the Villainess they took for granted

Marian woke slowly.

For several moments, she remained beneath the blankets, her eyes still closed as the warmth of sleep gradually gave way to awareness.

Then she remembered where she was.

A smile immediately touched her lips.

Adrian’s chambers.

Last night returned to her in fragments—the carriage ride, their conversation, his arms around her, and the quiet certainty with which he had told her he loved her.

Her cheeks warmed.

She pressed her face briefly into the pillow before finally sitting up.

The other side of the bed was empty.

Marian glanced toward the adjoining dressing room when she heard movement.

She slipped from the bed, wrapped herself in the robe that had been left nearby, and followed the sound.

She stopped at the doorway.

Adrian was already preparing for court.

He stood before the tall mirror while his chamberlain fastened the buttons of his formal coat.

The morning light fell across him.

Marian’s gaze lingered.

She had always known Adrian was handsome.

Everyone did.

Even before he became Emperor, he had been regarded as one of the most striking men in the Empire. Cassian had always been considered the more handsome of the two—perhaps the most handsome man in the Empire altogether—but Adrian had never been far behind.

Marian had simply stopped noticing.

Somewhere along the way, after she had fallen in love with Cassian, Adrian’s appearance had become so familiar that she no longer thought about it.

Now she found herself looking again.

His platinum hair was neatly arranged, the pale strands catching the morning light. His sapphire eyes were reflected in the mirror, sharp beneath the strong line of his brows. The high bridge of his nose, the clean angle of his jaw, the broad line of his shoulders beneath the dark formal coat—

She knew all of it.

She had known it for years.

Yet seeing him now, after everything that had happened between them, felt strangely different.

Perhaps it was because she was looking at him as a woman in love again.

Or perhaps she had simply forgotten how unfairly handsome he was.

Marian’s lips curved.

No wonder I keep staring at him.

She almost laughed at herself.

Adrian caught her reflection in the mirror.

His gaze met hers.

Marian immediately looked away.

The chamberlain was adjusting the front of Adrian’s coat when Marian stepped forward.

”I’ll do it.”

The chamberlain immediately looked toward Adrian.

Adrian met his gaze through the mirror.

A barely perceptible shift in his expression was enough.

The chamberlain bowed.

”Of course, Lady Marian.”

He stepped away.

Marian moved into his place.

Adrian said nothing.

She carefully fastened the remaining buttons of his coat, her fingers moving over the dark fabric before she straightened his lapel.

She smoothed it once more.

”There.”

Adrian looked down at her.

”You didn’t have to.”

”I know.”

She smiled.

”I wanted to.”

His gaze lingered on her.

He liked this.

He liked seeing her standing there, attentive to him without being asked.

The small movements of her hands.

The concentration in her expression.

The way she fussed over the details of his clothing as though making certain he was properly presented to the court mattered to her.

It was an ordinary thing.

Yet after everything that had happened between them, Adrian found something deeply satisfying about it.

Marian reached up and adjusted his cravat.

”Is this comfortable?”

”Yes.”

She gave it one final touch.

”Good.”

Adrian continued watching her.

”You seem pleased with yourself.”

”I am.”

A faint curve touched his mouth.

She stepped back to inspect him.

”Now you’re ready.”

”I was ready before.”

”You were.”

She smiled.

”But now you’re properly ready.”

Adrian’s expression softened.

Marian looked toward the clock.

”You’ll be late.”

”I won’t.”

”Of course you won’t.”

She laughed softly.

Then her hands returned to the front of his coat, smoothing a crease that wasn’t really there.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then, still looking at what she was doing rather than at him, she asked quietly,

”Shall I head home later?”

”No.”

The answer came immediately.

Marian’s fingers paused.

”Stay.”

She looked up slightly.

Adrian’s voice remained calm.

”The Imperial Household will be in touch with you within the day. There will be arrangements to discuss, preparations to begin, and people who will need your cooperation.”

His gaze remained on her.

”It will be more convenient if you remain here.”

”Oh.”

Marian nodded.

Of course.

That made sense.

The wedding preparations would begin immediately. There would be protocols, schedules, fittings, consultations, and countless other things she hadn’t even considered yet.

It was practical.

Efficient.

Entirely like Adrian.

Still, something in her expression fell.

Only slightly.

But Adrian noticed.

He reached out.

His index finger slipped beneath her chin and gently tilted her face upward until their eyes met.

”And because I want you to stay.”

Marian’s breath caught.

Her cheeks warmed immediately.

Adrian held her gaze.

”I want you here.”

She swallowed.

”But we’re not married yet.”

The words came out softly.

Adrian’s eyes remained on hers.

”You will be my wife soon enough.”

Marian’s blush deepened.

She didn’t know what to say.

His thumb brushed lightly against her chin.

Then he leaned down and kissed her.

It was brief.

Gentle.

But it left Marian completely speechless.

When he pulled away, his eyes remained on hers for another moment.

”I’ll see you later.”

Then he turned and left.

The door closed behind him.

Marian stood perfectly still.

For several seconds, she simply stared at the door.

Then she covered her face with both hands.

”Oh my God.”

She hurried back toward the bed.

She threw herself onto the mattress and buried her burning face into the pillows.

A muffled squeal escaped her.

She kicked her feet beneath the blankets.

He wanted her to stay.

Not merely because it was convenient.

Not merely because the Imperial Household needed her.

Because he wanted her there.

Marian rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling with a ridiculous smile.

She pressed both hands against her cheeks.

She was going to marry Adrian.

She was actually going to marry him.

And somehow, she was already behaving like a lovesick girl.

She buried her face into the pillow again.

This time, she didn’t even try to suppress the squeal.

--

Tbc