Page 83 of Villainess's Redemption
Laurel raised an eyebrow. “And what happens when you inevitably run into him at court? Or during meals with the royal family?”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead. The idea of facing Anderic after last night made my stomach churn. What must he think of me now? Stumbling into his room, drunk and…
A knock at the door scared the soul out of me.
Is it him?
I looked at Laurel, scared as she opened the door to reveal… my father.
I let out a relieved sigh as I recognized my father’s familiar face. “Father! What brings you here?”
Lord Elyas D’Arcane strode into the room, his jovial demeanor at odds with the worry lines etched around his eyes. “Can’t a father visit his daughter without an interrogation?” He embraced me, then held me at arm’s length, scrutinizing my face. “How are you feeling, my dear? I was so worried when I heard about the poisoning.”
I waved off his concern. “I’m fine, Father. It takes more than a little poison to keep me down. You know how resilient your daughter is.”
He chuckled, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s my girl. Always the fighter.”
Laurel curtsied. “My lord, shall I fetch some refreshments?”
I shook my head. “That won’t be necessary, Laurel. You may leave us.”
As Laurel exited, closing the door behind her, I turned back to my father. The light furnishings of my chamber seemed to mock our serious expressions. Gilded mirrors reflected twin images of concern.
“Now,” I said, sinking into a plush armchair, “what’s really troubling you, Father?”
He sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. “Can’t hide anything from you, can I?” He paced the length of the room. “It’s about the Magnus case.”
My stomach clenched. “What about it?”
“They’re looking into those gold bars found in the furniture,” he fixed me with a stern gaze. “They might come to question you, given your… friendship with Lady Rosalind.”
I fought to keep my expression neutral. “I see. And what should I tell them?”
“The truth, of course,” he smiled, reassuring me. “That you merely recommended the furniture shop to her. Nothing more. And it was done by the Red Cross gang anyway, had nothing to do with the furniture shop. So, they can’t find any link.”
I nodded, processing this information. The pieces were falling into place, but the picture they formed was far from comforting.
“Now,” Father said, his tone lightening, “walk your old man to court? I have some tedious meetings to attend.”
I hesitated, the possibility of running into Anderic made my stomach churn. But refusing would only raise suspicion.There goes my plans of hiding in my room.“Of course,” I said, plastering on a smile. “Let me just freshen up.”
As we made our way through the ornate palace corridors, I kept my senses on high alert, dreading the sight of golden curls or the sound of that infuriatingly smooth voice. But luck, it seemed, was on my side until it wasn’t.
“Well, well,” a snide voice drawled. “If it isn’t the illustrious Lord D’Arcane and his… charming daughter.”
I suppressed a groan as Chancellor Darian rounded the corner, his lips curled in a perpetual sneer.
After ignoring my existence for the past few months, it seemed like he could no longer hold in his dislike for us
Or looking at Father might’ve triggered him. They were more like rivals than colleagues nowadays.
Father’s grip on my arm tightened imperceptibly. “Chancellor,” he said, his voice dripping with false warmth. “What a pleasure to see you outside of your lair. I mean, office.”
Darian’s eyes narrowed. “I could say the same for you, Elyas. Tell me, how’s the view from your precarious perch? Enjoying it while it lasts?”
“Oh, immensely,” Father replied, his smile sharp as a dagger. “Though I must say, the air is so much cleaner up here. You really should try it sometime.”
I bit back a smirk. Father: 1, Darian: 0.
