The Villainess Doesn't Want to Deal With This Shit

Untitled Part 12

Not long after our tearful reunion I sat on the sofa, dressed properly again and sipping at hot cocoa though it was the middle of summer. Another effort to make me feel at ease no doubt, and it was working wonderfully. My parents were sitting pressed to my sides, each with a hand somewhere on me as if to assure themselves I was real.

My familiars, too, were being extra clingy. Blizzard had draped herself around my neck, Ruger was sprawled bonelessly over mine and my parents laps, and Kale had chosen to perch on the backrest of the couch, obsessively preening my hair and tugging at the strands trapped under Blizzard. Since I had made it back to them when I went back to my room to get dressed, they had alternated wildly between joy at having me back and chiding me for going off on my own.

"You shouldn't have left us behind." Kale told me for the hundredth time, carefully rearranging my hair to his liking.

"Yeah, and you can't do that again!" Ruger added with a broad lick to my arm.

Claws pricked as my cat kneaded at my shoulders."Yes, try not to abandon me with this mutt to deal with." Blizzard agreed haughtily, though she had obviously been worried about me.

For once Ruger didn't take the opportunity to start an argument with her.

"I took good care of her." Obsidian assured them, twining around my wrist and pressing the bulk of his small body to the mug in my hands. He was hidden from view under the gloves I had insisted on replacing. I knew for sure now what my bare skin could do.

Across from our motley group, two investigators sat stiffly on the other couch with notebooks out. They had just been shown in by Hanson and my parents didn't look pleased at their arrival.

"I still think this can wait until tomorrow, my daughter has had a very trying last few days, and needs to rest and recover." My father told them, his voice hard and chocolate brown eyes narrowed.

The two investigators exchanged nervous looks, but forged on regardless. I almost admired their tenacity. "Again, we're sorry to bother you at such a time, my Lord. But we need all of the details and the young Lady may forget some over the next few days." The one with the heavy mustache told him. My father's obvious displeasure was making them uncomfortable. He was the highest ranking noble in the Empire after the Imperial Family, and could doubtlessly do some serious damage to their careers if he wanted.

I placed my own hand over the one father currently had on my knee and he looked down at me with a gentle expression. "It's okay, papa, I can tell them." I said as soothingly as I could. He probably wouldn't misuse his power to punish these men for doing their jobs, but it didn't hurt to curtail him anyway. It wasn't their fault that I needed to be interviewed.

He brushed his other hand gently against my face, forgetting his anger in an instant. "If you're sure, Lessy." He said softly, and I nodded decisively. I really didn't want to talk about my version of what happened, but I needed to get ahead of this.

I looked back to the two investigators, clearing my throat delicately. "Do you want me to tell my story, and you ask questions when they come up? Or do you just want me to answer whatever question you have?"

"The first one Lady Celeste, if you please." The clean shaven investigator said after some consideration.

"Okay," I sighed deeply. "Well, mama had just gone to the back of the jewelry store with the setter and most of the apprentices, and I was sitting there on the bench in front. All of a sudden I felt really sleepy, which was weird because I didn't think I was that tired."

"Did you eat or drink anything while you were there? Did anyone give you anything?" Mustache asked. I shook my head in the negative.

"Nuh uh." Horace's spiked glass of water could not play a part in the story anymore for obvious reasons. I couldn't have my new guards taken away so soon.