The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 220
Roxelyn spoke openly, not hiding anything.
Since no one had visited this place for a long time, there were quite a few valuable resources here.
Considering all the resources discovered in this area after these two children were executed, it was not something to be ignored.
“See! I knew it…!”
Edward’s eyes gleamed sharply, as if he had found something to latch onto.
Roxelyn kept her gaze fixed on Albus and continued.
“So, it would be great if the monsters of this forest could be non-hostile toward my family’s people.”
With that, she smiled sweetly.
“Of course, I don’t mind if you make an example of anyone else who trespasses here uninvited.”
Roxelyn spoke calmly.
“Oh, and it would be good if the monsters occasionally threatened the surrounding territories as well.”
After all, it was time to collect some overdue protection fees.
“…See, I told you they…? Wait, did you say you don’t mind?”
Edward’s voice rose in surprise, and Roxelyn nodded cheerfully.
“Yes, it’s fine if this place continues to be regarded as the Forest of Monsters.”
Edward gaped, caught off guard by Roxelyn’s unexpected response.
His eyes widened as he pointed at her accusingly again.
“Then, you’re trying to kick us out, aren’t you?”
“No.”
Roxelyn shook her head.
“You can stay here as you like and even act as caretakers. Of course, since it would be work, this sort of management won’t do, but I’ll pay you handsomely.”
And if you wish, you may go outside as well.
After she added this, they fell silent.
“However, I’d like you to release the people inside the mansion. And also ask the children if they want to be released and let them go if they do.”
“Release them? Surely they’d all want to stay here! They died unjustly! And why should we let those people go? Anyway…”
“Anyway, without your Abyss, they would have been dead long ago.”
At Roxelyn’s curt reply, a heavy silence fell over the room.
“…If I am healed, could I return to my body?”
“I don’t know. It’s never been tried, has it?”
Roxelyn shrugged.
While she knew the seven stones possessed extraordinary power, she wasn’t sure if they could restore such severe injuries or a decayed body.
“…If I could live in my own body again…”
Albus’s blue eyes slowly shifted toward Edward.
“I would want that. To live in my body, live as long as my lifespan allows, and then die that way.”
“……”
“Even if it’s only for a single day.”
“…Brother!”
Edward’s eyes trembled at Albus’s firm words.
He looked at Albus with an unsettled expression.
“But we’re illegitimate! Even if we go outside, no one would welcome us. Illegitimate children are never accepted anywhere…”
“The royals learn some rather interesting stories in history class,” Arma interjected mid-conversation.
“What does that have to do with anything…?”
Edward glared at Arma with irritation, but Arma continued speaking calmly, unfazed.
“The 15th Emperor of the empire was, as they say, an illegitimate child.”
At the steady tone, both Edward and Albus turned their heads toward Arma.
Standing beside Roxelyn, Arma narrowed his eyes slightly before continuing.
“An illegitimate child of commoner origins, no less. But his abilities were so exceptional that no one could even petition to have someone else ascend as crown prince.”
Arma continued, meeting eyes the same color as his own.
“However, there was fierce opposition from the 13th Emperor, the great-grandfather…”
As soon as he mentioned their father, the 13th Emperor, Albus and Edward’s expressions darkened.
“So, the 15th Emperor grew fed up, saying he’d quit being crown prince, and stormed out of the imperial palace…”
As the two boys gulped, Arma smiled and, with a deliberate slowness, continued.
