Villain was met by silence. The two men sat at their places at the table shaking silently with rage. Clearly thinking of ways to harm or injure the young girl for daring to stand up against their harassment and greed.

“What do we have to do?” Fredrick said quietly, “Land, assets, anything that I deem valuable is mine. Give it to me willingly and I’ll leave enough for you to live comfortably with your titles.” Villain spoke, she mimicked her father as much as she could. She had seen many times when her father dressed down greedy individuals like this. So she did just that. 

“If you refuse, your heads will make nice decorations on my walls.” Villain threatened, “I hear the demon lord uses skulls as candle holders….” Thomas spoke up, “Really?” Villain smiled at Thomas. 

“You’re quite the little bitch aren’t you?” Leslie spat, “How original.” Thomas rolled his eyes. Villain smiled, “Thank you!” She said sweetly, “I got it from my mother.” She deadpanned. “I’ll give you three days to respond. Refusal to respond will result in me marching my troops into your territories and taking what I want and who I want.” 

“Who?” Charles perked up at this, Villain smiled, he had grandchildren. “Yes, people can be used as collateral too.” She said, kicking her little legs in her seat. “I know you have two cute little grandchildren. I wonder how they’d feel about becoming a part of my house?” Villain asked, both of them were girls and younger than her. Their parents had died of the illness that swept through the empire.

That illness was another reason why Villie was the last Ness. Her family had been on the front lines fighting it. Most of them died before a cure was found. 

But the house of Ness was not the only house crippled by the illness. Charles’s house was also. Those two girls were the next generation. The only heirs. If Villie were to take them, she would cause the collapse of the house of Sigmond. 

The name would be erased from the history books and the bloodline would be gone. Then Villie would have two viable young ladies to marry off later on to whomever she wished.

Charles’s face paled understanding instantly what Villain was threatening. “I’ll see what I can do.” He said meekly. “Charles!” Fredrick exclaimed, Charles, stood up and left the table. He had always been the smartest out of the three men. He also loved his granddaughters more than anything. 

Most of the resources he had stolen from Villain in the book had gone to them. Spoiling them rotten. Charles was a good grandfather but a shit man. 

Villain turned back to the last two men at the table and smiled from ear to ear. “So, what will it be?” She asked.

Out of the three of them, Charles was the only one who could remotely afford to pay his debt. Fredrick and Leslie were going to be destitute because of their greed. 

Both men refused to pay, so Villain told them she’d see them in a few days. All three men were escorted off of the estate grounds. After they left, Villain headed to her father’s office. Diana and Thomas walked with her.

“Miss I can carry you if you like. I’m sure that leg is hurting.” Diana offered. She was right, but Villain refused, Diana wasn’t mentioned in what she had been presented within the book in her dreams. She didn’t know if Diana could be trusted or not. 

“Miss Diana, can you go inform the knights of the recent call of Subjectation?” Thomas asked, “What territory are you planning on taking first again?” He asked looking to Villain. “The Raymond territory.” She replied, taking a moment to catch her breath. 

“And are you going to leave anything?” Thomas asked, “No. Take everything. From scraps to nails. Strip the Raymond estate bare. But leave the people who do not oppose it unharmed.” Villain demanded, “They are taxpayers and warm bodies.” She added.

Diana swallowed slightly hearing such a cold remark and nodded. “Yes, Miss.” She said turning and leaving. Once Thomas and Villain were alone, Thomas looked down at her. “Villie.” He said quietly, “Do you need to be held?” He asked. Villain gripped her cane and silently nodded. “It hurts.” She whimpered softly. Thomas softly scooped her into his arms and Villie hugged his neck sniffling. 

“They were scary…” She sobbed as Thomas walked into the office. “I know…” Thomas sighed, closing the door. The man held the small child in his arms and Villie felt hot tears hit her head. She looked up to see Thomas crying as well. 

“You did so well acting like a big girl, Villie.” He sobbed, "You sounded just like your father..." Thomas held her tightly as he sat down on the green couch in the corner. The two of them held each other and cried. Something they hadn’t had the chance to do in the past few days.

Out of all the servants Villie had grown up around. Thomas… Thomas was like her third parent. Of course, for a while, she had thought he was her third parent. Though even now after awakening she didn’t quite understand some of the things she had seen with both her mother and father interacting with Thomas. She knew all three of them loved each other dearly. 

Thomas was her family, the only one she had left. He was the only one she was safe to be little around anymore. Everyone else, they weren’t safe to be little around. She had to make herself big and scary. It hurt, it hurt to have to be like this. It wasn’t even lunchtime and Villie was already so tired. 

Once the two of them calmed down, Thomas got up and sat Villie down in her father’s large leather rolling chair. “I’m…” Thomas sniffled, “I’m going to teach you how to read financial books okay?” He said, wiping some stray tears from his eyes.  

“Okay,” Villie said nodding, Thomas reached over and wiped her face with a handkerchief. “I’ll teach you everything alright?” Thomas said having Villie blow. “Okay.” She sniffled, nodding. The rest of the day consisted of Villie’s usual classes and the new edition of estate management.

It was hard to understand but Thomas was patient. “Don’t get frustrated, this is just the first day. You don’t have to be perfect already.” He encouraged her, it was comforting but also scary. It was only the first day, there were so many days ahead. So much time ahead of her. It seemed to stretch on forever.

Then there was that problem with Leon. Villie didn’t know how or when he was going to show up. She wasn’t even sure if these memories or ideas were real. Or if she had gone crazy? Sometimes she wondered if she was still on the side of the road. Dying waiting for someone to come save her.

They took a break for lunch and Villain ate outside in the garden. Diana had suggested it because the flowers might cheer her up. Villain offered her no words of pleasure for this and ate her food in silence. Her mind swam with everything that needed to be done.

“Miss! Miss!” One of the younger maids tried to get her attention, “What is it?” Villain looked at the young blond maid named Kaylee. “Would you like to play with dolls?” She asked, holding up a paper doll. It was one of Villie’s favorite pastimes previously. She even loved making her own paper dolls and dressing them up in strange dresses she designed.

“Kaylee.” Villain spoke, “What you do in your spare time in your business. Please don’t involve your employer in it.” Villain said quietly before sipping her tea. There were three maids out there with Villain. Diana, Kaylee and Fiona. All three looked horrified at Villie’s response to that offer. 

Fiona’s hands shook as she held a tray. Diana only stared at the sky as if praying. Kaylee dropped the doll in stunned silence. Villie knew what they were thinking.