The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 30
“Of course, I may not have met Father’s expectations, but this is the best I can do.”
“If you had told me, it would have been better.”
Calm down.
Zerti thought to himself.
“It’s okay, I could handle it.”
Yes, this wasn’t the child’s fault.
‘It was me who pushed her away from the beginning.’
So, naturally, he shouldn’t be angry.
“Still, I don’t think this is something I should be hearing about like this.”
“…”
Roxelyn sighed softly, her expression exuding an air of great annoyance that made Zerti’s heart plummet.
“I’ll consult with you in advance in the future.”
Roxelyn stepped back, not for his sake, but to avoid further troubles.
And so, Zerti momentarily felt the distance between him and his daughter widen.
“Oh, and since we’re on the subject…”
Roxelyn continued in a meek voice, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
“Marquis Gerun owns a villa in the capital. Since I’ll be collaborating with him for a while, I plan to stay there.”
“…”
It wasn’t just a feeling of distance.
Zerti closed his eyes slowly, feeling an eerie chill down his back.
This did not feel real.
“After returning from Kaluta and going through with the annulment, I might move to the Del Kingdom.”
It’s as if…
It was like a declaration that they were no longer walking the same path.
Hate.
But why?
Have you started to hate me too?
No, I was the one who pushed you away first. This is only natural.
It’s strange to think there’s anyone who likes me.
It’s natural for you to hate me.
I intended for you to hate me.
I…
Because I took your mother away from you, Roxelyn.
It was no one else but me.
I killed your mother.
Zerti’s mind was filled with these gloomy thoughts.
Simultaneously, a purple mist began to spread around Zerti slowly.
Boom!
As the table began to melt, food spilled everywhere. The servants had long since fled to the corners in a panic.
‘I need to calm down.’
Zerti blinked slowly with that thought.
‘Why am I even alive?’
His red eyes flickered.
He was born after causing his own mother’s death.
He also killed the first woman he ever loved.
The only one left for him was Roxelyn, and now even she had decided to leave him.
Murmurs were heard from all sides, but he couldn’t make out the words properly.
The stern voices of his father and Aegis seemed to come and go.
Zerti chuckled hollowly.
He knew how miserable it was to grow up without a mother’s love, how deeply it could torment a person.
‘And yet, I’ve taken that chance away from you.’
It was only natural for his child to resent him.
I hoped you would resent me.
I wished you wouldn’t come any closer.
‘What if… I end up killing you too?’
Just the thought made his body tremble minutely.
Zerti took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
A purple mist flowed like his breath.
Roxelyn was looking at him.
“…Don’t.”
Zerti stumbled back.
“Don’t look at me…”
Roxelyn, gripping a wine glass she’d snatched before the table melted away completely, watched Zerti.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Roxelyn gazed at him steadily.
Meeting her slightly widened pupils, Zerti clenched his fist.
He didn’t want to show her.
He didn’t want to show her this pathetic sight.
Not this demonic aspect of himself that couldn’t even control his powers and killed his own mother.
‘…No, perhaps this is for the best.’
Then she would hate him more.
Of course, she wouldn’t come any closer, but at least she’d be safe.
So, it might be better to retreat now…
The viscous, purple liquid dripping from his hand melted the ground.
The smoke rose, killing everything around him.
The flowers that bloomed profusely turned black and disintegrated into nothingness.
Even the weeds known for their resilience blackened and melted away, and nothing living remained near him.
That’s when Roxelyn moved.
She took something out of her pocket and strode confidently towards Zerti.
