The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 59

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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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Chapter 59
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“I won! Full House!”
Yuldian, seated around the table in the Reception Room of Marquis Gereon’s Residence, shouted as he threw his cards onto the table.
“……I have a Flush. My apologies, Rozelin.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t expecting much anyway.”
Arma faltered at Rozelin’s indifferent remark.
He stared uselessly at his cards for a moment, then nodded slowly.
At that, Yuldian burst into delighted laughter.
“Haha! You fool, no matter how high you fly, you’ll always be right beneath me!”
“It’s strange—your bad character suits my taste perfectly. Really…… you’re like a creature made just for me.”
“…….”
Yuldian, who had been sneering crudely, fell silent in an instant.
He closed his mouth and turned his head slowly, then scowled.
“Unfortunately for you, I have Four of a Kind.”
As Rozelin laid down her cards, Yuldian’s eyes widened.
“That’s impossible! How can you have Four of a Kind? Do you know how rare that is…….”
Yuldian was about to point an accusing finger when he caught Naryan’s sharp gaze and hastily folded his hand, placing it meekly on his lap instead.
Naryan usually laughed off Yuldian’s contemptible behavior—his insubordinate remarks and crude stammering alike—but there was one thing she would not tolerate.
Any disrespect toward Rozelin, whom her mother had acknowledged as a friend.
Ever since the day Yuldian had mocked Rozelin and received a playful spanking from Naryan’s hand that left him unable to sit properly in a chair for days afterward, he had never dared to answer back to her.
‘The favoritism of the powerful truly is supreme.’
Thanks to that, Rozelin had it quite easy.
Wherever one went, things generally went smoothly if one pleased those at the top.
“Hmm, Rozelin! My cards are all the same color but different suits. What is this?”
Naryan held out five cards to her and asked.
“……Insane.”
Yuldian swore under his breath in Rozelin’s place.
“Royal Straight Flush…….”
“Royal…… what? What’s that? Why are foreigners’ games so complicated?”
Naryan pouted her lips and waved her hand dismissively, speaking bluntly.
“It’s the best hand in the game. You’ve won.”
At Rozelin’s explanation, Naryan’s eyes grew round.
“I won? So that means I’m first place?”
“Yes.”
“……How does she even have this kind of luck?”
Yuldian muttered in a small voice as if sick of life itself, then let out a hollow laugh.
It was then.
Click.
Gereon entered the room dressed in different clothes from before, where those seated around the table were gathered.
It was one of the Reception Rooms in the Wilbrid Marquis Residence.
He came in with a neat expression, smiled, and opened his mouth.
“You were right, Rozelin. Both of them were indeed Magluksa’s agents.”
“You seem to have enjoyed yourself.”
At Rozelin’s words, Gereon smiled faintly.
“You know why I’m like this, don’t you?”
“I do.”
The Marchioness Wilbrid had wasted away under Gereon’s indifference, but she was not originally a sickly person.
In Rozelin’s world, she had contracted an epidemic that was ravaging the Empire.
It wasn’t long before Gereon noticed, and around that time, some pharmacist supposedly developed a cure for the epidemic.
Demand overflowed while supply lagged, and prices soared beyond all reason.
In truth, neither Rozelin nor Gereon were people wanting for information or money.
According to what Rozelin had heard, Gereon had obtained it.
But…….
Somehow, the Marchioness Wilbrid died in the year when a terrible famine swept through afterward.
The cause was untreated epidemic.
The rumors of discord between Marquis Gereon and his wife reached their peak around that time.
The claim was that Gereon Wilbrid had refused to procure for his own wife medicine that could be saved with money alone.
‘……Whether Gereon didn’t give it, or the Marchioness didn’t take it.’
As for Rozelin, she couldn’t say for certain, but the latter seemed far more probable.
But then the question became: why hadn’t she eaten it?
Rozelin watched Gereon sit down at the table with an impassive face. Noticing her gaze, he smiled.
“Why do you look at me that way? Are you finally inclined to help me?”
“Did he confess the location of the arsonist?”
Gereon shook his head at Rozelin’s question.
“If he won’t talk after being pressed this hard… either he truly doesn’t know, or someone’s silenced him thoroughly.”
Gereon spoke thoughtfully.
Rozelin’s lips parted slightly as she nodded slowly at his words.
While he briefed the others on what he’d discovered, she remained silent, her head turned away, lost in thought.
‘He’s far more resilient than I expected.’
That made sense, though.
According to what “King” had told her, Magluksa was an organization founded for a single purpose alone.
‘This is getting complicated.’
Rozelin rubbed her forehead once, and when the atmosphere had grown sufficiently thick, she quietly excused herself from her seat.
There was someone here she’d wanted to speak with.
“Where are you going, Rozelin?”
“To call on the Marchioness.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, I’d prefer to go alone. Stay here.”
Rozelin declined Arma’s offer to accompany her and walked slowly through the corridor.
Since Rozelin had stayed at Gereon’s residence in her original world, she wasn’t unfamiliar with this house, and finding her way proved simple enough.
She even knew roughly where the basement was where Gereon had interrogated the priest and the other two men.
Walking at an unhurried pace, Rozelin made her way to the Marchioness’s room and knocked on the door.
Knock-knock.
After a few polite knocks, the door opened.
“Good evening.”
“……You are.”
“We meet for the first time, Marchioness. I’m Rozelin Bellion of the Bellion Ducal House.”
“……Ah, yes, I know.”
The beautiful woman with flowing blue hair like a river quickly cleared her bewildered expression and welcomed Rozelin.
“……I heard you’ve come because of the case being investigated.”
Rozelin recalled the Marchioness as she always appeared in high society—silent and withdrawn, walking only beside or behind Gereon.
“If you don’t mind, would it be possible to offer me a cup of tea?”
At Rozelin’s request, she studied her quietly before smiling faintly and nodding.
“Yes, I’d be happy to. I wanted to thank you anyway.”
The Marchioness spoke, tucking back her blue hair slightly.
Rozelin caught sight of the Rose Diamond Earrings hidden beneath the long locks and paused.
“This way.”
Following the Marchioness’s guidance, they arrived at a small reception room.
Rozelin looked down at the tea the Marchioness offered and opened her mouth.
“Unpleasant rumors have been circulating about Marquis Gereon and myself, so I thought it best to address it at least once.”
At Rozelin’s words, the Marchioness’s eyes widened slightly as if hearing unexpected news, then she shook her head with a small laugh.
“I don’t suspect that. I never have, and he’s already explained it to me. If it were true… he would be the one deserving censure.”
“Yes, still, I felt it was right to tell you as a matter of conscience.”
Rozelin added.
“For my part, whether Marquis Gereon lives or dies is of no concern to me. Shot on the street, or burned to ash in a blazing inferno.”
“……Oh.”
Stunned by language far harsher than expected, the Marchioness’s eyes went wide.
“In any case, I wanted to say you needn’t harbor any suspicion about that.”
“……Yes, I believe you.”
She looked at Rozelin with an expression that seemed somewhat at a loss.
“Do you dislike him so much?”
“Yes.”
“……Hmm.”
The Marchioness recalled Gereon’s words about wanting to make Rozelin his daughter and gazed at her with a look of regret.
“I heard the Marquis was helped by you, my lady. That when he was nearly consumed by the Blaze and would have perished… you threw yourself into it and saved him.”
“……Gereon said that? Rather, Marquis Gereon said that?”
“Yes, didn’t he……?”
“……No. I believe it was I who threw myself into the flames and pulled him out.”
Rozelin swallowed her astonishment and spoke flatly.
“…The Marquis suffered severe burns, and the aftereffects left him in considerable pain with anything hot.”
“Ah… so the Marquis finds heat difficult.”
“Yes, thank you for your kindness.”
Watching the Marchioness bow with such courtesy, Rozelin masked her displeasure and opened her mouth.
“…Of course, it’s nothing.”
That slick man would go to any lengths for a scrap of attention, Rozelin thought—and smiled prettily despite herself.

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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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