The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 85
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Time swiftly passed, and the day to return from Kaluta to the Empire approached.
“Thanks for the advice, Lyn. Because of you, we can prepare in advance.”
Roxelyn paused at the Khan’s words just before departure.
‘How many times have I heard someone thank me in my life?’
She was suddenly engulfed in a novel feeling.
After all, Roxelyn had merely leveraged information she knew to gain favor,
for she needed that favor for her own benefit.
“I hope Kaluta stays safe.”
Several responses came to mind, like it’s nothing or don’t mention it.
But what ultimately made it to her lips was a small piece of genuine sentiment.
“Yes, I wish for the same. Make sure to convey the message well to the Emperor of Diyanitas.”
“Of course. I am more grateful that you’ve allowed such good people to accompany us on our journey back.”
Roxelyn spoke with an even tone.
The Khan of Kaluta had provided her with an advance team as a token of promise.
Although it was in the form of a small, unofficial delegation, it symbolically represented Kaluta’s future diplomatic relations with the Empire.
Accompanying Roxelyn were individuals from Kaluta renowned for their smelting skills.
Of course, this was for the Bellion Duchy first and foremost.
A total of seven people were part of the delegation, including five Kalutans, Batar—who had taken the role of their group’s leader—and Naryan.
For Khan Haliona, sending his daughter and the future Khan of Kaluta wasn’t an easy choice.
Roxelyn knew it wasn’t a light matter.
“We are the ones who should be thankful for trusting us.”
“I’ve decided to trust my eyes. You are a trustworthy person. Someone I can trust my back to.”
Roxelyn smiled silently at the Khan’s words.
“And I’m never wrong.”
She nodded confidently at his assertive voice.
“I’ll also strive to maintain that trust.”
After responding, she turned around.
“Roxelyn! I’ll accompany you.”
Arma, who had been waiting for their conversation to end, effortlessly took her hand and led her away.
Roxelyn gazed at her hand, now firmly held by Arma.
‘It’s calloused.’
His grip was as firm as before, meaning Arma had such hands even before he died protecting her.
‘Did he really die back then?’
She blinked slowly, now more convinced that he probably hadn’t been.
Back then, Roxelyn was in a position to flee, so she didn’t return. Nor could she.
Aside from the official announcement of his death by the imperial family…
She had no way to know about Arma’s life or death. She hadn’t seen his body herself.
‘Now that I think about it, I didn’t even know what Abyss he had.’
She knew he had an Abyss, but Arma never told her, and Roxelyn never asked.
At one point, Roxelyn liked Arma.
Perhaps, she still does.
They say that when you fall in love, your heart pounds, your vision whites out, there’s a ringing in your ears, and you become incapable of thought.
But Roxelyn’s love wasn’t so dramatic or grand.
For her, love arrived gently.
It was an emotion she didn’t even recognize while he was by her side.
Only after losing him did she realize his importance, and it took even longer to recognize that what she had felt was love, and that she had been loved.
Yet even after losing Arma, Roxelyn continued her daily life. Even after realizing it was love, she breathed and lived on just fine.
While stories often say losing a loved one feels like dying or makes it hard to breathe, that wasn’t the case for her.
However, she found herself thinking of him suddenly when eating, feeling lonely, or ill.
To her, love stemmed from the kindness of being there when needed.
It seeped in from the kind person who remained by her side when everyone else had left.
After much reflection, Roxelyn arrived at a conclusion.
‘…He must have been alive.’
The assassins she had seen were certainly strong, but not as much as the Kalutans.
Kalutans could break huge trees with their fists, but those assassins couldn’t even cut through a tree with a sword.
‘…I was just abandoned.’