The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 137

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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 137

 

The teacup shattered into pieces. Since this was Artizea’s drawing room, a white rug was still spread on the floor, and a large red stain spread across it.

 

People panicked and hurriedly checked on Cedric.

 

“Are you hurt, Your Highness?”

 

“No, it was cold tea. I’m fine.”

 

Cedric waved his hand dismissively, half-dazed. Then he looked at the doctor again with a confused expression.

 

“You’re saying Tia is with child?”

 

“Yes, she is pregnant.”

 

The doctor answered with a somewhat troubled attitude. It was because Cedric seemed completely unaware.

 

Ansgard and several retainers who had been keeping the secret and watching nervously breathed sighs of relief. A few others widened their eyes in surprise.

 

“Since I haven’t been continuously examining Her Highness, I would need to examine her properly again to give a definitive answer, but it should be between 12 to 14 weeks.”

 

At the doctor’s words, Cedric asked blankly.

 

“Why didn’t anyone inform me of such an important matter?”

 

He had never thought of it.

 

He had thought ‘someday,’ yes. But that was a vague ‘later’ when various matters were settled and Artizea’s health had improved somewhat.

 

Even after deciding to start a family, he had never imagined his home with children running around.

 

Above all, hadn’t there been too few opportunities to suddenly expect a child?

 

Ansgard spoke carefully.

 

“Her Highness seemed reluctant to speak of it, so we all pretended not to know.”

 

“Prudent ladies sometimes deliberately don’t mention it until they can feel secure about it. They sometimes only see doctors brought from their family homes.”

 

The doctor also said.

 

“Though this isn’t such a case, there are many instances where unborn children are threatened due to inheritance disputes. They also worry about disappointing family members if they celebrate too loudly about an heir and something unfortunate happens.”

 

“I see.”

 

Cedric answered with a troubled feeling. While he thought Ansgard and the doctor’s words made sense, he couldn’t simply accept it with an ‘I see.’ It didn’t seem like Artizea would hide it for such reasons.

 

Artizea should have told him the news. Especially if she had concerns.

 

If she had wanted to hide the fact of her pregnancy, it would have been from him, not from anyone else.

 

“Is Tia… alright?”

 

That was all he could manage to say.

 

The doctor looked somewhat relieved. This was something he could adequately answer.

 

“Her Highness does have a frail constitution, but please don’t worry too much. The baby is well-settled, and Her Highness just needs to rest and build up her strength. However, she must have absolute rest for the time being.”

 

“I see.”

 

Cedric answered thus.

 

Only then did one tactless knight step forward and shout.

 

“Congratulations, Your Highness!”

 

“Shh, be quiet.”

 

“This is right next to Her Highness’s bedroom.”

 

Immediately, people on both sides tackled him and silenced the knight.

 

Congratulations were offered only in hushed tones. This was when Artizea had collapsed under persecution from the temple. Though the doctor said there would be no major problems, it wasn’t a situation for loud celebrations.

 

There were still many urgent matters remaining. Now was a time for anger.

 

Even while fully aware of this, all the people of House Evron couldn’t hide their joy.

 

The elderly retainers and knights had been guessing but waiting silently without saying anything. They too finally smiled contentedly at the doctor’s confirmation.

 

Only with an heir could one truly be established as the head of a family.

 

Until now, House Evron had only Cedric as direct blood family.

 

Though he had married, it was true that they had been anxious until an heir was born.

 

But now the precarious House Evron would finally stand on solid ground.

 

Following the marriage, they couldn’t help but be delighted to hear such good news at just the right time.

 

Since the Prince’s Consort was young, they had thought they would have to wait slowly for two or three years or more.

 

When Cedric headed toward Artizea’s bedroom, the excited retainers and knights all followed behind him.

 

Ansgard blocked their way. Even Alphonse was blocked by Ansgard and could only peer around.

 

Only Hailey could follow Cedric into the bedroom.

 

Artizea was buried deep in the soft bed. All her outer clothes had been removed to make her comfortable. Her disheveled hair was scattered across the pillow.

 

Marcus, who had been massaging her feet, saw Cedric and stood up. Alice, who had been cooling her feverish forehead with cool water and arranging her hair, also stood up. Her eyes were stained bright red.

 

Sophie had gone to a corner and was sniffling, then quickly stood up and hid her face with her apron.

 

Rather than joy about Artizea’s pregnancy, there was more grief about her suffering and fainting. They had thought she would never experience such things again after marrying and leaving Rosan Estate.

 

However, she couldn’t inappropriately show tears when everyone was celebrating the pregnancy.

 

“She’ll wake up after sleeping soundly for a day or two.”

 

The doctor spoke quietly. Cedric looked at Alice and asked.

 

“Doesn’t Tia have a separate doctor she sees?”

 

“No, she doesn’t.”

 

Alice bowed her head like a criminal.

 

Cedric waved his hand at the people.

 

“Withdraw.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Hailey spoke up.

 

“Aren’t you… happy?”

 

She was aware it was an excessive question. But she couldn’t bear not to ask.

 

With Lisia absent now, if not herself, no one could ask that question on Artizea’s behalf.

 

“I’m happy. How could I not be happy?”

 

Cedric muttered as if to himself.

 

“But when she lies there with her eyes closed, how can I say I’m happy?”

 

“Sob.”

 

Sophie couldn’t hold back and let out a sobbing sound.

 

Alice quickly approached her and embraced her shoulders. Then she withdrew silently.

 

Marcus and Hailey, understanding Cedric’s heart, followed behind them.

 

When the door closed, only the two of them remained.

 

Cedric sat beside Artizea. The mattress tilted, but Artizea showed no sign of opening her eyes.

 

He pulled Artizea’s hand out from under the blanket. Her limp fingers slipped smoothly between Cedric’s fingers.

 

“I’m beginning to wonder if deciding to trust you was the right thing to do.”

 

He placed that hand on the back of his own. He couldn’t be sure if it had always been this pale, or if it looked more so due to lack of color.

 

“…Your not caring for yourself is also a problem.”

 

Cedric sighed.

 

“Hiding various things from me is also a problem. Making promises casually when you have no intention of keeping them is also a problem…”

 

Cedric sighed and stroked the back of her hand once. Then he pushed the hand back under the blanket.

 

Did she know she was with child? And still threw herself into danger?

 

It was possible. She might have thought it would be better if the child was lost.

 

Still, perhaps, since she had accepted his second proposal and they had become a real married couple, he had thought she would care for herself a little. It was a foolish thought.

 

His chest felt tight.

 

Hope appeared and disappeared repeatedly. Some nights he felt everything would work out well and was immersed in happiness until dawn. But some nights he had to tear at his chest even in his dreams.

 

“Can I change you?”

 

He asked in a whisper. Naturally, no answer came.

 

People don’t change easily.

 

The same was true for Cedric himself.

 

Once decided, the heart doesn’t change so simply.

 

“Ced is like a stone.”

 

Lisia had once said that.

 

“It might break, but its properties never change.”

 

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

 

“It’s not a compliment. Because eventually it will break someday.”

 

“…”

 

“People can’t live by holding onto beliefs alone. Forgive yourself. God has already forgiven you and your heart.”

 

Lisia was both right and wrong.

 

Cedric had forgiven himself. At least, he was trying to.

 

But to truly receive forgiveness, one must repent and change. And he had failed to change.

 

When he proposed to Artizea twice, instead of changing, he broke.

 

The first time, his way of life shattered, and the second time, part of his heart broke.

 

Still, he had decided to love her.

 

Cedric lowered his head and pressed his cheek against hers. Artizea’s steady breathing touched Cedric’s ear as she breathed evenly.

 

He closed his eyes and remained like that for a moment.

 

When Cedric emerged from the bedroom, dusk had already fallen quietly. Ansgard had tactfully dismissed the retainers and prevented any commotion nearby.

 

There were four people in the drawing room.

 

Marcus and Alice only bowed to Cedric before quickly going inside. They would watch over Artizea throughout the night.

 

The remaining two were Hailey and Freil.

 

Cedric first called Freil and asked.

 

“What about those captured for the attempted kidnapping?”

 

“We’ve confined them in the annex. Will you interrogate them personally?”

 

“Treat them well enough that there are no complaints. Wait on the interrogation. I’ll have an audience with His Majesty first.”

 

“Yes.”

 

This was to conduct the interrogation without anyone’s suspicion. He would set up the Emperor’s retainer as a witness and strike down the temple before they had any chance to make excuses or cut ties.

 

Cedric clenched and unclenched his fists several times.

 

Getting angry right now wouldn’t solve anything. He had calmed his mind before coming out.

 

Even so, maintaining his patience required considerable effort.

 

Cedric then looked at Hailey. Hailey was extremely tense.

 

She was merely a low-level administrator at Evron Mansion. As the daughter of House Jordin, she had spent her childhood with Cedric. Even after becoming adults, they met frequently.

 

However, she hadn’t had many opportunities to receive direct orders as lord and retainer. The only time was when she was told to take care of things after becoming Artizea’s maid.

 

Hailey liked Cedric as a person. But she thought he was lacking as a lord.

 

She had thought he was too soft and weak when it came to emotions. And that was one of the main reasons Hailey became disappointed with Evron.

 

However, the current Cedric seemed like a completely different person. His eyes were tinged with a dark color, and an unmistakably firm sharpness and dignity were revealed.

 

Standing there was not a young man in his twenties who couldn’t decide which path to take, but a man like a rock that had endured and been carved by all storms and rain.

 

“Hailey.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Tia must have given you separate instructions before she collapsed, right?”

 

Hailey swallowed.

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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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