The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 112

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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 112

“Tia.”

Milaire flinched when she saw Artizea.

However, she soon seemed to make up her mind and approached Artizea with a sharp expression, clenching her fists tightly.

Lisia and Hailey immediately recognized who Milaire was.

She was a woman so beautiful that anyone would have to turn and look.

Youth could no longer be felt in her appearance. Like a flower in full bloom just before withering, she was excessively glamorous, loose, and richly fragrant.

However, no one could deny that beauty.

It was easy to believe that once, men of the highest status in the Empire had thrown themselves at this woman’s feet.

Even now, when her master was decided and no one dared touch even a fingertip, it was understandable that they would pile luxurious gifts at her door.

There couldn’t be two such beauties in this Imperial Palace. This was even more so considering that the Emperor’s private quarters were right behind here.

Milaire immediately approached Artizea.

Hailey hesitated. She had heard that Artizea had cut ties with her mother.

“You are my maids, but you need not pay attention to matters concerning the House of Rosan. Even more so regarding my mother and brother. Pretend you know nothing at all.”

But the other party was the Grand Lady of Marquess Rosan. Considering her title, they couldn’t pretend not to know when she approached.

Even though she had said that to the two who were maids and vassals of Evron, it was unclear what Artizea herself, as her own daughter, intended to do.

Alphonse also showed signs of hesitation.

However, Artizea moved in exactly the same way without showing any sign of disturbance.

Artizea held her head high and took steps forward. Then she calmly passed by Milaire without giving her a glance.

“Tia!”

Milaire called out to her loudly.

Even after hearing this, Artizea still did not turn her gaze.

Instead, Lisia and Alphonse simultaneously blocked her way.

Milaire, filled with rage, raised her hand to slap Lisia’s cheek.

Lisia lightly struck Milaire’s hand away, deflecting it.

She didn’t even think that simply taking the hit would be an easier way to end the situation.

That hand had been swung toward a maid of the Duchess of Evron. She could not allow herself to be struck.

Even if the other party was Artizea’s mother.

The lightly struck hand didn’t hurt. But since no one had ever dared do such a thing to her, Milaire was startled.

And she exploded, screaming.

“You, a mere country girl like you!”

“Grand Lady!”

Hailey cried out in surprise and rushed to Lisia’s side.

Milaire swung her hand again. Lisia frowned and grabbed her wrist, then slowly let it go.

Alphonse slowly inserted himself between the two.

If he, being a knight, carelessly grabbed Milaire and she got bruised somewhere, it would be troublesome. He couldn’t use his hands.

Instead, he became a barrier with his large frame.

Hailey spoke sharply.

“This is rude, Grand Lady of Marquess Rosan.”

“What?”

Milaire asked back as if dumbfounded.

“What do you think you’re doing right now? Are you keeping my daughter captive right now?!”

“There is no etiquette for a subordinate to speak first to a superior, Grand Lady of Marquess Rosan. How dare you, with merely the status of a marquess house, call out to stop the mistress of Evron?”

Hailey said.

“They say you’ve lived in the Imperial Palace for decades, yet you seem unaware of court etiquette that even country girls like us know.”

Realistically, these were words that could not apply between mother and daughter. Moreover, this was even more so for Milaire.

During all the past years, the only people who had dared mention court etiquette to Milaire were the Empress’s maids.

Even Duchess Loigar softened her attitude in front of Milaire.

Milaire’s face turned bright red with indignation, then the color drained away again. She swayed as if she might collapse.

Artizea silently took steps forward.

It was when Lisia and Hailey turned to follow her.

“I was wrong!”

Milaire shouted.

Artizea’s feet stopped.

“M-Mother was wrong. I’m sorry for always getting angry.”

Milaire spoke in a trembling voice.

At first, it was a voice forcibly squeezed out.

However, by the time she finished saying sorry, Milaire was half sobbing.

“I won’t do it again. I won’t interfere with what you want to do, and I won’t get angry in front of others.”

The tears that had gathered in her large eyes finally streamed down her cheeks.

Milaire forgot about her ruined makeup and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Then she cried out loud.

“I’m sorry for always saying harsh things. I’ll never hit you or anything like that again. Mother was wrong. Can’t you forgive me just once?”

Her crying echoed through the corridor. Milaire’s legs gave out and she collapsed.

Without caring about her elaborate dress or others’ eyes, she wept loudly.

Nobles are supposed to not show emotions and always handle things gracefully. However, even the most aristocratic person would find it impossible to despise rather than pity such a pitiful sight.

The escort knights and servants following Artizea became agitated. This was despite knowing how Artizea had been treated by Milaire before marriage.

Hailey looked at Artizea with difficulty. Artizea had an expressionless face that revealed nothing of her inner thoughts.

“Your Grace.”

Lisia carefully called to Artizea.

Artizea slowly turned her steps toward Milaire.

Alphonse stepped back to make way for her.

“Tia.”

Milaire looked up at Artizea while sobbing.

Artizea extended her hand to Lisia. Lisia was startled and quickly handed her a handkerchief.

“Mother.”

Artizea spoke in a calm voice and bent down. Then she pressed the handkerchief to Milaire’s eyes.

A light of hope appeared on Milaire’s face.

But Artizea spoke in a voice that was cruelly calm.

“I didn’t abandon you because you hit me or treated me harshly, Mother.”

“T-Tia…”

“It’s because you’re of no use whatsoever to what I’m trying to accomplish.”

That was truly the truth.

No matter what terrible things Milaire did to her, Artizea had never thought to resent or abandon her.

Even when she was betrayed by Lawrence and dying, she didn’t resent Milaire.

Even when she heard news of Milaire’s death, though she felt there weren’t many emotions left within her, she didn’t think something like “serves her right.”

Milaire read the sincerity in Artizea’s eyes.

“Tia…”

She was devastated.

Artizea placed the handkerchief in Milaire’s hand and straightened up.

“Let’s go.”

As if nothing had happened, Artizea left the place with elegant and dignified steps.

Her attendants, who had briefly cast sympathetic glances at Milaire, soon followed behind Artizea as if they had forgotten.

Milaire wailed on the spot, clutching the handkerchief.

Milaire’s maids could only surround her without being able to sympathize with or touch her.

As soon as she got into the carriage, Artizea sighed. Then she leaned her head against the glass window.

Lisia carefully observed her. Being tired was something that had continued recently. It seemed even more so after arriving in the capital than during the journey.

‘That’s understandable.’

Artizea was moving so much that it made her think life in the homeland had been truly leisurely.

It was the same even when she wasn’t meeting outside guests. People who entered through the back door constantly came and went.

Even during brief moments alone, the brain inside that white forehead would undoubtedly be engaged in complex, unceasing activity.

For Lisia, who was more accustomed to emptying her thoughts and moving with her body, it was beyond imagination.

On top of that, today her heart would not be in a good state either.

Although Artizea had left with a cold expression, Lisia had seen her hands trembling faintly.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“There was no need to be so cold to her…”

Lisia wasn’t saying this out of sympathy for Milaire. On the contrary, Artizea had looked tormented.

Perhaps it would have been easier for Artizea to say she forgave Milaire.

It wasn’t that she wanted forgiveness. There was no need to be deliberately cruel while enduring her own suffering.

It would have been better to simply ignore and forget.

“Coming to the Imperial Palace, didn’t you think about the probability of meeting Mother? I’m fine.”

Artizea answered with her eyes closed.

“It was something I needed to do.”

Lisia’s thoughts were correct.

Artizea hadn’t treated her coldly because of emotional issues.

It wasn’t out of revenge, but to win in political strife.

‘Mother probably understands that much.’

But Milaire would superficially understand that Artizea had chosen the Empress over her.

The fact that it was for power rather than revenge or resentment would make Milaire feel even more miserable.

The Emperor’s words were right. Milaire was a pitiful woman.

She had experienced all the misfortunes that a powerless and beautiful woman could face due to wealth and power.

Milaire was the Emperor’s flower, a beloved cat sitting on his lap. She could be forgiven even for scratching the Emperor’s cheek, but the power she held was not her own.

Artizea also knew why Milaire had given birth to her, why she had kept her alive and raised her.

She had given birth to Artizea because she wanted something that was solely her own.

Due to her impulsive, capricious, and impatient nature, she had acted selfishly and abusively.

However, it was true that she had risked her life to give birth.

Artizea knew that even while Milaire mistreated and cursed her for not being pretty, she had probably resolved not to make her like herself.

That’s why she had deliberately abandoned her as a person in power. So that Milaire would feel like she was being pushed off a cliff.

Artizea could do that to anyone if necessary.

‘How could such a person be a saint? That’s impossible.’

Artizea looked down at her right hand.

A faint light formed like a ring around her index finger.

Though so dim it would be imperceptible unless one looked closely, it was undoubtedly divine power.

There could be no clearer evidence than this.

Artizea extinguished the light before Hailey or Lisia could notice.

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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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