The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband-Chapter 291: A fate she can’t escape

It turns out even the most vicious people have hearts. Abrielle was not too surprised knowing Karissa was very affectionate to her only child.

"That seems like fun," the princess answered, she was almost done with the lantern. A sudden sense of guilt washed over her, causing her to smile weakly. Was there truly a justification for her actions?

"It was but those are distant memories now. Didn’t you ever do anything fun with your mother as a child?" Alfonso asked, Abrielle’s hand froze memories of two different lives mixing up in her head.

"Gardening, mother had a garden she privately tendered to. It was one of my highlights growing up. Most spring evenings we chatted about round noble ladies I barely knew while working in the garden. She loved the feeling of the soil." Abrielle gave an answer from the original memories. Her voice was soft when she spoke. It was an emotional memory of Abrielle.

Even though most nobles were raised by nannies and servants, Rebecca was different. She always prioritized Abrielle over her official work as the duchess and made time for her daughter.

Her greatest mistake was she didn’t raise Abrielle with a good heart but how many people had what was called a good heart?

"I never saw you as the type that loves garden work," Alfonso mentioned, it was not something that could be associated with the vicious lady from the Nightshade family.

"It was Mother’s favourite hobby, not mine. I preferred staying locked up in the library reading, but unfortunately, I could not stay trapped in a shell forever." Abrielle answered. Her hands were already stained with paint from making the lantern.

"Oh, we are done," she chimed, admiring her work which was not perfect and a bit untidy. In the end, a lantern was a lantern. "It is pretty good for a first try," Alfonso commented looking at her lantern. The craft was not the princess’s strongest suit.

"Those are pretty kind words. I know it is horrible, it will be better if I just purchase a prettier lantern." Abrielle didn’t believe Alfonso in the slightest bit.

"It is pretty good. The important thing is that you made it yourself. They say wishes made on lanterns crafted by the wisher comes true most of time." This time around, it was Kelsey who chimed in, making Abrielle smile.

"That is very fortunate." Abrielle chirped, she placed the lantern in her hand on the table before turning her attention back to Kelsey. "Can you lead me to where I can watch off these stains?" She asked the little girl very sweetly. Kelsey instantly nodded.

"Follow me," she instructed, then led Abrielle away from the table. The princess’s gaze darted around the room, comparing her poorly made lanterns with others and indeed hers were the ugliest. She sighed heavily before she climbed upstairs following Kelsey’s Instructions.

As soon as Abrielle was out of the room Alfonso’s smile fell. His eyes were curious, staring at every corner of the room. There was something off, he was sure of what he felt. They were followed and it wasn’t his men. He felt like laughing because he was very certain it was Cedric’s people.

Whoever it was, they were very good. Alfonso could barely sense their presence. What gave them out was the feeling of being watched Alfonso instinctively felt from years of training.

A few minutes later, Abrielle climbed down the stairs with Kelsey. Her hands were now clean from paint and most importantly, the paint on the lantern had dried. She was surprised at how quickly it dried

With a few minutes to the official event of the lantern festival, she knew it was about time to leave. She enjoyed spending time here, being away from the drama of the royal family and knowing no one was watching her did remove a weight from her heart.

As soon as she stepped out of the building her heart was heavy. It was close to midnight, a silent reminder the timeline she had left was almost running out. Alfonso sensed the change in mood and truly had no idea why.

"We should head back to the square. It is almost time to light the lanterns and the rose-giving ceremony is about to start." Alfonso suggested. He started walking but realized Abrielle was rooted at a spot nervously holding her lantern.

A knot formed in between his brows concerned for her. "Is anything the issue?" He asked her. Abrielle slowly shook her head. Her eyes were on her lantern. There was no way she could accomplish the ridiculous mission of killing Cedric or Alfonso.

The system sincerely wanted her dead. She was a sore thumb to the story. "We don’t have to rush back. The rose ceremony has already started. We won’t make it even if we hurry and I don’t want to witness it either."

Abrielle was hesitant, she didn’t understand Cedric. She could not see through him and she wasn’t the smartest one in the room. She had no idea who he was going to give the rose to. Cedric was inclined to give it to Callista, although the plot had deviated but from what she had observed from experience, the plot always found a way to fix itself.

Her being present will only make it more awkward. Alfonso didn’t comment on this. It wasn’t a bad idea because he had no intention of also attending the rose-giving ceremony.

*****

Back at the main square, the main event had already started with displays and entertaining dances.

Cedric couldn’t care less about these displays; his mind was focused on surveillance. Hesitation in his eyes as he searched the crowd. "There is still no sign of them," Cedric mentioned; he did not turn around, knowing someone was behind him.

Callista was not startled by this, she knew Cedric’s senses were sharp like he had a third eye. "We still need to be careful, there is no saying when the sorcerers will appear and ruin the night," Callista commented.

They suspected the sorcerers were going to appear tonight but there was still no sign of them. "Have Lucian gotten any sign of them?" Cedric asked Callista, finally looking away from the tower window. He had a good view from here.

"It is a dead end," Callista answered, her gaze was unreadable. "Besides, that isn’t why I called you. The king is about to present the golden rose "