The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 7

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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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Episode 7
“We’ve arrived.”
“Very well.”
She accepted the coachman’s escort and descended from the carriage.
“It’s been quite some time, Miss Rozerin.”
“Yes, and you look well. I’m relieved.”
Rozerin followed the head servant who had come to greet her toward the Reception Room.
The Black Dress did draw attention—startled glances flickered across her from various corners before quickly falling away.
The head servant, who had watched her approach without so much as a twitch of his brow, deserved credit for his composure.
“The 2nd Prince awaits you inside.”
“Thank you for your trouble in showing me the way.”
At Rozerin’s greeting, the head servant faltered for the first time.
Yet he quickly smoothed away his surprise, bowed deeply, and opened the door for her.
“Your expression has grown much brighter, Miss Rozerin.”
At the head servant’s softly spoken words, Rozerin glanced at him, then stepped into the Reception Room with a light, fleeting smile.
Inside, a young man who had been shifting restlessly on the sofa suddenly sprang to his feet.
“Oh—oh my, you’ve come! Miss R-Rozerin!”
A man with slightly wavy black hair and pale blue eyes rose abruptly from his seat.
Joy and anticipation radiated plainly from his awkward smile.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
“Oh, no! We agreed you wouldn’t be so formal with me, Miss Rozerin. Um… I mean—ah! Come this way, please!”
The flustered young man hastily extended a hand clad in pristine Gloves.
A fine Leather Book lay on the table before the sofa—he had been reading.
Rozerin nodded quietly, observing the bright-faced young man with a gentle expression.
He was her fiancé, and the man who had made her understand love far too late; she gazed at his features for a moment before smiling softly.
“Thank you for allowing this sudden visit.”
“Oh, no—I heard you’d had quite a difficult time lately. But is your health…?”
Pale skin, cheeks flushed with warmth, pale blue eyes trembling with joy, and dark hair falling gently across shoulders—all framed by a bashful smile.
The Uniform, embroidered with golden thread, suited him beautifully.
“I’m well. It was discourteous of me, given our Engagement.”
“Oh… I’m so relieved to hear that.”
The young man exhaled softly, a small breath of relief escaping him.
“Well, since we haven’t seen each other in so long, would it be alright if I spoke plainly? I have other matters to attend to afterward.”
“Oh… o-of course. That’s fine.”
Before the visibly disappointed man, Rozerin nodded slowly.
“Shall we break the Engagement, Your Highness?”
Thud.
At the sound that came the moment her words ended, she slowly raised her head.
“… W-why?”
Before his lips could even move, a drop fell—plip—onto the table, and Rozerin paused briefly.
“D-did you find me tedious? Or… I mean… did I do something wrong to you?”
“…”
“If you tell me, I’ll change. I will.”
Arma Dianitas, the 2nd Prince, had moved before her now, his expression crumpling as he looked down at her.
‘…When did he get so tall?’
It had been so long that he felt almost unfamiliar.
Rozerin gazed up at him in silence for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
“There is nothing you’ve done wrong, Your Highness. It is only my own willfulness.”
“…Miss Rozerin.”
“Of course, I understand that an Engagement with the Imperial Household is no light matter. It is my own rash decision as well. So if you could perhaps arrange an audience with His Majesty, I could speak with him directly about—”
“…I refuse.”
Arma shook his head and stepped back.
“Pardon?”
“I refuse…”
“…No, Your Highness. Please listen to what I—”
“…I refuse. Rather, tell me what you truly want. I will do whatever I can. Please, just tell me why.”
At his unexpectedly firm plea, Rozerin’s brow tightened.
Speaking with courtesy, he knelt without hesitation and grasped her hand, then brought his forehead to rest against the back of her hand and bowed his head.
‘This is strange. There shouldn’t be any real connection between us at this point in time.’
She had thought it natural that, as a tender-hearted man, he would be hurt and disappointed—but she had never expected him to refuse so firmly.
The Arma that Rozerin remembered was always someone who gave her what she wanted.
If she said she wanted to do this, he did it; if she said she wanted to do that, he did it.
Even after she left the Duke’s Residence behind, Arma came to find her in secret, and when pursuers caught up with her because of the enmity she’d earned by leaving the Duke’s Residence, Arma fled with her and died protecting her.
Rozerin used his death as a stepping stone to escape.
And the world called her the worst temptress—one who had seduced the naive 3rd Prince and used him as bait.
So Rozerin was indebted to Arma.
That was why she wanted him to meet a good woman and find happiness.
Since she couldn’t bring herself to speak the thoughts that crossed her mind, Rozerin gave a brief shrug after a moment’s hesitation.
“I’m just rather bored with it all.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
She withdrew her hand from his grasp and spoke with ease.
“Your Highness the Prince is no fun at all. You’re weak, timid, and a 3rd Prince with no prospect of becoming Emperor.”
As she shrugged and gave a scornful laugh, he stared at her with eyes wide as if wounded.
His sapphire eyes trembled faintly.
“……Miss Rozerin?”
“So I’m sorry, but it would be nice if you’d let me go for my sake. I prefer someone more promising, with clearer convictions, more masculine, someone a bit wilder.”
Rozerin recited an ideal type that was the precise opposite of Arma.
In truth, this wasn’t her ideal at all, but someone else’s.
Arma’s already unmanly pale face grew even more ashen.
Watching the man fall silent, his mouth agape and frozen, Rozerin rose from her seat.
“If it’s difficult for you to make time with His Majesty, then I have no further business with Your Highness.”
She picked up the wide-brimmed Hat she had set aside earlier and placed it back on her head as she spoke.
“I’ll try to request His Majesty’s time through another route. But it’s been pleasant these past days.”
“……Ro, Miss Rozerin.”
As she moved to leave the Reception Room without hesitation, his trembling voice caught her.
“Don’t go.”
Rozerin did not turn around.
Just as she was about to open the door, she felt the sleeve of her dress caught weakly.
“I……!”
Arma had somehow come to stand behind her.
“I’ll arrange a meeting with Father for you. If that’s what you wish, then I’ll make it happen.”
There had been a time when Rozerin had only this blindly devoted man.
Someone who stayed by her side no matter how hard she pushed him away, when she could trust no one else.
Now, thinking back on it, she realized she’d relied on this man quite a bit.
She’d learned from him how to erase traces and how to wield a Short Dagger.
“Thank you.”
“……No. It’s because I’m lacking.”
At the guileless man’s words, Rozerin parted her lips before slowly closing them again.
I didn’t mean those words to hurt you, I didn’t say them because I dislike you. Just blame me.
Had she wanted to, she could have said many such things, but she kept them locked behind her teeth.
To Rozerin’s mind, the distance between him and her was exactly as it should be.
“I should go.”
“Yes. I……later, if we ever break the Engagement, could we remain…… friends?”
At his clinging words, Rozerin narrowed her eyes and opened the door fully.
“If you don’t wish to tarnish my reputation further, I’d advise against it.”
“Ah…….”
Rozerin didn’t wait to hear more and simply turned away.
As she walked down the Corridor with sharp footfalls, she sensed someone following behind and sighed.
She quickened her pace slightly, but then caught sight of figures approaching from the opposite direction and hesitated.
“Oh, who do we have here? The most perfectly matched low-class pair in all the world?”
The other party had spotted them too, and a jeering voice soon rang out.
It was the 2nd Prince.

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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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