Page 24 of Villainess's Redemption
“Ok, ok, calm down my little bodyguard. No need to be this angry. We have a lot of things to do.”
After Laurel and I left Primrose Boutique, I felt a sense of relief. The overpowering scent of lavender and disappointment faded as we walked into the bustling street.
“My lady,” Laurel ventured, her voice tinged with curiosity, “what shall we do now?”
I glanced at her, a mischievous glint in my eye. “We’re going on a little adventure, Laurel. To a new boutique in the southern avenue. It’s called Magnolia.”
Laurel’s eyes widened, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. “But my lady, you’ve never been there before!”
“There’s a first time for everything,” I quipped, already steering us in the direction of the southern avenue.
As we walked, I recalled what I knew about Magnolia’s owner, Annalise. In my previous life, she had been booted from Primrose Boutique for the heinous crime of having her own style. The audacity! Imagine, a designer with original ideas. Clearly, such blasphemy couldn’t be tolerated in Madame Primrose’s realm of ruffles and regret.
We arrived at Magnolia, and I hesitated for a moment. In my past life, it was Rosalind who had catapulted Annalise to fame with that sober yet elegant dress at the winter solstice masked ball. The same ball that had ended in a bloodbath and kicked off my spectacular downfall. Ah, memories.
I stood there, overthinking my actions. What if changing this detail led to disaster? But then again, if I managed to undo my mess, Rosalind wouldn’t need to play detective at the ball. No clues to seek, no assassins to fight off. Just a nice, boring party with too much wine and not enough wit. Perfect.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The shop was a stark contrast to Primrose’s pastel nightmare. Clean lines, muted colors, and an air of understated elegance permeated the space. It was like stepping from a sugar-induced hallucination into a breath of fresh air.
Annalise greeted us, her eyes widening as she realized she had a noble customer. I could practically see the gears turning in her head, probably wondering if she’d accidentally stumbled into an alternate universe where the nobility had more taste than money.
“Good day,” I said, smiling warmly. “I find myself in need of some new gowns. Something elegant, but simple. Darker colors, if you please. Oh, and no ruffles. If I see another ruffle, I might scream.”
Annalise blinked, clearly shocked. I imagined her internal monologue: ‘A noble lady? In my shop? Asking for simple designs? What’s next, pigs flying?’
“Of… of course, my lady,” she stammered, finally finding her voice. “I’d be honored to create something for you. May I ask when you need them by?”
I waved my hand dismissively. “No rush. Quality takes time, after all. And speaking of time, do you do alterations as well?”
Annalise nodded eagerly. “Yes, my lady. We offer alteration services.”
“Excellent,” I said, clapping my hands together. “I have a closet full of gowns that need to be simplified. Think you can handle that?”
“Absolutely, my lady,” Annalise replied, a spark of excitement in her eyes. I could see the creative wheels turning in her mind, probably already planning how to transform my frilly monstrosities into something actually wearable.
We discussed details, colors, and fabrics. I asked her to do the alterations first, so I would have something to wear. With each suggestion, Annalise grew more confident, her initial shock melting away into professional enthusiasm. By the end of our consultation, she was sketching designs with a fervor that would make Madame Primrose’s carefully coiffed head spin.
As we prepared to leave, I pulled out my purse. “I believe in investing in quality work,” I said, counting out a sum that made Annalise’s eyes widen. “Consider this a down payment. For the new gowns and the alterations.”
Annalise stuttered her thanks, clearly overwhelmed by the generosity. If only she knew that in my past life, her designs had saved lives and brought down enemies. Well, maybe not enemies. Just my life. But same difference, right?
As Laurel and I stepped back onto the street, I felt a sense of satisfaction. One agenda crossed off my mental list. Now, onto the next one.
Chapter 7
I glanced at the closed door, beyond which Laurel was probably arranging my dresses to be delivered to Annalise for alteration. When we were done shopping, it was already very late and I couldn’t go to my parents house. So, I returned to the palace and skipped dinner as I ate in the market and wasn’t hungry. But Laurel, bless her heart, snuck in some cookies from the kitchen for a midnight snack.
A soft knock interrupted my plotting. Laurel slipped in, carrying a napkin-wrapped bundle that smelled gloriously of butter and sugar.
“My lady, I brought you some cookies from the kitchen.” She set them on my desk, then hesitated. “And… some interesting news.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“Some of the servants saw Lord Noah heading to Prince Anderic’s wing earlier. They’re still there now.”
Well, wasn’t that fascinating? Noah seeking out that deranged prince this late could mean many things, none of them good for me or my family’s future. The question was - should I investigate? And what if I get caught? I needed a reason to visit for backup.
“Laurel, I think I’ll pay my dear cousin-in-law a proper visit,” I stood up, smoothing my skirts. “It’s only polite to greet him properly since he didn’t attend the wedding, after all.”
