Page 74 of Villainess's Redemption
“No need for formalities, my dear. Please be comfortable.”
“But-”
I tried to protest but she gave me a stern look, daring me to oppose her. “We’re family now, after all. So, no need for all of that.”
I blinked in surprise at her words. Family? Since when?Oh! right, I’m married to Noah.But I schooled my features into a grateful smile as she settled onto the chaise lounge near my bed.
“Your Majesty, I’m honored by your visit,” I said, my voice carefully modulated to convey both respect and warmth but inside I was panicking again. Why was she here? It couldn’t be simply to check on my health.
Laurel served both of us tea and joined Queen Felicia’s maids near the doors.
The Queen’s sharp eyes studied me, and I fought the urge to squirm under her gaze but then she gave me a gentle smile. “How are you feeling, Ilyana? I’ve been terribly worried.”
“Much better now, thank you,” I replied, wondering what exactly she wanted. The Queen had never shown much interest in me in the past. So, I really had no prior knowledge to help me through this. “Though I fear I’ve caused quite a stir.”
Queen Felicia’s lips curved into a small smile. “Oh, you have no idea, my dear. But we’ll discuss all that later. For now, I want to talk to you… alone.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping conspiratorially.
“I said alone!” the Queen snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass when the maids weren’t quick enough to vacate.
Our maids scurried out like mice fleeing a sinking ship except for Lady Amelia, leaving me alone with Her Majesty. The heavy oak door closed with an ominous thud.
Queen Felicia took a delicate sip from her teacup, her eyes roaming over my chambers. I waited, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged bird. What could she possibly want? This couldn’t be a simple visit to check my health. I was waiting with bated breath to see what she would ask but when she finally said something it wasn’t what I was expecting.
“This room hasn’t changed much,” she mused, her gaze lingering on the lilac tapestries.
I blinked, caught off guard. “You’ve been here before, Your Majesty?”
A ghost of a smile played on her lips. “Oh yes, many times. A long time ago, when I wasn’t married to Arnald. This was my room when I first came to court.”
I wanted to ask her how but I didn’t have to, she continued, “Do you know how I ended up as the queen?”
I shook my head, feeling frustrated for my past actions yet again. I never really needed to know, so I never bothered. And wasn’t that just the epitome of my past arrogance?
Queen Felicia nodded, seemingly unsurprised, a faraway look in her eyes. “It isn’t widely known, but I wasn’t in the candidacy for the new crown princess. My family was from the north, in Valeraine. We were more of a merchant family than noble. Our family business wasn’t doing well at that time and I came to the capital to support the business.” No wonder it wasn’t easy to fool the queen, she was a merchant herself.
The Queen smiled to herself, her eyes meeting mine. “My family didn’t agree, though.”
“Why?” I blurted out, curiosity overriding decorum. Then it hit me - of course, her family didn’t agree, she had been a noble lady, after all. Working wasn’t something they did. My mind had briefly slipped back to my exile, where work meant survival.Silly me.
“Noble ladies weren’t expected to work,” Queen Felicia explained, confirming my realization. “It didn’t matter that we were lesser nobles and barely surviving. Image meant more than survival to them. But I couldn’t let my siblings starve.”
I nodded, feeling a strange kinship with this woman I’d previously dismissed as just another royal figurehead I’d need to win over. The room suddenly felt smaller, more intimate.
“That’s why, when I became Queen, I always encouraged women from every background to work and make a name for themselves,” she continued, her voice carrying a hint of pride. “And that’s how the Vermilion Circle was created.”
My eyes widened. The Vermilion Circle - that exclusive guild for women artisans and merchants? It was very exclusive and thus very secretive. Not much is known outside that you have to be successful and a woman to be part of it. Madame Primrose was part of it too. Rumors had it that Lady Minerva was the headof the guild and the queen often visited her. It now made sense if her majesty had a hand in creating it.
I nodded, impressed despite myself. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. “That’s remarkable, Your Majesty.”
She waved off my compliment with a graceful hand. “Anyway, I took over my father’s business and came to the capital to trade, that’s when we met. One thing led to another and I ended up in this very room.”
I was wondering what was the point of this story when she spoke again, “So, what’s supposed to happen will always happen, my dear.”
I nodded, thrown by the sudden shift in conversation.What’s with the cryptic message?Before I could ponder it further, she changed tacks again.
“Have you seen Anderic?” she asked innocently.
Speechless. I had been rendered speechless.
