The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 8

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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 8
“Ah, brother…….”
Uldian Dianitas.
A typical case of bravado masking cowardice—the one member of the imperial family Rozelin despised most.
“What, don’t look happy to see me? Mutt?”
“Ha, ha, ha……, n-no, of course I’m happy…….”
At the sound of Uldian’s mocking voice and Arma’s thoroughly cowed reply, Rozelin began to bow in greeting—then froze mid-motion.
“My, what a lovers’ pair we have—a feeble wretch who can’t even catch an ant, and a gloomy stammering princess!”
“Brother, please don’t say such things…….”
“What, are you talking back to me in front of a lady? Hmm?”
Dull thuds echoed as fists struck Arma’s head, yet he only flinched, made no move to resist. Rozelin straightened the half-completed bow.
The Second Prince’s eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of her upright figure.
“Hoo…… well, well. Looks like someone’s grown into herself while I wasn’t looking, princess.”
His outstretched hand seized her chin, turning her face this way and that to examine her.
“Brother, you’re overstepping!”
Arma lunged at the Second Prince’s arm, desperately trying to pull it away.
“Tch, won’t you just disappear? Worthless thing.”
The Second Prince shoved Arma’s hand aside roughly, then drove his boot into the younger man’s stomach.
“What kind of dog act is this in front of your own brother? Have you forgotten all manners? Want another lesson? Hmm? Want to whimper and beg for your life again?”
“B-but…… she is my fiancée…….”
“Fiancée or not, if I say so, it’s so!”
Thud, thud, thud. The dull impacts came in rapid succession. Still clinging to the Second Prince’s leg, Arma shot Rozelin a meaningful glance—*run*, it said silently.
‘…… How foolish he is.’
Rozelin exhaled slowly.
“Let go of him. Now.”
“N-no, I won’t.”
Footprints marred the pristine white uniform. Arma shook his head violently, as if pain meant nothing to him.
“Damn it, you loser—you’re getting on my nerves!”
“Rozelin is not your property—she’s *mine*! She belongs to *me*!”
At his sudden roar, the Second Prince’s eyes flickered with surprise.
“…… So. Looks like you’ve got a death wish today.”
Arma’s eyes blazed—a cold, steely blue that met the Second Prince’s gaze without flinching.
‘So that’s what he looked like.’
A man who never retreated before fire.
A man who would share his own rations so others would not starve.
She found such nature frustrating, though there had been a time when she envied it.
‘It seems this temperament remains unchanged, even in a parallel world.’
With that thought, Rozelin stepped between the two men and smiled.
The Second Prince faltered.
“What, you too? You’re going to defend your betrothed? Just because your face has improved a little…….”
“Your Highness.”
“What?”
Rozelin ignored his question, helped Arma to his feet, and continued.
“I don’t think you need to arrange an audience with His Majesty after all.”
“…… Pardon? Have I done something wrong again…….”
“No, I’ve simply thought of a faster way to meet him.”
Rozelin’s smile deepened.
While Arma stared at her in bewilderment, she turned that same smile toward the Second Prince.
The next instant,
*Crack!*
A sharp sound split the air of the corridor, and the Second Prince’s head snapped violently to the side.
Silence fell.
Uldian Dianitas did not understand what had happened.
A sudden, piercing sound.
His vision lurching, his cheek burning with a stinging ache.
‘What did I just—what was that?’
They said that when something is too absurd, the mind goes numb.
Perhaps because an impossible thing had just occurred, the world fell silent.
A faint, thin ringing in his ears barely registered as he blinked very slowly.
He drew a long breath, then exhaled it slowly.
Gasps of shock rippled through the corridor, but Rozelin remained composed.
Arma too seemed startled, his eyes widening as he gripped her sleeve, his mouth falling open.
“What are you doing right now……?”
As the Second Prince barely managed to turn his head and open his mouth,
Crack!
This time his head snapped the other way.
Crack!
After taking a third blow while still bewildered, Uldian’s face flushed crimson with rage before he spoke.
“This is really……!”
“You certainly talk well for a madman, Second Prince. Oh, it’s been a while. I’m glad to see you looking so healthy.”
“You…… Do you realize this is lèse-majesté, no—the Crime of Attempted Murder Against Royalty?!”
Rozelin shrugged.
“Well, my fiancé was being subjected to unwarranted violence, so I was simply trying to help him.”
“I am of royal blood!!”
“Yes. The Third Prince is also of royal blood.”
“Ha! That’s absurd. How could a lowborn mongrel with no mother be of royal blood? Ha!”
He laughed viciously.
“Come to think of it, there were rumors that you too were lowborn. How perfectly you two suited each other!”
“Indeed. I’m truly grateful I’ve never had to meet someone like Your Highness.”
“This……!”
Attendants and handmaids came rushing at the sound of the commotion.
Regardless, Rozelin let out a quiet laugh.
The Emperor would never kill her, after all.
Rozelin possessed the ability, knowledge, and information to solve the very problem that had been giving the Emperor headaches. And before that leverage, the Emperor would very likely overlook her reckless behavior by dressing it up in convenient excuses.
Since she was acting with some calculation, there was little reason for her to suffer consequences.
……Probably.
‘It’s almost like gambling.’
All she could do was hope that events in this world would unfold similarly to the Parallel World.
Rozelin spoke up boldly.
“Then why did you have to touch my fiancé? How vexing.”
Rozelin smiled knowingly as she slowly caressed Arma’s slightly swollen cheek.
Arma’s eyes went wide.
“What does it matter what an older brother teaches his younger brother?! Don’t meddle in other people’s family affairs! Just because you’re the Imperial Palace’s fiancée…….”
Crack!
Uldian’s head turned again.
“Oh dear, my hand must have slipped…….”
Gasp!
At her tone, as though she were reading from a textbook, gasps of shock echoed through the corridor.
“I have this terrible habit—whenever I hear nonsense, my hand acts on its own…… I apologize.”
Rozelin murmured regretfully.
“I’m trying to fix it, but when there’s a stupid dog that won’t listen, my hand just moves of its own accord.”
“……I’ll kill you.”
Uldian’s eyes glazed over as he muttered quietly, then strode forward and raised his massive hand high.
Rozelin gazed at his large hand and let out a soft laugh.
She had no intention of dodging.
Taking one blow would give the Emperor a plausible excuse to justify her actions later.
As Rozelin watched his hand trace an arc through the air, she lowered her gaze and braced for the impact.
Whack!
A rather violent sound rang out.
But there was no pain.
Rozelin lifted her head. Before her stood not the Second Prince, but a broad back.
Rozelin’s eyes widened slightly.
The owner of that back was someone quite familiar to her.
“……Your Highness?”
“A-are you hurt anywhere, Miss Rozelin……?”
It was Arma who had taken the blow instead.
And of course, that broad back belonged to Arma as well.
‘……I didn’t realize he was this large.’
She had never noticed before, since he usually carried himself so hunched and withdrawn.
His height was quite considerable, and his shoulders quite wide.
From what she knew, he couldn’t properly wield a sword to save his life — he was a rank amateur, at least in her world.
Yet Arma’s back was covered in remarkably dense muscle.
‘Come to think of it, he never tired easily even during those weeks we spent running together.’
“My lady?”
At the soft call, Rozelin came to herself and nodded with a sheepish expression.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
She caught sight of blood trickling from the corner of Arma’s mouth and grimaced.
“Why on earth did you interfere?”
She pressed her handkerchief firmly against his mouth as she spoke.
Arma’s eyes widened, then he grinned, the expression crumbling at the corners of his mouth.
“How could I let you get hurt?”
“You absolute fool!”
“Jealousy is the root of all disease, Second Prince,” Rozelin murmured, handing the handkerchief back to him.
“It seems to trigger madness, hypertension, and a tendency toward violence. Do try to exercise some restraint.”

The Second Prince’s face flushed with rage.
Just then, a familiar Chief Attendant pushed through the crowd, cleared all of them away, and stepped forward.
“Lady Rozelin.”
“Yes?”
“His Majesty summons you.”
Rozelin nodded slowly at the Chief Attendant’s words.
“And Second Prince.”
“What is it?”
The Chief Attendant delivered the Emperor’s message: “His Majesty instructs that you are to remain within the palace grounds until further notice.”
The Second Prince’s eyes went wide.
“Wait — are you saying *I’m* the one under house arrest, not him?!”
He jabbed a finger at Arma, his voice rising in disbelief.

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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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