The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 145

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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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Part 2, Episode 15
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At last!
Two weeks after arriving at Garren’s Estate with Garren Wilbred, Rozelin was finally permitted to board the carriage home.
“……What?”
“We’ve decided to live together.”
“……Excuse me?”
She froze.
Wasn’t that moving far too quickly?
What on earth happened in two weeks to bring things to this point?
And the Countess — what was she doing to allow this in merely a fortnight?
A mountain of objections rose in her throat, but no words would come.
Rozelin rubbed her face slowly, then cast a sideways glance at Garren Wilbred seated across from her and Selena Hyde beside him.
“Is it… perhaps inconvenient for you if I go?”
“No, that’s not it at all…….”
She couldn’t very well say his life seemed like a tragedy.
Garren Wilbred’s smile deepened as he watched her, and she abandoned any attempt to add more.
“……It just feels rather sudden, after only two weeks.”
“It’s fine. I’ve come to think Garren is a trustworthy, good person.”
When in fact he was precisely the person one should never trust.
“And…… for some reason, I just wanted to.”
What sort of life decision was made on the whim of ‘I just wanted to’?
A hollow laugh escaped her at the absurdity.
Rozelin swallowed the countless words still lodged in her throat.
Because, given how matters now stood, Garren Wilbred held the upper hand in this power dynamic.
At least until she became independent and established some sort of business venture with her own capital.
‘……Ah, I need to get to the Capital soon and secure some enterprise or investment opportunity.’
Even back at the Earl’s Estate, the moment her eyes opened each day brought the sight of Garren Wilbred at her side — it had become routine, and mentally exhausting.
‘……So this is love.’
If this body had been hers from the start, would she have been able to love Arma openly, simply, from the beginning?
Now that she’d met him, she wanted to do and say things she hadn’t done or said back then. She wished she could tell him she cared.
He’d always been the one to speak first — so surely it would be all right if she spoke to him this time.
‘If I had been that way from the start, would things have been different between us?’
A faint, wistful regret bloomed within her.
Perhaps.
But she couldn’t say for certain.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to think what Garren Wilbred was doing was right either.
‘What does he plan to do if she actually disappears?’
Rozelin lowered her gaze slowly, turning the thought over.
“Tell me at once if you grow tired, Selena.”
“Ah…… I’m more worried about Rozelin, actually.”
“She’ll be fine.”
Not even speaking kindly about it, the fool.
As Rozelin shot him a look, Garren Wilbred burst into low laughter and ran his fingers through his hair.
“You know, perhaps because you’re so young — your expressions really are quite transparent.”
“……That’s not true.”
“Your tone has become rather direct and emotional too.”
Garren Wilbred spoke as if producing evidence to support his point.
Rozelin’s brow furrowed.
She’d noticed it herself — irritability came easily these days, sleep came readily, and she had no patience for fatigue; moreover, when emotions ran high, her temper flared at the slightest provocation.
‘Just because the body’s a bit younger, I’m supposed to change like this.’
Rozelin swept her hair back and flopped against the seat.
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Rozelin, shall I get you a blanket?”
“No, I’m hardy enough…….”
Thump — a large coat fell across her body, covering even her face.
As she wrestled the garment aside, Garren Wilbred sat with shoulders slightly raised, now clad in lighter attire.
“Cover yourself with that while you sleep.”
She nearly told him to stop treating her like a child too, but seeing Selena beside her, she simply used the coat as a blanket and lay down.
‘……Well, once everything’s settled, we’re heading to the Capital anyway.’
Fortunately, he read the newspaper every day, but no particular incident had been reported.
Assuming Rozelin had fallen asleep since her eyes were closed and she hadn’t moved, Selena opened her mouth in a small voice.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Forward to what?”
“Going to Garren’s Estate and the manor. It’s nice that we can stay together…….”
“……I see. That’s a relief. If you need anything, just tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll procure it for you.”
He gently grasped Selena’s hand and slowly brought it to his lips, speaking as he did so.
“That…… Ro, Rozelin is here.”
“I’ve only kissed the back of your hand.”
At his words tinged with laughter, Selena, her face flushed crimson, shook her head vigorously.
Garren let out a low, amused chuckle and withdrew his hand readily, pulling away.
“I’m grateful you don’t hate being around me.”
“Of…… of course I don’t. That’s why I agreed when you asked me to come with you.”
“……Yes. Then I’m relieved.”
Garren Wilbred gazed down at his former wife, a faint smile playing on his lips, and spoke softly.
It was strange to see a smile he hadn’t seen in so long.
She looked at him in silence for a moment, then opened her mouth.
“Thank you for asking me to come with you. I love you, Garren.”
…….
The man, caught off guard by the sudden confession, opened his eyes wide before bursting into laughter—a genuine, warm laugh—and then bent down to place a light kiss on her cheek.
“Selena.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
At the whisper against her ear, Selena’s face went completely red.
‘……This is ridiculous.’
Rozelin, not yet asleep, clenched her eyes shut tighter, resolving to start her business soon and become independent.
Fortunately, silence soon descended, and before long Rozelin drifted into deep sleep, her breathing becoming steady and even.
Catching a glimpse of the sleeping child’s fist buried in his coat, a faint smile flickered across Garren Wilbred’s lips before quickly vanishing.
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“Good night, Selena.”
“……Your Grace.”
“I told you Garren was fine.”
He turned his gaze and looked at Selena intently.
The excited girl he’d seen during the day had vanished, replaced by the Duchess—a woman with a dry expression, her face rigid and deeply uncomfortable.
Her body was still that of a child, but her mind had changed completely.
“……So what you said was true.”
“Did you think I was lying? That’s too much, coming from my wife.”
“I simply couldn’t believe it, separate from that.”
Selena answered while looking at him steadily.
After sending Rozelin away and returning to the original world, what Garren Wilbred had done was explain the situation to the Duchess.
He was only one person; he could not exist in two worlds simultaneously.
So he had to abandon one or the other.
Either the Duchess or Rozelin.
Rozelin would manage fine without him anyway.
She was an unskilled child who had never known how to depend on anyone to begin with; even if she was bewildered for a moment, she would soon find a new way out.
Conversely, the Duchess would face no great hardship without him either.
Because the memory itself would vanish.
“……I never imagined demons actually existed.”
“You believe in God but not the devil?”
At the small laugh that escaped from the young man, the Duchess blinked once.
“I haven’t seen that expression in a long time.”
“Ah, are you suddenly smitten again?”
“……What nonsense is that? As I’ve said several times, I gave up on that long ago…….”
The Duchess answered, her brow furrowed.
Garren Wilbred paused for a moment at this, then shrugged as if it were nothing.
“Yet you haven’t wanted to forget me.”
“That’s…….”
“For now, that’s enough.”

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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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