The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 115

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 115

The political situation in the capital was in turmoil.

When news first arrived that Karam had crossed the Thold Mountains to attack Evron Duchy, no one would have thought the situation would spread like this.

Talk that Karam had become tactical, that they had learned to use siege weapons, made people uneasy.

However, even two months after that news first arrived, there was no word that the Told Gate had been breached.

The people of the capital quickly became complacent. The fear that enemies would soon come rushing to the Allia Wall also faded.

And as long as the capital wasn’t breached, the war in the north, the monster waves in the west, and the pirates in the south were all just other people’s problems to them.

The war itself had effectively been pushed to the background. Only occasional rumors came that Duke Evron was struggling.

But Duke Evron had never been defeated since his days as a young general first taking the field. This time too, he would surely defend the northern border admirably.

When the fear of war disappeared, what surfaced was the Emperor’s new disposition.

The Emperor was greatly concerned about the situation in the north. Rumors spread that the frightened Duchess Evron had tearfully appealed before the Emperor.

Hearing those rumors, Hailey and Freil looked at each other with strange expressions.

“Could this be a rumor Her Highness spread?”

“It might be something His Majesty the Emperor said. It wouldn’t sound particularly strange to others. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.”

There had been quite a few cases where duchesses who married into Evron from other regions experienced one war and never went to Evron again.

The story that Duke Evron had sent his wife back out of concern sounded even more plausible.

Either way, to those who knew Artizea, it was both absurd and amusing. The idea that Cedric had sent her back out of concern seemed not entirely wrong either, which made it even more so.

Whether the rumors were true or not wasn’t the important issue. This became even more so when the Emperor began discussing support for the north.

Having gained justification, the Emperor greatly increased military spending. Much of it was supplies for northern support.

Grain, hay, cloth and cotton were requisitioned in large quantities. Some compensation was given, but it was definitely not an amount that could be said to have paid the full original value.

This was even more so considering the resulting rise in prices.

Gunpowder and oil were literally scraped to the bottom. It was no exaggeration to say they collected everything from ammunition for hunting rifles to gunpowder used in mines. A considerable amount of steel was also requisitioned.

If all of that went into Duke Evron’s hands, the nobles would have rather been relieved.

The Emperor was indeed treating Duke Evron more generously than ever before.

It was the season when northern ports were thawing. Much of the supply materials were sent to the north as a priority as soon as they were gathered.

However, gunpowder and oil were somewhat different matters.

Under the pretext of preparing for the possibility of the north being breached, the Emperor stockpiled more than half of it at the Allia Wall.

Under the pretext of preparing for contingencies, the central army and royal guard changed garrisons and kept moving continuously.

This felt extremely threatening to the nobles.

Duke Loigar in particular couldn’t hide his anxiety even with a smiling face. While providing even more supplies than what was being requisitioned, he acted unusually boisterous.

The older nobles remembered the various purges that had occurred in the past.

Even the previous Duke Evron, who commanded an elite knight order despite their small numbers, was framed for treason overnight and executed.

The current Emperor had no need for such measures.

But who was to say he wouldn’t suddenly think he should conduct another purge for his beloved son?

Following Duke Loigar, the landowners of the eastern region collectively provided food and cloth as representatives.

The Emperor divided some of that again to send west, and had Duchess Evron use it for relief grain projects.

Even Countess Camellia was clearly flustered by this.

“The plan to divide and rule the north and west, and the east, center, and south has become completely ruined. Did Duke Evron, no, Duchess Evron have such intentions from the beginning?”

Duke Loigar spoke to Countess Camellia without hiding his displeasure.

Normally he would have shown more respect as a brother-in-law. But now he didn’t seem to have the heart for even that.

Countess Camellia answered with her face turning ashen.

“I have nothing to say, Your Grace.”

“This isn’t something that can end with such words.”

“I think she tried to negotiate with His Majesty the Emperor using the west, but was used in return. After all, Duchess Evron is still young.”

“Used? You mean the current situation? House Evron hasn’t suffered any losses.”

“Haven’t they ended up in a situation where they’ll inevitably suffer losses in the future?”

To Duke Loigar who was frowning, Countess Camellia spoke gently.

“Relief grain projects are inevitably a loss even if they succeed. Duke Evron’s greatest asset, aside from the loyalty of Evron Duchy, is his own clean reputation.”

“…Hmm.”

“The current Western Army is virtually something Duke Evron completely rebuilt. And by leaving it for the west, he won the hearts of the western people.”

Even if the current Western Army defended the west on its own, it would all be Cedric’s achievement.

If the Western Army blocked just two more monster waves, the west would regard Cedric as a guardian deity and naturally kneel before him.

At that point, who had institutional governing rights wouldn’t be an important issue.

Duke Loigar’s willingness to acknowledge dominion over the west had such reasons.

If his trustworthy nephew, an excellent soldier, supported him with the power of the west behind him, nothing could be better.

Duke Loigar thought Cedric could be a lifelong political partner. His disappointment was equally great.

Countess Camellia said.

“Conversely, losing his reputation would be like losing the west too. His Majesty the Emperor has long wanted to damage Duke Evron’s reputation for such reasons. I think Duchess Evron was played in His Majesty the Emperor’s palm.”

“But Evron didn’t suffer much loss, sister-in-law.”

Duke Loigar said.

“Didn’t you agree there would be other negotiation conditions underwater?”

“That wouldn’t be the direction Duchess Evron wanted in the long term.”

Countess Camellia tried to persuade him.

“If she conducts relief grain projects in the west, she could gain considerable interests in the short term. But in the long term, the reputation attached to the name Duke Evron will disappear.”

“Anyway, Cedric has legally obtained interests in the west. Haven’t you considered the possibility he might be content with that?”

He might think he didn’t need to do anything more. And that alone would support the Emperor.

“What do you think about Father Colton participating as an advisor in the western relief grain project at Duchess Evron’s request?”

“I don’t know how Duchess Evron persuaded Father Colton, Your Grace. But that doesn’t mean Evron has completely knelt before His Majesty the Emperor. Rather, considering Father Colton’s character, wasn’t he persuaded precisely because it was the opposite?”

At Countess Camellia’s words, Duke Loigar softened slightly. That was true too. That stubborn old bishop would never work for the Emperor.

“Think of His Majesty the Emperor’s age. Even loyal retainers who have devoted their lives to His Majesty think they must choose one side.”

“Certainly….”

“And Duchess Evron hasn’t even reached her 19th birthday yet. Thinking 20 years ahead, she absolutely cannot stake everything on His Majesty the Emperor.”

Duke Loigar looked at Countess Camellia with eyes mixing suspicion and trust.

Countess Camellia respectfully lowered her eyes. Duke Loigar didn’t suspect her yet. But he seemed to feel some discomfort somewhere in his heart.

He was a perceptive person. He must have sensed the anxiety within Countess Camellia.

“Come to think of it, I heard Skyla went to the Empress’s Palace at Duchess Evron’s request.”

“Yes. She requested unmarried ladies between 17 and 20 with appropriate status who weren’t doing anything particular, without considering factions. About seven would help the maids prepare for the birthday celebration.”

Even those who disliked the Empress, even those who had grudges against the former House of Liagan, wouldn’t decline such an opportunity.

“We should help Skyla. Anyway, it would be troublesome if Her Majesty the Empress came to favor Lawrence.”

Duke Loigar slowly nodded. Then he spoke not as a duke but as a brother-in-law.

“But why are you sighing, sister-in-law?”

Countess Camellia had unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, then was startled and stiffened.

She knew she was making arguments for the sake of argument. The suspicions Duke Loigar had were almost identical to her own.

Nevertheless, Countess Camellia couldn’t help but speak as if making excuses from Artizea’s position.

The moment Duke Loigar judged that Artizea couldn’t be won over, the opportunity cost of previous decisions would become responsibility falling on her.

In such a situation, Skyla had been summoned by Artizea. There was sufficient possibility Duke Loigar would find it suspicious.

And just as she had worried, right now Duke Loigar’s eyes showed displeasure.

Lawrence’s situation was much better than Duke Loigar’s. He wasn’t directly pressured by the Emperor’s moves. From the beginning, those suffering losses this time were the great merchants and high nobles.

He voluntarily provided assets at an appropriate level. Wealthy officials and young nobles who followed Lawrence and weren’t particularly pressured did the same.

The strengthening of imperial power wasn’t much of a loss for Lawrence. But the psychological aspect wasn’t the same.

“It’s a bit frustrating.”

He confided his inner thoughts to Gayan and said so.

“How long does Father intend to keep everything in his hands?”

It was more of a small lament than a question. Gayan spoke consolingly.

“All of that is to pass everything to Lord Lawrence. Please wait a little longer. Once Lord Lawrence takes his legitimate position, His Majesty the Emperor will entrust you with various matters.”

Gayan knew the Emperor wasn’t that kind of person.

However, since Lawrence hadn’t seriously confided his inner thoughts and sought an answer, he just answered that way to humor him.

Viscount Hoden, who was under Lawrence, headed south.

Among his retinue were retainers of various nobles from the Lawrence Faction.

They weren’t going to immediately propose something to the House of Liagan or scheme against them. However, it was too big a matter to leave the judgment to just one person.

It was a wise decision. But at the same time, it was also foolish.

It was wise in the sense that Viscount Hoden wasn’t trustworthy or loyal enough, so it was right to send retainers of various nobles together to monitor him and cross-verify information.

It was foolish because by having multiple people move together, it became impossible to identify who might be a spy when things went wrong.

One of Viscount Hoden’s subordinates met Countess Dearlie Lexen immediately after arriving in the Southern Liagan Duchy.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————