Chapter 9: An Unexpected Library Visit

Morning sunlight filtered in through the tall glass windows on the second floor of the academy's main library, casting golden stripes of light across rows of polished old wooden flooring. 

After yesterday afternoon's tea incident—which nearly gave me a heart attack alongside the crown prince—I decided to spend today in the safest, quietest place in the entire academy: the very back corner of the library where ancient historical manuscripts were kept. 

In this place, no prince would come interrogate me with a sharp gaze, no Cedric would spread weird gossip, and most importantly, no crowds would stare at me with false adoration. 

I sat behind a wide wooden reading table, opening a thick black-leather-bound book regarding the origins of pure elemental magic. 

*Ah, paradise... This is the peaceful life I wanted. Reading old books, enjoying the silence, and sleeping soundly in the dorm tonight.* 

A faint smile touched my face as I savored these rare moments of peace. 

However, the laws of physics seemed to hold a deep grudge against my simple desire for a quiet life. 

The sound of very soft, hesitant footsteps approached my reading table. 

I immediately straightened my posture, slapped my ice-cold facial expression back on, and glanced lazily to the side. 

A honey-brown-haired figure in a neat academy uniform stood at the edge of the table, nervously twisting her fingers together. 

Elena Rosehart. 

*Again?! Why is the main heroine so annoyingly eager to approach me?! Is there a special radar that helps her always find me in hidden spots like this?!* 

That panicked scream raged fiercely inside my head, while outwardly, I merely raised one eyebrow with a dagger-sharp gaze. 

"What do you want this time, Elena Rosehart? This place is for reading books, not for wandering around aimlessly," I spoke in a low, cold, and authoritative tone. 

Elena flinched slightly at my voice, but instead of fleeing like a regular extra or NPC should, the girl took a deep breath and stepped closer instead. 

"Uhm... sorry to interrupt your reading, Lady Alicia," Elena said in a quiet yet determined voice. "Actually... I wanted to ask for your help." 

I froze stiff in my seat. My brain suffered a severe buffering glitch. 

*Ask for help? From me? Hello?! You're the main heroine with infinite cheat powers surrounded by gorgeous guys! Why are you asking help from the villainess who's supposed to be your arch-nemesis?!* 

"Help?" my voice slipped out cold, attempting to mask my immense confusion. "As fellow academy students, it sounds rather odd for an Elena Rosehart to ask help from someone like me. What is it that you actually want?" 

Elena lowered her gaze for a second, then looked back up with her emerald-green eyes shining with sincere determination. 

"I'm struggling to understand the advanced magic manipulation theory Professor Orion taught yesterday," Elena confessed honestly. "And... out of everyone in class, I noticed your ice magic control is the absolute most flawless. I know we might not be close, but... would you be willing to teach me for a bit?" 

Hearing that request, I felt like coughing up blood right then and there. 

*She's asking me to teach her magic?! If I refuse, I'll be labeled a cruel, arrogant villainess. But if I teach her, our closeness will only blow the original plot to smithereens and make the prince even more suspicious! Why is my life in this novel world a nonstop chain of dilemmas?!* 

Cold sweat beaded down my back while I desperately maintained my arrogant mask by crossing my arms over my chest.