The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 169
At Arma’s question, Roxelyn faintly smiled with a blurred gaze.
Her frail body always seemed to weaken at the most important moments.
Roxelyn was often sick. She had been plagued by a fever day after day, and each time, Arma was always by her side.
Falling for his kindness happened in an instant, and losing that kindness took just as little time.
To Roxelyn, Arma was someone who had slowly, and before she realized it, become deeply ingrained in her life.
“When did you start liking me?”
“…I don’t know. But I didn’t dislike you from the moment we first met. At first, you never said anything whenever we met.”
She nodded.
She had acted this way because she thought no one would ever like her anyway.
“But as you treated me kindly, and as we spent more time together, I could feel us getting closer bit by bit, and I liked that.”
Roxelyn slowly nodded. She took Arma’s hand and leisurely strolled through the garden.
Arma, holding Roxelyn’s hand, which was quite warm, carefully matched her pace as they walked together.
Arma also walked leisurely by Roxelyn’s side.
There was a significant difference in their height, with Arma being a head taller, and their leg lengths differed as well. But Arma willingly shortened his stride and slowed his pace to match hers.
Under the pitch-black night sky, the stars filled the heavens as if they would pour down, and the moon was bright.
The chirping insects quieted when Roxelyn and Arma passed by.
The ducal residence’s garden was quite vast, extending widely across the entire estate.
“I liked your kindness, Arma.”
“…Roxelyn.”
“In truth, I realized after coming here that you aren’t just a kind person…”
Roxelyn let out a small laugh.
At the sound of her clear, unrestrained laughter, Arma absentmindedly gazed at her profile. The atmosphere had shifted abruptly.
“After I left home, you often came to find me.”
Roxelyn had learned quite a lot thanks to Arma. The time spent with him could never be described as unpleasant.
“Until the day you died, Arma… No, until the day you left my side, I didn’t even realize that I liked you.”
You shouldn’t take someone’s presence for granted.
Arma slowly shook his head at the added advice, whispered quietly.
“It was my fault for not properly confirming my feelings. You weren’t at any fault, Roxelyn.”
“I liked your kindness. In those immature days when I never felt the world was kind to me… no matter how much I pushed you away, you were always kind.”
So, in the very end, Roxelyn opened her heart, and Arma left her behind.
Roxelyn walked deeper into the garden, where even the sound of the insects was barely audible.
“The mood is right, it’s night, and we’re in a garden. Are the conditions still not sufficient for a kiss?”
“…”
Roxelyn let out a small laugh and draped her arms around Arma’s neck.
“…Roxelyn.”
Arma muttered softly, his eyes trembling slightly.
“Are you going to embarrass me?”
“…No, never.”
Arma reached out and carefully wrapped his arms around Roxelyn’s waist, pulling her toward him.
As Roxelyn slowly closed her eyes, Arma gently pressed his lips to hers.
In the silent moment of their kiss, the insects resumed their relentless chirping, as if their presence had faded away.
After kissing for a long while, Arma finally pulled back when Roxelyn’s cheeks flushed red.
“Roxelyn…”
At Arma’s lowered voice, Roxelyn, her face slightly flushed, shyly withdrew and lightly brushed her fingertips against her lips.
Arma’s cheeks were also tinged with red.
Roxelyn placed her hand over her heart. The rapid, intense beating of her heart was louder than ever, reminding her that she was still very much alive.
‘I guess I really do like him.’
Roxelyn was enveloped in a sudden, unfamiliar feeling.
“Thank you for liking me, Arma.”
