The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 128

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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 128

Ansgard was startled.

“There’s no need for you to do that, my lady.”

“Ansgard.”

“The person who committed heretical acts is the Grand Duchess of Rosan. Of course, you may feel morally responsible, but strictly speaking, this has nothing to do with you, my lady.”

Artizea had already severed ties with Milaire. Anyone with ears in this capital knew that.

“I can’t hide forever.”

“The priesthood has no authority to interrogate you, my lady. If they really want to pursue this responsibility through collective punishment, they’ll have to drag out Lord Lawrence first. Not you, my lady.”

Ansgard spoke firmly.

“Unless every knight and employee of the Evron Duchy loses their lives, no one will be able to restrain or force you, my lady.”

Artizea felt a little bitter and somewhat sad. She could sense the scars from past events in Ansgard’s attitude.

“Don’t worry, Ansgard. All the temple can do in the end is excommunication.”

“My lady…”

“Excommunication is no small sin. But for it to become a real threat, it would have to lead to the confiscation of property or titles.”

An excommunicated person is stripped of their rights as a member of human society. This was a different matter from being an atheist.

An atheist simply meant someone who lacked faith or had weak faith. But excommunication meant being a grave sinner unworthy of being under God’s grace.

Therefore, all rights are retroactively forfeited.

Thus, even marriage sacraments become null and void. All children born become illegitimate.

If Milaire is excommunicated, Artizea would no longer be a direct descendant of the Rosan Marquess family.

But what of it? Artizea being the legitimate daughter of the Rosan Marquess family was only formal. Since no one thought of her as a real legitimate daughter, it had almost nothing to do with her reputation.

“I’ve already inherited the Rosan Marquess title, so unless other blood relatives file an inheritance lawsuit, there’s no way I’ll lose my title. The Duchess Evron title was obtained through marriage, so it doesn’t matter legally even if I become illegitimate. Since I’m not the one being excommunicated.”

“My lady…”

“Ansgard, if I’m excommunicated, would Evron cast me out?”

“That will never happen.”

Ansgard declared firmly. Artizea smiled.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“My lady.”

“Don’t worry, Ansgard. This is something I’ve already decided.”

When Artizea said that, Ansgard could no longer dissuade her.

His mistress had already made her decision. Any further dissuasion would not be advice but presumptuous nagging.

Artizea separately greeted Marcus. She couldn’t ignore the old butler who had been unable to sleep for days due to worry.

Because this matter was connected to Milaire, Marcus was even more angry and tearful.

He had thought that things had finally stabilized in various ways, and all they had to do was wait for the birth of an heir with peace of mind.

He had finally felt he could forgive and forget even his complicated feelings about Artizea’s birth.

If only a child were born, if only a true legitimate heir were born, then the Rosan Marquess family could truly start anew.

Milaire had ruined that again.

Marcus’s position was different from Ansgard’s. At Evron, they could choose to abandon Artizea if necessary.

“Don’t worry too much. How much money have I donated to the temple so far?”

“My lady…”

Artizea spoke as if joking, but Marcus couldn’t take it so lightly.

Then Artizea looked into Marcus’s eyes and spoke directly.

“The real problem is actually treason, more than mother’s excommunication.”

Marcus bit his lips until they turned white and nodded.

Heretics are excommunicated. Sorcerers are burned at the stake.

But that’s not collective punishment. Everything Lawrence and Artizea would experience due to Milaire’s excommunication would all be indirect.

However, wishing for the Empress’s misfortune and cursing her to die was treason.

Even if Artizea had completely severed ties with Milaire, it would be useless. As long as they were connected by blood, it was a grave crime that would require Artizea and Lawrence to be executed as well. The Evron Duchy and Lawrence’s subordinates would also be implicated and die in prison together.

“His Majesty the Emperor won’t do that. He’s not someone who can’t kill his wife or own son, but there’s no benefit he can gain from doing so.”

“Then Her Majesty the Empress might do something…”

“She no longer has the energy to actively participate in such complex fights. But there is one person who will claim treason with all their might, isn’t there?”

At Artizea’s words, Marcus spoke heavily with bloodshot eyes.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“Let them show off at the temple for now. Until public opinion dies down, being called a heretic is rather better for me. You understand?”

“Yes… It’s frustrating and unfair, but I understand.”

Artizea lightly patted his arm.

Hailey, who had finished preparing to go out, was waiting. She was dressed in what looked like a knight order’s uniform, with a short sword and pistol at her waist. The Evron Duchy’s insignia was attached to her chest.

Artizea was surprised. She didn’t know Hailey had such clothes.

“Hailey?”

“It’s just clothes. I can’t handle a sword well and can’t shoot either.”

With that, Hailey showed the pistol’s magazine. It was empty.

“This role originally belonged to Lisia, but she’s not here now.”

“I was planning to have you watch over the social circles.”

“Leave that to Lord Freil. A maid’s place is close to her master.”

She unhesitatingly passed the important responsibility to Freil. Artizea couldn’t help but laugh.

Hailey said with a slightly reddened face.

“It’s not for Your Highness’s sake. We need to pressure the temple anyway.”

“That’s right.”

“I thought Your Highness going secretly for a conversation rather than waiting for the priesthood to come was to make a big rumor.”

“That too. And Archbishop Akim is someone with strong desires for power and honor. It’s better to save his face.”

“Fights start with momentum. Your Highness probably thinks that showing a submissive appearance this time to boost the temple’s prestige outwardly while gaining only practical benefits inwardly would be enough, but from an Evron person’s perspective, that alone won’t do.”

“If Evron isn’t going to abandon me anyway, there’s no problem with negotiations even without making a show of force. I don’t want to give the outside impression that we’re trying to suppress them with authority and status.”

“We are Evron, Your Highness. Sending Your Highness alone would look stranger.”

That was true.

Hailey added.

“If you’re not convinced, think of it as putting the two old gentlemen’s minds at ease.”

With that said, Artizea had nothing to say.

Hailey had already mobilized the knight order.

In this crisis situation, she looked like a duchess heading to a battlefield, making Artizea suppress a laugh. Hailey looked every bit a general from the outside.

Artizea herself walked to the main gate in simple attire with only Hailey accompanying her.

About ten knights followed behind them, and outside, seventy Evron knights were already waiting with perfect riding preparations.

This number could be considered all the knights assigned to escort duties, excluding those deployed for other administrative or intelligence work.

The priesthood looked somewhat intimidated. Artizea approached Archbishop Akim. He remained expressionless.

“What is the meaning of this, Marquess Rosan?”

“It doesn’t mean I won’t obey the temple, but my household absolutely refuses to let me go alone.”

Artizea said with a genuinely troubled expression.

“You know the temperament of Evron people.”

“Tell them to stand down. Are you trying to intimidate the temple with force?”

Then Alphonse stepped forward and bowed politely.

“How could we have such intentions, Archbishop? We merely wish to fulfill our duties as knights.”

“Only I will be escorted into the temple. The rest will return after escorting me there. We judged that we cannot send Her Highness outside the manor without escort in the current situation.”

Hailey said.

“Are you saying you dare not trust the temple’s protection?”

Archbishop Akim looked at Artizea again with an expressionless face. However, Artizea only maintained a troubled smile without answering.

It was a difficult situation. Archbishop Akim had intended not to let even a maid accompany Artizea. Let alone an armed attendant.

But this knight order was following. It was fortunate enough that they weren’t insisting on all entering the temple together or stationing near the Grand Cathedral.

Thinking that way, even one Hailey seemed like a small problem.

“Very well. Given your noble status, I suppose one maid is unavoidable.”

Archbishop Akim said that and opened the carriage door. It was the small temple carriage he had arrived in.

Artizea didn’t hesitate and boarded the carriage. Hailey followed behind her.

Archbishop Akim was the last to board, and after closing the door, he said.

“From now on, the temple will judge whether each and every action and word of the Marquis is in accordance with the divine will or not.”

“Are you threatening to put Her Highness on heresy trial right now?”

Hailey said.

“Not only the Marquis, but all people live constantly under trial as to whether they are living righteously according to the divine will or not. Please do not take it in a bad way.”

At Archbishop Akim’s words, Artizea could only smile bitterly in her heart.

Soon the carriage departed. The sound of hoofbeats from the Evron Knight Order shook the earth.

Lawrence’s situation was slightly worse than Artizea’s.

Because he was directly involved in the previous human trafficking incident. Moreover, unlike Artizea, he had no one to serve as a shield for him.

His manor on Sabelin Street was surrounded by protesters, just like the Rosan Estate.

Even after Archbishop Akim dispersed the protesters in front of the Rosan Estate, the protesters gathered in front of Lawrence’s manor only grew in number day by day.

Through the open window, torchlight could be seen reaching all the way here. Two weeks had passed since Milaire’s incident broke out, yet the protests only intensified day by day.

It continued day and night. Those who thought Lawrence might escape under cover of darkness were voluntarily surrounding the manor.

‘Foolishly.’

Lawrence frowned.

If he had decided to run away, he would have done so long ago. Even now, if he set his mind to leaving, he could go out anytime. He could exit through secret passages, or he could mobilize guards and servants to break through by force.

But Lawrence had no intention of running away. He thought he had done nothing wrong.

There was no reason for him, the Emperor’s son, to tuck his tail and run away from mere commoners.

“I wish they would disperse them. Has Father’s will still not changed?”

“Rather, it’s the judgment of the working-level officials that it would provoke the protesters.”

Gayan said that expressionlessly.

At least, unlike the Rosan Estate, there had been no attempts to set fire to his manor.

The protesters threw filth at the manor. Gayan instructed his subordinate units that they didn’t need to enthusiastically prevent even that.

The Royal Guards weren’t dedicating all their strength and training daily to do such things in order to build achievements.

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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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