"What is going to happen?" The goblin in the dress asked, "Well, I am going to strip Baron Raymond's estate and distribute resources to the locals. After that, I'll install a person to manage the area and make improvements." Villain explained, "Hopefully from there you'll find that life is a little easier." She added with a nod.

The goblins seemed to relax hearing this. Then they explained exactly what was going on. The demon king was attacking small communities beyond the borders of the empire. They were refugees that came to the Raymond territory after hearing that Baron Raymond was willing to take them in.

It was only then when they came here they found just how bad it was here too. Apparently, things had gotten so bad that the humans that had once lived here all fled in the middle of the night. Leslie, not able to live his lifestyle as he wanted without people to serve him, turned to refugees who didn't know any better to support that.

Some of the money he did borrow went into constructing things to make them a bit friendlier to the different body types of the new residents. But most of it was spent on himself.

It was a mostly bloodless endeavor taking over the territory. Save for the few humans that still lived there who were just as corrupt as Leslie was. But they were easily detained, trailed, and sentenced.

The Raymond estate was stripped down for all the materials and those went into repairing the state of the surrounding areas. Three hundred platinum worth of materials, assets, and goods were easily found in the estate. Villain oversaw the repairs and it took two months to get the project off the ground.

During that time she met many of the different types of locals living in the territory, most of it consisted of goblins and hobgoblins. They were hard-working and honest. Villain appreciated that. The other kinds of people living there were fawns and satyrs. Half goat half man people. There was even a small community of centaurs that roamed through the territory. Apparently, they were naturally nomadic in nature. Villain was delighted to learn this and encouraged them to participate in trade between communities.

"So you and your family travel from place to place?" She asked a young male centaur who smiled at her. "Yes, we get to meet all kinds of people. We're very grateful to have an area that's safe to travel in now too. The demon king has made many roads outside of the empire unsafe for my kind." He explained, Villain nodded in understanding. 'That sounds hard to deal with. Well, just know you are safe in the Ness territory. Be sure to get your citizenship papers at the local tavern before you and your family move on." She told him. The young man smiled, "I will." He said with a grin, his blond curly hair bouncing as he spoke. His parents called for him and he turned and ran off to join them.

"You seem more at ease dealing with these sort than you do humans," Philip remarked startling Villain, she let out a shriek and turned around swinging her cane. Philip caught it and stared at her. "Quite the swing." He complimented, "Mother came from a family of swordsmen." Villain said calming down. "My apologizes, I didn't meet to frighten you, Countess." He apologized after releasing the cane. Villain adjusted her stance on the cobblestone road. "It's alright... I was just... Surprised." Villain took some deep breaths.

Philip had been one of the few knights she had gotten close to over this trip. She had felt terrible being away from Thomas but she didn't trust anyone else to look after the estate while she was gone. It was nice to be able to speak freely with someone she knew was good.

Philip was silent for a moment before speaking, "I understand." He said, "It's a terrible feeling not being able to sleep with the confidence of knowing you're safe." Villain stared at him and then looked away, "My apologies. I spoke too freely." He apologized again, "I just... I know you haven't been sleeping well." He said motioning to the bags forming under Villain's eyes. "I'm concerned." He said honestly, as Villain had gotten closer to Philip he became more expressive around her. She saw the worry in his eyes, it was real concern.

Villain was quiet, and then she spoke, "Sometimes I have dreams... Different than my normal ones." She said quietly, most of her dreams were of Leon and his adventures. Those were Villain's good dreams. The other dreams, the ones about her... Those were nightmares. "Dreams where they get you?" Philip spoke as if he was speaking from experience. Villain nodded quietly. "I have those too," Philip said looking around as if checking to see if anyone was listening. They weren't. "The others don't know what that's like do they?" Villain asked gripping her cane tightly.

Philip shook his head, "No." he said softly, "They don't." The two of them stood there silently as if considering their own issues. It was nice to have someone to relate to. But, there wasn't a full connection here. "I couldn't imagine ordering to have your leg cut off." Philip remarked, "I can't imagine having to use a sword to kill a man." Villain replied. "Just built differently I suppose," Philip responded, Villain, nodded. They were indeed built differently.

"Call on me if you have another nightmare. I have difficulties sleeping as well." Philip remarked, "Most nights, I'm already awake." He told her, "Having company helps. That's why I don't mind the constant chatter of Jackson." Philip said with a fond smile. Villain smiled back and then spoke up, "You know offering to meet me at night is suggestive." She told him, Thomas had given her a two-hour lecture about such a thing before she left. The butler was scared to death that Villain would be caught in a situation such as that without him there.

Philip's eyes widened, "I like boys." He said dumbly, "M-my age." He added realizing how that sounded. His face slowly became red and Villain laughed the stoic knight was completely flustered. "Okay." She said amused. Phillip lowered his head and Villain could see the red tips of his ears. "You're not going to punish me?" He asked, in the greater empire admitting homosexuality could lead to punishment by law. Villain, however, ran her own territory. As long as Philip didn't go to the capital and stayed within Ness lands. Then he would be fine.

"No. I'm thinking of making same-sex marriage in my territory legal now." She said, Phillip, looked at her surprised, "Really?" He said, "Of course. I can tax people more if they're married." She said with a smirk. "That butler has taught you too much." Philip looked horrified. Villain smiled knowing that Thomas would be proud of her.

It was another six months before Villain felt it was safe to go home. She installed Ib and Ub as overseers of the territory. Apparently, they loved the area and basically served as a central point of the community already. So, for the first time in Empire, history Goblins were given the title of lord and lady. It was the first of many radical changes Villain planned on making in her lands. She wanted to create a place where things were better than what they were. She wanted a place where she would feel safe starting the Ness family up again.

Because of the weather Villain had to ride in the carriage on the way home. As they left the territory, everything looked to be in a much better state. People of all shapes and sizes walked among the newly pathed streets. The territory received regular surges of refugees each day so there were plenty of bodies for work.

Villain made a note to bring Thomas with her to the area so he could check over how she had done, managing this by herself. There were a few slip-ups but she was proud of what she had managed. As she rode away in the carriage she admired the ivy white streets among the white snow.

The trip back home was mostly uneventful, for that she was thankful for. She was very tired and wanted to sleep. She ended up sleeping for most of the trip. While as much as she hated carriages. They were more comfortable than a horse.

When she arrived back at the estate she was half asleep slowly walking inside. "Welcome home Miss!" Diana greeted Villain, eyed her, and nodded. She then spotted a much taller but still very small Kelly glaring fiercely at her.

"I want to go back to Ivory." She declared turning around, she really didn't want to deal with human people anymore. Ivory had been the name of the town she had given back in the Raymond Territory. It was named after the ivory streets that were made using the remains of the old estate.

"Miss?!" Diana exclaimed surprised as Villain hobbled towards the door. Dealing with those people was much better than being glared at by a child. At least there she would be surrounded by honest people. "Countess, where are you going?" Thomas asked as Villain reached the door. "Ivory." Villain replied spotting Taylor on the stairs behind Thomas who gave her the same dirty look.

"I'm going to live with Ib and Ub. My new family is goblins now." Villain told Thomas honestly, he stared at her before laughing. "Oh, Villie." He said relaxing, "That must have been a good trip for you." He said slowly scooping her into his arms. "I like Goblins more than humans now," Villie mumbled yawning. She instantly felt relaxed in Thomas's arms they were familiar. While Philip had been a good friend to her over the last few months there was just no replacing Thomas in Villie's heart.

Thomas had been right though, being around honest and cheerful people in Ivory had made her feel better. "Maybe I should marry a goblin." Villie mumbled causing Thomas to chuckle, "Well the Ness family is descended from a fairy." He replied, Villie's eyes fluttered shut.

Villie ended up sick for a couple of days after arriving home. It seemed the difference in temperature had caused some sort of climate sickness in her. It was little more than a light cold. Though Villain was more bothered by the things she had said. She had made the mistake of being little around the others. She hoped they would write that off as her being sick. She'd certainly insist upon it if they didn't. How embarrassing.

Villain was gotten ready by Diana and Fiona for breakfast. There at the table sat Taylor and Kelly on each side. Their faces much plumper than they were when they first arrived. Taylor was a bit taller as was Kelly. They were dressed in nice clothes and looked just like normal noble children. When Villain sat down at the head of the table, she received glares from both of them.

"Isn't it much too early in the morning to be glaring at me? You might use up all that energy and not be able to glare at me this evening." Villain remarked setting her cane over the edge of the table on its hook. It was a habit she had picked up. Her father had done the same when he was alive using the cane. The indents in the wood were still there.

"You left without saying anything." Taylor spat sipping on his drink, "Where have you been!" Kelly demanded her speech a little less slurred now that her teeth were growing in. "I went to go take over another territory to add to this one." Villain explained, "They owed me money. So the land is mine now." She continued, "Was it that baron's land?" Taylor questioned, "Yes." Villain replied. Taylor spoke more formally now and seemed to fit into his position as a young master of the Ness family quite well.

"Thomas... Has told us that after we're of age you'll be sending us off to rule over different parts for you." Taylor remarked, "Which one of us will be taking care of that?" He asked, "Neither." Villain replied, "Why?" Both children asked, curiosity burning in their eyes. At least they were ready to get started on their jobs. "That part is filled with nonhuman persons. I've already installed representatives that will rule with the citizen's best interests at heart." Villain explained. "I don't... What are you saying?" Kelly struggled to keep up. "I put goblins over the territory filled with goblins," Villain spoke in the simplest of terms possible.

"Oh." Both children chimed in, Villain and Kelly looked to Taylor who looked embarrassed. It seemed he struggled as well. "I'm sorry." Villain spoke, "I've gotten used to speaking like this. I'll speak more directly." She said, "I want you two to know what I'm saying." She said in a bit more casual tone. The two children seemed to relax hearing the change in tone. "So you two are mad about me leaving without saying anything?" Villain questioned, "Yeah." Kelly said chewing on her food. "We're also mad that you didn't think to tell us." Taylor remarked, "About what?" Villain asked for clarification.

"That she planned on abandoning us," Taylor said glaring slightly at Villain. Villain sat her fork down and stared at her food. "How did you find out?" She asked, "Fiona." Kelly said kicking her legs. "She gave us a letter that she found for us from Kaylee. She didn't read it so she didn't know what it said." Taylor explained.

Villain could just imagine the horror on Fiona's face as she read the letter out loud to the children. But she was confused, why didn't they seem surprised?

"Kaylee," Taylor said slowly, "We knew we were a burden on her." He said noticing Villain's confused look, "We just. Sort of ignored it." He confessed, "If we weren't there then she could've attracted some rich guy and became their second wife or mistress." Taylor's body shook as he spoke. 

Villain sighed softly, "She was older. Your situation could not be helped. But there were other ways of getting a better quality of life than how she tried. But she wasn't a bad person. She was just desperate." Villain explained, "It's hard for a woman to find a better life by herself." Villain trailed off.

"That said, you're not selfish for wanting to live." She spoke after a moment. "Just like I'm not. This country. It's not kind. Good things are taken away too soon because people want to keep things for themselves." She said slowly stabbing at her food. "Never mind making your sister happy by becoming nobles." She said looking up at the two of them. "What do the two of you want to be?" She asked.

Villain really felt for them, being abandoned by their sister through a letter after her death was just utterly tragic.  She wouldn't even know how to feel if she ever found out that her parents wanted to get rid of her. She would probably break, further than what she already had. Her eyes landed on the small forms of Taylor and Kelly. Both of them were little like her.

Taylor spoke up, "I want to make this world better. Our mom and dad died from that sickness. If being a Ness lets me study medicine then I want to do that." Taylor gripped his fork in his hand tightly. Villain and Taylor looked to Kelly who stared at her food. "I don't know yet." She said softly, "I'm still too little to know." She mumbled, Villain, nodded in understanding. "That's okay Kelly." Villain said softly. "Am I still allowed to be a Ness if I don't know?" Kelly asked, Villain, nodded. "Of course."