I Became The Villain's Trainer - Chapter 100

Chapter 100 

“Are these all the books that arrived today?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“This still isn’t enough.”

Essellia let her voice trail off as she scanned the bookshelf from top to bottom. The books she had acquired already filled one entire shelf and were steadily taking over another. Yet, no matter how much she filled the shelves, the sense of insufficiency lingered. She frowned.

This was a matter closely tied to the wolves’ lack of ethics and humanity. Alexa, on the other hand, was warm-hearted and exceptionally humane. To even begin matching her, they had to learn earnestly and diligently.

This wasn’t a challenge limited to Terrun and Ysildus; Essellia and Carlisle were no exceptions. To become a secure haven for Alexa, they needed to study and understand what it meant to be human. Recently, Essellia had taken charge of managing the books Carlisle read. At first, Carlisle had been skeptical, but it didn’t take long for him to accept the books she handed him.

[‘Don’t you want to keep up with the others?’]

[‘What are you talking about?’]

[‘I mean, are you okay with Alexa seeing you as second to someone else? I heard she said to Visten that he’s the greatest person in the world.’]

[‘What?!’]

She could almost hear Carlisle’s voice now, vivid with shock and anger.

[‘Apparently, Visten found her the medical text she’d been searching for.’]

It was always easy to ignite Carlisle’s competitive fire. But Essellia remained uneasy. At any moment, the wolves of Thersion might reveal their true nature to Alexa and face rejection.

Wolves were loyal and fiercely devoted creatures. While it was difficult to win their affection, once given, it was never forgotten. Essellia sincerely hoped Thersion wouldn’t face the despair of losing Alexa. Though the wolves couldn’t grasp the depth of her intentions, Essellia continued to prepare.

“I’ll bring more books as soon as they arrive, Your Grace.”

“Good. In the meantime, consider placing an order with the Blue Moon Merchant Guild.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After the messenger left, Essellia remained alone in the study, watching as it came together. The wolves of Thersion never forgot debts or grudges. That the word ‘grudge’ was repeated here was a deliberate warning: those who incurred a wolf’s enmity could never escape its consequences. What that enmity would evolve into, whether lasting resentment or faded memory, was unpredictable.

To avoid the dark future Essellia foresaw, these ‘grooming lessons’ and ‘future father-in-law lessons’ were crucial.

As if fate were mocking her, Jeremiah, the Imperial Prince, had entered the picture. His feelings, though young and innocent, were evident to Essellia. Everyone in Thersion Castle saw through them.

Well, everyone except Alexa.

Essellia and Violeta agreed Alexa’s sharpness must have been traded for her courage. Fearless and daring as she was, Alexa was utterly oblivious in matters of this sort.

Jeremiah, the human boy who resembled the radiant sun, was no simple opponent. Whether Ysildus or Terrun could best him was anyone’s guess. Essellia considered inviting humans for direct lessons on human behavior.

‘Ah!’

Then it struck her. Jane was staying in Thersion. Brought in to help care for Alexa, Jane had adjusted surprisingly well. Having promised to keep Thersion’s secrets and accept the wolves, Jane could be the perfect teacher.

“Your Grace?”

“Alexa?”

Lost in thought, Essellia turned to see Alexa, a bit startled.

“What’s on your mind?” Alexa asked with a smile.

“Oh, nothing much. I was just organizing the new books.”

“Ah, those books again…”

“They’re very important study materials.”

“Those books?” Alexa tilted her head, confused.

The books Ysildus and Terrun had been reading were already ostentatious by title alone. The new ones in the study seemed even more baffling.

“Of course. Thersion has embraced you, Alexa.”

Her tone was dead serious. Alexa glanced at the shelves filled with books titled:

<The Romantic Tales of Madame Develle>
<A Must-Read for Loving Couples>
<What Happened in Her Atelier> …

That’s enough. Alexa tried her best to ignore the increasingly cryptic book titles as she glanced at the shelves. She had indeed come to ask Essellia about the books Ysildus and Terrun were reading. It had been a small struggle to shake off Ysildus, Terrun, and Jeremiah to get here alone. Now that she saw the actual content, it left her mind feeling a bit dazed.

“Do you think those books will really help…?”

Alexa murmured, doubt evident on her face. She had intended to dissuade Essellia, but her seriousness made it difficult.

“Of course, Alexa. These are very important texts for understanding human emotions.”

“That’s…”

Can you really learn such things from books? Alexa clamped her mouth shut, as Essellia’s determination once again left her at a loss for words.

“Thersion accepted you. You’re working hard for our sake, aren’t you? Every time Sir Karrolf updates me on your academic progress, I’m utterly amazed.”

“Well, that’s…”

“I believe that as much effort as you put in, we should strive just as hard.”

If that was the intent, Alexa was grateful, though… She glanced at the bookshelf again before turning away. No matter how she looked at it, this seemed like the wrong approach.

“Alexa, you needn’t worry so much.”

“…”

“I’ll take full responsibility for turning Ysildus and Terrun into proper humans. The kind and gentle ones.”

“They’re fine as they are,” Alexa said, waving her hands dismissively.

Essellia, pitying the misled Alexa, gazed at her sympathetically. The sly Ysildus and the cunning bear Terrun had completely fooled her. Essellia patted Alexa’s shoulder warmly.

“To me, they’re still lacking. But they’re trying. If all else fails, I might lock them up and feed them only mugwort and garlic. I read in a book that’s how a bear turned into a human.”

Alexa’s face froze in shock. Ignoring her reaction, Essellia continued speaking.

“So, if the moment of choice ever comes, I hope you’ll give it a bit more thought.”

“A moment of choice…”

Alexa’s eyelashes fluttered. What kind of moment of choice might come for her? Did such a moment come for Selina, the protagonist of the original story?

“Yes, a choice. If that day comes, could you promise to look back at Ysildus and Terrun, just once at the end?”

Alexa couldn’t fathom what Essellia meant, but she realized that what she had taken as a joke was something Essellia took quite seriously. Alexa nodded.

“…If such a moment comes, I promise.”

She would make sure to look back at those who had showered her with boundless affection.

“Good. That’s all I needed.”

Essellia smiled brightly.

* * *

They weren’t the kind to give up just because she had left them behind. Sure enough, Ysildus, Terrun, and Jeremiah had followed her all the way to the study, now huddled together at the door.

“I’m Alexa’s dance partner, so I’m the closest to her,” Terrun declared boldly.

Ysildus glared at the bear making such absurd claims. The debutante ball lasted only a day, while Ysildus had spent far more time by Alexa’s side. Not to mention, he fully intended to snatch away that title as well. He had accepted the outcome gracefully, but if Terrun were to give up the position, that would change things.

“Terrun. About that…”

“What?”

Terrun squinted suspiciously. Even he wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Ysildus was dangerous. If he let his guard down, he’d lose more than just his position.

“You’ll have to give me that spot.”

“And why would I?”

“I’ve already done something for you, haven’t I?” Ysildus said smoothly.

“…Something for me?”

“Yes. I convinced Alexa to call off the contract. She no longer talks about leaving Thersion, does she?”

“That was for your benefit too!” 

Terrun shot back. Ysildus narrowed his eyes. Oh? The bear wasn’t as dumb as he looked.

“So you’re saying it wasn’t necessary for me to do it?”

There’s a difference between how you phrase things. Ysildus’ verbal trickery made Terrun’s eyelids twitch with irritation.

“No, it was absolutely necessary. It was for Alexa’s sake too!”

“Exactly, Terrun. It was something that had to be done. So… could you have done it instead of me?”

“Well…”

There was no way Terrun could have muddied the waters of Alexa’s contract the way Ysildus had. Such underhanded tactics were a specialty only someone as sly as Ysildus could pull off. Terrun shot a sharp glare at him.

“You like Alexa, but you lack the persuasive skills to convince her. So yes, I did your job for you.”

“That’s nonsense!”

Terrun protested with all his might. He couldn’t even enter Alexa’s room, so there was no way he’d let Ysildus take his place as her partner.

“If I do something for you, it’s only fair you do something for me, Terrun. That’s how fairness works. Otherwise…”

Ysildus smiled elegantly, a pressure emanating from him that made Terrun step back instinctively. The bear clearly understood the veiled threat.

“Why should I share Alexa with you?”

Terrun retreated a step further, recognizing the gravity of Ysildus’ words. Seeing the bear waver, Ysildus pressed on.

“So, don’t you think you owe me this much? After all, we’re supposed to help each other.”

In the end, Terrun gritted his teeth and conceded.

“…The second dance is mine.”

……

(T/N: Poor little bear Terrun, got snatched of the first dance hahahahaha)