The Villainess Doesn't Want to Deal With This Shit

Chapter 8- Going Far to Faramin

My father smiled as I was led into his office, though the tightness around his eyes spoke of the stress he was under. "Hello, Lessy. I've missed seeing your beautiful face."

"Papa!" I cried childishly, running into his open arms if only to hide my blush. I wasn't used to being complimented so sincerely. I looked up at him when my face cooled. "Why did you call for me?"

The duke's mouth tightened. "The entire family has been called to Faramin. We're to act as witnesses in John's trial."

I wracked my brain. I knew that Faramin was the capital of Citrel, but as for who John was I was coming up empty. "Who's John?"

Father laughed. "The Marquis, John Chavagnac."

Oh, so that was his name. Huh, who knew?

Huh, who cared?

"So we're going to the capital then? How exciting! When do we leave?"

"I'm sorry I'm springing this on you, Lessy, but we're leaving today."

"It's fine I- huh? Today? But..." I worried at my lip. My mother always gently scolded me for twisting my face up like that, but I think I would be forgiven for doing it in this circumstance. There was far too much to plan on such sudden notice. I turned a fretful expression on my father. "Does it have to be today, papa? I'm scheduled to resume lessons tomorrow, we'll have to send out letters to my tutors to let them know, and I have to pack for not only myself, but for Ruger, Blizzard, and Kale too! How long will we be gone for? Because at the very least it's a 20 day round trip!"

I was working myself up into a tizzy, my words tumbling out faster and faster until father pulled me closer to himself again. "You worry too much, Lessy. Let me worry about that for you. I've already informed your tutors. And Katherine of course will be doing the packing for you." He looked up at my maid, who took that as her cue and scurried off. "I... don't know how long we'll be needed in Faramin for. It'll probably be a while, as noble trials tend to be long affairs. So we'll be staying in our capital house instead of an inn." Father sat down and pulled me into his lap.

"We have a house in the capital?" This was news to me.

My father shrugged. "Almost all nobles do." He explained. "But your mother and I thought it would be best to raise you in our fief, so we haven't visited as a family since she was pregnant with you. I go there sometimes when I'm needed on the council, or when something at the house needs my direct supervision." He smiled thinly at me. "And don't worry if you don't have enough clothes packed. Faramin Market is the biggest in the world. I'm sure your mother is going to drag you clothes shopping at some point or another."

Well... I didn't have any options. Obviously, 6 year olds never got options. It was do as your parents said or... do as your parents said.

I once again stopped myself from tugging at my mass of hair. It's not that I wasn't excited to go to the capital, it's just that it was too much too sudden. "Papa... what did you end up telling the guards that took the Marquis?" I asked hesitantly.

"Well... we took your suggestion and lied a bit. If only because we didn't want you dragged into the middle of such nasty business. We told them that our personal guards apprehended him after he approached me about helping his... business venture." My father looked almost disappointed in himself, but I was relieved.

As someone with three known familiars, I would already be too much in the public eye. I just wanted to live my life under the radar. You didn't die young as often if you weren't well known.

I looked up at him with my most trusting expression. "And what about if the Marquis tells the truth? Or Aunt Alex and Marcus? They're going to be witnesses too."