The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script-Chapter 24

Beatrice did not hate archery.

She just hated that she had to prove she was good at it.

Unlike horseback riding, where she was an active disaster, she had some skill with a bow. But the problem with being good at something meant expectations.

And she had enough of those already.

The archery range was set up in one of the palace courtyards, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and a long row of straw targets at varying distances. It was a casual event, just something to pass the time.

But Beatrice still wanted absolutely no part of it.

"I just have one question," she said, sighing. "Why am I here?"

Lila, standing beside her, smirked. "Because I insisted."

Beatrice groaned dramatically. "Why do you hate me?"

"So many reasons, really. But watching you struggle is currently my favorite one."

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Great. Can’t wait to add archery to my growing list of near-death experiences."

Johanna, who had been silent for most of the afternoon, finally spoke. "I didn’t realize you disliked it so much, Lady Beatrice."

Beatrice glanced at her. "Oh, I don’t dislike it. I just dislike being expected to participate."

Francois, adjusting his gloves, shot her a glance. "Then why are you here?"

Beatrice sighed aloud. "Because my good friend here refuses to let me have peace." She gestured at Lila, who looked extremely unbothered.

"You’re not my friend," Lila corrected.

"Details."

Francois ignored them both. "Then do not participate."

Beatrice squinted. "Wait. You mean to tell me I suffered through the walk here, carried this stupid bow, and listened to Lila mock me for the last twenty minutes... for nothing?"

Francois didn’t even blink. "Yes."

Lila burst out laughing.

Beatrice turned to Johanna for support, only to find her looking at her strangely.

Not amused. Not mocking.

Just... thoughtful.

Beatrice frowned. What was that about?

Johanna quickly looked away, adjusting her gloves. "If you dislike it so much, you truly don’t have to force yourself."

Beatrice blinked. Okay, what?

Johanna was supposed to encourage her participation. To gently correct her form and cheer her on. That was the Johanna she knew.

This version of Johanna? The one standing stiffly, barely engaging, and not pressing the issue?

It was weird. And Beatrice did not like weird.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, scanning Johanna’s expression. "Are you feeling alright?"

Johanna hesitated for just a moment. "Of course."

Lies.

Beatrice could tell she was still shaken from the horse incident.

But instead of pressing the issue, she simply smirked and turned back to the targets. "Alright, fine. Since we’re already here, I might as well show off."

Francois raised an eyebrow. "You were just complaining."

"I contain multitudes." Beatrice grinned.

Lila scoffed. "This should be entertaining."

Beatrice stepped up to the line, adjusting her stance. The moment she gripped the bow, something settled.

Unlike other noblewomen, Beatrice did not waste her time on embroidery, music, or courtly gossip. The villainess Beatrice had been trained to fight.

And while she may not have been an expert, she was certainly better than most.

She nocked an arrow, exhaled slowly, and released.

The arrow hit dead center.

Beatrice smirked. "I’m sorry, were you expecting failure?"

Lila scoffed. "A lucky shot."

Beatrice fired another arrow. Same result.

Lila squinted. "I hate you."

Beatrice beamed. "Aww. Love you too, Princess."

Francois, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "Your form is good. Where did you train?"

Beatrice hesitated.

Her past self had been trained rigorously under the Da Villes’ private instructors. But she couldn’t exactly say, "Oh, you know, memories of my past life are slowly trickling in, and apparently, archery was one of my few redeeming qualities."

So she just shrugged. "Talent is talent."

Francois wasn’t convinced.

Beatrice ignored him and turned to Johanna, expecting a polite compliment, or at least an attempt at one.

Instead, Johanna was staring at her bow. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Not in awe. But in something that looked eerily close to... concern.

Beatrice’s smirk faltered. Okay. What is going on?

Johanna had never acted like this before. She was supposed to be a shining beacon of kindness, always encouraging, always supportive. Instead, she looked like she didn’t know what to say.

Beatrice’s fingers tightened around the bow.

She didn’t like this. Didn’t like how tense Johanna was. Didn’t like how her usual sweet, predictable demeanor was starting to shift.

Because if Johanna was changing, then so was the story. And Beatrice wasn’t ready for that.

Not yet.

She set down the bow, rolling her shoulders. "Welp. That was fun. Time to retire while I’m still a legend."

Lila scoffed. "A legend? You hit two shots."

Beatrice gasped dramatically. "Two perfect shots."

Lila rolled her eyes. "If you’re so good, why don’t you compete against His Highness?"

Beatrice froze. Oh, absolutely not!

She turned slowly, finding Francois already watching her. His blue eyes were calm and unreadable as always.

Beatrice put her hands up. "I think we’ve already established that I’m talented. No need for further demonstrations."

Francois, the absolute menace that he was, tilted his head slightly. "Are you refusing a challenge?"

Beatrice’s jaw clenched. Okay, he was baiting her now.

She could practically hear Lila snickering.

Johanna, however, was still silent.

Beatrice flicked her gaze toward her, trying to gauge her reaction. Nothing. Just that same calculating look.

Beatrice fought the urge to shift under her gaze.

"Fine," she said, tossing her braid over her shoulder. "Let’s do this."

Lila looked way too pleased. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Francois stepped up to the line, calm and effortless. He moved like someone who had done this his whole life.

Which he had.

Beatrice was so screwed.

She braced herself as Francois nocked his arrow, drew back the bowstring, and released.

Bullseye.

She groaned. "Oh, come on. That’s not fair. You do this all the time."

Francois raised an eyebrow. "And you don’t?"

Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

Okay. He wanted to play games? Fine.

She grabbed her bow, squared her shoulders, and fired her next shot.

It landed just beside his.

Lila whistled low. "Huh. Maybe you aren’t completely useless."

Beatrice smirked. "Was that a compliment? I think I need it in writing."

Francois, to her complete shock, actually looked the tiniest bit amused.

But before she could bask in her victory, Johanna suddenly spoke.

"Where did you learn?"

Her voice was light, polite as ever. But Beatrice caught the edge to it.

She turned to face Johanna fully. "What do you mean?"

Johanna gestured vaguely. "Your technique. It’s not just for sport. It’s too precise."

Beatrice hesitated. Because... Johanna wasn’t wrong. This wasn’t hobby-level skill. It was muscle memory.

But how could Beatrice explain something that she herself didn’t fully understand?

She forced a casual shrug. "I had a lot of free time."

Johanna’s expression didn’t change. But her fingers curled slightly in her skirts.

Beatrice didn’t like that.

She didn’t like the way Johanna was studying her. She didn’t like the feeling that something had shifted between them.

Before she could say anything else, Francois suddenly spoke.

"You didn’t answer her question."

Beatrice stiffened. She turned to find him watching her closely.

Too closely.

Beatrice swallowed, keeping her tone light. "Oh? I thought I did."

"No. You didn’t."

The tension in the air was suddenly too much.

Beatrice forced a laugh. "Wow, okay. This is getting weirdly intense for no reason." She clapped her hands together. "Let’s all just take a breath and—"

"I think that’s enough archery for today," Johanna cut in.

Beatrice blinked. That was unexpected.

Lila frowned slightly. "Johanna?"

Johanna’s smile was serene, but her eyes were unreadable. "We should return to the palace. The sun is setting."

Francois didn’t argue.

Lila hesitated, glancing at Beatrice, but eventually shrugged. "Alright. Guess we’re done here."

Beatrice took the first chance to move away from the targets. Something about that conversation had felt off.

Johanna had never questioned her before. Not like that.

And for the first time, Beatrice had a sinking feeling that she might not be the only one who realized the story was changing.