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"Kalypso smiled at Ceasaria to which the girl reflected back all the malice she could in her eyes." — Lovable Villainess, Chapter Eighteen.

....

I realized that I was far more nervous than I expected. Perhaps, it was with all their gazes being pinpointed on. me. It was the first time that people were staring at me like this. I was starting to understand why I had been so threatened by Kalypso.

These were the first people to show me, love. They gently kissed my scars. They showered me with enough affection and I was starved. A ravenous beast that didn't understand anything but hurt and pain. Now, someone was threatening to take it away. Kalypso was trying to take away my serenity after I had just grasped it. I lashed out in the only way I knew how violence.

I wondered how old I was.

I was the first one that Duke Valentine had brought in, Kalypso would come later when I was turning sixteen and at our debutante, she angrily shoved me down the stairs. Perhaps, she was also jealous of me who received the love of Duke Valentine.

"Are you nervous?" Cain inquired, kneeling down to gaze at me. He looked somewhat concerned, "I am very good at magic. There's no reason to be worried."

I shook my head, "No. I believe that," I answered back. I gazed up at Mina and Aramus, "Doesn't Duke Valentine have better things to do?" I questioned. There was no reason for me to grow attached to these people who would grow interested in Kalypso. She was the shiny new crown jewel, while I was the lusterless broken gem. I understood why. I could feel all their love trickle into my bottomless pit. There was a crack, the love they gave slipped between my fingers. I couldn't hold onto it.

I was broken. Kalypso actually must have known how to accept their love, unlike me.

"Of course not," Aramus said. Mina gave a slight laugh. She seemed to be amused by his words, "It's actually quite boring to be a Duke." He seemed to try and talk to me in a way that would get me to smile. He was trying to lighten the mood. Esme had finally come back with a tray and prongs. It wouldn't hurt. I knew it wouldn't.

I couldn't feel pain. I had realized this. I was just a numb doll. A shell of a person. I don't think I would have even minded if they tossed me back inside of the attic, to rot.

"Just close your eyes," Cain mumbled, his fingers pressing against my tresses and then darkness overcame my vision and my body. It was one of the first times I could sleep soundly. There were no dreams. No disasters. The peaceful abyss was kind to me. I finally felt as though I could relax. My body gave out and I slumped against the bed, peaceful.

Cain exhaled, "Father," he said looking at Aramus who seemed to scowl. His peaceful expression had vanished, "You should have kept them alive."

"I should have," Aramus grumbled, as he rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Her parents truly didn't deserve such a merciful death."

Esme drew the scalpel against her skin and everyone held their breath but she didn't stir. Her body was slumped, still peacefully asleep as she dabbed the blood away. "What are we going to do with her?" Aramus answered, sitting in the chair that Mina had grabbed for him. She stood behind him as always, "Sit, Mina. You know I hate it when you leer over my shoulder."

"This is the way it should be," Mina chided. "And you will raise her with love," she spoke, "Unless you wish to leave her in the care of others."

"It would be dangerous," Cain interjected, "To burn down an entire house in her state. It should have been impossible."

"She's more of a danger to herself," Aramus answered. His eyes never left Esme and her work. The doctor hadn't said a single word, she was focused, attempting not to slip up in the slightest as her fingers didn't even shake. The sound of glass clinking against one another felt gruesome. There seemed to be an endless stream of it, just pouring out of her back. How much could her small body hold?

Cain gazed at Ceasaria, still sleeping, "What do children like?" He questioned.

"I wouldn't know," Aramua answered.

"I was asking, Mina."

Aramus scowled as Mina chuckled, "You liked sweet things, flowers. Gentle hands and touches," She seemed to reminisce. Her expression was kind as Cain gave a smile. He did not remember his mother but he did remember Mina. She sat down in the garden, gently twisting flowers together to form a coronet that sat atop his tresses. Her expression was ever so kind as she gently tucked some hair behind his ear. She complimented him on his swordsmanship and his grades.

Everyone's conversation seemed to be somewhat delayed every time Esme moved. The clattering sound of metal and glass caused heavy breaths. "I could show her around the garden," Cain mumbled, "I'll have to look at the book on flowers."

"Do you like her?" Aramus inquired, he was partially curious. His son had always been extremely book-smart to the point that all of his tutors applauded him for his skills. He was nothing short of a genius, yet socially, he lacked. His blunt attitude often caused friction with others.

Cain nodded, "She's honest. It's not hard to read her."

That was true. Ceasaria wasn't trying to disguise anything. Her voice and eyes were hollow as if she didn't understand the use of lying. She seemed tired, worn down by the world. For someone like Cain that didn't understand delicacy, it would have been easy for him to navigate around the young girl.

"It's quite troubling that she doesn't feel pain," Aramus mumbled, "It didn't seem she was lying."

"It could be a side effect of the abuse," Mina answered. Aramus felt his expression darken. He bit his lip.

Esme finally exhaled. Her back was still red and raw, there were enough bloody rags to make the stench of blood stick in the air. Her fingers ached and the glass inside of the basin was enough to make her stomach churn. This was the very reason Esme had said that she would not work with children, "It's done, Duke."

Their eyes met as Cain walked towards Ceasaria. He placed a hand against her eyes and her lashes fluttered open.

It was as if I didn't sleep. I was about to roll over to face them all when the Duke lunged out to stop me, "Your back is still wounded. We'll get a priest to heal the wounds. Cain, go get a priest, in haste."

"It doesn't—"

"I know," Aramus said. He let go of me as I placed my cheek on the pillow. "But, still, it's the adult's job to take care of you." He placed a hand against my tresses. I wondered how this man would go from being this kind to someone who didn't even smile.

There was only one haunting answer.

Cain smiled at me, "I'll be right back, okay?" He inquired. I gave a makeshift nod.

Mina and Cain must have died.

There must have been a reason that the book didn't mention them. They must have died before the book even started. The drastic shift between the Aramus that I remembered and the person in front of me was because he still had people he cherished in his life. I wondered, did I have anything to do with their deaths? Was that the reason he cherished Kalypso more than he did I?

What happened?

How much could I even trust the Lovable Villainess?

These people in front of me were real. I didn't like thinking of it.