The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script-Chapter 39

The library was quiet. Peaceful. Isolated.

Exactly what she needed.

Beatrice stormed inside, her skirts swishing aggressively as she made her way toward the back of the room. A few scholars looked up at her entrance, blinking in mild surprise, but she ignored them.

She needed to cool off. She needed to stop feeling like she wanted to snap at the next person who so much as breathed wrong in her direction.

She collapsed into one of the chairs near the far end of the library, rubbing her temples.

Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was the sheer weight of pretending everything was fine when, in reality, she felt like she was unraveling at the seams.

Maybe she just needed to hit something.

The thought was a little concerning.

Beatrice exhaled slowly and reached for the closest book on the table, flipping it open without even checking the title. She stared at the words, eyes unfocused.

She wasn’t reading. Not really.

Her mind kept circling back. To the whispers, to the cautious looks, to Francois picking apart her every mood shift like he had a right to know what was wrong.

Beatrice scowled and shut the book a little too forcefully. A passing servant flinched at the noise.

Oh, for god’s sake.

She was allowed to be annoyed. She was allowed to have one bad day without everyone assuming she was plotting someone’s downfall.

Wasn’t she?

She sank deeper into her chair, arms crossed, jaw tight.

This sucked.

And then, of course, fate decided to make it worse.

"Lady Beatrice?"

Beatrice stiffened, already recognizing the voice before she looked up.

Johanna stood a few feet away, hands clasped in front of her, that same unreadable concern in her soft blue eyes.

"Lady Johanna." Beatrice forced a smile.

Johanna hesitated for only a moment before stepping closer. "I... couldn’t help but notice you seemed rather upset today."

Beatrice almost laughed. Of course she did. She could barely breathe in this place without someone dissecting it.

"I’m fine," Beatrice said coolly.

Johanna frowned. "Are you sure?"

No.

Beatrice was sure of nothing lately. But she wasn’t about to admit that.

She tilted her head, plastering on her usual smirk.

"Why? Were you worried about me?"

Johanna didn’t flinch. "Yes."

That caught Beatrice off guard. She blinked, the sarcasm she had prepared immediately fizzling out.

Johanna just kept watching her, patient and sincere.

Beatrice sighed, rubbing her temples. "I appreciate the concern, but seriously, I’m just in a mood. I’ll get over it."

Johanna was quiet for a moment, then softly said, "It’s alright to feel things, Lady Beatrice."

Beatrice stilled.

Something about the way she said it, so gentle, so knowing, made something sharp twist in Beatrice’s chest.

She hated it.

She hated that Johanna, of all people, was seeing through her.

"I don’t have time for feelings," Beatrice muttered.

Johanna’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something more. But then, as if sensing that pushing further would only make things worse, she simply nodded.

"...I see."

Beatrice expected her to leave then, to give up and walk away like Francois had. But instead, Johanna reached for one of the books on the table and gracefully took the seat across from her.

She didn’t say anything else. She just... stayed.

Beatrice stared at her, baffled.

"...What are you doing?"

Johanna calmly flipped open the book. "Reading."

Beatrice squinted. "You don’t have to sit here."

Johanna hummed. "I know."

"Then why are you?" Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

Johanna didn’t look up. "Because sometimes, when I’m upset, it helps to know I’m not alone."

Beatrice’s breath hitched.

Oh.

She swallowed hard, looking away.

"...That’s stupid," she muttered.

Johanna only smiled. "Perhaps."

But she didn’t leave. And for some reason, Beatrice didn’t tell her to.

She just sighed and leaned back in her chair, letting the quiet settle between them.

Her mood was still foul. Her thoughts were still a mess. But, for the first time that day...

She didn’t feel quite so unbearable.

The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Beatrice wasn’t used to that.

When people sat quietly around her, it was usually because they were afraid of her, waiting for her to snap or say something biting. But Johanna? She just kept reading, her presence steady and unobtrusive, like she had all the time in the world to simply exist beside her.

It was... disarming.

Beatrice exhaled, tilting her head back against the chair. Her mood hadn’t magically improved, but at least she wasn’t on the verge of biting someone’s head off anymore.

Small victories.

She stole a glance at Johanna. "So, what are we reading?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Johanna turned a page. "A study on diplomatic negotiations in past kingdoms."

Beatrice made a face. "You read that for fun?"

"It’s interesting." Johanna smiled faintly.

"Sure. If you enjoy slowly withering away from boredom."

Johanna let out a soft chuckle. "What would you prefer?"

Beatrice tapped her fingers against the table. "Something with action. Maybe a little chaos. A thrilling mystery where someone gets dramatically framed for a crime they didn’t commit."

"That does sound entertaining."

"See? I have good taste." Beatrice smirked.

Johanna hummed, amusement flickering in her eyes. "And yet, I recall you nearly falling asleep the last time you were asked to read historical texts."

Beatrice gasped in mock offense. "You wound me."

Johanna giggled, shaking her head. "Perhaps I’ll find something more suited to your tastes next time."

Beatrice paused. Next time.

As if this, sitting here together, existing in quiet companionship, was something that would happen again.

Beatrice wasn’t sure what to do with that thought.

She coughed, straightening in her seat. "Right. Well. Just make sure it has at least one dramatic sword fight."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

They lapsed back into silence, but this time, it felt... lighter.

Beatrice could still feel the remnants of her bad mood lingering beneath the surface, but at least she wasn’t drowning in it anymore.

And maybe, just maybe, that had something to do with the quiet girl reading across from her.

She wasn’t sure what that meant. And for now, she wasn’t ready to think about it.