The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 126

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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 126

Artizea was surprised to see the Emperor and bowed in greeting. The young ladies who had followed Artizea also knelt down in unison.

“I am honored. I did not know Your Imperial Majesty was here.”

Lawrence also bowed his head in greeting.

“Have you come, Father?”

“Is it time already?”

“Yes.”

Lawrence hesitated slightly.

He was supposed to escort the Empress today. This was because the Emperor’s attendance today had been uncertain.

If he escorted the Empress at the birthday celebration, it would be like playing the role of a son. Even without formal adoption, that would show that he had an extremely high possibility of becoming the Empress’s adopted son.

After that, an opportunity to have a proper conversation with the Empress would come.

However, if the Emperor attended, the escort would naturally be the Emperor’s role.

Instead of the hesitating Lawrence, Artizea gestured to Skyla.

Skyla opened the lid of the ebony box she was holding. Inside was a red jeweled crown.

“Excellent.”

The Emperor said.

The Emperor knew that this crown was made as a pair. However, he deliberately did not ask where the other one was. He was curious about what Artizea would say in his presence.

If the Emperor did not wear a crown and only the Empress wore one and went out, all the preparations would be ruined.

The Emperor had come suddenly without notice partly because he was curious about this. Would Artizea have prepared both jeweled crowns just in case, even at the risk of the Empress’s displeasure? Or would she have prepared only one, focusing on the Empress?

And Artizea was prepared for both cases.

As Skyla took the crown and stepped aside, this time Hailey came forward holding up an ebony box. Inside was the Emperor’s jeweled crown.

“Did you expect I would come?”

“Even if you did not attend, I thought it would be good to show it to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

That was of course a lie. If the Emperor had not come, there would have been no reason to bring this out at the risk of the Empress’s displeasure. That’s why Hailey had been standing inconspicuously at the very back.

The Emperor knew this but just laughed it off. He could find fault if he wanted to, but this was decent handling of the situation.

“I do not intend to attend the banquet.”

“You’ve come all this way, Father.”

“You and your sister must have plans too, and I don’t want to spoil them unnecessarily. I have seen the Empress’s face, so that is enough.”

Those words, which should have been an affectionate expression, rang as dry as wind from a wasteland.

Lawrence had hoped the Emperor would take out that jeweled crown and place it on the Empress’s head. However, the Emperor did not do so.

“I shall return now.”

The Emperor said. However, the Empress did not return his greeting.

After the Emperor left, the young ladies Artizea had brought chattered like birds as they entered the toilette room.

“Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’s new dress is truly like a jewel!”

Even the older maids seemed to like it. The Empress had given up the glory she should have received for too long.

Lawrence felt awkward in that place. It wasn’t that he had little experience attending women’s toilettes. However, he had rarely received invitations without sexual intent.

He was even less familiar with how to behave in a place where no one paid attention to him and where it was unclear whether he had been invited.

“We should withdraw now.”

Artizea said.

“What about the crown?”

“The maids will prepare it.”

Lawrence nodded. It would be equally strange for him to personally place the crown on the Empress or to watch it being done.

“It will take time to finish the preparations. Brother, you don’t have anything else to prepare, do you?”

“No.”

“Then it would be good for you to rest in the lounge for a while. I’ll send someone when the preparations are finished.”

“Understood.”

Lawrence nodded. Then he said to Artizea.

“You’ve worked hard. You look tired too…”

That’s when it happened.

A young man came running in frantically.

“Lord Lawrence, Lord Lawrence, something terrible has happened!”

“What is it? This is in front of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’s waiting room. Don’t cause a commotion.”

Lawrence scolded with a stern face.

“Lady Milaire, Lady Milaire…!”

The man was too excited to hear those words and shouted.

“She has been arrested by the Imperial Guard!”

Lawrence turned to look at Artizea in surprise. It wasn’t because he thought Artizea would know something. He had just unconsciously looked around.

Artizea looked at Lawrence expressionlessly. Lawrence shuddered slightly.

* * *

At that time, in a carriage in front of the Rosan Estate, Hazel was trembling.

At first, it had been something she started because of curiosity and ambition. Then, because Mielle was sick, she had only come to meet Milaire out of guilt and slight uneasiness.

She had not intended to make such a big deal out of it.

But a few days after visiting the Rosan Estate, a maid came looking for her. Hazel didn’t know the maid at all. The maid spoke with a face mixed with slight fear and anticipation.

“I heard that you are a newspaper reporter, Miss.”

“I’m not a reporter.”

“But you’re the young lady of Belmond Newspapers, aren’t you?”

The maid said she had information about a necromancer that she wanted to sell.

That Milaire often went out alone to meet some old woman who was either a new necromancer or a prophet.

She had a feeling. This was definitely something big.

If she told her parents, they would surely tell her to stop doing foolish things and study hard instead. Moreover, if the other party was the Emperor’s mistress, even more so.

But Hazel felt a kind of responsibility. Since she had made Mielle sick by saying she would write an article, she couldn’t back down now just because she was scared.

Hazel joined hands with a few reporters from Belmond Magazine whom she was friendly with and followed Milaire. And she watched the slum house that she frequented.

And she discovered that this was not just evidence that Milaire believed in superstitions. Because bloodied animals started being thrown away as garbage.

And finally, the necromancer old woman even bought children.

As soon as she realized what those children would be used for, Hazel ran to Kishower.

“Whatever is in the basement of that house, it’s something bad, Uncle. The Marquess Rosan’s wife is someone who believes heavily in superstitions. She’s already killed dogs and cats several times!”

Kishower, as the Emperor’s Imperial Guard knight, was someone who could lead a knight order into any house without permission.

He heard the story from Hazel and immediately raided that estate.

When they broke down the basement door, the stench of blood hit them. A large magic circle was drawn on the floor.

And in the middle of that magic circle, they found children sitting dazedly, drugged.

Milaire saw him and screamed in horror.

“How did you get in here! Who said you could come in!”

Kishower had known even before Hazel spoke that Milaire would do something sinister.

Because Artizea had already hinted to him.

“If Princess Hazel finds out first, she will surely run to Count Kishower. You must catch her.”

If it were a request, it seemed like she would ask him to look after his mother or delay things so she could handle it first, but Artizea said the opposite.

“Count Kishower catching her has the lowest risk. His Majesty thinks Count Kishower has no divided loyalties. As long as you catch her in time, I’ll leave all other specific matters to Count Kishower.”

“Must I arrest her after there are victims?”

“Count Kishower is not someone who could do such a thing. Do what you must do.”

There was no guarantee that the incident would happen in a short time. However, something would definitely happen eventually.

Even if Milaire didn’t move just from being stimulated through Hazel, there were second and third plans.

Kishower had been continuously watching Milaire to prevent victims from appearing.

Thanks to that, he was able to dispatch the knight order immediately as soon as Hazel’s message reached him.

If someone found out about this fact later, it could be bad for Kishower himself.

However, Kishower hoped that Hazel would not be hurt and that greater evil would not accumulate for Artizea.

Kishower did not understand the principles of magic. However, seeing the animals that had died so far, the magic circle drawn with blood, and the children who had been brought out, it was clear what was about to happen.

“Marquess Rosan’s wife.”

He said in a cracked voice.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Who, who told you to come in!”

Milaire struggled desperately.

“Who is it! Did someone follow me? The Empress? How dare you do this when you know who I am?”

Kishower opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Milaire suddenly dropped to her knees on the floor with a thud. She knew what she had been doing.

Milaire clung to Kishower.

“Nothing has happened yet, Count Kishower. I’ll clean it up right away.”

“Marchioness Rosan.”

“Please turn a blind eye just this once. I must have gone mad for a moment. Please don’t tell His Majesty. I’ll do anything. We’ve known each other for a while, haven’t we?”

Kishower let out a long sigh.

“I will report to His Majesty first. That is the greatest kindness I can show you, Marchioness.”

And he had Milaire taken away.

Milaire was quiet at first. But by the time she was dragged out of the house, she was screaming all sorts of curses about the Empress.

The old woman who had been helping Milaire was also dragged away, wailing.

The knights Kishower had brought turned their gazes away as if horrified by the sight of the basement.

Kishower ordered that the children, who were trembling in fear without knowing anything, be wrapped in blankets and taken to his house first.

He posted guards to watch the scene and returned to Hazel’s side.

“Is something really terrible going to happen?”

Hazel asked, trembling with fear. Kishower gently stroked her head and spoke kindly.

“Thanks to you, three children’s lives were saved today. And Marchioness Rosan was stopped before she could commit a grave sin.”

“I, I should have told you sooner.”

“You didn’t know exactly what was happening, did you?”

“Nothing terrible will happen to Duchess Evron because of me, will it? Since they’re mother and daughter, you might use collective punishment.”

“It will be fine.”

Kishower said quietly.

“She would already be prepared for when the Marchioness committed a crime.”

Kishower also told Hazel to stay at his house for now. He thought his manor would be safer for her than Hazel’s own home. He would also need to make excuses to Hazel’s parents.

Hazel nodded obediently. Kishower also sent off the carriage carrying Hazel.

And he himself headed to the Imperial Palace. He had to report directly to the Emperor.

The news reached Artizea and Lawrence about half an hour after this time.

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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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