The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 113: The Ballad of a Lost Witch Whose Heart Was Stolen By a Loveless Child

Chapter 113: The Ballad of a Lost Witch Whose Heart Was Stolen By a Loveless Child

Following Sir Logan’s advice, Rosalie displayed admirable patience by waiting for the weekends. The very moment she awoke on a radiant Saturday morning, she quickly got ready, and after indulging in a brief, light breakfast, eagerly made her way toward the carriage, embarking on her journey to the biggest bookstore in the entire Capital.

"Reader’s Hut" appeared to be a somewhat modest name for an establishment of such magnificence. A venerable two-story building, though aged, exuded an air of meticulous preservation. It proudly occupied its space amidst the opulent sprawl of neighboring shops, casting a beguiling spell on all who passed by. Its enigmatic and distinctive facade seemed to promise to reveal the concealed treasures of the written word nestled within its walls, inviting the curious to enter and bask in the enlightenment it offered.

As the lady gracefully stepped into the store, she was instantly enveloped by the comforting and somewhat familiar aroma of aged books, leather-bound covers, a crackling fireplace, and the warm embrace of wood.

Books of every conceivable kind found their place throughout the store’s interior – they adorned the expansive, towering bookshelves crafted from rich, brown wood; graced the round tables casually scattered across the store’s expanse; nestled comfortably upon the broad windowsills, that thoughtfully offered pillows and blankets for those inclined to indulge in romantic reading; and even claimed residence upon the wooden steps of the spiraling staircase that gracefully ascended to the second floor. Everywhere her eyes wandered, she discovered books, as if she had stumbled into the Kingdom of Knowledge and Imagination, a realm of endless literary treasures awaiting exploration.

After spending nearly half an hour wandering in awe through the store, Rosalie eventually decided to purchase the very first book that had caught her eye near the counter. She then settled into a comfortable chair positioned at a round wooden table by the window. Wrapping her hands around a cup of steaming, fragrant tea, she relished the cozy ambiance of the bookshop and the tranquil view beyond.

As she sat there, she found herself reminiscing about the book cafes from her former world. It struck her as peculiar, as she hadn’t thought about her past life in quite some time. Was her mind truly blending with Rosalie’s now? At times, she grappled with a sense of identity, unsure of who she had become in this merged existence.

As Rosalie savored the final drops from her first cup of tea, her gaze was drawn to a heartwarming scene outside the window. Three children were engaged in the joyful pursuit of constructing a snowman, their gleeful laughter resonating in the air as their innocent playfulness escalated into an impromptu snowball skirmish.

’Perhaps I should have brought Illai along today. I wonder if he would have felt at ease enough to forge friendships with these other children.’

However, she quickly dismissed this innocent thought, continuing her contemplations with a rueful smile,

’No, that would have likely been misconstrued by Lord Xarden. He might have thought I brought a child along to toy with his emotions, and that would certainly have resulted in a failure.’

Prior to her expedition to the bookstore, Rosalie still needed to engage in further investigation to uncover additional insights about the renowned benefactor, Viscount Theodore Xarden. He was a young but reclusive gentleman, seldom seen at social gatherings, yet renowned for his extraordinary generosity when it came to financial investments.

However, in contrast to the information provided by Logan, Lord Xarden’s philanthropic endeavors were not centered on charity alone; rather, he embodied the spirit of an astute and magnanimous investor. Therefore, before attaching his name to any business venture or philanthropic cause, he took great care to ensure that both his intellect and his heart found resonance with his decision. Crucially, before sealing any deals, Lord Xarden insisted on establishing a personal affinity with the individuals entrusted with his investments.

’Angelica provided me with a detailed description of his appearance, so I suppose my only task now is to remain here and await his arrival—assuming he comes at all.’

As hours drifted away, Rosalie occupied herself with tea, having indulged in perhaps a dozen cups. The store’s patrons had come and gone multiple times, yet the elusive Lord Xarden, or at least someone bearing a resemblance to him, had not graced the establishment with his presence.

Lady Ashter began to entertain the notion that her Saturday had been in vain. The day was steadily inching closer to the bookstore’s closing time, slowly ushering its occupants out as the evening approached for a well-deserved rest.

She gazed hopelessly in the direction of the entrance when, suddenly, the dulcet tones of a crystal windchime resonated throughout the interior as the door swung open, extending a gracious welcome to a tall, impeccably attired gentleman. He wore a long, ebony coat and wielded a slender, gleaming cane, deftly suspended along his left forearm as he entered the establishment.

There was no doubt—it was him. He possessed a slender physique, a faintly pallid complexion, eyes of a muted earthy hue framed by elegantly thick arches of dark eyebrows, a delicate flush gracing his somewhat sunken cheeks, and sleek brown hair meticulously secured in a short tail that barely grazed the nape of his neck.

’So, this is him... Theo Xarden. He looks no older than thirty, perhaps even younger. Is this really the face of a recluse?’

The man strode purposefully towards the counter, exuding an air of confidence in his every step. He selected a book, completed the transaction with the petite, round lady at the counter, and then abruptly turned around. To Rosalie’s astonishment, he advanced directly toward her, intent on claiming the seat right beside her.

The sudden turn of events caught her completely off-guard, rendering her momentarily disoriented. Her mind became a blank canvas, and confusion reigned as she found herself fixedly gazing at Theo with wide, perplexed eyes. She understood the necessity of uttering something, but her thoughts refused to form into coherent sentences. Then, as if by some enchantment, the man gently placed his book upon the wooden surface of the table and inquired, seemingly out of the blue,

"Do you happen to like this book?"

Flustered, Rosalie redirected her gaze to the book nestled right beside her, and it dawned on her: despite the hours spent in the shop, she had not so much as laid a finger on the book, let alone read it. Her attention then shifted to the book the man had placed on the table, and a wave of heat swept over her cheeks as an overwhelming sense of embarrassment sent her palms into a clammy, tremulous state – it was the same book.

Lord Xarden, clearly deriving amusement from the spectacle, emitted a soft chuckle and continued,

"It appears that you did not come here for a reading session, after all, did you? Now, Lady Dio, what was the purpose of your visit today?"

The girl raised her eyebrows in surprise, finally regaining her ability to speak,

"You know who I am?!"

The man emitted another derisive scoff before nodding and adjusting his chestnut hair with a brief slide of his palm.

"Who doesn’t? You are the newly appointed Grand Duchess Rosalie Dio, the second most influential woman in the Empire of Rische after Her Highness Princess Angelica. Though I may be somewhat of a recluse, I do keep myself informed about current events."

A fresh wave of awkwardness surged through Rosalie, enveloping her entirely and intensifying the perspiration on her clammy palms. She shifted her gaze away, fixing it absentmindedly on the darkened scene outside the window as the man pressed on,

"So, Lady Dio, what has compelled you to seek my company today?"

Lady Rosalie hesitated briefly but then drew a deep breath, summoning the resolve to provide a well-considered response,

"Lord Xarden, as you are already aware, there will be an upcoming Imperial Banquet. During this event, both Princess Angelica and I intend to unveil the establishment of our charity organization, and... You, being a distinguished benefactor—"

"Ah, so you want both my finances and my name."

The man interjected, breaking Lady Ashter’s resolute speech. He wore a somewhat smug grin and observed her closely for her reaction. Rosalie once again found herself momentarily speechless. In essence, his statement held undeniable truth—what she desired, above all else, was indeed his financial backing and his well-known name. While admitting this so openly might appear audacious, she opted to make the courageous choice and respond with unvarnished honesty,

"Yes, Lord Xarden, that is precisely what I want—your money and your name. Nothing more."

Theodore fixed his narrow gaze firmly upon the lady’s countenance, subjecting her features to a prolonged and serious scrutiny that left Rosalie feeling decidedly ill at ease. Eventually, he emitted another chuckle and nonchalantly swept his hand before her, as if endeavoring to dispel the lingering tension that hung in the air.

"Well, at the very least, Lady Dio, I must commend your candor. I half-expected you to introduce that young lad you liberated from the gladiator arena in an attempt to elicit my sympathy. Yet, you wisely refrained from such a tactic. I appreciate your astuteness—indeed, I do."

Despite the ostensibly positive tone of his response, Rosalie could not help but furrow her elegant eyebrows, sensing a complexity beneath the surface.

"The young boy has no involvement in this matter, so why would I bring him here? Those who exploit children for personal gain are despicable individuals who merit no respect whatsoever. I have no desire to be associated with such types."

Lord Xarden offered her a smile, then abruptly rose from his seat, clutching his book in his right hand. He then spoke with a tone that was both solemn and gentle,

"I had been deliberating whether to offer an affirmative or negative response to the banquet invitation, but now, my decision is unmistakably clear."

He proceeded to lightly tap the index finger of his left hand upon the exquisitely adorned cover of Rosalie’s book and concluded,

"I encourage you to peruse the book, Lady Dio; I am confident it will capture your interest."

With a parting smile and an acknowledging nod, the gentleman made his exit from the store, leaving Rosalie in a state of lingering astonishment. Finally, she shifted her gray eyes toward the cover of the book before her and read its title:

"The Ballad of a Lost Witch Whose Heart Was Stolen by a Loveless Child."