The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 100
By contrast, his only granddaughter had put her father to sleep with medication, yet remained perfectly composed—not a flicker of excitement crossed her face.
Somehow the roles between granddaughter and grandfather seemed to have reversed.
It stirred a faint echo of his younger days.
‘Of all people, she had to inherit my temperament.’
His sons had learned his peculiarities well enough, but never the traits he’d actually wanted to pass on.
Rozelin opened her mouth.
“Father is too gentle and fragile, Grandfather. Especially his mental fortitude.”
“……I know that much, but still—using that drug frequently can’t be good for him, can it? If it’s potent enough for someone like him, it must be dangerous.”
“On the contrary, it’s actually beneficial for him. It’s originally a sedative that prevents Abyss Rampage.”
A sedative for the Abyss—the Dreamer.
It wasn’t scheduled to be released for another six years or so.
It had been developed by one of Marlux’s operatives.
Cherti Bellion—her father—was a minor duke with a dangerous Abyss, but he was also a brilliant scientist.
He had spent considerable time researching external Control Devices capable of suppressing the Abyss.
Carmel, who had seized the ducal house, had passed all of those accumulated research materials to Marlux.
And by simply combining that data, they had completed the Dreamer.
The stronger the Abyss, the more powerfully the Dreamer worked.
“The components in this drug temporarily render the Abyss itself inert. In simpler terms, it temporarily switches off the Abyss entirely.”
Devon’s eyes widened at Rozelin’s explanation. If what she said was true, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
Currently, he was forced to wear countless Ornaments just to keep the Abyss under control.
“When the Abyss is powered down, his body can rest too. Taking it occasionally like this would give Father some relief.”
“……I’ve never heard of any drug like that existing.”
At Devon’s words, Rozelin merely shrugged without comment.
It was only natural he didn’t know; if he did, it would only complicate matters.
“It’s something Father will develop later.”
Rozelin spoke carefully, offering a slight bow as her parting gesture.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Ah, have a safe—wait, you little wretch!”
Devon caught Rozelin by the nape of her neck just as she was slipping away as smoothly as a snake over a fence, then startled, he set her down hastily.
‘I’ve lost my head. I grabbed her like I do the boys.’
Devon glanced at the child, a rare show of caution.
Rozelin, looking slightly flustered, rubbed the back of her neck with her hand, then glanced sideways at Devon.
“Is something the matter?”
“There is! Of course there is! Monster subjugation—where exactly are you planning to go? No matter how much I care for you, I won’t allow this.”
“I see.”
Rozelin’s eyes drooped slightly, the expression of someone who had stumbled upon an unexpected obstacle.
“No—don’t you dare make that adorable face at me!”
“I’m not making any face.”
Rozelin answered flatly.
Devon regarded her with evident dissatisfaction, then clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“In any case, it’s not happening. Pack your things and go inside.”
“Grandfather.”
“No! Do you want to stop this old man’s heart? Do you want to watch me get poisoned by your father after all?”
“Is there no way at all?”
At Rozelin’s soft question, Devon’s severe expression grew even grimmer, and he nodded firmly.
“As long as these eyes stay open and I’m still drawing breath, I won’t send you to such a dangerous place.”
“I understand.”
Rozelin nodded as if accepting the verdict.
“I see.”
She lowered her eyes and approached Devon with measured steps, then looked up at him.
“Grandfather.”
“Don’t even try it. Cuteness won’t work!”
She hadn’t done anything yet.
Rozelin regarded him with dissatisfaction before carefully opening her mouth.
“I love you.”
“……What?”
Devon’s eyes widened in surprise, and he turned his head toward Rozelin.
Watching his lips part slightly in disbelief, Rozelin spoke with an impassive face.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said it before.”
“Ahem, ahem! Clear.”
Devon, who had been clearing his throat repeatedly at Rozelin’s words, finally opened his mouth.
“If you’re so keen to go, this old man will accompany you—ugh!”
Gulp.
While Devon was speaking, Rozelin shoved a pill into his slightly parted mouth and stepped back.
Devon, about to say he’d be happy to go along, found himself in an entirely unexpected situation and stared at Rozelin in bewilderment.
Or tried to, rather.
The world spun dizzily before his eyes, the ground tilting at will.
“You—you wretch!”
The elderly butler standing behind him caught Devon’s swaying form, extending an arm to steady him.
He regarded Rozelin with evident consternation.
“Both the Duke and the young Duke are asleep, so I hold the authority to command for now, don’t I?”
At her words, Din, the old butler, looked at Rozelin with obvious discomfort.
“Miss…”
“Go and put them both to bed. I’ll just observe for a while and return.”
“I should accompany you.”
Din, still supporting Devon, spoke at Rozelin’s command. She shook her head.
“…Then, Rozelin, would it be alright if I went along?”
A familiar voice suddenly reached her ears, and Rozelin’s eyes widened slightly.
When she turned, a smiling man stood before her.
“Arma…?”
“Yes, Rozelin.”
He had shed the manner of a boy entirely, and the smile that had always hung on his lips in a naive expression was gone.
His hair was swept back, and his forehead—always hidden by his bangs—lay fully exposed. His uniform was not white but black.
It was quite similar to what he’d worn when heading to Kaluta, in fact.
Yet he wore a somewhat more ornate dress uniform, with considerable gold embroidery stitched across the black fabric.
Simply by pushing back his bangs, straightening the spine he’d always slightly bent, lowering the book from his hands, and fastening a sword at his waist instead, Arma’s entire presence had transformed.
She felt as though she were seeing a stranger.
“…Why that expression, Rozelin?”
He approached with long strides and reverently brought her white-gloved hand to his lips.
“…We greet the Third Prince.”
Even at the sudden appearance of royalty, Din quickly regained his composure and, supporting the Duke, bowed as deeply as he could manage.
“There’s no need—please go inside. I shall escort her.”
“…But.”
“I’ll be with her as well, so there’s little danger. Don’t worry, and convey as much to the Duke.”
Garren Wilbred, unable to help himself, interjected. Time was already slipping away.
They had to enter the forest where monsters dwelled during daylight.
If they failed to make camp even as night fell, things would grow complicated.
“…Miss, you must take care—extreme care.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of dying.”
She lifted her head.
“So tell them both when they wake—tell them I will return, without fail.”
Rozelin carefully tucked a glass vial containing sedative into Cherti’s clothing as he lay in deep sleep.
‘Why did he come here?’
The Third Prince’s appearance in this place was not something that had existed in her world.
‘No, the timeline is already becoming somewhat messy…’
Events that should have surfaced gradually over years, Rozelin had simply uprooted from the start.
Though he didn’t say so, Garren Wilbred was likely cutting off Marlux’s financial lines as well.
“What brings you here?”
“Are you curious about my reason?”
In a tone lower than usual, he asked with an ambiguous smile playing at his lips.
Rozelin nodded with a lukewarm expression.
“Rozelin.”
“…Pardon?”
“I came because I wanted to see Rozelin.”
At Arma’s words, Rozelin’s eyes suddenly widened.
“May I stay by your side?”
Arma’s lips curved into a slow smile as he gazed at her, his posture deeply bowed.
“Wait! I’m coming too!”
Just as Rozelin was about to answer, an unexpected voice rang out, and Arma’s expression crumpled at once.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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