The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 136

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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 136

 

Cedric spoke in a low, cold voice.

 

“I truly never imagined the temple would treat me like this. I believed the Archbishop would protect my wife.”

 

The Archbishop could not answer.

 

Cedric then turned his gaze to Archbishop Akim. And with his eyes fixed on him, he said.

 

“Take away the attempted kidnapper. Find out who ordered it.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Alphonse answered with discipline.

 

“Archbishop Akim.”

 

Only then did Cedric call Archbishop Akim. Archbishop Akim flinched and trembled.

 

“I heard my wife came here to voluntarily cooperate with the investigation of the Rosan estate.”

 

Cedric’s voice sounded calm.

 

However, Archbishop Akim’s spine, meeting his gaze, trembled incessantly as if struck by chills.

 

Archbishop Akim had no intention of showing a humiliating appearance before him.

 

He had not yet been defeated. There was no law saying the temple was responsible for Artizea’s collapse.

 

Cedric could be angry, but he knew well that anger alone could not decisively harm him.

 

But before his mind could judge, his body felt the killing intent.

 

Archbishop Akim realized he was trembling like someone who had been doused with cold water in the middle of winter.

 

He had never been crushed by another’s authority before. He had always been confident even before the Emperor.

 

However, he could not overcome the killing intent of one who had been deciding life and death on battlefields since coming of age.

 

Cedric spoke slowly.

 

“That is entirely voluntary. My wife is not dragged around by anyone’s hand, and she is someone who doesn’t need to be.”

 

“….”

 

“We will return. I will absolutely not let this matter slide, Archbishop Akim.”

 

Cedric said this and turned around while holding Artizea.

 

The Archbishop’s voice telling them to provide a carriage could be heard beyond the ringing in his ears.

 

The knights followed Cedric and withdrew like an ebbing tide. Following the Archbishop’s command, the priests also dispersed.

 

Murmuring spread throughout the vast temple.

 

Archbishop Akim stood there dazed before suddenly coming to his senses. Sweat had pooled in his palms, and his fingers slipped when he tried to clench his fist.

 

He looked down at his palm. The back of his neck was also drenched in cold sweat.

 

Of all the things Cedric had said, only the last sentence remained in his memory.

 

‘He won’t let it slide?’

 

Once freed from the killing intent, reason finally returned. Then, anger surged up exactly as much as he had been suppressed.

 

“How dare he treat the temple as…!”

 

However, he could not fully unleash that anger. The Archbishop had returned.

 

The Archbishop’s face was now flushed bright red.

 

The Archbishop was often considered a good-natured person. With his gentle disposition, he had no enemies and avoided fighting with others. He had no faction and no enemies, which was why he was elected Archbishop.

 

It was rare for such an Archbishop to be this angry.

 

“Akim, what did I tell you!”

 

“…Archbishop.”

 

“Didn’t I say you must not carelessly touch the Grand Duchess! Of all things, trying to involve the Grand Duchess with treason – Evron would never tolerate that!”

 

Archbishop Akim looked at him with an incredulous expression.

 

The Archbishop had never actively opposed like this. He had merely expressed anxiety about what would happen if things went wrong after doing something excessive.

 

So Archbishop Akim said to the Archbishop.

 

“Archbishop, you cannot escape by claiming this was a foolish act I committed alone in secret.”

 

“What?”

 

“Do you think the Grand Duke would believe you didn’t know Marquess Rosan came here? In the end, you are equally guilty for not protecting her. You probably wanted to draw a line in case Marquess Rosan was framed as a traitor.”

 

“Akim, you….”

 

“You also received quite a bit in bribes.”

 

“Akim!”

 

The Archbishop shouted angrily. Archbishop Akim ignored him and turned away.

 

Had Countess Camellia already left? He needed to hurry and discuss follow-up measures.

 

At the Duke’s residence, all the retainers and employees had gathered and were anxiously waiting for the Duke and Duchess to return.

 

Cedric got out of the carriage carrying the unconscious Artizea. Ansgard and Marcus urgently cleared the way ahead. A doctor was already waiting in case of emergency.

 

Something urgent enough for the knight order to be dispatched had occurred. Thinking there might be an unforeseen situation, they had called a doctor in advance.

 

Cedric personally laid Artizea down on the bed. Her pale complexion had not improved at all.

 

Alice and Sophie rushed over to remove Artizea’s outer clothes and massage her hands and feet. Marcus, who had turned pale, came running with warm sugar water.

 

The doctor examined her complexion and checked her breathing and pulse.

 

Meanwhile, Cedric was looking down at Artizea’s face with a dark expression.

 

“Lord Cedric.”

 

Ansgard carefully stroked his arm and pulled him away.

 

“The doctor will examine her well.”

 

“Yes, he should.”

 

Cedric shook his head. And he came out to the drawing room as Ansgard led him.

 

One side of his head ached as if being pierced with a long skewer. He pressed his temple with his fingers.

 

“We’re sorry.”

 

Ansgard and Alphonse knelt side by side.

 

“If we had known my lady would receive such treatment, we would never have let her go.”

 

“No.”

 

Hailey intervened and knelt beside them, making excuses instead.

 

“It was Her Highness’s decision. How could Lord Ansgard or Count Alphonse have stopped her? I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not assisting properly.”

 

Hailey bowed her head.

 

“When I saw that the room the temple provided was one used by monks, I should have forcibly brought Her Highness out.”

 

“Get up. As you said, it was her decision, so how could you have stopped her? Even I don’t know if I could have stopped her.”

 

Cedric said in a low voice.

 

But Hailey remained kneeling on one knee and spoke as if making excuses for Artizea.

 

“Her Highness said it was unexpected for her too. The Grand Cathedral usually has plenty of guest rooms where visitors can stay, and there are quite a few elderly ladies recuperating in the annex.”

 

“But they gave her a rough room used by monks?”

 

“Yes. Cold air rose from the walls and floor, and the mattress was made of straw, so I thought it wouldn’t be good for her health.”

 

“….”

 

“Her Highness said it was probably because they were concerned that rumors would spread outside if she stayed in the annex or guest rooms.”

 

Cedric fidgeted with the empty cup he was holding. It was hard to tell whether his throat was burning or his insides were burning.

 

Hailey continued.

 

“Her Highness planned to quietly meet with Archbishop Akim to negotiate. She expected it would be finished in two or three days. But it didn’t go as planned.”

 

“Because of Father Colton?”

 

Hailey was surprised because Cedric immediately reached the same conclusion as Artizea without asking about other circumstances.

 

Cedric sighed.

 

“There aren’t many people who can make Archbishop Akim irrational. So?”

 

“Her Highness suspected that Archbishop Akim might have joined hands with Duke Loigar. If Her Highness is framed for treason, Father Colton, who received Her Highness’s support, would also become a criminal.”

 

“I understand what you mean.”

 

If it was Artizea’s speculation, it would hardly be wrong. She was not someone who spoke without certainty.

 

It was also a conspiracy that could easily be fabricated. Although Duke Loigar had spoken of goodwill while emphasizing blood relations, Cedric was not foolish enough to believe those words.

 

“He said he would make the capital noisy….”

 

Cedric pressed his temple with his hand again.

 

He never thought it would be done this way.

 

What was merely suspicion to Countess Camellia or Archbishop Akim was as clear as truth seen through a magnifying glass to Cedric.

 

Artizea had planned this to reduce Lawrence’s standing.

 

The Emperor was always at the center of her schemes. It was probably because she had lived her entire life reading the mood and watching who the master of this position was.

 

This time was the same.

 

Proposing a mediation plan that would only eliminate Milaire was the result of testing the limits of the Emperor’s patience.

 

If they tried to remove both Lawrence and Milaire at once, the Emperor might lose his patience and step in to cover up the matter, thinking this couldn’t continue.

 

No matter how much the Emperor feared justification and public opinion, he was already someone who had lost several children.

 

So first, eliminate Milaire to remove the shield, then make Lawrence commit a crime to incur anger. That was the safest and most certain order.

 

And perhaps Cedric himself was a little concerned too. If things escalated by framing them for treason, he would inevitably be dragged into it as well, being married to Artizea.

 

That’s why Cedric had rushed here as soon as he heard the news that Milaire was caught cursing the Empress. Because he thought Artizea might do something reckless.

 

But deep down, he seemed to believe that nothing would happen.

 

She had never failed to accomplish what she set out to do. Especially when it came to scheming behind the scenes, achieving desired results, and negotiating.

 

And in this matter, all the people she had to deal with were those she knew very well.

 

But reality doesn’t always move according to one’s thoughts. Like this time.

 

The reason Artizea rarely fails is because she personally pays the cost when failure occurs. The result that reaches the hands of the recipient is always only success.

 

“Hailey. Don’t tell me Tia collapsed because she drank something herself?”

 

Cedric spoke in a sunken voice.

 

Hailey flinched.

 

While Cedric was the lord of the family, her current master was Artizea.

 

She couldn’t carelessly speak based on mere speculation about something that might anger Cedric. But she also couldn’t brazenly lie to Cedric.

 

From Hailey’s delayed response, Cedric seemed to realize the answer. Hailey spoke as if making an excuse.

 

“It’s only my speculation.”

 

“There must be a reason you’re speculating.”

 

Ansgard, who had hurriedly prepared tea, placed a cooled teacup in Cedric’s hands.

 

Cedric took a sip. It seemed to calm his mind a little.

 

Then, the doctor came out.

 

Cedric tried to calm himself and rubbed his face with both hands.

 

Then he raised his head and asked the doctor.

 

“How is Tia?”

 

“She doesn’t have any serious illness. The fainting itself seems to be due to low blood pressure. Fatigue has accumulated and her body is very weakened.”

 

The doctor then said.

 

“Fortunately, the baby in her womb is also safe.”

 

Crash!

 

The teacup fell from Cedric’s hands.

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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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