The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 207

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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 77
“……What?”
“Kids these days…….”
Rozelin’s face flushed crimson, her lips parting soundlessly.
Her father covered his child’s eyes with one large hand and clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
The hand that reached toward Rozelin without hesitation showed no uncertainty.
It was because he no longer lost control and went berserk.
Whenever Father tried to lose his temper and spiral, I’d hold Rozelin’s hand and hover nervously at his side.
When he’d scream at us to stay away, I’d follow him around, muttering that if he couldn’t control himself, we’d all go down with him.
When I warned him that if he couldn’t even do that, what would happen if Rozelin found another wonderful father and left him, he shut himself in his room for about a week after that day.
When he emerged, he had perfect control over the Abyss.
Education through trial by fire, truly.
Of course, it was a dangerous gamble I would never have attempted without the Antidote.
‘Then again, how can Father talk about kids these days?’
This man who’d had me brought into the world at such a young age.
I glanced at him, wondering if he had a conscience at all, and his face genuinely looked displeased about something.
“So……you’re not taking my spot as her friend?”
“Right. I don’t care about being friends.”
Arma replied matter-of-factly.
“Good. Then I’ll be her only friend.”
“……What’s wrong with your social skills.”
Without meaning to, I found myself muttering that aloud.
“Hm? What are social skills?”
“That selfish remark about wanting me to have no friends but you……?”
“But I like Rose. I don’t want any other friends beside Rose.”
Watching the younger version of myself speak in a voice drained of hope, I slowly turned my head away.
‘……Perhaps that unhappy World Line was actually the happiest one.’
The world where I could have been myself, at least.
Rozelin’s obsession, which made even me look back at myself, caused me to blink.
‘……If Arma said he was dating another woman…….’
I took a moment to try to understand Rozelin.
“……Ah.”
That’s me.
That girl was just younger, a little foolish version of me who didn’t know how to hide her emotions.
‘Better keep this from Arma.’
The thought that I’d almost demanded he choose between cutting off that woman’s legs or his own.
“Anyway, as long as friendship isn’t the goal, it’s fine!”
Rozelin broke into a wide smile. Though I had no idea which part was supposed to be fine.
“Yeah. Don’t worry.”
Arma pressed his lips firmly against my palm, his eyes crinkling mischievously.
At that impish expression, I sighed.
“Okay.”
“Hm?”
“Take your hand away.”
……
Arma rolled his eyes regretfully as he looked at me, then gently lowered his hand.
“Did you dislike it?”
“Not in public.”
……
Arma tilted his head at my words, blinking.
“……So it’s okay inside? Good.”
The boy grinned mischievously like a child, leaning down and bringing his lips close to my ear.
“Then I’ll behave. Until you give me a reward…….”
Bang——!!
“What cursed brat is trying to make a move on my granddaughter?!”
“……Huh?”
The one who burst through the door was Grandfather.
“……Yes?”
“Who said anything about taking this reckless brat away?!”
Faced with words that were impossible to tell were insults or praise, I couldn’t decide whether to be happy or sad.
“That boy’s already head over heels, Father.”
Cherti tilted his Teacup with the composed air of someone claiming he’d never done such a thing.
“Head over heels? What are you talking about?”
“He was fondling Rozelin’s palm without permission, then kissed it and rubbed his face against hers. Only when she told him to let go did he finally release her.”
At Father’s leisurely tattling, Arma tilted his head slightly.
So did I.
Not that Father was wrong, exactly.
Yet I couldn’t call it entirely true either.
If I had to put it simply, it felt like something important was being left out, as if the story kept skipping ahead……
“……What?! How dare you conduct yourself so shamefully in my Mansion! You unprincipled scoundrel!! Which house are you from?!”
Grandfather took the bait perfectly, striding in with purpose and seizing Arma by the scruff of his neck.
“Eh……?”
Arma’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Please wait, Your Grace.”
“Who are you calling ‘Your Grace’? How dare you behave so indecently in my home!”
Indecently……. For a brief brush of lips against a palm?
“That’s not what happened. Rozelin and I……!”
“Fine then, I’ll give you a proper education today—Sex Education and Etiquette Education both. And that fool Marquis Wilbred, sitting on his hands while his only daughter runs wild! What is he doing?!”
“Rozelin!!”
Arma finally had no choice but to call on me.
I turned to look at Arma and Grandfather.
“Grandfather.”
“What! Do you want to attend the lesson too? Hmm?”
“No, but I said I’d only stay through dinner, so if it gets any later I’ll have to leave before then.”
I beat a hasty retreat.
It seemed better to let Arma off the hook for a while rather than face Grandfather myself.
“Rozelin?”
“…….”
I turned my head away subtly.
“Rozelin?!”
And quietly laughed.
“You can do this.”
I made a light fist pump and turned away, then heard Arma’s voice behind me, protesting that it wasn’t like that at all.
‘Well, he’s family—Grandfather won’t actually hurt him.’
If it came to blows, Arma would probably win, but as long as his opponent was my family, he wouldn’t lay a hand on them.
I drained my Teacup and reached toward the sweet-looking Butter Cookie……
“Wow, Rozelin really is mature…….”
“……mm.”
……and instead redirected my hand to the Ginger Cookie beside it.
“I’ll have some.”
Watching Rozelin blush with embarrassment, I nodded composedly and popped the Ginger Cookie into my mouth. After all, despite my small frame, I was actually an adult.
……The Ginger Cookie tasted heavily of ginger.
‘Ah, I hate ginger.’
Beside me, Lily Bellion’s stifled laughter rang out.
“…….”
A peaceful day, heat rising to my face.
* * *
“You’re going today?”
It had been about five days since my visit to the Bellion Ducal Estate.
Irbon sent word. Said he’d made what was needed and told me to come with the money.
I thought him mad with greed, but hearing how dead his voice sounded, I agreed anyway.
“Yeah. Any longer and things will get noisy.”
I glanced around subtly while speaking with Garren and eating.
Today’s table had only Garren Wilbred and me.
Actually, not just today—for the past four days it had been like this.
Arma had never eaten breakfast early with us anyway. He usually appeared after noon, when I began my activities.
So he said he slept from nightfall until noon to manage it.
Apparently the other World Line kept him quite busy, and maintaining simultaneous existence in both was unavoidable.
‘Doesn’t he get tired this way?’
Balancing two worlds like that seemed like it would be mentally exhausting.
And so…….
“Selena’s been gone for days now. Is something wrong, Father?”
I’d wanted to call him a damn father, but since Garren Wilbred hadn’t looked particularly well these past few days either, I asked in a measured tone instead.
“……It’s nothing much.”
But the answer he gave sounded very much like it was something.
“Nothing much? Your face says otherwise……. At least she’s eating, isn’t she?”
“As long as she doesn’t refuse it.”
Garren Wilbred set down his utensils the moment Selena’s name came up, as though he’d lost his appetite. Though truthfully, he’d been picking at his food so listlessly from the start that it seemed hardly any of it had made it into his mouth.
If it weren’t for me, he probably wouldn’t have come to the Dining Hall at all.
‘Unexpectedly, he’s overflowing with responsibility…….’
I still can’t tell if this is genuinely demonic or simply the ideal image of a father.
To be honest……. I feel a little guilty toward my own father, but objectively speaking, Garren Wilbred fits the ideal father figure better.
Of course, I prefer my own father, but that’s what the objective assessment tells me.
“Why do they fight all the time?”
“……I asked her to spend time with me.”
“To do what?”
“To live my life.”
…….
I stared at him for a moment, then paused and looked at him again. I thought perhaps I’d misheard what he said.
I rubbed my forehead lightly and lifted my head to look at Garren Wilbred once more.
“Wait. When you say time……, are you telling Selena to live as long as you do?”

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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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