Re: The Villainess Does It With Class

Chapter 196 - An Invitation

Ah, that sounds so wrong.

Tiredly, I dropped myself down on the chair and absentmindedly stared at all the books on the shelves. All the books that talk about sorcery don't have that much information. It only mentioned the brief history that is also vague as hell because it's just a summary. And when I thought I read something good, it turns out that they are all just theories from scholars and philosophers. So I gained nothing in the end.

I thought about how scarce the materials are for these topics and wondered why these scholars did not try to seek the archives in the tower. Does the tower not let people in? Is it probably a private property meant for tower inhabitants only? Because if they did scour the archives, they would have arrived at a conclusion about magic by now. So maybe, the tower is off-limits.

"But Nathan offered to bring me there though?" I mumbled.

Ah, I am so confused..

I had already searched the nook and cranny of this library and nothing is helpful at all. That is why I have also been coming back to the capital, particularly to Nine's bookshop in hopes of finding one accurate book. Goodness, I was almost seduced to enter that shady shop that sells shady things. All my visits didn't bore fruit but I did get to know Estelle and Nine better. Also Luna. Let us not forget about that cute little black cat.

"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh…"

I was soullessly sighing now, feeling listless and bored as hell. If only I had the balls to come and beg for entrance in the tower's archives, I would have done that from the start. But I am not associated with the tower at all and being the Empress's niece doesn't give me a ticket either.

"Maybe I should just wait for some miracle to happen… Like the tower inviting me or something…"

I chewed on my inner cheek and squinted. Janus and I pretty much bonded last time, right? I mean, we're kind of acquaintances now because he helped me with that strange spell and gave me clues and all that… 

We walked together once! Is there anyone else who can say that?

He also said that I should look for the answers myself. Maybe, for some stroke of luck, he would invite me to come and visit the archive...

'Nah, that is not possible.'

"This is Janus we are talking about…" I remarked and just shrugged the thought away.

It's really weird how he's so different in person than in the novel. Well, to the characteristics I have written down about him, anyway.

I heard a tap on the window which was made of glass and was directly across the room in front of me. My forehead creased in confusion as I squinted my eyes towards that direction, wondering what caused it. I was about to ignore it when a bright light appeared, on the surface of the window, forming into a gold magic circle. The runes in the circle burned bright but not to the point that it was blinding.

I was surprised to see that but was much more taken aback when something flew out of it. It was so swift that the only thing I saw was a flash of white light and a hooting sound. It disappeared back into the magic circle afterward and then everything was back to normal again.

"What…?"

What just happened? 

'Was that a bird? I heard a bird sound...'

That whole thing was so fast I didn't even have the time to react. Feeling rather bewildered, I started to question whether I saw the right thing or I was just hallucinating. And that's when I noticed an envelope atop a book right in front of me. There wasn't anything like that earlier so it's probably from that flash of light which is also probably a bird, which also means that I didn't just imagine it. It really did happen.

The envelope was sealed with gold. Yes, a gold seal. Royal seals are made of gold wax so I assumed that it's from the palace, but I was so wrong. Because this seal is pure gold and the symbols are waaaay too different.

This has a hexagram inside a circle on it. I racked my brains for anyone that has this kind of seal but came up with nothing. In the end, I opened the envelope to satisfy my curiosity. I'm sure, if not, that the answer is inside. 

It was a letter and surprisingly, it came from Janus slash the tower.

How convenient, I was just thinking of him, and here comes something from him. Are you wondering what was written in the letter? It was a short one-liner.

'Come to the tower.'

That's it. That's what it said. 

It didn't specifically say that it was from Janus because there is no signature from him everywhere. But who would boldly say something like this aside from the current owner? I mean, is there any other magician inside anyway? So far, he's the only magician I have met so far and the novel doesn't say that there exists more either.

"Oh… That's… unexpected…"

I jolted from my chair when someone knocked on the door and revealed Nathan. Because I was still reeling from what just happened, I only stared at him for like a full half a minute as he strolled in, not really registering that he was there inside the library.

"Are you busy?" My brother then questioned when he got closer.

I blinked the haziness away and focused, still holding Janus's letter in my hand.

"Oh, I uhm… I was just reading," I mumbled, glancing at the paper before putting it back in the envelope. Then it dawned on me that he's with me and looked up. "You're here… You have nothing to do? I mean, you're not busy anymore?"

My eyes studied him from head to foot and noticed that he's still clad in his uniform. 

"I finally have free time," was his response.

"Uhuh," I stupidly mumbled, gazing up at him in question.

"I promised to accompany you on your day so I will let you decide where you want to go," he added when he noticed I wasn't getting what he meant.

'Ah!'

Yeah, he did tell me that one time… And yet I forgot about it…

"Is there any place you wish to go to?" Nathan pondered, looking down at me expectantly.

I only thought for a short moment but I actually don't have to think about it at all. There is just one place in my mind right about now. It was also a coincidence that Janus had just invited me so of course, the answer is glaringly obvious.

"The tower. Let's go to the tower," I said with a grin and immediately stood up from the chair in excitement.