Page 99 of The Villainess Chose Naps Over Death Flags

And judging by the way Caspian had looked at her when she'd insisted on buying him a gift, she thought he might agree.

Chapter 20

Percival Who?

Dinner that evening was a pleasant affair with all four of them gathered at the table. The conversation flowed easily—discussion of the market visit, Beatrice's plans for the next phase of decorating, Jasper's amusing commentary on the "witch" rumors.

"You should hear what they're saying," Jasper said, grinning. "Some think Caroline's mastered forbidden beast-charming magic."

"I just fed them treats," Caroline protested. "That's not magic, that's bribery."

"Effective bribery," Beatrice agreed. "Those creatures adore you."

Caspian watched Caroline as she laughed at her brother's teasing. She seemed genuinely relaxed. Happy.

The invitation he'd received that afternoon weighed on his mind. He needed to know how she'd react.

"I received an invitation this afternoon," Caspian said, his tone carefully casual. "To Earl Sinclair's engagement celebration. In three weeks' time."

The table went quiet.

Caroline set down her fork, meeting his eyes. Her siblings' attention shifted to her immediately—Beatrice's hand moving to squeeze Caroline's under the table, Jasper going very still.

"Earl Sinclair's engagement party," Caroline said calmly.

Caspian studied her face, searching for any sign of the devastation he'd expected. Pain. Longing. Barely concealed heartbreak.

He saw none of it.

"Yes," he confirmed, watching her carefully.

Caroline picked up her glass of juice and took a sip, considering. The silence stretched, and Caspian could feel the weight of the moment—her siblings concerned, him assessing, Caroline apparently... unbothered?

The old Caroline would have been devastated. Would have cried, thrown things, begged to attend so she could make a scene or try to win Percival back.

But this Caroline—

"I'm not interested in attending," she said.

Relief hit Caspian like a physical force.

He hadn't expected it. The sheer intensity of it. The way something tight in his chest suddenly loosened, the way his jaw unclenched, the way he felt almost... possessive.

Mine, something primal in him whispered. She's choosing to stay. She's choosing me.

He pushed the feeling down, maintaining his carefully neutral expression. "You're not."

"No." Caroline set down her glass. "Why would I be?"

"You were..." Caspian chose his words carefully. "Previously interested in the Earl."

"I was previously a lot of things," Caroline said. "Miserable. Obsessed. Making terrible decisions. I'm not that person anymore."

Across the table, Beatrice's eyes had filled with tears—relief, clearly. Jasper's shoulders had relaxed completely.

And Caspian felt that possessive warmth spreading through his chest again.

She wasn't going. She wasn't even considering it. Percival Sinclair—the man she'd wanted desperately enough to trap the wrong person into marriage—was getting engaged, and Caroline genuinely didn't care.