The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 114

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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 114

Alice helped her up while saying.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“One of our informants at the Marquess Camellia’s house was discovered. The young lady contacted us through that person.”

Artizea did not scold Alice. Instead, she gently patted her arm to say it was okay.

“Such informants know about each other but pretend not to. You also know who Countess Camellia has planted in our house, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“So it’s fine.”

Artizea said affectionately.

However, the fact that Skyla had come to see her secretly was certainly surprising.

If something necessary arose, she had thought that Countess Camellia would contact her directly.

Alice hurriedly brought a thick cloak. Then she draped the cloak over Artizea’s nightgown. The cloak reached down to her ankles.

“I had her wait in the sun room.”

“Well done.”

Artizea changed her shoes and slowly followed Alice out of the bedroom.

Normally, several maids should have been waiting in the side room in case of summons. But thanks to Alice clearing people away in advance, there was no one now.

Using the secret passages inside the manor, Artizea slipped out to the garden without meeting anyone.

If she had come to meet through Alice without going through the main gate, whatever the purpose of that meeting or whatever the outcome, it was better to keep it secret for now.

Skyla was wearing a black cloak not much different from Artizea’s.

The clothes she wore underneath also seemed modest, as even the hem of her skirt was not puffy at all. There was no makeup on her face.

“I apologize for visiting so suddenly, Your Highness the Duchess.”

“If it had been an inconvenient situation, I would have turned you away. However, I cannot deny the fact that making an appointment first would have been a more elegant method that wouldn’t inconvenience the other party.”

“I’m sorry.”

Skyla apologized with an honest attitude. Artizea was a little surprised.

“Please forgive me, as coming so suddenly was definitely not to take advantage of when Your Highness was tired. It’s because opportunities to visit you while avoiding my mother’s eyes don’t seem like they would be common.”

“Avoiding the Countess’s eyes?”

Artizea asked back in puzzlement. Skyla answered.

“Yes, my mother is currently at Duke Loigar’s mansion. An urgent meeting was called because of the conversation that took place when Your Highness had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I see.”

It would be about the conscription order and grain loan project that the Emperor would issue.

And she could also guess why Skyla had come.

Countess Camellia was subordinate to Duchess Loigar.

Even if in reality Duchess Loigar had almost no political views to speak of and obediently followed what Countess Camellia said.

More deeply, in terms of the actual relationship, the real master was her father, Marquess Luden.

That was something unbearable for Skyla.

Skyla respected and loved her mother. That’s why she disagreed with Countess Camellia. What was natural for Countess Camellia and worth enduring for her children’s sake might not be so for Skyla.

However, Artizea did not bother to speak up first. The one in need was Skyla.

Skyla fidgeted with the handkerchief she was holding while looking down. It was because sweat kept forming in her hands due to nervousness.

Artizea looked at those hands. Finally, Skyla spoke first.

“I want to accept Your Highness’s proposal.”

“I’ve never proposed anything, Lady Skyla.”

“Your Highness hinted to my mother about the possibility of opening a path to Karam.”

“….”

“Are you saying there was no intention in mentioning that before even asking His Majesty the Emperor for support for the Evron Duchy?”

“That was because I happened to encounter Countess Camellia that day. I’m ashamed of having emotionally confided while frightened, Lady Skyla.”

Artizea’s face as she said this was calm and bright, showing no sign of being frightened or emotional at all.

So Skyla was convinced that she had done it on purpose.

She even suspected that perhaps going to the temple was not purely Countess Camellia’s intention but something induced by Artizea.

However, she could not pursue this. She had neither the standing nor the ability to dare do so.

Skyla bowed her head politely.

“I know that Your Highness has shown us another path.”

“Lady Skyla.”

“I don’t think Duke Loigar is the only choice.”

Skyla’s way of speaking was still rough. Her expression was not fully controlled either.

But Artizea thought satisfactorily.

Skyla was still young and had grown up under a capable mother. She probably had never decided anything according to her own will yet.

She would have negotiation experience, but probably only experienced it as training with Countess Camellia as her backing.

Still, this was quite excellent. Just by coming to meet her secretly, she had proven that she could fulfill her role as the young Countess Camellia.

Artizea smiled and said.

“Duke Loigar is a strong candidate for the next emperor, and then the Duchess will become Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes.”

“And unlike Emperor Gregor, Duke Loigar loves and cherishes Your Highness without considering you a political enemy.”

“That’s right. But that way, my mother will never be able to escape from my aunt. And I learned that it’s right to create multiple paths.”

“The Marquess Luden house was the Empress’s family and will become the next Emperor’s maternal family. Is there really a need to escape from that shadow?”

“Of course, I don’t mean to say I want to betray my grandfather and aunt. I love my aunt, and I don’t wish for Duke Loigar to fail either.”

Skyla said.

“But that doesn’t mean the Marquess Camellia house is the same family as the Marquess Luden house, nor that we must necessarily share our fate with the Duke Loigar house.”

Skyla did not want to do that.

Rewards for devotion do not always follow.

Marquess Luden thinks he bought her life just by acknowledging Countess Camellia as his daughter.

So it was natural for her to devote herself to the Marquess Luden house and Duchess Loigar until she died.

And he also considered the Marquess Camellia house as his own.

The current Marquess Camellia was the fourth son born to a commoner second wife.

There were three heirs above him without any flaws, and the Marquess was not particularly ambitious by nature.

Marquess Luden made him the heir through conspiracy.

Though declined, Camellia was still a marquess house. It was perfect as a status for the sister who would care for Duchess Loigar, and the Marquess was timid and easy to manipulate.

He had made people of lowly blood into a marquess couple. So it was natural to mortgage even the life of the child born between them. Marquess Luden thought this way.

Of course, Countess Camellia’s position was different.

“We both have flaws, but you don’t, Skyla.”

Countess Camellia used to say that.

“You are a true marquess’s daughter and will become a marquess. So you must be confident.”

Even while saying that, Skyla thought her mother was too bound to her grandfather.

Skyla thought there was no need for that. Whatever happened in the past, she was the legitimately born heir of a marquess house.

Her mother was caring for Duchess Loigar as her grandfather demanded. She fulfilled not only her role as a sister but also as a servant.

The Marquess Camellia house was an ally of the Duke Loigar house, and Countess Camellia was also a capable advisor.

Wasn’t that enough? There was no reason to submit further than that.

The Marquess Camellia house should move for Camellia itself.

Skyla said.

“I cannot be certain who Your Highness has in mind. Even if you join hands with Duke Loigar, you would keep the Marquess Luden house in check, and if not….”

If it was something her mother could not do, then she could do it. It was not something she could not do as the young Countess Camellia either.

“When Duke Loigar is defeated, you could become a path for our family to survive.”

Like all other nobles, Skyla did not want Duke Loigar’s one-sided and complete victory.

She also did not wish to fall together when defeated.

Artizea quietly fell into thought.

The sun had set and the sun room was already dark. A thrush cried out with a chirping sound.

Alice quietly approached and brought several more candles.

Skyla waited tensely for Artizea’s words.

“I’m pleased that you have spoken your mind openly. Having many friends is never a bad thing.”

Skyla flinched at the word friend. Artizea smiled.

“There’s nothing strange about it, is there? You’re around my age.”

“How could I dare become friends with the mistress of Evron?”

“That’s exactly what’s good about it, Lady Skyla. You are the young marquess of Camellia, but conversely speaking, you’re merely a young marquess. It’s still uncertain which one Marquess Luden favors more between your younger brother and you.”

Skyla flinched.

However, she didn’t become angry or anxious about the weakness Artizea had pointed out. After all, Artizea had deliberately said such things for that very purpose.

Artizea spoke in a gentle voice.

“The relationship between Evron and Camellia can’t be spoken of carelessly, but as friends, we could meet openly and have conversations. Occasionally, we could even make requests for each other’s sake.”

“Ah.”

Realizing that the core lay in that ‘request,’ Skyla exclaimed.

“I have very few friends, so please don’t refuse my words, Lady.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Skyla bowed her head.

Under the name of friendship, they could continue their relationship without being allies. Even if their association deepened, they wouldn’t have to bear any mutual responsibility.

Being young peers was advantageous in this regard. There was no reason not to take advantage of it.

And in the process of sharing friendship, she would naturally keep the House of Luden in check and also do what Artizea required.

Whether leaking information or extracting it.

“Since you’re here, there’s something I’d like to propose to you, Lady.”

“Whatever you say, if it’s a request as a friend, how could there be anything I couldn’t grant?”

“This year, I plan to hold a birthday celebration for Her Majesty the Empress. But as the youngest among the ladies-in-waiting, I can’t make even small requests to my seniors, so I was planning to choose from among noble ladies who aren’t yet bearing responsibility for their families.”

“Yes.”

“Lady Skyla seems appropriate both in terms of status and ability.”

Skyla nodded.

This aligned with Duke Loigar’s wishes to gauge the Empress’s feelings, and it was also a position where she could legitimately make contact with Artizea from closer proximity.

“I’ll send a formal request to the Marquess Camellia family soon. I’m letting you know in advance.”

“Thank you for entrusting me with such an important role, Your Highness.”

Artizea didn’t correct that form of address. After all, the word friend was merely a public pretext.

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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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