Saving the Villain

Cosette couldn't fall back to sleep so she simply lazed around, doing whatever, until she eventually forgot about her strange dream. As usual, Cosette started her day earlier, going through her morning ritual of having some quality time to herself. This time, however, she especially took her precious time since she didn't have any plans for the day.

When she was already satisfied pampering herself, Cosette left her room with such luster in her eyes. Greeting everyone on the way, Butler George stopped her, only to tell her Conrad left a word he wouldn't join her for breakfast. Cosette simply smiled and nodded, heading straight to the dining hall.

She had been Conrad's junior for months. Thus, Cosette knew Conrad's schedule like it was written on the back of her hand. When the food was served, Cosette was about to enjoy her breakfast when she frowned.

"Where's Maxen?" asked Cosette to the maid who was pouring her a glass of water.

"Sir Maxen left early today."

Cosette's frown deepened. "Where did he go?"

"It was his last day of class and he had to get his certificate."

"Oh..." She rocked her head, sporting a smile at the maid before the latter left.

When Cosette was all alone, she couldn't help but sigh. For the past months, she got used to eating little in the morning and as a king at noon. Conrad never allowed her to go with an empty stomach. But the dilemma here was, aside from eating, she was used to having company.

She stuck beside Conrad the whole day and even if she would have snacks in the car, Conrad was there. So, eating breakfast alone felt... unfamiliar.

"No wonder I didn't see Maxen that much," she mumbled, picking up her cutleries languidly. "He was probably just as busy as I was. Just what sort of classes did he enroll in?"

Cosette talked to herself as she started digging in, wondering what kept Maxen busy these days. It was already a surprise that Maxen decided to enroll in short classes, and didn't take her advice to apply to their company. Not that her suggestion was terrible. It was a wonderful experience and Maxen would learn a lot about everything.

But then again, even if Maxen applied for an internship, they wouldn't see each other that much since Conrad was always out and about, attending meetings here and there. Also, Maxen had his own money now to spend since Conrad was still paying him for his hard work in looking after Cosette.

She hadn't seen him splurge money despite his handsome salary. So, he had his savings for sure and gaining skills wasn't also a terrible route.

Still, her intrigue peaked about why and what classes Maxen enrolled in.

Cosette chewed slowly, holding her fork as she forked out a piece of green. "I wonder what time he goes home..." she mumbled, sighing once more.

"If he is receiving a certificate, he should've at least told us or me since that is like a graduation." She shook her head mildly, shrugging. "Well, I should hold a mini celebration for accomplishing our agendas this summer."

With that idea in mind, a newfound excitement swelled in her heart. Cosette giggled as she gobbled up her food with a smile, excited to do some planning.

When Cosette finished her breakfast, she was like a sloth who lazed around the living area. Everyone in the manor was so busy, especially in the morning. Watching the servants walk in and out busily, she sighed. Even though they would smile at her, and no one asked her for any help, she felt a little sour.

'I always tell myself being lazy must be fun...' she thought, lying dead on the couch with her toe and other hand touching the carpet. "It's boring... I wished I can bother Luke, but I think he told me he has an event today. Ugh... everyone is just so busy."

Suddenly, her phone vibrated under her arms. Taking it out and holding it over her face, her frown deepened. She just received a reply from Sarah, telling her she was out and helping her auntie. And then Fay also replied to her, telling her she was also in their family home. Amie didn't have any particular plans for the day, but she said some of her relatives would be coming over and she had to stay home.

Another sigh escaped Cosette's mouth as she tossed her phone to the side. She only asked if the girls were free today so they could hang out, but those were their replies. Not that Cosette couldn't understand, but she couldn't think of doing anything else for today.

"And to think it's just an hour since I had breakfast..." she mumbled to herself, staring at the ceiling with dead eyes. "I'm... doomed."

Surely, after being used to having agendas every single day and having a busy day, going back to doing nothing wasn't as easy as it sounded. Cosette didn't have other hobbies, so it only made things hard for her.

"From now on... I should..." her brow arched as she cocked her head to the side. "... wait a minute."

Cosette rolled to her side and searched for her phone, which she found under the pillow. Without further ado, she worked on her phone and searched for any novel apps she could find. It wasn't that she didn't have a hobby. It was just that after entering this world, she had been busy doing anything else and almost forgotten the hobby that allowed her to kill time in the hospital.

Her lips stretched from ear to ear as she downloaded all sorts of novel apps and comics. Since she believed she was in the novel, she initially thought there wouldn't be such things. But after months in the company, this world felt more like the world where she came from.

Excited, Cosette browsed for good stories to read and immediately found one. It didn't take long when Cosette found herself scrolling and scrolling, gobbling up the words of the author. A giggle would escape her mouth from time to time. Completely forgetting she was simply lazing for an hour before she starts planning how to celebrate her and Maxen's small win.

And before she knew it, it was already past noon.

While Cosette was giggling playfully, facing the backrest of the couch with her phone close to her face, she didn't notice when the entrance opened. Coming in was a young man in a simple loose t-shirt with a jacket draped over his hand that was clinging onto the door handle.

He glanced toward the couch where he heard the giggling, tilting his head when he caught her lying there with the pillows scattered around while munching snacks. The side of his lips curled up as his eyes softened, closing the door carefully not to disturb her.

Since Cosette was facing the backrest of the couch, Maxen couldn't see her face. He sat down on the couch across from her. He tossed the jacket over the armrest, leaning back comfortably, and staring at her back.

'I missed her,' was what crossed his head, seeing that Cosette was just there giggling while reading something on her phone.

In the past months, Cosette was the busiest, in his opinion. Sometimes, they would come home very late at night. Even if they come home early, she was buried with the workload. It wasn't that they didn't really meet in the past two months; they lived in the same home.

However, it still felt like they didn't. There were times he would approach her, but she was too groggy or her mind was drifting somewhere else. It made him proud of how serious she was in her 'job,' making him work just as hard. Even so, he missed her.

'I wonder what she's reading?' he cocked his head to the side, blinking countless times. Whatever she was reading was definitely an important document regarding company matters. No one would look that excited reading stats.

Maxen didn't speak a word and just sat across from her, watching her silently without letting his presence known. But even with his undivided attention, he still flinched when she squealed.

"Kyah! This is not a drill! It's happening! It's happening~!" Cosette sprung up to her seat, causing some chips to fall on the surface of the couch. But she didn't pay attention to it with her eyes glued to the phone. Her lips stretched even wider the more she read, taking her precious time to read as if that would lengthen the chapter.

When a minute had passed, her squeal pierced the air again, blushing. She picked up the nearest pillow around her, burying her face while kicking her feet mildly but quickly. Little did she know, Maxen was watching her squeal like a little girl.

"Is the story that good?" he asked out of plain curiosity, breaking his silence for the first time.

"It is! They're about to... huh?" Cosette trailed off as her brows furrowed at the unfamiliar warm baritone voice behind her. Looking back, the lines between her brows deepened, sizing up the young, hot specimen looking back at her.

Her pupils slowly dilated as panic swelled in her chest. "Who are you?"