Page 10 of Villainess's Redemption
As the carriage rolled on, doubt gnawed at me. Could I truly change the course of events? Or was I doomed to repeat my mistakes, trapped in an endless cycle of regret?
I pushed the thoughts aside. There would be time for that later. For now, I had a bigger problem to worry about.
The carriage rolled to a stop before the grand palace gates. I gazed up at the imposing structure, its white marble spires piercing the sky. Memories of my first arrival here flooded back. Back then, I’d been giddy with excitement, drunk on my success.
Now, the sight filled me with dread.
Noah squeezed my hand. “Welcome home, Lya.”
I plastered on a smile, ignoring the knot in my stomach. This wasn’t home. It never had been.
From what I remembered we would move out into a manor in a few months. Even that wouldn’t be permanent. As the heir of Everard, Noah will have to go back to his real home. But I never got the chance.
The gates swung open, and we proceeded into the sprawling courtyard. Servants rushed to greet us, bowing low as we descended from the carriage. Manicured gardens stretched in every direction, a riot of color and fragrance. Fountains sparkled in the afternoon sun, their tinkling music a stark contrast to the silence of the northern borders.
As we approached the palace steps, I scanned the welcoming party. Queen Felicia was absent. Of course she was, just like everyone close to Noah she also disapproved of me.
Looking back, I had been quite a popular woman in the capital.
Instead, a prim-looking woman in the royal livery stood at attention. I recognized her as Lady Amelia, the queen’s personal handmaid. Her lips curved in a pleasant smile, no trace of the disapproval I knew was bubbling in her very pores.
“Welcome, Lord Noah, Lady Ilyana,” she intoned, her voice as frigid as a northern winter. “Her Majesty sends her regards and regrets that urgent matters of state prevent her from greeting you personally.”
I bit back a snort. Urgent matters, indeed. In my past life, I’d been too caught up in my triumph to recognize the snub for what it was. Now, the calculated insult was as clear as day.
Noah, bless his naive heart, seemed oblivious to the slight. He bowed graciously. “We understand, of course. Please convey our thanks to Her Majesty.”
Lady Amelia’s eyes flicked to me, expecting a response. I dipped into a curtsy, keeping my expression neutral. “Yes, our sincerest thanks.”
She nodded stiffly. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your temporary quarters. You’ll have time to refresh yourselves before the ball this evening.”
As we followed Lady Amelia into the palace, I caught snippets of whispered conversations from the entourage that had come to greet us. Among the familiar faces, I spotted Lady Seraphina and Lady Penelope, daughters of prominent noble houses who’d been sent to the capital to learn under the queen and seek advantageous marriages.
“…the Queen couldn’t even be bothered…”
“…what did you expect? It’s that D’Arcane girl…”
“…know how shameless she is to…”
I kept my head high, ignoring the stares and murmurs. Let them gossip. I had bigger concerns and it’s not like it wasn’t true.
Lady Seraphina Ashbourne, daughter of the Duke of Thornvale, stood out with her striking beauty and carefully cultivated air of sophistication. In my previous life, I’d barely registered her existence, too focused on securing Noah to pay attention to the other players in the royal court. Now, I noticed the calculating gleam in her eyes as she assessed me, and proceeded to disregard me as a threat. That’s right, her goal had always been Prince Anderic.
Beside her, Lady Penelope Wentworth fidgeted with her fan, her vapid expression belying the ambition I knew lurked beneath. Both girls had set their sights on Prince Anderic, seeing him as their ticket to the ultimate prize—becoming Queen of Aetheria. In my past life, I’d dismissed them as inconsequential.
As we proceeded through the grand hallways, I found myself reassessing everything I thought I knew. Seraphina’s sly smile, Penelope’s carefully rehearsed giggle—each detail now held new significance. These were not merely vapid court butterflies, but potential allies or enemies in the game I now found myself playing.
I marveled at the opulence surrounding us. Gilt-framed mirrors lined the halls, reflecting the light from crystal chandeliers, each one probably worth more than what my family had survived on for months in exile. Priceless tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes from Aetherian history.
As the daughter of a Marquess, I had been to the palace numerous times. So these things weren’t new to me. But I’d once been captivated by this splendor. Now, it felt oppressive, each glittering surface a reminder of how far I’d fallen—and how precarious my position truly was.
Lady Amelia led us through a maze of corridors, finally stopping before a set of ornate double doors. “Lord Noah, these will be your chambers for the next few hours. Lady Ilyana, if you’ll come with me…”
Noah frowned. “We’re not sharing quarters?”Thank God. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.
Lady Amelia’s lips thinned further. “It’s traditional for newlyweds to prepare separately before their first formal appearance at court. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course,” I said smoothly. “Tradition is important. I look forward to seeing you at the ball, my lord.”
