Page 212 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"The death flags that were meant for Caroline," Lumi said. "Lucinda triggered them instead."

Carol stared at her sprites. "You're saying the universe just... transferred Caroline's fate to Lucinda?"

"Sort of," Lumi said. "When you changed—when Carol replaced the original Caroline's choices—those death flags had to go somewhere. And Lucinda was actively pursuing the same path. Sabotaging the heroine, interfering with the prophecy, refusing to stop even when warned..."

"She walked right into the doom that was waiting for Caroline," Missy finished. "Fate doesn't like being cheated. If someone's supposed to play the villain role and face consequences, and the original villain reforms..." She gestured expressively. "Someone else fills that slot."

"The universe course-corrected," Lumi said gently. "Lucinda made her choices. She triggered the death flags. This is the result."

Carol lay back against the cushions, processing this.

The fate that was meant for Caroline—arrest, disgrace, possibly death—had fallen on Lucinda instead.

Because Lucinda had chosen to be exactly what Caroline was supposed to be: the villain who interfered with the heroine's sacred quest.

"I did warn her," Carol said finally.

"You did," Lumi confirmed.

"I told her to stop pursuing Percival. To stop interfering with Rosalie. That it would end badly."

"And she didn't listen," Missy added.

"She didn't," Carol agreed.

She looked at the letter again, then shrugged. "Not my problem."

"Not your problem?" Lumi asked.

"I warned her," Carol repeated. "I gave her the chance to walk away, to stop, to avoid this exact fate. She chose not to listen. She chose to keep scheming, to keep trying to sabotage Rosalie." Carol settled back into her cushions. "Those are consequences of her own choices. I tried. She didn't care. That's on her."

Missy grinned. "Cold. I like it."

"It's not cold," Carol said. "It's practical. I don't have the energy to feel guilty about someone who was explicitly warned about death flags and decided to trigger them anyway." She patted her enormous belly. "I'm eight and a half months pregnant. I have a baby arriving any day now. I have a husband I love, a home I adore, and seven adorable creatures who've decided I need constant protection. I'm happy. Lucinda made her choices. I made mine. We're both living with the results."

"Fair enough," Missy said.

Lumi looked sad but accepting. "I wish she'd listened to you."

"So do I," Carol said honestly. "But she didn't. And now she's facing the consequences." She yawned. "I'm going back to sleep. This nap was interrupted for disappointing news about someone who should have known better."

She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into the cushions.

Lumi and Missy exchanged glances.

"She really doesn't care, does she?" Missy whispered.

"Would you?" Lumi whispered back. "After being nice enough to warn someone, and having them ignore you completely?"

"Fair point."

The sprites faded back into invisibility.

Shadow shifted slightly, his massive head settling more comfortably on his paws. Mochi purred louder. Snowball's tail twitched contentedly. Sunny returned from his playing to nestle near Carol's side.

In the trees, The Murder settled their feathers.

Medusa remained at her post, ever vigilant.