Why Did I Become the Villainess?

 I immediately left the place after I heard what I wanted to hear. Although the information I gathered is still not enough for me. I still have questions that need to be answered, and I know that Virtouse are the only one who can answer it for me.

 I don't think Prince Fraser and the rest could get anything from that man anymore. That archer is just the henchman of those people behind that group. So, his knowledge about the group or the people behind the group is limited. The group is also wise enough not to spill unnecessary information to the henchman. 

 Instead of going back to the campsite. I decided to make a detour and rest on the lake I found. 

 With all that just happened and all the information, that still doesn't make sense to me. I think I badly needed some breather. I still need time to process everything. Also, with what they did to the archer? The violence. I really think I badly needed this breather. 

 I'm not used to it. Just by remembering what happened made me shivered. I cannot let them know I sneak out and eavesdrop on their conversation. I know they don't want me to see that scene. And I don't want them to know I was there. 

 I lay on a big rock that is on the side of the lake. I close my eyes and try to clear my thoughts.

 Strzalka? Is that the name of the group? But what does it supposed to mean? What do they want? It's really a mystery to me how this group exists in this world. 

 And what is happening to my novel? Why do things doesn't follow what I have written? There's a few times already that I experienced things that aren't supposed to happen, but it did. Is it because I was out of my character before? Is this what they called the fictional world is falling apart? But didn't they told me that I am doing great the last time? 

 However, even after lying on the big rock for almost two hours now. I still couldn't think of any answers to my question. My mind that is in chaos becomes more chaotic. 

 With all the questions keep floating on my mind. I think only the Virtouse can answer it. I've tried to sleep, hoping I can talk to the Virtouse in my dream. However, my mind is too active that sleeping is too difficult for me to do.

 I sigh and stand up. I guess, I'll just talk to the Virtouse tonight. I just hope it's not Pearce that they'll send.

 I decided to return back to the camp since I've been gone for a while now. I'm pretty sure all of them return already. 

 I am about to step outside the woods, but my steps are halted. I immediately hide my body behind a big tree. With wide eyes, I scan the surroundings. There is blood everywhere. The food that the maid has been stirring before was splattered on the ground. The tents that were standing before are now on the ground. The things inside the carriage were thrown outside. 

 What happened? I am about to take a step, but I was startled when a group of soldiers comes out on the other side of the woods. And they look like they just lost a war.

 Did something happen while I was gone? Why is there blood everywhere, and why are the surroundings so chaotic? It looks like someone turn the place upside down. 

 "Ruler Laird, Prince Fraser. Don't worry, didn't the maids made sure that Lady Lauretré was not here when the attackers came. I'm sure she is doing okay. She's probably inside the woods." Leander said to the sullen Prince Fraser and Ruled Laird.

 What? Was the camp attacked while I was gone? But why would it be attacked if there are soldiers everywhere? 

 It only means one thing. The attacker act when we were all inside the woods. But the timing is perfect. Is that a trap? Did they let the archer get caught so they could attack our camp while the soldiers are away?

 I look at the pool of blood everywhere. Don't tell me that blood belongs to the maids?

 I came out from my hiding place and walked towards them. The soldiers immediately withdraw their swords when they heard my footsteps. They immediately put it down also when they realized I was the owner of the footsteps.

 "Lady Lauretré!" One of the Vrawyth soldiers exclaimed happily.

 Ruler Laird, Prince Fraser, Rufus, Leander, and Princess Paislee, who are currently talking, turn their heads in my direction. Their gloomy face was immediately replaced by a shocked expression, and it turns into happiness.

 Prince Fraser immediately sprints towards me and envelopes me in his embrace. "Thank goodness you're okay. You don't know how worried I was when I saw the blood splattered all over the place." He then breaks from the hug and holds my cheeks in both of his hands. "Where have you been, Csille? I thought... I thought I already lose you." He then hugs me again. Tighter than the first one.

 I just stand there stunned by what is happening. Why is Prince Fraser hugging me like I was away for a decade? 

 I look at Ruler Laird and the others who are behind us. I can see Ruler Laird's eyes started to water. While Rufus is wiping his eyes inconspicuously. Leander and Princess Paislee stand there with wide smiles on their faces.

 I push Prince Fraser and frown at him. "What is happening in here?"

 Ruler Laird takes a step forward and explains things to me. Although I already have a rough idea on what had happened, I still need to know the full details.

 "The soldiers and us stay inside the woods for a while because we are interrogating the archer who almost harms you. But when we came back, what welcomes us shocked everyone. Blood is everywhere. The maids are lying on the floor unconscious. Everything's a mess. It looks like someone attacks us while we are away. And when we tried to find you, we couldn't see you everywhere. We thought something happened to you and the attackers took you with them. It's a good thing you are here and okay."

 Prince Fraser checks my arms, my face, and my neck. "Good, good. No scratches. But where have you been? We've been searching for you for two hours now. I thought... I thought I wouldn't see you again. Don't scare me like that again, Csille. I thought I would die of fear knowing I couldn't see you again." He hugs me again. 

 I push him, but he just stays still and hugs me. Come on, how can I explain things if you keep hugging me? Also, have you forgotten we're in a public place? This isn't appropriate, Prince Fraser. And can you not do this in front of the female lead? How can she likes you if you keep hugging girls beside her? Prince Fraser, please, follow the script.

 I look at Ruler Laird helplessly. I need to stay away from Prince Fraser real quick! I cannot interact with him outside what I have written. I cannot risk everyone.

 Ruler Laird looks like he is on my side today because he taps the shoulder of Prince Fraser, which is why Prince Fraser break off the hug. I immediately run towards Ruler Laird and avoid looking at Prince Fraser.

 I can feel Prince Fraser looking at me, but I don't care. I need not to care. Because that's what I am supposed to do. 

 I heard Ruler Laird sigh and taps my shoulder. I look up to him, and he just shakes his head. He looks like he was disappointed with what I just did. 

 "Where have you been, Csille? We've been looking for you everywhere. We thought we lost you too."

 I shake my head. "I was resting on the nearby lake. I still couldn't get over with what the assassination attempt, and I thought I need some breather from all of these. I've been through a lot in just a span of one month, and I thought it's a great time to take some rest and just reconnect with nature. I didn't realize how time pass. I immediately came back here, and then I found all of you stressing over something."

 Ruler Laird sigh. "At least you're okay, and you're not harm. But next time bring someone with you. What if those attackers saw you and take you with them. What will happen to all of us?"

 I nod my head at Ruler Laird. I want to say to him that how can I bring someone with me if all the guards were inside the woods enjoying the torture with the archer. But I couldn't tell him that I know everything.

 I look around, and my body shivered just by looking at the pool of blood. "What happened here? Did the maids die?"

 Ruler Laird nods his head. "Some died, but most didn't. The attackers probably kill those maids who wanted to run or shout. But most of the maids were made unconscious by the attackers. At least they still have a little conscience and didn't kill the innocent."

 I sigh. Although it's sad that some maids die but at least not all of them. I frowned when I realized something. "But why didn't they kill the maids? And why does it looks like they are looking for something."

 "It's someone instead." Princess Paislee walks towards us. She then takes an arrow that looks like the same arrow they used to assassinate the Great Ruler. "I found this on the carriage of the Illorian City. It looks like they are looking for something, but I realized they are looking for a person instead."

 I frown. "What do you mean they are looking for a person? And how can you say they are really looking for a person?"

 Princess Paislee takes a paper out of her pocket. "This. I found this in one of the Vrawyth Kingdom's carriage." 

 My eyes immediately widen when I realized what the content of the paper is. That is a portrait of Csille, right? What does it mean?

 "Look at the bottom of the paper. There are also the weird carvings on the arrow. This made me conclude that their real intention is to take Lady Lauretré away," Princess Paislee continues.

 There's really the morse code, that means Strzalka, at the bottom of the paper. And if Princess Paislee saying is true, why would they want to take me? What do I have to do with them? I didn't even write about them, and now they are looking for me? 

 Why does the situation getting more out of hand the more I spend my time here? The story isn't even starting, but why does it feel like it's already starting? What is really happening?

 "It seems like they let us caught the archer so we could interrogate him, and they expected us to leave people behind. What the archer said is true. These people behind the group are really dangerous. Now that we know that they are existing, I'm pretty sure they would do something again. And the most important thing is to know why they are looking for Lady Lauretré."

 I knew it! What I am thinking is right. Everything is a trap. But how did they know that I would be left behind? How did they know that all of the soldiers will watch the interrogation? And why are they looking for me? Did I do something again? Is it because of my past mistakes? 

 "Since we still don't know who are the people behind that group and why are they looking for Lady Lauretré. We need to take extra precautions. We don't know if, throughout our journey, they will attack again. It's better to strengthen the safety of all and make sure this mistake would never happen," Ruler Laird said. He then looks at me and takes my hand. "I assure you that nothing will happen to you, okay?" 

 I nod my head at Ruler Laird as a response. He smiles. "It's better for you to take some rest first. With all that happened to you, I think you need to rest first. We will need to talk about the changes we need to make."