The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 227
“…What are you saying?”
“Just try delivering the message at his grave.”
As Galleo turned back around, Edward was already closing the door and reentering the mansion. The old wooden building began to overlay itself again with the appearance of a grand Western-style estate.
“…Brother! When will Mom come?”
“I want to see Dad and Mom!”
“I miss Mom Roxelyn…”
At that moment, words from inside reached Galleo’s ears, and his eyes widened in shock.
“…Who did they say?”
Just as he turned his body sharply, bang!—the door closed.
“…Roxelyn Bellion!!”
Again.
Again.
That woman had interfered once more.
‘This can’t be a mistake. The problem is her presence.’
Galleo clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.
‘…I’ll have to kill her myself.’
He strode away from the mansion with a firm resolve. Once Galleo was gone, the door to the mansion opened slightly once more.
“If someone like him shows up, don’t kill him. Just hint that I was here and send him off. Got it?”
Edward frowned, not understanding why she’d said such a thing, but he did as instructed.
‘I didn’t actually think someone like that would show up.’
Eventually, Edward reentered the mansion and closed the door, leaving silence to settle around.
* * *
“Roxelyn, you…!”
As soon as she set foot in the duke’s territory, Roxelyn saw her father striding toward her from the entrance, as if he had been waiting.
“You keep on…!”
“I’m sorry.”
She spoke first, her hands clasped neatly in front of her, her gaze slightly lowered and her voice softened.
“…I was wrong.”
Zerti, who had a lot to say, opened his mouth to respond, but instead, he turned his head, looking at Marquis Wilfred, the High Priest, Arma, and the somber-faced Batar.
After glancing at Arma and Batar, Zerti shot a fierce glare at Gerun Wilfred.
“Do you have no sense? Children may be excused for being young, but as an adult, how could you take the only daughter of the family into the monster-infested forest with just a few priests and knights? Hardly an appropriate hunting party, was it?”
Ignoring her father’s furious voice, Roxelyn glanced over at Gerun Wilfred.
Gerun met her gaze, shrugged his shoulders, and replied casually.
“My apologies for that. I had no such intention. However…”
Gerun gave Zerti Bellion a sly smile.
“You treat her far too much like a delicate flower in a greenhouse. Or is that just my misunderstanding?”
“Of course not…!”
With wide eyes, Zerti reached out to shield Roxelyn behind him.
“It’s no misunderstanding! Perhaps because you have no daughter, you wouldn’t understand, but she’s my only child. A parent’s heart wants to shield her from harm.”
“Sometimes, there are flowers that only grow when exposed to hardship.”
Adding a pointed remark, Gerun looked Roxelyn over briefly.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
Zerti stated firmly.
“Roxelyn will be fine growing up seeing only good things. There’s no need for her to witness anything unpleasant.”
“…Well, that’s unfortunate. It seems that the thoughts between a parent and child differ.”
For Gerun Wilfred, who understood exactly what Roxelyn was plotting, Zerti’s perspective seemed pitiful.
“She accomplished the hunt safely, didn’t she? In fact, she even secured Monsterwood. I’d say it’s a commendable achievement…”
“There’s no need. We’ve lived just fine without any of that. I don’t want to have to rely on the hands of a child for anything.”
A purple mist swirled around Zerti Bellion. Unlike before, when he would attack indiscriminately, this was a venomous mist aimed solely at Gerun.
‘…His control has improved.’
Gerun couldn’t help but be impressed. Given the strength of Zerti’s power, Gerun had expected it would take years for him to learn control.
“Perhaps you’ll understand if you ever have a daughter.”
Gerun Wilfred hesitated, thinking he might be mocking him for not having children or for his strained marital situation, and looked up.
But Zerti appeared genuinely sincere in his belief.
Gerun Wilfred frowned as he looked at Zerti’s expression, unable to comprehend his stance.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
