the Villainess they took for granted

A knock came at the door.

Marian looked toward it.

She knew that knock.

Before Adrian could answer, the door opened.

Two female attendants entered carrying breakfast.

Marian recognized both of them immediately.

They had served the Imperial household for years. She had known them since she was young, back when she had still been expected to become Crown Princess.

And now they were seeing her here.

In Adrian’s private chambers.

In his bed.

The realization made heat rush into her face.

Not because there was anything unusual about being attended to in the morning. She had grown up with servants entering her rooms with breakfast, clothing, hot water, and everything else required to begin the day.

That part was perfectly ordinary.

It was everything surrounding it that made her uncomfortable.

These women knew her.

They knew who she was.

They knew she had once been Adrian’s fiancée.

They knew the engagement had been dissolved.

They knew she had left him for another man.

And now, before anything had even been formally decided between them, she had spent the night in his chambers.

Marian lowered her eyes.

She could only imagine what they might think.

Not that either woman would ever say a word.

They were servants of the Imperial household.

They knew their place, and Marian knew theirs.

Still, knowing that did very little to ease the embarrassment.

Adrian glanced at her.

He seemed entirely unbothered.

Of course he did.

He was the Emperor.

He had spent his entire life surrounded by people who knew how to keep their expressions neutral, regardless of what they might have been thinking.

Marian, unfortunately, had never been quite as talented.

The attendants finished arranging the breakfast.

”Will there be anything else, Your Majesty?”

”No.”

They bowed.

Then left.

The door closed behind them.

Marian finally exhaled.

Adrian looked at her.

”You’re embarrassed.”

She gave him a look.

”What gave it away?”

His mouth curved slightly.

”Everything.”

Marian frowned.

He glanced toward the closed door.

”They won’t speak of this.”

”I know.”

”They know their place.”

”I know that too.”

She hesitated.

”They’ve seen women here before.”

”Yes.”

The answer was simple.

Marian looked at him.

”But they don’t stay.”

Adrian’s gaze rested on her.

”No.”

Something about that answer made her pause.

”They come when I summon them,” he said. ”And they leave afterward.”

Marian was quiet.

She had known Adrian had been with other women after they separated.

He had told her so.

But hearing him say it so plainly was different.

Those women had come and gone.

They had never remained through the morning.

They had never sat at this table.

They had never been part of the quiet hours after.

And apparently, Adrian had never allowed the household to treat those encounters as anything more than what they were.

Marian’s gaze moved toward the breakfast table.

Two places had been prepared.

Something fluttered in her chest.

Adrian noticed.

”Don’t read too much into it.”

Her expression fell slightly.

”I wasn’t.”

He looked at her.

”You were.”

Marian looked away.

She hated how easily he could read her.

But she couldn’t help it.

She had woken that morning with a strange, almost giddy certainty that perhaps things were finally moving in the direction she wanted.

And this—

this small thing—

felt like something.

Not a promise.

Not a declaration.

But something.

He had kept her here.

He had ordered breakfast for two.

He had sent the attendants away rather than leave them standing around her.

She didn’t know what Adrian intended.

But she wanted to believe that last night had meant something beyond a moment of desire.

Adrian reached for his robe.

Marian immediately looked away.

She was still far too aware of the fact that she was sitting in his bed with nothing between herself and the sheet.

Adrian noticed her embarrassment but said nothing.

He put on his robe without hurry.

Then he moved toward the breakfast table.

Marian followed a moment later, gathering the sheet around herself before taking the chair opposite him.

For several seconds, neither touched the food.

Marian’s thoughts returned to what Adrian had said.

Those women did not stay.

She didn’t know why that mattered so much.

Perhaps because it made her feel, however foolishly, that she was different.

She had been different to him once.

Maybe she still was.

Adrian looked at her.

”Earlier, you agreed to prove yourself.”

Marian’s heart gave a small beat.

”Yes.”

”Do you remember what you agreed to?”

Marian nodded.

Adrian studied her for a moment.

”Then prove it.”

Marian’s brows drew together slightly.

”How?”

Adrian held her gaze.

”Please me.”

The words were so matter-of-fact that she wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly.

Her mind immediately returned to the previous night.

Heat rose into her cheeks.

Adrian noticed.

His expression remained composed.

Marian swallowed.

She had thought she understood what proving herself meant.

She had imagined difficult choices.

Complicated situations.

Perhaps sacrifices.

She hadn’t expected Adrian to begin with something so immediate.

She looked at him.

”What do you want me to do?”

Adrian held her gaze.

”That’s for you to decide.”

Marian went quiet.

And then she understood.

This wasn’t an instruction.

It was a test.

He wanted to see what she thought pleasing him meant.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sheet.

She could kiss him.

She could touch him.

She could simply stay close to him.

Or perhaps he meant something entirely different.

Adrian gave her no clue.

He simply waited.

Marian studied his face.

There was no impatience there.

No amusement.

No indication that she had already guessed correctly or incorrectly.

He was simply watching her.

Waiting to see what she would choose.

She glanced at the breakfast between them.

Then back at him.

Perhaps that was the point.

He wasn’t going to tell her how to prove herself.

If she truly meant what she had said, she would have to decide for herself what she was willing to give him.

Marian drew a quiet breath.

”All right.”

Adrian’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

She wasn’t sure whether he had heard her.

But he didn’t answer.

He only continued to watch her.

Marian looked at him for another moment.

Then her gaze dropped to his untouched breakfast.

A thought came to her.

Perhaps she would start there.

She reached for the serving spoon.

And Adrian said nothing.

--

Tbc