Translator: Nox

The Baddest Villainess Is Back

Chapter 17

“Ahem, anyway! You could bring him homemade dishes or cookies and suggest a tea time….”

“I’m not good at cooking.”

Roselyn replied without a moment’s hesitation to Duke Bellion’s tentative suggestion.

“And objectively speaking, rather than me making something, it would be more time-efficient and much tastier if a certified chef and patissier did it.”

“…….”

She wasn't wrong.

Naturally, food made by someone who had spent their entire life studying culinary arts and pastry would taste better.

Duke Bellion fell silent, the conversation feeling as though it were skimming across the surface. Even he was known for having a prickly personality wherever he went.

However, he had received all sorts of nagging from his eldest son for that very reason, so he was trying his best not to be that way with his grandchildren.

“Anyway, if something upsetting happens, you should vent a little so I can feel like a proper grandfather. Why must you try to handle everything on your own?”

“What happens if I talk about upsetting things?”

“I can offer counseling or tell you how to solve it.”

“No. If you vent your frustrations, then there are simply two frustrated people instead of one.”

“…….”

Duke Bellion looked at Roselyn with a look that asked 'Where did she come from?' before glancing toward Ian and Aegis.

“And as you can see, I’ve handled it on my own.”

“Goodness, how can I be so unlucky with my granddaughter?”

“Is it just your granddaughter? From where I’m standing, your luck with children is also…. Ah, my apologies.”

Roselyn, who had been chuckling and muttering self-deprecatingly as usual, quickly shut her mouth. The three men stared at her blankly. She averted her eyes.

“Hmm. Anyway, once preparations are complete, at the villa owned by Marquis Gerren….”

“Bullshit, do you even know what you’re saying? Do you think Kaluta is some neighborhood dog's name? It’s a terrifying place where a slender girl like you wouldn't know when she might get eaten. Haven’t you heard the rumors that they eat people and everything else?”

Ian cut Roselyn off again, his voice fierce.

“One of the guard dogs Marquis Gerren keeps is named Kaluta, actually.”

“…….”

Ian looked at Roselyn with an expression that asked what kind of person says such a thing.

“It was a joke. Wasn’t it funny? I tried applying something I saw in a book called ‘Cheerful Conversation Skills That Are Guaranteed to Make People Burst Out Laughing.’”

“Uh, that’s not it.”

“Yes. Regardless, the Kaluta aren't cannibals. Anyway, please continue.”

“…….”

As Roselyn replied while clicking her tongue, Ian, who had been sputtering, let out a hollow laugh.

“Niece, there are nasty rumors circulating lately, so I also oppose you moving out to live on your own.”

“Marquis Gerren said he would provide protection.”

“That’s what I’m saying—why is that guy looking out for you?! What are you to Marquis Gerren?!”

“I am,” Roselyn said.

‘If we’re people who crossed over into a parallel world together, that counts for something.’

At Roselyn’s calm words, Ian’s jaw dropped.

“Anyway! It’s not going to be good for you to go, so just know that! Tsk, when an adult speaks, you should just say ‘I understand.’ Where do you get off constantly talking back?”

Roselyn frowned at his strictly old-fashioned words.

“I think it’s best we discuss this again later. I’ll be going now.”

The fainted Cherti, Aegis carrying him, and the yapping Ian. Unable to endure the total disaster of a scene any longer, she put on the slippers the maids had brought, bowed her head, and turned around.

“Ah, Duke.”

“Call me grandfather.”

“Yes, Duke Bellion-nim Grandfather.”

“…….”

Bellion also wore an expression that asked what kind of person she was.

“Ah, Duke Grandfather. My second uncle is also part of Makruksa. There’s evidence on the soles of his feet.”

Having dropped a bomb without any warning, Roselyn stepped out into the garden.

“…What did you say?”

“Uh…?”

“This brat….”

“Hey, hey! Hey! You crazy bitch!! Hey!!! Where do you get off lying like that! Say it’s not true!! Ack! No, Father, it’s not true. Ack! Dad! It hurts! I said it’s not true!”

With those scream-like sounds as background music, she leisurely returned to her room.

A day later, a maid informed her.

Ian Bellion was a ‘Rook’ of Makruksa.

* * *

[Come find me right now! I’ll kill you!!]

The words written in a fierce, scrawling handwriting showed that the sender was filled with rage. Roselyn looked at the note—which had been delivered every morning for two weeks now—with narrowed eyes and pushed it aside.

Next in line was a stack of invitations to banquets, tea parties, and the like. Except for the banquet invitation from the Imperial Palace, she pushed the rest aside as well.

What remained was a letter from Marquis Gerren and….

[It is the most precious flower in the world. A flower Marquis Gerren could never obtain.]

[I didn’t just pick it up on the way; I went and bought it myself. If you leave, you won’t be able to receive things like this.]

[I was passing by an expensive jewelry shop and bought this specifically because I thought of you. I heard Kaluta doesn't even produce gems like this.]

[You are sickly, so if you go to a place like Kaluta, you will surely, quickly…. Kaluta is a place where barbarians live. It doesn’t suit you.]

They were notes that had now mutated into a different meaning entirely. Roselyn laughed hollowly.

‘…Should I have tried being a bit more honest?’

Even as she thought it, looking back at the situation then, it didn't seem like it would have been particularly good. After realizing that enduring wasn't the answer, whenever she got angry, she would immediately grab the person by the hair or slap them across the cheek.

Her father had no interest in her, and she had consistently ignored her grandfather and other uncles even when they tried to speak to her. She admitted it now. That it was a pathetic effort by her younger self to maintain a pride she didn't even have. And that if she had asked for help back then, she might have met a better end than the one she did.

However, the more someone provoked her, the more she acted out. She thought that if others acted dirty, acting even dirtier was how you won. By the time she snapped out of it, all sorts of foul rumors were rampant in society. Thinking she could do anything on her own, petty retaliations found her as soon as she left the Ducal House.

It was difficult to find a single job, and even having a meal was hard. Because the nobles had used their influence to block everything. So, she took revenge and made money by selling information to rival families or nobles. She didn't hesitate to use and discard people to obtain information. Of course, there were times she used people who trusted her as shields.

When she became a fugitive, she hid her identity and accepted the kindness of villagers, only for the entire village to be massacred later. She did it even knowing they would die. Just to cling to her own life for one more day.

Roselyn pushed the letters away. She didn’t even open the letter from Marquis Gerren.

The last letter was….

A letter sealed with gold wax and stamped with the Imperial crest.

‘…The 3rd Prince.’

She let out a short sigh and opened the letter with a letter opener.

[To Lady Roselyn Bellion.

The warm spring weather continues day after day. I hope you are also fully enjoying these warm spring days.

I am writing this to ask for permission to visit the Bellion family.

I have a gift for you, and there is something I must tell you.

Of course, I will adjust to whatever time is convenient for you. If you have no particular preference, may I visit around noon this Friday?

I hope this letter does not take up much of your precious time, and I shall end it here.

I hope you will give me the opportunity to share in your time.

-Arma Dianitas-]

It was a letter that was polite to a fault. So polite it felt wrong to decline. Roselyn leaned back against the headrest and tilted her head back.

‘It’s peaceful.’

It was peaceful—too peaceful. So peaceful that, well… she wondered if this was right.

She thought she knew what Marquis Gerren would have written. She roughly tore open the letter to see the contents.

[You are being too much. I am disappointed.]

It was just one sentence. It wasn't hard to guess what he meant by her being "too much."

‘He probably failed to win the bid for the Nollang Mine.’

It was obvious without even looking. Roselyn snorted, tore the note, threw it onto the table, and pulled a mountain of newspapers toward her.

‘So far, it doesn’t seem like there are any major variables different from what I remember….’

The political situation of Kaluta, the current king, and the history were all nearly identical. The subtly different parts could be covered to some extent by the information Roselyn had looked up in advance. Since they both knew the future, she expected Marquis Gerren to aim for what was necessary as well.

Among those, the Nollang Mine was a jackpot item that could be obtained most cheaply and easily.

‘Right now, people probably think it’s just a place where cheap amber gems are found….’

In truth, it was a hidden gem. In a few days, it would be announced that those amber gems mixed with impurities were actually a special mineral called ‘Yellownite.’

In her original world, the Barony of Robert had taken it for 340 million Ollang. Honestly, the Barony of Robert had taken it for a pittance. Thanks to that, the Barony was practically sitting on a pile of money, but Baron Robert, who had been making advances toward her, ruined that.

‘Come to think of it, at the banquet being held next week….’

Baron Robert had attended.

‘This will be interesting.’

Thinking that it wouldn't be boring, Roselyn smiled elegantly.