The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 210
“Well, of course…”
At Arma’s confirmation, Roxelyn nodded and moved toward the children.
Once Arma released his grip on the sword, the children’s expressions softened slightly.
Still sensing their guarded expressions, Roxelyn spoke.
“Mom and Dad had a fight, but we made up.”
“D-Dad…?”
Arma’s eyes widened at the word that came out of Roxelyn’s mouth.
The children burst into giggles as they watched Arma, his lips opening and closing in confusion.
Their cheeks flushed a rosy red.
“Dad is embarrassed!”
“Is that what it was?”
“So, Mom and Dad had a fight. But you still can’t keep us from seeing Mom!”
As Arma looked at the children with an awkward expression, Roxelyn nudged him in the side.
“Arma.”
“Oh, yes.”
Following Roxelyn’s lead, he looked at the children who seemed to be made of porcelain and nodded his head.
“…I’m sorry.”
At Arma’s apology, the children beamed.
Though their expressions didn’t actually change—perhaps due to their porcelain-like makeup—their voices conveyed the feeling.
“Yeah! It’s okay. Come quickly and read us a story!”
“I want to play blocks!”
“Oh, I want a lullaby!”
Led by the children, Roxelyn and Arma slowly entered the mansion.
Once inside, Arma’s eyes widened slightly, surprised at the size of the mansion.
From the outside, the mansion had a gloomy, old-fashioned elegance, but upon entering, it looked like some sort of asylum.
“Mom, Dad! This way!”
Under a vintage chandelier, alongside the central grand staircase, iron bars lined the walls.
The sight of children sleeping or reading inside the barred spaces was downright eerie.
Strangely, the children, shaped like moving porcelain dolls, seemed comfortable being in there.
“…Roxelyn, what is this?”
“The history of the empire is quite long, you know. It’s well over a thousand years.”
Arma paused at Roxelyn’s words, then slowly nodded.
“Just shy of 1,700 years.”
“There was once an emperor in the past. He was incredibly proud of his lineage.”
Roxelyn spoke softly as she walked, following the children.
“He despised and loathed those of illegitimate bloodlines. So, in short…”
Reaching the second floor, Roxelyn continued as she followed the children.
“…he absolutely hated bastards.”
“Spare me!!”
“Aaagh!! I-I was, I was wrong!!”
Upon reaching the second floor, they encountered a hallway lined with countless rooms,
from which endless screams echoed.
“Oh, it’s so noisy.”
“Isn’t it too loud, everyone? Mom and Dad seem startled.”
“I’ll go quiet them down!”
“Me too!”
“Me too, me too!”
The children who had been trailing behind scattered, each darting into different rooms and disappearing.
Arma’s eyes widened slightly as he caught a glimpse inside the open doors.
Inside were living people—bound like animals, with no limbs left intact, in grotesque forms.
“Mom! This way!”
One child, excited, ran up to Roxelyn, took her hand, and pulled her along.
Startled, Arma instinctively reached out toward the child, but Roxelyn stopped him, placing his hand casually on the child’s head.
“R-Roxelyn?”
The child looked like a cold, lifeless porcelain doll, but their hair was soft and fluffy.
Holding Arma’s hand, Roxelyn moved it gently to pet the child’s head.
The child, who had stiffened, blushed a rosy pink.
“Hehe.”
Hearing the faint sound of a delighted giggle, Arma hesitated.
“This way!”
The child, their cheeks still red, dashed down the hallway.
Arriving at their destination, Arma’s eyes opened wide.
