The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 87

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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 87
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If Rozelin had learned one truth during her life on the run, it was this: earn money while you can, because it’s never enough.
No matter how much you make, there’s always a shortfall.
Of course, that was true, but—
“No.”
“…Pardon?”
“You cannot leave.”
She hadn’t expected to be caged like this.
After confiding information to the High Priest and recovering her strength, Rozelin had merely wanted a breath of fresh air, but now she froze at the sight of Cherti blocking her path with that immovable expression on his face.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know what you’ll do.”
“…No, what would I do? I just…”
“If I release you, I don’t know when you’ll try to end it all. You’re probably thinking of abandoning this place the moment I’m not watching.”
At Cherti’s unyielding words, Rozelin faltered.
She gestured toward the garden.
“I only want to go to the garden…”
“The garden has dangers scattered throughout. Wait until it’s safe—after I’ve filled in the pond and removed every thorned flower, and cut down the trees too, while I’m at it.”
“I think the world calls that a barren field, not a garden,” Rozelin said, bewildered.
Cherti paused at her retort, then shook his head.
“Is there anything uncomfortable about your room?”
“No. Three meals a day, two tea times with whatever I need brought instantly, and anything I so much as glance at appears on the table the next morning. Books, pens, paper—even visitors coming by regularly and sunlight streaming in constantly. It’s nearly perfect.”
Not to mention the variety of board games including chess sets organized by type, seasonal fruits, masseuses who visit daily, and servants who appear within three seconds of pulling the bell cord.
“Then there’s no need to leave.”
Rozelin went rigid.
“Am I a prisoner?”
“It sounds a bit harsh, so let’s call it confinement.”
Cherti guided Rozelin back to her bed as he spoke.
Thus Rozelin, still wearing her outdoor clothes, found herself sitting against the headboard once more.
“…So it was imprisonment after all.”
“Confinement.”
Rozelin’s eyes swept across the room.
Shelves lined with diverse books, fresh linens changed daily that carried the gentle scent of sunlight.
In one corner, jewels and gold ingots were stacked like mountains—as if meant to please her merely by their presence.
The wardrobe held an array of new dresses and outfits that had arrived from the Fluer Boutique yesterday.
So truly, until moments ago, Rozelin hadn’t realized it at all—that she was imprisoned.
‘It was so luxurious I didn’t think it was imprisonment…’
Her only memory of confinement was of dungeon cells and torture, after all.
“Aren’t you angry with me? I lied to Father.”
“…I’m angry with myself. That’s all.”
Cherti spoke quietly.
Rozelin regarded him with a puzzled expression.
“Why?”
“By your account, I’m a worthless piece of trash without any right to be a parent—someone who couldn’t protect my own daughter in this world, and couldn’t protect you in that one either.”
Cherti ground the words between his teeth, then buried his face in his palm.
Rozelin was taken aback.
Her father’s self-awareness was more intact than she’d expected, even if he had dug himself into quite a pit.
‘If only it weren’t me…’
Cherti thought.
If what Rozelin said was true, then his daughter was dead.
The Rozelin in that other world was dead too. Or rather, abandoned by Rozelin herself, she’d given up on living.
What was darkly amusing was that if he’d been in the same situation, Cherti would have made the exact same choice.
Abandoned by Rozelin, struck by despair, he wouldn’t have tried to speak to the child or hold her back—he simply would have surrendered to hopelessness and ceased to live.
Telling himself it was enough.
That if she had found happiness and departed, that would suffice.
“I would have too…”
Despite spending the past week locked away in contemplation, Cherti could reach only one conclusion: that he was worthless.
“If it weren’t for you, I certainly would have.”
Cherti remained unconvinced.
Even when his child was first born, he hadn’t trusted himself to raise her well. After killing his wife, that doubt had hardened into certainty—that he was unworthy.
So he kept his distance from the child. Kept away to protect her—or so he thought. But in the end, every choice proved wrong, and Cherti Bellion killed the girl with his own hands.
Had Rozelin not intervened this time, he would have followed the same path again.
‘How much pain did she suffer? So much pain.’
The child he’d turned away in selfish fear of his own protection would have died in resentment.
“No matter what world you come from, no matter which Rozelin Bellion you are…… the fact that you are my daughter never changes.”
Cherti Bellion spoke without lifting his head from his palms.
He couldn’t lift it.
Truth was, there was much he wanted to ask her.
“Rozelin.”
No—there was something he had to say. Something that demanded to be spoken.
“Yes?”
“…… I’m sorry.”
Cherti’s abrupt apology made Rozelin’s eyes widen.
“For not protecting you properly…… for leaving you lonely, and ultimately…… for letting you die…….”
Patter. Patter.
Tears rolled down Cherti Bellion’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry for abandoning you alone. I thought you’d be happier without me.”
“…… .”
“I pulled away so I wouldn’t become your misery, but in the end, I was the very source of it…….”
As tears fell from the man’s face, Rozelin said nothing.
“I love you.”
“…… .”
“Not a single day since your birth have I stopped loving you.”
In a broken, trembling voice, each word strung together held everything Rozelin had so desperately wanted to hear.
All the things she’d once needed to confirm, believed necessary—they were all there.
Rozelin parted her lips, searching for words, then closed them again.
“For my cowardice, for being a parent who couldn’t be honest…… I’m sorry.”
He had wanted to protect her. To keep her safe above all else, to see her grow without harm.
But it was all impossible.
“You asked me once.”
He spoke slowly, his face taut with tension.
“You are…… not an illegitimate child.”
“…… .”
“You are truly and fully my child. Your name is properly registered. I simply…… feared you might hate me, so I couldn’t bring myself to say it plainly…….”
At his voice thick with tears, Rozelin finally found her words and opened her mouth.
“I know.”
“…… What?”
Cherti Bellion’s eyes widened and he jerked his head up.
Rozelin gazed at the man’s tear-stained face and answered kindly.
“Grandfather told me long ago.”
She hadn’t expected the question he’d asked then to drag on like this until now.
“…… What? I distinctly said I would be the one to tell you.”
“You’re too late.”
At Rozelin’s blunt words, Cherti glanced at her. Cold, for his own daughter. But aware of his guilt, he held his tongue.
“…… And I understand now.”
Rozelin spoke slowly.
“I understand now.”
Rozelin met Cherti’s clouded eyes directly and opened her mouth again.
Rozelin gripped the Abyss Weapon stored carefully in one drawer.
She carefully withdrew the short blade that shone violet, infused with Cherti’s Abyss, and gazed down at the name inscribed upon it.
“So it’s all right.”
“…… .”
At her words, Cherti squeezed his eyes shut and spoke what he’d wanted most to say.
“My dear Rozelin. I’m sorry for taking your mother from you.”
Rozelin went still.
Then she let out a small laugh.
The bright, unexpected laughter made Cherti Bellion’s eyes widen slightly.
“To be clear—I’ve never once resented you for that.”
Rozelin shrugged.
“I want to go to the Duchy instead.”
“……Why does the Duchy suddenly want to leave?”
Before her tears had even dried, Cherti’s eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice.
“To teach Kaluta agriculture, and to learn Kaluta’s farming methods in return. The Duchy’s crops don’t grow well, after all…….”
Rozelin wanted to give him everything she could before she went.
At her words, he hesitated.
“So come with me, Father.”
Rozelin extended her hand.
Cherti stared blankly at the small hand offered to him, then slowly took it in his own.
Firm—the delicate hand that grasped his was far stronger than he expected, and his eyes widened slightly.

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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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