I Reincarnated as the Villainess and I Refuse to Follow the Plot

For a week, I waited, impatiently, for Cassius to contact me. Despite saying he would contact me “soon,” I was beginning to question what he thought it actually meant. I knew he had his own duties as the crown prince, but waiting so long was starting to make me antsy. More than once, I had to stop myself from entering the palace and seeking him out.

The lessons with Matilda had been hit or miss. Strangely enough, she seemed to be staying over at her “friends” estate more frequently. Whatever the reason, I was glad I didn’t have to deal with her as often. However, the biggest problem was Alora.

She had been increasingly getting more confused, clumsy, and dissociative. One morning she arrived with an empty tray for breakfast. When I had pointed out there was nothing on the tray at all, she tilted her head and stared off into space. A few days later, she dropped the clothing she had brought me and didn’t realize the items weren’t in her hands.

On the eighth day, I sat on the edge of my bed, annoyed with radio silence again. “What is taking him so long?” I yawned, covering my mouth. “Maybe he’s too busy.”

“Busy doing what?” Sayvren’s voice asked, seconds before he appeared.

I groaned, already feeling a headache starting. “Where have you been?” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You have impeccable timing to annoy me. Are you here to help me again with someone or are you here to annoy me?”

“Hmm,” he rubbed his chin, sitting mid air. “A bit of both I suppose.”

“I’m not in the mood, Sayvren.” I snapped, glaring at him. “Do you not have any remorse for your actions?”

“What actions?” He blinked a few times, clearly confused.

“The night of the opera.” I shifted forward, considering swatting him. “The way you behaved was-”

“In my defense,” he held up his small hands. “He rubs me the wrong way. He stinks and his aura alone is so black that it could swallow an entire town.”

“That doesn’t mean you act out.” I snapped, running my hands down my face. “Seriously, I’m considering removing the contract with you once I get out of here. I don’t need a loose cannon following me around.”

“Yeah, about that, you can’t end the contract.”

“What?” I whipped my head up, narrowing my eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“Well,” he scratched his cheek. “You can’t remove the contract.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a soul contract, Kyla.” He shrugged. “Those don’t break.”

“Wait,” I held up a hand, feeling my face paling. “We are bound to our souls?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “The contract is binding.”

Binding? I stared at him for a long time, feeling the anger start to curl through my chest. Should I just beat him? The urge to grab a pillow and smack him repeatedly was strong, but my own mortification was stronger. He may have been the one to suggest the contract, but I had been the fool that readily accepted it. He should have been upfront, but I should have asked more questions.

“Don’t you think you should have told me that before I agreed?” I asked slowly, reaching for a pillow.

“Weeell,” he smiled, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You didn’t ask me and-”

I gripped the pillow in one hand and launched it at him instinctively. He yelped and dove through the air, barely missing the strike. The pillow sailed through the air, landing with a soft puff half way across the room.

“Was that really necessary?” He huffed, crossing his arms. “Pillows aren’t objects of violence.”

“Shut up.” I stood, crossing the room. “You’re lucky it was the only object I had on hand. If I had a sharper object, I wouldn’t have missed.”

“So cold.” Sayvren flew over as I lifted the pillow. “You know, one would think that you’d be happy I’m here. How else would you have snuck out in the middle of the night and sleuthed your way through the manor?” He shifted before me, poking my cheek. “You’d have gotten caught and then what?”

“Stop it.” I swatted his hand away, seriously considering using the pillow like a bat. “You helped and yet you didn’t tell me about the maid when we got to my room.”

“Oh. Right. Her.” He grinned. “Her aura was so messed up I didn’t think I’d have to tell you.”

“I swear to all the gods.” I mumbled, tossing the pillow toward the bed. “This isn’t working.” I pointed between us. “We need to work on our communication. You keep leaving things out on purpose and it’s making my life more frustrating.”

“I don’t want to leave things out. I just kind of…forget.”

“It must be your ancient age.” I scoffed, walking back to the bed. “Maybe you should get your mind checked.”

“My mind isn’t the issue.” Sayvren flew before me, stopping me. “There’s things I can and can’t say, alright.”

“Sure,” I rolled my eyes. “Whatever you say.”

“I’m not lying. I really-”

“Sayvren,” I cut him off, not wanting to listen to his half truths any longer. “I’m tired. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to drop in and check on you.” he reached up, stretching. “Is that a problem?”

“Yes. You’re giving me a headache.”

“I can cure that!” He held up a hand, looming slowly toward my forehead. “I’m not the useless sprite you think I am.”

“That remains to be seen.” I snorted as his hand touched my skin. “You haven’t really done much to-” I broke off when a tingling sensation jolted through where he touched.

The sensation changed suddenly, sending a jolt through my body. A faint breeze, that shouldn’t have been possible in a closed room, began to caress my skin. A faint smell of honeysuckle and lemon grass tickled my nose seconds before a high pitched ringing began in my ears.

“Sayvren, what-” I broke off for a second time, when the faint sound of two voices sounded in the far distance.

“...you…not…she…but, son.”

I stiffened, recognizing the voice of Matilda. Sayvren’s mouth opened, but whatever he was saying was completely lost on me. The room around me seemed to fade away to a white faze and the only words I could hear were coming from somewhere deep inside the building.

“Mother, questioning my motives is an insult to my person.” Justin’s bitter and snappy voice seemed to ricochet off of a wall. A sound of dripping surrounded him, making his words sound as though he was also under water. “You may have birthed me, but I will not stand for this.”

“I would never insult you!” Matilda gasped, sounding as though she slapped a hand over her mouth in shock. “My boy, you know I accept everything about you. I just can’t fathom why you’re keeping her alive. She is ignorant, arrogant, and defies me at every chance she has!”

“I am still trying to break her.” Justin let out a breath. “Once the wedding is over, my plan will come to fruition. I am not looking forward to sleeping with her, but it will be worth it in the end.”

“Why her?” She demanded, slapping something against her hand. “She is a bastard and has nothing to offer you.”

“Her lineage may be questionable,” Justin grumbled. “However, she is still the daughter of a duke. No one can deny that.”

“There are other women who-”

“Mother, enough.” Justin snapped. “The Duke will not ask questions when she disappears. I tried your way already and look what happened. I’ve already been questioned once and if it comes out about my little hobby we both will face consequences.”

“Ha! No one would dare question you.” Matilda laughed coldly. “You are above all those flies.”

“Yes, mother. I am.” Justin smirked, footsteps moving through a stone corridor. Each step crunched rocks and pebbles.

“Should you have brought someone in so soon?” Matilda called. “We only just-”

“Mother, enough of this. I don’t-”

A loud popping rippled through the air, disorienting and pulling my attention back to the room. The white haze began to fade away, but the ringing in my ears only intensified. I blinked several times, feeling as though I would fall over. Sayvren’s face suddenly appeared, white as a sheet. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear anything he was saying.

“W-what?” I groaned, touching the side of my head. What just happened?

“Ky…can…hear?”

“What?” I asked again, freezing when I felt moisture dripping from my ears. I moved my pointer finger slowly, feeling something hot and sticky.

“You’re bleeding.” Sayvren snapped his fingers and a cloth appeared in his hands. “Damn it, are you okay?” He leaned forward frantically patting the sides of my head.

“I don’t feel so good.” I gagged, covering my mouth. “What…happened?”

“I don’t know.” He admitted, looking flustered. “Don’t move too quickly and come sit on the bed.”

“The…bed?” I blinked a few times, teetering on my feet. Bed? Why the bed?

“I’ll guide you.” Sayvren fluttered behind me, pressing lightly against my shoulders. “Move forward slowly.” He commanded, somehow managing to hold me upright.

The walk to the bed was slow and painful. By the time I sat down, sweat was breaking out across my skin. Sayvren helped me lay down on my side. He pulled the blankets over me, and began to stroke my head gently.

“I’m sorry, Kyla.” He said, voice cracking. “I didn’t mean to harm you. I swear. I only wanted to relieve your headache. It should have worked. I don’t-”

“Stop talking, Sayvren.” I grumbled, squeezing my eyes shut.

The nausea had lessened some, but my body felt like it was on fire. Whatever had happened, I didn’t have the chance to even dwell on it. In-between the burning sensation and the exhaustion that was threatening to make me lose consciousness – I didn’t have the chance to consider anything.

For a while, Sayvren remained silent, continuing his gentle strokes. Eventually, sleep began to tug me under, but not before I heard singing fill my ears. Who’s singing? I wondered, absently, slipping further and further away. The words weren’t something I could place or in any language I had heard before. Yet, the wave of comfort and peace I felt was enough to make me feel safe.

The last thing I remembered was feeling the sensation of a cool ocean breeze wrapping around my over heated body.