I Reincarnated as the Villainess and I Refuse to Follow the Plot

After leaving the tea party, I knew I couldn't call the carriage to take me home. If I left already, Justin would find out that much sooner that I hadn't followed his wishes. Normally, I wouldn't even care, but I'd rather not die a quicker death.

Several of the paths I wound through had clusters of people strolling around. Some were flirting, while others were failing at it. Each time I ran into an area with people, I readjusted my route. I wanted to be secluded and alone – away from prying judgmental eyes.

Eventually, the crowd began to thin out and I found myself in a moderately sized, well cared for garden. I found a marble bench and sat, looking around. Rose bushes, in a soft shade of purple – almost similar to my eyes – wrapped around the edges. The petals gleamed, sparkling unnaturally, indicating magic wrapped around them.

The scent they gave off was even stranger, though not bad. They smelled faintly of lavender and roses with a hint of sharpness I couldn't place.

I wonder who's garden this is. A small part of me wanted to stand up and toward the flowers and run my fingers over them. The logical side of me knew it wasn't good for them to be touched and with the sharp scent floating from them, I didn't know if they were toxic or not.

I leaned back on my hands, feeling a wave of peace wash over me. If only I had a place like this. If I did, I'd be a lot more comfortable with my situation.

I tilted my head back, watching the scattered clouds leisurely float by. For a while, the respite was something out of a dream. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, feeling the tension leave my shoulders. The peace didn't last for long.

Something above me shifted, blocking out the sunlight. I opened my eyes, confused – until I saw Cassius looking down at me with a smile on his face. I swore, jumping to my feet.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, heart thumping against my chest. He scared the hell out of me.

"I should be asking you that." He straightened up, opening his arms wide. "You're in my garden after all."

"Your…garden?" I asked lamely, looking toward the castle. Nothing about the building itself screamed this was the crown prince's palace. Damn it, why did I have to end up here of all places. Actually – no – why does this man have such a pretty garden?

"Did the sunlight make you lose some brain cells?" He laughed, sitting in the spot I had been in moments ago.

"No. It was a massive head that appeared out of nowhere." I snapped, before I could stop myself. Why does he constantly provoke me? It's impossible to treat him normally already, but he always makes me react before I have the chance to think.

"Massive?" He ran a hand through his hair, musing the pale strands. "I wouldn't say my head is massive. Large maybe for someone that has a head the size of a peach."

"I'll be leaving." I turned to walk off.

"Hold on." Cassius sprung up, walking over to me. "It's almost like you don't want to talk to me. And here I thought we were close."

"Us? Close?" I took a step back, glaring at him. "We're not close. You just happened to bother me during the salon. We've barely talked before then."

"I'm not so sure about that." His eyes danced, making his irises look almost like rubies.

"Don't you have state affairs to handle?"

"Not at the moment." He shrugged. "I was also taking a break."

"Then I'll leave you to it." I turned again – trying to walk away, stopping when he spoke again.

"You're welcome to stay here." He walked over to the flowers, bent over and plucked one clean off the bush. "Unless you have something better to do."

I let out a loud sigh and shifted to face him. "You know flowers are more beautiful when you don't pluck them from nature."

"Prickly as ever." He turned and walked toward me, holding out the rose. "Have you ever seen a magical rose before?"

"Yes." I lied, wanting to just leave. "Who hasn't?"

"Well," He smirked, grabbing my hand and pressing the flower into it. "You haven't seen ones like these."

"What do you mean?" I pulled away, and stared down at the flower. It felt alive and warm, steadily humming. How strange. It almost has a heart beat.

"That particular type is resistant to poison." He lightly tapped it. "And other things."

"Then why are you giving it to me?" I looked up at him, confused. "I don't have the money to pay for it."

"You know, when most people are given something, they say thank you." He took a step back, stretching. "Give it a shot – I promise it won't kill you."

"Thank you, your highness, for a rose for literally no reason at all."

"Such a sharp tongue." He muttered. "You might need it at some point. Living with the foolish Blaine's will be challenging."

"Why do you care?" I asked, grip tightening around the rose. What is with him? Seriously, I can't figure him out.

The Cassius that stood before me was so different from the man in the novel. It was like night and day. He was supposed to be a cold, aloof, arrogant man who only spent time with Paulita. Did something I do change him? No, that's highly improbable. So far the novel was playing out exactly as it was meant to – save for minor changes. Cassius changing this much had to be something else.

"I never said I care." He walked back to the bench and sat, bending over and linking his hands together. "I have many reasons to distrust house Blaine. It's well known he's gone through wives like water." He shrugged. "It couldn't hurt to have something in your corner."

"I…see." I mumbled, feeling my heart squeeze from his words.

It wasn't that I thought he cared, but the fact that someone – even if that someone was him – was helping me almost brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't remember the last time someone had been so backhandedly kind.

"I…should go." I bowed, feeling foolish. "Thank you for the rose, your highness."

"Yep." He waved a hand in the air. "Run off before you start to think I'm human after all."

I laughed – shocking both him and myself. He looked over at me, an unreadable expression on his face. I felt my face pale, and without another word – I practically ran down the path.

I felt his eyes on me until I turned around a large hedge. Slowing my steps, I took a few deep, even breaths, staring at the flower.

I don't know what his game is, but I'm not playing along.

I opened my fingers, planning to drop the rose, but something told me it was better to keep it.

I sighed and glanced back toward his garden, frowning. I couldn't see him, but I had a feeling he could feel my presence – even at this distance.

"You're a strange man, Cassius." I mumbled, walking away.