Page 20 of Villainess's Redemption
Queen Felicia’s lips twitched. “Darling, tone down a bit. You’re frightening the poor girl.”
“Nonsense!” He waved a hand. “She’s made of sterner stuff than that, aren’t you, my dear?”
My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Where was the stern, distant monarch I remembered? This… this jovial father figure before me was completely foreign. I didn’t remember a single time when he talked directly to me on all those visits to the palace when my father and I used to visit very frequently. He always had this dangerous aura to himself just like his son. And I avoided both.
“I… suppose I am, Your Majesty.”
“Ha! See?” He beamed at his wife. “Speaking of which—Felicia, where did we put that thing?”
The queen’s eyes widened in recognition. “Oh! The wedding gift. I can’t believe we forgot.”
King Arnald snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared with a small, ornate box. “This,” he announced proudly, “is a family tradition. Every new bride in our family receives one.”
Our family?Since when was I considered part oftheirfamily? Even if I married his nephew I was always considered an outsider. Did I charm Her Majesty too much yesterday?
Well, what can I say? I’m quite a charmer myself.
He passed the box across the table. Inside lay an exquisite golden key pendant, its handle had a white stone shaped like a crown. The colors of the Aetherian royal family.
“It opens any door in the palace,” he explained, eyes twinkling. “Though I’d advise against trying the treasury. The guards tend to get a bit touchy about that.”
Another booming laugh. I forced a smile at his terrible joke, my mind whirling. The king had never given me a gift in my previous life, let alone joked with me.
“Your Majesty, I—”
“Call me Father,” he interrupted cheerfully. “We’re family now!”
I stared at him, then at the queen, who was hiding a smile behind her teacup even Lady Amelia looked less… terrifying. It was a odd request, considering Noah wasn’t directly related to him, but only to the queen. The whole royal family was utterly baffling—and weird. I could never see through their facades to grasp their real emotions. I guess they would have to be ruthless to rule such a vast country.
“Thank you… Father,” I tested the word, watching as his face lit up with another beaming smile. It seemed genuine.
The breakfast continued a delicate dance of polite conversation and subtle power plays. I navigated it as best I could, channeling every ounce of courtly training I’d ever received. It was exhausting, really. By the time the meal ended, I felt like I’d run a mental marathon.
As we rose from the table, Queen Felicia approached me. “Lady Ilyana, I must say, you’ve surprised me this morning. Perhaps we could continue our chat over tea later this week?”
I curtsied, trying not to look too pleased. “It would be my honor, Your Majesty.”
* * *
After breakfast Laurel and I climbed into the carriage to go to the market to buy new gowns.
As the carriage rumbled through the streets, my mind raced with plans. Two weeks. That’s all the time I had to save Lord Magnus from execution. The thought of convincing my father to help him made my head throb. It was like trying to convince a rock to dance the waltz – theoretically possible, but likely to end in disaster and embarrassment.
“Perhaps I should just kidnap Magnus and flee to the south,” I muttered under my breath. “We could start a mango farm. Ihear mangoes are all the rage these days. The weather will also be favorable there.”
“Did you say something, my lady?” Laurel asked, tilting her head.
“Just pondering the exciting world of exotic fruits, Laurel. Nothing to concern yourself with.”
She blinked, clearly unsure how to respond to that. I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to my own thoughts these days.
The carriage jerked to a sudden stop, nearly sending me sprawling onto the floor. “What in the name of all that’s holy—” I began, but Laurel was already moving.
“Stay here, my lady. I’ll see what’s happening,” she said, her voice firm as she exited the carriage.
I waited for approximately three seconds before peeking out the window. A crowd had gathered in the street, their voices a mix of shouts and murmurs. Well, this was certainly more interesting than shopping for gowns.
Laurel returned, her face pinched with concern. “My lady, there’s a commotion. A child has been accused of stealing from a noble, and the noble’s guards are… well, they’re beating the poor boy.”
