Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 450: : Honesty

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"Don't make me repeat myself. Come out, Csille."

I sigh deeply. Even though I don't want to reveal myself, I have no choice. How could I defy his command?

"Greetings your highness."

Prince Fraser just stares at me intently, then gestures toward the chair and table beside him.

"Please sit, Csille."

I almost roll my eyes at his words. Why does it sound like I'm the one visiting him instead of the other way around?

He was the one who barged into the Lauretré residence, yet he acts like he owns the place. However, no matter how much I want to voice my opinion, I have no choice but to obey him. "Your highness, may I know what brings you here and why you want me to sit?" I ask after settling into one of the chairs.

Prince Fraser gazes at the moon for a few moments before turning his attention to me. "I need to speak with you."

My heart races at his words. I know I shouldn't expect anything different from him, but the way he said those words stirs something within me.

I take a deep breath before meeting his gaze. "May I know why you felt the need to barge into the Lauretré residence just to speak with me? I assume it's something important. Is it about the department? If you're wor-"

Before I can finish, he cuts me off. "That's not why I'm here. I also want to apologize if it seemed like I only care about your work. I trust you, Csille, and among anyone else, you're the first person I know who is responsible with her work."

I simply stare at him, caught off guard by his unexpected words. Before the explosion, he would snap at me for every minor detail. Yet here he is, acknowledging me as a responsible person?

Isn't that ironic?

Prince Fraser gazes at me for a moment, perhaps waiting for my response. But how can I respond after hearing his words?

My heart is beating wildly and my thoughts are all over the place. How can I come up with coherent words right now?

"As I said, that is not the reason why I am here. I want to talk to you about what happened."

My heart stops for a second when I heard what he said. What does he mean? What happened with what?

"Your highness, I'm not sure I understand. Are you referring to what happened with the Foundation after the explosion? Or the department after being left unsupervised?"

Prince Fraser shakes his head. "I'm not here to discuss your responsibilities or work, Csille. I'm here to talk about what happened between us."

What happened to us? Isn't that clear? He broke off our engagement to pursue his royal knight, who is cross-dressing as a male knight.

What else is there to talk about when I'm already well aware of what happened?

"Your highness, I still don't understand what you're trying to say. You want to talk about what happened between us? But isn't it clear for both of us? What's the need to talk about-"

"I need to." He takes a deep breath and stares intently into my eyes. As much as I don't want to read the emotions swirling in his eyes, I can't help but get lost in them. "We need to, Csille."

More like you need to. We've had this conversation several times since the explosion. Yet, he still wants to talk about it?

What will change? Will he choose Csille now? No, right? So, I don't understand why we are having this conversation again.

Or does he want to hurt Csille even more? He knows she has feelings for him, right? Yet he still wants to discuss their failed engagement?

"Your highness, didn't we already talk about this? Is there really any need to discuss it further? Because I don't think so."

Fraser just stares at me for a few seconds before he sighs. "No, we never had a proper conversation after what happened. And I apologize for that. I know I should have talked to you in private instead of breaking our engagement in public. It was never my intention to humiliate you, Csille."

I can't help but scoff at his words. He didn't? Is he serious right now?

Fraser smiles sadly when he hears me scoffing. "I know it sounds like an excuse to you, but I really meant what I said. I never intended to hurt you, Csille. I-I..." He shakes his head. "I don't know what happened, but that day, I wasn't myself."

My heart races. It's because of my novel. This world is doing its best to keep Prince Fraser from straying from his role. That is what he is referring to.

Yet, why does Prince Fraser seem regretful of what happened? Is it because of the force trying to disrupt things?

But I don't understand. Why is there a force that seems intent on changing Prince Fraser's character in my novel?

"Csille, please believe me. I didn't want to hurt you that way. And those words I said to you afterward?" He shakes his head repeatedly. "I never wanted to say those things. I would never dare to hurt you like that."

I frown, noticing the vulnerability in his voice. It means what he's saying is true.

He didn't really mean to hurt me.

However, as much as I want to drown myself in such thoughts, I know I can't. Whatever he is saying or feeling right now, these aren't his true thoughts and emotions.

Everything happening right now is influenced by that force.

"Yet you continue doing so," I sigh in resignation. "Your highness, I don't understand why we're having this conversation. Do you feel guilty about what happened, and that's why you're trying to bring this up again?"

Prince Fraser's eyes widen. "That's not what I want, Csille. I didn't come here just to relieve myself of guilt. I came here because I want to explain myself to you."

I shake my head. "But you don't have to, your highness. Have you ever wondered how this will affect me? It's not long after our engagement was broken off, and I still have lingering feelings for you. Don't you think you're hurting me by bringing this up again and again?""

Prince Fraser's eyes quiver, and he shakes his head. "That is not my intention. Csille, please believe me. I never intended to hurt you." He takes a deep breath and stares at me. "After the explosion, I realized a lot of things. I was a jerk to you. I kept throwing hurtful words at you even when you did nothing wrong. I... I'm sorry, Csille."

I scoff. "It took you a long time to realize you were a jerk?" I sigh and shake my head. It's useless to argue now. "I apologize for my impudence."

Prince Fraser shakes his head. "No, I deserve that. I was too rude to you. Not just with our engagement, but I kept blaming you for every little thing." He takes a deep breath. "Csille, there's something I haven't told you. It's the reason why I wanted to explain myself."

I frown. What does he mean?

Prince Fraser stares at me for a couple of seconds. "I did like you, Csille. That's why I did what

I did before I broke off our engagement."

I feel my world stop for a minute when I hear what he said. He liked me? However, I immediately wake up from my delusions. How can the male lead like the villainess?

I'm pretty sure it's because of that force. He didn't really like me. Instead, it's that force that makes him think that he likes me.

"I know this might sound unbelievable to you, especially after everything that happened between us. But I genuinely liked you back then. However, when I met that person, my feelings slowly changed without me even realizing it. Trust me, I tried to avoid it, but it was too late. I was head over heels in love before I even realized what had happened."

I feel my heart ache at his words. I already expected he would say that, but I still can't stop

myself from hurting.

"Your highness, I..."

Prince Fraser raised his hand, gesturing for me to stop. "Please, let me finish. I need to say it all because I don't know what to do anymore." He lays his head on the table, frustration evident as he runs his hands through his hair.

He then looks at me with teary eyes. "Csille, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to hurt you. I never wanted to subject you to such pain and humiliation. If I could turn back time, I would never do that to you again."

I sigh. I'm getting tired of this conversation. We keep running around in circles. "Your highness, you shouldn't cry over something that's already in the past. Wouldn't tha-"

I got startled when he suddenly taps the table. "No, I don't like it," he whispers, though I can

clearly hear what he said.

He didn't like what? What did I do or say this time?

Prince Fraser stares at me, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Csille, I don't like how you put it in

the past because for me it isn't."

My hand trembles after hearing his words. I don't know if it's because I fell for his words or if I'm angry at what he's doing. My emotions are all messed up.

Prince Fraser holds my trembling hand resting on the table. "Csille, I know what I'm doing

right now is making you more confused," he says, shaking his head. "I don't want to do this, believe me. However, after the explosion, a-after seeing you injured, my heart couldn't help but worry about you. All I ever think about is you, and only you. So, I hop-"

I tried to take my hand from his grip, but he won't let me. I can't let him continue saying what

he wants to say.

He couldn't afford to get confused right now. Not when we're almost at the climax of the story. I couldn't let him ruin what I've been trying to correct.

"Your highness, please stop. You're probably just feeling guilty because of what happened

between us. But once your emotions subside, I'm pretty sure you'll realize that what you're feeling right now isn't your true feelings. Didn't you say you liked someone already?" Prince Fraser squeezes my hand and stares directly into my eyes, as if asking me to see

through his.

But I already know the truth. Even if I might see emotions in his eyes, I know it wouldn't last because he is meant for the Crown Princess. And it's something I couldn't change, no matter

what I do.

"I know what I'm saying right now is difficult to understand. But I'm telling the truth, Csille," he says, taking a deep breath. "Yes, I still like her, but I also like you. And I don't think

I'll le-"

I stand up from my seat and forcefully take my hand from his. "Your highness, I appreciate your honesty. However, no matter how much you explain things to me, I won't believe it," I say, smiling sadly at him. "After what you did to me? I refuse to believe you anymore. So, please stop this. Stop, or else I don't know if I can stop myself from hating you. You've already done too much damage to me. If you're still not satisfied with that, I'm afraid I can't do

anything about it."

I stare at him, letting him see the pain I am feeling right now. I want him to understand how

much he is hurting me.

"Apologies, but it's getting late already, and I still need to recuperate because of my injuries. I hope it wouldn't offend your highness if I were to return to my chamber."

I offer him a curtsy before leaving him alone, without waiting for his response.

This will be the last time I let my emotions get a hold of me. I won't subject myself to such a

situation again.

Not anymore.