Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 372  : Dress

 I woke up the next day with a heavy heart. Probably because I know what will happen today.  I walk out of my room and find everyone getting busy doing something. They are probably preparing for tonight's banquet.

 I didn't head straight to the kitchen to eat breakfast. Instead, I head to the garden and lay on the bench. I want to relax for a bit.

 However, I haven't even closed my eyes for a minute when someone interrupts me.

 "Miss, what are you doing here? Have you eaten your breakfast?"

 I heave a sigh. "Can you please leave me alone for half an hour? I just need to relax for a bit. I will eat my breakfast after."

 But it seems like my word doesn't have an effect today because instead of leaving me alone, I feel a hand holding my arm. "Miss, we cannot do that. We still need to prepare. You still don't have a dress, right? Don't we have a schedule in Noble Silhouette for the fitting of your gown this morning? After that, we still need to prepare things for the banquet. We already don't have enough time to prepare. So, can you please stand up already and eat your breakfast?"

 I heave a sigh. Why can't they let this villainess rest for a moment? I am still in pain because of the letters I have written last night. Don't I deserve a break?

 I slowly open my eyes and look at the maid. "Can you just fetch the gown for me? I don't have the energy to go out. Also, aren't I not allowed to go out?"

 I don't understand them. When I wanted to go out, they wouldn't allow me. But now that I want to stay in the house, they want me to leave? They are really complicated.

 The maid looks at me with horror. "Miss, I cannot do that. You need to do the fitting first to make sure that the gown perfectly fits you. Let's go now, Miss. I'm sure some nobles are already in Noble Couture looking for gowns. We need to arrive there first."

 I just close my eyes. I don't understand why do I need to do all of this effort if in the end, I will just end up being... I shake my head. "I'll just find some dress in my closet. I have a number of dresses that I still haven't used. So, why bother?"

 I heard the maid gasp. "Miss, you cannot do that. You are Csille Lauretré. Everyone will be expecting you to wear the most beautiful dress tonight. So, how can we let you wear those dresses?"

 What's the use of wearing the most beautiful dress if I couldn't have the person I love?  I wave my hand at the maid. "And why can't I? Even if I wear the most beautiful dress or the ugliest dress tonight, my face will be the same. So, why bother?"

 I heard the maid gasp again. Then I feel her hand holding my arm and gently tugging it. "Dame Csille, how can you say something like that? Today's banquet is important. How can you wear a simple dress like that? It is his highness Prince Fraser's birthday. It's your fiancé's birthday. How can you wear something simple? That won't do. I'm sure if the Count and the Countess are here, they wouldn't agree with you too."

 I smile bitterly. But my parents are not here. So, why would I care?  I slowly open my eyes and stare at the maid, who looks like she is panicking already. "But his highness is still injured. Wouldn't it be not okay if they see me dressing up grandly while my fiancée is still injured? What will the people say? That I had too much time to prepare despite Prince Fraser's disappearance?"

 The maid shakes her head vigorously before she kneels in front of me. I immediately get up and force her to stand up.

 Why do people love to kneel these days? I already used that. Don't they have other things to do?  "Can you stand up? Do you need to kneel just to make me agree to come with you?"

 The maid looks up at me and shakes her head. "Apologies, Dame Csille. But I wouldn't agree to see you wear a simple dress to Prince Fraser's birthday banquet. You are a Lauretré and the fiancée of the Crown Prince. You will be representing both the Lauretré Family and the Vrawyth Kingdom in front of all the guests. How can I let you wear something simple?"

 I heave a sigh. I understand her concern, but for someone who already knows what will happen tonight, I really don't care about this matter. Why bother if in the end, everything will be in vain?  However, I know she is right too. I need to look beautiful because that is how I have written Lady Csille. But right now, I'm not really in the mood to go out and do the fitting.

 "Miss? Can we go now?"

 I look at the maid and shake my head. "I don't really want to go out today. I'll just find a dress in my closet later, and that is final. Don't try to convince me anymore. I am not in the mood to argue with anyone."

 The maid tried to say something, but I just raised my hand to stop her from talking. "Nope, not a word. Leave me alone for half an hour, and I'll eat my breakfast after."

 The maid stared at me hesitantly before she left with reluctance. I can even see her whispering something to herself, but I just shrug it off.  For now, I just want to relax. I want to enjoy this calmness before the storm.

________________________________

 "Miss, I really don't think it is a good idea to do this. The dresses in your closet are not suitable for the birthday banquet. I think it's best if we visit the Noble Silhouette right now. I am sure that they still have your gown reserved for you. Le—" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 I look at the maid and shake my head at her. "And how many times I would tell you that I don't need that. Can't you see how many dresses I have that I still haven't worn? It's too many. So, why would I need to buy another one? Also, are you saying that I need a beautiful dress just so I can be beautiful? Is my beauty not enough?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

 The maid shakes her head vigorously. "No, that is not what I mean, Miss. How can your beauty be not enough? Even if you wear a simple dress, I'm sure everyone will still regard you as the most beautiful lady among the Kingdom."

 I nod my head and smile at her before I continue rummaging through my closet.  "See? Why would I need a beautiful dress if my beauty is already enough?"

 We are currently looking for a dress I can wear for tonight's banquet. However, it seems like what the maid said is true. The dresses here don't suit the event tonight.

 Most of the dresses here were picked by real Csille. It's the reason why all of it is grand and too flashy for the occasion. Wearing these dresses will make me stand out too much. And as much as possible, I want to have a subtle presence tonight.

 I heave a sigh and stop rummaging through the closet. "This won't do." I open the other closet and start to rummage through it.  "Miss, I think..."

 The maid wasn't able to finish her words when I looked at her. She then shakes her head and bow.  I continue rummaging through the dresses of Csille and sigh again when I realize the dresses are another set of her extravagant dresses. I close the closet and lean on it.

 "Are there any dresses I recently bought? These dresses are too flashy for me, and I don't want that."

 The maid stares at me before she nods her head. "Miss, I've been wanting to tell you this, but you won't allow me to speak."

 "Did I? My bad, I thought you were going to convince me to go to Noble Silhouette again." I wave my hand. "Tell me where I can find the dresses I recently bought."

 The maid opened another closet, and my eyes widened when I saw familiar dresses hang on the rack.  "Aren't that the dresses made by Pax Dea?"

 The maid nods her head. "Yes, Miss. You told me before to keep the dresses away from your old dresses. I keep everything in one place, so it's easier to find when you look for it."

 I nod my head and rummage through the dresses. Even though I had seen these dresses before, I still couldn't stop myself but be fascinated with them.  The style of the dresses is more of my style. It's not grand nor flashy like the style of real Csille. It's more of in a gentle style with sophistication, and it has subtle mystery in the dress.  If someone wears it, she won't be the center of the public's attention. But the more a person stares at her, the more she will be beautiful in their eyes.

 "Miss, Lady Pax Dea's dresses are really gorgeous. Know I understand why you don't want to go to Noble Silhouette. These dresses are way better than the dresses in there."

 I look at the maid and smile at her. "I'm sure Pax Dea will be happy when she hears what you said."

 The maid shakes her head. "I am only telling the truth, Miss. I'm sure if she has a branch here, a lot of nobles will die to wear her dresses." The maid said in full admiration.

 Pax Dea in the Vrawyth Kingdom? I don't think that is a good idea. Everything will soon change in the Vrawyth Kingdom, and I don't want to involve them in this mess. Not them. They already live far away to keep from all of this mess.

 I didn't say anything to the maid and continued rummaging through the dresses. I am looking for the dark blue dress Pax Dea gave to me.  My hand stops when I see that dark blue dress standing out from the other dresses. There is really something to this dress that draws me in.  I took the dress out, and I couldn't help but gasp when I saw how gorgeous it was. I know this isn't the first time I have seen this dress, but I still couldn't help but be captivated by its beauty.

 I even heard the maid gasp beside me. "Miss, this dress is so beautiful. This is the most beautiful dress I have ever laid my eyes off. I'm sure if you wear this, you will look beautiful on it."

 Of course, it is beautiful. It is Pax Dea's greatest creation. How can't it be beautiful?  "Do you like it? It's one of the dresses that I consider my greatest creation. However, when I tried to put it on display, people didn't like the color. They find it too dark for a woman's dress. Since then, I have just stored it here. If you like it, you can have it."

 I suddenly remember what Pax Dea said when she first took the dress out of her storage room.  I look at the details of the dress. The more I stared at it, the more I fell in love with the dress. The dress is dark blue. It's almost black in color. It is a Princess line dress that has a turtle neck. The dress isn't the typical bustle style dress. Instead, it focuses more on the slender, cylindrical silhouette. It has balloon sleeves until the elbow, and it becomes fitted at the end. It's actually pretty simple, but its design is what it makes unique. It has small diamonds embedded in the dress, making it look like a starry night sky.

 It's as if someone put the starry night on a dress. It's really beautiful but what Pax Dea said is true. This kind of color is difficult to handle. Only a few people will look celestial wearing it. While some will look odd in this dress.  "Miss, are you going to wear this dress?  I look at the maid and nod my head. "I will."

 I have changed my mind. If this will be my last appearance as the good natured Csille, then I will make sure to leave a good impression on everyone.  Although, I know that good impression will soon change in the future.