Page 44 of Villainess's Redemption
Find the real culprit. So, father’s head will stay on his shoulders. Easy. Sometimes, my brilliance surprises even me.
As I reached for the door handle, Father’s voice stopped me. “Ilyana?”
I turned, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, Father?”
“I do love you, you know. More than any title or position. You’ll always be my little doll.”
For a moment, I saw the man who used to read me bedtime stories and chase away the monsters under my bed. My throat tightened. “I know, Father. I love you too.”
* * *
As the carriage rumbled away from my family’s estate, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the melodramatic farewell scene I’d just endured. My mother’s tears, my father’s poorly concealed sniffles - you’d think I was heading off to war rather than returning to the palace after a brief visit home.
Before leaving, he told me quietly, “I talked to Gareth. He only delivered my messages and didn’t do anything else. Also, you don’t have to worry about him, he’s being taken care of.”
When I looked at him with wide eyes, he shook his head and said, “Don’t worry, I didn’t kill him. Why do you always think the worst?”
I settled back against the plush seat. Father’s words about Gareth and the Red Cross gang echoed in my head. Something wasn’t adding up, and I had a sinking feeling that we were all pawns in a much larger game.
“Oh joy,” I muttered to myself. Another delightful mystery to unravel. Because clearly, I didn’t have enough on my plate already. But if I could find out the real culprit I could save my family. But I wasn’t much of a detective.
The journey passed in a blur of rolling cityscape and my own sardonic thoughts. Before I knew it, the imposing spires of the royal palace loomed before ahead. Home sweet home. Or prison. Same difference, really.
As I swept through the gilded halls, nodding politely to the various courtiers and servants, I couldn’t help but marvel at howdifferently these very people would look at me once they found out everything.
I finally reached my chambers, eager to shed my travel-worn clothes and wash away the dust of the road. But apparently, the universe had other plans.
Just as I was about to change, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in,” I called, barely suppressing a groan. Please, let it be Laurel with some hot water for a bath and not-
“Ilyana?”
Noah. Of course. Because why would the fates grant me even a moment’s peace?
I plastered on my most convincing smile as my husband entered the room. “Noah, what a pleasant surprise.”
He shuffled his feet, looking everywhere but at me. “Can we talk?”
I bit back a sarcastic retort. “Of course, darling. What’s on your mind?”
Noah took a deep breath, his face a picture of earnest discomfort. “About yesterday, it wasn’t what it seemed like-”
Oh, for the love of—I cut him off before he could launch into what was sure to be a riveting tale of noble intentions and misunderstandings. “I know, I believe you. Whatever you were doing there could only be for the good of the kingdom.”
Please, please take the hint and leave.
But Noah wasn’t quite done yet. “Ilyana, you’ve been nothing but understanding since the marriage,” he paused, his brow furrowed. “But I’ve again and again done something to upset you.”
I shook my head, trying to interject, but he barreled on. “So, I’ve decided we should go to Everard for our honeymoon.”
For a moment, I was certain I’d misheard him. Everard? Honeymoon? Was he out of his mind? I mean even he looked like he swallowed something horrible.
I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt, scrambling for a way to derail this preposterous idea. “Oh, Noah, that’s so thoughtful of you. But we simply can’t go now.”
His face fell, and I almost felt bad. Almost. Because he also looked relieved. “Why not?”
Think fast, Ilyana. “Well, you see, my friend Rosalind is in such a difficult situation right now. I couldn’t possibly leave her. You also know her right?”
