Page 141 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

She took a shaky breath.

"But if you don't want that. If you'd rather be free of me, of this trap I created, then I want to give you that choice. Even if it breaks my heart."

Caspian stared at her, his mind reeling.

She thought he wanted out. Thought he was trapped and miserable. Thought he'd rather be free than married to her.

When the truth was—

"What if I don't want a divorce?" Caspian asked quietly.

"But... but I trapped you. The spell—"

"Was an accident," Caspian said. "A terrible accident that neither of us chose. But Caroline..." He stepped closer.

"I don't want you to feel trapped," Caroline whispered.

"Caroline—" Caspian started.

"Would faking my death be better?" Caroline asked suddenly, her tone shifting to something almost manic. "For you, I mean. Less scandalous than divorce. You'd be a widower instead of a divorced man. Much more sympathetic."

Caspian blinked. "I'm sorry, did you just suggest faking your death?"

"It's an option," Caroline said, starting to pace. "Actually, now that I think about it, it might be the best option. Clean break, no scandal, you get to move on with your life..."

"Caroline—"

"We could stage a carriage accident," Caroline continued, warming to the topic with disturbing enthusiasm. "Traveling to visit my parents, the carriage goes off a cliff into a river. Very tragic. Very convincing. Body never recovered because of the current—"

"We don't have many cliffs near Frostholme," Caspian said, too stunned to do anything but point out the logistical flaw.

"Then we travel somewhere with cliffs!" Caroline said. "That's easy enough. Or—oh! Kidnapping during a shopping trip. Masked bandits attack, very realistic, they demand ransom—"

"I would pay the ransom," Caspian interrupted.

"Well yes, obviously, but they don't know that, so when you refuse—for the sake of the plan—they eliminate the problem." Caroline paused. "Actually, that's too dark. What about attacked on the road while visiting my parents? Blightspawn that wandered past the border defenses. You wouldn't even be there, perfect alibi."

Caspian stared at her. "You've really thought about this."

"I'm thinking about it right now," Caroline corrected. "Oh! Boating accident. We take a romantic boat trip, storm hits, I'm swept overboard—very tragic, very romantic—"

"You can't swim," Caspian said.

"EXACTLY!" Caroline's eyes lit up. "Very convincing! And then I'd need a cottage, of course. Small but comfortable. Maybe in the countryside somewhere. I'd need a new name—Catherine? No, too similar. Carolyn? Still too close..."

She was pacing faster now, her hands gesturing animatedly.

"I'd need servants," Caroline continued. "At least two or three. Can't manage a household alone, especially with a baby. Oh, and good cooking staff is essential—I'm eating for two, after all. Maybe somewhere near a market town? For shopping?"

Caspian felt something that might have been laughter building in his chest.

She was genuinely planning this. Actually mapping out her fake death and subsequent comfortable cottage life with the same enthusiasm she'd brought to redecorating Frostholme.

"And there's the matter of finances," Caroline continued thoughtfully. "An annual stipend would be more reliable than a lump sum. That way I don't have to worry about budgeting too carefully. Plus expenses for the baby—education, clothes, toys, eventually tutors..."

She paused, cleared her throat, and turned to look at Caspian with a very pointed expression.

"Of course," she said, her voice taking on a particular tone, "I would need financing for this plan. The baby and I must live comfortably once we disappear."