Page 12 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

Carol smiled. Time to start her redemption arc.

"Good morning, Daisy. Millie." She gestured to the room. "I'm feeling much better, actually. I was thinking... I'd like to take a walk around the estate today. Get to know my new home properly."

The two maids exchanged glances.

"A walk, my lady?" Millie asked carefully, her voice soft but wary. "You haven't left your chambers in over a week."

"Well, that's about to change," Carol said cheerfully. "But first—" She turned to Daisy. "Can you tell me what my husband is doing today? Where he might be?"

Daisy blinked, surprised by the question. "His Grace? He's usually in his study in the east wing at this hour, handling correspondence. Or training with his men in the courtyard."

"Perfect." Carol walked to her wardrobe. "Help me pick something appropriate for a walk, would you? Something comfortable but presentable. I have a workplace—I mean, an estate—to explore."

As the maids hurried to help her, exchanging confused but hopeful glances, Carol caught Lumi's eye. The angel sprite was smiling—really smiling—for the first time in ten years.

Missy, from her perch on the bedpost that only Carol could see, groaned. "This is going to be so BORING."

But Carol ignored her. She was done following chaos advice.

She was making her own choices now.

And she was going to choose survival over drama.

Even if it meant being boring instead of dead.

Chapter 4

Workplace Reconnaissance (Oh No, He's Hot)

"The green day dress, I think," Carol said, examining the options Daisy had laid out. "Something comfortable but presentable."

Daisy and Millie exchanged another one of those looks—the kind that said they were trying to figure out if their lady had been possessed by a friendly ghost.

"The green is lovely, my lady," Millie said softly, helping Carol out of her nightgown. "Are you certain you're feeling well? You've seemed... different this morning."

"I'm feeling better than I have in a while, actually," Carol said truthfully. She caught sight of Lumi hovering near her shoulder, giving her an encouraging smile. Missy was sulking near the window, clearly unhappy about the direction things were going.

As the maids helped her dress, Carol studied them more carefully. Daisy was indeed the more expressive one—her face showed every emotion clearly, and she had a tendency to fill silences with chatter. Millie was quieter, more observant, her eyes constantly scanning the room as if looking for threats.

Both of them clearly cared about Original Caroline, despite everything. That was... something. At least she had two allies in this house.

"There," Daisy said, stepping back to admire her work. "You look beautiful, my lady."

Carol looked at herself in the mirror. The green dress brought out the amber in her eyes, and her honey-blonde hair had been swept up in a simple but elegant style. She looked like a proper duchess.

Now to act like one.

"Perfect. Thank you both." Carol turned to them with a smile. "I'd like you to accompany me on a tour of the estate. I want to see everything—the halls, the common areas, the kitchens, the gardens, and the training grounds."

Daisy's eyes widened. "The training grounds, my lady?"

"Is that a problem?"

"N-no, my lady," Daisy said quickly. "It's just... you've never wanted to go near there before. His Grace trains there with his men."

"All the more reason to see it," Carol said. "This is my home now. I should know what goes on in it."

Millie and Daisy exchanged glances again, but both nodded.