I Want a Happy Ending Even as a Villainess

Chapter 9

“How old is your sibling?”

A man suddenly asked me out of nowhere.

“Ten?”

I made up an age for a non-existent younger sibling, and suddenly the books I was holding floated into the air.

The books slowly flew through the air and returned to their places on the shelves. The man bent down, picked three books from the lowest shelf, and handed them to me.

“These might be better.”

His tone was kind, but his voice was emotionless, sending a chill down my spine. I could feel his pale blue eyes watching my every move.

I glanced at the books he gave me. The text was larger and there were plenty of illustrations, making them suitable for a child.

“Uh, thanks.”

I thanked him awkwardly, looking up at him.

He looked very suspicious and untrustworthy, but considering how quickly he found the books and his attitude towards me, he seemed to be someone who worked here.

“Are you the owner?”

“I’m the librarian.”

“Oh…”

Hearing that, I felt my tension release.

So it wasn’t a bookstore but a library. Realizing this, it made sense why the books looked old for a bookstore.

‘But what kind of librarian looks like this?’

I quickly shook my head to clear the thought. There’s no specific appearance for any job.

“When do I need to return these?”

“Return them whenever you want.”

The librarian brought a paper bag from a large table, put the books in, and handed it to me.

‘What kind of library doesn’t have a return date?’

It seemed strange, but I figured their rules might be different from what I was used to.

Since there was no listed fee, I pulled out a few coins from my pocket and handed them to him. The librarian didn’t take them and just stared at me blankly.

‘Don’t private libraries charge fees?’

A state-run library would be free to use, but this place didn’t look like a public library. If it was privately run, it would need income to operate.

“Is this not enough?”

“No.”

The librarian, who had been observing me, took the coins only after hearing my question. I  bowed in thanks and left the library, heading towards the carriage.

I looked back several times to check if he was following, but he stayed in the library.

When I returned to the carriage, the waiting line had shortened and the street was quiet.

‘No matter how it happened, I got what I wanted.’

It was a satisfactory outcome for such a hasty decision.

* * *

“Phew, I’m done.”

Back home, I closed the book and tossed it onto the table, then collapsed onto the bed. I didn’t even bother opening the boring-looking history and culture books.

The first book I read was about magic and Estella. Maybe it was because I was bombarded with so much information at once, but my head throbbed.

“So, to summarize…”

In this world, there are two types of power: magical power and divine power. Magical power is the force of nature and the source of magic, while divine power is the power of the gods, enabling divine magic.

“The pinnacle of divine power is called Estella.”

Estella is determined at birth, both in terms of possession and limits. Its power is incomparable to ordinary magic or divine magic.

“And it’s impossible to acquire it later…”

There may be variations in when it manifests, but someone not born with the ability can never suddenly develop Estella.

A truly formidable power bestowed by the gods. As such, those who possess Estella are considered chosen by the gods.

“I don’t have a good feeling about that…….”

I recalled the dreadful experience in the greenhouse. The black snakes writhing under Calix’s shadow attacked me. It was a sinister and unpleasant power, even in hindsight.

“Not all of them are like that, though.”

Each owner of Estella had different powers. I knew that much from reading the original story.

“That’s why even with Estella, some people still fall behind in power struggles.”

Calix was a good example.

His power was certainly threatening to an ordinary person like me. But it was quickly subdued by other Estella users. Because of this, Calix faced numerous hardships in the original story.

“Leschel has defensive abilities, and the others are all offensive. Olivia, on the other hand…”

She had healing abilities. Moreover, her Estella was so powerful that its effects were several times greater than simple divine power.

Did Lilith have one? Thinking carefully, I couldn’t recall any mention in the original story of her possessing Estella.

“I wish I had abilities too.”

Then I wouldn’t have to struggle like this.

I blew out the candle on the dresser. Exhausted, I crawled under the soft blankets.

“By the way, that must have been magic too, right?”

Lying in bed, I suddenly recalled the library incident. The librarian who approached me without a sound, and the books floating freely from my hands.

“Maybe I can learn too.”

The book said that since magical power is a force of nature, everyone possesses it. It’s just hard to awaken magic.

Maybe I should ask the Duke or someone else to introduce a good teacher. I needed to use every resource available to survive.

As I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, an unwanted memory flashed in my mind.

‘Come again tomorrow, please.’

Leschel’s whispered words still echoed clearly.

The gentle, low voice pouring over me, the kind smile on his lips, the warmth in his eyes.

Recalling the scene at the imperial palace made my face flush and my ears turn red.

I raised my hands and slapped my cheeks hard. I held my stinging cheeks, waiting for the heat to subside.

“I’m not going. I’m not going!”

Leschel had agreed to keep his distance when I asked. Ignoring the words that follow should be easy.

I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamland where I soon passed out.

* * *

As the sun set and darkness fell, the man perched casually on the table. He stared intently at the door through which the woman had disappeared.

Though it was early evening, it was a quiet village, making it a decent time for work. Normally, he would have stayed hidden until she left, but by the time he came to his senses, he had already intervened.

Why? Why had he done such a foolish thing, so unlike himself?

He already knew her. More accurately, he had seen her before.

A few years ago, she had come to the temple, a notorious noblewoman. Arrogant to the core, just the sight of her had been repulsive.

But today, she was different.

Platinum blonde hair that seemed like it belonged in a royal treasure chest, ruby-colored eyes that shone even in the dim light. She was dressed neatly, yet it was clear she was raised in luxury.

The small voice that contrasted with her cold and rigid appearance still echoed in his ears.

“Saint, so what are you going to do now?”

The small wooden door on the shop floor creaked open, and a blue-haired man peeked out. His name was Karl, Saint’s companion.

The smell of blood wafted through the crack in the door Karl opened. As Karl climbed up the ladder, Saint shut the wooden door with his foot.

“Burning it down is probably the best option, right?”

Karl said, placing a bag from the basement on the counter. At this, Saint habitually stroked his chin slowly.

“No one’s the owner now, so can I take it?”

“What?”

Karl turned to him, as if he had misheard.

“Is it difficult?”

“No… It’s not that.”

Karl answered reluctantly. Saint’s eyebrows rose at this.

“What I mean is, why bother? This place is old and dirty, just annoying.”

“I think I’ll see her again.”

“Who? That person from earlier?”

When he didn’t deny it, Karl made a face that said he must be crazy. Saint just gave him a knowing nod.

“Do as you wish.”

Karl shook his head. He knew all too well that trying to stop Saint was futile; he would always do as he pleased. With a small sigh, Karl went back down to the basement.

“If that’s the case, I’ll have to renovate the interior.”

Saint looked around the shop with slow steps.

When he first entered the bookstore, his purpose hadn’t been to browse, so he hadn’t noticed the deteriorating condition.

Karl was right; the place was old and dirty. Renovating it would require significant effort and money.

‘But that doesn’t matter.’

To return the book, she will visit here again soon. If the place was brighter and more inviting, she might even think of coming often.

If that could happen, there was nothing he wouldn’t do. After all, he wasn’t a person with anything to hide. That’s what Saint thought.

He pulled the hood he had taken off during their conversation back over his head. In the dim light, he blended into the shadows.

He wasn’t interested in why she had come here.

Had he fallen for her face? Was it her voice? Her actions? Mere curiosity? He couldn’t pinpoint it. He just had a vague desire to see her again.

A gust of unnatural wind blew through the enclosed space, extinguishing the remaining lamp. Now the bookstore was pitch dark, without a trace of light. There was no warmth of human presence.

Even the shadows were swallowed by the darkness, leaving only a silent stillness.