The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 214
Did he really believe a person could survive in a blazing kiln?
Sometimes, he thought he could even change the color of a person’s eyes or hair.
In his efforts to erase all traces of an illegitimate child’s origins, he tried to alter eye and hair colors and even reshape bone structures.
Each small iron cell in the mansion served as a room, home, and the only space for an illegitimate child to sit down.
As Roxelyn turned each page, it felt like the smell of blood wafted to her nose. It smelled like ancient dust mixed with blood that hadn’t dried.
Underneath his superior handwriting on every page was an echo of screams.
Experiment after experiment was conducted to change bones or eye color to make them look different.
To test the theory that extreme stress could turn hair white, he would lock them in cages with starving beasts, denying them food or sleep.
As Roxelyn recalled these memories, her expression darkened, her face shadowed with rising disgust.
Then she paused at the warmth that touched the back of her hand.
“Roxelyn, it’s all right.”
At the sound of his voice, she slowly looked up.
“Whatever happens, I’ll be by your side, so don’t worry.”
“……”
“If you’ll just allow me to stay beside you, I’ll make sure to protect you.”
Roxelyn glanced at Arma, her gaze lingering before she, uncharacteristically, looked away slightly and continued sharing what she had read in the ‘reformation journal’.
As she spoke, Arma’s face gradually hardened.
“…So, all of that was done simply because a child was illegitimate?”
Roxelyn glanced at Arma, who was now sitting beside her, and nodded.
Even in hell, someone’s life continues.
There are those who, from the moment they are born, carry the mark of damnation.
Although nearly a thousand years have passed, illegitimate children remain targets of scorn.
While such actions aren’t as common as before, children are still abandoned in secret, raised in captivity, or ridiculed.
“The blame should be on those who couldn’t control themselves, not on the children,” Roxelyn muttered, frowning.
In the past, when she was misunderstood for having a poor relationship with her father, the most common insult she heard was ‘a child born outside’.
Did she or any others choose to be born outside the family?
Could existence come from nothing?
The conception of life was no trivial matter.
“Is that why you want to save these children?”
After a long silence following Arma’s question, Roxelyn finally responded.
“Monsterwood originally belonged to the Duke’s domain, didn’t it? I just thought it might be good to take care of it.”
At Roxelyn’s brusque yet slightly embarrassed tone, Arma let out a quiet laugh.
“You’re kind, Roxelyn.”
Roxelyn flinched, frowning as she opened her mouth to respond, but Arma brought her hand to his lips.
“You’re kind.”
He spoke with conviction, as if he could sense the denial forming on her lips.
“Someone who isn’t kind wouldn’t get involved in other people’s matters like this.”
He gently knelt down, massaged her swollen foot, and then kissed the top of it.
“I like you, Roxelyn.”
“……”
Looking up at her, with her foot held in his hands, Arma whispered, and Roxelyn silently raised a hand to cover her eyes.
Her ears had turned bright red.
“What should I do here, then?”
Roxelyn brushed her hand down her face and replied.
“It might be best if you play the role of a father well. We need to show that we aren’t their enemies.”
“Oh…”
Arma stood up, then knelt between her legs as she sat on the bed, bringing his face close to hers with a smile.
“Something like this, perhaps?”
“Dad, cold water…”
“Gah…!”
“Eek!”
The children rushed in, covering their eyes with their hands, but peeking through their fingers as they screamed.
“……”
Arma’s face turned bright red.
