Villainess’s Redemption (Reborn Villainess #1)

Chapter 4

I descended the grand staircase, my gown swishing around my feet. The ballroom fell silent, all eyes on me. Noah stood at the bottom, his warm brown eyes shining with… Not love—that was reserved for someone else—but something close to admiration. My heart clenched. Once, that look would’ve made me soar. Now, it left me cold.

He extended his hand, and I placed mine in his, fighting the urge to snatch it back as he led me through the sea of nobles. “You look radiant,” he whispered.

I forced a smile, the picture of a blushing bride. But inside I gagged. You look radiant. I repeated to myself snidely. Huh! He should have seen me in my tattered dress.

Oh! How I missed that dress. Not the dirt but the comfort of wearing one.

“Thank you, my lord.”

We approached the royal dais where King Arnald and Queen Felicia sat. Noah bowed. “Your Majesties, may I present my wife, Lady Ilyana Stormbourne.”

I curtsied deeply, my eyes downcast. “Your Majesties, it’s an honor.”

King Arnald nodded, his eyes already drifting back to his wine as he conversed with Chancellor Darian who glanced at me once and then proceeded to ignore me. As usual, nothing new there. Queen Felicia, however, fixed me with a piercing gaze. “Welcome to the family, Ilyana.”

There was nothing welcoming in her ice-cold tone. I’d expected it, in the past I had been angry for being spoken to like that. Being the daughter of a prestigious noble, I had never been spoken to like that. But I was way over my head for thinking everything revolved around me.

Queen Felicia’s gaze slid over me, cool and dismissive, before lighting up as it landed on Noah. “My dear boy,” she cooed, reaching for his hand. “My dear nephew, you look so handsome. Your mother would be proud.”

I bit back a sigh as she showered Noah with affection, barely sparing me a glance. Last time, I had tried desperately to insert myself into their conversation, only to make a fool of myself. Not this time. Now, I simply observed, waiting for my moment.

Instead, I waited patiently, observing. When there was a lull, I spoke up. “Your Majesty, I couldn’t help but admire your necklace. Is it Elentharian craftsmanship?”

Queen Felicia’s eyebrows rose slightly. “You have a good eye, Ilyana. It was a gift from the Elentharian ambassador.”

I nodded. “I thought so. The way they set the gems is quite distinctive. I’ve always admired their work.”

“You’re familiar with Elentharian jewelry?” There was a hint of surprise in her voice. I gave a tight-lipped smile. Of course, I knew. After all, I was the one who conspired with them, which led to my exile and my father’s beheading.

“I find foreign cultures fascinating, Your Majesty. Each has its own unique beauty.” The thing about lying was that the more you lied the better you get. And I was something of a scholar at the art of lying.

Her eyes narrowed, searching for insincerity. Finding none, she said, “Indeed. Perhaps you’d like to see the new shipment of Elentharian silks that arrived last week?”

I beamed. “I’d be honored, Your Majesty.”

As we moved through the crowd, Noah at my side, I caught snippets of conversation.

“Did you see how the Queen spoke to her?”

“I thought she despised the D’Arcanes.”

“Perhaps there’s more to Lady Ilyana than meets the eye.”

I hid a smile. Small steps, but steps nonetheless.

The orchestra struck up a waltz. Noah led me to the center of the ballroom for our first dance as husband and wife. His hand on my waist felt foreign, wrong. I longed for the dance to end, to escape his touch. Each turn reminded me of the future I was desperate to change.

“You seem distracted,” Noah murmured.

I forced a smile. “Just overwhelmed, my lord. It’s all so… much.”

He nodded, understanding in his eyes. If only he knew.

As we twirled, I caught sight of my family. My father—alive, beaming with pride as he spoke with Duke Eldrick. My mother, engaged in conversation with a few noblewomen, likely bragging. Sebastian, flirting with some ladies, whole and unbroken. Tears pricked my eyes. It almost seemed normal. They didn’t know the storm coming their way.

“My dear daughter,” Father’s voice broke through my reverie. I turned, tears pricking my eyes at the sight of him, alive.

The dance ended, thankfully and we were swarmed by well-wishers. I hugged my parents fiercely, startling them.

“Father,” I whispered, embracing him tightly.

He chuckled. “Such emotion! Anyone would think we’d never meet again.”

If only you knew, I thought.

“Ilyana, dear, are you alright?” Mother asked, concern in her eyes.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yes, I’m just… so happy.”

Father squeezed my shoulder. “You’ve done us proud, my girl.”

If only they knew the truth. I vowed silently to protect them this time.

As the night wore on, I noticed Liam, Noah’s guard, approaching him several times. Each time, Noah’s face grew tenser, though he quickly masked it with a smile as he rejoined conversations.

Through the crowd of dancing nobles, I spotted Laurel standing with the other servants against the far wall, heads bowed, hands clasped. My heart ached. In my previous life, I’d barely noticed them, treating them like furniture. But now…

Well, I still didn’t care about the other servants, but Laurel was different. She was my responsibility and I treated her so badly. I knew changing suddenly wouldn’t be believable but I had to start somewhere.

I made my way to the buffet table, piling a plate with delicacies. The chocolate cake caught my eye - Laurel used to steal glances at it whenever she thought no one was looking.

Walking over to where she stood, I cleared my throat softly. “Laurel?”

She jumped, green eyes widening. “My lady?”

“Would you join me at the buffet?”

Her face paled. “I… I couldn’t possibly…”

“Nonsense,” I gestured to the laden tables. “There’s more than enough food.”

She wrung her hands, glancing nervously at the other servants. “It wouldn’t be proper, my lady.”

“Just for a moment?” I kept my voice gentle, remembering how I used to snap at her. “I’d appreciate the company.”

After several moments of internal struggle visible on her face, she followed me to the buffet. I handed her a clean plate. “What would you like?”

Silence. She stared at the plate like it might bite her.

“The chocolate cake looks divine, doesn’t it?” I nodded toward the three-tiered confection. “I’ve seen you eyeing it.”

Her cheeks flushed pink. “I… I shouldn’t…”

“It’s just cake, Laurel,” I cut a generous slice and placed it on her plate. “No one will mind.”

“But my lady, servants aren’t meant to eat from here. I will be punished if I eat,” she looked at the cake and then back at me, her hand wringing the poor dress.

Well, in that case…

I glanced around the ballroom. Most guests were occupied with dancing or gossip. No one was looking at us. The novelty of being the new bride had worn off after the first dance. Perfect. I grabbed Laurel’s hand. “Quick, under here!”

Before she could protest, I pulled her under the long buffet table. The tablecloth hung to the floor, creating a private little cave draped in white linen.

“My lady!” Laurel whispered, horrified. “What are you doing?”

I settled cross-legged on the floor, arranging my skirts and giggling. God knew I always wanted to do this but mother would have been mortified if I did. “Now no one can see us. Problem solved.”

“But…”

“Just eat the cake, Laurel,” I took a bite of my own slice, making exaggerated sounds of enjoyment. “Mmmmm. Divine.”

A tiny smile tugged at her lips. “People will think you’ve gone mad, hiding under tables.”

“Let them. I’ve been called worse things,” I winked at her. “Now, shall we discuss how absolutely atrocious Lady Penelope’s hat is?”

Then we—well, mostly I—proceeded to insult everyone’s fashion choice while we ate our cake. Laurel listened to me with rapt attention. It was quite adorable even if I’d never admit it out loud.

After my small dinner with Laurel, I made my way back to Queen Felicia, who was observing the crowd with sharp eyes.

“Your Majesty,” I curtsied. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

She waved a hand. “Not at all, Ilyana. I was just thinking how different you seem from our last meeting,” her tone was marginally warmer than before.

I smiled ruefully. That version of Ilyana had died a long time ago. “I suppose I’ve grown up a bit since then, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed,” she studied me. “Tell me, what do you think of the Elentharian trade agreement?”

Queen Felicia wasn’t only a pretty queen who sat on the throne. She actively took part in running the kingdom. It was rumored that the king valued her advice more than Chancellor Darian’s.

I took a deep breath. “It’s… complex, Your Majesty. While the increased Aetherian steel exports would certainly benefit our metal industry, I worry about the impact on the safety of our kingdom.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You’ve given this some thought.”

Of course, I was the idiot who tried to steal the closely guarded secret of how Aetherian steel was made and trade it with Elenthar to help me get rid of Rosalind. That’s how I got leveled as a traitor.

“I believe a lady should be informed about matters that affect her country, Your Majesty.”

She nodded slowly. “A commendable attitude. And what would you suggest?”

“Perhaps instead of exporting raw Aetherian steel, we make whatever they want and then export those? It would give a boost to our many guilds, maybe even find new markets and enrich the economy.”

Queen Felicia quirked a brow. “An interesting proposal. I must say, you’ve surprised me this evening, Ilyana.”

“I pleasantly hope so, Your Majesty.”

Queen Felicia nodded, her expression still frosty. I stood there awkwardly as she proceeded to ignore me, engaging in conversation with other important nobles and officials. The urge to flee was overwhelming, but I steeled myself. I was determined to win her over this time.

Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself rather quickly. I overheard the Queen discussing the recent surge in pirate attacks with an official, lamenting how badly sea trade had been affected.

I cleared my throat. “Your Majesty, if I may offer a suggestion?”

Felicia’s piercing gaze landed on me. She nodded, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“I’ve been studying the attacks lately,” I began, silently thanking my future self for the knowledge. Defeating the pirates was such a big deal that even in the exile I heard all about it. But I couldn’t say that. “I’ve noticed a pattern that might have been overlooked.”

The Queen’s eyebrow arched. “Go on.”

“The pirates must have a den or meeting place where they gather,” I said, trying to sound as if this was a new revelation and not information I’d gleaned from my past life.

Felicia nodded. “Yes, we’re aware of that much.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” I continued smoothly. “But consider this - they can’t be staying on the mainland. It would be far too easy to spot them, and someone would surely notify the authorities.”

I paused dramatically, watching as the Queen leaned in slightly, intrigued.

“And?” she prompted.

“That means they must be using one of the smaller islands in the southeast as their base,” I concluded.

Vincent Hargreave, one of the officials Felicia had been speaking with earlier, scoffed. “There are hundreds of such islands. It would be impossible to check them all.”

I suppressed a know-it-all smirk. Oh, if only you knew. Bowe’s island was their base. “That might be true, Lord Vincent, but there’s another crucial detail you’ve overlooked.”

By now, I had the attention of everyone in the group. Even Queen Felicia seemed genuinely interested.

“During high tide, most of these islands are submerged,” I explained. “I’ve researched this thoroughly. Only fourteen of them remain above water, and out of those, only six are actually habitable for a pirate crew.”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You seem to have done your homework, Lady Ilyana. Which islands?”

As I listed the names of the six islands, carefully including Bowe’s Island among them, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. This was it - my first step towards changing the future.

“An intriguing theory,” Queen Felicia mused. “I’ll have General Arthur look into these islands.”

I bowed my head, hiding a smile.

But my victory didn’t last long as I felt a flash of panic when Queen Felicia’s piercing gaze locked onto me. “And why, pray tell, are you suddenly so interested in matters of state, Lady Ilyana?”

Shit. I’d gotten carried away, forgetting that the scheming, vapid Ilyana of the past wouldn’t have cared about pirate attacks or trade routes. Think fast, you idiot.

“Oh! Well, you see, Your Majesty,” I began, forcing a little nervous giggle, “it’s actually because of my dear brother, Sebastian.”

Felicia’s eyebrow arched higher. “Sebastian? Isn’t he in Tiberix?”

I nodded eagerly, warming to my lie. “Yes, he’s stationed in Tiberix, and these pirate attacks have been giving him such a headache. I just wanted to help, you know? Being a good sister and all that.”

To my utter shock, Queen Felicia let out a soft chuckle. It wasn’t exactly warm, but it wasn’t the icy disdain I was used to either. “How… thoughtful of you, to want to assist your brother in such a way.”

I smiled, trying not to look too pleased with myself. “Family is everything, Your Majesty.”

The Queen’s lips quirked into something almost resembling a smile. “Indeed.” She paused, studying me with those sharp eyes. “Perhaps we should meet again, Lady Ilyana. I find myself… intrigued by your insights.”

An actual invitation from Queen Felicia! I must be dreaming.

I bowed my head, hiding my triumphant grin. “I would be honored, Your Majesty.”

As I straightened, I caught a glimpse of warmth in her eyes. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. This time, I’d win her over. This time, I’d change everything.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Liam talking to Noah again. I sighed, I knew what was going on.

I walked over to Noah as Liam stopped talking. I rolled my eyes inwardly. Noah smiled at me but before he could say anything I curtsied and said, “My lord, if there’s anything bothering you or something urgent you need to take care of, you should do it and don’t worry about me. I can wait for you.”

I smiled sweetly for extra effect.

I knew that even without my urging, he would do it. After all, he had done it in my past life. But if my nudging him sent him towards his love faster, so be it.

* * *

As the ball continued downstairs, Lady Amelia escorted me to my chambers. Her demeanor was noticeably less hostile than before, a small victory I tucked away for later consideration. Laurel trailed behind us, her eyes fixed on the floor.

Once inside, Laurel helped me out of my heavy jewelry and gown. Her touch was gentle but hesitant as if she feared I might lash out at any moment. The weight of my past cruelty hung heavy in the air between us.

“That will be all, Lady Amelia,” I said, dismissing her with a nod. She curtsied and left, closing the door behind her.

Laurel helped me into a simpler nightgown, her movements efficient but distant again. As I sat at the vanity, waiting for Noah, I watched Laurel in the mirror. Her eyes remained downcast, a habit I had instilled in her.

“Laurel,” I said softly, turning to face her. “Look at me.”

She flinched, fear flashing across her face. Before I could say another word, she dropped to her knees, trembling. “Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to offend—”

My heart clenched. This was my doing, my cruelty reflected back at me. No, I had to change it. I knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Laurel, please. Look at me.”

Slowly, hesitantly, she raised her eyes to meet mine. They were brimming with unshed tears, a lifetime of fear and submission etched in their depths.

“You don’t need to look down anymore,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been… cruel to you. Unforgivably so. And I’m sorry, Laurel. Truly sorry. I promise you, I will never treat you that way again.”

Confusion clouded her features, warring with the ingrained fear. “My lady, I don’t understand…”

I squeezed her shoulder gently. “I know it’s confusing. But I mean every word. You deserve kindness and respect, Laurel. And from this day forward, that’s what you’ll have from me.”

She searched my face, looking for any sign of deception. Finding none, she nodded slowly, a tiny spark of hope igniting in her eyes. “Thank you, my lady.”

I smiled at her, and for the first time, she returned it – a small, tentative thing, but genuine. It was a start.

As the hours ticked by, Noah didn’t arrive. I dozed off leaning against the bedpost, exhaustion from the day’s events finally catching up with me. Dying, time traveling, and reincarnating all on the in one day would take a toll on anyone.

I was jolted awake by Laurel bursting into the room, her face flushed with anger.

Wow, she has already started to bloom. I need to keep proving my sincerity.

“My lady,” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with indignation. “Lord Noah… he’s left the palace!”

I blinked, feigning surprise even though I was doing a victorious dance in my mind. I knew this would happen. “Left? What do you mean?”

Laurel’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. “He rode out not long ago. The guests… they’re talking. Mocking. Saying he left without…,” she trailed off, her cheeks flushing.

“Without consummating the marriage,” I finished for her, my voice calm.

Laurel’s eyes flashed with protective fury which even shocked me. “It’s not right, my lady! I’ll go find him, I’ll—”

“No, Laurel,” I said, rising from the bed. “There’s no need. It won’t help.”

She gaped at me, clearly struggling to understand my calm reaction. “But my lady, your reputation—”

I shook my head, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. “Let them talk. It changes nothing.”

“How can you be so calm?” Laurel demanded, her newfound boldness surprising us both. “They’re laughing at you!”

I met her gaze steadily. “Their laughter means nothing to me, Laurel. Let it go.”

She opened her mouth to protest further, but something in my expression stopped her. She deflated, confusion and concern warring on her face. “As you wish, my lady.”

As Laurel helped me prepare for bed, I could feel her eyes on me, full of questions she didn’t dare ask. I knew this was just the beginning – Noah’s absence would set tongues wagging throughout the court. But I had weathered far worse storms than this.

Some snide gossip is nothing compared to the life I led in exile.

I lay in the vast, empty bed, staring at the intricate patterns on the ceiling. The silence of the room was deafening, a stark contrast to the raucous celebration that had taken place just hours ago. In my past life, this moment had been filled with rage and tears, the sting of Noah’s abandonment like a knife to my heart. But now? Now I felt nothing but a calm acceptance.

“My lady?” Laurel’s timid voice broke through my reverie. “Are you… alright?”

I turned my head to look at her, noting the concern etched on her face. It was still strange to see her looking at me directly, without fear. “I’m fine, Laurel. Truly.”

She wrung her hands, clearly torn between her newfound boldness and her ingrained subservience. “But Lord Noah…”

“Is where he needs to be,” I finished for her, sitting up in bed. “And so am I.”

Laurel’s brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

I sighed, patting the bed beside me. After a moment’s hesitation, she perched on the very edge, her eyes wide with surprise at the gesture. “Noah never loved me, Laurel. And now… now I don’t love him either.”

“But the wedding… your family…”

I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “I know, I was the one who desperately wanted to marry Noah. But I’ve changed my mind, I don’t want him anymore. What I want now is for Noah to find happiness with the woman he truly loves. And for me to take my family far from this nest of vipers we call the capital and maybe become a… farmer. Or a chef.”

Laurel gasped, scandalized. “My lady! You shouldn’t say such things,” she paused and said quietly, “Also you barely know anything about cooking.”

I chuckled, the sound foreign even to my own ears. When was the last time I had laughed? “Oh, Laurel. If only you knew…”

As I sat there, my mind wandered to Noah and where he must be now. Last week, Lord Magnus Bellrose had been imprisoned, awaiting execution. His estate was seized, his title stripped, and his daughter Rosalind exiled. But Rosalind, the clever girl that she was, had escaped. Now she was in the capital, disguised and desperate, searching for clues to clear her father’s name.

I knew Noah had sent Liam to find her, to convince her to accept their help. But Rosalind was stubborn and distrustful. So Noah had gone himself, determined to protect the woman he truly loved even if he didn’t realize it yet. But he will and both of them will fall in love.

I sighed in frustration, flopping back onto the pillows. “Ugh! Why couldn’t I have traveled back one more month? I could have stopped all of this before it even began!”

Laurel was startled at my outburst. “My lady?”

I waved a hand dismissively. “Never mind, Laurel. Just… thinking aloud.”

As I lay there, feeling the softness of the bed beneath me, I couldn’t help but marvel at the luxury. After two years of sleeping on hard pallets and frozen ground, this felt like floating on a cloud. The absence of that extravagant, rib-crushing gown was a blessing in itself.

A thought struck me. “Laurel?”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Are all my gowns so… extravagant?”

She nodded, confusion clear on her face. “Of course, my lady. As befits your station.”

I groaned internally. Of course, they were. The old Ilyana had reveled in such frivolities. But I couldn’t wear those every day, just thinking about wearing them makes me sweat. I need something simpler to comfortably walk around.

“Let’s go shopping for some new gowns tomorrow,” I said, making a mental note to find something more practical. “Something… simpler.”

Laurel’s eyebrows shot up, but she nodded. “As you wish, my lady.”

As she turned to leave, I called out once more. “Laurel?”

She paused at the door. “Yes?”

“Thank you. For everything.”

A small smile graced her lips before she ducked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come. There was so much to do, so many wrongs to right. Lord Magnus’s execution loomed large in my mind. I needed to find a way to stop it, to save him and by extension, Rosalind. But how?

As I drifted off into a dreamless sleep, one thought echoed through my mind: I had to act fast. The clock was ticking, and this time, I couldn’t afford to fail.