Translator: Nox

The Baddest Villainess Is Back

Chapter 10

“You know many interesting things, Lady. Could information have leaked from somewhere?”

The Emperor tapped his chin thoughtfully.

His suspicious tone was as light as a neighborhood uncle’s, but Roselyn knew it was a deceptive front.

“It is not that. It is simply that I awakened an ability due to a recent incident.”

“……Aha, so you’ve become an ‘Abyss.’ That is truly joyful news.”

“Yes. For your information, Your Majesty is the first I have told.”

The Emperor’s face remained smiling.

A jovial voice, a light tone, a sly and comfortable way of speaking—even a gaze so full of goodwill that if one let their guard down for a moment, they might forget the man before them was the Emperor.

Roselyn, too, had once felt the chills linger for a long time after realizing that all of this was a prepared trap.

Then again, it wasn't strange that a collector who stuffed and gathered rare animals and would do anything to obtain precious jewels was far from normal.

Glancing at the gaudy jewelry dangling from his hands and ears, Roselyn set down the glass she was holding.

“My, should I call this an honor? Duke Bellion and the Little Duke would be quite disappointed to hear that.”

He chuckled, playing along with a playful air.

“So, what kind of ability does the Lady possess that allows her to solve a problem even I cannot?”

“To be precise, it isn't that you cannot solve it, Your Majesty.”

“Hm?”

He blinked his eyes wide in feigned wonder and tilted his head.

“You wish to resolve it as quietly and smoothly as possible.”

“I do? For what reason?”

“Because of the ‘purge’ you are currently preparing.”

The Emperor paused at Roselyn’s words.

He blinked his blue eyes slowly before letting out a soft laugh.

“Ah, this is truly…… I thought I had hidden that information quite thoroughly. You’re making things difficult for me.”

The Emperor murmured lowly.

He glanced at Roselyn and gave a light shrug.

“So, in exchange for helping with that matter, you want me to permit the annulment of your engagement to the 3rd Prince?”

“Yes. And in the purge that follows…… I ask that you exclude the ‘direct line of the Bellion Ducal House.’”

“Ha, are you asking me to turn a blind eye to corruption now?”

“It is not corruption; I am merely asking you to overlook a single scoundrel. Of course, you may include the collateral branches in the purge.”

Roselyn spoke calmly. At those somewhat cold-hearted words, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

“You only want me to overlook one scoundrel?”

“Yes. Because there are things only a scoundrel can do.”

Roselyn spoke meaningfully.

The Emperor stared at Roselyn for a long moment before letting out a smirk.

‘I’ve never had someone propose a deal to me in this manner.’

Thinking she might have more guts than the 1st Prince, the Emperor opened his mouth.

“In exchange for resolving the Kaluta and the disappearance cases, you want me to grant you two favors?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor rubbed his chin.

It wasn't a losing deal.

In truth, a marriage between the Ducal House and the Imperial Family didn't provide any extraordinary synergy. It was merely to solidify their relationship a bit further.

But even without it, the Bellion Ducal House could not betray the Imperial Family. The marriage was, for all intents and purposes, a symbolic gesture.

In that sense, resolving the ‘Kaluta problem’ and the ‘disappearance cases’ was not a bad trade-off for the Emperor in exchange for ignoring one scoundrel.

Originally, he had planned to prune them all, but given her cleverness in proposing a backroom deal, he could afford to look the other way.

He nodded.

“If the Lady resolves the matter satisfactorily, I shall do so.”

“Yes, thank you. I have taken up too much of your busy time. If you permit, I shall take my leave.”

At her blunt request to be dismissed now that the business was finished, he burst into laughter.

“Very well, you may go.”

He laughed heartily and waved his hand.

The Emperor was somewhat generous toward those he could communicate with.

As Roselyn bowed and turned around, a voice called out from behind her.

“By the way, do you not like my son? He has a timid side, but I think his face is quite handsome.”

Roselyn looked back at the Emperor and smiled.

“He is far too good for me in many ways.”

“Hm?”

“I would appreciate it if you kept what happened here today a secret. My ability as well.”

Roselyn said as she pointed a finger toward the ceiling.

The Emperor let out a chuckle.

“I shall keep today’s events under wraps. I will have him offer a formal apology along with an appropriate gift…….”

“No, rather than that, I have one request.”

Roselyn spoke to the Emperor.

When she stated what she needed, the Emperor’s expression turned subtle before he nodded.

“Will that be enough?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, I shall arrange it so.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Ah, Lady. I am overlooking your crossing of the line this time as a special exception…… but I hope there won't be a second time.”

“I shall strive for that.”

He laughed at Roselyn’s vague answer.

‘She refuses to say she won't do it until the very end.’

The Emperor rubbed his chin and spoke.

“Lady, I truly hope you attend the next banquet.”

Because it seemed like it would be fun.

Roselyn, easily deducing the unspoken words behind his statement, gave a faint smile.

“It would be an honor if you invited me.”

As soon as she opened the door and stepped out, Roselyn’s eyes widened at the shadow blocking her path.

“……3rd Prince.”

“Did your conversation with Father go well?”

Arma, his eyes darting around, asked cautiously as he lowered his posture.

“Yes, it went well. Were you waiting for me?”

“I heard Father was looking for me as well……. More importantly, I’ve been treated properly.”

He spoke tentatively.

“Now…… may I come closer?”

At Arma’s words, who was standing about three steps away, Roselyn’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘Aren’t you already close enough?’

When Roselyn nodded with a puzzled expression, he took two steps forward and lowered his gaze.

Arma, bending his waist to turn his head and show his cheek, spoke as a faint blush colored his skin.

“Is it no longer shameful now……?”

“……Ah.”

Only then did Roselyn recall the words she had used to drive Arma away.

“Yes, you’ve been treated well.”

With gauze applied to his cheek and having changed into new clothes, his white uniform looked quite sharp.

Even though she had nodded and spoken, he showed no intention of pulling his cheek away. Roselyn looked at Arma with a bewildered face.

“……Do you not need to check with your hand?”

‘Why would I?’

Roselyn wore a confused expression for a moment before dryly brushing her hand over Arma’s gauze and withdrawing it.

Only then did Arma straighten his back as if satisfied and take a step back.

“And in the future, you don’t need to block my way. What happened earlier, I did that on purpose to be hit.”

At Roselyn’s words, Arma’s eyes flew wide.

His eyes crinkled in a look that suggested he might cry, and he pressed his lips into a tight line.

With an expression that seemed almost resentful, Arma slowly spoke.

“……Why?”

“Because the term ‘insulting royalty’ isn't wrong. It could even be called attempted regicide.”

“But Roselyn, you were just trying to……\!”

Roselyn smiled and shrugged.

“But even if I were placed in a difficult situation, you wouldn't be able to do anything, 3rd Prince.”

Arma froze at Roselyn’s words.

“That’s how it is.”

She spoke calmly.

Arma is the 3rd Prince.

A person who wants to be complacent with the present, who wants to live as he is as long as current peace is maintained.

He has no greed for power, no ambition to become a great person, and no anger toward unfair treatment.

“I want you to be happy, 3rd Prince.”

Arma bit his lip hard.

Roselyn saw it but feigned ignorance.

She hadn't intended to say it.

She didn't want to leave behind unnecessary lingering feelings, nor did she want to draw his attention.

‘……Human emotions are truly unpredictable.’

But seeing that nostalgic face, those words had slipped out of their own accord.

In Roselyn’s opinion, Arma’s best chance at happiness would be to marry a lady from a modest family and live as a son-in-law who married into her house.

Even if it was by helping him find a belated happiness, Roselyn wanted to repay the debt she owed to Arma.

Even if he was a person from another world who happened to have the same face and name as the one who had already died.

Roselyn thought to herself as she slowly opened her mouth.