The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 108

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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 108

16.

Amallie Harper was the last person to arrive.

Lawrence didn’t come out to greet her, but he stood up from his seat when Amallie entered. For his arrogant nature, this was showing proper courtesy.

“Welcome, Lord Harper.”

“Seeing that you’ve called so many people together, there must be important business, Lord Lawrence.”

“There has been a response from the Empress.”

Gayan answered instead of Lawrence. He was one of the Emperor’s guard knights.

Amallie slowly looked around the gathering. All the nobles who supported Lawrence and could offer opinions were present. Only Count Eison, who had completely lost his influence due to last year’s incident, was absent.

When Amallie took her seat, a servant respectfully placed simple refreshments and wine in front of her.

Since Amallie didn’t enjoy drinking, she only glanced at the glass and didn’t touch it.

Unlike the gatherings held at Duke Loigar’s mansion, there was no elegance, subtle words, or luxurious music here. Few among those present preferred such things.

Amallie was the same.

Amallie was from the Western Army. Her first distinguished service was during the monster wave 28 years ago. At that time, she was a 22-year-old young lower knight.

That year’s monster wave was exceptionally more severe than other times. More than twice the usual number of monsters rushed in at rapid speed.

In less than two months, all the western strongholds had collapsed.

The situation was so serious that Emperor Gregor didn’t even think about checks and balances and quickly deployed the central army.

However, because they were swept away so quickly, a considerable number of units that had been at the front were isolated among the monster hordes.

Amallie was one of them.

She learned for the first time what kind of person she was in the face of death.

Amallie killed her incompetent commander and took control of the unit. Then she rescued other units that had fallen into hell and merged with them, increasing her military strength while safely retreating and reducing the number of monsters.

When she met and joined with the central army’s defense line, Amallie had become the most important commander in the Western Army.

Emperor Gregor offered her the position of Chief of Staff of the Military Department and the title of Count.

Amallie chose to become the Emperor’s favorite minister instead of remaining in the west to protect her power and connections while facing pressure from the Empire. She felt it was safer and more profitable.

The Emperor treated Amallie without any shortcomings. The title she received was not hereditary. However, for 28 years, Amallie sat alongside counts and could have private audiences with the Emperor at any time. She enjoyed wealth and honor.

However, Amallie always felt that she was different from those who had been nobles from birth. There were comrades who had become completely soaked in luxury and pleasure to their bones, but she was not one of them.

When she hadn’t experienced it, she had yearned for the capital’s social circles.

But after actually living within it, she only learned that she could never blend into that life.

It wasn’t just her—a considerable number of those present felt the same way.

They were fundamentally incompatible with the perfectly aristocratic Lawrence. They simply had no other choice.

Among those who supported Lawrence, there weren’t many traditional great nobles. In that respect, they were at the opposite end from the Loigar faction.

In fact, given the characteristics of noble families that valued legitimate lineage, not many could overlook Lawrence’s birth.

Lawrence was friendly with many young nobles, but playmates don’t provide political support.

Gayan spoke.

“For Lord Harper who arrived late, let me summarize and explain again. Her Majesty the Empress is said to want House Riagan. Of course, that ‘want’ couldn’t simply mean she desires reconciliation.”

“Do you mean she practically wants to reclaim the ducal house?”

At someone’s question, a brief silence fell over the gathering. This was an extremely sensitive matter.

The Emperor had never officially clarified his relationship with the current Duke Riagan. The death of the previous ducal couple was also officially just an accident.

It was a secret everyone knew. But it was also a secret they couldn’t pretend not to know.

One person carefully pointed out only the facts.

“Her Majesty the Empress cannot reclaim the title of Duke Riagan. She has already renounced succession to the title.”

“However, she is the legitimate daughter. The bloodline starting from the current Duke Riagan being recognized as a new legitimate line would happen after Her Majesty the Empress passes away.”

“You said the Duchess of Evron mentioned marriage?”

Lawrence nodded at that question.

“That’s why I was thinking we could have House Riagan adopt a daughter and arrange a marriage.”

He tapped the table. People focused on him.

“I know that His Majesty caused Her Majesty the Empress to feel hurt over the matter of the previous Duke and Duchess Riagan. However, isn’t it the consensus among you gentlemen that Her Majesty the Empress also doesn’t want House Riagan’s honor to scatter into thin air?”

“That is true, but.”

“Then wouldn’t it be best to find a relative favored by Her Majesty the Empress, someone she wants to pass the ducal title to, and have them inherit it? The current Duke Riagan can’t maintain his title through his own power anyway.”

That way, everyone would benefit.

House Riagan would become a family that produced empresses for two generations, and Lawrence could gain the Empress’s recognition and the backing of House Riagan’s name and wealth.

The Empress would be able to pass House Riagan to the person she wanted.

Of course, it would be an unwelcome matter for the current Duke Riagan. He would want to pass the title to his own child and properly build a new House Riagan.

“It’s difficult to think that’s the Empress’s direct intention. Didn’t the Duchess of Evron only say she would ask Her Majesty the Empress about potential brides?”

Gayan said.

Amallie recalled her meeting with the Duchess of Evron.

“Think again. Unless you want to be discarded after serving your purpose.”

A few weeks ago, after receiving Artizea’s letter, she had traveled alone.

And she met Artizea in a small northern town three days’ journey from the capital. This was when the party returning from Evron Duchy had not yet reached the capital.

Not even a few minutes into their conversation, those words came out, and Amallie asked in bewilderment.

“Did you say discarded after serving my purpose?”

“Brother Lawrence is someone who doesn’t know how to be grateful to others. He takes it for granted when others offer him something. He’s lived that way his entire life.”

Artizea spoke in a gentle voice.

“You don’t need to give me principled words about how loyalty isn’t done to receive gratitude. I know why you chose Brother Lawrence.”

There were two reasons why the Emperor’s favorites, including Amallie, supported Lawrence.

First was that the Emperor’s will favored Lawrence.

There were ambiguous aspects to the Emperor’s attitude. He never directly mentioned succession to his court ministers, though he might to the servants who stayed close by his side.

He couldn’t bear any more political burden. As Emperor, even supporting Lawrence, a bastard, this much was already a great burden, no matter how he had no legitimate sons.

But given the Emperor’s nature, it was certain he would try to pass the throne to someone with even slightly close blood ties.

The wiser ministers who knew the Emperor well understood this point clearly.

Second was that the people in Duke Loigar’s faction and the Emperor’s favorites were like oil and water to each other.

Emperor Gregor had checked the great nobles while selecting talent from minor provincial nobles or commoners. He wanted only his own favor and trust to be the source of power.

If Duke Loigar ascended to the throne, they would be eliminated by the great nobles who had regarded them as thorns in their eyes until now.

Even if they supported him, it would be nearly impossible to have their achievements recognized among the powerful nobles, including Marquess Luden.

“But you should think the opposite. Whether it’s Duke Loigar or Brother Lawrence, after ascending the throne, they’ll try to elevate imperial authority, and at that time, the greatest obstacle will be the meritorious subjects. Brother won’t tolerate anyone who tries to block him by citing past merits.”

“You speak with great certainty.”

Artizea smiled faintly and didn’t answer that.

And she spoke referring not to Amallie alone, but to all people in her position as one group.

“The biggest problem with ‘you all’ is that the moment Brother ascends the throne, grasps the crown, and gains legitimacy, the power to oppose him will be completely gone.”

“But it’s not as if there are other choices available.”

When considering the post-coronation period, Amallie also knew there was a possibility of being employed by Duke Loigar instead.

Eventually, when fighting the great nobles including Marquess Luden who would become meritorious families, someone would be needed to step forward and become the Emperor’s hands and feet.

Just as Emperor Gregor had done until now.

Nevertheless, Amallie couldn’t choose Duke Loigar. There was no guarantee she would survive until then.

She didn’t have the strength to endure decades of pressure like the great nobles.

“All the power and authority ‘we’ have comes from His Majesty the Emperor. Knowing this, I chose to become His Majesty’s subject rather than a western warlord. At that time, I had already given up on forming my own power base.”

“You’re not going to speak of loyalty…”

“It means we cannot have real power without someone to back us. There was a reason why lords in the past wouldn’t hand over even the poorest territories to the Emperor.”

Artizea smiled.

“Do you regret the choice you made in your youth?”

“I don’t regret it. I am a soldier, Your Grace the Duchess of Evron. Someone who follows others’ orders and achieves tactical victories within the environment others provide.”

“So Brother Lawrence represents the possibility of tactical victory that Lord Harper envisions.”

“That’s right. Duke Loigar is a merchant and politician. He’s even less trustworthy than Lord Lawrence.”

“The limitation of a tactician.”

At those words, Amallie looked at Artizea with a serious expression.

“Why do you say such things, Your Grace? Lord Lawrence is your own brother.”

“The Emperor’s position isn’t light enough to support unconditionally just because we’re siblings.”

“While it’s difficult to call Lord Lawrence excellent royal material, he’s not foolish. It’s more common for monarchs to indulge in pleasures than not. He has arrogant and cruel aspects, but those are merely personal flaws. Governance is a separate matter from that.”

“My brother feels inferior and resentful.”

There was a time when Artizea had thought like Amelie. She believed it even more because Emperor Gregor had similar aspects.

“He thinks he was robbed of the crown prince position that he should have naturally obtained. That’s why he’s never grateful for anything he receives. He feels that the world should originally belong to him.”

Artizea thought that if he had been born as a real prince, perhaps he wouldn’t have become so twisted.

“He’ll refuse to listen to wise people’s words, hate those with achievements, and distance himself from people with legitimate positions. Eventually, he’ll consciously gather flatterers around him and enjoy wielding everyone according to his whims, feeling superior not just in position but as an individual.”

“Then does Your Highness intend to support Duke Loigar? Does Prince Evron share the same intention?”

Amelie wondered if this meeting was Artizea giving her a chance to switch sides.

But Artizea looked at Amelie quietly and spoke gently.

“There’s no need for that when there’s someone who rewards loyalty in equal measure, grants proper honor for achievements, doesn’t envy his subjects, and never betrays trust.”

Amelie shuddered.

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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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