Chapter 3 #2
Carol started counting on her fingers. "Goal One: Fix my marriage and get into my husband's good graces.
He's basically my boss now, right? The most powerful person in my immediate environment.
I need him on my side." She moved to the next finger.
"Goal Two: Fix my public image. Apologize to the staff, make amends, show I've changed.
Basic reputation management." Third finger.
"Goal Three: Avoid Percival and his lover at all costs.
Stay away from the original plot. Don't interfere with the hero's journey. "
Lumi stared at her, her golden glow brightening with hope. "That's... actually a solid plan."
"It's a TERRIBLE plan!" Missy protested. "What about revenge? What about making Percival jealous? What about chaos and drama and—"
"What about NOT GETTING EXECUTED?" Carol interrupted. "Missy, I have a TWO PERCENT survival chance. Two. Percent. Do you know what that means?"
The devil sprite crossed her tiny arms. "It means you're doomed?"
"It means I have nothing to lose by making different choices than Caroline did!
" Carol turned back to Lumi. "You said the Duke has been patient.
That's good. That means there's room to improve the relationship.
I just need to..." She paused. "Actually, what IS he like? Besides unkillable and terrifying?"
Lumi tilted her head thoughtfully. "The Duke is... quiet. Reserved. He doesn't show much emotion. He spends most of his time managing the Frostmarch defenses against The Blight, training his soldiers, or handling ducal business. He's extremely powerful and very intelligent."
"Does he hate me—hate Caroline?"
"I don't think he hates her," Lumi said carefully. "I think he's just... resigned to an unfortunate situation. He didn't want this marriage either. Caroline trapped him with that seduction spell meant for Earl Sinclair."
Carol felt a pang of sympathy for both of them. "Right. The accidental seduction. That's going to be fun to work around."
"He gives Caroline anything she wants materially," Lumi continued. "This room, her clothes, her jewelry—he told his steward to provide her with whatever she desires. He just... keeps his distance."
Carol looked around the insanely opulent bedroom with new understanding. "This isn't love. This is a bribe to stay away from him."
"Pretty much," Missy confirmed.
"Well," Carol said, squaring her shoulders. "That's about to change. If I'm going to survive this, I need to turn my marriage from hostile to... at least neutral. Friendly would be ideal."
"How are you going to do that?" Lumi asked.
Carol smiled. "The same way I got promoted three times at Sterling Capital Markets.
Strategic niceness, competence, and making myself invaluable.
" She walked back to the windows, looking out at the beautiful grounds.
"First, I need intelligence. I need to know the layout of this estate, understand the household dynamics, and most importantly...
" She turned back to the sprites. "I need to observe my husband. Figure out what makes him tick."
"You're going to spy on him?" Missy perked up. "Okay, NOW we're talking!"
"Not spy," Carol corrected. "Conduct reconnaissance. There's a difference."
"Is there though?" Lumi asked, but she was smiling now.
"In the corporate world, we call it 'understanding stakeholder priorities,'" Carol said with a straight face. "I'm just gathering information to better serve my... partnership."
"You're going to spy on him," both sprites said in unison.
Carol didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, she started planning. "I'll explore the estate today. Get the lay of the land. See where the Duke spends his time. Maybe catch a glimpse of him from a distance—nothing creepy, just basic information gathering."
"The household staff is going to be shocked when you actually leave your rooms voluntarily," Lumi noted. "Caroline rarely did that unless forced."
"Good. Let them be shocked. It's the first step in showing I'm different.
" Carol felt energy building inside her, the same energy she used to get before tackling a difficult project at work.
"I can do this. I survived quarterly reports, hostile meetings, and a boss who threw staplers when he was angry.
I can survive being in a fantasy world with death flags. "
She turned to look at herself in the mirror again. The beautiful face of Caroline Vanthorn looked back at her, but this time Carol saw it differently. This wasn't a death sentence. This was a challenge.
And Carol Reed had never backed down from a challenge in her life.
"Alright," she announced. "New plan. I'm going to treat this like my job.
Except instead of a cubicle, I have a palace wing.
Instead of business casual, I have designer gowns.
Instead of coffee breaks, I have tea in the garden.
And instead of a difficult boss..." She smiled at her reflection.
"I have a husband who is immune to poison, can manipulate matter with his mind, and is called The Butcher of the North. How hard can it be?"
"That sounds really hard," Lumi said quietly.
"Definitely doomed," Missy added.
"You both have so much faith in me," Carol said dryly. "Now, I need to—"
A knock at the door interrupted her.
Carol froze. "Who's that?"
"Probably Daisy and Millie," Lumi said. "Your personal maids. They usually come to help you dress around this time."
Right. The two loyal maids. The ones who actually liked Original Caroline despite everything.
This was going to be interesting.
"Come in!" Carol called out, trying to sound natural.
The door opened, and two young women in maid uniforms entered. One was petite with dark curly hair and bright, expressive eyes. The other was taller with straight auburn hair pulled back in a neat bun.
Both of them stopped short when they saw Carol standing in the middle of the room, fully awake and seemingly alert.
"My lady!" The petite one exclaimed, her eyes widening. "You're awake! And out of bed! Are you feeling alright?"
Daisy and Millie—Original Caroline's memories supplied their names easily. Her two personal maids from home.
Carol smiled. Time to start her redemption arc.
"Good morning, Daisy. Millie." She gestured to the room. "I'm feeling much better, actually. I was thinking... I'd like to take a walk around the estate today. Get to know my new home properly."
The two maids exchanged glances.
"A walk, my lady?" Millie asked carefully, her voice soft but wary. "You haven't left your chambers in over a week."
"Well, that's about to change," Carol said cheerfully. "But first—" She turned to Daisy. "Can you tell me what my husband is doing today? Where he might be?"
Daisy blinked, surprised by the question. "His Grace? He's usually in his study in the east wing at this hour, handling correspondence. Or training with his men in the courtyard."
"Perfect." Carol walked to her wardrobe. "Help me pick something appropriate for a walk, would you? Something comfortable but presentable. I have a workplace—I mean, an estate—to explore."
As the maids hurried to help her, exchanging confused but hopeful glances, Carol caught Lumi's eye. The angel sprite was smiling—really smiling—for the first time in ten years.
Missy, from her perch on the bedpost that only Carol could see, groaned. "This is going to be so BORING."
But Carol ignored her. She was done following chaos advice.
She was making her own choices now.
And she was going to choose survival over drama.
Even if it meant being boring instead of dead.