The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 44
As Roxelyn was about to reach out in confusion,
“…My child.”
A trembling hand grasped the hem of Roxelyn’s dress.
“You…”
Zerti’s fingertips quivered delicately.
Roxelyn, noticing the droplets falling to the floor, realized she was crying.
“…Oh.”
She quietly marveled at the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“…I really don’t understand what this commotion is all about, especially at a joyous banquet I’m attending with my wife for the first time in a while.”
Someone laid a hand on Roxelyn’s shoulder and spoke.
“Roxelyn, are you alright?”
Now, even Marquis Gerun had appeared.
Roxelyn felt like fainting.
But contrary to her frail body, her mental resilience was strong…
Regrettably, she didn’t faint.
“…Marquis Gerun…!”
So, Roxelyn pulled out a small pill from her sleeve pocket and shoved it into the mouth of the astonished Zerti.
“Cough—!”
Staggering and on the verge of losing control, Zerti fainted.
That was it.
Roxelyn decided if she couldn’t faint herself, she’d make others faint instead.
And she succeeded brilliantly.
***
“Can this be real?”
Roxelyn muttered softly, lying in bed with a cool wet cloth on her forehead.
In a room so extravagant it made one want to gaze at the ceiling adorned with an elaborate chandelier, the bed was excessively large, able to fit five people.
There were various gift packages by her bedside.
Extravagant flower arrangements in opulent vases.
Indeed.
Roxelyn was lying in a huge room with a giant bed assigned to her by the Emperor’s courtesy.
The reason was simple.
‘I can’t believe I got a fever just from crying a bit yesterday.’
She thought back, realizing she might have been weak around this time.
After the chaotic end of yesterday’s banquet, she felt a bit feverish but didn’t care.
During her time living away from home, a fever like this was trivial.
Was that why?
Thinking about it, she seemed healthiest back then.
A fever like this was proof her cells were working hard, allowing her to live energetically.
But now, thanks to her overprotective guardians, she was buried under thick, white blankets, with practically only her neck exposed.
‘Moving around might actually be better.’
Such fevers became insignificant with familiarity.
It would be annoying to fuss over every illness if she became independent again.
From experience, a frail body was manageable, depending on one’s familiarity.
So, after brief contemplation, Roxelyn got up from bed.
She planned to visit the library while at the royal palace, to better understand the political situation and minimize deviations from her original world.
Of course, she didn’t plan to live in poverty like before, so she needed to think of a suitable business idea.
‘And… I should start catching the culprit behind the disappearances soon.’
But not moving right now was because the disappearance case wouldn’t escalate for a while.
Even if it did, Marquis Gerun would handle it.
The problem was the business.
‘I’ve already given the lucrative mines to the family…’
It was a mine too difficult for Roxelyn to manage alone.
Having prevented it from falling into others’ hands was not a bad outcome.
‘First, let’s go to the library and think about what to do next.’
She thought briefly, wrapping a shawl around her and leaving the room…
…completely unaware that such her actions would turn the palace upside down.
