The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 122

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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 122

18.

Henry Kishower’s return came two weeks after Mielle had opened her eyes.

The Emperor looked at Henry Kishower with a slightly puzzled and considerably intrigued expression.

“I hear Mielle has risen from her sickbed? Congratulations.”

“I am deeply honored. There is no way to repay Your Majesty’s grace in sending precious medicine and doctors.”

“It didn’t actually help much, so what. It’s truly fortunate. Congratulations.”

Henry Kishower silently bowed his head to show his gratitude. The Emperor chuckled with amusement.

“But it was somewhat unexpected.”

“Pardon?”

“I thought you would rest a bit longer. Although Mielle is recovering, she hasn’t completely recovered yet, has she? I thought you would want to stay by her side until she was fully cured.”

“The doctor says there will never be a complete cure anyway. Now she can get up and move around comfortably within the manor.”

Henry Kishower said.

“Since friends can come visit her now, it seems uncomfortable for her father to be stuck at home all day.”

“That must be disappointing.”

At the Emperor’s words, Henry Kishower wore a bitter and faint smile.

“Having that child become healthy enough to play with friends was my lifelong wish. If you ask whether I’m disappointed, I can’t say not at all, but she’s about to become an adult now.”

“Hmm.”

“Among her friends, some are already married, so it wouldn’t be good for a parent to keep watching and nagging.”

“She’s certainly of that age.”

The Emperor nodded his head.

“Still, I thought you might retire. Going to recuperate somewhere in the Eastern or Southern regions rather than the bustling capital would be better for Mielle’s health too.”

“I’m considering it. Though it would mean being unable to repay Your Majesty’s grace, that might be better…”

“It’s natural to worry about Mielle more than me.”

Noticing the mischief mixed in the Emperor’s words, the servants held their breath and bowed their heads.

While it seemed like he was formally saying that was natural, it actually implied whether a father’s love took priority over loyalty.

However, Henry Kishower calmly bowed his head despite understanding. He had never once fallen for the Emperor’s test-like pranks.

“It’s because of Your Majesty’s grace that I can care for my daughter.”

“Indeed. That’s the kind of person you are, which is why Tia went so far as to bring the Saint Olga statue.”

As expected, the Emperor knew everything. Having anticipated this, Henry Kishower answered while keeping his head slightly bowed so his bitter smile wouldn’t be noticed.

“I’ve decided to make a new Saint Olga statue from gold and jewels, engrave prayers for Lady Artizea’s and my daughter’s health, and dedicate it to the temple.”

“Oh.”

“It wasn’t a healing miracle or anything… but I think there might have been a little divine protection.”

Henry Kishower said in a low voice.

“I truly hope that statue still holds divine protection. It’s also to express gratitude to Lady Artizea who showed such consideration.”

Lying would be useless against the Emperor.

It was obvious that Artizea lending Mielle the wedding gift she received from the Empress wasn’t due to friendship between them, but because of Henry Kishower’s position.

So Henry Kishower drew a line.

He would offer thanks to God for the miraculous fact that his daughter had opened her eyes, and pray to God for the person who had provided the opportunity.

It was well-reasoned and didn’t cross any boundaries.

At the same time, dedicating a golden Saint statue to the temple with Artizea’s name could serve as an indirect bribe sent to the temple on Artizea’s behalf.

The Emperor lowered his eyelids as if lost in thought for a moment.

Henry Kishower was probably doing this knowingly.

Even the Emperor thought that much could be considered appropriate repayment. Anyway, giving some bribes to the temple wouldn’t be a problem.

Artizea was in charge of the western granary project. Relief work, by its nature, required temple support to proceed smoothly.

While expressing gratitude, he also set limits by restricting his help to her to indirect means only.

The Emperor soon smiled and looked at Henry Kishower.

“I see. But wouldn’t a golden Saint statue be financially burdensome for you?”

“When Mielle has opened her eyes, how could that be a problem? If the Saint Olga statue truly worked a miracle and completely cured her, I would gladly donate all my wealth and enter a monastery barefoot.”

“That won’t do. You should leave something for your wife and children to live on, shouldn’t you?”

The Emperor spoke jokingly and laughed. Then he had a servant bring two gold bars.

“Before you go barefoot, I should give you a congratulatory gift. Use this to help make the new Saint statue.”

“Your grace is overwhelming.”

Henry Kishower knelt and respectfully received it with both hands.

* * *

The Empress’s birthday celebration was prepared smoothly and systematically.

The venue was decided to be Luminous Hall. That three-story building at the front of the Imperial Palace was small but very dignified and beautiful.

It was the first Imperial Palace built in the early days of the Empire, and now only the most important events were held there.

Things like coronations, crown prince investitures, royal weddings, funerals, and triumphal ceremonies for great victories.

Other than those, the annual ceremony of receiving New Year congratulatory envoys from various countries and distributing calendars, and knight investiture ceremonies were customarily held at Luminous Hall.

Even the Emperor’s birthday celebration didn’t use Luminous Hall unless it was a particularly commemorative occasion.

However, the Emperor didn’t object that using Luminous Hall was excessive. There was no justification to pressure the Empress who had opened the palace and emerged after 18 years.

This was especially true since the Empress was in a tug-of-war situation with Lawrence.

Exercising influence over one’s wife for a beloved son, even if illegitimate, was completely different from doing so for a mistress. The former needed to be done more gently, while winning favor.

Artizea carefully selected everything from the banquet hall decorations to the Empress’s clothes and accessories.

Since it was a season of unpredictable weather, both braziers and ice were prepared in case it became cold or hot. Luxurious gifts piled up like mountains.

The Kingdom of Ients decided to delay the release of new fabric until that day.

Not only was it selected for use in the Empress’s birthday dress, but that day could be said to be when the Empress substantially removed mourning clothes for the first time in 18 years. It was a perfect occasion for a debut.

New, beautiful, and expensive things are always popular.

Moreover, with the Empress making a new dress from it and appearing at Luminous Hall, there could be no better publicity than this.

Every wealthy noblewoman sought the new fabric. Even if they couldn’t make dresses as it would be improper, small accessories like fans or gloves would be acceptable.

Men were no exception. Gorgeous fabric that shone like jewels could be used for handkerchiefs or collar decorations. Modest fabric with a subtle shimmer could be made into shirts or cravats.

However, the seamstress workshop thoroughly refused.

The young ladies Artizea had gathered were thorough in such matters. And their parents also helped with the work regardless of faction.

When their daughters had finally been entrusted with important work at the Empress’s Palace, there was no need to displease the Empress over matters of clothing or accessories.

The opponent was an aged Empress who virtually held the authority to invest the crown prince.

Moreover, cases where clothing held such deep meaning as this time would be rare.

Even Duchess Loigar only said with a slightly displeased face, “I wanted to wear it too.”

Of course, not everyone lacked the desire to compete with the Empress in prestige.

“Is it too much to ask for just a few pieces of fabric?”

Crash!

Milaire threw her teacup.

Fortunately, no one was hit directly by the teacup. However, hot tea splashed everywhere.

An apprentice seamstress who got tea splashed on her thigh screamed and collapsed.

Maids and seamstresses were terrified and knelt down.

Noble ladies who caused trouble at the seamstress workshop were by no means few. Looking at what they did to manor maids and workshop staff, it was hard to believe they were the same people rumored to be elegant and dignified.

Milaire was among the worst of them.

She was extremely moody. When she liked clothes, she would buy mother-of-pearl buttons for everyone down to the lowest maids.

However, when there was something she didn’t like, she would tear up every piece of displayed fabric and even cut people’s hair.

So when Milaire came, everyone was in chaos hiding scissors and needles.

Madame Emily quickly gestured for someone to take the burned seamstress inside.

Since the new male apprentice had a handsome face, she had him give explanations, hoping it might help somewhat in calming Milaire’s anger.

However, that degree of effort seemed utterly insufficient to appease her.

“I’m sorry, Marquess Rosan’s wife. But it’s not a problem with the Empress’s Palace – the Kingdom of Ients won’t supply it.”

“You’re supposed to figure out how to handle that. Who am I that I can’t get one dress made? I said I’d pay for it!”

Milaire shouted. Emily spoke like a criminal.

“Originally, Ients doesn’t send enough fabric to complete a full dress until before the official release. We also only received one handkerchief each as samples at most.”

“Are you looking down on me right now?”

“I’ve already contacted all the other seamstress workshops and fabric merchants. If you really want it, I can make it using the fabric for the chest area of the dress or part of the skirt.”

Emily said in a trembling voice.

“Even that way, you would be sufficiently beautiful. If we put it around the collar area, it would be so radiant that you wouldn’t even need to wear a jeweled necklace…”

Milaire would undoubtedly be much more beautiful than the aged Empress wearing an entirely new fabric.

But saying that didn’t seem like it would calm Milaire down. Because she wasn’t trying to compete with the Empress in beauty.

She was too afraid to even mention the Empress’s name.

“Emily, now you’re really making a fool of me?”

Milaire shouted in a sharp voice and stamped her feet.

“Who do you think I am?”

She was on the verge of going mad with rage.

Yesterday she had heard the news that Lawrence was planning to make two carnation petal-shaped jeweled crowns to present to the Emperor and Empress respectively. And that Artizea had commissioned them.

Milaire had rushed to Lawrence’s manor on Sabelin Street, filled with resentment.

However, Lawrence wouldn’t even meet with her. Lawrence’s butler issued an order to leave with an awkward yet polite attitude.

“I apologize, Madam. My master has been very busy lately. If you return and stay quietly at the Rosan Estate, he says he will visit when he has time.”

Milaire had no one to complain to.

Artizea, who would keep any secret she told, was no longer at home.

The employees of the Evron Ducal Residence never conveyed news of Milaire’s visits to Artizea.

At that house, Milaire couldn’t even hear the butler’s order to leave. Because a knight pointed his sword at her at the main gate and told her to go back.

She couldn’t tell the Emperor either.

If something really went wrong with Lawrence because of that, then who on earth could she depend on to live?

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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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