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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

Page number / 7

151 Chapter 151: Yes 2026-10-27
152 Chapter 152: The News 2026-10-27
153 Chapter 153: A Request 2026-10-27
154 Chapter 154: Closure 2026-10-27
155 Chapter 155: The First Move 2026-10-27
156 Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I 2026-10-27
157 Chapter 157: wedding plans II 2026-10-27
158 Chapter 158: Wedding Plans III 2026-10-27
159 Chapter 159: wedding plans III 2026-10-27
160 Chapter 160: wedding plans IV 2026-10-27
161 Chapter 161: reception venue I 2026-10-27
162 Chapter 162: Reception Venue II 2026-10-27
163 Chapter 163: Invitation letter and program 2026-10-27
164 Chapter 164: wedding dress 2026-10-27
165 Chapter 165: of flowers, other arrangements, and a letter 2026-10-27
166 Chapter 166: food menu, wedding cake, and the second letter 2026-10-27
167 Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting 2026-10-27
168 Chapter 168: the second move 2026-10-27
169 Chapter 169: one month before the wedding 2026-10-27
170 Chapter 170: decision to leave 2026-10-27
171 Chapter 171: the emperor falls ill 2026-10-27
172 Chapter 172: closed gates 2026-10-27
173 Chapter 173: the letter 2026-10-27
174 Chapter 174: a son who lost his father 2026-10-27
175 Chapter 175: The Succession 2026-10-27
176 Chapter 176: the emperor is dead 2026-10-27
177 Chapter 177: the minister of war 2026-10-27
178 Chapter 178: The Emperor’s Funeral 2026-10-27
179 Chapter 179: the report 2026-10-27
180 Chapter 180: the coronation I 2026-10-27
181 Chapter 181: the coronation II 2026-10-27
182 Chapter 182: V2- - 1: Her Return 2026-10-27
183 Chapter 183: V2- - 2: The Emperor 2026-10-27
184 Chapter 184: V2- - 3- Returning to soceity 2026-10-27
185 Chapter 185: V2- - 4: the marraige market 2026-10-27
186 Chapter 186: V2- - 5: an obvious choice 2026-10-27
187 Chapter 187: V2- - 6: the invitation 2026-10-27
188 Chapter 188: V2- - 7: An attempt 2026-10-27
189 Chapter 189: V2- - 8: The opening ball I 2026-10-27
190 Chapter 190: V2- - 9: The opening ball II 2026-10-27
191 Chapter 191: v2- - 10: the opening ball III 2026-10-27
192 Chapter 192: v2- - 11: the opening ball IV 2026-10-27
193 Chapter 193: v2- - 12: the opening ball V 2026-10-27
194 Chapter 194: v2- - 13: the opening ball VI 2026-10-27
195 Chapter 195: v2- - 14: the opening ball VII 2026-10-27
196 Chapter 196: v2- - 15: the opening ball VIII 2026-10-27
197 Chapter 197: v2- - 16: the opening ball IX 2026-10-27
198 Chapter 198: v2- - 17: the dance 2026-10-27
199 Chapter 199: v2- - 18: his private chambers I 2026-10-27
200 Chapter 200: v2- - 19: his private chambers II 2026-10-27

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I

By the time Marian’s carriage reached Valmont House, she had already stopped thinking about Adrian.

Not because the conversation had been insignificant.

It hadn’t.

For eighteen years, Adrian had been woven into her life so thoroughly that even speaking to him now carried the weight of everything that had come before.

But she had said what needed to be said.

She had answered him honestly.

And, more importantly, she had walked away knowing that her heart had not changed.

Whatever belonged to the past could remain there.

Marian looked through the carriage window as the gates opened.

She smiled.

She was home.

The carriage stopped.

A footman opened the door.

Marian stepped down, gathering her skirts.

She had barely crossed the entrance hall when the butler approached.

”My lady.”

Marian turned.

”Yes?”

”His Grace is waiting for you in the drawing room.”

She blinked.

”His Grace?”

”The Duke of Ashford.”

For half a second, she simply stared at him.

Then her expression brightened.

”Cassian is here?”

The butler’s mouth twitched.

”Yes, my lady.”

Marian didn’t bother hiding her happiness.

She gathered her skirts and walked quickly down the corridor.

The butler watched her go.

He had served the Valmont family long enough to recognize that particular expression.

The young lady had returned in an entirely different mood from the one in which she had left.

She had gone to meet the Crown Prince.

She had returned looking forward to the Duke of Ashford.

The distinction was rather obvious.

Marian reached the drawing-room doors.

She slowed only because she remembered herself.

Only slightly.

Then she opened them.

Cassian was standing beside the tall windows.

He turned at the sound.

For one suspended moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Marian smiled.

Cassian smiled too.

And just like that, whatever remained of the palace disappeared.

She crossed the room.

He moved toward her.

Neither seemed particularly interested in maintaining the appropriate distance between a duke and a newly engaged lady.

Marian reached him first.

She touched his arm.

”I’m back.”

Cassian’s smile deepened.

”You are.”

She leaned closer.

Then rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek.

His eyes softened.

But Marian noticed something else.

The faint tension that still lingered around them.

The question he hadn’t asked.

The worry he was trying very hard not to show.

She tilted her head.

”What?”

”Nothing.”

She narrowed her eyes.

”Cassian.”

He sighed.

”What did he say?”

Marian’s lips curved.

”You told me to meet him.”

”I did.”

”And now you’re worried?”

”A little.”

She laughed.

”Jealous?”

”No.”

”Not even a little?”

”I wouldn’t call it jealousy.”

”What would you call it?”

”Concern.”

”Very dignified.”

”I am a duke.”

”Unfortunately.”

He gave her a look.

She laughed again, then slipped her hand into his.

”I told him the truth.”

Cassian’s expression softened.

”Which was?”

”That I don’t regret choosing you.”

His fingers tightened gently around hers.

”Good.”

That was all.

No interrogation.

No demand for details.

Just trust.

Marian smiled.

Something inside her eased.

Marian looked down at their hands.

Then back at him.

”Come.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

”Where?”

”Sit.”

”I thought you liked standing.”

She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled.

”Alright.”

She pulled him gently toward the sofa.

Cassian allowed himself to be led, sitting beside her.

Marian settled next to him.

Close.

Closer than propriety probably required.

Neither seemed particularly concerned.

For a moment, they simply sat there.

Marian looked at him.

Cassian looked at her.

Then she laughed.

”What?”

”Nothing.”

”You’re laughing at me.”

”I’m not.”

”You are.”

”I was just thinking.”

”About?”

She smiled.

”How strange it is.”

”What?”

”That you’re here.”

Cassian’s expression softened.

”I’m here.”

”I know.”

She looked at him again.

”I’ve spent so long wanting you to come back.”

”And now I’m here.”

”Yes.”

She smiled.

”I suppose I should be used to it by now.”

”You’ve had me for barely a few days.”

”Exactly.”

He laughed.

Marian leaned against him.

His arm came around her without hesitation.

For a while, they talked about nothing important.

The ridiculous number of visitors who had appeared at Valmont House.

The flowers that had arrived that morning.

A particularly persistent countess who had somehow managed to ask Marian about the wedding three times in the same conversation.

Cassian laughed when he heard about it.

”Three times?”

”Three.”

”Perhaps she thought the answer might change.”

”Perhaps.”

”What did you tell her?”

”That I didn’t know.”

”And now?”

Marian smiled.

”Now I still don’t.”

Cassian looked down at her.

”That seems like a problem.”

”It might be.”

They laughed.

The laughter faded.

Marian’s smile remained.

She looked at him.

Cassian looked back.

Neither spoke for a moment.

He knew exactly what she was doing.

She was waiting.

Not quite asking.

Just leaving the door open.

And suddenly, after five months apart, the question felt almost absurdly simple.

”When do you want to marry me?”

Marian’s eyes widened slightly.

She hadn’t expected him to say it first.

”I...”

Cassian smiled.

”You’ve been wondering.”

”Maybe.”

”Then I’ll answer.”

He took her hand.

”As soon as possible.”

Her expression softened.

”Really?”

”Really.”

His thumb brushed over her fingers.

”I’ve spent five months away from you.”

His voice was quiet.

”I don’t want to spend another five months waiting.”

Marian smiled.

”I don’t want that either.”

Cassian leaned slightly closer.

”If it were only about what I wanted, now would be the most perfect time.”

She laughed softly.

”That sounds dangerously impatient.”

”I am impatient.”

”I noticed.”

He smiled.

”I want to marry you, Marian.”

The simple certainty in his voice made her heart flutter.

”Not eventually.”

His gaze remained on hers.

”Not someday.”

”Then when?”

He squeezed her hand.

”As soon as we can.”

Marian’s smile grew.

”Then perhaps we should find out when that is.”

”October.”

She blinked.

”So quickly?”

”Is that too soon?”

She shook her head.

”No.”

A small smile appeared.

”Not at all.”

”Then October.”

She looked down at the ring.

”October.”

Cassian lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

”That isn’t far enough away for me.”

Marian laughed.

”You really are impatient.”

”Only about you.”

She looked at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

”Me too.”

The words settled quietly between them.

Cassian’s expression softened.

”Then we’re agreed.”

Marian nodded.

”October.”

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