Page 115 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"But at least now you're protected," Lumi pointed out. "If someone really does try to ruin your dress, you'll be prepared."

"If this turns out to be a scam, I'm going to be very annoyed," Carol said.

"On the bright side, you can afford it," Missy said. "You're a duchess with unlimited access to your husband's fortune. Two hundred fifty gold crowns is pocket change."

"That's not the point," Carol said. "The point is that I'm being manipulated by a game system that's supposed to be helping me."

"Is it manipulation if it's warning you about a real threat?" Lumi asked.

Carol didn't have a good answer for that.

She dismissed the notification screen and looked down at her pets. Shadow had fallen asleep on her lap, snoring softly. Mochi was purring, his eyes half-closed in contentment.

"Well," Carol said. "At least if my dress gets ruined, it won't show. Small victories."

"You're being very calm about this," Lumi observed.

"What else can I do?" Carol asked. "Panic? The quest said someone's going to cause a scene. I can't stop that. I can only control how I respond."

"Very mature of you," Lumi said approvingly.

"I'm terrified," Carol admitted. "Tomorrow, eighty nobles are going to watch me. Judge me. Look for any sign that I'm still the terrible person I was before. And apparently, someone's going to try to ruin my dress in the middle of it all."

"But you'll handle it," Lumi said confidently. "You've handled everything else."

"And if you don't, it'll be entertaining," Missy added. "Either way, I win."

"You're the worst," Carol told her.

"I'm the best," Missy corrected. "I keep things interesting."

Carol carefully extracted herself from the sleeping Shadow and stood, placing him gently on his cushion. Mochi followed her to the bed, curling up on her pillow.

Her blue gown hung ready in the wardrobe, the silver embroidery catching the lamplight. Tomorrow she'd wear it. Tomorrow she'd stand beside Caspian and face the northern nobility.

Tomorrow, someone would apparently try to ruin everything.

But Carol had survived death flags. She'd survived transmigrating into a villainess's body. She'd survived being pregnant and trapped and desperate.

She could survive a wedding banquet.

Even if her dress got ruined.

Even if someone caused a scene.

She'd survived worse.

"Get some rest," Lumi said gently. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

"Tomorrow's going to be terrible," Carol said.

"Tomorrow's going to be interesting," Missy corrected gleefully.

Carol climbed into bed, and Shadow immediately abandoned his cushion to curl up at her feet. Mochi settled against her side, purring softly.

"Goodnight, you two," Carol whispered, scratching both their heads.

She closed her eyes, surrounded by warmth and soft purring, and let sleep take her.