The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 153
A voice filled with guilt sounded painfully.
He soaked a fresh towel and placed it on the sleeping Roxelyn’s forehead, staying by her side until dawn, holding her hand.
He repeatedly wet the dry towel and placed it on her forehead.
Zerti Bellion let go of the child’s hand and stood up when Roxelyn’s breathing finally became even.
* * *
“I’m sorry, my child.”
The faint voice startled Roxelyn, making her shoulders tremble as she opened her eyes wide.
‘Again….’
She saw a scene as if in a dream.
“…Roxelyn? Are you still feeling unwell?”
Hearing the voice, Roxelyn realized reality and slowly shook her head.
“No, I’m sorry. I must have been tired and lost in thought for a moment.”
“…Get some sleep.”
Roxelyn paused as she was about to close her eyes and spoke.
“Father, may I ask why you suddenly wanted to hold my hand?”
After all, he had never tried to hold it before.
At Roxelyn’s words, Zerti Bellion hesitated and then glanced down at his grown-up daughter.
“…Well, someone said it helps to sleep better this way. And I realized I had never held your hand before.”
“….”
“I know it’s late….”
He mumbled, but when Roxelyn said nothing, he quietly closed his mouth.
“If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll go.”
Seeing her father about to retreat again, Roxelyn sighed softly.
“I never said it was uncomfortable. …Dad.”
Zerti’s eyes widened. He turned to Roxelyn, looking flustered.
‘If what I saw before was the same dream Arma had, then what I just saw….’
Perhaps it was a dream her father had.
“What did you just say….”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you dislike it, Father?”
“Wh-who said I disliked it? No one! If we keep talking, you’ll get more tired, so let’s keep it that way. If we keep talking, you might get sicker….”
“Excuse me? I didn’t quite catch what you were saying, Father, because it was so long.”
Roxelyn furrowed her brow and spoke nonchalantly.
“….”
“I’m tired, so I’ll sleep now. You should go and rest, too, Father.”
“….”
As Roxelyn closed her eyes, Zerti spoke quietly.
“Daughter, don’t you find ‘Father’ a bit stiff?”
“I’ve called you that all my life, and now you bring this up?”
Roxelyn scoffed.
“…That’s true, but ‘Father’ sounds a bit distant….”
“You call Grandpa ‘Father’ too.”
“…Still, isn’t this something I can expect from my daughter? Although I haven’t been much of a father.”
“That’s quite the sexist remark. Wouldn’t you dislike being called ‘Dad’ by a son?”
“…I prefer ‘Dad’.”
“Sure, Dad.”
Zerti finally surrendered, and Roxelyn called him calmly.
“…You’re teasing me.”
“It’s your fault for not being honest.”
Zerti smiled as he looked at his daughter, who didn’t back down.
Roxelyn widened her eyes.
“You know how to smile, too.”
“…What? I’m still human.”
“You rarely smile, so when I was young, I thought you were a porcelain doll.”
At Roxelyn’s honest words, he paused and touched the corner of his mouth a few times with his fingers.
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Roxelyn stared at the ceiling and spoke.
“Dad, if I die, would you be sad?”
