The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 174

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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 44
“Even though Father refused… he keeps pursuing me…!”
“Eh…?”
With my face hidden in my palm, my voice trembled with practiced anguish, and Garren Wilbred turned his head with a subtle shrug while the red-haired woman blinked, visibly flustered.
“I wouldn’t have thought the Marquis Wilbred was that sort of man…”
“You really do need to hear the whole story before judging someone.”
“Still, drawing a blade on a child is going too far.”
Murmurs of disapproval began rippling through the crowd.
Peering through the gaps between my fingers to gauge the mood, I forced a delicate sob into my throat and continued in a measured tone, as if reciting from a book.
“Wherever I go, he appears and keeps…”
I had told him to trust the Dao.
Recalling how the Bynac Cult had been stalking me most recently, I attempted to sob convincingly, though the tears refused to fall properly.
“He appears… Father, I’m frightened…”
Unable to sustain the act any longer, I seized Garren Wilbred’s sleeve and hid myself behind him.
Unaccustomed to such theatrics, my cheeks twitched with involuntary spasms.
Peeking out from behind him, I could see Selena furrow her brow with an expression of skeptical confusion.
She didn’t fully believe it, but her look betrayed a lingering what-if.
“You’re afraid that if you refuse, he’ll harass you more, aren’t you? It’s all right. I won’t go outside for a while…”
Garren Wilbred lowered his gaze and looked at me with an expression that defied description.
His jaw seemed clenched, his mouth twisted slightly askew.
Even when I’m helping him, it’s still a mess.
“You said yourself that in Father’s entire life, there’s been no woman but Selena and me…”
After I added this final touch, the mood seemed to flip entirely in my favor.
‘A child’s body is truly convenient.’
People assumed that small children wouldn’t fabricate cunning lies, which made them remarkably willing to accept almost anything they heard.
In my original body, I would have needed to construct an elaborate, plausible scenario to create the illusion of truth.
“Ah… I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.”
She rubbed the back of her head and broke into laughter.
“My head’s spinning from that one.”
Still chuckling, she finally stepped away from Garren Wilbred.
“Well, let’s see each other soon.”
“I have nothing to see you for.”
“That’s fine. If you won’t come, I’ll track you down myself.”
I watched as she turned cleanly and walked away, her footsteps growing distant with each tap against the floor.
Everything was exhausting in every conceivable way.
“Selena.”
Garren Wilbred quickly turned his head to look at her.
Selena regarded him with an ambiguous expression for a moment, then slowly turned away and pressed her lips firmly together.
I couldn’t tell if she was angry, but it was clear her mood had soured.
Then it happened.
“His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Sebirus Jin Dianitas, has arrived!”
A voice, stiff with urgent formality, rang out, and everyone quickly held their breath and bowed.
The Emperor walked across the crimson carpet toward the imperial throne.
“Lift your heads, everyone.”
At his gentle words, everyone slowly raised their heads as quietly as possible.
‘Ah.’
I caught sight of the imperial princes standing beside the Emperor.
Among them, as expected, was Arma Dianitas.
The boy with the gentle face rolled his eyes as if searching for someone, then spotted my small form and offered a subtle smile.
Rozelin, seeing him, bowed her head with an air of awkward embarrassment.
It was certainly progress compared to before—relative to my own childhood, that is.
Arma was always the one doing the talking back then, while I always kept my mouth shut or played the passive observer.
“I see many promising young saplings gathered here today.”
At the Emperor’s words, the children stiffened with alert attention.
Many of them were making their debutante this season, clearly timed to coincide with the Third Prince’s first foray into society. Though that hadn’t been my intention…
‘How did things end up like this?’
As I was gazing intently at Arma, he seemed to sense my attention and turned his head.
I hesitated, then lowered my head slightly.
He regarded me with a subtle expression, gave a light nod, and turned his gaze forward once more.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many familiar faces. Please, enjoy yourselves at leisure.”
At the Emperor’s words, the orchestra resumed its performance.
I watched Arma descend from the dais and approach Rozelin, then turned my head away.
Garren Wilbred, who had fixed his gaze solely on Selena as though the Emperor and everything else held no interest whatsoever, approached her the moment the Emperor finished speaking.
After exchanging a few words with her, the two of them slipped out onto the terrace together.
“……Huh?”
I was left standing there alone.
People clustered around the Duke Bellion, hoping for some scrap of favor from the Bellion household…….
Lili Bellion was exchanging greetings with acquaintances she hadn’t seen in years…….
Ian Bellion was…….
“Ah.”
He didn’t have any friends here.
I was in the middle of debating whether to approach Ian Bellion, since standing alone seemed awkward enough.
A few young men around his age had attached themselves to Ian Bellion as well. Judging by their laughter and cheerful demeanor, they must have been acquaintances from the academy.
It seemed I was the only one left truly alone in this bustling banquet hall.
Rozelin and Arma had already vanished long ago…….
“What is this.”
Seeing everyone huddled together, I slipped outside and made my way into the garden.
Truth be told, there wasn’t much to do at a banquet like this. Since most of the attendees were parents with children, there weren’t many ways to gather useful information.
Usually, such people don’t bother with a child.
“What is this.”
I dropped onto a bench in the garden.
The moon hung high in the sky, glittering with a silvery sheen that was rather beautiful.
When I looked up, I saw that the terraces above were densely packed with couples engaged in whispered conversation.
“Good evening, my lady.”
At the sound of the voice, I turned my head and furrowed my brow slightly at the sight of him.
“Who are you?”
“I was passing by and noticed you sitting alone, so I thought I’d stop to say hello.”
It was a boy with jet-black hair and blue eyes, a beret pulled low over his head.
The hair that had slipped forward was swept back neatly, revealing fine, delicate features, and his skin was pale. The coat he wore appeared to be rather oversized.
In any case, it was a rather charming-looking boy.
“Are you nobility?”
“Something like that.”
“But the banquet hall is not here.”
“I know. I wasn’t invited to the banquet, you see.”
The boy who had stepped closer broke into a grin.
“Would you mind if I sat beside you?”
“Go ahead. It’s not mine anyway.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
The boy sat down beside me, a knowing smile playing at his lips.
“Why are you alone?”
“Is there a reason to be alone? I’m alone because I ended up alone…….”
His leisurely voice carried an ease without measure, and his curved eyes showed not a trace of malice.
Though I was meeting him for the first time, his gaze seemed oddly full of goodwill, and I found myself rubbing the back of my neck.
“Well. Have you been doing well?”
What was he talking about all of a sudden?
When I looked at the boy with a puzzled expression, he blinked lightly and laughed.
“Have we met before?”
“I’m not sure.”
“……Is this how you usually talk?”
The boy, who had faltered for a moment at my words, shook his head.
“I apologize. It’s been so long since I’ve had a proper conversation…….”
He rubbed his lips slightly as he added his apology.
‘Should I leave?’
I’d heard that ignoring a lunatic was the wisest response.
I felt a pang of regret that even this garden, where I’d come for a brief respite, couldn’t be a sanctuary.
“Would you like me to show you a nice place?”
“A nice place?”
“Yes. If you walk a little ways from here, you’ll find it. What do you say?”
A nice place, all of a sudden? And in the Imperial Capital, no less?
From some unknown kid who’d appeared out of nowhere?
To anyone watching, it looked like a scene straight out of a kidnapping cliché, and I grimaced before shaking my head.
“No, thanks.”
“I’m not trying to do anything strange. I won’t harm you.”
“The last person who kidnapped me said the same thing.”
I added that all madmen say the same thing, and he laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
I watched him scratch his face, then rose from my seat. It seemed better to leave.
“Please, just come with me. It’s a place no one knows about right now, so it’ll be quiet.”
“Kidnappings usually happen in secluded places no one knows about.”
“……You’ll be satisfied when you see it.”
“Kidnappers are always trying to tempt people with promises like that.”
“……It’s really very beautiful.”
“Temptation comes in many forms. Did the trending lines change from ‘I’ll buy you candy’ and ‘Your mother’s waiting over there’ to ‘It’s beautiful’?”
I didn’t concede a single point, responding with precise, deliberate words, and the boy seemed flustered too, laughing awkwardly as he scratched his cheek with his index finger.
In that instant, my shoulders shuddered without warning.
……
It was because I saw a familiar face in that small, insignificant gesture.

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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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