Lily slowly woke up this time. When she opened her eyes, she still saw bright gold everywhere.
"So this wasn't a dream… hmm, maybe it's not too bad? Wait, no, I'm in the villainess's body. Think, Elara. What was the reason she died in the story… damn it, I can't remember the plot. Why did she die… oh yeah, doesn't the Evangreen house get destroyed? Wait, I'm in the Evangreen house, so if it gets destroyed…"
She quickly called a servant.
The female servant entered again.
"My lady, I am so sorry. The count told me it would be good for you. Please don't punish me."
"Oh yeah, you did drug me… never mind that. What is the year right now?"
"My lady?" The servant looked at her, confused.
"It's the year 1132 Julius, my lady."
Lily thought to herself, "The main plot starts around… shoot, when did it start again?"
"Are there any major events in the country?"
"Ah yes, my lady. The barony for vagrants was recently taken over by the youngest son."
"Good. Now I would like some time alone for myself."
The servant left.
"Thank god I actually remember something. The barony for vagrants was called… whatever, that doesn't matter. What matters is that it makes it big because of the youngest son. I probably only remember it since the youngest son was an idiot. Honestly, what was the author thinking? Wait, that's not the important part. I need to make my money since the Evangreen house is going to fall."
"Hmm, that might be too much work. Maybe I should just hook up with a rich guy… I mean, I am really pretty."
"Oh yeah, I should go find the count and ask him about what he was about to call me yesterday. Does he, like… know who I am?"
"Come to think of it, why did Lily become the villain… hmm, maybe she was just evil?"
As Lily left the room, stumbling, she started walking to his room.
When she finally got there, she knocked three times.
"Who is it?"
"It's your daughter, Lily."
"Come in."
As Lily entered the room, the scent of tulips filled the air.
"I-I came to talk about something yesterday."
"What is it?"
"Yesterday, you were about to call me Elara, right?"
The count looked at her, confused, then sat down and sighed.
"No, I was not about to call you… Elara. I was going to call you… Elise, your dead mother."
Silence filled the room.
"When did she die?"
"A few days after you were born. When you looked at me… you just looked like her a lot."
Lily stayed silent.
"I promised her never to be sad about her death, but rather to be happy, as you were born. Well, after what you did… I think I should have been stricter with you. It's too late anyway."
Lily thought, "After what I did? What did she do? I mean, she is a villainess after all…"
"Father, forgive me for asking, but what is it I did?"
The count looked at her in shock, then regained his composure.
"It seems your memory is truly gone. You went ahead and spent all our funds on extravagant parties and clothes."
"...Then our financial situation?"
"It's fine. I will fix it… I wish to be alone right now."
As Lily left, her father said,
"You truly do resemble your mother…"
While walking back, she thought, "Is this why the family collapsed… because Lily spent all of its money? Still though, it doesn't really answer why she became a villain…"
She called a servant.
"Yes, my lady. Why have you called me?" the servant answered.
"How much gold do we have?"
"...My lady, we have 50 silver coins."
"No, how much gold do we have?"
"My lady, forgive me, but that's all we have."
Lily felt her head spin. "50 silver coins? That amount was pathetic for a noble, especially a count."
"Can you invest it?"
"My lady, in what?"
"In the barony for vagrants."
"My lady, please forgive me, but I cannot do that. Our county barely has enough. Please don't make this difficult for us."
"Sigh. Just do it. I won't ask twice."
The servant began crying.
"My lady, I don't know what you are trying to do, but please think about this county. We barely have enough money for ourselves, and you want to invest in some barony that is obviously going to fail?"
"Please… uh, what is your name?"
"It's Mary, my lady," she said in between tears.
"Mary, I know you don't trust me, but please, this is going to work. I will take full responsibility, so go and invest in the barony."
The servant, still crying, nodded and headed off.
Lily thought to herself, "This is all such a mess."