Why Did I Become the Villainess?-Chapter 23 - Rhododendron

"Csille Lauretré!" He took a deep breath and stared at my eyes. "Then can you listen to me? I'm the Crown Prince and your fiancé. Isn't that enough for you to listen to me?"

"Fraser, please don't make it difficult for me-"

"You're the one who's making things difficult for me. How can I do what I'm supposed to do if I'm worried about you?"

Okay, I understand it now, Prince Fraser. You're worried, okay. However, can you not say that in a gentle voice. You're making Csille assume that there's something between you two.

"I'm sorry. I will try not to do that every day. I-" before I could even finish my words, he already cuts me off.

"Don't do it! I want you not to do that. I don't want you to endanger yourself because of me." He squeezes my hands he's holding. "Please, Csille?"

"Fraser, I'm just worried for you too. I promise not to be around you always. Just let me stay even if I'm far away. Don't worry. I have my guards with me. Please?"

Prince Fraser lets go of my hand he's holding. "You really won't listen to me?" He waves his hand. "Go!"

"Fraser-" I tried to hold his hand, but he wouldn't let me.

"Just go, Csille! What's the use of this conversation if you won't even listen to me? Just go!"

I look at him, stupefied. Did he just drive me away? "You don't even listen to me too. Fine!" I stomped my feet and walked out of the room.

I couldn't believe he drives me away. I do understand where he is coming from, but he should have listened to my words too. It's as if I also have any choice. Even if you begged me, Prince Fraser, Csille would still stay around you because that's what I've written.

And you cannot drive me away too. I was the one who made this. I should at least do something for you.

___________

"Dear? Aren't you going to accompany us?" My mother asks. It's feeding day today, and I excused myself because I don't really have the mood to help.

"I'm sorry, mother. I don't really feel okay today. I'll just help you next time."

My mother gently touches my head. "That's okay. Just stay here if you don't feel okay. We will be going now. I will leave a maid to you, so you'll have company."

I just nod at her. She gives me kisses first before she gets out. I sigh and look at the calendar. We're almost three months staying in here. It's already been a week since the last time I see Prince Fraser. I'm not that worried because Princess Paislee has already been friends with Prince Fraser now. So, there's someone that will guard him.

Princess Paislee and I talk to each other every day. The last time I speak to her, she told me that she's helping Prince Fraser go fishing and selling the fishes they caught. And just like in my novel, Princess Paislee is now living with Prince Fraser. Prince Fraser doesn't know that Princess Paislee has a home of her own. He just knows that Farren or Paislee is an orphan now. So he decided to take her in. In exchange for helping him do fishing and selling the fishes.

One month from now, Prince Fraser's life will be in danger. I've tried many ways to warn Prince Fraser about the incoming danger. However, every time I'll do something, it always fails. I've tried sending him an anonymous letter, but it always comes back at me. I have tried before to use sign language, but it doesn't work too because sign language doesn't exist here.

"How could I warn you, Prince Fraser?" Thinking, I slumped my head on the study table.

"My time is very short. I can only leave you a short message. Don't try to change what you've written in the notebook," the man pause for a moment. "Or else this world will collapse."

I suddenly remember the words of the man in my dream. Will it really collapse? Then do I have no other choice but to let things happen as it is? Even though I know that it could harm someone?

I look outside the windows. There are flowers everywhere. My room is facing the garden of the house that's why I choose this. Flowers! Right, how could I forget flowers? Maybe if I send Prince Fraser a flower, then he could understand it. Flower language exists here. Right! I just need to know the right flower to send too.

I run towards the garden. What flowers could be used to warn someone about an incoming danger?

I look around. Myrtle? It stands for good luck and love in a marriage. I don't think it suits the message I want to convey. Black-Eyed Susan? But it symbolizes justice. No! No!

I walk to the other side of the garden. What flower means danger? I stop on my track when I saw Rhododendron. It's a poisonous flower. I didn't know they have it here.

Wait! What does the Rhododendron flower mean? It's a sign of elegance, wealth, and passion. However, the Victorians labeled it as a "beware" flower which is quite fitting, as the Rhododendron flower is poisonous. Right! This is the flower I am looking for. It means to beware of incoming danger. I took a napkin and took several Rhododendron flowers. I just need to find someone to give it to Prince Fraser. But who will be that person?

__________

"Csille Lauretré? What do you need for me to do?"

I look back at the Farren Brichagnac. He's walking towards me while looking around. "Don't worry. I have my guards around to make sure no one sees us. Even Raze wouldn't notice you're here." Raze is the name used by Prince Fraser in the western region. He couldn't use his name Fraser lest he'll attract other people's attention and suspicion.

Farren sits on the chair in front of me. We are currently in the only cafe here in the western region. It's also where I usually stay when I observe Prince Fraser from afar. This cafe has the second floor, so it's easier for me to see him from afar. But unlike before, I didn't sit on the second floor. We're on the ground floor. I don't want Prince Fraser to know that I know Farren.

"Don't worry. This won't be long." I took the Rhododendron flower from one of my maids behind me. "I just want you to give this to Raze inconspicuously. Make sure he won't know it came from me or it was you who puts it."

Farren takes the flower from my hand and looks at it. Even if you look at it, Paislee, you wouldn't know what it means. Princess Paislee doesn't know that language of flowers. It's the reason why it takes years before she realizes that Prince Fraser was in love with her disguise.

"I thought you don't love him?"

Silly! Of course, I don't. How can I fell in love with a fictional character I made? "I don't. Just give it to him. Don't worry. It's just a simple flower. I just remembered that he likes flowers. So I want to give him one."

Farren looks at me like he didn't believe my words. Miss female lead! Can you not do that? It's impossible for Csille and Prince Fraser, okay? In the end, he will choose you. So, don't that okay?

He then takes the flowers from my hands. "Okay. I'll do that. Is it the only thing you want to say?"

"Yes, you can go now. Just make sure he wouldn't know where the flowers came from, okay?"

Farren nods his head and walks out of the cafe. Farren Brichagnac, the male disguised of Princess Paislee. I hope you won't get caught and I hope you could send the flower to him. I hope there's nothing that will hinder it. I need you to send it. He needs to know. Even you, you need to know. But how could I warn you?

I sigh. One month, I only have one month of time before the danger will come. Can I not really do something about this?

I gestured my maid to ask for a spot on the second floor. I need to know what will happen next. After everything is settled, I immediately go to the second floor. On the second floor, I could easily see the fishing stall of Prince Fraser. Farren just came back and now helping Prince Fraser sell the fish.

When Prince Fraser was too busy entertaining a customer, Farren puts the flower on the basket beside Prince Fraser. He puts it! He successfully put it inside the basket. Now, I only need Prince Fraser to see the flower and decode the meaning of it.

I look at Farren. Does he know it's Prince Fraser? I tried to recalled what I've written in the novel. If I remember it right, Princess Paislee doesn't know that it's Prince Fraser. She only knows that it's the Crown Prince after the accident. I can't blame her, though. Prince Fraser looks so different compared to when he was still a child.

After they sell all the fishes, Prince Fraser and Farren went home. I followed them to their home, where Prince Fraser is staying. I look around to see if there is someone and ask the guard that is accompanying me to be my look out.

I put my ears on the wall. I'm at the back of the house and currently listening to the conversation inside. I heard footsteps and a person rummaging into something.

"Hey, Farren, do you know where this flower came from?" Prince Fraser asks.

"I don't know. Where did you find it?"

I heard footsteps again. I couldn't see what's happening inside since there is no window at the back of his house. It would be better to see how Prince Fraser reacts.

"In the basket. Someone must put it in there. Rhododendron?"

I heard someone pulls the chair. "Rhododendron? Is that the name of the flower?"

I didn't hear Prince Fraser responds. He probably just nods his head.

"Are you okay? You look terrified. Is there something wrong?"

Terrified? He probably decodes the meaning of the flower. Yes! He knows! I just hope he realized what he should be cautious about. Please, Prince Fraser, I need you to understand what it is. I need you to be cautious.

"Nothing! I need to get out for now. Don't wait for me. I'll come back home late."

I heard someone open the door. He's leaving? Where is he going?

I leave from where I am hiding and walk to the carriage waiting. Where is he going?

___________

I'm on our way now to our house in the western region when the carriage suddenly stops. I look at the maid and the henchman.

"Is there a problem? Why did we stop?"

The henchman looks back at me. "I'm sorry, Lady Lauretré, someone blocks our way."

Someone? I look outside the carriage. My eyes widened when I recognized who is that person. Prince Fraser! What is he doing here? I immediately walk outside the carriage.

The guards immediately stop me when I tried to approach Prince Fraser. "Miss, please go back. Let us interrogate this person first."

I glared at the guard. "That's okay. I know him. Can you all leave us alone first? I need to talk to this person."

The guards and the maids hesitated for a moment before they walk a meter away.

"Is there something wrong?"

Prince Fraser looks back at the guards and maid. When he is assured that they are too far away to hear what he will say, he looks at me. "I came here to warn you. I received a flower today." He takes out the Rhododendron flowers from his bag. "This. It's Rhododendron, and I suppose you know what's the meaning of this."

I tried to talk, but I feel like I couldn't move my mouth. Csille! Let me talk to him, please! We need to warn the Crown Prince. But she didn't listen to me.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what it's supposed to mean. Do I need to be worried?" Csille! No! Let me talk to him! I begged you!

Prince Fraser looks disappointed with Csille's answer. He probably thought I would know what it means. Of course, I know it. I was the one who gave it to you, Prince Fraser. I wanted to say to him, but my mouth wouldn't let me. Oh, come on! Let me speak!

Prince Fraser shakes his head. "Never mind. Just be careful, okay? Don't come to me these days. I'm afraid something will happen."

Yes! Yes! Something will happen.

"Maybe you're wrong, Prince Fraser. It's just a flower. What could it means?"

Prince Fraser looks at me confused. Of course, even I will be confused if a person I know who loves the flower language suddenly said that it's just a flower. He probably thinks something's wrong with me. It's your fault, Csille!

He looks at the Rhododendron flowers and puts it back in his bag. "Just be careful, okay? Please listen to me right now. I need you to stay at home and don't leave for a moment. You need to promise me Csille."

My head nods on its own. Satisfied with my answer, he holds my cheeks and kisses my forehead before running to where he came from.

Did he just kiss my forehead?

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