Who is the Villain?

Chapter-15

The tea party has rather turned into something more than a normal tea party. The atmosphere became heavier as soon as lady Cresella left. No one spoke. Lucien wondered why Alina did nothing to support her friend who had just been misunderstood. However, when Lucien turned toward Alina, she realized that it was better for her to be silent rather than getting ready to murder anyone.

Lucien was back in her chamber. It seems like the tea party finished off silently. Neither Renee nor Alina spoke to her but quietly left. Not that she bothered but, she hopes that they wouldn't call her again.

"Rosetta."

"Yes, my lady."

"Is the library still accessible after dawn ?" Lucien sat by the balcony watching the sun setting as the sky gets darker.

"Yes, His Majesty has allowed anyone to use the library, day or night. There is no curfew for it." Rosetta answered, standing beside her.

"Alright then." Lucien stood up with determination. "I'll be visiting the library today."

"My lady, may I–"

"It's alright, Rosetta." Lucien interrupts. "I can walk alone. Until then, do prepare my meal and bath. I'll be back after I've found a book I'm looking for." Lucien didn't want to be interrupted when she was in the library alone. After all, her mind was still battling whether she should call the butler or not.

"Yes, my lady."

And Lucien left after getting changed to something more comfortable for the night.

The entrance to the library had a huge dark wooden door with the Galatians emblem carved on it. There were no guards not like it was needed. A glowing lamp was attached to both sides which were burning from magic.

She was expecting the library to have lots of cobwebs or dust, however, instead, it was swept clean; from the floor to the ceiling, table to the chair, and from the shelves to the windows. But it was too quiet and unpleasant. Lucien was glad that there were lights around.

"Ghost or spirit, it doesn't exist in this world," Lucien confirmed herself and made her way towards the shelves. How she wished there was a guide who could instruct her on where she should start looking.

*Thuk*

Lucien's body flinches at the sound of something hitting the ground. It was as though somebody purposely or unexpectedly drop a book.

As she waits, there was nothing. She ignores thinking of a mouse or rats wandering around.

"Now, let's start from these shelves, it's–"

*thuk*

Another book fell on the ground which was louder and clearer. It wasn't daylight but rather twilight and, there was no one around in the library. She couldn't tell if it was a person or not.

She gulps hard and held the book she just picked, "a..ah, excuse m–"

*~a-ahhhh~*

Her body just ran cold, there was no need to questioned anymore. In a slip second, she sprinted her way out from the bookshelves area. As quickly as possible, she pulls up her gown to her knees, the book in her mouth, wishing never to turn back until she crosses the door.

'Why was I never told spirit exists in this world?'

Her mind echoed in a loud voice. 'Hell, I'm not going to check where the sound is coming from.'

This wasn't a horror movie and she never wanted to act like those characters who would follow weird noises in unwanted places for answers. They were stupid and she thinks something was really wrong with them. It always pissed her off whenever she watch horror movies. Rather than getting scared, she was more irritated.

And she was finally out of the door until she got hit by a stranger on her left turn. However, she didn't have any moment to plead for an apology or ask if that person got hurt who was on the floor now aching in pain.

Without a second thought, she leaps over the person grabs her gown higher, and bolts away.

'I'M NEVER COMING TO THE LIBRARY AGAIN, EVER.'

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However, a few days later, Alina and Renee visited her over an evening tea. Lucien was expecting them to have forgotten about her but it wasn't so.

"Umm! What?"

Lucien questioned. She heard what Alina said but couldn't understand the reason why.

"I apologize, Lady Lucien," Alina uttered again. Her face was filled with a concerned look. "It was my shortcoming that I didn't notice what my brother was questioning about."

'Her brother? What does that have to do with me?'

"Alina, I'm unable to understand what you are trying to explain."

Lucien couldn't drink her tea peacefully. The concerned look on her and Renee's faces was confusing her.

"The thing is Lady Lucien, you are a spirit user and one of the only two users left in this empire or maybe across other capitals."

'Eh! It's magic again.'

"She is right, Lady Lucien," Renee spoke as well. She was seated beside Alina. "I'm not sure how I am supposed to explain this however, your kind of magic has been extinct since 1000 years back and when one user was born with this spirit, he was known as the savior of this world."

'Excuse me?'

"If you were found with the ability, you'll be put under constant watch, as well as regarded as a new savior." Renee continues. Her head lay low with a desperate stare. "I really don't mind you becoming the savior but I wanted your ability to help me create that medicine."

'I seriously don't know what they are talking about...This is frustrating.'

Lucien sighs finally giving up. "As I've said before, I'll be assisting you with my ability though I don't know how. And yes, I wouldn't be revealing my ability without a proper reason. So, rest assured."

'I guess I need to go back to the library again.'

Alina and Renee's faces brighten up. Both stares at each other and back at Lucien again. "~thank you, Lady Lucien~" Renee cheerfully wiped her tears. "I thought you would just avoid me like the rest after what had happened at the tea party."

"Uh?"

"It was my mistake for inviting them again. I assumed we could form a friendship instead of looking at each other as a foe. But I was at fault." Alina deeply regretted what had happened. Everyone started to think that Renee stood a high chance of gaining the emperor's favor.

Lucien wanted to question if the emperor said or did anything to her but in this atmosphere, she couldn't do so. It will only become more suspicious. Lucien only felt apologetic for her.

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And finally, after a week, Lucien mustered her courage and stood at the front door of the Library. This time, it was midday. She didn't want to risk her life. If something goes wrong, she could use her ability.

With a deep breath, she walks in. It was the same as it was before. There was no one available in the library. Soon enough she have forgotten about her worries when her concentration got emerged on the books; shelves by shelves, books by books, floor by floor. There were too many books and somehow, she wished there was somebody to guide her.

'This library is too huge.'

She had moved on to the deeper section and was finally able to find what she was looking for. However, she heard a chilling moan when she was about to grab a book.

"~nah~its impossible, it is still day light~"

She ignored the voice echoing in her head while her heart was thumping hard against her chest. 'It's not a ghost. Ghosts don't exist.'

As soon as she was able to pull the book, her eyes nearly fall off, and promptly puts it back where it was. Her hand trembled, refusing to move away. However, she couldn't hold back and quickly bolted away from that area. Her only wish was to get away from this library.

Lucien didn't have to think about opening the door with her bare hands as she was busy grabbing her gown. So, she used her feet to kick open the door. Unknown to her, somebody stood by the door who was just about to enter but met with a slam by the door.

She couldn't think of anything but to quickly sprint away to her chamber.

'My eyes....my eyes...my eyes... It has been tainted....'

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Lucien set lifelessly on the balcony. Her entire innocent life was now destroyed in the library. All this time, she thought there was a ghost however, it didn't.

That moment when she pulls out the book from the shelves, there were two-person half-n***d and was making love to each other. It was a maid and the other person, she wasn't sure but it could be one of the butlers working there.

'Dame this rated novel. It should have been censored.'

She frustratedly pulls her hair, it was disturbing her. All this time what she heard in the library was somebody taking their time making love. 'But why does it have to be during the day?' Lucien's mind shouted.

"Rosetta,"

"Yes, my lady?" Rosetta appeared with a herbal teapot in a trolley. She carefully pours the tea while the other maid laid the plate of cookies and cakes on the table.

"What should I do when my sight has been tarnished and my mind cannot forget?"

"The best way is," Rosetta calmly answers putting one sugar cube in the cup and stirring with a silver spoon. "To clean it by gouging your brain and your eyes out or replace it with something else."

"Are you really a maid?" Lucien questioned with a disbelief look. "You sure do have some gruesome thoughts." It was no point in asking her.

"My lady, you asked me a question and I answered it." Rosetta didn't think too much. She puts down the cup towards her.

'This isn't the answer I was looking for.'

Maria who was standing beside her spoke her mind. "My lady, may I?" She requested with her hand across her chest.

"Sure."

"The best way would be changing the subject you are conversing about or imagining something differently."

Maria was the only maid who would think sensibly and explains what feels good enough. Lucien was glad Maria didn't leave her side.

"Ohh, I like your suggestion." Lucien nods her head in delight. Satisfied with what she had heard.

"Thank you, my lady." Maria bows in gratitude.

"You are excused, Maria."  Maria left with a bow.

Lucien sips her tea which tasted incredibly invigorating. She was glad Renee bought some tea leaves and dry flowers for her for brewing tea.

"Rosetta."

"Yes, my lady?"

"What were you working on before you decided to become a maid?" Lucien calmly questions her gaze on the garden.

"I was merely an ordinary girl at home, working and earning for myself."

"You don't have a family?" It has been a month since Rosetta has been working as a maid for her. It seems right for her to ask something related to her.

"My parents passed away when I was young."

"Do you have a brother?"

Her last question flinches Rosetta. She was calmly answering but she didn't think Lucien would be asking about her. She had asked one or the other time like where she was from or how does it feel like to be a maid. However, she didn't give it much thought until now.

"Why do you ask, my lady?" Rosetta finally questions whether it was improper for her or not.

"I'm kind of interested." Lucien puts down her tea and grabs the cookies that were recently baked. "So, what is your brother's name?"

Rosetta held her wrist tight. "I apologize, but I do not wish to talk about my family anymore."

"Alright." Lucien as well didn't force. She loves the taste of baked cookies. It was chocolate but a little different. Maybe, there were nuts and dry fruits. She might want to get this recipe and maybe if she made it out alive, she'll make a business with this recipe.

However, after a brief silence, Lucien continues, "Then let's make a pact." Lucien turn towards Rosetta with a grin while the maid only gave a 'I_don't_give_a_dame' look.

"How about, I ask you one question a week?"

"I've already told you, I do not wish–"

"500 gold coins a question and it will rise by 100 per week."

"Deal." Rosetta answers without hesitation.

'Did you just sell your family?'

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A week later, Lucien has finally able to make her way back to the library door. This time she needed to know what the hell was this about a spirit earth user. Not to forget, she was going to get involved in it. If her ability was this powerful, it could be helpful for her future use, to survive in this cruel world.

"Okay, then let's get going, again."

This time Lucien made sure that there was no one around the library and she did that by sending one of her maids to examine.

Lucien quickly made her way to the shelves she was looking for, however.

"What? It's not here? It was here the last time I came." The book just can't magically disappear unless someone borrows it. "Who took it?"

"That would probably be me."

A voice behind her nearly made her shriek in fright. If something more than a ghost scares her, it would be somebody sneaking from behind.

"Are you looking for this, my lady?"

Lucien instantly turns around and meets the gaze of a young man with youthful green eyes. He stood a few steps away from her, that brilliant blond hair fell till his shoulder with flawless skin.

'Wait...wait... Is he the third lead from the harem?'

And he was when Lucien realized that one of the male lead meets Renee in the Library who had blond hair and green eyes.

"Are you the lady who knock me out at the door and the other day with the same door?"

'Oh, crap...I just had to hit no other than the lead character who could end me anytime. What a stroke of luck. Is this the end?'