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the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 10: An Unfamiliar Sight · Oct 27, 2026

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Chapter List (304)

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1 Chapter 1: The Future I Already Changed 2026-10-27
2 Chapter 2: A Commoner at Court 2026-10-27
3 Chapter 3: The Crown Prince’s Routine 2026-10-27
4 Chapter 4The Heroine 2026-10-27
5 Chapter 5: There Were Supposed To Be Pastries 2026-10-27
6 Chapter 6: An Unnecessary Thought 2026-10-27
7 Chapter 7: Nothing Worth Worrying About 2026-10-27
8 Chapter 8: A Conversation Too Easy 2026-10-27
9 Chapter 9: A Strange Habit 2026-10-27
10 Chapter 10: An Unfamiliar Sight 2026-10-27
11 Chapter 11: Whispers 2026-10-27
12 Chapter 12: Some Things Seem Permanent 2026-10-27
13 Chapter 13: An Irritating Pattern 2026-10-27
14 Chapter 14: The Empty Seat 2026-10-27
15 Chapter 15: It Was Supposed To Be Nothing 2026-10-27
16 Chapter 16: Four Months 2026-10-27
17 Chapter 17: The First Fight 2026-10-27
18 Chapter 18: Almost Normal 2026-10-27
19 Chapter 19: Prove Me Wrong 2026-10-27
20 Chapter 20: Her Name 2026-10-27
21 Chapter 21: The last chance 2026-10-27
22 Chapter 22: As If Nothing Happened 2026-10-27
23 Chapter 23: The First Crack 2026-10-27
24 Chapter 24: The Man She Never Saw 2026-10-27
25 Chapter 25: Something Changed 2026-10-27
26 Chapter 26: A Very Dangerous Luncheon 2026-10-27
27 Chapter 27: The Hunting Lodge 2026-10-27
28 Chapter 28: The Wrong Man 2026-10-27
29 Chapter 29: Choose Me 2026-10-27
30 Chapter 30: The Wrong Person 2026-10-27
31 Chapter 31The First Bad Idea 2026-10-27
32 Chapter 32: a Terrible Idea 2026-10-27
33 Chapter 33: A Dangerous Thought 2026-10-27
34 Chapter 34: A Very Bad Idea 2026-10-27
35 Chapter 35: The First Move 2026-10-27
36 Chapter 36: Entirely Unhelpful 2026-10-27
37 Chapter 37: Coincidence 2026-10-27
38 Chapter 38: An Unfortunate Truth 2026-10-27
39 Chapter 39: The Worst Possible Recovery 2026-10-27
40 Chapter 40: Tomorrow 2026-10-27
41 Chapter 41: The Dance 2026-10-27
42 Chapter 42: Sleepless Night 2026-10-27
43 Chapter 43: Not an Accident 2026-10-27
44 Chapter 44: The Question 2026-10-27
45 Chapter 45: Absence 2026-10-27
46 Chapter 46: Things We Have No Right To Want 2026-10-27
47 Chapter 47: Into the Forest 2026-10-27
48 Chapter 48: The First Night 2026-10-27
49 Chapter 49: The Second Day 2026-10-27
50 Chapter 50: The Second Night 2026-10-27

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: An Unfamiliar Sight

Marian entered the breakfast room and immediately stopped.

This was a trap.

Her father sat at the head of the table.

Adrian sat across from him.

Both men looked entirely too pleased with themselves.

Marian considered turning around.

Unfortunately, Adrian noticed her.

Too late.

”Good morning.”

”No.”

The Duke laughed.

Traitor.

Complete traitor.

Marian walked toward the table anyway.

Her silver-blonde hair was only half arranged.

Her expression openly offended by the existence of morning.

Adrian looked annoyingly amused.

”You’re late.”

”I was sleeping.”

”As expected.”

”You say that like it’s a flaw.”

”It is.”

Marian gasped.

The betrayal never stopped.

Her father looked entertained.

Which meant he was enjoying this.

Another betrayal.

”You’re going to the Summer Rose Exhibition.”

”No.”

”Yes.”

”No.”

”Marian.”

She pointed accusingly at Adrian.

”You’re becoming just like him.”

The Duke looked proud.

A terrible sign.

Breakfast passed exactly as Marian feared.

Discussions.

Schedules.

Responsibilities.

The usual horrors.

Marian contributed almost nothing.

A personal victory.

Eventually, however, the conversation ended.

Adrian stood.

The Duke returned to his documents.

And Marian immediately escaped.

A sensible decision.

Naturally, Adrian followed.

”Running away again?”

”I’m strategically retreating.”

”From what?”

”Work.”

They stepped into the corridor.

The door clicked shut behind them.

And the moment they were out of sight—

Marian grabbed the front of Adrian’s coat.

The Crown Prince barely had time to react before she pulled him down.

Her lips brushed his.

Quick.

Warm.

Familiar.

The sort of kiss exchanged by people who had done this countless times.

The sort that carried no hesitation whatsoever.

When she finally pulled away, she looked entirely pleased with herself.

”Good morning.”

Adrian stared.

”You already said that.”

”That was the formal greeting.”

”Marian.”

She laughed.

The sound echoed softly through the corridor.

Adrian shook his head.

Yet one hand had already settled naturally against her waist.

As though it belonged there.

Perhaps it did.

”You are impossible.”

”So I’ve been told.”

”Repeatedly.”

”And yet you’re still marrying me.”

A dangerous thing to say.

Because for a brief moment, Adrian’s expression softened.

Completely.

The teasing disappeared.

The amusement disappeared.

Leaving only certainty.

”Yes.”

The answer came immediately.

Without hesitation.

Without doubt.

Just certainty.

Marian’s heart squeezed.

Ridiculous.

After all these years, he could still do that.

She had spent eighteen years with Adrian Aurelius.

Eighteen years.

And somehow the man remained unfairly handsome.

Life truly wasn’t fair.

The morning sunlight caught in his silver hair.

His blue eyes remained fixed on her.

And Marian suddenly found herself thinking the same thing she always thought.

How am I supposed to behave normally around that face?

Impossible.

Completely impossible.

”You are staring.”

Marian immediately looked away.

”I am not.”

”You are.”

”You have no proof.”

”I literally watched you do it.”

”Your testimony is biased.”

Adrian laughed.

Then lifted a hand.

His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek.

A casual gesture.

Yet Marian felt warmth bloom instantly.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

She was a grown woman.

She should not react like this anymore.

Unfortunately, Adrian remained Adrian.

And that was the problem.

”One day,” Adrian said quietly, ”your father is going to catch us.”

”He’ll survive.”

”That’s not reassuring.”

”Then we’d better get married soon.”

The words left her naturally.

Playfully.

A joke.

Mostly.

Yet Adrian’s gaze lingered.

Just for a second.

Long enough that Marian felt her pulse stumble.

Because she knew that look.

The look that appeared whenever he forgot he was Crown Prince.

The look that appeared whenever he was simply Adrian.

The man she’d loved for years.

The man who loved her back.

Then the moment passed.

As quickly as it arrived.

”Come on.”

Adrian offered his arm.

”The carriage is waiting.”

Marian sighed dramatically.

”The sacrifices I make for love.”

”You mean flowers.”

”There will be flowers?”

”There will be flowers.”

Marian immediately brightened.

”Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

The Imperial Summer Rose Exhibition occupied nearly the entire southern garden district.

Hundreds of rare roses bloomed beneath the summer sun.

Musicians performed.

Artists painted.

Nobles wandered through winding pathways.

It was, Marian decided, significantly better than agricultural exhibitions.

There were flowers.

This was an important improvement.

”There are pastries too.”

Adrian handed her a small plate.

Marian looked delighted.

”See? This is why I keep you.”

”How generous.”

”I know.”

She accepted the pastry.

And because she was happy, she slipped her free hand into his.

Without thinking.

Without hesitation.

The same way she had done for years.

Adrian intertwined their fingers automatically.

Neither noticed.

Or perhaps they noticed so often that they no longer consciously registered it.

The gesture felt natural.

Like breathing.

Like sunlight.

Like home.

Unfortunately, every pleasant day eventually encountered politics.

Today was no exception.

Near the central pavilion, several officials had gathered.

Maps covered the tables.

Reports changed hands.

People were discussing something.

A terrible sign.

Marian immediately attempted retreat.

Adrian caught her wrist.

Betrayal.

Again.

”Stay.”

”No.”

”Marian.”

”No.”

”Five minutes.”

”You always say five minutes.”

”Because it sounds reasonable.”

”It never is.”

Unfortunately, Adrian possessed unfair advantages.

Like persistence.

And beautiful eyes.

Marian hated both.

Especially together.

Five minutes later, she was trapped beside him.

Listening to discussions about rural healthcare initiatives.

A tragedy.

A genuine tragedy.

Several officials debated funding priorities.

Others argued over transportation routes.

Someone mentioned medicine shortages.

Marian stopped listening almost immediately.

Then a familiar name reached her ears.

”Miss Hart would know.”

Marian blinked.

Interesting.

One official nodded.

”She’s worked directly with those communities.”

Another agreed.

”Her recommendations have been accurate so far.”

Marian glanced at Adrian.

Casually.

Entirely casually.

The Crown Prince considered the matter.

Then nodded.

”Bring her.”

Simple.

Professional.

Reasonable.

Yet something about it caught Marian’s attention.

Because Adrian hadn’t asked for a minister.

Or an advisor.

Or a physician.

He had specifically asked for Elena.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Twenty minutes later, Elena arrived.

Slightly breathless.

Apparently she’d been assisting elsewhere.

The heroine looked surprised to find so many officials gathered.

Then immediately focused once the issue was explained.

And Marian watched something strange happen.

Elena transformed.

Not physically.

Not dramatically.

But unmistakably.

The shy young woman who blushed during tea gatherings disappeared.

In her place stood someone confident.

Focused.

Certain.

Elena discussed supply routes.

Medical access.

Practical concerns.

Questions Marian barely understood.

And for the first time, Marian saw Adrian and Elena working together.

Not socializing.

Not chatting.

Working.

The difference mattered.

Because Adrian looked exactly as he always did when discussing something that genuinely interested him.

Focused.

Engaged.

Alive.

And Elena matched him.

Not in rank.

Not in authority.

But in enthusiasm.

The two of them bounced ideas back and forth naturally.

Effortlessly.

Like people who genuinely enjoyed the same subject.

Marian understood approximately twenty percent of the conversation.

Possibly less.

At one point she started counting flower petals.

A much more rewarding activity.

Still.

Something caught her attention.

Adrian smiled.

Not often.

Not dramatically.

Just occasionally.

The small smile he wore whenever he encountered something interesting.

The smile he wore while solving difficult problems.

The smile he wore while enjoying himself.

The sight made Marian pause.

Because she recognized it.

She had seen it before.

Countless times.

Usually when Adrian spoke with military strategists.

Or scholars.

Or people whose opinions he genuinely respected.

Now he was directing it toward Elena.

The realization wasn’t painful.

Not yet.

Just unfamiliar.

Very unfamiliar.

Eventually the discussion ended.

Officials departed.

Reports changed hands.

Problems received solutions.

Everyone looked satisfied.

Except Marian.

Because she was bored.

An entirely different issue.

”Are we done?”

Adrian laughed.

The sound immediately improved her mood.

”We’re done.”

”Wonderful.”

She took his arm.

Possessively.

Without realizing it.

A habit formed over years.

Adrian accepted it naturally.

Another habit.

Together they began walking away.

Then Elena called after them.

”Lady Marian.”

Marian turned.

Elena smiled.

A little hesitant.

A little shy.

”There is a dessert pavilion near the eastern gardens.”

Marian immediately became interested.

Finally.

Relevant information.

”I discovered it yesterday.”

”You have my full attention.”

Elena laughed.

And for a moment, all three of them smiled.

A harmless moment.

An ordinary moment.

Nothing worth remembering.

Or so Marian thought.

Later that night, while preparing for bed, Marian found herself thinking.

Not about the flowers.

Not about the pastries.

Not even about the exhibition.

About Adrian.

And Elena.

Specifically the way they spoke.

The ease between them.

The shared enthusiasm.

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

Small.

Uncomfortable.

Then she immediately dismissed it.

Because the answer was obvious.

Adrian liked intelligent discussions.

Elena provided intelligent discussions.

There was nothing strange about that.

Nothing at all.

After all—

Marian smiled to herself.

She provided other things.

Laughter.

Comfort.

Affection.

Happiness.

Romance.

Not every relationship needed to be built around discussing healthcare budgets.

What a dreadful thought.

Satisfied with her conclusion, she slipped beneath the blankets.

Completely unaware that for the first time, she had compared herself to Elena.

And once comparisons begin—

They rarely stop.

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