A Guide to Raising a Villainess-Chapter 130: Night Talk

Richard de Stone invited me to his private party.

As soon as I mentally repeated this once more, a new wave of doubt rose within me.

To be honest, I did not know what to think.

Was it an honor? Undoubtedly.

As he himself had said, the event would be closed — only for those closest to him. No official pomp, no court, no prying eyes. Only a narrow circle.

And if I had suddenly found myself among those who received such an invitation...

Could I allow myself to refuse?

From the point of view of common sense — no.

Ah. Most likely, that was indeed the case.

I took a deep breath, leaning back in the chair in my study. Night had long since fallen outside the windows. The soft light of the lamp lay over the papers neatly arranged on the desk and over the very envelope that I had not yet put away in a drawer.

After I managed to settle the problem with the mine in the south, our life had finally returned to its former calm. There were no more urgent reports or alarming statements.

The house was once again filled with its familiar silence.

And along with it — time. Free time, which I could now devote to Ruby.

I still remembered that.

Very soon, Ruby would have to leave me — to go where her own destiny awaited her. A new life. New duties. And perhaps new people who would take in her heart the place that now belongs to me.

Therefore, in the near future my main task was to spend as much time with her as possible.

Ruby’s coming-of-age ceremony was to take place in less than a year.

After that, our paths were to part in the most natural and logical way. Such is the order of things.

And that was precisely why now I had to spend as much time with her as possible, so that later I would not regret lost opportunities.

I intertwined my fingers and looked thoughtfully out the window.

Hm... but where should we go?

What is even interesting to young girls her age?

As far as I had heard, quite recently a new fashionable boutique had opened in the city, which had already become a subject of discussion among aristocratic ladies. They said that fabrics were brought there from abroad and outfits were sewn according to the latest capital trends.

Perhaps we should stop by there.

Or... we could visit our favorite ice cream café. The very one where Ruby and I had been going for several years in a row.

While I was thinking about all this, going through possible plans in my mind, my thoughts carried me so far away that I did not immediately hear the quiet knock at the door.

Only the second time did a familiar voice reach me:

"Aunt, it’s me."

I blinked and raised my head, as if returning from a distant dream.

"Ah, Ruby, come in."

The door opened.

After my words, a beautiful girl with long dark hair, neatly arranged behind her back, entered the room. She quietly closed the door behind her, trying not to disturb the evening silence.

I looked at her wearily.

"Ruby, why are you still not asleep? It is already so late."

The clock on the mantelpiece quietly ticked away the time, confirming my words. The night had long since taken its rightful place.

The girl awkwardly intertwined her fingers in front of her.

"Aunt... It seems I have insomnia again."

I frowned.

"What? Again?"

"Yes," she sighed softly. "I lay there for a long time, but I could not fall asleep. And then I thought... that you were most likely still awake as well. So I decided to look for you."

I involuntarily softened.

I sighed again, shook my head, and rose from the desk.

"Well, it’s nothing serious. If you cannot sleep, then tonight we can sleep together."

I smiled.

Rubiella immediately blossomed in response.

"Really?" A light joy sounded in her voice.

"Of course," I answered gently. "How could I refuse you?"

She stepped closer. But then Ruby slightly tilted her head and looked at me attentively.

"By the way, Aunt..." she began cautiously. "Today in the afternoon, after you returned from your walk, you looked rather thoughtful. Did something happen?"

I froze.

I hesitated a little. A thought flashed through my mind: should I tell her? Perhaps I should not burden her with unnecessary details. After all, it is only an invitation.

Only a party.

And yet... I did not want there to be unspoken things between us.

Therefore, in the end I quietly sighed and decided to tell Ruby the truth.

"Today I met with Prince Richard," I said calmly, watching her reaction. "He... invited me to his private party."

"Oh, really?" Curiosity sounded in the girl’s voice.

I nodded, trying to speak calmly, without unnecessary significance.

"Yes... And I suppose I will have to go after all." I looked away for a moment. "I would like to take you with me, but the invitation is issued for only one name. I am sorry, Ruby."

However, the girl only smiled softly.

"It’s all right, Aunt. I will simply wait for you at home." She shrugged with unexpected ease. "Besides, I do not like the imperial palace anyway."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Really...?"

"Yes," she nodded more confidently. "There are too many people there, and they are all discussing something all the time. It is tiring."

She was silent for a moment, and then added more quietly:

"Everything will be fine. So just go and have fun."

I involuntarily smiled and felt the tension that had been tightening my chest all evening ease a little.

That was good. Good that Ruby was not upset.

"Thank you," I said.

She stepped closer and lightly touched my hand.

"...In that case, Aunt, if you have already finished with all your affairs, then let us go to sleep."

I glanced over the desk — the work papers were stacked, the candle had almost burned down, and the envelope with golden embossing still lay aside.

But for today, it was enough.

"Yes," I nodded, rising. "Let us go."

Together we left the study, extinguishing the light.

The corridor was quiet, only the faint rustle of our steps disturbed the night’s calm.

I looked at Ruby’s smile, which seemed radiant even in the darkness, and I too felt lighter.

But then why...

Why did that strange unease still remain in my chest?