The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 102

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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 102

The sound of someone casually plucking a harp echoed through the room.

Though the weather had become quite mild, Countess Camellia had not removed the porcelain braziers placed throughout the salon.

There were six large braziers alone, and including the small ones scattered about, there were more than ten. Thanks to this, the interior was warm enough to be stifling. Most of the salon’s guests were wearing summer clothes.

Though the sun was still up, thick curtains were drawn over the salon’s windows.

Instead, jewels placed on tables and in corners here and there reflected the firelight from the braziers, tinting the room red.

It was beautiful.

But there was a limit to how long one could stare wide-eyed in wonder. Hailey soon grew tired from the heat.

The spring weather in the capital was already warm enough for her, being from the north. Yet here she was, alone in her warm clothes in this hot salon where everyone else wore summer attire.

The harp music was quiet and tedious. People conversed in calm voices, speaking softly.

If she had come as a guest to the salon, she could have joined the conversations, but Hailey was here on an errand. Until she completed her business, she couldn’t freely do other things.

Drowsiness crept over her.

Shuffle, shuffle.

The sound of cards being dealt at the next table added to her sleepiness.

Duke Loigar rescued Hailey from her drowsiness. He opened the door and entered with a rush of cool air. Duchess Loigar was with him too.

Hailey rose from her seat. Duke Loigar approached her directly.

“Pleased to meet you. So you’re the Duchess of Evron’s maid.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace Duke Loigar, Your Grace Duchess. I am Hailey, a servant of Evron.”

Hailey quickly hid her flustered expression and greeted them.

Originally, she had come on an errand to meet Countess Camellia. She hadn’t expected Duke Loigar to appear in person.

She didn’t mention the Jordin family name because they had lost their title. She didn’t want to remind Duke Loigar of the name Jordin either.

Of course, that didn’t mean Duke Loigar didn’t know who she was.

When Artizea arrived in the capital, he had already investigated the identities of all her new maids.

Duke Loigar spoke in a cheerful voice.

“I’m sorry my sister-in-law isn’t here when you’ve come all the way to the salon. My wife and I came out instead, so please understand. Give my regards to the Duchess of Evron as well.”

“I’m deeply grateful that you welcome someone so rude who came without making a prior appointment, assuming she would be at the salon. My mistress will be pleased as well.”

Duke Loigar smiled.

Even though she was the Duchess of Evron’s maid, she was still a young woman in her twenties.

Moreover, when it came to House Jordin, it was a military family of some renown that he knew by name.

House Jordin had been loyal to the Evron Duchy and had never once come to the capital.

Regardless of their accumulated military achievements over generations, he thought they would be straightforward and inexperienced in etiquette. But Hailey knew how to respond quite sophisticatedly.

Hailey maintained a bright expression as she spoke respectfully.

“If I had known Your Grace would be here, I would have brought an appropriate gift, but I came to see Countess Camellia and failed to prepare. However, there is a gift to send to Your Grace Duchess Loigar, so please accept it.”

Saying this, she turned around.

The maids waiting by the door quickly approached and held up gift boxes.

Hailey opened the box lid and showed it to Duchess Loigar.

“Oh my, how cute.”

Duchess Loigar exclaimed with delight. Inside the gift box were two adorable dolls made of rabbit fur and one scarf made of fox fur.

“The dolls are for the two young princesses, and the scarf is for Your Grace Duchess Loigar. Her Grace is giving these as souvenirs from her visit to Evron.”

“Tell her I said thank you.”

Duchess Loigar arbitrarily pulled over another gift box that a maid was holding and opened it.

“Ah, is this for sister?”

“Yes. It’s similar to Your Grace’s, just in a different color.”

Similar, but with slightly inferior quality fur.

Duchess Loigar was satisfied and took out her scarf to wrap around her neck.

The fur draped over her thin silk dress that exposed her shoulders looked as new and splendid as wearing a large jeweled necklace.

She also took out a doll to touch.

“Honey, look at this. It looks like a real rabbit. It’s not stiff like taxidermy either.”

“Evron fur is excellent. Please sit, Lady Hailey. I’ve been rude keeping a guest standing.”

“Thank you.”

Hailey sat back down as he suggested.

Duchess Loigar sat across from Hailey. She seemed truly satisfied as she took out both rabbit dolls and fondled them alternately.

The salon guests perked up their ears. The harp music suddenly seemed loud.

Hailey lamented inwardly.

Honestly, this task was practically her first mission as Artizea’s maid.

Yet to fail in this manner.

Duke Loigar was too big a figure for her to handle.

Artizea had said this:

“Instead of deliberately making an appointment to meet Countess Camellia separately, I’m sending you directly to the salon to outwardly show that I don’t look down on Countess Camellia’s salon compared to Countess Marta’s salon.”

“I understand. And it wouldn’t be good to meet Lord Lawrence first and then meet Duke Loigar’s side. It would be like Your Grace and I contacting both sides simultaneously, right?”

“Correct. And this is essentially your social debut too.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a small matter. If you’re not confident, you can quit now. Countess Camellia isn’t someone who would be offended if I sent Alice instead.”

“No.”

“Meeting Countess Camellia in my place at the salon will be much more valuable than some trivial debut party. If you can catch Countess Camellia’s eye, it could be even more meaningful than that. I guarantee that much.”

Artizea had also added this:

“If you’re going to betray me, make sure to ally with Countess Camellia.”

“Do you think I will betray you?”

Hailey asked in surprise.

“I have no desire to avenge Aubrey. It’s not that Aubrey’s matter didn’t affect me at all, but my mother and father are more precious to me.”

“I don’t know you, Hailey.”

Artizea answered.

“I know that you have effective value as a hostage to House Jordin. Conversely, I also know that House Jordin has value to you as a hostage. For now.”

“For now?”

“You’re clever, but by my standards, you know nothing about the world. The capital is completely different from the Evron Duchy. You might discover something you think is more valuable than your family.”

Hailey would change from now on.

Moreover, Artizea was Aubrey’s enemy. She didn’t expect to receive loyalty from Hailey.

Rather, she was only certain that Hailey probably didn’t have any particular personal loyalty to Cedric either.

If she had possessed Evron-like loyalty, she would have caught Artizea’s eye at least once in her previous life.

“Countess Camellia has a complex about her status. She was born the daughter of a maid and grew up in the maid’s quarters as a child.”

“Yes.”

“She’s not such an unrealistic idealist as to expect respect from everyone, but she tends to want to be a perfect superior to those she takes in. As long as you’re under her, she’ll take responsibility for you to the end. So if you’re going to betray me, do it with Countess Camellia.”

Hailey looked at Artizea with an indescribable feeling.

“Even if you think I might betray you, it’s strange that you give such advice, Your Grace. For what purpose do you say such things?”

“I’m confusing your mind. In preparation for the moment you feel like betraying me.”

“You mean to make me anxious. About how much Your Grace knows, whether Countess Camellia is truly trustworthy or not, whether she might be on Your Grace’s side, to doubt everything in the world.”

When Hailey frowned, Artizea smiled calmly and answered.

“Yes. Keep thinking without stopping, Hailey. People like us can’t survive in this den of demons without doing so.”

The claim that she didn’t know her seemed like a lie, Hailey thought. Artizea had clearly finished her judgment about her.

And now Hailey thought she understood why she had made such demands.

“How are things in the north?”

Duke Loigar asked.

Though he wore a gentle smile, if she showed even the slightest opening, he would undoubtedly tear out a fatal weakness.

“I hear the war is quite serious.”

“How could a mere maid like myself speak of such weighty matters?”

Hailey thought desperately.

What should she do to not harm Artizea’s purposes?

She needed to convey the seriousness of the war without showing signs that they might lose. That would make it impossible to maintain the ducal house’s influence.

But if she made the war seem trivial, there would be no reason for coming to the capital prepared for winter travel.

She said while bowing her head.

“However, Prince Evron has sent the Duchess back to this place. I believe that could be part of the answer.”

“Ah.”

Duke Loigar nodded his head. He was smiling. However, Hailey could tell that he had taken this matter seriously enough.

Duchess Loigar, who had been fidgeting with the rabbit doll, said with a sigh.

“Duchess Evron is really having a hard time too. That’s why you shouldn’t go to such cold, harsh places for a honeymoon. How nice it would have been if they had gone to the Southern Sea? By now she’d be dipping her feet in warm seawater.”

“Given Cedric’s personality, how could he leisurely enjoy his honeymoon when such an important matter has arisen?”

“Still. Even if her husband abandons her and leaves, it would be better to remain alone at the Southern Sea villa than to have to come all the way to the capital alone in the cold winter with just a few maids.”

Hailey began to doubt whether she truly understood the meaning of the word war. However, she did not reveal this in her expression.

A servant came out with a wine bottle in an ice bowl and several glasses.

Duke Loigar personally picked up the bottle.

“Have a drink. There’s nothing more pleasant than cool wine in a warm place.”

Duke Loigar said so.

A pale yellow liquid was poured into the glass. A fragrant aroma like flower scent spread around.

Though it was still broad daylight, Hailey couldn’t refuse and carefully accepted the glass. The glass was also chilled cold, which felt somewhat refreshing.

“It’s Bakwor wine produced last year. This is the first time opening it today.”

“Yes.”

Hailey carefully took a sip of wine. The sweet and sour, cool taste moistened her mouth.

“Quite excellent, isn’t it? Last year’s vintage will become quite precious.”

“I see.”

Hailey simply answered since she knew nothing about wine taste. In the Evron Duchy, grapes didn’t grow, so wine was very expensive. In fact, she had hardly ever tasted it.

Duchess Loigar tilted her head.

“It’s not bad, but this will become expensive?”

“Last year, labor costs were very high. So the quantity is small. Thanks to Cedric.”

At Duke Loigar’s words, Hailey tensed her back.

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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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