Page 165 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

Wait, and hope, and trust that he'd keep his promise.

That he'd come home.

To her.

To them.

To their family.

Carol pressed her hand against her belly, feeling the small life growing there.

"Your papa is very brave," she whispered. "And very strong. He'll be fine. He has to be fine."

Shadow and Mochi followed her through the estate, their presence comforting even as worry gnawed at her heart.

Several days, Caspian had said.

Possibly longer.

Carol sighed and headed toward her chambers.

It was going to be a very long few days.

Chapter 35

The Subscription

The next day found Carol curled up in her lounging room, trying to read a book.

Her lounging room—one of the private spaces in Caspian's wing. Their wing now.

The staff had worked efficiently the day before, moving her belongings from her old chambers while she'd taken her afternoon nap. She'd supervised the initial packing in the morning, then retreated to the gardens with Shadow and Mochi to let them work. By evening, everything had been transferred—her clothes in the dressing room, her personal items arranged thoughtfully in the drawing room, and her favorite books and cushions placed perfectly in this comfortable lounging space.

It should have made her happy. It did make her happy.

But Caspian wasn't here to share it with her.

Carol stared at the same page she'd been trying to read for the past twenty minutes. The words blurred together, refusing to make sense.

All she could think about was Caspian riding toward danger. Fighting Blightspawn. Possibly getting hurt.

Shadow lay at her feet, his growing bulk taking up a significant portion of the floor. Mochi was curled on the cushion beside her, purring softly.

Both pets seemed to sense her anxiety.

"This is ridiculous," Carol muttered, closing the book with more force than necessary. "I can't just sit here worrying."

Lumi materialized nearby, her golden glow soft in the afternoon light. "He'll be fine, you know. The Duke is very capable."

"I know that," Carol said. "But knowing and not worrying are two different things."

Missy appeared on the other side, her red-purple energy crackling slightly. "You could always distract yourself. Redecorate something. Spend money. That usually cheers you up."

"I don't want to redecorate," Carol said, standing and pacing. "I just... I wish there was some way to know how he's doing. To see that he's safe."

"Like a crystal ball?" Lumi suggested.

"Or a scrying mirror?" Missy added.