Villainess’s Redemption (Reborn Villainess #1)

Chapter 1

“Go to hell.”

“Evil woman!”

“Traitor!” A bundle of lettuce smacked me in the face but I quickly caught it before it could fall on the ground and put it in my basket hidden behind my cloak. The basket was already heavy with two potatoes, half of a beetroot, and some small carrots. I couldn’t say I disagreed with them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a little boy throwing an egg at me— I caught it. Not rotten, not cracked, and relatively clean. Nice. When life throws eggs make a hearty dinner.

I seriously didn’t understand these people. As the banished, we were all in the same boat. All of us were here for one crime or another along with our unlucky family members. Shunned by the country we were all banished to the barren and cold northern border of Aetheria. But apparently, my crimes were so much worse that even criminals shunned me. It didn’t matter what crimes we committed; all of us were in the barren lands now. So, it really boggled my mind that these people would rather throw their precious food at me than throw rocks. Food was so precious that we even used it to barter, coins were useless.

I supposed I should feel honored that they hated me so much that they would throw food to insult me. It didn’t bother me though, I was used to it. In fact, I welcomed it if it meant more food for my family.

The first time it happened I cried all night. The second time it happened I cried till midnight. The third time it happened I collected all the food from the ground and made a stew while my tears brought some much-needed flavor to the dish.

As they say, the third time’s the charm. Such was the way of life here in the barren northern border. So, I always appreciated when the village folk would throw their vegetables at me.

“They should burn you on a stake!”

“Jump into the river and die!”

I wasn’t scared. For all their bark there wasn’t any bite. After all this village, along with a few others on the northern border was heavily militarized and one thing about soldiers was that they listened to their orders, no questions asked. They wouldn’t tolerate the criminals getting together and burning another criminal at the stake— lest they become curious.

looking at the few villagers who were insulting me, I let out a whimper as a stray tear rolled down my cheek. I had to keep up my act— that I was actually hurting from their display. If they realized I enjoyed their ‘gifts’, they might really end up throwing rocks.

I loved these dumb villagers.

I stealthily put the egg in my basket. Come on boy, throw me another. But sadly, nothing came. I supposed they were out of food items. I should quickly move away, lest they start throwing rocks.

I hunched over a little and quickly walked away from the busier part of the village. The village had no official name, like many other banished villages along the border. But people called it Outlaw’s Den—only the banished lived here, serving their punishment.

I walked through the filthy, narrow streets of Outlaw’s Den, ignoring the stares and whispers of the few people who still followed me. My once-elegant gown was now tattered and stained after a year of living on the fringes, a far cry from the fine silks I’d worn in the past. When we were banished, we weren’t allowed to take anything else from our estate except for the clothes on our backs. The hood of my cloak did little to conceal my identity from those who knew me well enough, but it was better than nothing.

Mother had made another set of dresses for me from whatever fabric she could find. If it wasn’t for the banishment, I wouldn’t have known she had such a talent. Now she worked for the seamstress to earn whatever little she could. We all did. It was either work or die here. I had to learn how to cook to work at a tavern. It wasn’t much money, just enough to get by. Barely.

My house—could even call it that—was located in the outskirts of the village. The closest neighbor was ten minutes’ walk away. Nice and quiet. I snorted. To say we weren’t welcome here would be an understatement.

The shack that had become my home loomed ahead, its sagging roof and crooked walls a testament to the hardships I’d endured since my exile. The door creaked on its rusted hinges as I pushed it open, revealing a single room that served as both living and sleeping quarters for me and my family—whatever was left of it anyway. A meager fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the dirt-stained walls.

We needed to get more firewood. Winter is nearly at our doorstep.

My mother sat hunched over a mending needle, her once-delicate hands now roughened by manual labor. “Mamma, look what I brought.”

She looked up at my entrance, her eyes filled with weariness that never went away after my father’s execution. “Ilyana,” she said wearily, “did you…?”

I held up my basket excitedly, which now contained a few vegetables and one egg, nothing rotting today. “Look, dinner’s sorted,” I said with a big smile.

Mother’s eyes, once bright and lively, were now clouded with sorrow. The past year had weighed heavily on her spirits.

My attempt at lightheartedness fell flat. This was our reality now - scrounging and scraping by in a village that despised our very existence.

Mother’s eyes flashed as she rose swiftly from her chair. Before I could react, she began raining light blows down upon me, punctuating each one with an admonishment.

“Ilyana! I told you not to do this!” smack

“Do you know how worried I was?” smack

Then, just as suddenly as her anger started, it ceased. Mother pulled me into a crushing embrace, her body shaking with sobs. She held me at arm’s length, frantically checking me for injuries.

“Are you hurt?” she asked urgently, eyes roving over me.

I forced a smile, giving a little twirl in my tattered dress. “See, I’m fine. You know they don’t have the courage to do anything,” I tried to inject false cheer into my voice. “Come on, let’s start dinner. Seb will be home soon.”

Mother nodded reluctantly. As we began preparing the meager meal, I felt her worried gaze follow my every movement. Even if she didn’t like how I got extra food, she couldn’t do anything about it..

Together, we began preparing a meager stew. I chopped the carrots and potatoes while Mother tended to the fire. The rhythmic thud of the knife soothed me, even as my thoughts drifted. How different this all was from my past life of wealth and privilege. Back then, I’d scarcely lifted a finger, with servants rushing to fulfill my every whim. Now I worked all day just to survive. Funny how exile changes you.

But sometimes I did miss Laurel. I wondered if she was doing alright with Rosalind.

The stew bubbled merrily as I added the vegetables. Not much, but it would have to do. Hunger was our constant companion here on the fringes. As I inhaled the rich aroma, my mouth watered. The simple fare had never tasted so divine.

“Ilyana, I’m getting worried about Seb. He should’ve been home by now,” Mother said, wringing her hands nervously.

It was worrying. Seb worked in the royal gold mines as part of our punishment for exile. We were sentenced to a total of twenty thousand hours of labor in the mines - a lighter sentence than most, since growing up alongside Prince Anderic and Lord Noah, they became pretty close friends. Not to mention he was innocent in all my schemes. Prince Anderic even offered him an escape from banishment but he refused. I cursed his integrity every day for throwing away that chance of escape but I supposed I shouldn’t judge everyone by my standards. Isn’t that what both Anderic and Noah said to me once?

I tried not to let my own concern show on my face as I gave Mother’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure he just got held up. You know how demanding the overseers can be. I’ll go to the mines and check on him.”

There was a rumor that a new overseer was appointed a few days ago and his cruelty was already known to everyone. The worry was eating me from the inside.

Please, let him be safe.

Donning my worn cloak, I slipped out into the cold night. The village was always deserted at night. I hurried along the dusty road, the chill autumn wind biting through my threadbare dress. In the distance, the silhouette of the mines stood stark against the darkening sky.

As I approached, I could make out the entrance, lit by guttering torches. The occasional echo of pickaxes on stone resonated from within. Two bored-looking guards loitered near the entrance, though they straightened up at my approach.

“State your business,” one challenged gruffly, his spear pointed in my direction.

I lowered my hood so my face was visible. “I’m here to inquire after my brother, Sebastian. He hasn’t returned home.”

The guard’s eyes widened in recognition, but he remained silent as his companion disappeared inside. After several tense minutes, he returned with a squat, barrel-chested man who could only be the new overseer. His lips curled in distaste as his gaze raked over me.

“Well, if it isn’t the little exiled bitch paying a visit,” he sneered. “What do you want?”

I squared my shoulders and met his contemptuous stare. “My brother Sebastian D’Arcane. He hasn’t come home. I’ve come to make sure he’s alright.”

The overseer spat on the ground, narrowly missing my feet. “That noble brat? He’s still inside. Fainted from exhaustion so we left him there. Not our problem if a highborn fool can’t handle honest work.”

Fury rose within me at his callous words, but I bit it back. Making a scene wouldn’t help Seb.

“I’m going in to get him,” I said evenly. Before the overseer could protest, I slipped between the guards and made my way into the dark mines, straining to see in the dim torchlight.

The oppressive darkness pressed in as I descended into the tunnels. I followed the distant sounds of activity, passing shadowy alcoves until I arrived at the main chamber. Squinting in the dim light of the torches, I could make out hunched forms swinging pickaxes rhythmically. The tunnels extended deep underground, the air damp and heavy with the scent of wet earth. My steps echoed eerily as I ventured further, glancing into alcoves and niches carved into the rock walls.

Where was he? Worry clawed at my heart as scenario after terrible scenario played through my mind.

There. In the far corner lay a familiar figure, unmoving. I rushed over, heart pounding. Kneeling, I gently turned Seb over. I couldn’t see properly in the darkness but his skin felt cold and clammy, his eyes closed. My hand hovered over his mouth, relief crashing over me at the faint warmth of his breath. He was alive. That’s more than enough to hope for in this wretched land.

What had they done to him? Rage burned within me, even as I blinked back tears. I should have never agreed with him to take all the burden of punishment alone. Mother was weak and old. So, both of us would have never let her work in the mines but I wanted to help, to take away some burden but Seb refused. I was no weakling by any means but the grueling work in the mines also wasn’t for me. He might hate me for all I did but he never forgot his duty to his family.

“Seb,” I whispered urgently, shaking his shoulder. “Can you hear me? It’s Ilyana.”

He didn’t respond, lifeless as a rag doll. Panic clawed at my throat. No, I couldn’t lose him too. Not after everything we’d endured.

“Sebastian!” I shouted, desperation sharpening my tone.

He stirred sluggishly, eyelids fluttering. “Lya?” he mumbled dazedly.

“Yes, it’s me,” I said, tearful with relief. Gently, I helped prop him up, wincing as he cried out in pain, clutching his side. Definitely broken ribs. “Can you walk if I support you?”

He nodded weakly, face ashen. Slipping his arm over my shoulder, I struggled to lift his dead weight. I heaved him to his feet, staggered momentarily by his weight. Together, we slowly made our way toward the entrance., my teeth gritted with effort.

Seb was no weakling, but the grueling labor and near-constant hunger had worn him down to exhaustion. My own arms shook with the effort of bearing him up. I paused often to rest, muscles burning.

I finally emerged, breathing hard. The overseer’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Seb’s limp form.

“Take him home,” he growled. “And tell him to come back tomorrow. If he misses work there’ll be hell to pay.”

Anger flared again, but I bit it back. Later. For now, I needed to get Seb home. I spared one last withering glare at the overseer as we passed, promising I’d make him pay for this someday. Somehow.

Adjusting my grip, I set off into the night.

The long walk home was a blur of pain and exhaustion. More than once Seb’s legs buckled and I barely kept us both from toppling into the dirt. His weight pressed heavily against my side, nearly dragging us both down with each stumbling step. My back and shoulders screamed in protest under the strain, but I locked my knees and gripped him tighter. We had to keep moving.

The night seemed to grow darker and colder with every agonizing step. My breath came in short, pained gasps that joined Seb’s ragged ones. I couldn’t stop shivering as the chill wind cut through my threadbare cloak and dress, sapping what little strength I had left.

We trudged along in pained silence, the mines slowly fading into the distance behind us. Seb drifted in and out of consciousness, mumbling incoherently under his breath. I murmured words of encouragement, as much to bolster my own flagging spirits as his.

“Just a little further now. We’re almost there,” The lies tasted bitter on my tongue. We still had so far to go.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. Minutes blurred into hours in my exhaustion. The night stretched on interminably, the dusty road never-ending. Seb grew heavier against my side, his head lolling as he slipped back into unconsciousness. My knees trembled violently, threatening to give out and send us both crashing to the ground.

Just when I thought I couldn’t take another step, our shack finally appeared in the distance. Tears of relief pricked my eyes at the sight. Its sagging, misshapen form had never looked so welcoming.

“Seb, look! We made it,” I said through gasping breaths. He didn’t respond, lost to oblivion.

As we approached, the door flew open and Mother came rushing out, face pinched with worry. Without a word she darted to Seb’s other side, pulling his limp arm across her shoulders to help bear his weight. Together, we half-carried, half-dragged him inside.

We brought Seb over to his makeshift bed in the corner and as gently as we could, laid him down on the thin straw mattress. He let out a faint groan as his battered body made contact but otherwise remained still, his chest rising and falling shallowly.

I sank to my knees beside him, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. But none of that mattered now. We’d made it home.

Mother hurried to stoke the dying embers in the fireplace, her movements frantic.

“What happened?” she asked, voice tight with fear as she added a few precious pieces of wood to the flames. “Is he…will he…?” She couldn’t seem to form the words, tears glistening in her eyes.

“He’s alive,” I assured her hoarsely. “But he’s in bad shape. Broken ribs, and who knows what else. I couldn’t see properly in the dark,” I hesitated. “The overseer said he fainted from exhaustion. They left him there on the ground until I came for him.”

Mother’s hands curled into fists, knuckles going white. “Those monsters,” she seethed. For a moment rage transformed her worn, timid features. Then just as quickly it faded, shoulders slumping in defeat. What could we do against such powerful people? We were less than nothing here.

I gently lifted Seb’s shirt, biting my lip at the massive purple-black bruise spreading across his ribcage. Definitely broken. The overseer was lucky I didn’t have the chance to wrap my hands around his thick neck. Not that it would have helped. I didn’t have any fighting skills.

I gasped as I turned him over. Now in the light, I could see better—his entire back was ripped to shreds. Those monsters whipped my brother.

“Oh Seb, I’m so sorry,” I whispered just as Mother came with water and a rag. She let out a sob but quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

Sebastian stirred. I tried to remove his shirt to clean his wounds but he hissed, his voice full of anger. “Don’t touch me. What’s the use of crying now? You should’ve thought about it before.”

I deserved that. I truly did.

I reigned in my tears, “I know you hate me, Seb and I can’t change the past. I wish, I really wish I could go back in the past and change it. But I can’t and it fills me with regret to see you like this,” My voice cracked. “Please, Seb. Just let me help.”

Sebastian’s voice was hoarse with emotion when he replied, “I’m sorry Lya. It’s alright. We’re alright.”

I nodded, throat tight. He was home. He was safe. I squeezed his hand, allowing myself a small sob of relief and regret. I should have been there, should have stopped this somehow.

Mother handed me a rag and bowl of water. Together, we cleaned and bandaged Seb’s injuries as best we could with our limited supplies, apologizing as he flinched. It wasn’t right. None of this was. If I could turn back time, undo the choices that led us here…

But it was too late for regrets. All I could do was take care of my family now.

Once we’d done all we could, I slumped down beside the fire, beyond exhausted. But sleep wouldn’t come. I stared into the flickering flames, mind racing with thoughts of revenge and scheming. After all that’s what I was best at.

NO. Evil thoughts, go away.