the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: A Very Dangerous Luncheon

Three days later, Marian regretted accepting the Emperor’s invitation.

Not because she could refuse it.

Nobody refused the Emperor.

Not if they valued their continued existence.

Still.

She regretted it.

Deeply.

The Imperial Luncheon was intended to celebrate the success of several charitable initiatives.

Which sounded noble.

And important.

And extraordinarily boring.

Normally Marian would’ve endured it with Adrian.

They would exchange amused glances across the table.

Mock the speeches afterward.

Compete over who could survive the longest without falling asleep.

Traditions.

Small traditions.

The kind she hadn’t realized she would miss.

Now she sat alone.

Which was irritating.

The luncheon hall glittered with crystal chandeliers and gold-trimmed windows.

Nobles filled the room.

Ministers.

Dukes.

Members of the Imperial Family.

Everyone smiling.

Everyone pretending.

A favorite noble pastime.

Marian accepted a glass of champagne from a servant.

Then immediately wished it were stronger.

"Lady Marian."

The voice made her look up.

And immediately regret it.

Elena Hart.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Of course.

Elena approached with a hesitant smile.

The sort of smile worn by people who knew they were walking into danger.

A wise instinct.

"Good afternoon."

Marian smiled politely.

Years of noble training proving useful once again.

"Miss Hart."

An awkward silence followed.

Elena shifted slightly.

Clearly nervous.

Which would’ve been satisfying if Marian wasn’t so tired.

Finally Elena spoke.

"His Highness has been worried about you."

There it was.

The landmine.

Marian almost admired the efficiency.

Three seconds.

That was all it took.

"Has he?"

The smile never left her face.

Which somehow made the question worse.

Elena visibly faltered.

"Oh."

An eloquent response.

Marian nearly felt bad for her.

Nearly.

Then movement caught her attention.

Across the room.

Adrian.

Of course.

He had seen them.

And judging by the speed at which he was crossing the room—

he had immediately assumed disaster.

For once, his instincts were correct.

The sight annoyed her.

Not because he was coming.

Because he noticed.

Now.

After months.

Now.

"Marian."

Adrian arrived looking suspiciously relieved.

As though merely finding her still standing where he’d left her was an achievement.

"Your Highness."

The formal address made him wince.

Good.

For a brief moment, nobody spoke.

An impressive accomplishment considering there were three people present.

Then, unfortunately, Marian became aware of something.

A gaze.

Again.

Her stomach immediately performed a very alarming movement.

Marian hated it.

Slowly, against her better judgment, she looked across the room.

Cassian Ashford stood near one of the tall windows.

Listening to a minister.

Or pretending to.

The distinction felt important.

At that exact moment, his eyes lifted.

And met hers.

For a second—

just a second—

everything else disappeared.

Then Cassian looked away.

Immediately.

Naturally.

As though nothing had happened.

Which somehow made it worse.

Marian looked away too quickly.

Her heart doing something strange.

Something unhelpful.

Wonderful.

Now she was imagining things.

Exactly what she needed.

A complete collapse of her sanity.

Perfect.

"Marian?"

She blinked.

Realizing Adrian had asked a question.

"What?"

The answer came out slightly sharper than intended.

Adrian frowned.

Elena suddenly became very interested in a nearby flower arrangement.

A wise decision.

Before the conversation could continue, another noble approached.

Then another.

Then a minister.

Then someone’s aunt.

The crowd expanded rapidly.

Like an infection.

Marian endured it for approximately seven minutes.

Then considered escaping through a window.

A reasonable plan.

Unfortunately, she never got the opportunity.

Because the Emperor arrived.

And the room immediately reorganized itself around him.

Conversation resumed.

People moved.

Groups shifted.

By pure misfortune—

or fate—

Marian found herself standing near Cassian.

Not beside him.

Not exactly.

Close enough.

Which was somehow worse.

She became acutely aware of his presence.

The way one became aware of a fire.

Or a cliff.

Or some other potentially dangerous thing.

Ridiculous.

Completely ridiculous.

A countess smiled warmly.

"Lady Marian, are you feeling better today?"

Marian blinked.

"Better?"

The countess looked embarrassed.

"Oh. Well. I simply meant—"

Before the poor woman could accidentally make things worse, another voice cut in.

"Significantly."

Silence.

Marian turned her head.

Cassian Ashford stood nearby, looking entirely too composed.

The countess blinked.

"You can tell?"

"Certainly."

His expression remained perfectly serious.

"The last time I saw Lady Marian, she looked ready to declare war."

For one heartbeat, Marian stared.

Then she remembered.

The terrace.

The moonlight.

The anger she’d been trying—and failing—to hide.

And despite herself—

she laughed.

A real laugh.

Bright.

Warm.

Completely unplanned.

The room seemed to pause.

Just briefly.

Because Marian’s laughter tended to have that effect.

The countess looked delighted.

Cassian looked far too pleased with himself.

Marian immediately stopped laughing.

"You are not helping your case."

"My case?"

"Whatever case you’re building."

"I wasn’t aware I was building one."

"Liar."

The word escaped before she could stop it.

For a brief moment, something flashed through Cassian’s eyes.

Amusement.

Satisfaction.

Recognition.

And Marian suddenly realized—

with growing horror—

that she was enjoying herself.

A terrible development.

Across the room, Adrian watched the exchange.

And felt something twist unpleasantly inside his chest.

Not anger.

Not jealousy.

Something else.

Because Marian was smiling.

Actually smiling.

Laughing.

The kind of laugh he hadn’t heard in weeks.

The kind he’d been trying to get back.

Then another thought arrived.

Quieter.

More uncomfortable.

Why does Cassian know what she looked like that night?

Adrian frowned.

The terrace.

He remembered leaving.

Remembered the aide.

Remembered Marian standing alone.

Had Cassian been there?

The realization sat strangely inside his chest.

Not because anything improper had happened.

Cassian would never.

Marian would never.

Yet the thought remained.

Someone had been there.

When he wasn’t.

And for reasons he couldn’t explain, Adrian disliked that very much.

"Your Highness?"

Adrian blinked.

A minister was speaking to him.

He hadn’t heard a word.

Across the room, Marian looked up.

Perhaps sensing his gaze.

For one brief moment, their eyes met.

Then she looked away.

Not angrily.

Not sadly.

Simply... away.

And somehow that hurt more.

A short while later, the luncheon finally ended.

Marian escaped immediately.

Before another speech could begin.

Before another awkward conversation could happen.

Before she completely lost her mind.

As she descended the palace steps, she felt it again.

A gaze.

Her heart betrayed her instantly.

One quick beat.

Nothing more.

Marian hated that one beat with her entire soul.

Slowly, she looked back.

Cassian stood at the top of the stairs.

Watching.

Not approaching.

Not calling after her.

Just watching.

Their eyes met.

For a moment neither moved.

Then Cassian inclined his head.

A simple gesture.

A farewell.

Nothing more.

Yet somehow Marian found herself thinking about it the entire ride home.

Which was extremely unfortunate.

Because she had enough problems already.

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