Chapter 7
I glanced at the closed door, beyond which Laurel was probably arranging my dresses to be delivered to Annalise for alteration. When we were done shopping, it was already very late and I couldn’t go to my parents house. So, I returned to the palace and skipped dinner as I ate in the market and wasn’t hungry. But Laurel, bless her heart, snuck in some cookies from the kitchen for a midnight snack.
A soft knock interrupted my plotting. Laurel slipped in, carrying a napkin-wrapped bundle that smelled gloriously of butter and sugar.
“My lady, I brought you some cookies from the kitchen.” She set them on my desk, then hesitated. “And… some interesting news.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“Some of the servants saw Lord Noah heading to Prince Anderic’s wing earlier. They’re still there now.”
Well, wasn’t that fascinating? Noah seeking out that deranged prince this late could mean many things, none of them good for me or my family’s future. The question was - should I investigate? And what if I get caught? I needed a reason to visit for backup.
“Laurel, I think I’ll pay my dear cousin-in-law a proper visit,” I stood up, smoothing my skirts. “It’s only polite to greet him properly since he didn’t attend the wedding, after all.”
Laurel tried to follow me but I told her not to and to stay here.
The halls were quiet as I made my way to Anderic’s wing, my soft slippers silent on the marble floors. The elderly maid Agnes opened his outer door, her perpetual scowl firmly in place. Without a word, she shuffled away, leaving me to navigate the prince’s domain alone.
I approached his office door, hand raised to knock when voices drifted through the thick wood.
And like a proper noble lady, I decided to eavesdrop.
“I think there’s something not right with Magnus’s case,” Noah was saying. “The evidence… it doesn’t add up.”
“Explain,” Anderic’s voice held that dangerous edge I remembered so well.
Noah’s response was too muffled to make out. I leaned closer, cursing the thick door.
“I think Magnus’s case might be linked to the salt smuggling operation I’ve been investigating,” Anderic continued. “Think about it. All the gold mines are under royal control. No private individual has that kind of power. Yet somehow, illegal gold is flooding the market. Ministry of Revenue must be involved somehow.”
Salt smuggling? This was entirely new information. In my previous life, I’d been too wrapped up in my own schemes to notice any larger conspiracies at play.
“And you think Magnus was framed to cover this up?” Noah asked.
“It’s possible. Very possible. Magnus was on track to become assistant head of the Ministry of Revenue. He would have been in a position to notice discrepancies, to ask uncomfortable questions.”
My blood ran cold. If they were investigating gold smuggling in the Ministry of Revenue, how long would it be before they started looking at my father?? He was after all the head of the Ministry of Revenue. I knew he hadn’t been involved with the gold mines, but father’s ambition had always outweighed his judgment. What if…? No, I needed to talk to father tomorrow.
I turned and hurried back to my chambers, my mind racing.
I stared at the blank journal page before me, my quill hovering uselessly above it. Who knew that plotting to be good could be so damn difficult? Evil schemes? Those practically wrote themselves. But this? This was like trying to teach a cat to bark.
“Come on, brain,” I muttered. “You managed to orchestrate the downfall of an entire family. Surely you can figure out how to undo it without ending up in a insane asylum.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Here I was, Lady Ilyana D’Arcane, once the puppet master of court intrigues, now struggling to string together a coherent plan that didn’t involve backstabbing or blackmail. How the mighty have fallen. Or risen? I wasn’t quite sure anymore.
My eyes drifted back to the empty journal. Right. Convincing Father. That was going to be about as easy as teaching a pig to fly. Elyas D’Arcane, stubborn as a mule and twice as pig-headed. That’s how he climbed up the social circle. If I told him I’d had a change of heart overnight, he’d probably think I’d been possessed by a benevolent spirit. And if I mentioned anything about the future? Well, hello mental asylum.
“Think, Ilyana, think,” I muttered, tapping the quill against my temple. “Use that devious little brain of yours for something other than ruining lives for once.”
My mind wandered to Rosalind, and a pang of guilt hit me like a punch to the gut. In my past life, I’d seen her as nothing more than an obstacle to be removed, jealous of her for being able to win Noah’s heart so easily. But now? Now I could feel the weight of her pain, the ache of her loss. It was a bitter pill to swallow, realizing just how much damage I’d done.
“I need to save Magnus,” I whispered to the empty room. “I need to give Noah back to her. I need to atone for my misdeeds,” the words felt foreign on my tongue like I was speaking a language I’d never learned. “But I also need to save my family.”
And that’s where the problems lie. As much as part of me wanted to march straight to the authorities and confess everything, I couldn’t. My family’s fate was tied to mine. If I went down, they’d go down with me. No, I’d have to find another way. Even if it meant begging Rosalind on my knees. Even if it meant spending the rest of my life trying to make amends.
A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts. I quickly shoved the journal into a drawer as Noah entered the room.
“Ilyana,” he began, “May I come in? I need to talk to you.” His talk with Anderic ended so quickly?
I nodded as he started, his voice heavy with guilt. I almost rolled my eyes. I might have become a better person but I wasn’t a saint. “I wanted to apologize for leaving yesterday. It was unforgivable of me to-”
I held up a hand, cutting him off. Better get this over with as quickly as I could. “It’s alright, Noah. I understand,” the words came out smoother than I expected, no trace of the bitterness I’d felt in my past life.
He blinked, clearly surprised by my lack of anger. As if. I’m not repeating the same mistakes. “You… you do?”
“Of course,” I said, mustering up a smile that I hoped looked genuine and not nonchalant. “These things happen. You had important matters to attend to, I’m sure.” And some important discussions with that deranged prince.
Noah’s brow furrowed, confusion battling with relief on his face. “I… yes. But still, it was our wedding night. I should have been here with you.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “Water under the bridge. Let’s not dwell on it.”
“You’re being very understanding about this,” he said slowly as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. Oh, c’mon now. I won’t throw a tantrum. Is it that hard to believe?
I shrugged. “What good would anger do? We’re married now. We should start being more understanding of each other as we mean to go on, don’t you think?”
Noah’s shoulders slumped, the guilt in his eyes intensifying. It was almost comical how my forgiveness seemed to cause him more distress than if I’d thrown a tantrum.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he said earnestly. “Tomorrow, when we visit your parents’ house as newlyweds. I promise I’ll be the perfect husband.”
I bit back a snort. Oh, you poor, naive man. I knew full well that tomorrow would bring another “urgent matter” courtesy of Prince Anderic. But I simply smiled and nodded.
“That sounds lovely, Noah. Thank you.”
He looked at me for a long moment, as if trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle. Yes, yes, I changed overnight. Then, with a nod, he bid me goodnight and left.
As the door closed behind him, I let out a long breath. “Well, that was exhausting,” I muttered to myself. “Who knew being nice could be so draining?”
I crawled into bed, my mind still whirling with half-formed plans and guilt-ridden thoughts. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, I knew. But for now, sleep beckoned. And who was I to refuse such a tempting offer?
* * *
I blinked awake, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I was disoriented. Where was the drafty shack? The smell of mold? Then reality crashed back. Right. Time travel. Fancy palace. Married to the wrong man. What a delightful mess I’d made for myself.
I need to get used to being in the palace again.
With a groan, I hauled myself out of bed. “Rise and shine, Ilyana,” I muttered. “Time to go play the dutiful wife. How thrilling.”
I got ready quickly with the help of Laurel, smoothing down my gown and plastering on my best ‘I’m definitely not planning anything’ smile. As I stepped into the hallway, I nearly collided with Noah.
“Ilyana!” He blinked at me; shock written all over his face. “You’re… awake. And dressed.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I raised an eyebrow. “Your observational skills are truly astounding, dear husband. Yes, I am indeed both awake and clothed. Shocking, I know.”
I couldn’t help but be cranky in the morning. Even though I got used to waking up early, it didn’t mean I enjoyed it. Far from it actually.
Noah cleared his throat, clearly thrown off balance. “I just meant… it’s early. You’re usually…”
“Comatose until noon? Sleep until the sun begs me to wake up?” I finished for him. “Yes, well, I thought I’d try this revolutionary new concept called ‘being punctual.’ Quite the adventure, I assure you.”
Stop, Ilyana! Don’t ruin everything over a bit of sleep.
Noah cleared his throat again, clearly unsure how to respond to my sudden crankiness after being so polite and understanding for a whole of… one day. “Shall we… go to breakfast together, then?”
“Why, what a novel idea,” I said, linking my arm through his. “Lead on, my gallant escort.”
Okay, I give up. I can’t be nice until I had my tea.
We walked to breakfast together, attempting to make small talk that felt about as natural as a fish trying to climb a tree. But hey, at least I was trying. I nodded and smiled at appropriate times but my displeasure must have shown.
Ugh! tea! tea! tea! I need tea.
As we entered the dining room, I plastered on my most dazzling smile. “Good morning, Your Majesties,” I chirped, curtseying to King Arnald and Queen Felicia, a complete change in my behavior from earlier.
The Queen returned my smile, warmth radiating from her expression. “Good morning, Ilyana. It’s lovely to see you joining us so early.”
I preened internally. Take that, past Ilyana. Look at me, winning over the queen with my charming ways and ability to wake up before noon.
King Arnald gave me a dazzling smile which made the corner of his eyes crinkle. It really was very odd to see the King being so warm. “Ilyana. Welcome, welcome. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
I was about to respond when that irritatingly annoying smooth voice cut through the air like a dark cloud blotting out the sun. “Won’t you greet me too? Or is it all reserved for my mother?”
My smile froze, my face paled as I turned to face Prince Anderic. How could I have forgotten about him? Oh right, because in my previous life, I’d been smart enough to avoid these early morning gatherings. For a moment, I contemplated the pros and cons of ‘accidentally’ spilling hot tea in his lap. But no, that wouldn’t do. I was supposed to be good now.
I turned to face him, my smile now more of a grimace. “Good morning, Prince Anderic,” I said, my voice dripping with sugary sweetness. “How thoughtless of me to overlook your illustrious presence. I do hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Anderic’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. He knew I was full of it. Well, whatever.
“Of course, Lady Stormbourne. Your oversight is graciously pardoned,” he said as he took a sip of his tea.
Yes, tea. I need tea.
King Arnald let out another deep belly laugh as if our conversation was nothing but a comedy show. “You must for Anderic, Ilyana. He was just joking. Tell me, did you sleep well? After all, it’s a new environment for you.”
“Yes, your majest—”
He cleared his throat. “—Father.”
Anderic’s eyebrows shot up as he looked between me and his father. See? This is exactly why I didn’t want to call him father. Why is the king so hell-bent on being ‘family’ now?
“Well, that’s a development I didn’t see coming.”
“Why not?” It left my mouth even before I could process what was going on.
Tea, I need tea.
“She’s family now. I’ve told Noah too many times to call me father but he insists on sticking to you majesty,” King Arnald sighed as if that was the worst tragedy that happened to him.
Noah kept sipping his tea. Good choice .
Laurel, bless her heart finally poured me a cup of tea.
As we sat down to eat, I found myself engaged in a surprisingly pleasant conversation with Queen Felicia. She asked about my plans for the day, my thoughts on court fashion, and even my opinions on some of the recent changes in the palace gardens.
“I must say, Ilyana,” the Queen said, her voice warm and approving, “I’m impressed by your knowledge of horticulture.” Of course, I need to know that to be a farmer. “Perhaps you’d like to join me in overseeing some of the new plantings next week?”
I smiled, genuinely pleased. “I would be honored, Your Majesty.”
I could practically feel the waves of shock radiating from Noah and Anderic. Their heads swiveled between the Queen and me like they were watching a particularly intense croquet match. Especially Anderic looked more confused to see his mother change overnight.
Ha! Take that princeling.
Anderic coughed, nearly choking on his tea. “Mother, are you feeling quite well?”
The Queen turned to her son, her eyebrow raised. “Perfectly well, thank you, Anderic. Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” he muttered, shooting me a suspicious glance.
Queen Felicia turned to me, her eyes twinkling with genuine warmth. “Ilyana, I must thank you. Your insights were invaluable in thwarting those dreadful pirates. Their den was indeed on one of the islands you mentioned.”
Bowe’s Island.
I blinked, my teacup frozen halfway to my lips. They were already thwarted? When did that happen? And more importantly, how did I not know about it? My confusion must have shown on my face because the Queen quickly added.
“Oh, it hasn’t been announced to the public yet. But I wanted to express my gratitude before the official proclamation.”
King Arnald’s booming voice joined in. “Indeed! Your knowledge has saved countless lives and protected our trade routes. Name your reward, child. Anything within reason, of course.”
Queen Felicia also nodded. “Yes, you deserve a reward.”
I set my cup down, buying time to think. A reward? For information, I already knew. But since everyone was watching, I didn’t want to be seen as greedy.
“That’s very kind, Your Majesties, but I couldn’t possibly—”
“Nonsense!” the King interrupted. “We insist!”
Well, if they were going to force my hand… “Perhaps a donation to the orphanages? In my name, if you must attach it to someone.”
The silence that followed was deafening. I looked up to find everyone staring at me as if I’d grown a second head. Was that too sudden of a change? Damn! should’ve gone with the greedy route.
“The information… came from you?” Anderic asked slowly, his brow furrowed in disbelief.
I couldn’t help but preen a little. It wasn’t often I got to one-up the golden prince. “Yes,” I replied, injecting a touch of haughtiness into my tone. “Why? Is that so hard to believe?”
Anderic’s eyes narrowed, searching my face for… something. What, I couldn’t say. But the intensity of his gaze made me want to squirm in my seat.
“Nothing,” he finally said, his voice deceptively light. “I’m just… surprised.”
The King nodded. “Done, if that’s what you want.”
Queen Felicia turned her attention to Noah. Her voice was as smooth as silk, but there was a subtle edge to it that I’d never heard before—at least not directed at her beloved nephew. I blinked, trying not to let my surprise show
“Noah, dear,” she began, her tone deceptively light, “I couldn’t help but notice your rather abrupt departure from the festivities last night. I do hope nothing urgent required your attention on your wedding night?”
I nearly choked on my tea; I’d never seen her reprimand Noah before. In my past life, he could have set the palace on fire, and she’d have found a way to praise him for his innovative approach to redecorating.
Noah shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking like a schoolboy caught sneaking sweets. “I… there was a matter that required my immediate attention, Aunt Felicia.”
“More immediate than attending to your new bride?” The queen’s eyebrow arched delicately, and I swear I saw Anderic’s lips twitch in amusement. Oh, how the tables have turned.
“I’m sure it was terribly important,” I chimed in, unable to resist stirring the pot just a little. After all, old habits die hard. “I completely trust my husband, if he had something urgent, I fully support him. As his wife, it’s my duty.”
Anderic’s eyes met mine across the table, a flicker of surprise and amusement in their depths. Don’t get used to it, Princeling. I’m not here for your amusement.
Queen Felicia’s lips curved into a small smile. “Indeed, Ilyana. I’m glad to see you’re taking it all in stride. It speaks volumes of your character.”
Oh, if only you knew the volumes of my character, Your Majesty. We’d need an entire library.
“You’re too kind, Your Majesty,” I replied, ducking my head in a show of modesty. “I merely believe in giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. After all, who am I to question the urgent matters that call a man away from his bride?”
Noah looked like he wanted to sink into his chair and disappear. Good. Let him squirm a little. It was the least he deserved after leaving me alone on our wedding night—both in this life and the last. No matter what I did, he didn’t have to stoop to my level and disrespect me like that. Not that I wanted him there in this life. But still, I was allowed to be a little petty.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Queen Felicia elbow the king on his side as she took a sip of her tea. Ouch, that looked like it hurt.
A refreshing attitude,” King Arnald remarked after his coughing fit had subsided. “It’s good to see such understanding between newlyweds. And Noah, be mindful of your wife in the future. You’re married now.”
Noah nodded and I smiled sweetly. “Oh yes, Your Majesty. Understanding is key in any marriage. That, and a healthy sense of humor. After all, life is full of surprises, isn’t it?”
“Yes, yes. Isn’t that right Felicia?” The king laughed.
Anderic leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Speaking of surprises, Lady Stormbourne, I must say your early rising has been the most shocking event of the morning. Tell me, did you perhaps mistake the moon for the sun?”
Oh, you think you’re so clever, don’t you? I met his gaze head-on, my smile never faltering, being in the presence of the queen giving me newfound confidence. “Not at all, Your Highness. I simply decided that missing breakfast would be a tragedy of epic proportions. After all, where else would I get my daily dose of witty banter?”
The queen chuckled softly. “It seems our mornings will be far more lively with you joining us, Ilyana.”
“One can only hope, Your Majesty,” I replied, taking a delicate sip of my tea. And if by ‘lively’ you mean ‘filled with thinly veiled threats and verbal sparring,’ then you’re absolutely right.
As the breakfast continued, I found myself engaged in a bizarre dance of pleasantries and barbed comments. It was exhausting, really, trying to be both charming and just snarky enough to keep everyone on their toes. At least Lady Penelope and Seraphina were absent today, probably courtesy of the queen.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the strange turn of events. Here I was, trading quips with Prince Anderic, winning over the queen, and generally turning everything, I knew about my past life on its head. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and more than a little terrifying.
As breakfast concluded, I mentally patted myself on the back. Step one of Operation Don’t-Be-A-Villain: Win over the Queen. Check.
But my self-congratulation was short-lived as I remembered the next hurdle: visiting my parents. More specifically, convincing my father.
After breakfast, I waited for the carriage to take me to my parents’ house. That’s when it hit me like a ton of bricks. Noah was supposed to be called away by Anderic right about now. But because I’d woken up early, we were ahead of schedule.
Panic gripped me. I couldn’t go to my parents’ house with Noah. We’d have to share a room, unlike the palace where we both had our separate rooms. How was I supposed to convince my father not to ruin our lives with Noah hovering around?
I watched Noah approach, my mind racing. Think, Ilyana, think! You’ve orchestrated the downfall of an entire family. Surely you can figure out how to stall for some time.
He was getting closer. No time left. In a moment of sheer desperation, I did the only thing I could think of.
My mind raced. I needed a plan, and I needed it now. I was running out of options.
I fainted.
Or rather, I attempted to faint. Gracefully. Like a delicate flower wilting in the sun. Like I had done a thousand times in the past.
In theory, it was a brilliant plan. In practice? Not so much.
What actually happened was far less elegant. As I felt myself falling, I realized two crucial things. One, Laurel and Noah were too far away to catch me. Two, the marble floor looked a lot harder from this angle.
In my haste to avoid one awkward situation, I’d miscalculated badly.
“My lady!” Laurel cried out.
“Ilyana!” Noah shouted, lunging forward.
But it was too late. I hit the ground with a very undignified thud, my head making a rather alarming sound as it connected with the floor.
As darkness crept into the edges of my vision, I had one last coherent thought: Well, Ilyana, you wanted to change the future. Congratulations. You’ve just changed it to include a concussion.
Then, everything went black.