The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 26
26
“I plan to pass on the techniques to skilled craftsmen in the family soon, expand the workshop, and turn this into a business.”
“…….”
“Roselyn?”
At the sound of the voice, Roselyn slowly blinked and lifted her head.
“……Ah.”
Her lips parted, and she managed to let out a sound.
“If this isn't urgent… could you do as I say?”
“……What do you mean?”
“About recruiting craftsmen. There might be someone who would leak the technology elsewhere.”
She had cut off Lady Carmel for now, but one could never be too sure.
If she had been swayed in some way in the other world, she could be swayed in this world as well.
Since she didn't know how deep the roots of Magruksa reached.
“I’ve used a fair amount of the Duchy’s funds as research expenses to study this. It’s time to break even. The craftsmen are reliable people who have dealt with the Duchy for a long time, so….”
“Still. You never know. The money will be fine.”
If things went as expected, they would soon be exporting what was in the Olang Mine as well.
“Consult with Grandfather and be cautious.”
“…….”
Cherti’s expression became subtle at Roselyn’s sudden words.
“I’m asking you.”
When Roselyn added that one more sentence, Cherti’s eyes widened significantly.
“……Ahem, hmph!”
He suddenly cleared his throat loudly and nodded with a much more serious expression.
“It’s my daughter’s first request, so I have no choice. I shall put it on hold as much as possible.”
Roselyn hesitated at his overly serious face, then suddenly stood up and began to push Cherti’s back.
“I think I can bring the ‘Yuseok’ craftsman once the business in Kaluta is settled.”
Roselyn, pushing Cherti’s back, ushered him out the door.
“……Roselyn?”
“Yes, Father. I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep.”
“……Are you alright?”
Though her expression was calm, Cherti felt his daughter’s behavior was strangely hurried and anxious, so he quickly asked while holding the closing door.
“Yes.”
A short answer came back along with a picture-perfect smile.
And soon, thud, the door closed.
“…….”
However, Cherti did not move or speak further.
It was because he could still feel the child’s presence in front of the door.
People with Abyss had sensitive senses, allowing them to feel a presence even when it wasn't visible.
“……Why.”
A small voice was heard from beyond the door.
Cherti did not move a single step until Roselyn’s presence moved away from the door.
* * *
After sending Cherti away, Roselyn let out a long breath, clenched and unclenched her fists, and headed toward her bed.
Roselyn had no affection for her family.
That didn't mean she resented her parents or the family like a typical child.
No, that wasn't it.
In fact, the seventeen-year-old Roselyn had been like that.
She constantly compared herself to others.
She was envious of harmonious families.
She always wondered why she couldn't be like that.
When someone criticized or hurt her, she couldn't say a word, but she would hold her head high, glare at them, and throw things.
She dismissed all approaching goodwill as pity and took offense. She glared, kept her mouth shut, and swallowed her feelings.
Then, from the day she realized that wasn't the solution, she began to throw tantrums and act prickly.
She thought that if she acted strong, she would actually become strong.
She wore herself out whispering that she was fine even when she wasn't, and she believed she was the most miserable person in the world.
Thinking that crying was a sign of weakness, she endured until she finally forgot how to cry.
Concluding that expecting something from or relying on someone was because that person was weak, she pushed herself to the limit and endured.
Thinking that one becomes an adult only by being alone, she became alone.
Unable to admit the fact that she was lonely, she wandered for a long time.
She didn't know how to be grateful for the small happinesses given to her, and she didn't say thank you for the goodwill offered.
Lying on the bed, Roselyn held up the dagger she had been clutching.
She lightly brushed her fingertips over the neat cursive script written on the blade.
If there was one thing she regretted most now…….
It was that she couldn't check if her name was engraved on this dagger in her original world.
Now, Roselyn could never confirm if she had been loved back then as well.
Because the father of that world was dead, the grandfather was dead, the uncles were all dead, and Roselyn was dead too.
At one point, Roselyn hadn't wanted to live.
She regretted being born dozens of times and felt a sense of ecstasy when she realized she could die.
Yes.
To be honest, it was only after she left the shadow of the Duchy that she began to think about whether she resented the family or not.
Only then did Roselyn realize the weight of the fence surrounding her.
So, the twenty-seven-year-old Roselyn no longer resented them.
She didn't compare herself to others and didn't envy what she didn't have.
She had become an adult enough to think that way.
However, it was only after the twenty-seven-year-old Roselyn came to another world and became seventeen again that she could look back on the life she had been given.
Things she couldn't see back then because she was too busy just breathing were visible now.
Looking back, there were things she regretted.
Questions that would forever linger in her mouth, with no one left to ask and no one left to confirm with.
‘I thought I was just a nuisance and hated.’
Because she didn't have Abyss, her body was weak, and she was a pathetic person with nothing extraordinary about her.
Because she only knew how to throw tantrums.
So she never doubted that she was hated.
But if a name had been written on the dagger…….
If her father in the past had also made that dagger for her, and if Lady Carmel had kept it without telling her?
‘Did I hurt Father without knowing?’
Roselyn slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“…….”
Her throat ached as if someone had shoved a fist into it.
But her eyes were dry.
“Even a broken doll would be better than this.”
Roselyn, touching her parched eyes once, let out a light, hollow laugh.
Since there was more work to do than crying, Roselyn simply closed her eyes slowly.
* * *
“Welcome, Red Cat.”
Roselyn let out a silent chuckle at the title.
The ‘Underground Auction’ was an auction that started at 8 PM and ended around midnight.
And unlike the main auction, purchases by VIPs began at 5 PM.
The rules were: wear a solid-colored mask with a black veil that could cover the entire face and hair.
Only one companion, including a guardian knight, was allowed.
No weapons allowed.
Use the mask color designated by the organizer in advance.
That was about it.
Red Cat for the red cat mask.
Blue Dog for the blue dog mask.
They were called by these pseudonyms.
Roselyn was the Red Cat.
The reason she came here was to purchase a person.
“Is there a specific item you are interested in?”
“A slave.”
When Roselyn spoke briefly, a man wearing a featureless white mask and a pitch-black robe nodded.
“I will guide you.”
The underground auction house was structured like an ant colony. In fact, they did call it the Ant Colony.
‘I’d get lost without a guide.’
Roselyn frowned at the underground layout, which was completely confusing.
‘It’s also perfect for disposing of people secretly.’
She glanced behind her.
The guardian knight her father had assigned was walking beside Roselyn, wearing a featureless black mask.
“This is the room where the items you are looking for are gathered.”
Following him through a narrow path like an ant tunnel, a large room filled with iron cages appeared.
There were people in the cages.
They all had resigned expressions, draped in rag-like pieces of cloth, half-naked.
Roselyn wasn't the only one looking at the slaves; unpleasant evaluations were being made here and there.
There were people scattered about who didn't hesitate to strip off clothes if necessary, acting as if they were buying livestock.
‘How unpleasant.’
Roselyn clicked her tongue inwardly.
“Is there a specific age group or gender you are looking for?”
“A male in his teens would be good.”
“Then you can start looking from this side.”
Roselyn moved, following the guide. What she was looking for was a twelve-year-old boy.
‘He’s the bargaining chip I’ll use in Kaluta this time.’
Roselyn stopped abruptly after walking a short distance.
Inside a narrow iron cage, she saw a boy crouching, his mouth tightly shut and his eyes glaring fiercely.
Green eyes and silver hair.
Eyes tilted up like a cat
