MLBR 10

Chapter 10

I furrowed my brows and let out a breath.

I had read and analyzed several novels, even found certain patterns. It felt a bit disappointing that all those days of effort might go to waste.

More than anything, I wasn’t yet convinced that the situation Herace had just stirred up would actually be that effective.

“The nobles have already read enough clichés. What we need to gift them is something more provocative.”

Herace comforted me with a gentle tone, as if coaxing a child. That side of him sparked a little motivation in me.

“Next time, I’ll write a more exciting and stimulating scenario to send.”

“Really? I’m looking forward to it. Receiving a letter from you, Philena, is always a happy thing. But there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“If, within this week, the exact same invitation arrives for both of us, then you owe me a wish. The first time something like this comes to people like us, it can’t possibly be a coincidence.”

Though today’s event had been big, I didn’t think the effects would spread that fast. The first saintess selection ceremony was today, and even if the remaining procedures went smoothly, by the flow of things it would take at least three weeks, maybe a month.

“Alright. But if this week passes without it, then the wish is mine.”

The once-blue sky had already turned into a sunset. It was time to head back.

“By the way, Herace.”

Right before leaving, I suddenly called out to him.

“Don’t you think your parents must be quite troubled? After all, their ties with the imperial family and the temple are the deepest.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Herace turned and walked over to me. With a casual expression, he gestured toward the direction we needed to go.

“There’s something I’m helping them with.”

“Helping them?”

Herace didn’t explain any further, saying it was a secret. Even if he said he had everything under control, as his contract partner I couldn’t help but worry about his future.

The saintess had been chosen, so within a few days all the nobles were summoned. Mille greeted them inside the lavishly decorated temple. She stayed silent, befitting her sacred status, and it was High Priestess Briana Pureist who finished the speech. By giving blessings to the royals in front of the nobles, Mille brought the second selection ceremony to a close.

For a while, “Mille” became the center of gossip among the nobles. Some even said it was fortunate she wasn’t a commoner, but more than that, their curiosity was piqued by who she really was. Almost no one knew her, had heard of her, or had ever met her.

Mille Shining, who appeared out of nowhere and suddenly became the saintess. It wasn’t her title but rather her mysterious past that became the talk of the town. People claimed that precisely because of her enigmatic nature, she was more than fit for the saintess role.

It was cognitive bias—jumping to conclusions from illogical facts and experiences. If Herace were here, he would’ve scoffed, “Bullshit.”

The third selection ceremony had been held just yesterday, and commoners reacted the same way. They too were fascinated by this “special” noblewoman who had suddenly appeared as the saintess. Just like in the novels, it seemed Mille was destined to walk a path of roses.

Culturally and historically, this wasn’t surprising. But contrary to expectations, Clara stormed in with a newspaper, visibly upset.

“My lady! No, no—!!”

I froze as I looked at the invitation and gossip paper she handed me. The invitation was from the family’s tea party Herace had mentioned receiving just a while ago. And the gossip paper? It had already begun spreading stories about us.

“Was I… wrong?”

“My lady! You must explain what’s written here! It says there’s some kind of romantic spark between you two—just what is your relationship with Duke Grey?!”

“So I was wrong after all…”

“Is there really something between you, like it says? An affair?! Normally I’d brush it off, but you specifically asked me to keep you informed about articles involving the duke! What in the world happened while I wasn’t looking?!”

“I was wrong.”

I had to admit my failure.

But not just that.

‘Herace really is a genius… and out of his mind.’

Today, that certainty rang like a gavel in my head.

“My lady!”

“Ah, right. Breakfast.”

At Clara’s call, I spread jam on a piece of bread. The moment I bit into it, Clara suddenly raised both arms high, then dropped to her knees.

“I have never once doubted your true character, my lady.”

“Of course you haven’t. My identity is clear.”

A noble’s daughter. A rare creature who never left home. Clara didn’t know, but in this novel, I was closer to an extra than a real supporting role.

“That’s why I never believed those rumors—that you were a villainess, or that you were having affairs. Our lady doesn’t have the stamina or willpower for such things! Honestly, when you said you were dating Marquis Gas, I thought you were lying! You two didn’t look like a couple at all!!”

I debated whether to take it as an insult or praise, then just accepted it literally.

“I guess I really didn’t have much willpower.”

“Then when did you get involved with Duke Grey? And what about your love with Marquis Gas?!”

I tilted my head at Clara, who was all worked up.

“Are you angry?”

“No! Angry? Not at all!”

Clara’s eyes sparkled as she whipped out a hidden notebook and quill.

“I don’t mind if you cheat, my lady—”

“Clara, that’s an immoral act. One usually reserved for people called ‘trash.’ Best not to encourage it.”

Clara blinked at me, confused, as if to say, Aren’t you doing exactly that?

Once again, I was at a loss for words. So instead, I changed the topic to express gratitude.

“No, what I meant was… thank you. For accepting me no matter what, I value your loyalty highly.”

“Yes! So, it’s fine if you cheat, or if you fall in love with the villain, Duke Grey!”

“Didn’t you try to stop me when it came to Herace before?”

“Well, back then it seemed like you were suddenly plotting a crime together, that’s why! You changed so suddenly, it scared me half to death. They say people change before they die, you know. But if it was romance, I wouldn’t have stopped you.”

Clara raised her brows dramatically and grinned.

“Tell me everything! Your love story with the duke! It’s love, isn’t it?!”

From today, thanks to that gossip, everyone would think there was something between me and Herace. Clara’s reaction was practically a mirror of the imperial citizens’.

“So most of the empire feels like you do right now?”

“Of course! Even if Duke Grey is a villain, he’s endlessly intriguing. The new saintess was just chosen, but already people are fascinated by you too!”

Deep inside, a spark flickered. Staying in this mansion would no longer do. The thought struck me like lightning.

“Let’s go out, Clara.”

“When will you tell me the story?!”

“When the time comes.”

We hadn’t even decided on the beginning, middle, and end yet. Swallowing those words, I stood up.

“I need to investigate more.”

If I stayed put, I felt I’d lose to Herace again. A strange, unexplainable competitiveness kept burning inside me.

Next time, the scenario would not be his—it would be mine. No matter what, I was determined to push my own new scenario through.

People’s gazes subtly turned toward me. But their looks were different from before. Where once there had only been disdain, now there was curiosity mixed in.

‘Just like Herace said, I really haven’t lost anything.’

Jingle. The bell rang as I opened the bookstore door, and the old lady behind the counter spotted me.

Clara had split off, saying she needed to visit a nearby shop. I was used to handling private errands alone anyway.

“Oh my, you’ve come again. Looking for the new release of Pick a Fight and Die this time?”

“I’ll take one.”

“Hehehe, of course. Once people read it, they can’t put it down. Want me to set aside the next release for you when it arrives? That’ll be 1 extra gold.”

“Here, 1 gold.”

As I handed her the coin, I slowly looked around. Though I’d visited with Clara a few times, this was the first time I really examined the place. Today, I finally felt the full history of this bookstore seep into me.

“I’d like to ask you something.”

“Go on, ask.”

Scratched-up bookshelves, peeling wallpaper. A warped floor, darkened furniture blackened with age. If the shop had endured this long, the old lady surely knew books better than anyone.

Perhaps even better than me.

“Among writers, there must be trending books. Could you recommend me some?”

Leaning against the counter, I spoke in a hushed tone. The old lady adjusted her glasses, as if realizing how serious this was—

“Yes! There is!”

—or perhaps not.

She bustled noisily around the shop, caring little whether anyone overheard.

“Stories where the heroine is a saintess and the hero is a noble are reeeally popular. Or else, the heroine’s a saintess and the hero’s a villain.”

“That’s true.”

I had noticed that too. Probably because of how people saw the saintess role, heroines who were saintesses were all the rage. Titles like I Didn’t Know, But I’m a Saintess?, You’re a Saintess? Me Too!, Maybe We’re All Saintesses! filled the shelves.

“And of course, our protagonists need trials to overcome, right?”

“Trials are crucial.”

I quietly followed the old lady as she dove into a corner. Books flew, and flew, and flew, dust bursting everywhere as she searched.

“So, sometimes, authors come looking for more unusual books.”

“Unusual books sound perfect.”

I agreed with Herace’s philosophy. To find something new within the familiar—that missing spark, that novelty, was exactly what I needed.

“If you give me one of those, I’ll pay you an extra gold.”

“Alright, alright! I don’t hand out these recommendations every day, you know!”

With pages fluttering, she finally pulled out a single book and held it out. Dust scattered everywhere.

Cough, cough!

The title read: “The Beginning of Curses is Exploration.”