Villainess’s Redemption (Reborn Villainess #1)

Chapter 5

I jolted awake, my heart racing as I found myself enveloped in silken sheets and plush pillows. For a moment, I panicked. Where was the scratchy wool blanket? The lumpy straw mattress? Where was I? Then reality—or rather, my new reality—came crashing down on me like a bucket of ice water. Dying in the fringes. Time traveling. Marrying Noah… again.

I bolted upright, my heart pounding. This was real.

“Oh, right. I’m back in the lap of luxury. Yay me,” I muttered, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Sunlight streamed through the ornate windows, bathing my chambers in a warm glow. The room was a stark contrast to the hovel I’d called home in exile. I surveyed my opulent surroundings, taking in the ornate furnishings that now seemed more like a gilded cage than a dream come true. The massive four-poster stood in the middle, its intricately carved headboard depicting Aetherian artwork. Velvet curtains in ivory and gold framed floor-to-ceiling windows, currently allowing streams of morning light to filter through.

My gaze landed on the door leading to Noah’s chambers. It stood there, closed, its polished mahogany surface gleaming in the early sun. From what I remembered, he wouldn’t return until later today. Thank the gods I didn’t have to share a bed with him. I snorted. “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about awkward morning-after conversations.”

Hauling myself out of bed—which, I’ll admit, had been a struggle given how ridiculously comfortable it was—I padded over to the ornate writing desk. Time to get down to business. I grabbed a quill and journal, jotting down my to-do list with determined strokes.

1. Buy new dresses (If I don’t want to suffocate or trip or faint).

2. Save Magnus from execution (Because apparently, I’m in the business of saving lives now).

3. Get Rosalind and Noah together (Playing matchmaker for my husband. Oh, the irony).

4. Get a divorce (Nothing says ‘fresh start’ like ending a marriage that’s barely begun).

5. Convince my family to move to the countryside (Because who doesn’t love the smell of manure in the morning?)

6. Open a restaurant and become a chef or start farming (From lady to line cook. Mother would be so proud).

I stared at the list, chuckling darkly. “Well, Ilyana, when you decide to change your life, you really go all out, don’t you?”

A soft knock interrupted my scheming. “My lady?” Laurel’s voice drifted through the door.

“Come in,” I called, hastily tucking the journal away.

Laurel entered, and I was struck by the change in her demeanor. Gone was the cowering, downcast girl of yesterday. Instead, she met my eyes with a small smile, her posture more relaxed.

It’s like all she needed was a nudge. She was incredibly forgiving, even I wouldn’t forgive myself so easily if I were in her place. I guess that’s the difference between me and her.

“Good morning, my lady,” she greeted, her voice carrying a warmth I’d never heard before. “I’ve brought your morning tea. I hope you slept well?”

I blinked, momentarily thrown off by this new, cheerful version of Laurel. Wow, I didn’t know Laurel could be a chatterbox. “Uh, yes. Like a baby. Or more accurately, like someone who’s been sleeping on rocks for the past year and suddenly finds herself on a cloud.”

Laurel’s eyebrows shot up, but her smile widened. “I’m glad to hear it, my lady. Shall we get you ready for the day?”

I nodded. “Thank you, Laurel. And please, call me Ilyana when we’re alone.”

Her eyes widened, but she nodded. “As you wish… Ilyana.”

As she helped me into the least ostentatious gown I could find—which, let’s be honest, was still more elaborate than anything I’d worn in the past year—I found myself actually enjoying our conversation. Who knew Laurel had opinions on everything from the palace gossip to the head chef’s questionable taste in hats?

“Lord Noah hasn’t returned yet,” Laurel mentioned, her tone carefully neutral.

I snorted. “I don’t expect him until later today.”

Laurel’s hands stilled as she laced up my corset. “You’re not… concerned?”

“Should I be?” I raised an eyebrow. “Noah’s a grown man. He can take care of himself.”

“Of course, my la– Ilyana,” Laurel stammered, clearly taken aback by my nonchalance. “It’s just… well, most new brides would be worried.” She meant I would’ve been worried in the past.

I sighed, turning to face her. “Laurel, can you keep a secret?”

She nodded, eyes wide.

“This marriage,” I gestured vaguely, no need to tell her everything, and end up in an asylum “It’s not… it’s complicated. Noah and I, we’re not in love. We probably never will be.”

“Oh,” Laurel breathed, probably confused since I was obsessed with Noah in the past. Then, to my surprise, she squared her shoulders. “Well, then. I suppose we’ll just have to make the best of it, won’t we?”

I grinned, a genuine laugh bubbling up. “That we will.”

Once I was suitably attired for a day of royal schmoozing, I stood before the full-length mirror, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at me. Gone was the dirt-smeared, hollowed-cheek exile. In her place stood Lady Ilyana D’Arcane not Stormbourne, resplendent in a gown of pale blue silk, ready to take on the world.

Or at least ready to face breakfast with the king and queen.

I outlined my plans for the day: “I need to greet the king and queen and have breakfast with them.”

Laurel paused, surprise evident in her voice. “But my lady, you’ve never…”

“In my… well, let’s just say I’ve been remiss in my duties before. Time to change that.”

“That’s very wise,” Laurel agreed, securing a final pin in my hair. “Shall we go?”

I nodded, steeling myself. “Let’s go charm some royalty.”

As we made our way through the winding corridors of the palace, I couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the white marble floors. White and gold, the colors of the Voltaire royal family can clearly be seen in the colors and architecture of the palace.

We arrived at the ornate doors of the royal dining hall. I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. “Wish me luck, Laurel.”

She squeezed my hand briefly. “You don’t need it, my lady. You’ll be brilliant.”

With a grateful smile, I nodded to the guards. The doors swung open, revealing the opulent dining hall beyond. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble. I hadn’t eaten since… well, since my last life, I was too nervous to eat yesterday. Talk about irony. King Arnald and Queen Felicia sat at the head of a long table, their heads turning in unison as I entered.

Queen Felicia’s eyebrows rose slightly as I entered. “Lady Ilyana,” she greeted, her tone warm but guarded. “What a pleasant surprise. We didn’t expect to see you so early.”

The rumors of my lazy lifestyle had reached the royal palace, it seemed.

I dipped into a graceful curtsy, years of etiquette training kicking in. “Your Majesties. I hope I’m not intruding, but I wish to join you for breakfast if you’ll have me.”

King Arnald barely glanced up from his intense discussion with Chancellor Darian. I couldn’t decide even in my previous life if he disliked me, approved of me, or simply didn’t care. Maybe I was as interesting to him as watching paint dry on the palace walls.

“Of course not,” Queen Felicia said, gesturing to an empty seat. “Please, join us.”

As I took my seat, I noticed Lady Seraphina and Lady Penelope, along with other lords and ladies, already at the table. My eyes scanned the room, relief washing over me when I didn’t spot Prince Anderic. I’d rather face a dragon than deal with him right now.

That was a whole different crate of worms I didn’t want to open. I’d avoid him as long as I could.

Laurel, bless her newly talkative soul, appeared at my side, pouring me a cup of tea. “Would you like some scones, my lady?” she asked, her voice carrying a hint of cheerfulness that was entirely new.

“Yes, please,” I replied, smiling at her. “And maybe some of that heavenly-smelling bacon?”

Queen Felicia’s eyes flickered between Laurel and me, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. “Ilyana, now that you’re married Noah like you wanted,” she began, her voice taking on a motherly tone, “it’s important to embrace the virtues of a good wife. Integrity and restraint are paramount. Don’t do anything beneath your status.”

I nearly choked on my tea. Did she also know the truth of this marriage? Her behavior made a lot more sense now. How did I not notice it before?

I nodded, understanding the subtle dig at how I ended up marrying Noah.

“Your Majesty,” I replied, giving her my most reassuring and blinding smile, “I assure you, I’m committed to being the very model of wifely virtue.”

The queen’s lips twitched at my display, but she managed to maintain her composure. “I see you are very knowledgeable, Ilyana.”

Lady Penelope, not one to be left out of any conversation, leaned forward with a saccharine smile. “Speaking of husbands, how was your wedding night, Lady Ilyana? I hope Lord Noah wasn’t too… overwhelming for you.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Subtle as a brick through a window, that one.

Before I could respond, Lady Seraphina cut in, her voice dripping with false concern. “Penelope, darling, such questions are hardly appropriate for the breakfast table. Do mind your manners.”

Oh, clever girl. Trying to play the proper lady in front of the queen. Penelope, on the other hand, looked about as bright as a burnt-out candle. If she truly wanted Anderic, she’d need to do better than that in front of Queen Felicia.

“Oh, I assure you, Penelope,” I smiled sweetly at Penelope. “Lord Noah was a perfect gentleman. But then, I wouldn’t expect you to understand the nuances of a proper marriage bed.”

Queen Felicia’s lips curved into the tiniest of smiles as she sipped her tea, clearly amused by my response.

“Well said, Lady Ilyana,” the queen murmured. “It’s refreshing to see a young lady with such… discretion.” She clearly knew her nephew wasn’t in his wedding bed yesterday.

Oh, well. Not that I care as long as she warms up to me.

I inclined my head, warmth blooming in my chest at the small victory. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve come to realize the importance of such things… unlike some people.”

Penelope’s face turned an interesting shade of red, somewhere between ‘embarrassed tomato’ and ‘angry beet’. She opened her mouth, probably to say something equally inane, but thought better of it and went back to her breakfast.

I watched in fascination as Queen Felicia subtly elbowed King Arnald under the table. His Majesty glanced up from his intense discussion with the Chancellor, blinking as if emerging from a deep fog.

“Ah, Lady Ilyana!” His booming voice made me jump. “I trust married life treats you well?”

I nearly dropped my teacup. Was this the same aloof king who’d barely acknowledged my existence in my previous life?

“Yes, Your Majesty. Though it’s only been a day,” I replied carefully, studying his jovial expression.

He let out a belly laugh that echoed through the hall. “One day too many, perhaps? I remember when I first married Felicia—couldn’t take my eyes off her for a week!”

Queen Felicia’s lips twitched. “Darling, tone down a bit. You’re frightening the poor girl.”

“Nonsense!” He waved a hand. “She’s made of sterner stuff than that, aren’t you, my dear?”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Where was the stern, distant monarch I remembered? This… this jovial father figure before me was completely foreign. I didn’t remember a single time when he talked directly to me on all those visits to the palace when my father and I used to visit very frequently. He always had this dangerous aura to himself just like his son. And I avoided both.

“I… suppose I am, Your Majesty.”

“Ha! See?” He beamed at his wife. “Speaking of which—Felicia, where did we put that thing?”

The queen’s eyes widened in recognition. “Oh! The wedding gift. I can’t believe we forgot.”

King Arnald snapped his fingers, and a servant appeared with a small, ornate box. “This,” he announced proudly, “is a family tradition. Every new bride in our family receives one.”

Our family? Since when was I considered part of their family? Even if I married his nephew I was always considered an outsider. Did I charm Her Majesty too much yesterday?

Well, what can I say? I’m quite a charmer myself.

He passed the box across the table. Inside lay an exquisite golden key pendant, its handle had a white stone shaped like a crown. The colors of the Aetherian royal family.

“It opens any door in the palace,” he explained, eyes twinkling. “Though I’d advise against trying the treasury. The guards tend to get a bit touchy about that.”

Another booming laugh. I forced a smile at his terrible joke, my mind whirling. The king had never given me a gift in my previous life, let alone joked with me.

“Your Majesty, I—”

“Call me Father,” he interrupted cheerfully. “We’re family now!”

I stared at him, then at the queen, who was hiding a smile behind her teacup even Lady Amelia looked less… terrifying. It was a odd request, considering Noah wasn’t directly related to him, but only to the queen. The whole royal family was utterly baffling—and weird. I could never see through their facades to grasp their real emotions. I guess they would have to be ruthless to rule such a vast country.

“Thank you… Father,” I tested the word, watching as his face lit up with another beaming smile. It seemed genuine.

The breakfast continued a delicate dance of polite conversation and subtle power plays. I navigated it as best I could, channeling every ounce of courtly training I’d ever received. It was exhausting, really. By the time the meal ended, I felt like I’d run a mental marathon.

As we rose from the table, Queen Felicia approached me. “Lady Ilyana, I must say, you’ve surprised me this morning. Perhaps we could continue our chat over tea later this week?”

I curtsied, trying not to look too pleased. “It would be my honor, Your Majesty.”

* * *

After breakfast Laurel and I climbed into the carriage to go to the market to buy new gowns.

As the carriage rumbled through the streets, my mind raced with plans. Two weeks. That’s all the time I had to save Lord Magnus from execution. The thought of convincing my father to help him made my head throb. It was like trying to convince a rock to dance the waltz – theoretically possible, but likely to end in disaster and embarrassment.

“Perhaps I should just kidnap Magnus and flee to the south,” I muttered under my breath. “We could start a mango farm. I hear mangoes are all the rage these days. The weather will also be favorable there.”

“Did you say something, my lady?” Laurel asked, tilting her head.

“Just pondering the exciting world of exotic fruits, Laurel. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

She blinked, clearly unsure how to respond to that. I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to my own thoughts these days.

The carriage jerked to a sudden stop, nearly sending me sprawling onto the floor. “What in the name of all that’s holy—” I began, but Laurel was already moving.

“Stay here, my lady. I’ll see what’s happening,” she said, her voice firm as she exited the carriage.

I waited for approximately three seconds before peeking out the window. A crowd had gathered in the street, their voices a mix of shouts and murmurs. Well, this was certainly more interesting than shopping for gowns.

Laurel returned, her face pinched with concern. “My lady, there’s a commotion. A child has been accused of stealing from a noble, and the noble’s guards are… well, they’re beating the poor boy.”

I was out of the carriage before she could finish her sentence, pushing through the crowd with Laurel hot on my heels. The marketplace, usually a vibrant tapestry of colors and sounds, had become a suffocating arena of spectators. The scent of fresh bread and ripe fruit mixed sickeningly with the metallic tang of blood.

And there, in the center of it all, was a boy. Small, dirty, and painfully thin, he couldn’t have been more than fifteen. His tattered clothes hung off his bony frame like rags on a scarecrow. But it wasn’t his appearance that made my heart clench. It was the way he curled in on himself, trying to protect his vital organs from the rain of blows.

At that moment, I didn’t see a nameless urchin. I saw Sebastian, my brother, beaten and broken in exile. I saw every child who’d ever suffered at the hands of those more powerful. And something in me snapped.

“STOP!” I screamed, my voice carrying over the crowd. “Stop this at once!”

The guards paused, turning to look at me with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. I rushed forward, kneeling beside the boy. “Are you alright?” I asked softly, my hands hovering over him, unsure where I could touch without causing more pain. “Can you hear me?”

The boy’s eyes, wide with fear and pain, met mine. He nodded slightly, wincing at the movement.

I stood, fury coursing through my veins as I faced the noble responsible for this barbarity. He was a minor lord, one whose name I couldn’t be bothered to remember. “What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, my voice cold enough to freeze hellfire.

The lord scoffed, his face contorting with indignation. “The little rat stole from me. I’m well within my rights to punish him as I see fit.”

“Oh, of course,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because clearly, the appropriate response to petty theft is to beat a child half to death in the middle of the street. How very noble of you.”

The lord’s face reddened. “Now see here, woman. You’ve no right to tell me how to handle my affairs. Who do you think you are?”

Laurel took offense on my behalf, pushing me behind her as she started defending me. “How dare you speak to my lady like that? Do you have any idea who you are talking to? Apologize, right now.”

I walked past Laurel as I straightened, channeling every ounce of aristocratic disdain I could muster. “I am Lady Ilyana D’Arcane, daughter of Lord Elyas D’Arcane and wife of Lord Noah Stormbourne,” the words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I pushed on. I didn’t want to be associated with Noah but the situation called for it. “And I’m telling you that this barbaric display ends now.”

Laurel gave me a discreet approving nod as she posed beside me with her hands crossed and a defiant expression on her face. I internally rolled my eyes at her antics.

The color drained from the lord’s face as he realized just who he was dealing with. “My lady, I… I had no idea.”

“Clearly,” I said dryly. “Now, what exactly did this boy steal that warranted such a response? I’ll repay you myself if you agree to leave him be.”

The lord, now practically tripping over himself to appease me, named a laughably small sum. I handed over the money, watching with grim satisfaction as he scurried away like the rat he’d accused the boy of being.

I turned back to the boy, intent on offering him further help, only to find that he’d vanished in the commotion. The crowd, sensing the excitement was over, began to disperse.

Sighing, I made my way back to the carriage, Laurel following close behind. “Well, that was certainly more exciting than shopping for gowns,” I muttered.

Just as I reached for the carriage door, a slow, steady clap froze me in my tracks. A voice I’d never forget, smooth as silk and twice as dangerous, cut through the air.

“That was quite generous of you, Lady D’Arcane.”

I turned slowly, coming face to face with Prince Anderic Voltaire himself.