Page 17 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

Carol looked at Lumi, then at Missy, then at the ceiling as if asking the universe for strength.

"Tell him..." She took a deep breath. "Tell him I'll be there."

After Daisy's footsteps faded, Carol sat in silence for a long moment.

"Okay," she said finally. "Okay. I can do this. It's just dinner. With my terrifying, unkillable husband. Who caught me watching him train. Who I tried to poison three weeks ago. This is fine. Everything is fine."

"You're panicking," Lumi observed.

"I'm strategically concerned," Carol corrected.

"You're totally panicking," Missy agreed.

Carol couldn't argue with that.

She had eight hours until dinner.

Eight hours to prepare for her first real interaction with Caspian Vanthorn.

Eight hours to figure out how to explain why she'd been hiding in the garden watching him.

Eight hours to not completely ruin her only chance at survival.

No pressure, Carol thought.

No pressure at all.

Chapter 5

Dinner with the Boss (Please Don't Fire Me)

Carol had changed outfits four times.

"The blue one was fine!" Lumi insisted as Daisy and Millie held up yet another dress option.

"The blue one made me look like I was trying too hard," Carol muttered, examining a deep burgundy gown. "What about this one?"

"You're definitely trying too hard," Missy observed from her perch on the vanity. "He's going to think you're up to something."

"I AM up to something," Carol hissed quietly so the maids wouldn't hear. "I'm up to NOT DYING."

In the end, she settled on an elegant emerald green dress—sophisticated but not overly formal, with delicate gold embroidery at the neckline. It brought out her eyes and, more importantly, didn't scream "I'm trying to seduce you" or "I'm plotting your demise."

Daisy arranged her hair in a simple updo with a few honey-blonde curls framing her face. Millie added minimal jewelry—just a pair of pearl earrings and a delicate gold bracelet.

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

Carol looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.

You've survived earnings call prep sessions with managing directors who threw staplers when models didn't balance. You've given presentations to rooms full of people looking for any excuse to tear you down. You've navigated office politics that would make Machiavelli proud.

This is just dinner with your terrifying, unkillable husband who you tried to poison and who caught you lurking in the garden watching him train.

Totally fine. Completely manageable.

"I'm going to throw up," Carol said.

"You're going to be fine!" Lumi said encouragingly, hovering near her shoulder. "Just be yourself! Well, your NEW self. Not the old self. Definitely not the old self."