random times. There were no sudden monsters or superheroes flying out of nowhere, too.

All the things that happened followed the cause-and-effect rule. Just like in the road earlier, a speeding car received honks from those it passed by. The happenings in the hospital, the people she interacted with until now, and so much more felt like they were real people with their own hearts and a story to tell.

"Really... what a strange dream…" she repeated under her breath, recalling how tender and tasty the dinner she had tonight was.

Was that even normal? Cosette was unsure. But what she still believed until now was everything would come to an end once she closed her eyes.

Her eyes weakly opened and closed, feeling sleepy with a full stomach. Her last thought was… once she opened her eyes again, she would be back to her reality.

It was a bittersweet experience, but she was already happy to meet the villain, the villainess, the male lead, and some minor characters.

'It was really a dream come true,' she whispered before succumbing to the darkness.

*****

The next morning…

The light knock from the door woke her up, followed by Lucia's gentle voice from outside the door.

"Young miss, are you awake now?" asked Lucia, who was standing outside the room of the young mistress of the house.

'Ahh… what a wonderful dream. I can still hear Lucia's voice,' Cosette thought as the knocking stopped and so was Lucia's voice.

Cosette stretched, blinking wearily while her brain buffered.

When the same ceiling came clear, her eyes slowly dilated as Cosette suddenly sit upright. She looked around, sporting an aghast expression, as this was still Cosette's room in the novel.

For a moment, her mind malfunctioned as myriads of questions polluted her mind like a virus.

"No…!" she gasped in horror, flinging her legs out of the bed to rush towards the vanity mirror. As soon as she saw the beautiful young lady's reflection, she touched her face in a hurry.

"No way…" came out a disbelief voice as she staggered back.

Her first two days were like a blessing to her as she had only thought of taking the opportunity to meet the characters in the novel. Her heart for the past two days was filled with nothing but joy and excitement.

But on this third day, her heart was slowly being filled with nothing but dread.

Impossible, she thought. Did she truly transmigrate in her favorite novel as the villainess?!