The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 182
Roxelyn didn’t want to get involved in something that was obviously going to be a headache.
‘The best money is money you don’t have to work for.’
If there was a job where money flowed in without any effort, that would be the best. In that sense, being born into the upper nobility was a truly fortunate thing.
“Do you want to make money?”
“Of course.”
“Well… that depends on how well you listen to me from now on.”
At Roxelyn’s subtle words, the High Priest gulped, his adam’s apple moving visibly. Unlike the modest appearance expected of a priest in white robes, this man was more flamboyant, swallowing hard and revealing a smile full of greed.
“What do you need, my master?”
The sly look in his eyes had already vanished, replaced by a gleam of goodwill.
“You really do like money.”
“It’s the only way I relieve stress. Piling up gold like a mountain and spending it—there’s nothing more thrilling.”
The High Priest clasped his hands together over his chest as if in prayer, all the while spouting such blatantly materialistic words without hesitation.
As Roxelyn looked at him with a gaze that said she couldn’t possibly understand, he smiled kindly.
“Don’t you enjoy spending money too, Roxelyn?”
“Not really.”
“But it seems like all your clothes are brand new. And they’re from Fleur…”
“I took these from Gerun. And… money? I was born with it, so I don’t really understand a commoner’s mindset.”
The High Priest blinked at her impossibly arrogant words, then burst into laughter. Whatever he found amusing, he cackled like that for a while before wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Then, he spoke up.
“If an ordinary person traveled between worlds, it would mean they’re dead… Seems like your life up until your death was pretty smooth, huh?”
“No, I’ve rarely been in dire need of money. Even if I had, it wouldn’t have been a big problem.”
Even after she’d left home, Roxelyn had lived luxuriously, making money by swindling people and selling information. When she had lived as a fugitive, things had been a little tight, but it wasn’t anything she considered especially unfortunate.
“Oh, speaking of Marquis Gerun… He’ll be arriving at the duchy soon.”
“Marquis Gerun is coming here? Why?”
At Roxelyn’s question, the High Priest rubbed the corner of his mouth.
“The imperial family ordered the temple to participate in the subjugation of monsters, but…”
He tilted his head, drawing out his words as if puzzled.
“He said he wanted to take part in this subjugation himself. He even received permission from His Majesty the Emperor, so there wasn’t much we could do to refuse.”
Irvon stroked his chin a couple of times, then stacked the gold bars he had been holding into a neat tower before continuing.
“He’s a rather troublesome person, so I came here first.”
“So that’s why Grandfather came down to the duchy…”
“Probably. Since they’re going to be stationed in the duchy, they needed the Duke’s permission.”
Roxelyn fell silent, lost in thought as the High Priest’s explanation, now devoid of any playfulness, flowed smoothly.
‘I didn’t expect Gerun to take action.’
Both Gerun Wilfred and Roxelyn knew the future ten years ahead. However, unlike Roxelyn, Gerun hadn’t done anything to drastically alter that future.
‘Well, considering how rumors of their discord still swirl…’
From what Roxelyn had gathered in a conversation with the Marchioness Wilfred, it seemed she was anxious about Gerun’s recent changes. Gerun, being a man who pursued pleasure and entertainment, had neglected his wife for quite some time.
In fact, the Marchioness’s love for Gerun was so well-known that even Roxelyn was aware of it.
‘Not that I understand it.’
There were always rumors circulating in high society, and it was said that the Marchioness had fallen in love with Gerun at first sight during her debutante ball. After that, she had pursued him relentlessly, and despite Gerun’s firm rejections, she eventually won him over.
But even after their marriage, Gerun’s continued indifference must have worn her down.
‘No matter how I look at it, Gerun’s a worthless scoundrel.’
Roxelyn silently decided that she would continue to support their divorce.
With that thought, she opened her lips to speak.
