Re: The Villainess Does It With Class

"By the way, where do you plan on going?" I asked Nine further so that the topic would shift to something else other than death.

Estelle was still trying not to let the tears spill by reining her emotions. I had not seen them for like two weeks and now she seemed to be more emotional than she usually was. I wonder if her problem is catching up? In the novel, she was dealing with the thing about her family but everything should have changed right? Is she dealing with the same problem or not?

I don't want to pry and I most definitely don't want to ask such personal questions. Especially if the said question is directed to the thing that only their family knows. That would spark some suspicion on my part.

"Back to where I came from," Nine replied breezily.

Okay, so where was that?

"You're not from Rosenthal?" 

Nine smiled.

"Mhmm…"

Ah, so she wasn't originally a citizen of Rosenthal? So the vacation is probably for visiting her family or her hometown, I guess. Or it could just be for leisure, who knows.

Why do I dwell on that anyway? It's not like it's got to do with me.

Actually, it is. If she would take a long vacation and whether she comes back is still unclear, then that means the bookshop will be closed indefinitely.

"Now I feel kinda sad," I muttered, unaware that I had said it out loud for them to hear.

Nine rested her chin on her right hand. 

"Is it because you won't get your supply of favorite books?" she teased.

"You got me," I chuckled. "To whom will I buy my favorite author's work when you're gone?" I added.

Yeah, to whom? As far as I know, this is the only establishment that sells that certain author's work.

Nine laughed upon hearing what I said but didn't address it further. It went unnoticed by me too that she was being vague throughout our conversation.

"Speaking of which, do you know who they are in person? Have you met this author before?" I inquired as I was curious. This was the first time that I brought it up to her because I was already wondering before but just forgets to ask it every time.

Nine raised one of her perfect brows.

"Why?"

"I just want to know if they only write fiction because I have read some books of hers that aren't fictional novels," I replied.

"Oh, you did?" Nine seemed to perk up from what I said.

I glanced between Nine and Estelle who had finally settled down and was just listening to us now. Upon contemplating further, I decided to divulge a piece of information.

"Actually… I was researching magic," I stated as a matter of factly.

Estelle's eyes widened for a fraction.

"Lady Nadia is interested in magic?"

"Yes, yes I do. Who wouldn't? It's an interesting topic," my eyes went to her, "Aren't you curious about it too, Estelle?"

"I do but there aren't that many books about them so…" she trailed off.

I nodded in agreement.

"Truly so..."

"I heard the tower has a lot of them though," she added.

"You mean, the archives," Nine piped in.

"Yes. I've heard that the archives of the tower contain rare books and magical stuff," Estelle remarked. She looked visibly thrilled, judging from how her beautiful set of green eyes shine as she speaks.

'Oh, if you only know. You have no idea what is in there…'

If Estelle had just seen it, there are more than the rare books and magical stuff she says in there… It's basically a museum of rare finds. One time, I decided to properly go around the displays and look at them. I mean, it would be such a waste to not do that. I was given free rein, and might as well enjoy most of it.

I even came across a glass box filled with different kinds of teeth from different kinds of species. If you have odontophobia, I suggest that you don't go to that section. It's… It even gave me chills, honestly. But I did find out that a dragon's tooth can grow much bigger than me. 

That was pretty eye-opening. Not only do dragons have massive teeth but also because they apparently exist. 

'Are there any dragons in this world?'

Wait, I'm getting distracted again.

"So yeah, Nine…" I turned towards the person in interest, "Does she write anything else but fiction currently?"

I will just assume that they are a she. But I could be wrong too...

"Hmmm... Are you asking me if there are any books here from her that are about magic?" Nine threw back.

"Basically… yes," I stated.

I thought she was only a fiction writer but turns out I was wrong. She actually writes other things as well and I really learned a lot from her books about magic.

"So Lady Nadia is still researching magic?" Estelle curiously asked.

"That's right… Preferably if it's about animas and how to control magic in general," I responded.

Nine hummed like she was thinking deeply about it and so I looked at her expectantly. She then shook her head side to side.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any of that right now," she said, which made my hopes come crashing down.

"Ohh…" was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

I thought I could buy more books aside from what I can read from the tower. I thought that maybe, there are things that the tower doesn't have. But it's fine… What the tower has is more valuable anyway.

And there's also that thing that my brother told me a few days ago. About our mother… 

I have gone around asking the people in the mansion but they seem to not know anything about her at all. My father on the other hand… 

Oh goodness. I can't even think of asking him without worrying that he'll get reminded of her death and get sad again.

Despite being adopted by another family, mother still kept her D'Angelo surname. I know nothing about D'Angelo's. I don't even know such a household name exists. 

Are they fallen nobles?

These thoughts kept coming up in my head. It's honestly exhausting to think about these all the damn time. There's also that thing with my magic...

'Ahh… My head hurts.'

Perhaps, the archives have information about my mother's real family? Will Janus permit me to access the archives? I do vaguely remember Nathan mentioning that to me years ago.

'Janus had given me permission to enter the other floors above the library so… maybe?'

I will definitely get the answers and solve the mysteries behind my mother's identity.