Page 78 of Villainess's Redemption
I stepped out of the carriage, the cool air a welcome reprieve from the stuffy interior. Magnolia Boutique stood before us, its modest facade in stark contrast to the less-than-modest old shops lining the southern avenue streets. No wonder Annalise struggled to attract customers. I made a mental note of that, something to think about later.
“Ready to make history, Laurel?” I quipped, straightening my emerald gown.
Laurel rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Aren’t you a bit too dramatic today, my lady?”
I shrugged.
As we entered, the tinkling of a bell announced our arrival. Annalise rushed over; her face flushed with excitement.
I’ve accepted the fact that she is always flushing.
“Lady Stormbourne! I’m so relieved to see you well. I was so worried when I heard—”
I waved off her concern with a smile. “Takes more than a little poison to keep me down.”And believe me, I’ve had practice.
Annalise’s eyes darted around nervously before she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I was on my way to the palace when I received a letter from Laurel informing me what happened. I’ve been thinking… do you think it happened because of the silks you asked me to buy?”
I raised my eyebrows, prompting her to continue. Her cheeks flushed as she fumbled through her explanation.
“I mean, think of it. No one knew what was going to happen with the ships, and no one predicted this outcome. So I was thinking…” She trailed off, wringing her hands.
“Hmm,” I mused, tapping my chin thoughtfully. “That’s certainly a plausible thought, but no. The poison was for Her Majesty,” I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. “So, thankfully, I’m not the target.”
And it should stay that way,I thought, narrowing my eyes. The last thing I needed was to become the center of another assassination plot. One brush with death was quite enough in this life, thank you very much.
Annalise’s eyes widened with relief, the tension easing away. Then after a while, her expression brightened. “Oh! While you were recovering, I designed something for you as a gift. You’ve been so kind to me, and I wanted to show my appreciation.”
I tried to refuse, but Annalise was surprisingly firm. I keep finding these strong sides of all the women around me. “Fine,” I sighed dramatically, but feeling giddy inside too. It had been a long time since I had gotten a meaningful gift. “Show me these designs of yours.”
She practically bounced as she retrieved her sketchbook, flipping through the pages with obvious pride. As she turned one particular page, my breath caught. There, rendered in exquisite detail, was the dress Rosalind had worn to the masked ball on the winter solstice.
Annalise, ever observant, noticed my lingering gaze. “Did anything catch your eye, my lady?”
I felt conflicted. On the one hand, I didn’t want to wear the same dress as Rosalind. On the other… it was a stunning piece, and this time, she probably wouldn’t need it. It would be a shame for such a masterpiece to never see the light of day.
After a moment’s consideration, I made my decision. “This one,” I said, tapping the sketch. “But with some alterations.Change the color to midnight blue – it’ll suit me better. Red looks positively ghastly on me anyway.”
Annalise nodded eagerly, already jotting down notes. I allowed myself a small smile before schooling my features into a more serious expression.
“Now,” I said, leaning forward, “let’s start with what I’m actually here for.”
The room seemed to be still as Annalise met my gaze, her earlier excitement replaced by nervous anticipation. I took a deep breath, ready to set my plans in motion.
She nodded, flipping the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed’ as we made our way to a small back room. Laurel’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Won’t you lose customers?” she asked.
Annalise shrugged. “Not at this hour. Besides, this is far more convenient.”
The back room was cramped but cozy, with bolts of fabric stacked neatly against the walls and a small table in the center. We settled around it as Annalise produced a leather-bound ledger.
I flipped through the pages, a smile tugging at my lips. Everything was exactly as I’d predicted. At least some things hadn’t changed with my meddling in the timeline.
“Well?” Annalise asked, practically vibrating with anticipation.
I set the ledger down. “Impressive. Care to walk me through it?”
She didn’t need any more encouragement. “It’s incredible, my lady! Just as you said, I’ve sold a few bolts of raw silk from the inventory, and it’s paid back all my debts. How did you know?”
