The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 134

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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 134

 

Archbishop Akim was sitting face to face with Countess Camellia.

 

Though it was an unscheduled visit, Archbishop Akim wasn’t surprised.

 

He was well aware that Countess Camellia was very concerned about Artizea.

 

Even when the secret agreement was made between Archbishop Akim and Duke Loigar, Countess Camellia had reacted very sensitively.

 

Duke Loigar and Archbishop Akim had already agreed to take a relatively soft approach toward Artizea herself.

 

What Duke Loigar wanted was for Lawrence to be framed for treason. Artizea was merely a stepping stone to draw out Lawrence.

 

Although Artizea had recently been receiving the Emperor’s favor, there was a clear gap between her and Milaire in her prime or his legitimate children.

 

There was no need to push Artizea to extremes at the risk of creating resentment with Cedric.

 

His desire to gain Cedric’s support hadn’t changed yet.

 

However, unlike before, he wanted to extend his hand from a more advantageous position. He was no longer in such a weak position that he desperately needed Cedric’s support like before.

 

If he could deepen the resentment between the Emperor and Cedric in the process, that would be even better.

 

And having his wife involved in treason would remind him of his parents’ grudge.

 

That’s why he wanted the evidence of this treason to come from the temple’s side.

 

He would force the Emperor to execute the entire Marquess Rosan family, including Milaire and Lawrence, for treason.

 

And in that process, he intended to create a debt of gratitude by rescuing Artizea.

 

Cedric was far from such conspiracies and schemes. And he didn’t have any strategists to supplement that aspect either.

 

It seemed Artizea was starting to play that role to some extent, but she was still young and a party to the matter herself.

 

Duke Loigar thought he could prevent her from noticing sufficiently.

 

Archbishop Akim had no reason to oppose if Duke Loigar had decided so.

 

After all, what he needed was justification to drive out Father Colton. Artizea herself didn’t matter either way.

 

Once they drove Artizea out of central politics in that manner, no matter how great her financial resources, she wouldn’t be able to openly support Father Colton.

 

If Father Colton still received Artizea’s support after that, it would also provide grounds for criticism, which wouldn’t be bad.

 

But Countess Camellia had opposed their intentions.

 

If they had decided to attack Artizea, they shouldn’t do it half-heartedly but should eliminate her completely.

 

And Archbishop Akim was finally beginning to understand the reason.

 

“How was it? What are your impressions of meeting the Duchess Evron?”

 

Archbishop Akim personally poured tea into a teacup and handed it to Countess Camellia. Then he spoke without revealing his agitation.

 

“…I regret not heeding your advice and underestimating her because I thought she was a young girl.”

 

“…”

 

“Would you like to see?”

 

Archbishop Akim said this and went to his desk. Then he took out a sheet of paper and showed it to Countess Camellia.

 

“This is Marquess Rosan’s handwriting in ancient script.”

 

“Very skillful.”

 

Countess Camellia wasn’t particularly well-versed in ancient script. But she could tell that much.

 

“She even provided left-handed handwriting. As if she knew what I was going to request.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s not easy for someone accustomed to writing to write like a child again. Someone who knows the principles of writing ancient script would find it rather difficult to write as clumsily as the manuscript found at the Rosan estate. Just as it would be impossible for me to copy that handwriting exactly.”

 

Archbishop Akim said.

 

“I originally didn’t think Marquess Rosan was involved in this matter. As you know, Madam.”

 

“Yes… You thought so even while acknowledging the possibility that the Duchess wrote that booklet.”

 

“There are no traces of Marquess Rosan’s involvement anywhere in this affair. If there’s any connection at all, it would be stressing Milaire and inciting her madness, but that could just be seen as a mother-daughter quarrel.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But if it’s that booklet with the curse written on it, the matter is a bit different. That’s a book written less than three years ago. You can tell from the paper’s fading and ink color.”

 

“Are you saying she hid a booklet she wrote years ago in the study, and Milaire happened to discover it and tried to use it for cursing?”

 

“That’s what I suspected. Perhaps she hid it away with cursing thoughts toward her mother. Didn’t Marquess Rosan have a childhood sufficient to harbor cursing thoughts? If so, rather than coincidence, it would be her own karma coming back to her.”

 

Archbishop Akim continued.

 

“But after meeting her directly, my thoughts changed.”

 

“How so?”

 

“If Marquess Rosan wanted to destroy Milaire, she would have acted directly rather than copying curse words on paper.”

 

Countess Camellia fell into deep thought.

 

“It seems you also agree with my thinking that the Duchess really orchestrated this affair.”

 

“…I cannot say that definitively. But that manuscript was definitely not written by Marquess Rosan.”

 

Archbishop Akim sighed.

 

“If she herself orchestrated this affair, she would have already known she might be implicated. So to eliminate evidence, she deliberately created the manuscript in someone else’s handwriting and boldly gave me her own handwriting like this.”

 

“Do you think she was confident she would never be caught?”

 

“That’s right. I’ll investigate, but nine times out of ten, none of the maids or servants will have transcribed this either.”

 

And Archbishop Akim said.

 

“No matter how you think about it logically, this is truly a coincidence. At least it’s perfectly disguised to look like one.”

 

“Yes. I think so too.”

 

Countess Camellia quietly agreed.

 

If Artizea had tried to assassinate the Empress using Milaire, she wouldn’t have been so careless as to be caught so quickly.

 

Conversely, if the purpose was to be caught, they wouldn’t be able to find evidence. Especially not within the limited time.

 

Archbishop Akim said.

 

“But it’s also strange to say the purpose was to bring down Lord Lawrence. The risk is too great when she herself could be branded a traitor. The cost-benefit doesn’t match.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Countess Camellia agreed again. And she said.

 

“Regardless of logic, your heart must be leaning toward it not being a coincidence, right? Because you are wise, Archbishop.”

 

At Countess Camellia’s words, Archbishop Akim let out a long sigh.

 

He had tried to intimidate and obtain evidence because he thought it was a coincidence.

 

Conversely, if this was a fabricated coincidence, evidence wouldn’t emerge from anywhere.

 

However, the two soon reached the same conclusion.

 

The truth of the matter wasn’t important. What mattered was the result.

 

Archbishop Akim said.

 

“If we had decided not to strike, that would be one thing, but if we’ve decided to strike, we must do it thoroughly.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Archbishop Akim now decided to side with Countess Camellia.

 

He shouldn’t think of this merely as justification for attacking Father Colton anymore.

 

He needed to approach it from the perspective of eliminating future troubles. He had to uproot the sprout before she grew into a truly threatening person.

 

“If we can’t find actual evidence.”

 

Just as Archbishop Akim was about to speak.

 

A priest burst through the door. Archbishop Akim jumped up in surprise.

 

“What kind of rudeness is this?”

 

The outside noise that had been blocked by thick doors and windows flowed in. Commotion could be heard in the distance.

 

The priest said with a face covered in cold sweat.

 

“It’s the Evron Knight Order.”

 

“What?”

 

“The Duchess Evron collapsed in the prayer room. The maid who was with her seems to have spread the news outside.”

 

“Why didn’t you inform me first?”

 

“We called a doctor first because we were told an important guest was here. We absolutely didn’t inform you late. Somehow they arrived almost simultaneously with the doctor.”

 

The priest bowed his head.

 

Archbishop Akim stood up abruptly. Countess Camellia had already covered her face with a veil.

 

“Please take care.”

 

Archbishop Akim didn’t wait for Countess Camellia’s response. There would be nothing good about the fact that they were meeting secretly being discovered.

 

He hurried outside.

 

The reason the Evron Knight Order arrived so quickly was because it had been arranged in advance.

 

On the day Artizea came to the Grand Cathedral, not all the knights had returned to the Duke’s Residence.

 

Alphonse had at least three knights always watching the Grand Cathedral. He himself also stayed in the vicinity.

 

It was also Alphonse who had given Hailey the signal flare.

 

And he was the first to move as soon as the signal flare went off.

 

The temple was flustered. The Grand Cathedral was not a place that usually kept its doors closed.

 

Even when three armed knights entered the temple grounds, no one knew what was happening.

 

Most people at the Grand Cathedral didn’t even know that Artizea was there.

 

Among the priests, there was someone who knew Alphonse, so he stepped forward.

 

“This inner area is where the priests and monks live, Count Alphonse. I don’t know what this is about, but if you wait outside, I’ll call the person you’re looking for.”

 

“We’ve come to escort Her Highness.”

 

At those words, surprised murmurs spread throughout.

 

Several priests rushed out in a panic. One ran to the Archbishop, another to Archbishop Akim, and yet another to Bishop Nicos.

 

Armed knights came rushing in. The knight order did dismount from their horses at the main gate of the Grand Cathedral as regulations required.

 

However, they maintained formation and headed straight for the rear building of the temple where the signal flare had been fired.

 

The disciplined sound of military boots thundered through the building.

 

Priests rushed to block them.

 

Even priests who knew nothing did the same. They couldn’t allow knights to enter the sacred temple while armed.

 

It was at this moment that Archbishop Akim, having heard the news, came running out in haste.

 

“What is the meaning of all this! How dare you defile the temple with your muddy feet?”

 

He stepped forward without hesitation and shouted angrily.

 

Alphonse said.

 

“Archbishop, we have only come to escort Her Highness. If you bring her here to us, we have no desire to enter the temple itself.”

 

Archbishop Akim spoke with a cold expression.

 

“Marquess Rosan has not yet finished her penance.”

 

“Then please at least call for a maid who is with her. We need to know why an emergency signal flare was fired.”

 

Archbishop Akim’s expression changed.

 

“Are you now daring to question the temple’s protection?”

 

“If Her Highness is safe, we have no reason to worry. You need only let us meet with her briefly.”

 

“When the time comes, Marquess Rosan will return on her own.”

 

Archbishop Akim spat out coldly.

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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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