Page 56 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

The hoofbeats were steady and rhythmic as Caspian's company rode north toward the border.

He should have been focused on the mission. On the reports of Blightspawn incursions, the tactical formations needed to handle coordinated monster attacks, the supply lines and patrol rotations that would need adjustment.

Instead, his mind kept replaying the courtyard.

"I'm worried about you."

"So will I."

Caroline standing there in a simple dress, standing next to her future apex predator, looking up at him with genuine concern in her amber eyes. No manipulation. No games. Just... worry.

For him.

Caspian had been riding out to the border for eleven years. In the two months since their marriage, his wife had never once come to see him off. She'd treated his departures as welcome absences, opportunities to be rid of him.

But today, she'd hurried down to the courtyard specifically to tell him to be careful.

"You're smiling," Edwin observed from beside him.

Caspian immediately schooled his expression back to neutral. "I'm not smiling."

"You were definitely smiling. I saw it. Thomson saw it too, didn't you, Thomson?"

The soldier riding behind them—the scout leader and tracker who'd served under Caspian for seven years—grinned. "Saw it clearly, Captain. His Grace was definitely smiling."

"I was not—" Caspian started.

"It's because of the Duchess, isn't it?" Edwin continued, clearly enjoying himself. "The way she came down to see you off? Called you 'my husband' in front of everyone?"

Several soldiers nearby were suddenly very interested in this conversation.

"Focus on the mission," Caspian said firmly.

"We are focused," Edwin countered. "We're just also enjoying the entertainment. Your wife came to see you off, Your Grace. Looking genuinely worried. That's significant."

"It could be part of her strategy," Caspian said, though even he was starting to doubt that.

"What strategy?" Thomson asked. "The 'make His Grace actually look forward to coming home' strategy? Because if so, it's working."

Several soldiers chuckled.

Caspian shot Thomson a look, but the older soldier just grinned back unrepentantly. Thomson had served under Caspian's father before transferring to Caspian's command. He'd earned the right to speak freely.

"The Duchess has changed," another soldier—Garrett, one of the younger ones—spoke up hesitantly. "Even we've noticed it, Your Grace. The servants are talking about it."

"What are they saying?" Caspian asked, despite himself.

"That she's been apologizing to staff," Garrett said. "Being kind to everyone. Actually learning people's names. The cook hasn't stopped crying happy tears for two days."

"She bonded with a Dreamweaver cub," another soldier added. "Named it Mochi. The kitchen staff say she hand-fed it for almost an hour to earn its trust."

"Mochi?" Thomson laughed. "She named an apex predator Mochi?"

"It's apparently a dessert from the capital," Edwin supplied. "Sticky on the outside, ice cream inside."

"That's adorable and slightly concerning," Thomson said.

"That's his wife in a nutshell," Edwin agreed, grinning at Caspian.