The Villainess's Reversal: Evading Destruction, Drowning in Obsession - Encounter in the Library Archive

The northern wing of the Royal Palace Celestia. Deep within it lay the archives—a serene space where bookshelves stretched all the way to the ceiling. Morning sunlight streamed diagonally through the high windows, dust motes dancing in the golden rays. Walking slowly through that light was Elicia Valentine. (I need to understand this world better.) The thought repeated in her chest. Ever since that night when the Starfrost Necklace—an ancient relic that resonated with her very soul—had glowed, Elicia had been certain of one thing: this game world was far more complex than the information she possessed. To avoid the destruction ending, she needed knowledge. She had to understand the movements of the royal family, grasp the structure of noble society, and most importantly—comprehend the true nature of Radiance, the ancient magical force that existed in this kingdom. Its source remained shrouded in mystery. She placed her foot on the wooden ladder. Supporting herself with one hand on the shelf, she climbed higher. *The History and Taboos of Radiance Arts*. That was the worn spine she was searching for. The taboos of Radiance Arts were ancient documents detailing the dangers and prohibitions when wielding Radiance's power. Her fingers traced along the row of books. Dust clung to her skin. Finally, she found it. A gray cover. Letters inscribed in gold. She pulled it free— "…What are you doing?" A cold voice came from behind her. Elicia's body went rigid. That voice—she'd heard it countless times since their first meeting. Lucian Castelnoix. The Crown Prince. Her brother. And in the game, her fiancé. Every time, his icy demeanor made her shoulders tense. She turned around. From atop the ladder, she looked down. The Crown Prince Lucian Castelnoix stood in the dim depths of the archives. His silver hair caught the light with solemn brilliance. His 185-centimeter frame was wrapped perfectly in black royal attire. A small royal crest was faintly etched on his right ear, glimmering softly. And those eyes—deep green, sharp as ice, cold as winter. An appraising gaze fell upon her. "Brother…" Elicia descended the ladder. Her foot nearly caught on the shelf, but she managed to avoid it. That momentary stumble betrayed her agitation. "I apologize for the intrusion." She used the formal speech befitting a princess. But her anxiety made the edges of her words come slightly faster. "I was merely researching something in the archives." Lucian approached her in silence. Each footstep echoed against the floor—tap, tap. Two meters. One meter. Fifty centimeters— The distance between them closed rapidly. Elicia clutched the book to her chest. Her heart began to race violently. But she couldn't let him see that. She had to maintain her dignity as a princess. Lucian's eyes fell on the title of the book in her hands. His gaze narrowed slightly. "The Taboos of Radiance Arts…" His voice remained as flat as ever, but the words carried an unspoken question. *What are you investigating?* hung in the air, unvoiced. "I simply wish to understand," Elicia answered without looking away. The words were true. And because they were true, they carried conviction. "I want to comprehend this world more deeply, Brother." For a moment, Lucian seemed lost in separate thoughts. Something flickered in the depths of his eyes. Doubt. Confusion. And for just an instant—something else. But then the mask of coldness slipped back into place. "…I'll look around as well." With those words, he turned his gaze toward the bookshelves. His actions made it clear—he too was searching for something. Elicia steadied her breathing. Lucian moved deeper into the archives. His eyes scanned the upper shelves. Administrative documents. That must be what he was looking for. Orders from the King, perhaps records from the Nobility Council. The Crown Prince's duties were far from simple. And then— Lucian pulled a book from the shelf. *The Founding History of the Kingdom of Fiorenza*. The Kingdom of Fiorenza—established by King Fiorenza the First, the kingdom's founder. This volume, which chronicled that founding history, contained precious records related to the discovery of Radiance. He stepped away from the shelves to stand beside Elicia. The distance between them closed again. Close enough that their shoulders nearly touched. Elicia felt Lucian's body heat. Warmth radiated from him, contrary to what she expected from someone so cold. "This book will also be useful." Lucian's voice remained as measured as before, but he extended the volume toward her. As Elicia reached out to take it— Their hands made the slightest contact. It was only for an instant. A mere moment. But in that instant, Elicia's entire body reacted. Her heart pounded fiercely. Heat flooded her face. Her hand trembled. (What is this?) She nearly held her breath. This kind of reaction shouldn't exist in the game. It had never happened during gameplay. Elicia didn't want physical contact with Lucian. Rather— (I should be avoiding him…) To escape the game's destruction ending. To prevent his breaking off their engagement, she had been making efforts. So why? Lucian too had gone still. For that instant, his eyes wavered slightly. It was unmistakable. His expression didn't change, but something flickered in the depths of his gaze. "…Be careful." Those were the words he spoke. His voice remained as cold as ever, but it seemed to carry a hidden meaning. His hand touched her arm, still holding the book. Just for an instant. Contact. Then it withdrew. Lucian stepped back from her. He turned toward the bookshelves and resumed searching for administrative documents. "Brother…" Elicia called out to him. But Lucian didn't turn around. He simply continued searching through the books in silence. Silence had returned to the archives. Dust motes danced in the light. Only the sound of Elicia's heartbeat seemed unnaturally loud. Minutes later, Lucian must have found what he was looking for. Without turning to face her, he left the archives. "Then." He left only those words behind. Elicia stood alone in the archives. She held *The Founding History of the Kingdom of Fiorenza*—the book Lucian had offered—pressed against her chest. She gazed at its cover. (Why did he give me that book?) She opened the pages. "The Discovery of the Radiance Spring by King Fiorenza the First." Her finger traced those words. The Radiance Spring was said to be the place where Radiance was first discovered, the source that had brought immeasurable power to this kingdom. (Is Lucian also searching for the truth of this world?) A question took root. Was he afraid of something? Was he hiding something? Or—was he, like her, beginning to notice the anomalies in this world? The sunlight streaming through the archives' window dyed Elicia's silver-white hair crimson. And the Starfrost Necklace at her chest—for just a moment, it seemed to grow warm.

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Episode 3

Name: The Villainess's Reversal: Evading Destruction, Drowning in Obsession
Author: Novelia

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