The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 42
She turned to see Third Prince Arma Diyanitas, his hair falling over his eyes, casting shadows, making his expression indiscernible.
Roxelyn, unexpectedly blocked by someone, froze in rare confusion.
“T-Third P-P-P-Prince?!”
Gilbert…
No, Gil Robert turned pale, trembling.
He slowly shifted his gaze.
Instantly, the cold gaze that had fallen on Gil shifted to Roxelyn, now softly curving.
“…My lady, are you alright?”
Roxelyn, feeling her cheeks reddening, nodded a beat late.
“Ah. Yes, thanks to you…”
“A mere insect dares… Dares to lay hands on my precious granddaughter?”
Thud.
Devon Bellion, dressed in a colorful red suit and adorned with several ornaments, laughed menacingly.
The cane in his hand harshly struck the ground.
“How dare you…”
As Devon was about to continue, someone moved faster.
“Would a thing like you dare to touch my daughter…?”
It was Zerti Bellion.
His face, as he firmly held her from behind, was twisted beyond recognition.
A breath tinged with a purple hue escaped his lips, and his red eyes, similar to Roxelyn’s, swirled with unmatched murderous intent and contempt.
Smack—
Suddenly, Zerti had Gil Robert’s throat in his grasp.
“Cough, cough…!”
As Gil’s large frame was effortlessly lifted by one hand, Roxelyn’s mouth fell open slightly.
Her father seemed too slender to use any physical strength, at least to her eyes.
People started gathering around Roxelyn.
Initially unnoticed in the secluded spot, the noise of the banquet covered her presence, but as the commotion grew, they eventually noticed and converged on her.
“How dare… How dare…!”
Zerti Bellion’s eyes reddened further in anger.
His pupils dilated, and a toxic mist emanated from his body, causing those nearby to scream and retreat.
“That woman… cough… she provoked me first… tried to seduce… huuhk, Dad!!”
Zerti, with Roxelyn safely behind him, glared with a fierce expression.
Gil Robert cried for help, but Baron Robert didn’t move, knowing all too well the ferocity of Devon Bellion, having witnessed the severity of the duke’s ruthlessness in their youth.
Though Devon might seem like a toothless tiger now with age, Baron Robert knew he was anything but.
And with the unpredictable and dangerous venomous Abyss in the hands of the raging Zerti, Baron Robert hesitated to intervene.
“Where does a pig like you get off running your mouth…?”
Zerti’s hand turned a violent shade of purple.
The toxic substance began to seep into Gil Robert’s skin, who he held captive.
“She’s my daughter! My daughter!”
He cried out as if he was a beast who had lost its offspring.
“You dare… How dare you…!”
‘Oh, he’s lost it.’
Now seventeen years old again despite having been twenty-seven not long ago, Roxelyn was now discovering many new aspects of her father—one being that Zerti Bellion’s mental fortitude was weaker than she thought.
Especially when it concerned her.
“I’ll kill you.”
Zerti muttered menacingly, his grip tightening.
Roxelyn reached out and grabbed the hem of Zerti’s clothes.
He looked at her, startled.
“…Roxelyn?”
“Yes. I’m fine, so please stop.”
She showed him her fingertips, now tainted purple.
‘Creating a bigger issue might give the Emperor a handle to control us.’
Seeing her fingers, Zerti turned pale.
“…No, don’t. Stay away from me. I am…”
“Don’t worry, Father. I was prepared for something like this. I have the right antidote.”
Roxelyn calmly pulled a small potion bottle from her sleeve.
“…What?”
“I’m quite popular in various ways, so I brought this just in case something like this happened.”
Watching his daughter, who nonchalantly spoke of her foresight, Zerti was dumbfounded.
Then, she turned her gaze towards someone else—
“…So you don’t need to protect me anymore.”
—towards Arma, the Third Prince.
Though she spoke calmly and indifferently, Roxelyn was engulfed in a strange feeling, especially after Arma stepped in front of her.
Because even back then…
Arma had done the same.
He stepped in front of Roxelyn like this.
To save her.
