The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script-Chapter 21 -

Whispers were never a good sign.

Beatrice had been in the palace long enough to know that when the servants started whispering, it meant something deeply inconvenient was about to happen.

And judging by the way they kept glancing at her during breakfast, she had somehow become the subject of today's gossip.

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She sighed, stirring her tea. "Why do I feel like I'm about to be publicly executed?"

Lila, seated beside her, didn't even look up. "Because you probably deserve it."

Beatrice shot her a deeply offended look. "I have done nothing to warrant execution. Recently."

Lila smirked. "That doesn't mean you're innocent."

Beatrice opened her mouth to retort, then she saw Francois.

He had just entered the dining hall, moving with his usual regal indifference. Normally, he barely spared her a glance. But today, the very first thing he did after sitting down was look directly at her.

Not long. Not obvious. But pointed.

Beatrice froze.

No. Nope. She did not like that.

Lila noticed immediately. "What did you do?"

"Why do you assume it's me?" Beatrice hissed.

Lila didn't even hesitate. "Because it is always you."

Beatrice had no comeback for that.

Instead, she turned her attention back to not making eye contact with the prince.

Except then Johanna arrived. And hesitated.

For just a second, so fast that no one else seemed to notice, Johanna's gaze flickered toward Beatrice.

Her usual warm smile returned quickly, and she took her seat gracefully, greeting everyone with her usual angelic charm.

But Beatrice saw it. That half-second pause.

She gripped her fork like a lifeline. I knew it. I ruined something.

Lila, meanwhile, was watching the entire exchange like it was the most entertaining thing she had seen all month.

"This is fascinating," she muttered.

"This is a disaster," Beatrice hissed.

Lila smirked. "For you, maybe."

Beatrice groaned, dropping her fork. "I need to fix this."

Lila tilted her head. "Fix what, exactly?"

Beatrice gestured vaguely. "Whatever the hell is happening. I need to make them forget I exist."

Lila snorted. "Good luck with that. You have the subtlety of a drunken peacock."

Beatrice shot her a look. "You're very rude."

"I'm very correct."

"Lady Beatrice."

She flinched.

Francois was looking directly at her.

The table fell silent and Beatrice panicked.

"Your Highness!" she said, trying to sound completely normal and definitely not like she wanted to disappear into the floor.

Francois studied her, his expression unreadable. "You seem distracted."

Beatrice forced a smile. "Me? Distracted? No, no. Just... appreciating my breakfast."

Francois did not look convinced.

Johanna, ever the sweetheart, jumped in to smooth things over. "Lady Beatrice has had quite the eventful week. The riding accident must have—"

"I'm fine!" Beatrice cut in too quickly. "Totally fine. Thriving, even."

Lila rolled her eyes. "You're walking like an old man."

Francois took a slow sip of his tea. "Interesting."

Beatrice did not like the way he said that. Because it sounded dangerously close to curiosity.

It was not the usual, dismissive, "I have no time for nonsense" tone he used with her. It was thoughtful. Curious.

She narrowed her eyes. "Interesting how?"

Francois set his teacup down with quiet precision. "You've been acting differently."

Beatrice almost choked on air.

Lila, ever unhelpful, looked delighted.

She laughed, too loud. "Well, nearly dying tends to change a person! Nothing like a dramatic near-death experience to make you reevaluate your life choices!"

Francois's gaze did not waver. "Reevaluating, hm?"

Beatrice forced another bright, innocent smile. "Oh, you know! Just thinking about how fragile life is! One minute you're on a horse, the next you're kissing the dirt!"

Johanna's expression softened. "That's quite a perspective, Lady Beatrice."

"Right? So philosophical of me!" Beatrice rushed to agree. "Maybe I should start writing poetry!"

Lila snorted. "Yes. Tragic poetry about your tragic fall from grace."

Francois, still watching her too closely, hummed. "You're very talkative today."

Beatrice gripped her fork. "I'm always talkative."

"Unfortunately." Lila muttered under her breath,

Johanna let out a soft, graceful laugh, as if trying to ease the tension. "Well, it's good to see that you're in high spirits, Lady Beatrice."

Beatrice jumped on that lifeline immediately. "Yes! Exactly! High spirits! That's me!"

Francois, still annoyingly observant, studied her for a second longer before finally looking away.

Beatrice resisted the urge to sigh in relief. Crisis averted.

She grabbed her teacup, ready to just drink and pretend none of this had happened, but Francois spoke again.

"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind joining me later."

Beatrice froze.

Johanna blinked. "Oh?"

Lila outright stared.

Beatrice slowly set her cup down. "Join where?"

Francois, ever the picture of calm detachment, simply said, "I'll be meeting with the royal falconers this afternoon. If you're feeling so... alive, you should come."

Beatrice hesitated. "Why... would I want that?"

Francois tilted his head slightly. "You wanted to touch grass, didn't you?"

Lila covered her mouth.

Johanna, utterly confused, asked, "Touch... grass?"

Beatrice died inside.

Francois' expression was impossibly neutral, but there was no way he didn't know exactly what he was doing.

Beatrice inhaled sharply. "I would love to, Your Highness," she said, voice perfectly polite, "but I have a very busy schedule today."

Francois arched an eyebrow. "Doing what, exactly?"

Beatrice opened her mouth, then realized she had no answer.

Lila smirked. "Oh, Beatrice is terribly busy. Sitting. Thinking. Being a general menace."

Beatrice nearly kicked her under the table.

Francois exhaled quietly. "Then I suppose I'll see you this afternoon."

Beatrice stared. "Wait. What?"

"You've convinced me," Francois said simply. "I'd like to see this thriving version of you in action."

Beatrice panicked. She couldn't refuse now. Not without looking suspicious.

Johanna, ever the perfect heroine, smiled. "I'm sure it will be enjoyable."

Lila, grinning wickedly, added, "Yes, Beatrice. I'm sure you'll love it."

Beatrice, feeling very betrayed, forced a tight smile.

"Wonderful," she said. "What could possibly go wrong?"

As it turned out, everything.