the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Into the Forest

The morning after their argument by the lake was unbearable.

Which, Marian supposed, was only fair.

Because she had spent the previous evening admitting truths she would have preferred to keep hidden forever.

Unfortunately, truth had a habit of remaining true even after one regretted it.

The retreat’s final excursion was meant to be pleasant.

A leisurely ride through the western forest.

A chance to enjoy the countryside before everyone returned to court.

At least, that had been the plan.

Marian had no intention of enjoying any part of it.

Especially because Cassian was there.

Across the gathering field, noblemen mounted horses. Ladies adjusted gloves and riding skirts. Servants hurried between groups carrying supplies.

Marian deliberately looked anywhere except toward Cassian.

A strategy she had become remarkably skilled at.

Unfortunately, it only worked because she always knew exactly where he was.

A realization she chose not to examine.

Nearby, Adrian was speaking with several officials.

The Crown Prince looked distracted.

Busy.

Important.

Exactly as he always did.

For a moment Marian watched him.

The familiar ache appeared.

Not as sharp as before.

Still present.

Still real.

Then Adrian glanced up.

Their eyes met.

He smiled.

A genuine smile.

The sort that once would have brightened her entire day.

Marian smiled back automatically.

The warmth remained.

But it felt different now.

That realization frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

A horn sounded.

The ride began.

Groups moved into the forest.

Sunlight filtered through the trees.

The path wound between hills and streams.

For a while everything remained peaceful.

Normal.

Then someone realized Elena was missing.

At first nobody panicked.

Because surely she was nearby.

Surely she had simply fallen behind another group.

Surely there was an explanation.

Thirty minutes later, the explanations began disappearing.

An hour later, concern became alarm.

The ride halted.

Riders dismounted.

Messengers hurried through the forest.

Voices rose.

Questions multiplied.

And suddenly Adrian was no longer merely Adrian.

He became the Crown Prince.

Immediate.

Effortless.

Command settled over him like armor.

Search parties were organized.

Routes assigned.

Instructions given.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

Marian watched him briefly.

A familiar pride stirred inside her.

Because Adrian was good at this.

Exceptionally good.

People trusted him.

Followed him.

Looked to him.

The realization hurt.

Because she still loved that part of him.

Perhaps she always would.

"Lady Marian."

She turned.

Cassian stood beside his horse.

Already prepared.

Already assigned.

The sight immediately complicated her morning.

Wonderful.

Just wonderful.

"Apparently," he said dryly, "we’ve been volunteered."

Marian blinked.

"By whom?"

Cassian glanced toward Adrian.

"His Royal Highness."

Of course.

Of course it would be Adrian.

Marian looked toward the Crown Prince.

Adrian was already speaking with another group.

Already managing five different problems at once.

He didn’t even glance in their direction.

The observation stung unexpectedly.

She immediately hated herself for noticing.

Cassian watched her expression.

Said nothing.

Which somehow felt worse.

A few moments later they were riding west.

Together.

Again.

The universe clearly enjoyed tormenting them.

For a while neither spoke.

The forest stretched endlessly around them.

The search party consisted of six riders.

Two guards.

Three nobles.

And Cassian.

The arrangement should have provided enough distractions.

Unfortunately, Marian remained painfully aware of the man riding beside her.

The previous evening lingered between them.

Unspoken.

Heavy.

Neither seemed eager to revisit it.

Then one of the guards found something.

A ribbon.

Caught on a low branch.

Elena’s.

The discovery changed everything.

The group followed the trail deeper into the forest.

Further.

Further.

Further.

The path narrowed.

The trees thickened.

The sky darkened overhead.

A storm was approaching.

Marian noticed it first when the wind shifted.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unpleasant.

Then thunder rolled across the distant hills.

One of the guards frowned.

"We should return."

The other guard shook his head.

"We’re close."

Unfortunately, both men were wrong.

Because moments later chaos arrived.

A crack of thunder exploded overhead.

A horse screamed.

Another bolted.

Then another.

Everything happened at once.

Shouting.

Movement.

Panic.

Marian’s horse reared violently.

She barely managed to stay mounted.

The world blurred.

Branches.

Mud.

Rain.

Noise.

Somewhere nearby someone yelled her name.

She thought it was Cassian.

Then her horse bolted.

The forest became a green and gray blur.

Marian clung desperately to the saddle.

Rain exploded from the sky.

Thunder followed.

The horse ran.

And ran.

And ran.

Until finally—

It stopped.

Breathing hard.

Shaking.

Marian slid from the saddle.

Her legs nearly gave way.

For several seconds she simply stood there.

Rain pouring from the sky.

Heart pounding.

Trying to breathe.

Trying to think.

Trying not to panic.

Then:

"Marian."

The voice came from behind her.

She spun around.

Cassian emerged through the trees.

Equally soaked.

Equally disheveled.

Equally relieved.

The sight of him produced an emotion she absolutely refused to examine.

"You’re alive."

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Cassian’s mouth twitched slightly.

"I could say the same."

For one ridiculous moment neither moved.

Then reality returned.

The storm.

The forest.

The silence.

No guards.

No search party.

No horses.

Marian looked around slowly.

The realization arrived with dreadful clarity.

"We lost them."

Cassian followed her gaze.

The answer was immediate.

"We did."

Another thunderclap echoed overhead.

Rain continued falling.

The forest stretched endlessly in every direction.

No voices.

No riders.

No signs of anyone else.

Just trees.

And rain.

And them.

Marian swallowed.

"What now?"

Cassian looked toward the darkening sky.

Then toward the endless forest.

Then back at her.

For the first time since she’d known him, he looked genuinely uncertain.

Only briefly.

Just a second.

Then it vanished.

"We find shelter."

Simple.

Practical.

Reasonable.

Marian nodded.

Because there was nothing else to do.

Together they began walking.

Deeper into the forest.

Neither realizing that the retreat had already assumed they were searching elsewhere.

Neither realizing that by morning Elena would be found.

Neither realizing that nobody would notice their absence.

Not yet.

And certainly not realizing that the next three days would change everything.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!