Page 27 of Barbi and the Villain

There’s only this slight disappointment that is taking root inside of me—this sense of feeling like a fish out of water.

From the first time I read about Lady Jocelyn, I’ve wanted to be like her. I’ve modeled my entire life to be like her. She was my role model and what I aspired to be. But now, meeting the real thing…

I briefly close my eyes, taking a deep breath.

She’s a Queen now. She has an important position, so she cannot act casually with anyone. Yes, that must be it. I can’t judge her based on a small interaction only.

We walk for a few more minutes before we reach a private wing of the castle that’s teeming with guards.

She waves her hand around, and the servants open a wooden double door for her. I follow closely behind her, and the door closes with a loud thud after us.

My heart hammers in my chest as the moment I’ll meet my second idol slowly approaches. Sir Damien has been my crush for as long as I remember and I am beyond curious to see what he looks like. But I’m also trembling from my nerves since he is an absolute legend—the most powerful mage Akkaya has ever seen.

“Put clothes on, Damien. There is something you need to hear,” Lady Jocelyn calls out.

There’s a ruffle of sheets and a few gasps and squeaks.

I raise my gaze, my eyes widening in shock.

Two naked girls jump from his bed, searching for their clothes. They giggle and joke around in hushed tones as they dash past us and out of the room. They never once acknowledge Lady Jocelyn or feel any shame for whatever they were doing with her husband.

Sir Damien is with his back to us as he tugs at his pants—butt naked. He turns as he puts on a shirt but leaves it unbuttoned.

His blond hair falls to his shoulders, curling slightly at the tips. His eyes are a deep blue shade, his features just as chiseled as I would have imagined.

Yet instead of butterflies in my stomach, all I feel is disgust and a deep-seated discomfort.

He has a bored expression on his face as he turns to his wife. But as his gaze flies past her to me, his eyes glint with interest.

“What do we have here, Jos? Don’t tell me you brought me a gift.” He lets out a laugh as he heads over to his table to pour himself a drink. “You could have at least waited until I was done with the other two, you know…”

“Cut it out, Damien. That’s not why she’s here.” Lady Jocelyn rolls her eyes. “She’s from another world,” she adds pointedly—as if referencing a previous conversation.

Sir Damien stills.

“Is that so?” he asks as he swirls his drink in his glass, leaning lazily against the table and watching us.

“I believe she’s speaking the truth,” she continues, and their gazes connect. For a moment, neither says anything as they merely stare at each other.

Are they…communicating telepathically? Well, that’s at least one thing the books got right.

“Barbara, is it?” He suddenly smiles. He is a handsome man. The descriptions in the books had not done him justice. But his smile is bleak. Instead of making me more comfortable, it does the opposite. The urge to squirm and leave right away is overwhelming, as is the fear that I might have gotten myself into something dangerous.

“You can call me Barbi,” I add nervously.

“Barbi, then.”

His smile widens.

My discomfort increases.

“Tell me about this world of yours.”

“I’m not sure what you mean…”

“Describe it for me.”

I look at Lady Jocelyn for confirmation and she nods, urging me to talk.

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