The Baddest Villainess Is Back - Chapter 99
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The conditions for using the red stone from the Kalutan seven stones bracelet were straightforward.
Just throw the stone into a place where flames were raging, and the stone would consume the entire area filled with heat to devour the fire.
Of course, the Kalutan stone would only absorb the fire, ensuring that neither people nor objects were ingested.
“You’re quite the enigma, aren’t you? I hadn’t pegged you for someone so altruistic,” Marquis Gerun Wilfred remarked, strolling leisurely by her side.
With a practiced ease, he drew the blade concealed within his walking stick, slicing through the air to dispatch incoming sparks.
‘I truly can’t decipher his motives.’
Roxelyn cast a sidelong glance at Gerun, pondering.
‘And his earlier mention of making me his daughter and such.’
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
It baffled her, this fixation on forming parental bonds with someone who clearly had her own family.
“I’m puzzled by you. I can’t fathom what goes through your mind.”
“Nothing much, really. Just perpetually considering how to alleviate boredom.”
“So, was your relentless pursuit and forcing me to kneel before the Emperor your idea of alleviating boredom? Or perhaps you wished to torture me to death?”
Roxelyn’s questioning tone caused Gerun to halt momentarily, his eyes narrowing as he chuckled—a response that seemed almost habitual.
“That was merely a game. A bit of hide-and-seek between you and me.”
“…Shut the fxxx up. If you’re going to spout nonsense, leave.”
“You always seem so aggrieved.”
As Roxelyn scowled and glared at him, Gerun Wilfred simply shrugged.
“I suppose I’ve never mentioned it, but numerous factions have had their eyes on you.”
“…Me?”
Roxelyn was visibly surprised, a revelation she was hearing for the first time.
As they advanced towards the origin of the vast fire, sweat trailed down her cheeks and neck.
Eventually, feeling it futile to continue, she paused to extract a blue stone from her bracelet, gripping it firmly in her hand.
This stone, tasked with controlling water, could allow anyone holding it to breathe in water and shield them from the heat.
A thin, almost invisible barrier enveloped Roxelyn, not a disposable shield but one that could be utilized until the stone’s imbued power dwindled and vanished entirely.
“Indeed. You were targeted by the newly enthroned Emperor, the new ‘King’ of ‘Makruxa,’ and naturally, myself included.”
Roxelyn frowned, realization dawning.
The pursuit had seemed unnaturally swift.
‘They weren’t all acting as one.’
She frowned wearily.
“I figured you’d prefer to be captured by me than by the others. Playing hide and seek with you was entertaining, at least. Was my choice misguided?”
“…Hard to say.”
Roxelyn responded tersely.
“I’m not particularly remarkable, just curious.”
“You are quite remarkable, indeed. Didn’t you, single-handedly, stir up such commotion at a national level?”
Gerun added that he found great amusement in watching her juggle the attentions and machinations of various nobles.
“The ones who got duped are the fools.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
At Gerun’s agreement, Roxelyn gave him a displeased look and fell silent.
She continued toward the origin of the fire.
It was the place where the flames were fiercest. To Roxelyn, it felt merely warm.
Even amidst such heat, Gerun seemed perfectly fine. A curious man indeed.
Sometimes, Roxelyn found comfort despite having been pushed to extremes.
“So, have you thought about my proposition?”
“There’s nothing to think about. I refuse. I don’t see why one should replace their perfectly fine family to begin with.”
“I thought we were quite close, having faced life and death together, but you’re really quite cold.”
How disappointing.
His added tone didn’t seem to carry a hint of disappointment.
As Roxelyn didn’t respond, he continued in a leisurely tone, tinged with a light laugh.
“Roxelyn, the world has changed.”
He suddenly stopped walking and said.
Despite holding the blue stone of the Kalutan seven stones, the heat that warmed her cheeks and limbs made Roxelyn slowly halt her steps.
“…Indeed.”
“I see you’ve changed a bit too. I remember you weren’t like this originally.”
“…….”
“Have you decided on a direction to move forward?”
At Gerun’s question, Roxelyn slowly started moving again.
“It feels like I’ve answered that before.”
“Is it still a ‘no’?”
“…….”
Roxelyn remained silent, but Gerun seemed to read affirmation in her silence.
“Someone said…”
“…….”
“That nothing in this world belongs to me. And it’s true. No matter how desperately I act, in the end…”
Roxelyn’s exposed arm began to redden from the heat. It seemed there was a limit to completely blocking the heat.
Gerun seemed to notice as he narrowed his eyes.