The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 103

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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 103

Duchess Loigar tilted her head.

“Thanks to Sedric?”

“Making wine requires a tremendous amount of labor. But last year, labor costs were too high. The vintage was excellent, but it was difficult to find people, so production was low. Even our winery only produced half of what we normally do.”

The productivity of the Eastern Region is enormous.

It couldn’t compare to the Central region where the capital is located. However, excluding the capital’s influence, the Eastern Region had the highest population density and developed all kinds of industries.

Especially industries that required both suitable climate and fertile land, like agriculture, were dominated by the Eastern Region.

While the Western Regions sowed and harvested wheat across vast plains and grazed sheep, the Eastern Region grew commercial crops and developed processing industries.

Industries that required technology, labor, and infrastructure—from tea, wine, silk, tobacco, medicinal herbs, to fruit processing—were mainly located in the Eastern Region.

Most of the expensive luxury goods consumed in the capital were produced in the Eastern Region. Based on this, large farms and trading companies grew.

The industrial development of the Eastern Region was possible above all because of its stability.

In the Western Regions where monster waves occurred periodically, it was difficult to invest in infrastructure, let alone create orchards that needed to be cultivated for several years.

Moreover, monster waves maximized the profits of Eastern Region landowners and wealthy merchants.

When a monster wave occurred, refugees were generated.

This disaster was a natural calamity, but unlike floods or droughts, it didn’t affect the entire empire simultaneously. It unilaterally devastated only the Western Regions.

Western people whose livelihoods were destroyed became refugees and flowed into the Central and Eastern regions. And they became cheap labor.

After a few years, some would return to their hometowns. However, a considerable number settled down permanently.

They regularly served the role of supplying population to the Central and Eastern regions.

Eastern farmers couldn’t resist exploitation. There was an overflow of replacement labor. They couldn’t leave for the Western Regions either since monster waves occurred there.

However, the situation changed somewhat when Sedric prevented the last monster wave.

The fact that the generation of refugees was minimized because little land was swept by the monster wave was a primary factor. But what had an even greater impact was the change in people’s perception.

Until now, the Empire hadn’t always been helpless against monster waves.

There were times when the Western Army was better organized. Sometimes excellent commanders emerged and blocked them. Even when the Western Army collapsed, the Central Army would be deployed afterward to resolve the situation.

However, no one had given hope. No matter how excellent a general blocked a monster wave without damage, there was no guarantee they would be in that position next time.

If they had both ability and ambition, they would take their trained subordinates and join the Central Army or become the Emperor’s personal guard.

If they had ability but no ambition, they would often be expelled due to false accusations from those who envied their achievements, or purged for earning the Emperor’s displeasure.

Whether promoted or demoted, they would leave anyway. And the next monster wave would occur again.

The Western people had fallen into a state of resignation.

But Sedric was different.

He was the shield of the North and the hero of the West. He wouldn’t disappear through promotion or demotion.

He systematically rebuilt the Western Army, and instead of offering it to the Emperor or taking it for himself, he left it for Western defense.

And he was a member of the Imperial family.

That symbolism was not insignificant. The Western people gained the belief that the Imperial family had not abandoned them.

The monster wave that would come again in a few years would be blocked by Duke Evron again.

Then there was no need to leave.

The reality that Sedric was actually under pressure from the Emperor didn’t factor into that belief.

There were few who knew that much, but even if there were, it wasn’t enough to influence the general trend of relief.

Refugees turned their steps back to return to their devastated lands. They helped each other and established new foundations. The Western Army helped with this.

For Duke Loigar, this was a delicate matter.

The strengthening of the Western Regions was a good thing. However, rising labor costs in the Eastern Region was not what he desired.

His personal wealth was concentrated in the Eastern Region. Even if he became Emperor, this wouldn’t change much.

Duke Loigar’s support base was an alliance of high nobility and wealthy merchants. If he became Emperor with their power, that authority wouldn’t be entirely his own but would be power resting on his support base.

In the end, it would be no different from being selected among various nobles.

Someday he would crush them all and reclaim imperial authority. For that, his personal wealth was more important than the development of the entire Empire.

Because that would be the means by which he could gain advantage over his supporters in the future.

“What moves Duke Loigar is greed. Remember that.”

Artizea had told Hailey this while speaking about key figures in the capital.

“People cannot easily escape from their own experiences. Even more so when nature and experience align.”

Artizea said.

“The late Emperor passed away before Duke Loigar even turned ten. At thirteen, his full sister and brother-in-law were accused of treason and killed. He lost his mother then too.”

Those memories couldn’t be easily erased from Duke Loigar’s mind.

“Lord Sedric was also a child at the time, but he still had Evron’s protection. The reason Lord Sedric was kept alive in the first place was to maintain Evron, so his life itself wasn’t in immediate danger.”

“Moreover, the Evron Duchy maintains independence and has military power, so it could serve as a precarious but protective barrier. There was also the last resort of fighting against the homeland.”

“Right. But that itself was only possible because it was Evron.”

“Yes. I understand what you mean.”

“But Duke Loigar only had inherited wealth. It’s not that he lacked retainers who could serve as protectors, but the entire territory didn’t throw itself into protecting him like Evron did.”

He had to survive on his own and came to distrust baseless trust itself.

What anyone can ultimately trust is the power held in their own hands. In his case, that was wealth.

Ultimately, the throne was a means of survival for him. It wasn’t easy to give up the power he currently held for an uncertain means.

“People naturally understand others by comparing them to themselves. Then, who would be the person Duke Loigar understands least?”

Hailey had only remembered that conversation.

But now she could desperately understand why Artizea had described Duke Loigar with the single word “greed.”

Duke Loigar only calculated the disaster of monster waves in terms of cost. Even then, instead of calculating for the entire Empire, he first considered the impact on his personal wealth.

Moreover, the meaning behind his words was just a probe.

It would be good if she panicked and revealed weaknesses, but it didn’t matter if she didn’t. He probably hadn’t expected anything from the start. A newly appointed maid wasn’t even a subject for conversation, let alone negotiation.

Hailey became serious.

This wasn’t something she could answer carelessly. However, at a moment like this, as a person of House Evron, and moreover as Jordin’s daughter, there was only one thing she could say.

The result of thinking and thinking was the same as what Mel would have said naturally without thought.

“His Highness has a strong sense of responsibility. He considers saving the Western Regions a natural duty and doesn’t even think of it as an honor. And since he stayed in the Western Regions for three years, his affection must be deep.”

Although she had never actually discussed this matter with Sedric, Hailey spoke with conviction. Using the expression “saving” was intentional.

“I’m simply bewildered that Duke Loigar would think so resentfully about it.”

Then Duke Loigar smiled slightly.

“Who said I was resentful?”

“…”

“Sedric saved the Western Regions, but it’s regrettable that he didn’t receive appropriate compensation for it.”

Because he spoke so nonchalantly, Hailey momentarily couldn’t hide her expression and faltered.

But saying “That’s not what you meant” or once again “Sedric didn’t do it thinking of compensation” would be unsophisticated.

Duke Loigar laughed heartily.

“Western granary…”

He had never mentioned granaries before, yet he said this. Hailey felt her spine tingle.

“It’s fertile, good land.”

A peaceful expression remained on Duke Loigar’s face.

If what Sedric wanted was control over the Western granary region, it was perfectly understandable and negotiable.

It was also advantageous that nothing would immediately leave his hands since it was a right he would grant after becoming Emperor. There were also few concerns about internal competition since no other powerful figures coveted the Western Regions.

Sharing interests by being in the same boat was the form of cooperation Duke Loigar found easiest to understand.

He looked at Duchess Loigar and said.

“Honey, you should invite her soon. After all, you’re closer in age and it would be easier for you to become friends, wouldn’t it? We should also give a gift worthy of such a precious present.”

“Alright.”

“Introduce Lady Hailey to other people too.”

Duke Loigar said this and rose from his seat.

Hailey stood up following him. Duke Loigar said.

“I’m not the salon host, but please stay and enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you for such generous treatment. If you would permit it, could I take a bottle of wine with me?”

“Oh. You must like it.”

“I’m from the North so I don’t know wine well, so I’d like to learn from Her Highness on this occasion.”

At Hailey’s words, Duke Loigar smiled slightly. And he ordered a servant to pack several bottles of wine for her.

* * *

On the way back from the Empress’s Palace, Artizea stopped by a temple.

It wasn’t the Grand Cathedral where she had met Cedric, but a small temple within the capital.

“Do you visit temples often?”

This wasn’t part of the original schedule. Since she had taken a detour to head to the temple, Lisia asked with curiosity.

Artizea hadn’t visited temples much while she was in Evron. It was rather unusual.

She spoke with her eyes closed.

“Just because. Since we have some time.”

“Yes.”

Lisia nodded her head.

“There’s a retired Archbishop at the temple we’re going to. He’s someone who now lives quietly as a monk.”

“Yes.”

“I plan to meet with him. He’s uncommonly upright and lives close to the life of commoners. I thought I’d get some advice about charitable work.”

Artizea had originally planned to entrust Lisia with the charitable work she intended to start alongside the grain business in the Western Regions.

Until now, she had thought there was no need to rush and had given it low priority. But she decided to start quickly. That way, she could naturally send Lisia far away.

And when they arrived at the temple, she encountered an unexpected person.

“Countess Camellia.”

“It’s been a while, Duchess Evron.”

Countess Camellia, wearing a modest brown dress with a veil covering half her face, greeted her warmly.

Artizea’s face hardened. Why would she, who cherished her salon, be here instead of at her salon at this time?

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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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