There were three main figures that were involved in pillaging the Ness estate for resources. All of them counts and barons. While Villain was sure there was much more to it. She was not by any means powerful enough to investigate further. Not yet at least.
So she would focus on the enemy in front of her. Villie knew, from her dreams and memories of that book the names and faces of those individuals. Though they did not do much in trying to hide themselves. They lingered at the estate after other guests left. Villain could only assume it was to get the ten-year-old alone and convince her to participate in ‘trade’ deals as they did to the little countess in the book.
Because Villie was the sole survivor of the house of Ness. She was now considered an adult despite her age. Meaning everything that was owned by a Ness was hers. A massive fortune for a small child but it did little in the way of what she actually needed or wanted.
Villie woke up in the early morning hours. The large bed of her parents before her seemed so large compared to her tiny body. But since she was the head of the house, she needed to sleep in this room. On the bright side, the familiar lingering smells did help Villie sleep.
She slowly sat up feeling an intense pain where there was nothing there. She reached to touch but her hand only met the blanket that laid flat on the bed. One leg…
Villie grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly. Taking a moment to cry silently in the early morning. She couldn’t cry in front of others anymore. She had to be big, even though she felt so little. Different lives or not, it didn’t matter. She wanted her leg back, she wanted her parents back, she wanted to go back to being a little girl.
The reality of her life was cruel no matter if this world was like that book or not. She sniffled and sobbed causing the pillow to become soaked with her tears. When she caught the sight of herself in the mirror at the end of the bed she took a deep breath and sighed. The redness of her face fading before her eyes. She gave herself a good half an hour for the swelling around her eyes to reduce before she pulled the rope.
She had to be big for the rest of the day, she could be little tomorrow morning. A bell rang and Villie sat there putting on her best indifferent face. She tried mimicking her mother’s expression. Many people called her cold, Villie once asked her why she wore such an expression with other people and never smiled until she was in private with her and her father.
Vile explained to her then, something she hadn’t really understood. People look for weakness in a woman’s face. Villie understood that clearly now, yesterday had been proof of that lesson. Everyone saying what they could to try to get a rise out of the child.
Diana and the others came in. “Hello, Miss!” Diana greeted Villie with a smile. “Diana.” Villain greeted with a cool gaze. The maids, who hadn’t yet interacted with Villie after the accident until now, were stunned.
Diana kept her cool and tucked some of her curly brown hair behind her ear. “What would you like to wear today Miss?” She asked professionally. “Yellow blouse and brown skirt. Please pull my hair back into a ponytail.” Villain replied, the younger maids still looked concerned. Not too long ago, Villie wanted to dress in the prettiest of dresses with the most accessories and have the most complex hairstyles.
“Of course, miss.” One of the other maids spoke up after swallowing dryly. Villain wasn’t stupid, she could tell they were disturbed. Everyone was. Villain no longer had the eyes of a child. That was enough to disturb even herself.
The maids got her ready in silence, a stark contrast to only a few days ago where mornings were filled with laughter and jokes.
“Are the vultures still here?” Villain asked as her hair was being brushed. “Vultures?” One of the younger maids asked, “They are.” Diana spoke instantly, understanding what Villain meant. “Do they look hungry?” Villain asked just as Daina used a brown ribbon to tie her hair. “Very,” Diana said in a sober tone.
The three maids then saw the small girl smile for the first time. “Good.” She replied, after her leg was attached and she was handed her cane Villain headed downstairs to the dining room. These three individuals sat together there at the table, Baron Fredrick Westly, Count Charles Sigmond, and Baron Leslie Raymond.
Their faces were familiar to Villain, they lurked around her father as she grew up. Asking for money or resources claiming that yet another demon attack had weakened their territory.
“Little Villie!” Fredrick greeted her in the most grandfatherly way possible when he saw her. Villain sat down at the head of the table and glared. “Baron Westly, call me Countess or don’t call me at all. It matters little to me.” She replied coldly.
“How cold, I particularly watched you grow up!” Fredrick complained, “Yes with an interest that I’ve found most disturbing.” Villain remarked as Thomas slid her chair into place at the table and served her food. “What are you implying?” Fredrick gaped.
“I think it’s fairly obvious,” Charles remarked snidely pleased that Villain was so unfriendly with the baron. “We counts have to stick together don’t we, Villie?” He remarked looking over at her. His beady eyes staring at her greedily. “I disagree.” Villain replied irritated at the insistence of calling her by her nickname. “Again, the same rule applies to you as well Count Sigmond. Call me Countess or not at all.”
Leslie cackled at the two older men steaming from anger. Surely they thought to themselves that Villain was insolent. Never considering how it looked to harass a ten-year-old girl who just lost her parents.
Baron Leslie Raymond was the most dangerous out of all three of the men here. Unlike Charles or Fredrick. Leslie was closer in age. Only ten years older. Like Villain he had gotten his title at a very young age at the cost of his parents’ lives. In the book, as Villie remembered he used his similar background to get close to Villain. She, after being thrown away by Samuel. The countess became obsessed with the idea of marrying Leslie. Thinking that he was the only one who could understand her.
Leslie had brown hair and green eyes. Making his appearance similar enough to Leon that Leon became a target for Villain’s disturbed affections when she was rejected by Leslie. Villain had given everything she could to Leslie making his territory grow in wealth and size. He dangled the promise of marriage in front of her like a shiny set of keys.
He was charming, attractive, and knew exactly what to say. So that made him dangerous. Villain decided then and there. Leslie would have to be the first to go.
“You two are pathetic. Why would a little girl be interested in being involved with creepy old men?” Leslie spat delightedly, “Don’t worry little Miss, big brother will protect you from those evil men.” He said with a wink. Villain stared and looked at Thomas.
“There’s only one man I trust in this room and it isn’t you.” She said before turning back to Leslie. Thomas, even in the books, was loyal to Villain to the end. After she died, he inherited the estate and created a beautiful garden in her honor. The book said he cried every day at the gravesite of the family of three.
But Villain didn’t need the book to know Thomas could be trusted. She knew, because unlike everyone else. Thomas didn’t look at her with eyes filled with greed or fear. He looked at her with concerned eyes, he looked at her with the eyes of a father worried about their child. It was a gaze she knew she was safe in. Villain saw Leslie's lip twitch hearing this. “Come on, we come from the same background, I experienced the same loss as you when I was about your age,” Leslie said kindly. For a moment Villain felt her heart be swayed by such sweet words. He was dangerous. Like a sweet poison, it was so easy to be caught up in his words. But this fake kindness would only kill her in the end. He was like an anglerfish using his tiny light to lure Villain in to eat her. The only way to beat him was to be a bigger fish and eat him instead. Villain smiled softly at him, “My condolences.” She said kindly, Leslie seemed pleased. “Too bad you didn’t die with them.” She spat coldly, a chill washed over the table. The three men looked to the small girl as both Thomas and Diana stood behind her. “What?” Leslie said in a small voice, “Isn’t that what you said to Baron Westly about me? Too bad I didn’t die with them?” Villain asked. “At my parents’ funeral no less.” She remarked casually as she cut into her food. “What made you think it was wise to say such remarks in my estate?” She asked before taking a bite of eggs.
“In fact, what made any of you think it was wise to poke around in areas you shouldn’t?” She questioned before the funeral Villain had informed everyone at the estate that there would be many people poking around. Digging through things they shouldn’t. This disgusted many of the servants who were extremely loyal to the Count and Countess.
Villain told them not to stop them despite their feelings. She told them to only watch and take note of what was said or done. Everyone did just that, quietly watching. It didn’t take long for the foxes to run into the hen house looking for eggs.
Charles and Leslie seemed angry but quiet as Thomas handed the books to Villain. “Baron Westley, it seems you owe my family sixty platinum.” Villain scanned over the summary chart that Thomas had created for her at the front of the book.
“Isn’t your territory only worth thirty?” Villain asked, looking up at the old man, he flinched and shook. Villain shut that book and handed it back to Thomas before looking at the next one. “Count Sigmond… Oh… You owe my family one hundred and twenty platinum. It looks like you put your estate, your title, and… Your prized horses up as collateral.” Villain chuckled, she glanced over at Charles. “Aren’t they one-eighth unicorn?” She asked, unable to hold back her smile.
She heard him brag about that to his father all the time. Charles gritted his teeth. “Yes.” He hissed. Villain grinned from ear to ear. “I always wanted ponies.” She said in her most childish voice causing Thomas to cover his mouth snickering.
“Wait, you’re going to be collecting on those debts?” Leslie exclaimed, getting the context of what she was saying. “Yes. Funerals are expensive as you know. And as someone who just had to hold one. I am in need of whatever money I can get my hands on.” Villain said, handing that book back and reaching for the book for Leslie.
“So Baron Raymond. How much do you owe?” Villain asked, opening up the book and her eyes widened. “I…” She was actually stunned. She looked up at Leslie. “Three hundred platinum…” She said, feeling sick herself, “Isn’t that more than the treasury for the imperial family?” She asked looking over at Thomas who nodded.
“My territory is closest to the border which is closest to the demon lord’s castle!” Leslie exclaimed, “With that much, you would’ve been able to raise an army to stop the demon lord yourself.” Villain replied unsympathetically.
“So obviously you haven’t been spending this on that,” Villain remarked, closing the book. The three men sat there quietly for a moment. “Why should we pay you?” Leslie spoke up, “You’re ten years old!” He glared at her openly now. Villain grinned hearing this.
“There’s a new word I learned today.” She said sweetly, “Subjugation.”
The three men looked like they wanted to kill her on the spot. All forms of kindness or affection were gone within a matter of seconds. It was truly a shame that little Villie from the book had fallen for their tricks. In the book, they convinced her that her parents had owed them money rather than the other way around.
Villie, trying to pay her parent’s debts, paid whatever they asked. After all, she had no concept of money. She was only ten years old. She had to sell off more and more just to keep up with the demands. Then after they had filled themselves fully. Leslie stayed behind for the scraps.
But this Villie and that one were different. She was angry. She had suffered through a hell that seemed to have no end. If they wanted to be monsters. She would have to be a bigger one.
“I’m not paying this, I can’t pay this! I’ll lose everything!” Fredrick exclaimed, “So?” Villain asked, “I don’t care if you guys lose everything. I want your debts to be paid in full.” She said, narrowing her eyes.
The anger she felt grew as her mind swirled with memories that weren’t her own. Such a similar conversation to the one had by the other Villain with these men.
‘I’ll lose everything!’ ‘A debt is a debt. It should be paid.’
“A debt is a debt. It should be paid.” Villain said grinning. “That butler is coaching you isn’t he!” Leslie accused Thomas who stood there silently. “I don’t have to be coached to know what vultures look like.” Villain replied. “How shameful to be swirling around a small child to pick at the carcasses of her parents.”
“Indeed, quite shameful.” Thomas chimed in, openly glaring at the men. In fact, all the servants in the room glared at them. The count and countess were beloved by their employees. These men…
“Did you know the house of Ness’s crest features an animal?” Villain asked, sipping on her juice. “What does that—?” Charles asked, stunned at the change in subject. “It’s a mountain lion. Father told me it was because the first count saw a mountain lion when he settled this land. He admired how powerful it was and how it protected its land and family. He wanted the Ness family to be just like that lion.”
“Yes we’re aware but what does that have to do with-.” Charles was cut off, “Did you also know that the vulture has three natural predators: hawks, snakes, and…” Villain set her glass down. “Mountain lions.” She stared at the men before her. “Even a young cub such as myself could give nasty birds like you three trouble. Especially if they’re hungry enough.” Villain spoke.
“And I’m starving.”
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