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“And then there was the summer solstice ball. I… I drugged Noah’s wine.” The words tumbled out in a rush. “I wanted him drunk so I could pretend we’d… you know.” I waved my hand vaguely, heat rising to my cheeks. “But he passed out before anything could happen. So I just… pretended in the morning.”

I risked a glance at Sebastian. His face was unreadable, green eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me squirm. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable.

“Say something,” I finally blurted out. “Please?”

Sebastian stood abruptly, running a hand through his dark hair. When he spoke, his voice was dry as dust. “Well, now I want to punch both my sister and my best friend at the same time.”

Before I could react, he crossed the room in two long strides and pulled me into a headlock. I let out an undignified squawk as he ruffled my hair, just like when we were children.

“Where in the seven hells did you learn such things, kiddo?” he demanded, his tone caught between exasperation and bewilderment. “And how in the world did Noah fall for such lousy tricks?”

I wheezed, struggling half-heartedly against his grip. “I know, right? How could he be so gullible?”

“Shut up, you,” Sebastian growled, but there was no real heat in it. After a moment, he released me, shaking his head. “Of course, Noah is exactly the type of idiot who would fall for that.”

I smoothed my hair, shooting him a glare that held no real venom. “Are you done manhandling me?”

Sebastian’s expression softened. “I’m not mad at you, Lya. But you need to make this right.”

“I’m trying,” I assured him, rubbing my neck. “I promise I won’t do anything like that again. I was wrong, and I’m doing my best to undo the damage.” I hesitated, then added quietly, “Noah was… very hurt and angry when I told him everything. I haven’t seen him since.”

Sebastian squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll talk to him, smooth things over. But you need to apologize properly, understand?”

I nodded, relief washing over me.

* * *

The sunlight stung my eyes as I stepped out of the palace, head held high despite the whispers that followed like a swarm of particularly annoying gnats. At least the weather matched my mood—bright and defiant.

My maid’s death glares at every gawking noble almost made me smile. Almost.

That day, after my mother left and all hell broke loose, I went straight to my room and slept like a baby. Who knew being burden-free would suit me so much? Even a near-death experience couldn’t shake me enough from my sleep.

And I was back to avoiding Anderic.

Just as Noah had been avoiding me, I had no idea if he knew about the new ‘developments’ in our lovely annulment. I spend a whole week in my chambers, thinking and rethinking everything.

“My lady, that woman just pointed at you and made the sign against evil,” Laurel muttered, shooting daggers at a passing noblewoman who quickly averted her gaze.

“Let her.” I adjusted my cloak. “I’m sure by now the rumors have evolved from ‘scandalous divorce’ to ‘she eats children for breakfast.’”

Laurel’s scowl deepened as we made our way through the bustling streets. “It’s not funny, my lady. The things they’re saying—”

“Are probably all true, depending on which version of my villainous past they’re telling.” I paused at a corner, watching a group of merchants argue over the price of silk. “Now stop looking like you’re planning multiple murders. Did you find what I asked for?”

Laurel’s expression shifted from murderous to apologetic. “Yes, but… it’s not exactly what you might expect. And there’s a slight problem.”

I raised my brow.

“Well, he doesn’t really want to sell it. The shop has been in his family for generations. It’s practically an heirloom.”

“Let me worry about that. Now, let’s go.”

She led me through a maze of side streets until we stopped in front of a small sweets shop. The worn sign creaked in the breeze, its faded letters barely readable: “Sweet Delights.”

“This is what’s within our budget?” I raised an eyebrow. “The door looks like it might fall off if someone sneezes too hard.”

“It’s actually in a good location,” Laurel defended. “Just a few blocks from Primrose Boutique. And the rent is reasonable because…”

“Because it’s falling apart?” I completed the sentence dryly.

“Because it needs some work,” she corrected primly.

I adjusted my plain brown cloak. “Did you bring the disguises?”

She produced a bundle wrapped in cloth. “Yes, one minor lady and her maid. But… are you sure about this location? It’s rather… modest.”

“Perfect for our needs.” After ducking into an alley to change, I emerged as Lady Elena, a merchant’s daughter fallen on hard times.

The plain brown dress and minimal jewelry perfectly captured the image of faded gentility.

The rough cotton dress itched against my skin, but it would serve our purpose.

The bell above the door jangled discordantly as we entered.

The shop’s interior was… well, calling it cozy would be charitable.

Dusty shelves lined the walls, half-empty jars of candies arranged haphazardly.

The display cases held a sad assortment of slightly stale-looking pastries.

The wooden counter showed signs of water damage, and the whole place smelled faintly of stale sugar and resignation.

We could afford better places than this with the surging price of silk, but we needed to be mindful of our spending. Not to mention it might look too suspicious to a certain someone if we spend too much.

An elderly man emerged from the back room, his clothes as worn as his surroundings. “Welcome to Sweet Delights,” he wheezed. “What can I get for you ladies?”

I purchased a small bag of candied almonds, noting how his hands shook as he wrapped them. The sugar coating was uneven, and the nuts were slightly stale. Amateur mistakes that spoke volumes about the shop’s decline.

“These are quite good,” I lied smoothly, sharing one with Laurel. “Did you make them yourself?”

“Oh yes,” he brightened. “Family recipe, passed down three generations.”

“I can taste the history,” I murmured while mentally cataloging every flaw in his technique. “It reminds me of happier times…”

I let my voice catch slightly, drawing his attention. “Are you alright, my lady?”

Time to act, Ilyana.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I dabbed at my eyes with a handkerchief. “It’s just… these remind me of the sweets my husband used to love, before…”

The old man leaned forward, concern etched on his face. “Before?”

“Before the illness took him,” I whispered, letting a tear roll down my cheek. “And our fortune with him. The doctors… they tried everything…”

I could feel Laurel’s stare.

“Oh! Dear. It’s always painful to lose someone, and you’re so young…” He shook his head.

“It’s why I’m looking for a small shop, actually.” I wiped at nonexistent tears. “Something modest, to start over. A… a funeral shop, perhaps. To help others going through what I did.”

Laurel’s barely concealed snort turned into a convincing cough.

By the time I finished my tale of woe, complete with dramatically timed sniffles, the shopkeeper was practically giving me the store. An hour later, we emerged with a signed contract and a price so low it was practically theft. Legal theft, but still.

The shopkeeper even threw in his remaining inventory “for the poor dear’s fresh start.”

As we left, Laurel whispered, “A funeral shop? Really?”

I popped a candied almond in my mouth. “People never question tragedy, Laurel. They’re too afraid it might be contagious.”

“And the tears?”

“Onion powder in my handkerchief. Old theater trick—”

“It barely worked. I didn’t see many tears.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Anyway.” I studied the deed in my hands. “Now, let’s see what Annalise thinks about expanding Magnolia right under Madame Primrose’s powdered nose.”

“My lady,” Laurel whispered as we hurried away, “did you really have to tell him your fictional husband died of a mysterious wasting disease ?”

I popped another stale almond in my mouth, grimacing at the taste. “Would you have preferred being eaten by bears while hunting?”

* * *

“What’s our next move?” Laurel asked as we walked down the cobblestone streets. The moon cast long shadows across our path, and my feet ached in my silk slippers. The irony. I should have worn more practical shoes, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We had stopped using carriages from the palace since my divorce, and I had too much pride to keep using that. Since it had gotten so late, we couldn’t hail a carriage to return. So, we were walking.

“Find a house,” I replied, scanning the darkened buildings. The sun had set, but the air was still warm, and I loosened my cloak a little. The humidity in the summer was stifling.

Laurel stopped dead in her tracks. “A house? Whatever for?”

“Because, dear Laurel, I need to move out of the palace within a month.” I kept walking, forcing her to catch up.

“But then how is it that Lady Penelope and others live at the palace? They aren’t even married.”

“Because the Queen invited them to stay. I, on the other hand, am not.” I let out a dry laugh. “Well, let’s just say I’m in a different situation entirely.”

“And how did you manage to get divorced without Lord Noah’s signature?” Her voice pitched higher with each question.

I smirked. “When Her Majesty grants something, no signatures are needed. The Queen’s word is law.”

Laurel’s brow furrowed. “You could demand alimony, you know. Take one of Lord Noah’s country houses—”

“And be labeled an opportunistic money-grubber?” I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’d rather eat dirt than depend on a man’s charity.”

“My lady!” Laurel gasped, but I noticed a gleam of admiration in her eyes.

“What? Too crude for your delicate ears?” I teased.

“No, it’s just…” She hesitated. “I’ve never met a noble lady who’d choose independence over comfort.”

“Well, now you have.” I gestured grandly at myself, nearly tripping over an uneven cobblestone in the process. “Though I must say, walking instead of taking a carriage is testing my commitment to independence.”

Laurel giggled, then quickly sobered. “But where will we live?”

“We?” I arched an eyebrow at her.

“Of course! You don’t think I’d let you face this alone, do you?”

A warm feeling spread through my chest, but I would rather kiss a toad than admit how much her loyalty meant to me. “In that case, I suppose we’d better find somewhere with two bedrooms.”

I lifted my skirts to avoid a muddy puddle. “And, we make the boutique profitable. Then expand.”

“You make it sound so simple.” Laurel’s steps quickened to match mine.

“Simple doesn’t mean easy.” A warm breeze rustled my skirts. In my previous life, I’d never walked these streets at night. Now here I was, a divorced woman trudging home in the dark like a common merchant. “But better to walk freely than ride in a gilded cage.”

“Speaking of walking…” Laurel’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I think someone’s following us.”

I didn’t turn around. “How many?”

“Two… no, one shadow.”

Perfect. Just what we needed after a long day of haggling over property rights. My hand tightened around the dagger Anderic gave me, hidden in my skirts, and I grabbed Laurel’s arm, pulling her into the shadows of a nearby alley. Who else would be out at this hour in the noble district?