The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script-Chapter 22 -

Beatrice had survived many things since waking up in this world.

Dying? Done that.

Accidentally ruining an important romantic scene? Check.

Falling off a horse? Painful, but manageable.

But standing in the royal falconry, actively trying not to get mauled by a bird of prey?

This was a new low.

She eyed the massive falcon perched nearby. Its sharp talons gripping the handler's arm, its gaze way too intelligent for her comfort.

"Your Highness," she said, voice carefully controlled. "I don't mean to alarm you, but this bird looks like it's plotting my murder."

Francois, standing beside her, gave her a deeply unimpressed look. "It's a trained falcon, Lady Beatrice."

"Yes," Beatrice muttered, "trained to kill."

The falconer, an older man who had clearly been working with birds longer than she had been alive, suppressed a laugh. "I assure you, my lady, he's perfectly well-behaved."

Beatrice narrowed her eyes at the falcon. "That's what they said about my neighbor's parrot once. And then it learned how to swear and actively tried to ruin lives."

Francois gave her a look. "That is... not the same."

"You weren't there," Beatrice said solemnly.

Lila, who had insisted on coming just to watch this disaster unfold, grinned. "You are afraid of birds?"

Beatrice scoffed. "I am not afraid. I am... cautiously aware of my survival instincts."

Lila snorted. "So you're afraid."

Beatrice ignored her.

The falconer extended his gloved arm toward her. "Would you like to hold him, my lady?"

Beatrice took a very large step back. "Absolutely not."

Francois exhaled sharply. "You agreed to this."

"Did I? Because I distinctly remember being bullied into this."

Lila looked delighted. "And yet, here you are."

Beatrice shot her a glare.

Francois crossed his arms. "Are you truly afraid of a bird?"

Beatrice huffed. "I am not afraid of a bird. I am afraid of this bird."

The falcon, as if sensing the attention, flapped its wings once before settling again.

Beatrice flinched.

Francois sighed. "You are being dramatic."

Beatrice placed a hand on her chest. "Your Highness, I am a delicate woman who has already suffered a horrible riding accident. Forgive me if I am not in the mood to be clawed to death today."

Lila laughed outright. "This is the best decision Francois has ever made."

Beatrice ignored her too.

Francois, clearly losing patience, turned to the falconer. "Just proceed with the demonstration."

The falconer, clearly amused, lifted his arm, giving a sharp command. The falcon immediately took off, soaring into the sky with effortless grace.

Beatrice reluctantly admitted that it was kind of cool.

She had seen falconry in movies before, but watching it in real life, seeing the way the bird moved, how perfectly trained it was...

Okay. Fine. Maybe birds were not entirely awful.

Lila smirked. "You look impressed."

Beatrice sniffed. "It's tolerable."

Francois gave her a sidelong glance. "Would you like to try?"

Beatrice turned to him so fast she nearly snapped her neck. "No."

Lila sighed dramatically. "Coward."

Beatrice pointed at her. "Remember this day, Princess."

Francois, clearly done with her nonsense, simply gestured for the falconer to continue.

The falcon swooped back down, landing gracefully on the handler's arm. The entire process was smooth, calculated, and Beatrice hated to admit... but it's kind of fascinating.

Maybe, just maybe, she had overreacted.

Beatrice exhaled. "Alright. I'll acknowledge that was—"

The falcon turned its head sharply.

And looked directly at her.

Beatrice froze.

Lila perked up. "Oh, this is getting good."

The falcon took one step forward on the handler's arm.

Beatrice took one step back.

Francois pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not going to attack you."

Beatrice whispered, "You don't know that."

Lila, nearly doubled over in laughter, watched as Beatrice continued her slow retreat while the falcon simply tilted its head.

Beatrice narrowed her eyes. I know your game, bird.

The falcon flapped its wings.

Beatrice immediately turned on her heel. "Nope. I'm done."

She started power-walking away.

Lila, still laughing, called out, "Beatrice! Where are you going?"

"To find literally any other hobby!"

She heard Francois sigh behind her. "Unbelievable."

"That's your problem now, Your Highness!" Beatrice shouted over her shoulder.

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And with that, she fled the scene, fully convinced that birds were out to get her.

Which, honestly? It might.

She could still feel the falcon's gaze burning into her back. Birds weren't just birds. They were agents of chaos. She had read too many stories about them stealing jewelry, attacking unsuspecting nobles, or worse... becoming weirdly attached to people.

She wasn't about to risk it.

"Are you seriously running away?" Lila called, barely containing her laughter.

Beatrice did not stop. "I am strategically removing myself from danger!"

Francois sighed loudly behind her. "It's a trained falcon, not an assassin."

"Okay, but what if it was?" Beatrice shot back. "Have you ever considered that?"

Francois just stared at her. "No. Because I have common sense."

Beatrice scoffed. "Ugh! Must be nice."

Lila, still grinning, turned to Francois. "So, how does it feel to have finally met your match?"

Francois glanced at Beatrice, who was still cautiously backing away from the bird like it had personally declared war on her.

Then, in the flattest voice imaginable, he said, "Humbling."

Beatrice gasped. "Did... did you just make a joke?"

Francois blinked. "No."

Lila snorted. "Oh, he definitely did."

Beatrice pointed at him. "I heard it. There was humor in your voice."

Francois looked away.

Beatrice turned to Lila, mouth open in shock. "Are you seeing this?"

Lila smirked. "Careful, Beatrice. You might actually make him interesting."

Francois exhaled sharply. "Enough."

Beatrice crossed her arms. "No, no, let's acknowledge this historic moment. I think, just maybe... our cold, emotionally distant prince is warming up to me."

Francois looked at her, unimpressed. "I assure you, I am not."

"You say that, but you keep inviting her to things." Lila grinned.

Beatrice gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, are we becoming best friends?"

Francois closed his eyes, visibly regretting his life choices.

The falconer, who had remained silent throughout this absolute circus of an event, cleared his throat. "Shall I prepare another bird, Your Highness?"

Francois gave Beatrice a long, suffering look. "No. That will be enough for today."

Beatrice fist-pumped the air. "Victory!"

Lila, shaking her head, walked past her. "You are so lucky you're entertaining, or else you would have been executed ages ago."

Beatrice happily followed. "Yeah, yeah. You all love me."

Francois, still standing by the falconer, muttered, "I really don't."

Beatrice just winked at him. "Denial is a river in Egypt, Your Highness."

Francois ignored her.

But Beatrice knew she was right.

Because he didn't deny it.