The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 205

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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 75
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“Good morning, Rozelin.”
As I stepped out of my room, Arma—no, he’d introduced himself as Arma now—greeted me from where he stood leaning against the doorframe.
“More like good afternoon, isn’t it?”
Whether because of the body swap or because he no longer wore that guileless smile of his, there was something distinctly cooler about him now.
For about a week since that incident—including the Presumption Offense charge—I’d been avoiding him.
By the fifth day, he’d started waiting in front of my door from morning onward. Pitiful as an abandoned puppy though he looked, I couldn’t quite bring myself to relent.
“Didn’t you say we shouldn’t see each other for a while?”
“But I wanted to see you.”
Arma spoke lightly, a faint smile on his face.
“…….”
Lately, he’d taken to such blunt honesty that it left me speechless more than once.
I’d only meant to keep some distance because facing him felt awkward, but he seemed determined not to grant me that mercy.
“……I’m going to the Bellion Ducal Estate today.”
“Can I come too?”
“If I tell you not to come, will you listen?”
“Well, I won’t ride in the same carriage as you.”
He shrugged casually at my question, answering with shameless cheek.
In other words, he’d just follow me no matter what I said.
As I stared at him in exasperation, Arma reached out and ruffled my hair lightly.
“What are you—”
“Let’s go together, Rozelin.”
He took my hand without hesitation, speaking as naturally as though it were the most obvious thing.
His large hand pulled gently, and my body stilled of its own accord. His natural ease made me wonder if perhaps it was my own reaction that was out of place.
“What about tomorrow?”
“I’m planning to stop by the Temple and then head to the Imperial Capital. Tonight, probably……”
I trailed off.
With Amon held as a hostage, touching her could cause the Emperor to become an obstacle.
If he blocked her path swinging a sword to protect his wife, it would spark a family conflict in that instant.
Just thinking about it made my body tremble involuntarily.
A confrontation between the Emperor and Arma was something I didn’t want at all. And yet I couldn’t simply abandon Arma’s mother.
‘After all, she’s not just anyone.’
She was the one who’d given birth to Arma.
She was the woman who’d stood beside me when I was struggling, the person who’d brought Arma into this world.
‘And……’
Arma had asked for his mother back—the first real request he’d ever made.
So I wanted Arma in this world to be happy.
Arma walked ahead, never releasing the hand he’d taken. He didn’t let go even while he instructed the butler to bring the carriage around.
Thanks to Garren Wilbred, Arma had become a temporary guest staying here, and as a result, he drew considerable attention.
Not because I hadn’t mentioned he was a Beastkin—he always wore a hat and kept his tail hidden inside his clothes, concealed beneath his coat.
Rather, it was simply……
“Your hand’s warm, Rozelin.”
“Ah, yes. Yours is too.”
“That’s because of you. My hands are usually quite cold.”
The sight of Arma leaning in to meet my gaze, speaking softly with a hint of warmth in his voice, apparently drew considerable attention from those around us.
“Everything is ready, Miss Rozelin.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“Safe travels.”
I climbed into the carriage with Arma.
I hopped in nimbly, able to get aboard without needing anyone’s hand or assistance.
Just as I turned my head, I stopped short. Arma’s hand was awkwardly extended into empty air.
I was about to ask what he was doing when I noticed his hand beginning to lower.
‘Ah, he needed someone to hold his hand.’
Come to think of it, being royalty, he might not be accustomed to boarding a carriage alone. I certainly hadn’t known it was easier until my body changed.
I quickly grabbed his flailing hand and pulled.
“…….”
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
I said it briefly, then tightened my arm around him and lifted him straight into the carriage. He closed the door quietly, looking as though he had quite a lot he wanted to say.
“……You’re quite strong, Rozelin.”
“Yes.”
There was no reason to feign modesty about an obvious truth.
At my words, Arma hesitated for a moment, then nodded and came to sit beside me—deliberately choosing my side over the seat across from me.
He naturally interlaced his fingers with mine, then slowly relaxed and leaned back against the seat.
“Thank you for helping me, Rozelin.”
Arma tilted his head slightly, his lips moving so close to mine I could almost feel them.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart raced, and I quickly nodded my head up and down a few times before turning my face away.
Lately, Arma came close to my face often, held my hand often, and laughed often. Of course, he’d been exactly the same whether he was in human form or Wolf form.
‘Especially when he was Wolf—his tail would…….’
It would wag uncontrollably.
As I thought about it, I found myself believing that Arma truly did care for me.
His tail, of all things.
A wagging tail meant my touch pleased him, didn’t it? That I had his affection.
“……Mmm.”
The thought made my face grow warm.
‘No, stop building false hopes.’
It could all be wishful thinking on my part…….
Though admittedly, the fact that he followed me this far must mean he cares—but I shouldn’t let my feelings show and burden him with them.
I pressed my burning cheeks with my palms.
I’m going mad, truly.
“Rozelin, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Your face is red. Do you have a fever?”
“I’m all right. My body is sturdy—I don’t get fevers easily.”
Honestly, I scarcely get sick at all, fever or otherwise. Not when I was sleeping rough outdoors, and not even after the exhausting days of traveling and the mental toll that had accumulated.
“Hmm…….”
Arma let out a low hum with an odd expression, then smiled softly.
“I see.”
He gave a light shrug and pulled back slightly, though he didn’t release my hand.
“Isn’t your hand warm?”
“No.”
“……I see.”
“Rozelin.”
“What?”
At that, Arma wore a meaningful expression and shook his head.
“Nothing.”
I cracked open the shuttered window slightly and looked out through the gap, breathing shallow.
“Rozelin.”
“What…….”
The moment I turned my head sharply at his call, I froze.
“……What are you doing?”
Flustered, I couldn’t mask my shock and questioned him numbly.
The boy’s face was mere inches from mine, his mouth curved in an impish grin that sent my breath catching.
The distance was so close that if we moved just slightly, our breath would mingle. And we were already sitting beside each other, which made it feel impossibly near.
“Rozelin.”
“What…….”
He shrugged at my reluctant reply.
“I just wanted to call your name.”
“……What, are you playing with me?”
“No, that wasn’t my intention. I just… no matter how many times I see you, you’re always worth seeing.”
“…….”
I was working up the courage to be angry, my mouth opening to protest, but the words died before they came.
“But I knew you’d feel burdened if I said something like that, so I didn’t want to…….”
Already having said it, he scratched his cheek sheepishly.
“You’re really exasperating…….”
I buried my face and murmured.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t matter?”
“Yes. If I simply like you more than you like me, that’s all there is to it.”
“…….”
Was he doing this deliberately?
No, he was definitely doing it on purpose.
If he were younger, I might excuse it as the unconscious behavior of a cute child, but what were our ages exactly? Both of us had lived long enough to know better.
Appearances aside, we were hardly at an age where such things could be dismissed as innocent.
‘He’d just stopped putting on that act, and suddenly he’s completely different…….’
I let out a pained groan, stealing a glance at Arma.
He’d been staring at me without breaking his gaze since the very beginning, his eyes fixed and unwavering.
‘So his real personality was what he showed me when he was still Wolf?’
Everything until now had been nothing but an innocent performance. Those careful uses of formal speech, that shy smile — all of it an act.
I’d known it, of course, but seeing him shift a full 180 degrees like this was still jarring. Though truth be told, he wasn’t so different from when he’d been Wolf — not really.
With that thought, I scrubbed my face irritably and let out a heavy sigh.

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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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