The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

Upon arriving at the marquess estate, Artizea distributed the blessed prayer candles she had received from Henry Kishower and went inside.

The employees of House of Rosan were not flustered by the Emperor’s visit and quietly went about their duties.

The Emperor occasionally visited House of Rosan in person to surprise and delight Milaire.

As Artizea entered, she whispered to Alice.

“Distribute all the gift pouches we prepared, one to each person.”

“We’ll end up using almost everything we have prepared.”

Alice whispered in panic.

Artizea kept dozens of small silk pouches containing a few gold or silver coins in her personal vault.

This was to make it convenient to hand out bribes under the guise of gifts or tips.

Before returning to the past, she had trained Alice to manage information networks.

“The higher one’s status, the more they live their entire lives surrounded by servants. For royalty, from those who adjust their clothing to those who put on their shoes, dozens of people follow them just to move from room to room. The number of people who clean, organize rooms, and carry food and drink is countless.”

“Yes.”

“But those who command them mostly don’t even recognize them as human beings. There are countless stories they can overhear, even if they’re not exactly secrets.”

“Hmm. I know that too, but don’t they usually come to sell any profitable stories they have? Can’t we just pay them then?”

Alice tilted her head as she said this.

Many employees knew that some of the stories they heard could be worth money.

They would remember stories about important people and sell them at the right time or use them directly to fulfill their own ambitions.

“If we win their favor like this regularly, won’t they come to us first when important information arises?”

“Ah, we’re buying priority rights.”

“Credibility. We’re proving in advance that we will definitely buy any profitable stories, and that we have the ability to pay whatever the amount.”

Artizea gave bribes with a consistent attitude even to those in unimportant positions.

You can’t buy hearts by spending money only when you need it immediately.

“You should know this too. If you spend money without making requests, you can create a debt of gratitude without burdening them. This is very important. If you give money and receive something in return, the transaction relationship ends immediately. You can’t guarantee what comes next. But if you don’t receive anything in return, the relationship doesn’t end. They’ll have to do something for you someday.”

This applied not only to poor people but also to those who weren’t struggling to put food on the table.

The money Artizea gave would provide breathing room for months and help with their children’s education.

This naturally made them feel grateful.

If her status were lower than theirs, those receiving money might consider it tribute and turn a blind eye.

But she was Marquess Rosan.

The money she gave was a bribe with the distant future in mind, but the recipients thought they were receiving grace from a superior, not being bought.

And repaying a superior’s grace is loyalty, not payment for a bribe.

“Talk to them often when you give money. If they think they should tell you something, they’ll easily share small stories they didn’t think were information worth selling. Once your overall reputation rises and you gain trust, even people who have never received money before will come to sell information.”

Artizea could draw the overall picture herself. The important thing for now was a large quantity of information.

The quality of information is determined not by the magnitude of what it contains, but by whether it came from a trustworthy source.

Alice knew this was why Artizea kept money pouches prepared, yet she spoke with concern.

“That’s almost half of the budget you can spend this year, Miss.”

“It’s fine.”

If she ended up marrying Cedric, House of Rosan would come into her hands anyway. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t need money anymore.

Alice didn’t ask twice. She bowed her head respectfully to show she understood and hurried to Artizea’s room.

After sending Alice away, Artizea headed to Milaire’s toilette room.

She intended to greet the Emperor.

Milaire didn’t like her appearing before the Emperor.

But now there was no reason to consider Milaire’s feelings. There was no need to waste an opportunity to make an impression on the Emperor.

The Imperial Guard members and servants bowed their heads lightly to her in silent greeting. Artizea also bowed silently and spoke to the servant at the door.

“Please let them know that Artizea, Milaire’s daughter, wishes to pay her respects.”

As she said this, she took a small silk pouch from her pocket and handed it to the servant.

It was the same type of pouch she had told Alice to distribute. Artizea always carried several of these with her personally.

The servant, who had received these several times before, smiled kindly and nodded. He opened the door, went inside, and announced the news.

Mixed with the piano music, Milaire’s laughing voice could be heard.

The pleasant conversation stopped for a moment, then the door opened wide.

“Please enter, Lady Artizea.”

“Thank you. Oh, if any guests come while I’m inside, could you let me know first? I’d like to handle it myself without disturbing His Majesty and Mother’s time together.”

“Of course.”

Artizea entered with careful steps.

The Emperor was sitting leisurely, leaning back on the sofa.

Milaire was dressed only in her undergarments. The maids were neatly organizing the clothes she had changed out of to one side.

Emperor Gregor was a selfish and ruthless man.

He preferred confirming his own power to governing the country. He was suspicious, lustful, and greedy.

However, his love for Milaire alone was sincere.

The number of women he had touched was countless, but Milaire was the only one he had kept by his side for 25 years.

Even though Milaire had borne another man’s child, he had only distanced himself from her for barely a year.

He was even quite affectionate to Artizea simply because she was Milaire’s daughter.

Artizea had no way of understanding what that love meant.

There was once a time when she was curious about love. But now it was irrelevant.

She knelt on one knee and bowed to the Emperor.

“The sun of the Empire has descended upon Nook, and I know not where to place myself. Artizea, daughter of Milaire, pays her respects to His Imperial Majesty. May you live ten thousand years.”

“It’s been a long time. You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”

The Emperor said with a sly smile.

He smiled like a snake and looked Artizea up and down with narrow eyes. It was an appraising gaze.

“If you had resembled your mother, you would have been much prettier.”

“You know she’s pretty though.”

Milaire approached gracefully and sat on his thigh, speaking as if pouting.

“What can I do? Even with an ugly face, she’s my daughter, so I have to live with it.”

“Why? Though Tia doesn’t resemble you, she still has a beauty’s blood. Once she puts on a little more weight and develops a more mature bearing, she’ll become pretty in no time.”

“She’s been spoiled and is immature, so if you say things like that, she’ll think it’s true, darling.”

Calling him affectionately, Milaire stroked his cheek. The Emperor smiled slyly.

“Do you think I’m joking to win your favor? Do you think so too, Tia?”

Artizea respectfully lowered her eyes.

When she was very young, Milaire hated and beat Artizea for not resembling her.

She tormented her, saying that if she had resembled her even by half, His Imperial Majesty would have regarded her like his own daughter.

Artizea believed those words and cried apologetically, and sometimes at night she would dream of being born as the Emperor’s daughter and receiving all her parents’ love like Lawrence.

But thinking about it now, it was foolish.

If she had been the spitting image of Milaire, she would certainly have been dragged to the Emperor’s bedroom as soon as she turned 16.

Thinking of that, it was rather fortunate that she didn’t resemble her beautiful mother.

“I am honored. Since Your Majesty loves my mother and looks upon me with favor as well, what greater glory could there be?”

“How old are you this year?”

“I am 18 years old.”

“You’ve really become an adult. I should look for a good marriage prospect for you.”

“No, what marriage for a child who’s only 18?”

Milaire spoke sharply. The Emperor laughed heartily and took Milaire’s wrist, affectionately kissing her palm.

“I understand you want to keep your daughter close, but we should at least arrange an engagement before she turns twenty.”

“Mmm. Still…”

“Think of how good a position I’ll find for her. We can’t leave her as a sister dependent on her brother forever, can we?”

The Emperor smiled.

The good position he spoke of didn’t mean a good marriage prospect for Artizea, but a political marriage that would benefit Lawrence.

However, Milaire misunderstood and pouted in displeasure. Even that seemed adorable to the Emperor.

Artizea only bowed her head respectfully.

Milaire stood up abruptly in anger.

She had changed from one outfit to another in front of the Emperor, but that was just a show to display her alluring figure, and the dress she would actually wear had already been decided.

A seductive green satin dress with a deeply cut back and full bust that seemed to peek through the cut-out sides was draped over her body.

Just then, a servant entered and spoke respectfully.

“There is a guest here to see Lady Artizea.”

Artizea hurriedly said.

“I am honored. I shall withdraw.”

The Emperor gestured for her to go. Milaire glanced back briefly.

Artizea backed out of the Toilette Room. The servant followed her out and asked in a low voice.

“Countess Unise is currently in the lobby. She’s causing a commotion, insisting she must see His Majesty.”

“Yes. I’ll handle it.”

“Did you know Countess Unise would come?”

“Yes. It was just a guess though.”

Artizea hadn’t gathered information in advance; she had simply remembered it.

However, the servant, unaware of this, spoke with an admiring attitude.

“You truly are remarkable. And thank you.”

“For what?”

“His Majesty is in such a good mood for once, and if Countess Unise ruins it, we would surely be punished.”

“It’s only natural for me to greet a guest who has come to my house. And it’s still uncertain. If I fail to appease the Countess, she’ll cause a commotion all the same.”

Saying this, Artizea headed toward the lobby.

Countess Unise’s shouting echoed up to the second floor.

“Because of that filthy wench, even I, his daughter, cannot meet with him?”

The butler was struggling and bowing repeatedly.

Artizea hurried down the stairs.

“Hello, Countess Unise. What brings you here…”

Smack!

Without warning, Countess Unise raised her hand and struck Artizea’s cheek with all her might.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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