The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script-Chapter 57

The chaos of the underground market had barely begun to settle when Beatrice, Lila, and Francois slipped into a narrow alleyway between two fabric stalls. The curtain of noise and lights muffled behind them, but Beatrice could still feel the tension pulsing beneath her skin.

Francois checked over his shoulder, then gestured toward an old archway hidden in shadow.

"There. That leads to the back tunnels. We can circle around and—"

"Going somewhere without me? Rude."

The voice was unmistakable.

Beatrice halted in her tracks, heart stuttering.

Magnus Da Ville stood a few paces away, leaning casually against the stone wall as if he’d been waiting for them the entire time. His cloak was darker than usual, hood pushed back to reveal the familiar smirk tugging at his mouth. A sword hung at his hip, casual but visible.

Lila blinked. "You?"

"Me," Magnus said, pushing off the wall and sauntering toward them. "Fancy meeting you here, Princess. I almost didn’t recognize you without the palace guards and snide commentary."

Lila arched a brow. "And I almost didn’t recognize you without the usual air of criminal activity."

"You wound me." Magnus grinned wider.

Francois stepped forward, voice tight. "What are you doing here, Magnus?"

Magnus gave him an easy shrug. "Business. What else?"

Beatrice stepped between them before the tension could snap.

"You followed us."

"Followed is a strong word," Magnus said. "Let’s just say... word travels fast in these circles. And you three aren’t exactly subtle."

Francois scowled. "If you’re implying we’ve been noticed—"

"I’m saying you’re lucky I found you before someone less... forgiving did," Magnus cut in, suddenly serious. "There are people down here who’d love to catch a glimpse of royal blood without a guard in sight."

"And what? You were just going to let us walk into that risk?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

"On the contrary," he said, eyes locking onto hers. "I was hoping you’d be smart enough to realize the danger."

"Why do you care?" Lila stepped forward, arms crossed.

For a moment, Magnus hesitated. Then he looked back at Beatrice.

"Because my sister’s already too deep in something she doesn’t fully understand. I’m not going to let her die in a back alley over a joke."

Beatrice stiffened. She hated how much her throat tightened at those words.

Francois watched the exchange, gaze flicking between them.

"You knew she was coming down here."

Magnus didn’t answer. That was enough.

"We should go," Beatrice muttered, already moving past them.

Magnus fell in beside her without being asked. Lila gave Francois a look, then followed.

The walk back through the tunnels was quiet. The air grew colder the deeper they went, and the flickering lanterns barely lit the way. When they finally emerged into the quieter outskirts of the palace grounds, Beatrice stopped just short of the gate.

"You didn’t come down here just to babysit," she said to Magnus.

He didn’t deny it. "No. I came to warn you."

"About what?" Francois narrowed his eyes.

Magnus looked at Beatrice. "You already know, don’t you?"

Beatrice said nothing.

Magnus glanced at the others, then added, more carefully, "Let’s just say the pressure is mounting. And certain parties are getting bolder."

"Which parties?" Francois demanded.

"The kind who don’t speak their names out loud," Magnus said smoothly.

Beatrice exhaled. She understood what he meant.

Their family.

The Da Villes were no longer just skimming off court politics. They were entrenching themselves in something dangerous. Something that would eventually come to light.

And Magnus, for all his sarcasm and sleight of hand, was trying to shield her from it. In his own, frustrating way.

"Be careful, Beatice," he said quietly.

She met his gaze. "You too."

Without another word, Magnus slipped into the darkness, gone as suddenly as he arrived.

Francois turned to her. "He knows something."

"He always does," Beatrice murmured.

The game was changing. And soon, none of them would be able to play it safely.

Beatrice remained frozen for a moment, eyes still fixed on the corner Magnus had disappeared into. Francois hadn’t moved either. He stood beside her, arms crossed, jaw tight with thought.

Beatrice finally exhaled and started walking again, the hem of her cloak dragging through gravel. The air felt heavier now, like the night itself had shifted. Magnus showing up had changed the pace of the evening, and not in a way she liked.

Francois walked silently beside her, but she could feel the weight of his thoughts. He was holding back.

"He’s not wrong," she said after a moment. "About things moving faster."

Francois gave her a sidelong glance. "Do you know something you’re not saying?"

"I could ask you the same."

They stopped at the edge of the hedges. The palace loomed just ahead, warm light spilling from its high windows, a stark contrast to the chill pressing in from behind.

Francois finally spoke. "If Magnus is looking into these deals, he’s either working with someone, or about to make enemies."

"That’s not news. He’s always been reckless." Lila butted in.

"No," Francois said. "He’s always been loyal. Which makes me wonder who he’s loyal to now."

Her mouth tightened, but she said nothing.

They resumed walking.

Somewhere in the distance, the bells of the city began to toll the hour. Midnight. She felt it settle into her bones, like something was being counted down.

By the time the palace came into full view again, Beatrice’s steps had slowed. Her mind was already back in motion, piecing together everything Magnus had implied.

Someone was selling weapons. Someone was fueling a war. And her family was still right in the middle of it.

Her stomach twisted. The same nausea from Magnus’ last letter curled back up in her chest. She hadn’t wanted to think about it tonight, not while she was still recovering from everything else. But the truth had a way of slipping back in, just like Magnus had.

She brushed her hands down the front of her cloak, as if she could smooth the tension from her body.

Francois didn’t speak, but she could tell his attention was still on her. She didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to see what was in his expression, whether it was suspicion or concern or something worse.

She was still trying to catch her breath when Lila finally spoke again from behind them.

"Well," she muttered, "that was dramatic."

Beatrice blinked and turned. Lila was trailing a few paces behind now, tugging the edge of her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

"Do you always end your nights with cryptic warnings and shady siblings, or was that a special treat for me?"

"You started this. Remember?" Beatrice gave a dry laugh.

Lila shrugged, then caught up, her voice dropping to a murmur. "Do you trust him?"

"Magnus?" Beatrice hesitated.

Lila nodded.

She should’ve said yes. Should’ve said of course. But she couldn’t.

"I don’t know," Beatrice said softly.

It was the closest thing to honesty she could manage tonight.

They reached the side entrance of the palace. One of the smaller doors servants used, unmonitored at this hour, but still guarded. Francois stepped ahead, gave a few low words to the guard posted by the archway. The man let them pass without question.

Inside, the stone halls felt colder. Too bright. Too clean. Reality was always worse when it came back in full color. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Lila peeled off first. "I’m going to pretend this never happened. If the queen asks, I was in bed by ten, reading some terrible romance novel."

"Tell her I was with you," Beatrice said tiredly.

"Obviously."

The two shared a glance, and Lila offered a final wink before disappearing into the west wing.

Beatrice didn’t expect Francois to linger, but he did.

She turned to him. "What?"

"Just wondering how many more secrets you plan on keeping."

Beatrice stiffened. "As many as I have to."

He didn’t seem surprised by the answer.

He simply nodded. "Then I’ll have to stay close. In case those secrets become a threat."

Beatrice’s heart stuttered once, but she kept her expression calm. "To who?"

Francois stepped past her, close enough that she caught the faintest trace of cedar and winter air.

"To you."

Then he was gone.

Beatrice stood there in the hallway for a long moment after he left, unmoving, her thoughts racing far louder than her footsteps ever could.

She didn’t know which was worse.

The secrets she was still keeping. Or the ones Magnus hadn’t said aloud.