Chapter 20
I stood before the mirror, admiring my reflection in the emerald green gown. The fabric hugged my curves but was simple and elegant enough that my past self would have fainted in the offense. It was a stark contrast to the tattered rags I’d worn in exile, clean, comfortable, and ready to take on the world. A smirk played on my lips as I met my own gaze. Not bad.
“If I die today, at least I’ll die in style,” I quipped, smoothing down the silken material.
Behind me, Laurel rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, “You’re being dramatic.”
I arched an eyebrow at her reflection. Well, I wasn’t actually going to fight but yes, it was a big day—a different kind of war awaited me.
I looked around my room once more - a mix of white and lilac where Queen Felicia even stayed once. I never minded too much about this room before, the gilded furniture, plush carpets, and heavy curtains. Now, it gave me warmth, feeling like a sanctuary rather than the hollow, gilded cage it once was to me.
I had been on bed rest for the last week. Other than the Queen, I had only been visited by my father and Noah, whose visits I kept as short as possible. I did feel bad since he was always so genuine and kind but I really couldn’t deal with him.
No sight of Prince Anderic, though. Not that I was waiting for him—quite the opposite, actually.
I turned away from the mirror, my fingers trailing over the ornate dresser as I approached the drawer. From within, I pulled out a rather plain wooden box, its simplicity at odds with the grandeur surrounding us.
“Time to drink my poison,” I murmured, opening the box to reveal the peacock brooch nestled inside. The emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires caught the light, winking at me like co-conspirators in a grand joke. A joke that was me.
This beautiful, cursed thing. The root of so many lies, so much pain. I curled my fingers around it, feeling its weight in my palm.
“No more games,” I declared, straightening my spine. I had wanted to slowly unravel my web of lies, but after yet another close brush with death and the increasingly unpredictable changes in events, I realized I needed to cut the web at its roots—there was no time for gently unraveling the threads.
Laurel’s brow furrowed with concern. “Are you sure about this?”
She hadn’t known what I was about to do until last night when I told her everything. Well, almost everything. Of course, I couldn’t tell her about the things that would definitely send me to prison.
I was afraid of her judgment but surprisingly there was none.
I nodded, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “I’ve been dancing at the edge of a knife for too long, Laurel. One misstep and we all fall. Better to leap now, while I still have some control over where I land.”
We made our way through the corridors, my emerald gown swishing against the polished floors. Servants and courtiers alike paused to stare, no doubt wondering what the newly recovered Lady Stormbourne was up to now.
Queen Felicia wasn’t joking about my popularity. Soon enough, they’d have plenty to talk about.
As we approached Rosalind’s chambers, Laurel’s worry finally bubbled over. “Is this really a good idea, my lady?”
I paused, my hand on the door handle. Was it a good idea? Probably not. But then again, few of my ideas in this life or the last could be called “good” by any stretch of the imagination.
I offered Laurel a reassuring smile. “Good? Perhaps not. Necessary? Absolutely.”
With that, I pushed open the door, the peacock brooch clutched tightly in my fist. Rosalind looked up from her embroidery, her eyes widening as she took in my determined stance.
Uh well, I forgot to knock. Anyway.
“Lady Stormbourne,” she greeted, her voice carefully neutral but her eyes were full of fire. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden appearance?”
I strode forward, my heart pounding but my voice steady. It’s now or never. “It’s time we had a talk, Rosalind. About the truth, about lies, and about this damned brooch.”
Rosalind’s eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of the brooch in my hand. That damned peacock brooch, glittering innocently as if it hadn’t caused so much strife. The very brooch that had once belonged to Noah’s mother, then it was given to Rosalind by Noah after her death when we were still in our youth.
The brooch I’d stolen when she returned to the capital and used to weave my web of deceit on that fateful night of summer solstice.
Why did he even believe me so easily? That idiot.
“What are you doing?” Rosalind asked her voice tight with suspicion.
I smiled, extending my hand to return the brooch to its rightful owner. “Here. This is yours, I believe.”
Rosalind stared at my outstretched palm as if it held a venomous snake rather than a priceless heirloom. Well, can’t say I blame her. I wouldn’t trust me either.
I sighed, withdrawing my hand. “I deserved that. Well, Perhaps I should explain. Do you know why I stole this?”
Rosalind arched an eyebrow, her voice dripping with disdain. “Because you’re a selfish, lying bitch?”
Ouch. Fair, but ouch. “I am, no doubt, but…,” I took a deep breath, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. “I was jealous.”
A snort escaped Rosalind, clearly unimpressed.
“I was jealous,” I pressed on, the words tumbling out now. “Terribly jealous of you, Rosalind. I was jealous of how easily you could get the attention and love of the one man I wanted all my life.” And soon from another man I had been involuntarily thinking of nowadays. “How effortlessly you could win over everyone around you. I could never measure up to you.”
I walked over to the chaise and sank down, suddenly feeling the weight of years of resentment and regret. Rosalind’s eyes tracked my every move, wary as a cornered animal.
“You know,” I continued, staring at my hands, “I was relieved when your father was stationed in Valeraine and your family moved away.”
Rosalind whirled around, her eyes flashing. “Is that why you targeted my father? Because we returned?”
I shook my head, meeting her gaze steadily. “No, I targeted you. I stole the brooch from you. That’s it.” The lie tasted strange on my tongue, but recent developments might prove my lie was, in fact, the truth after all. Funny how fate works sometimes.
“Why didn’t you say anything to Noah when you knew I was lying about the brooch?” I asked, genuinely curious. If she wanted, she could easily have proved me a liar.
Rosalind scoffed, crossing her arms. “Say whatever you want, but I know you’re not innocent. I’ll prove it. And as for your question, unlike you, I’m not jealous, and I won’t stoop to your level. Never.”
I leaned back, a humorless chuckle escaping me. “Not jealous? Oh, Rosalind, we both know that’s not true. You’re human, just like the rest of us. The difference is, I’m admitting my faults.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What game are you playing, Ilyana?”
“No game,” I said, spreading my hands. “Just the truth, for once. I’ve done terrible things, things I can never fully atone for. But I’m trying to make it right.”
“And I’m supposed to believe you’ve had a sudden change of heart?” Rosalind’s voice dripped with skepticism.
I stood, smoothing down my gown. “Believe what you will. But ask yourself this: why would I confess to stealing the brooch if I didn’t want to make amends?”
Rosalind’s brow furrowed, confusion warring with suspicion in her eyes for a split second before the cold suspicion won. “What do you want from me?”
“Understanding, perhaps. Forgiveness, eventually. But for now?” I picked up the brooch from where I’d set it on a side table, holding it out once more. “I want you to take what’s rightfully yours.”
Rosalind’s hand twitched as if she longed to both snatch the brooch and throw it on my face but was holding herself back. “And if I refuse?”
I shrugged, setting the brooch down between us. “Then it stays here, neutral ground. But know this, Rosalind - I’m done with lies and schemes. From now on, you don’t need to worry about me backstabbing you.”
A tense silence stretched between us, broken only by the soft ticking of a nearby clock. Rosalind’s eyes darted between me and the brooch, her internal struggle plain on her face.
Finally, she spoke. “How can I trust anything you say?”
I met Rosalind’s incredulous stare with a smile and shrugged. “You don’t need to trust me. And good luck trying to find anything against me,” I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I might have changed for the better, but don’t ever come after my family.”
Rosalind’s eyes narrowed, filled with disdain as she scoffed. “Don’t worry. I’m not like you.”
“Good.” As I turned to leave, a wicked impulse seized me. At the door, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. “Oh, and Rosalind? I approve of you and Noah.”
The look of utter bewilderment on her face was priceless. I couldn’t help but laugh as I swept out of the room, the weight of years of lies finally lifting from my shoulders.
Laurel was waiting for me in the corridor, her eyes searching my face. “You look… happy,” she said, sounding surprised.
I paused, studying her expression. There was no disgust, no malice - just curiosity and something that looked suspiciously like pride.
“You don’t hate me, Laurel?” I asked, my voice softer than I intended. “For what I’ve done?”
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “No, I don’t.”
“Why?” I pressed, genuinely confused. “I’ve been horrible.”
Laurel’s smile widened. “Well, I don’t have an answer for that either. Maybe it’s because it’s easier to keep being a bad or good person when you’ve grown up that way than to actually change yourself and become a completely different person.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “I really respect that strength. And I believe you can do even better.”
* * *
I stepped out of the carriage, the cool air a welcome reprieve from the stuffy interior. Magnolia Boutique stood before us, its modest facade in stark contrast to the less-than-modest old shops lining the southern avenue streets. No wonder Annalise struggled to attract customers. I made a mental note of that, something to think about later.
“Ready to make history, Laurel?” I quipped, straightening my emerald gown.
Laurel rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Aren’t you a bit too dramatic today, my lady?”
I shrugged.
As we entered, the tinkling of a bell announced our arrival. Annalise rushed over; her face flushed with excitement.
I’ve accepted the fact that she is always flushing.
“Lady Stormbourne! I’m so relieved to see you well. I was so worried when I heard—”
I waved off her concern with a smile. “Takes more than a little poison to keep me down.” And believe me, I’ve had practice.
Annalise’s eyes darted around nervously before she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I was on my way to the palace when I received a letter from Laurel informing me what happened. I’ve been thinking… do you think it happened because of the silks you asked me to buy?”
I raised my eyebrows, prompting her to continue. Her cheeks flushed as she fumbled through her explanation.
“I mean, think of it. No one knew what was going to happen with the ships, and no one predicted this outcome. So I was thinking…” She trailed off, wringing her hands.
“Hmm,” I mused, tapping my chin thoughtfully. “That’s certainly a plausible thought, but no. The poison was for Her Majesty,” I paused, letting the weight of my words sink in. “So, thankfully, I’m not the target.”
And it should stay that way, I thought, narrowing my eyes. The last thing I needed was to become the center of another assassination plot. One brush with death was quite enough in this life, thank you very much.
Annalise’s eyes widened with relief, the tension easing away. Then after a while, her expression brightened. “Oh! While you were recovering, I designed something for you as a gift. You’ve been so kind to me, and I wanted to show my appreciation.”
I tried to refuse, but Annalise was surprisingly firm. I keep finding these strong sides of all the women around me. “Fine,” I sighed dramatically, but feeling giddy inside too. It had been a long time since I had gotten a meaningful gift. “Show me these designs of yours.”
She practically bounced as she retrieved her sketchbook, flipping through the pages with obvious pride. As she turned one particular page, my breath caught. There, rendered in exquisite detail, was the dress Rosalind had worn to the masked ball on the winter solstice.
Annalise, ever observant, noticed my lingering gaze. “Did anything catch your eye, my lady?”
I felt conflicted. On the one hand, I didn’t want to wear the same dress as Rosalind. On the other… it was a stunning piece, and this time, she probably wouldn’t need it. It would be a shame for such a masterpiece to never see the light of day.
After a moment’s consideration, I made my decision. “This one,” I said, tapping the sketch. “But with some alterations. Change the color to midnight blue – it’ll suit me better. Red looks positively ghastly on me anyway.”
Annalise nodded eagerly, already jotting down notes. I allowed myself a small smile before schooling my features into a more serious expression.
“Now,” I said, leaning forward, “let’s start with what I’m actually here for.”
The room seemed to be still as Annalise met my gaze, her earlier excitement replaced by nervous anticipation. I took a deep breath, ready to set my plans in motion.
She nodded, flipping the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed’ as we made our way to a small back room. Laurel’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Won’t you lose customers?” she asked.
Annalise shrugged. “Not at this hour. Besides, this is far more convenient.”
The back room was cramped but cozy, with bolts of fabric stacked neatly against the walls and a small table in the center. We settled around it as Annalise produced a leather-bound ledger.
I flipped through the pages, a smile tugging at my lips. Everything was exactly as I’d predicted. At least some things hadn’t changed with my meddling in the timeline.
“Well?” Annalise asked, practically vibrating with anticipation.
I set the ledger down. “Impressive. Care to walk me through it?”
She didn’t need any more encouragement. “It’s incredible, my lady! Just as you said, I’ve sold a few bolts of raw silk from the inventory, and it’s paid back all my debts. How did you know?”
I simply smiled and gestured for her to continue.
“One bolt is being sold for seven thousand gold coins,” she said, her voice filled with awe.
Beside me, Laurel gasped. I hid my smirk behind the teacup, sipping slowly. That’s right, darling. If we sold all the raw silk, we could build a small castle and feed an entire village for months.
“What should I do with the rest of the silk?” Annalise asked. “Should we sell it? You’ll become the richest woman in the capital! Well, second only to Her Majesty, of course.”
I flicked her on her nose. “It’s a large sum, but not as much as you think. It’s not even enough to rival my father and he’s the head of Ministry of Revenue. If anything, the second richest lady must be Lady Minerva.”
Annalise nodded, “That makes sense. But, you should still sell it.”
I set down my cup, meeting her eager gaze. “No, not now.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “But my lady, surely—”
“We’ll wait,” I said, leaning forward, my voice almost conspiratorial, “for the price to go up.”
The room fell silent for a heartbeat before Annalise and Laurel erupted in unison.
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t think that’s wise, my lady.”
I raised my hands, stifling a laugh. “Calm down, both of you. And trust me, the price will go up.”
Annalise’s brow furrowed. “How long should we wait?”
“Ten days,” I said, my tone nonchalant as if discussing the weather.
After that the government will be involved, and people will get arrested for price manipulation. Who wants that anyway?
Laurel’s eyes narrowed. “How much will it be worth then?”
I tapped my chin, feigning thoughtfulness. “Maybe ten thousand? Or fifteen? Who knows?” The smile that spread across my face was positively feline.
Annalise gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. But Laurel, ever the voice of reason, frowned. “Isn’t that swindling?”
I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw the inside of my skull. “Oh please, it’s not like I’m taking advantage of the poor. And it’s hardly a necessary product.”