Saving the Villain

Cosette and Conrad stayed in the garden to talk about things they would usually talk about. He didn't ask her anything anymore and trusted that her actions towards Maxen were just as she claimed it was. But there was a real reason Conrad called for her in the garden.

"I will be away for a week," Conrad announced in his usual tone. "There's a problem in our international branch and I need to fix it myself."

"Oh..." her lips formed an o-shape as she rocked her head. "When are you flying?"

"In six hours."

"That soon?" she gasped and looked at him with conflict in her eyes.

His lips opened and closed, but Conrad's voice was stuck in his throat. Business trips were not new to them. In the past, he would frequently fly to other countries because of their business. Sometimes, he would go back and forth on the same day because he didn't want to stay away from his daughter for too long.

But most of the time, he had to stay away for days. It couldn't be helped, and Cosette was already used to it. Never once did Cosette react strongly on any of his business trips and sometimes, it was like she didn't care. However, seeing her sporting this worried expression, he was stunned.

'That soon?' he repeated her question in his head, eyes on her. 'It was in six hours... not now.'

Cosette pursed her lips and sighed quietly. "Where will you go?"

"In Sharie."

"Sharie..." Cosette murmured as she rummaged the real Cosette's memory and within a snap of a finger, she figured out where this country was even though it was her first time hearing it. "... isn't that a dangerous place now?"

"Well, with the current problem in the new administration, it is. But, I will be fine."

She bit her tongue and exchanged looks with him. When she sighed and was about to open her mouth, Cosette froze. Just now, she was pulled back to the real Cosette's memory, which made her eyes dilate. She looked at him, holding her breath, heart thudding.

"Don't go," she muttered and reached for his hand in panic. "Papa, don't go."

His brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes. "Cozie, what..." he trailed off as his eyes fell on her hand that was holding his. She was trembling. He looked up to meet her eyes, only to see fear filling her eyes.

"Stay here." Cosette squeezed his hand, barely blinking. "Don't go."

"Cozie..." he sighed quietly. "I am flattered that you are concerned about me, but I can't stay."

She tugged his hand. "Just this once. Please?"

This time, Conrad was rendered speechless. Why was she so scared? It was not like he was going into a war or something. Although the tension in the country Sharie was brewing, it wasn't like it was his first time going there. He went there more times than he could count his fingers.

"Cozie." Conrad adjusted on his chair until he was facing her, holding her hand and patting her knuckles lightly. "I know this is the first time you asked me to stay, and I really appreciate it. However, I really need to go or our Sharie branch will fall altogether. It will be a fatal blow to our company if it happens."

A shallow sigh slipped past his lips as he smiled subtly. "I will come back as soon as possible, I promise."

Her lips parted, but her words were stuck in her throat. Looking at Conrad, she was certain she couldn't change his mind. She wanted to tell him he will be in danger in Sharie. Once he goes there, a war will break out and he will be caught in a crossfire.

Although Conrad wouldn't die there, he would inflict permanent injuries. He would never be the same and eventually grow weak. Their money could extend his life, but... he would eventually take his last breath ten years later.

Everyone dies, but for her, ten years was too short. Also, it wasn't called living if Conrad couldn't even enjoy life anymore.

But what could she do? She was still young, and it was too abrupt for her to make a plan on the spot. If the memory of the real Cosette didn't cross her head, she wouldn't even know about this. It wasn't written in the novel — or rather it wasn't detailed.

Cosette swallowed down the frustrating tension in her throat before she nodded. "I understand."

"Thank you." He smiled and patted her hand once more.

With that being said, Conrad and Cosette, and Maxen shared dinner. Unlike the first dinner the three shared, Cosette was silent. So Conrad and Maxen would constantly glance at her. But Cosette would force a smile from time to time to not worry Maxen and her father, yet it wasn't enough to reassure them.

Once she finished, Cosette excused herself politely and greeted them good night, without waiting for their reply. Maxen gazed at her with furrowed brows, wondering what happened to her with her talk with Conrad. When he snuck Conrad a look, the latter seemed to be just as confused as him.

'What happened?'

*********

Cosette paced back and forth in her room, biting the tip of her thumb as her mind was filled with Conrad's trip tomorrow.

"I need to think!" she muttered in panic, thinking of ways to stop Conrad from leaving the country. "Should I tell him I should come?"

She stopped pacing as she ran her hand through her hair, racking her brain for answers.

"Come on... think!"

Knock knock...

"Young miss..." Lucia trailed off while entering the door and catching Cosette standing in the middle of the room. Panic instantly resurfaced in her eyes and she immediately rushed inside.

"Young miss!" she exclaimed, placing the tray with a glass of milk on it on the nearest stand before rushing to Cosette. Lucia held Cosette's hand and used her apron to stop the blood from Cosette's thumb. She looked at her with worry, noticing that Cosette was also surprised to see that her thumb was bleeding without her noticing.

"Young miss..." she called worriedly. "Let me dress it for you."

Lucia didn't ask Cosette questions but only helped the latter to her bed. While Cosette sat down on the edge, Lucia immediately fetched the first aid kit. Sitting on the edge of the mattress with Cosette, Lucia sanitized the minor wound and dressed it like an expert.

"Young miss, is there something in your mind?" Lucia finally asked when she couldn't take it anymore, looking back at Cosette worriedly. "You always do this whenever you are in distress."

Cosette just looked back at her but said nothing. Looking down, Lucia's words didn't even register in her head. All she could think of was to stop Conrad from going on this business trip.

"I need to stop him," she whispered after some time. "Papa will go to Sharie."

Lucia sighed but said nothing. Just like Conrad, everyone in here was used to the master of the house going away for days. Sometimes it would take him weeks or months. Cosette had gotten used to it as well, even though she used to cry when she was just a child or look for her father every time he would go on a business trip.

"Should I tell him I will go with him?" Cosette faced Lucia, looking for the go signal since she only needed someone to support her on this.

"Young Miss..."

"Nanny Lucia, he can't go."

"But — but you must calm down first, young miss." Lucia sighed, knowing this could lead to an argument between father and daughter. Cosette could be very upset with Conrad, especially with business matters.

If only Lucia had the slightest notion that Cosette wasn't doing this because she was concerned about the business. But how would she know? Cosette wouldn't tell her because telling the truth would only make others think she was delusional. Worse. They would think she was jinxing her father.

"Young miss, the master will be fine." Lucia smiled. "I'm certain he will be fine. It will make him happy if you can send him off later."

Cosette lowered her head and rocked her head. She didn't have the energy to ask or argue with Lucia since there was no point. So Cosette didn't speak a word even after Lucia finished dressing her finger. She then slipped under the sheet after finishing a glass of milk, pretending to sleep so her nanny wouldn't get worried.

Cosette laid flat on the bed, eyes on the ceiling, mind busy thinking of different plans. Honestly, no matter how much of her brain she would use, she couldn't think of any plans that could make Conrad agree with her. She stayed there for hours, not getting enough sleep until the clock hit midnight.

"I will go," she announced, sitting upright, huffing. "I can't just lie around here. Even if I look like a whiny little girl, I can't let him go."

With that being said, Cosette tossed the blanket and flung her legs out of the bed. Little did she know, when she went out to look for Conrad, her heart sank.

Conrad's schedule was moved up, and he had to leave thirty minutes before she came looking for him.