Within a couple of days of sending the letter, Villian received a letter in answer from a courier hawk. She was happy to learn that the Count was more than eager to take control of the entire military operation.

That was Sigmund's answer to the proposition. It appeared that telling him that she was roughly the same age as his grandchildren struck a chord with him. Villian grinned, happy that the issue will be resolved on its own. Documentation was completed and contracts were signed. Three months later, Villian was reading the papers at home when she discovered that Baron Westly had been killed in action against the armies of Count Sigmund.

The tale of a kind older count standing up for the young countess' honor on the battlefield was well received by the general public. Naturally, the Sigmund printing company, which was once again a part of the Sigmund family, was a big contributor to the public's reception of this story.

Sitting in her bedroom reading, Villian's eyes scanned over the front page of the newspaper. Above a drawing of Count Sigmund on a horse, the headline read; Heroic Count Sigmund Secures Victory for Young Countess. The young girl rolled her eyes before taking a bite of her toast. She was on bedrest today, as ordered by Thomas. He had begun to make her rest at least one day a week. "It's not good for you to stay chained to that damn desk all the time." The butler complained when she questioned why. 

With more territory to rule over than ever before, Villian had been working tirelessly to bring the newly absorbed territories together. Villian had sent one of her father's old trusted advisors, Alexander, to stand in as Lord of the Land for the time being. Kelly and Taylor would manage the Westly territory when they were older, according to her plans. Villian also sent Oliver, a young footman whom Thomas had been training in estate management, just to make sure nothing went wrong. She also dispatched Fiona to serve as a much more experienced advisor.

While Villian didn't trust either of them any further than what she could throw them, something was better than nothing. After all, she wasn't about to send Thomas off to oversee the development. She didn't like being separated during the development of the Raymond territory as long as they were.

Time moved slowly in Villian's room as the clock on the mantel ticked softly. Despite her best efforts, reading the newspaper was incredibly boring, so Villie's eyes gradually closed. Without meaning to, she fell asleep, as her hands dropped the paper folded over onto her. The soft ticking of the clock lured her into a deep sleep.

Tick... Tick... Tick...

Suddenly Villie found herself standing on a stone floor, the cool temperature was felt against her bare foot. Looking down, she sighed. Even though she was dreaming, she only had one barefoot foot and one made of wood. She managed to cautiously navigate the room filled with old, dusty crates and spider webs while holding her cane in her hand. As she walked, her nightgown gently swished against her knees.

A pile of furs was sitting in the shadow of a tall window; it was only noticed by her because of the way the moonlight gleamed off the crown perched on the lump. As she got closer, the sound of her cane softly clicking and her wooden foot thudding filled the still chamber.

She froze when she saw it breathing, a raspy breath sounded out from the lump.  "It's alive?" Villian asked, she stumbled back when an old man shouted, "Who said that?!" Out from the lump of dusty fur came a man, the fur was his cape that swished through the air spreading the dust. Had Villian been there she was sure she would've coughed from it. She studied the old man's face, bags under his purple eyes, he had long spikey white hair and a long beard. 

He was looking around paranoid, Villian stepped from the shadows where she stood into the moonlight. Lowering herself to be face to face when the hunched-over man. She saw the horror on his face form slowly, "I did." She replied with a slight smile. "SPIRIT!" The old man screamed scrambling back against the wall. "Specter leave this old man be!" He screamed. Villian stood up straight and stared at him, "You can see me?" She asked, never before in her dreams could someone see her.

She usually followed around Leon...

Villie's eyes widened, and she stared into his frightened purple eyes. "Leon?" She asked softly, she slowly moved closer the man turned his head shaking. "What happened?" She asked unable to stop herself, she went to touch his face but she phased through. She jerked her hand back and the man slumped down onto the ground. "I have committed many sins spirit, but please choose a form other than that woman!" He begged hysterical, "Why do you mock me by taking the form of her as a child?! Is it to prove that even she is more innocent than I?!" He sobbed. 

Villian stared at him watching him cry, "Leon." She said firmly, he froze the sobbing stopped. "Whatever this is, crying will do you no good." She spoke, she hated seeing him like this. Usually, in her dreams, he was always full of hope and love for the world. Even the tiniest of things amazed him, it gave Villian hope to see someone like that in her dreams. "In nature, there are very few sins." She spoke calmly, "The animals do not give much thought to morality. There is either survival or death." She narrowed her eyes.

Leon sat there with a tear-stained face staring at her, "What will you choose?" She asked quietly, "Survival or death Leon?" The old man's lips opened, "Survival Countess." He replied quietly staring at her with shaking eyes. "Then survive, do what you must, just as I have. You are not wrong for wanting to live." Leon seemed calm now, he chuckled softly. "I will Countess." He replied his old eyes glistening with a familiar look of hope in them. 

Villie, despite herself, felt a large smile form on her face. "Good." She replied, she looked down at her hands noticing herself fading. "I'll be going now Leon." She told him with a smile, she couldn't find it in her to lie as she did when she was awake. She was happy that she was able to help, even if it was in some small way. "Remember, there is either survival or death... Choose wisely."  

Tick... Tick... Tick...

The sound of the clock was the first thing Villie heard when she woke up in the evening. She stared at the ceiling of her bedroom, she turned looking at the double glass doors that led to the balcony of her bedroom. The sky was painted in a hue of orange that matched her eyes, though she could see purple just over the horizon slowly approaching.  

Kelly and Taylor were both busy with their tutoring, so dinner was eaten quietly in the dining hall. Even though she still didn't like the empty table, Villian started to remember her dream a bit more clearly. According to what she understood at the end of the book, Leon was supposed to become king after defeating the demon king and marrying Mary. Michael and Maxis would abdicate the throne and pursue other interests. Maxis would become the archmage of the mage's tower, while Michael would become the church's pope.

So, why was Leon wearing a crown in a dusty stone room? He appeared to have lost his mind... Villian sat down her silverware, perplexed. It was awful to see Leon in that condition. Perhaps she had been too harsh, but setting a goal for herself was how she pulled herself out of the abyss she saw Leon in. Whatever guilt he felt, whatever sins he had committed... It didn't feel right to let him stew in his insanity.

"But what could that mean?" She asked herself taking up her silverware and beginning to eat again. These thoughts were lost quickly as Villian's duties caught up with her over the next few days. The dream long forgotten, Villian was focused on the real world and learning as quickly as possible how to rule as Countess. 

In the morning, Villian sat there as Diana brushed her hair. Two new maids spoke amongst themselves about which products to use on Villian. She watched them through the mirror giggle to themselves, she hadn't even bothered to learn their names. That would just create an unneeded closeness, Villian wasn't about to fool herself into thinking her employees were all her friends. 

A knock at the door silenced the maid's chatter, one of the girls got the door. "Pardon me." Thomas's voice rang out as he came in. "Thomas, we're still getting the countess ready can't this wait?" Diana asked exasperated, "It can't unfortunately." He replied walking into the room, Villain turned slowly as Thomas held out an invitation.

"The palace has sent you an invitation, Countess. The Emperor and Empress would like to speak with you about the recent subjugation of the territories of Westly and Raymond." Villain sighed softly as Thomas informed her, taking the invitation in hand. "Would they like to see me today?" She inquired, noticing the date. "It was postmarked two days ago, but the postboy forgot to deliver it," Thomas complained, irritably. Clearly displeased that they did not receive the earlier notice that was needed to prepare. Now they would have to scramble to put together something presentable to stand in front of the Emperor and Empress in.

"An invitation to the palace?!" The two young maids exclaimed, "My lady you must be so excited!" One maid exclaimed, "You'll get to meet the princes!" The other said excitedly, "Isn't one of them close to our lady's age?!" The first giggled, "Oh they'd make a darling couple!" The second laughed, Villian annoyed held her hand up. They fell silent, "As amusing as those thoughts are, we do not have time to waste. Please make me presentable." She ordered, she then looked over at Thomas, "Get my new leg please." She asked, "Of course my lady." Thomas replied with a soft smile. 

In the last few weeks, Villian had ordered a new leg, one made of fine porcelain and wood, it wasn't meant to be worn often it was supposed to be for important events. Such as meeting the Emperor or Empress, it had taken nearly a month to construct after first designing it. If she was older and much taller, Villian was sure it would take much longer.

She silently made note to account for that in the future. 

Thomas left the room to get her newly constructed leg and the maids got to work on her outfit and hair. As per tradition, Villian was dressed in a light yellow dress with silk trains over the shoulders. The trains were representative of her fae heritage. A flat shoe was placed on her foot and her hair was pulled up into a bun with flowers in it. 

In short, she was in a carriage with Thomas, heading straight for the capital, and all other plans for the day had been abandoned. Fortunately, the Ness Estate was only a five-hour carriage ride from the capital. She arrived at the palace around mid-afternoon. Even as she and Thomas moved through the imperial halls at a faster pace, she felt young noblemen and squires' lingering gazes. The early spring decorations went well with her outfit, she heard softened whispers of 'fairy blood,' amongst the young boys. 

Approaching the throne room, Thomas informed the criers of their identities and presented the invitation. The crier looked to Villian surprised, "Countess?" he questioned, Villian knew what his thoughts were. She was much too young to hold such a title. "Yes." Villain replied firmly. He nodded the guardsmen opened the doors and just as the doors opened, trumpets blared.