The Baddest Villainess Is Back
Chapter 76
“Ah.”
“I heard you departed even before the plague began to spread.”
Roselyn shrugged as he added that curiosity grows with age.
“It’s the Abyss.”
“The Abyss?”
“Yes, I’ve awakened.”
Roselyn added the explanation casually.
“I find myself wondering what kind of Abyss possesses such miraculous power.”
Roselyn shrugged again.
“Isn’t an Abyss something of a trade secret?”
“Of course it is. I wasn’t asking you to reveal it.”
Watching the man smile and tell her not to worry, Roselyn added a comment of her own.
“Actually, I’m joking. There’s no such thing as an Abyss. It’s just that I actually died once and came back to life.”
At Roselyn’s words, he faltered.
The Captain of the Royal Guard let out a low chuckle as if he had heard an amusing story.
“An old friend of mine turned out to be a god out for a stroll. I remembered that friend asking me to help Kaluta, so I left.”
“It seems the Lady of Bellion enjoys a good jest. If you do not wish to speak of your Abyss, you need not do so.”
As if he believed Roselyn was lying simply because she didn’t want to talk about her Abyss, the Captain of the Royal Guard replied with a voice laced with amusement.
“An Abyss is not something that must be revealed unless there is a specific reason, after all.”
She shrugged.
‘But it’s the truth.’
This was exactly why she didn’t feel like being particularly honest.
“Was it funny?”
“Yes, it was entertaining.”
“I suppose I was born with a bit more of a sense of humor than my father,” Roselyn replied.
At her words, the Captain of the Royal Guard burst into a small laugh once more.
Walking down the hallway, Roselyn came to a dead stop. It was because of the group approaching from the opposite direction, leading a large number of servants.
The other party seemed to notice Roselyn as well, pausing for a moment before heading toward her.
Roselyn bowed at the waist.
“Who is this? Is it not the Lady of Bellion, who has been the talk of the town lately?”
“I greet the 1st Prince.”
When she offered a calm greeting, a low laugh drifted down from above.
“Yes, I was looking forward to when I might see that precious face of yours.”
“Is that so?” Roselyn replied flatly.
The 1st Prince’s lips twisted slightly.
Normally, when spoken to like this, one should respond by saying they were sorry for not showing their face often or apologizing for not greeting him sooner.
“……Very well, that is enough of a greeting. You may lift your head.”
“Yes.”
Roselyn straightened her back.
Golden hair, blue eyes, a sharp gaze, and an arrogant look.
His appearance made it clear why he was secretly regarded as the Crown Prince.
‘He looks exactly like the Emperor.’
With such a resemblance, it was only natural that everyone would consider the 1st Prince the de facto heir.
‘Then the 3rd Prince’s hair must take after his mother.’
Roselyn slowly lowered her gaze.
There was almost no information publicly known about the mother of the 3rd Prince, Arma.
There were rumors she was a maid, and others that she had died in a massive fire.
With no backing, the 3rd Prince’s position was practically nonexistent, and he had grown up quite harshly.
‘He said it was trauma…….’
Though he was furthest from the line of succession, Arma, holding the title of Prince, must have suffered in many ways.
A nuisance.
Someone who was too much of a pity to keep but too uncomfortable to throw away—someone whose death would have been more useful in many respects.
“Are you on your way back from seeing His Majesty?”
“Yes, I’ve taken on the role of mediator for the treaty with Kaluta. I saw the 3rd Prince before that as well.”
“……That youngest brat went to see Father?”
“Yes.”
The 1st Prince crossed his arms and looked at Roselyn with a thoroughly dissatisfied expression.
“I don’t like it.”
Roselyn lightly brushed off the small murmur.
“If you are my brother’s fiancée, shouldn’t you have come to greet me, his elder brother, first? How could you not show your face once for over ten years?”
“……Pardon?”
“Tsk. Are Father and the youngest in the drawing room?”
“Yes.”
“If you are curious about footage of the youngest when he was a child, come visit sometime. I’ll give you a special look.”
He brushed past Roselyn and headed straight for the drawing room. Roselyn blinked once.
‘……I thought the Emperor might actually cherish Arma…….’
Did he take after that part as well?
It was unexpected. She had thought the princes didn’t get along.
“They seem to be on better terms than I thought.”
“Yes, they are quite endearing.”
“You seem to be fond of the princes, Sir.”
“Of course, since I’ve watched them since they were young.”
At the voice laced with laughter, Roselyn shrugged and resumed her walk under his guidance.
“You may board this carriage.”
Roselyn nodded, but as she was about to step into the carriage, she turned her head slightly.
“Sir, I have something I’m curious about as well. May I ask?”
She had become curious.
“Hm? Of course. I will answer to the best of my knowledge.”
“Why did you offer me the position of Queen?”
Why would a man of this caliber become the King of ‘Makruksa’ and attempt to kill the entire Imperial family?
The man stopped in his tracks, and his gaze slowly met Roselyn’s.
* * *
“……Lin, Roselyn?”
Lost in thought, Roselyn snapped her head up.
“Yes, Father.”
“What are you thinking about that you didn’t even notice me coming in?”
“I think I’m just tired after going to the Imperial Palace today.”
“What? Go to sleep at once. Didn’t I tell you to stay within your limits? Honestly……”
Even as Cherti Bellion grumbled his complaints, he helped Roselyn lie down and tucked the blanket tightly around her.
Then he pulled a chair to the bedside, sat down, and gently took her hand.
“……What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“……Ahem. I heard that sometimes holding someone’s hand helps them sleep better.”
Roselyn blinked at the sheepish addition.
It was at that moment.
“You should sleep now.”
A ringing seemed to echo in her ears, followed by a strange voice, and a bizarre scene flickered through her mind.
* * *
“……Yes. Goodnight, Father.”
“……Right. Sleep well.”
Greetings that were somewhat awkward for a parent and child were exchanged.
Cherti Bellion kept his mouth shut and firmly grasped the child’s hand that had been tentatively reached out.
The large hand enveloped the small child’s hand in an instant.
The child, whose cheeks were flushed as if with a fever, wore a faint smile on her lips.
“I like it when Papa holds my hand……”
Even while struggling with the fever, the child murmured softly and gently closed her eyes.
“Wait, what did you just……”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Father.”
“Ahem, wh-who said I didn’t like it? It’s exhausting to keep talking, so it would be better to call me that from now on. If you say even one more word, your fever might go up……”
As Cherti rambled on, the girl let out a small laugh and squeezed the hand of the father who was clumsily holding hers.
“Yes, Papa.”
“Ahem. Hmph\! A-Anyway…… Sleep. P-P-Papa…… will stay by your side until you fall asleep.”
As if reassured by the man’s voice, the child gave a small nod.
Before long, the sound of rhythmic breathing slowly filled the room.
“……The fever is rising again.”
He reached out with his other arm—the one not holding the child’s hand—to check the young Roselyn’s forehead, murmuring softly.
“……If only my ability weren’t a poison.”
If only it could be a medicine instead of a poison.
Then he could have cured his child’s illness.
He wouldn’t have had to kill her mother, and he wouldn’t have had to take her mother away from the child.
“I wouldn’t have hesitated to stay by your side and watch you grow up safely.”
Looking down at the child who was trying to sleep with ragged breaths, he slowly rubbed his face.
“…….”
He gently lifted the child’s clothing.
There was a stab wound on her waist. The stitched mark was vivid, suggesting the wound had not yet fully healed.
“How terrified you must have been……”
He gritted his teeth, his voice low and chilling.
“I never imagined you would have no memory of the month after you fell into the water.”