Becoming Lavinia Herbert

by InternationalPessimist

A fairly standart "Reborn as a Villaness" story. After awakening as Lavinia Herbert, one of the vilians in her favorite Visual Novel, our protagonist sets out to change the fate of the various girls of the seminar for the better. Should be easy. But will she really achieve this without problems along the way? And can she manage live her live in Victorian London?

4. Letters to father I

4. Letters to Father I.

Dear Father,

I would like to apologize for my last letter. Not only did I make completely disrespectful demands of you, I also realized that what I was demanding was completely pointless. I've had a bit of a
hysterical fit in the last week that has convinced me that I need to change. I am too far from reality in my obsession and treated my friends badly.
I have come to believe that I should not only be more friendly and helpful, and not so selfish anymore, but also more reality-based. After all, my demand for diamond mines did not come from the fact that there was a great demand or security in this business, but simply because I was envious towards Sarah, the new girl whose father just came to wealth this way. And I am angry because now Sarah has ousted me from all the places as the figurehead of the seminary. But that's not her fault or the diamond mines' fault, it's Miss Minchis' fault, who is now trying to ingratiate herself with Sarah.

But it also made me realize something else. I know too little about the world outside the seminary, I was willfully ignorant. So now I want to go into town more often to learn, buy books and
newspapers, maybe have a conversation with a lady in a café. But for this purpose I need permission to move outside the seminary, as well as money. I know that it seems impertinent to ask for anything now, when I have just made this rude, childish, and entirely exaggerated demand in my last letter, but I would still ask you to consider it. It is, after all, to ensure that I never make such an excessive demand again.

Once again, I formally ask for your forgiveness. Your daughter, Lavinia Herbert

London, 20. August 1869

One week later:

Dear Lavinia,

I am extremely pleased that you have come to this realization yourself.

I was ready to send you a clearly harsh letter. Considering my work, I think I am quite capable of judging if something is a good investment or not. And diamond mines, especially in India are a
gamble. I hope for your classmate's sake that her father wins it.
You had a hysterical attack? I hope you are well again. Even if something like that is supposed to happen at your age, please be more considerate of your health.
Also, I'm glad you're trying to be kinder. As your grandmother used to say. "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." It can only be of benefit to you.

For your request, your argument makes sense to me. It can only be beneficial to spend a little more time outside the seminary and get to know the society better. Also, since you have always been a
good student, I don't think your education will suffer. But I will keep in touch with Miss Minchi. If your school performance suffers, I will withdraw this permission immediately. I should make representations to her anyway for apparently not seeing the need to inform me that my daughter had a seizure.
As for the money, I feel that what I already send you monthly is sufficient, especially what has accumulated since you stopped collecting it. Please pick it up and I will mail everything else monthly, along with permission for Miss Michi.
I don't think I really need to add that this permit is only for the non-hazardous parts of the city.

I hope you will write again soon. Your father, John H. Herbert.

London, 23. August 1869