Saving the Villain

When Cosette and Lucia entered the bathroom, her nanny didn't waste time helping her have a quick shower and prepared her change of clothes. Lucia also prepared tea and medicines to prevent her from having a cold. But throughout all that, Cosette was silent.

"Young Miss…" Lucia called worriedly when she couldn't take Cosette's silence anymore. She looked at Cosette through the vanity mirror as she dry the young miss' hair, standing behind Cosette, hands on the towel over the latter's head.

"You can always tell me if there's something wrong," Lucia offered gently. "If there's something that's bothering you, my ears are always open."

Cosette smiled bitterly, raising her swollen eyes at her. "Nana."

"Yes, young miss?"

"I'm really glad to see you." Cosette held Lucia's hand, turning on her seat to face Lucia while still sitting down. "Thank you for always taking care of me."

"Young miss…" The worry in Lucia's heart heightened. "Why are you suddenly bringing that up? It makes me worry about you more."

Cosette chuckle. "Don't worry. I'm not dying."

"Young miss!"

"Nana." Cosette squeezed Lucia's hand and slowly stood. "I just want to appreciate you for doing your best raising a brat like me."

Lucia's back stiffened when Cosette took a step forward, embracing her nanny for the first time in a long time. The latter smiled, patting Lucia's back gently.

"I… didn't have a mother growing up and dad had always been busy. If not for you and for everyone in here, I would feel very lonely. But because everyone here tries their best to make me happy in their own little way, I… was very grateful." Cosette's eyes softened, thinking that from her previous timeline and the current one, everyone was the same. "Back then, I didn't see that, though. I always felt alone and lonely, but the more I think about it, you, butler George, driver George, and everyone did their best to look after me. I wasn't alone… I just didn't look back to see the people who were there for me."

"Sorry it took me a while to realize your efforts," she continued, doing her best her voice won't crack.

"Young miss, why are you suddenly —" Lucia bit her lower lip, knowing one more word and she would ball her eyes.

"It's fine." Cosette chuckled, letting Lucia go as she drew back slightly. "I was just being sentimental, but I'm fine now. You don't have to worry about me. Tell everyone I'm fine so they won't worry too much."

"But —"

"I'm not asking you to cover up for me," Cosette explained. "I'm telling you the truth. I'll go rest for now, so you don't have to worry, hmm?"

Lucia looked at Cosette worriedly, but in the end, she nodded. "Alright."

With that being said, Cosette sat down on the chair while Lucia continued to dry the young miss's hair. When they were done, Lucia tucked Cosette in and stayed for a while until she was sure Cosette has already fallen asleep.

"Young miss," Lucia whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed. She reached her hand out, brushing a few strands of hair away from Cosette's forehead.

"Please do not be sad anymore," she continued worriedly. "Everyone here only wishes that you… will be happy. Please continue being happy; we will always be behind you."

Lucia wiped the tear that rolled down her cheek. Cosette was like a daughter to her. She had watched her grow up, practically raising her since she was a baby. Hence, the pain in her heart was indescribable seeing Cosette bawl her eyes out.

Lucia simply wanted Cosette to be happy. She watched the young miss from a bubbly young girl to a much more mature and distant teen. Seeing Cosette return to her bubbly personality and fixing her relationship with her father relieved everyone from worrying about their young miss.

With that being said, every servant also knew Cosette just as much as Conrad knew his daughter. And just after interacting with her, Lucia was certain Cosette was acting strange. Not the bad kind of strange, but more like the Cosette of a few months ago and the young miss everyone was used to colliding into one.

"Please rest well." Lucia sighed, tossing the idea at the back of her mind. After all, Cosette might've changed over the past months, but she was still the Cosette everyone knew. She just got a bit… mischievous.

Lucia made sure the blanket was properly covering Cosette's body before she left. When she was by the door, she looked back once more and smiled subtly. However, she didn't say anything anymore as she closed the door behind her.

Little did Lucia know, the second she closed the door, Cosette opened her eyes ever so slowly. She glanced at the shut door before staring at the ceiling.

"What was I doing?" she mumbled, letting out a deep exhale. "I'm worrying everyone."

Cosette closed her swollen eyes to rest them for a bit. She didn't move in her position for a while, but when she reopened her eyes, Cosette assisted herself to sit upright. Without a word, she flung her legs out, walked toward her desk, and picked up the journal inside the drawer.

Her eyes softened as soon as she read the title on the first page, smiling bitterly before flipping the page to the next. Cosette wrote all these entries, but it still felt different while reading them now.

There were so many happy memories, and although she appreciated it before, the impact on her now felt different. And before she know it, her eyes were already shedding tears. She covered her mouth to muffle her cry so no one could hear lest anyone was pacing back and forth in front of her room in worry.

"Maxen…" came out a muffled voice, caressing his name, which she had written herself right next to a heart. "I… came ten years back. Am I shameless to… seek happiness now, regardless of what you and I did before? Can we… now become normal? And have our own happy ending?"