Assistant to the Villain, #2
Apprentice to the Villain
by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contents
Chapter 41
Overview
The group’s search for help with the manor’s concealment falters when the Heart Village enchantress lead points to the southern kingdom, but Nura’s pouch produces a more personal clue: a Sage family frame fragment tied to Evie’s mother’s art collection. This redirects the search toward Evie’s own village and a possible friend of Nura’s, making Evie’s family history central to the mystery.
Trystan’s refusal to let Evie investigate because she is wanted sparks a bitter fight that exposes how deeply Evie needs to feel useful and trusted. By the end of the chapter, Evie is hurt, angry, and determined to defy Trystan’s order.
Summary
On the ride back from Heart Village, Tatianna and Clare report that the local enchantress has not been seen in eleven years. Clare adds that the enchantress now lives in the southern kingdom, imprisoned by the king and queen for killing the crown prince. Tatianna suggests the enchantress’s adult daughter may have inherited similar powers, but Trystan rejects a southern search as too uncertain and time-consuming.
After nightfall, the group returns to Massacre Manor and gathers in the kitchen, where Edwin and Lyssa are baking and Gideon is settling uneasily among the staff. Trystan brings in the map that once glowed with stardust, but the stardust has worn off, leaving the map useless except for a small remaining supply they could risk using later.
Evie opens Nura’s velvet pouch and finds a broken gold corner from a lavish frame marked as property of the Sage family. Gideon recognizes it as part of one of the many frames their father had made for their mother’s art collection. The attached note says Nura will be safe with her friend, which leads Evie to suspect that Nura may have hidden in Evie’s own village with the frame vendor.
Evie immediately wants to investigate the vendor, but Trystan forbids her from going because Evie is a wanted woman and would likely be arrested. Evie argues that Trystan is wanted too, but Trystan insists his death magic can protect him and that Evie is not needed. The argument turns personal when Trystan makes a careless comment about pleading and then dismisses Evie’s role, wounding her sense of purpose as his assistant.
Evie leaves the kitchen furious and hurt, while Blade follows and gently redirects her to the cellars to see the two guvres. Watching the bonded creatures only sharpens Evie’s ache over love and devotion, and Blade quietly admits he wonders about that kind of happiness too. Evie leaves the cellar still angry, using the hurt as fuel and resolving that Trystan will learn how unwise it was to exclude her.
Who Appears
- Evie SageFinds Nura’s clue, argues with Trystan, and resolves to defy his order.
- Trystan MaverineForbids Evie from investigating the village, escalating professional concern into personal hurt.
- Gideon SageRecognizes the frame fragment from the Sage family home and Nura’s art collection.
- BladeWatches the argument, then comforts Evie by taking her to the guvres.
- TatiannaReports the enchantress lead failed and suggests the enchantress’s daughter as an option.
- ClareReveals the Heart Village enchantress is imprisoned in the southern kingdom.
- KingsleyReacts sharply to the enchantress news and warns others during Evie and Trystan’s fight.
- BeckyObserves the kitchen tension and deliberately avoids getting involved in the argument.
- EdwinBakes pies and cinnamon rolls, helping keep the kitchen scene briefly light.
- LyssaAssists Edwin in the kitchen and reacts innocently to the manor’s gruesome details.