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

All eyes watched as the King and his Mistress descended the stairs. Some nobles avoided the eyes of Lovine as she glanced around the room – a fake smile plastered on her face. Herold followed behind them, his eyes cast downward the entire way. After they made their way to the front of the room, the King sat in the center. The Mistress sat at the end to his left, her son to the Kings right.

Atticus reached for his goblet, scanning the room.“ Thank you all for attending this glorious eve.” His voice came out monotone – almost bored. “Tonight we dine with the Twin Lights of Eunto.” He raised his glass, looking over at the siblings.

Everyone in the room reached for their cups, mirroring the King. I reached for mine and followed suit, feeling like an idiot. Is this necessary?

Runaxt smiled, slightly, uncomfortable, Anyula didn’t even glance at the king. Justin mentioned keeping the peace, but why are they acting that way?

“I hope you find comfort while you stay here in my glorious nation of Helios.” Atticus raised the glass a fraction of an inch higher. “Salutem!”

Some of the nobles spoke loudly, saluting them, others mumbled it quietly. King Atticus downed his drink in one go and clapped his hands.

“Let the banquet begin!”

Twenty or so servants rushed in, carrying trays. They moved through the room setting them down strategically. They look like ants. I set my untouched drink down, looking toward the door. Why did the king start the banquet without Cassius being present? Was he not attending after all?

A few of the servants rushed over to our table, setting down the trays without a word. They lifted the lids and scampered back. Baron Westvine looked down at his food and grunted, mouth pulling downward into a bulldog-esque frown.

“Why the devil are they serving duck?” He grumbled, poking his fork into the seared food. “I hate duck.”

“I believe it’s to honor the Twin Flames.” Baron Franfun, turned taking his wife’s plate. “I’ll cut it for you, sweetheart. Your hands have been bothering you today.”

“Honor or not, this is despicable.” Westvine pushed his plate forward, holding up a hand.

“Duck is a delicacy.” Justin commented, cutting into his food. “I’m rather partial to it.”

Westcine made a humping sound, waving his hand around in a circle. His wife shot him a dirty look, and poked at her food, looking mildly disgusted herself.

I lifted my fork and knife and began to cut into my own portion. Justin looked over at me, displeasure on his face.

What’s his problem now? I glanced over. The way I was cutting the food was exactly the way his mother and Greston had drilled into me. He flickered his eyes down to my chest, cleared his throat, and turned away. I glanced down, rolling my eyes.

It must be due to the shawl. I hadn’t wanted to remove it. Sighing, I slipped out of the shawl, placing it on my lap out of view.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” Westvine snapped.

I looked over to see a servant boy bowing low beside him. “I sincerely apologize for my ignorance.”

“As you should,” Westvine turned, grabbed his tray, and thrust it into the servant’s chest without warning. “I cannot eat this. Give me a new dish immediately.”

The servant fumbled with the tray, spilling the sauce across his white shirt. He winced as the liquid seeped into his clothing – burning him.

Just hit him with the tray. I looked between them, growing irritated. It wasn’t the servants fault duck had been served. Westvine taking his anger out on the boy for something out of his control was ridiculous.

“I-I apologize, my lord.” The servant looked down once more. “W-we were only instructed to m-make duck for this even-”

“Do you not understand the nonsense you’re spewing?” Westvine cut him off. “How dare you talk back to me. If you were a servant in my home, I would have you whipped, boy.”

The servant flinched, taking a step back. “I-I will see w-what the chef has as an alternative.”

“You should have done that already!” Westvine slammed his fist into the table, rattling the dishes. “Be gone.”

The servant bowed and ran off, disappearing into the crowd of his peers. “Audacious.” Westvine huffed, turning back to us. “How does the staff get away with being so incompetent?”

“He may be new.” Baron Frankfun said diplomatically, setting the sliced up dish before his Givionna.

“Then he needs better training.” Westvine lifted his drink, taking a long swallow of the wine.

This class system is disgusting. I turned back to my food, taking a bite. The seasoning was well done and the duck was tender enough that it melted in my mouth. It almost made me forget about the arrogant Baron across the table.

Around ten minutes later, the servant returned, setting a plate of pork before Westvine. Westvine threw a fit again, but sent the boy off. The conversation around the room was faint as everyone began to eat. Occasionally, I heard the king laughing. A few times I glanced over to see his Mistress leaning toward him, her chest hovering dangerously close to his arm.

Runaxt and Anyula ate in silence for the most part. Every so often the King would speak to them about what I had no idea. Whatever he said, evidently, wasn’t hitting the mark. Anyula at one point sat her fork down and refused to finish her meal. Runaxt attempted conversation every so often, but he too gave up at some point.

Strangely enough, everything else seemed quiet – that was until the doors banged open. I looked over to see Cassius lazily walking down the stairs. He looked around the room as he made his way across the floor. Briefly our eyes met, but rather than smile or do something else strange, he held my gaze for a few seconds then moved along.

“That whelp is late again.” Westvine grumbled, chewing loudly. “It makes us all look bad when he does as he pleases. The king needs to beat him more.”

“Husband, please.” Baroness Westvine hissed, face turning white. “What if he hears you?”

“To hell with him, I say.” Westvine snorted. “What does it matter if a murderous bastard like him hears?”

“Son, you are late.” The king boomed, motioning toward a seat next to Herold. “Take a seat.”

I froze along with several other people. The seat next to Herold was not meant for the crown prince. A princess maybe or another child, but not the next ruler of Helios. Where Cassius should have been seated was the chair Herold occupied. The King was either a complete ignorant fool or he was sending a message to Cassius and his supporters. I had a feeling it was the latter.

“You want me to sit next to that child?” Cassius crossed his arms, voice dripping with ice. “I think not.”

“Do not argue with me, boy.” King Atticus snapped, a pink flush prickling across his face. “Take your seat. Now.”

“I think not, father.”

The temperature in the room physically seemed to drop. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, suppressing a shiver that ran down my spine. All conversation halted and all eyes turned, as people held their breath – waiting to see what drama was going to unfold. King Atticus’s eyes flashed, his grip around the goblet tightening – turning his knuckles white.

“Why doesn’t Crown Prince Cassius sit with us?” Runaxt spoke up, walking over to Cassius. He dropped an arm around the prince’s shoulder. “It has been a long time since I got to see him.”

The King tore his gaze from his son and stared at Runaxt quietly for what felt like hours.

“My love,” Lovine leaned forward, resting a hand on Atticus’s arm. She slid her gaze over to Cassius and Runaxt. “Maybe we should allow him to sit with the Twin Lights.”

Atticus glanced over at his Mistress, face softening. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.” He turned back to Cassius, the icy expression back. “Go sit with them then. You two haven’t had a chance to speak since the academy.”

“Great.” Runaxt smiled, walking back to the table. “We have much to catch up on, Prince Cassius!”

“And more.” Lovine said, voice smooth as silk and as deadly as poison. “Anyula will be joining our family soon enough.”

“Anyula will be doing what?” Anyula pushed off the table, glaring at Lovine. “What are you talking about, Kings Mistress?”

“Why would my sister be joining your family?” Runaxt’s expression shifted, smile completely gone.

“Oh, did you two not know?” Lovine covered her mouth, trying and failing to hide a smirk. “Should I not have over stepped?”

“You didn’t over step, my love.” Atticus grumbled. “I assumed they were informed.”

“Informed about what?” Cassius bit out. “Do you not realize what your whore is saying?”

I thought the room had frozen when the King first told him to sit beside Herold, but that was nothing compared to the silence that fell after Cassius’s words. Everyone froze in place – forks raised or drinks in hand. The air felt charged, like a bomb was about to explode and all the people within the banquet all were about to be collateral.

“What did you just say?” The King jumped up from his chair, face purple. “How dare you use such language for your future mother, you ungrateful bastard!”

“That thing is not my mother nor will she ever be.” Cassius didn’t raise his voice – he didn’t need to. The malice dripping from his words would have made anyone cower before him.

“How rude little-”

“Rude?” Cassius laughed, tossing his head back. “I’m rude? I’m only speaking the truth. Your mistress is starting an international faux pas. Yet you are too, blind to acknowledge it.”

“We are in talks of a marriage, boy,” Atticus seethed. “Had you bothered to show up to discussions you would be aware of this.”

“We are leaving.” Anyula spoke up before Cassius could respond. She walked up to her brother, glaring at the King. “Not only has your mistress insulted us several times over, you are also alluding to a marriage that is not within her rights nor yours King Atticus Helios.”

“Watch your mouth girl.” Atticus snarled, sloshing his drink across the table. “You are not in Eunto. I have spoken with a representative and-”

“My sister is correct.” Runaxt boomed, pointing a finger at the King. “We are The Twin Lights. If you insult my sister one more time, we are within our rights to request a duel with you.”

Murmurs erupted around the room. Some people began to question the King, while others whispered about war breaking out. Why would the King openly discuss this at a public function? I looked between each of them, feeling my stomach drop when a sly smile curled across Lovine’s face. She gives me the creeps.

“Leave then.” Atticus sat back down, slamming the goblet against the table. “We want to keep the peace between our nations.”

Anyula opened her mouth, stopping when Runaxt shook his head. He leaned forward and whispered something in her ear and she turned, stalking across the room. Runaxt shot a look at Cassius, and followed after his sister.

“I best go make amends on your behalf, father.” Cassius turned on his heel, following behind the siblings. “After all, I want a kingdom in the future – not ruins.”

The King clenched his teeth, hand fisting on the table. Lovine leaned toward him, whispering something that made him visibly relax. Cassius left the room, closing the door behind him without another word.

No one dared speak for the longest time out of fear or due to shock. The King eventually informed everyone to not worry and return to their meals. I tore my gaze from the door, and looked down at my plate.

What the hell just happened. I blinked several times, at a complete loss. The novel never mentioned anything like this happening.

What in the world is going on?