Page 19 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

"So," Carol began, her voice perhaps a bit too bright. "How was your day?"

Caspian paused with his own spoon halfway to his mouth. He looked at her like she'd just spoken in a foreign language.

"My... day," he repeated slowly.

"Yes. Your day. How was it? How did things go?" Carol realized she was rambling and tried to stop herself. Failed. "With the training and the border patrols and the... duke things you do?"

He set his spoon down very carefully. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"What? No! I'm fine. I just—" Carol took a breath. "I'm trying to make conversation. Isn't that what people do at dinner?"

"You've never tried to make conversation with me at dinner before," Caspian said. "The last time we dined together, you spent the entire meal glaring at me and then left early claiming a headache."

And also tried to poison you, but we're not mentioning that.

"Yes, well, I've decided to try something different," Carol said, attempting a smile. She took a sip of her juice to steady herself—sweet, cold, refreshing. "New approach. Fresh start. All that."

"I see." He picked up his spoon again but didn't eat. "And this new approach involves asking about my day."

"Among other things," Carol said. "I also wanted to say—your estate is beautiful. The gardens especially. And I saw some of your training this morning. You're very... skilled."

Those green eyes sharpened. "You saw my training."

Oh no.

"I was taking a walk," Carol said quickly. "Around the grounds. Getting to know my new home. And I happened to pass by the training area and—"

"You were hiding behind the hedge near the western wall," Caspian interrupted, his voice still neutral but with an edge now. "For approximately seven minutes. Then you fled when I noticed you."

Carol's face burned. "I wasn't hiding. I was... observing. From a respectful distance."

"While concealed behind foliage."

"It was shady there," Carol tried. "I didn't want to get sun on my face."

One corner of his mouth might have twitched. It was hard to tell. "I see."

They ate in silence for a moment. Carol could feel Lumi's concerned hovering and Missy's delighted cackling from their respective positions near her shoulders.

"This is painful to watch," Missy whispered. "I love it."

"You're doing fine!" Lumi insisted. "Just keep trying!"

Carol cleared her throat. "The soup is excellent."

"Mmm."

"The cook is very talented."

"Yes."

"I apologized to her earlier. For throwing a plate at her."

That got a reaction. Caspian's eyes snapped to hers, genuine surprise flickering across his usually impassive face.

"You apologized to the cook."

"Yes. It was wrong of me to throw things at the staff. Or anyone, really. But especially people who work hard to prepare delicious meals." Carol met his gaze, even though those green eyes made her heart race. "I've been... not my best self since arriving here. I want to change that."