The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 13
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yeah.”
She received the escort from the coachman who opened the door and got off the carriage.
“Nice to see you again, Lady Bellion.”
“Yes, it’s a relief to see you looking well.”
Roxelyn followed the steward who came to welcome her and headed to the reception room.
The black dress seemed to attract attention, and curious gazes from here and there briefly met hers and then turned away.
Considering that, the steward, who didn’t even bat an eyelash when seeing her in person, was impressive.
“When you go inside, the Third Prince will be there waiting for you.”
“Alright, thank you for leading me here.”
The steward hesitated for the first time at Roxelyn’s greeting. However, he quickly erased any doubt from his face, bowed, and opened the door.
“Your expression has brightened a lot.”
At the steward’s words delivered with a crimson smile, Roxelyn glanced at him, smirked lightly, and entered the reception room.
As she entered, a young man who had been fidgeting on the sofa stood up abruptly.
“Ah, y-you’re here! La, Lady Roxelyn!”
A man with slightly messy, curly black hair and light sky-blue eyes stood up energetically. His expression, which seemed to awkwardly attempt a smile, conveyed joy and excitement.
“Nice to see you again, Your Highness the Third Prince.”
“Oh, no! We agreed not to be so formal, my lady. Um… there, ah! Please come this way first!”
The flustered man hastily extended a gloved hand.
Whether he had been reading a book or not, a luxurious leather-bound book lay on the table in front of the sofa.
Smiling at the sunny expression, Roxelyn nodded her head. She gazed quietly at the face of the man who had once been her lover and chuckled.
“Thank you for allowing this unexpected meeting.”
“Oh! No, not at all. Um, I heard that you had some trouble, and your health…”
With fair skin, a blush upon his slightly red cheeks and dark hair framing his face, there was a shy smile over the slightly trembling sky-blue irises of the puppy-like man.
The white robe embroidered with golden threads suited him well.
“I’m fine. It caused a breach of etiquette considering our engagement.”
“Oh…! That’s fine, really.”
Phew, the young man with an innocent face let out a small sigh of relief.
“Um, it seems like it’s been a while, but should we talk about business first? I have a schedule after this.”
“Oh…! Oh, yes, of course, sure.”
Roxelyn nodded slowly in front of the disappointed man.
“Shall we break off our engagement, Your Highness?”
Thunk.
The sound that came frighteningly soon after Roxelyn finished speaking made her slowly raise her head.
“W, why?”
Before her lips could even curl, Roxelyn paused as water droplets fell onto the table.
“Did, did I upset you because I’ve been so frustrating until now? Or, I mean… Did I wrong you in any way, my lady?”
“…”
“If you tell me, I can fix it…”
Third Prince Arma Diyanitas, who had approached Roxelyn without her realizing it, looked down at her with a distorted expression.
‘…Was he always this tall?’
It felt somewhat unfamiliar after such a long time.
Roxelyn stared at him in silence and slowly raised her head.
“Your Highness, you haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just seeking something on my own.”
“Lady Roxelyn.”
“Of course, I understand that the engagement with the imperial family is not something to be taken lightly. It’s my arbitrary request… So, if I could ask you to arrange a meeting between His Majesty and I, I’d like to talk to him…
“…But.”
Arma lowered his head and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… I don’t want to…”
“…But Your Highness, I need to talk—”
“…I don’t want to. Rather, tell it to me instead. I’ll try to do something— anything. Please tell me why.”
Arma’s pleas made Roxelyn furrow her brow.
He spoke with utter respect, and as he knelt in front of her without any hesitation, he took Roxelyn’s hand and bowed down until his forehead touched the back of her hand.
