Page 74 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"According to Sterling, they seem relieved by the changes they've witnessed." Caspian tapped the letter. "They're helping her redecorate the estate."

"Redecorate?" Thomson asked.

"Tapestries, furniture, artwork, plants. Making the place feel 'warmer and more welcoming,' apparently."

Edwin leaned forward with interest. "How much is this costing you?"

"Nearly ten thousand gold crowns so far. More anticipated."

All three men blinked.

Then Edwin started grinning. "Your wife is spending your money. To make your estate feel like home. And you're worried about her siblings."

"I'm concerned about unknown variables," Caspian corrected. "Her siblings might try to convince her to leave. To annul the marriage. To—"

"To what?" Edwin interrupted. "Rescue her from the horrible situation she was so desperate to escape?" He leaned back in his chair. "Your Grace, Sterling's report says they're relieved by what they've seen. They're helping her decorate. They want to meet you properly. That doesn't sound like siblings planning to whisk her away in the night."

"We don't know what they're saying to her in private," Caspian said.

"No," Edwin agreed. "But we know what Sterling observed. And Sterling is exceptionally good at reading people. If he thought the siblings were a threat to the Duchess's contentment, he would have said so."

Marcus nodded slowly. "Captain Hawkridge has a point, Your Grace. The report suggests the siblings approve of the changes in the Duchess."

"They're spending ten thousand gold crowns redecorating your estate," Thomson added. "That's not the behavior of people planning to remove her from it."

"It could be a final indulgence before they convince her to leave," Caspian argued, though even he could hear how weak that sounded.

"Or," Edwin said, "it's your wife making your cold military estate feel like an actual home, with help from family who are happy to see her happy."

Caspian didn't answer, reading through Sterling's letter again.

The Duchess continues in good health and spirits.

Staff morale remains high.

The siblings seem relieved by the changes they've witnessed.

These improvements will make Frostholme "feel more welcoming and warm."

He'd built Frostholme to be functional. Defensible. A military command post that happened to have living quarters. He'd never considered making it warm or welcoming because he'd never had anyone to welcome.

Until now.

"The expenditure doesn't concern you?" Marcus asked, clearly curious.

"No," Caspian said honestly. "I spent three times that amount on her chambers when we first married. If she wants to spend money making the public spaces more comfortable, that's her prerogative."

"Her prerogative as Duchess," Edwin said meaningfully. "As the lady of your estate. As someone who plans to stay."

Caspian shot him a look.

"I'm just observing, Your Grace, that women who plan to leave don't typically invest in large-scale redecorating projects."

"Unless they're trying to assuage their guilt," Caspian countered.

"Or," Thomson said carefully, "unless they're building a home."

The tent fell silent.