Page 52 of Villainess's Redemption
I cleared my throat. “Thank you,” I finally managed.
Anderic studied me for a long moment. “You’re welcome,” he said at last as his mask was back on his face. “Though I do hope you’ll be more careful around walking walls in the future.”
“Well then,” he said, moving towards the door. “I’ll leave you to rest. But Lya?”
I looked up, startled by the use of my childhood nickname. “Yes?”
He paused, his hand on the doorknob. He looked back at me, his golden curls shone like spun gold in the late afternoon light streaming through the window. For a moment, he looked almost angelic. Then he spoke, and the illusion shattered. “Whatever you’re scheming, whatever you’re mixed up in… be careful.”
And with that cryptic warning, he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a throbbing headache.
The room was just as I’d left it this morning - bed neatly made, curtains drawn back to let in the afternoon light, a vase of fresh flowers on the bedside table. I collapsed onto the bed, not even bothering to remove my shoes. The soft mattress felt like heaven after the day’s events.
Shaking my head and immediately regretting it as pain lanced through my skull, I thought over all the things that happened today, and where I spectacularly messed up. Rosalind’s fury, the vase smashing with my head, Noah being Noah, and… Anderic’s strange behavior. It all mixed together in a confusing mess.
It all felt surreal. How had so much changed for the worse in just one day? I was so sure of my plans. No, it was wrong of me to think this would be easy.
I groaned, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes. This was not how I’d envisioned my grand plan of becoming a peaceful farmer going. I was supposed to swoop in, clear Magnus’s name, bring together Rosalind and Noah, then leave the capital to lead a peaceful life.
* * *
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, tracing the fading bruise on my forehead. I had been sulking for two days. The self-imposed exile had done little to soothe my wounded pride or quell the raging thoughts in my mind.
With a dramatic sigh, I turned away from the mirror and flopped onto the plush bed. My fingers idly traced the intricate embroidery on the silk coverlet as I thought about my next move.
I had no idea how things were going outside or with Rosalind. I wanted to send Laurel to bring me information but she had been giving me the cold shoulder after I went with Noah, leaving Laurel behind, and forgot to tell her. She deserved her anger, after all. So, I let her be.
“My lady?” Laurel’s cool and distant voice drifted through the door, putting extra emphasis onmy lady. “Do you require anything?”
I winced. She had reverted back to ‘my lady’ again. “No, thank you, Laurel,” I called back, trying to keep the regret from my voice.
Silence answered me. Fantastic.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the intricately painted ceiling. Was Rosalind settling in, charming everyone with her genuine kindness and grace? Was she plotting my downfall, sharpening daggers with that steely determination I’d so foolishly underestimated?
“Stop it,” I muttered, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes until I saw stars. “You’re being pathetic.”
Sulking wasn’t going to solve anything, and I couldn’t hide in here forever. I needed to make preparations of my own since winning over Rosalind clearly didn’t work.
I reached for the leather-bound journal on my nightstand, flipping it open to a fresh page. Lists had always been my go-to when life spiraled out of control, a habit that had served me well in both my past and present lives. With a wry smile, I began to jot down my new priorities:
1. Make money (Because if nothing worked I could still flee to another kingdom and start over)
2. Find new allies (God knows I’d need them with how hellbent Rosalind is to take me down and I’m sure all the men who are or will be in love with her would also want my head on a spike)
I tapped the quill against my chin, considering my options. The palace was a treacherous place, full of snakes masquerading as nobles. But perhaps… perhaps I could find an unlikely ally outside these walls.
Enough was enough. It was time to leave this self-imposed exile and start making plans again.
The next morning, I emerged from my chambers like a butterfly from its cocoon – if butterflies wore dark, understated gowns and carried a wicked scar on their forehead. Laurel trailed behind me, her silence more pointed than any verbal jab she could have delivered.
As we made our way through the palace corridors, I couldn’t help but notice the hushed whispers and sidelong glances that followed in our wake. It seemed my little “accident” with Rosalind hadn’t gone unnoticed and it seemed like Rosalind had already used it to her advantage. Fantastic.
Frustration bubbled in my veins. The bitter taste of my own medicine churned in my stomach.Is this how she felt like in the past?
“My lady,” Laurel’s voice was crisp, devoid of the usual warmth. “Shall I fetch the carriage for our journey to Magnolia Boutique?”
I turned to face her, taking in the rigid set of her shoulders and the carefully blank expression on her face. I sighed—I had to fix this somehow. But I also took this in a positive light, she wouldn’t have dared to do this in the past.
