Corey sat in the middle of the garden, a table full of snacks in front of him, prepared by the maids, his eyes wondering around, enjoying the beautiful view, until Roselyn came and blocked his view.
"Prince Corey, I am Roselyn Blijin, the duke's second wife." Roselyn bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you, my lady." Corey kissed Roselyn's hand. "Please sit."
"Yes, thank you." Roselyn sat down, opposite of Corey.
"I don't see Miss Bella, is she not coming?" Corey asked, because he specifically came for Bella, to discuss things about marriage and their future together as a couple.
"She is busy, she can't meet you, but I am ready to keep you company."
"So busy she can't even meet her own fiancé?"
"I don't know, we haven't talked since yesterday, I think she is upset about something and can't meet you in her current mood, please do understand."
"I will try. Mrs. Roselyn doesn't need to keep me company, you must be busy, I will take my leave." Corey was about to leave but Roselyn's next words stopped him.
"Not at all. I am free, most of the times in fact."
Both the old and present, didn't have much things to busy their hands with, her role as a duchess wasn't needed. Oliver took all of the work, not letting her do anything. Roselyn busied herself with books, but even she, a bookworm, needed to do other stuff to make life more exciting, but it's so boring every single day. Wake up, get ready, have breakfast, spend time with Bella, eat lunch practice magic with Bella, read a book, have dinner then sleep, can life get any more boring? The start of the plot doesn't take place until three years from now, which means, boring life until then. Having a talk with the future villain isn't so bad in itself, dangerous but exciting.
"That's a bit surprising, I thought for sure that Mrs. Roselyn will be busy all day long, being a duchess."
"My husband doesn't let me do any work."
"Yes, I almost forgot Mrs. Roselyn is only 21, you don't have much experience either, it will be hard on you if you were handed work to do." Corey wasn't trying to be rude; he was stating facts everyone in the noble world knew.
"That's very much true, I am still learning. I didn't have an education in my early life, my background isn't good, I am not suitable to be a duchess, more to be a villain."
Reading Yujun, at the beginning Roselyn thought her character in the book, will be the main villain or at least a small villain so imagine her reaction when she knew Roselyn only purpose in the story is set Bella on her life changing journey, it was such a disappointment.
"Villain? Like in novels and such."
"Yes exactly, do you read novels, Prince Corey?"
"I do, I enjoy reading all types of books. While we are on the topic, who do you prefer more the heroes or villains?"
"Hmm, depends on the story, characters and how the author write his novel."
"Oh, that's an interesting answer, usually people only choose one, so why all the trouble to decide?"
"Because the worlds of stories are hidden behind the words of the author. Let me explain, we only know a character based on what the author writes and how they portray it, we have no other way to know about it, except imagining. A world created by an author is only controlled by their words, how they describe it. But we are allowed to imagine what we want outside the world because it's a fantasy, not related to the real world. A hero can be the bad guy, but a reader who doesn't get foreshadowing or bad behavior will take as a coincidence or a mere joke, while the villain could be the good guy in the story, but their every move is expected to be bad so even if they have a good character, it will be glossed over and ignored. Usually, giving the villain a backstory allows the reader to know the reason of their wrong doings and understand the character even more but not all the stories do that."
"That's an unexpected way to think about it, I am utterly shocked." Corey stared at Roselyn dumbfounded. He never gave much meaning to stories or novels; it was just a way for him to escape reality. Turns out, it has more than he expected. Roselyn had an interesting way of thinking, making him interested in her, wanting to know more about her.
"Reading too much can give a lot more meanings than you can imagine. What about you, Prince Corey? Who do you prefer? Heroes or villains?"
"Villains, heroes are pathetic, luck is in the only thing on their sides, no talent or real characteristics, only controlled by others and their thoughts. Villains are freer, they can do whatever they want because they can, they are strong and independent."
Usually if someone asks him, he will answer with heroes and give a generic explanation why.
"I used to think the same a few years ago, but not all heroes are bad, some are acceptable. Do you want me to lend you some good books with inspiring heroes?"
Roselyn have been reading this world's book, since she came to the world, most of them are typical cliche hero saves heroine from danger, or hero getting strong because he stumbled upon a powerful thing, but there some that are really simply amazing and too good to be true.
"Sure." Corey responded, on normal days, he is busy with practice his magic and physical strength, but the royal doctor to take a month off or his body will collapse, only a week passed and he is already dying of boredom, so a book might help.
"Let's go to the library." Roselyn put her tea cup down and got up, walking ahead of Corey, to show him the way.
Bella looked at from her window, watching them laugh, enjoying their time, making her feel jealous and rush to them, to interrupt them.