The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 133

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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 133

Artizea waited one more day.

However, Archbishop Akim never summoned her again.

Artizea had left open the possibility that he might change his mind. She also held a small hope that the Archbishop or Bishop Nicos might dissuade Archbishop Akim.

But on the contrary, he seemed determined to move forward while completely excluding her.

This was because he was convinced that he wouldn’t be able to extract any plausible evidence from Artizea or make her slip up.

Artizea was able to have good meals and eat delicious snacks that weren’t much different from those at the Duke’s residence.

Someone must have whispered to the priests who were watching, as she was allowed to take walks in the courtyard at least. This probably wasn’t something Archbishop Akim had permitted.

However, the next day she was once again required to repent.

Artizea entered the small prayer room and closed the door. Then she knelt down facing the holy statue.

She had no intention of repenting, let alone praying, but the space itself wasn’t bad.

The scent of burning incense mixed with the smell of old wood created a profound and tranquil atmosphere.

It was perfect for concentrating on her thoughts.

“If I’m not careful, I might end up concentrating on my worries too.”

Her muttered words echoed inside the prayer room.

The problem wasn’t the prayer room itself, but the very fact that repentance was being demanded.

Repentance is something one does voluntarily. Unless one was a criminal of the temple, such things couldn’t be forced.

Archbishop Akim must have already suspected that this kind of pressure wouldn’t work.

It might have been a matter of pride.

Someone like Archbishop Akim wouldn’t be able to stand the fact that he couldn’t control a girl who was only one-third his age.

‘That was ultimately the problem with how he tormented Lisia too.’

It must have been difficult for Archbishop Akim to understand as well.

If she listened to him, there would be personal glory, and she could also demonstrate divine authority. So why did Lisia refuse and not follow him?

‘What should I do?’

The quickest solution would be to reveal the fact that she was a saint.

Then this problem would end immediately. There was no one anywhere who could call a saint a heretic.

They couldn’t frame her for treason either. Especially in the temple, they absolutely couldn’t even mention such words.

Archbishop Akim would immediately turn to her side.

Artizea’s position was different from Lisia’s. When making decisions, whether something was right or wrong, whether that person was good or evil – these weren’t particularly important factors.

So drawing out Archbishop Akim’s loyalty wouldn’t be that difficult. After all, he was someone who had once been a good business partner of Artizea’s.

Just the fact that the saint was the Duchess of Evron would be quite a satisfactory result for him.

And if she became Empress, it would be even better. So he would immediately flip his position and work to put Cedric on the emperor’s throne.

But Artizea didn’t want to do that.

Someone like Archbishop Akim didn’t suit Cedric.

Moreover, if she let him achieve merit, he would become a headache in the future.

Then should she contact Bishop Nicos instead?

This was a more cautious approach. If Artizea didn’t want to be exposed publicly, this would be much better.

The majority of priests were stability-oriented.

While they wanted to raise the temple’s authority, they didn’t want to actively step forward and fight secular power like Archbishop Akim.

This was because they could enjoy a reasonable degree of respect and considerable wealth without having to take risks.

Rather, staying on friendly terms with the Imperial family was better for gaining formal respect.

The Archbishop was no exception. It was precisely because of this that he had been able to rise to the position of Archbishop without anyone’s opposition.

If she escalated the conflict and provided appropriate justification, she could gain their cooperation to suppress Archbishop Akim.

‘The problem is that Archbishop Akim’s principles of action are mixed with personal emotions.’

He might not admit it himself, but it was certainly true.

When someone who prides themselves on being rational acts emotionally, persuading them is no easy task. Because they would have finished rationalizing to themselves.

If the Archbishop could have easily stopped Archbishop Akim, he would have done so already.

To use those who dislike fighting requires a very careful approach.

Artizea didn’t think she could control everything.

The actions of people who act logically and move for power can be predicted.

Even someone like Milaire, who moves purely on emotion, becomes predictable through observation.

But thinking that she could completely predict the actions of someone as complex as Archbishop Akim would be foolish.

He had constructed his real motives and internal logic separately from each other.

Artizea couldn’t be certain which one he would follow.

She had already caused one error. There was no guarantee it wouldn’t grow larger.

‘The variable of being a saint is too big to handle easily.’

It would be troublesome if Archbishop Akim boldly proceeded while she was acting calmly and cautiously.

In a situation like now, where she was confined and only getting limited information, she couldn’t respond accurately.

And Artizea’s position was also slightly different from before. If things went wrong, she couldn’t just bluntly say she could separate herself from Cedric through divorce.

‘Let’s finish this quickly after all. I’ll sleep soundly for a few days. I was tired anyway.’

Artizea looked down at the ring she was wearing.

In case of emergency, she had worn a pearl ring she didn’t usually wear. The pearl was fake, with a mild drug inside. It was a somewhat strong sleeping pill.

For an ordinary person, they would wake up around the next evening. Or they might sleep through the whole day and wake up on the second morning.

It affected Artizea more severely. If she drank it before sleeping, she wouldn’t wake up for two or three days.

She had accumulated fatigue too. She couldn’t even remember when she had last slept well.

Anxiety about not being able to personally direct urgent situations remained.

But she had given Hailey instructions for various contingencies, and Freil was there too, so it would be fine.

It wasn’t her intention to worry Ansgard and Marcus, but this was the quickest method.

However, Artizea didn’t get the chance to drink that medicine.

It was when she stood up, having decided to drink it before sleeping that evening.

Her vision spun. She thought it was the usual orthostatic hypotension, but the condition was more serious than that.

Her vision went completely dark for a moment. Artizea tried to grab and lean against the altar, but she couldn’t.

‘Ah.’

Artizea collapsed with a thud.

Hailey, who was waiting right next to the prayer room door, heard that sound.

She urgently opened the door. And she discovered Artizea collapsed.

“Doctor!”

Hailey rushed inside while shouting.

“Call a doctor!”

The two priests who had been pacing around a little distance away, watching over the two of them, heard that sound and panicked.

Hailey hurriedly loosened Artizea’s clothing. It was to help her breathe more easily.

Then she put her hand under her nose to check. Her breath was hot and irregular.

“I told you to call a doctor! What are you doing?”

When she shouted, one priest jumped in surprise and ran outside. Hailey yelled at the other priest.

“Bring water! Go to the kitchen and bring salt and sugar too! What are you doing after making someone with a weak constitution like this!”

That priest was also terrified. He had been told by Archbishop Akim not to leave his post and to watch over the two of them, but it didn’t seem like the situation for that.

Hailey slapped Artizea’s cheeks several times. However, consciousness didn’t return. It didn’t seem like simple fainting.

“Your Highness! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Hailey burst out in resentment in a low voice.

No wonder she had said such things the night before.

“If something happens to me, try contacting Bishop Nicos through the kitchen. Bishop Nicos’s side probably planted someone in the kitchen to observe us.”

“There’s no way something like ‘if something happens’ would happen to Your Highness.”

“Do you think even I know everything in the world? I said ‘if something happens.’ My condition isn’t very good. You know I don’t have the stamina to endure long in a place like this.”

Then Artizea had said:

“When we get out of here, contact Father Colton in the west as quickly as possible and inform him of everything that happened here. Leave nothing out. That’s the most urgent thing. After that, appeal to the Archbishop.”

“Yes.”

“Control the knights so it doesn’t become excessive conflict. I don’t want it to become a fight, but rather for Archbishop Akim to step down and another priest to take charge of this matter.”

Artizea had said “if something happens,” but there was absolutely no way that wouldn’t happen. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given such instructions in advance.

Hailey set Artizea down on the floor, her face flushed red with fury.

She could easily guess what Artizea was thinking.

The frail Grand Duchess had voluntarily come to cooperate with the temple, only to be essentially imprisoned. And she had been forced to repent, kneeling in a cramped prayer room until she collapsed.

This was more than enough for Evron to raise objections. Even the moderate Archbishop would have no choice but to hold Archbishop Akim accountable.

The citizens who had been favorable to her and Evron from the beginning would surely harbor suspicions about Archbishop Akim.

There had also been instructions to contact Father Colton. This was undoubtedly to empower Archbishop Akim’s opposition within the temple.

As expected, it was Artizea who didn’t know her limits.

She needed to understand just how far Evron could go for her sake.

Would Cedric have executed Aubrey and banished Jordin for someone he could so easily sacrifice?

Artizea had told her to control the knights to prevent excessive conflict, but Hailey had no intention of doing so.

She was determined to act in a very Evron-like manner.

She ran out to the corridor and pulled out a signal flare.

She lit the signal flare and stuck it into the ground. The flare made a hissing sound as it emitted yellow smoke.

* * *

At that moment, Cedric was at the Evron Ducal Residence in the capital.

“What happened? How did you arrive so suddenly without any word…”

Ansgard hurriedly greeted him in surprise as he entered through the back door.

“I was lucky. I came by sea route, and the weather was good for three whole weeks with incredibly strong tailwinds.”

Ansgard nodded.

“Where is Tia?”

That was what Cedric asked next.

“We sent messenger birds several times. Didn’t you receive them?”

“I was in such a hurry to get here that the last one I received was before departure. I set sail immediately after hearing that Milaire had caused a major incident.”

“And you heard nothing at the port?”

Cedric tilted his head.

Ansgard sighed.

“It seems the news hasn’t reached there yet due to the distance. We didn’t specifically notify the port area. Her Highness has been at the temple since the day before yesterday.”

“The temple?”

“There was a request for cooperation regarding the investigation of the Rosan Estate. Her Highness thought it would be an opportunity to secretly discuss matters with the temple and went there. But the atmosphere seems strange.”

Just then.

The sound of the knight order rushing out from the main gate could be heard.

Cedric’s expression hardened.

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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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