The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 138

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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 138

 

Hailey couldn’t readily answer.

 

The doctor had clearly said it was due to overwork and low blood pressure. But that didn’t make Hailey’s suspicions disappear.

 

Artizea would have known her own physical condition. Hailey wasn’t yet a trusted confidant enough to be informed about Artizea’s health status.

 

However, regardless of the fact that Artizea didn’t value her own body, she believed Artizea would have been aware of her condition.

 

There was no law saying she must have used something like poison. The doctor had only made a brief diagnosis. There could have been other methods the doctor didn’t notice.

 

If she weren’t pregnant, Hailey would have told Cedric everything without hesitation.

 

As Artizea’s husband, he naturally should know what Artizea was thinking and what she had decided.

 

But there was a child.

 

If Artizea had decided to do so while knowing she was pregnant, that would be a major problem for the Evron Duchy. It would mean threatening the heir.

 

She didn’t think Cedric would make this a public issue.

 

However, it wasn’t something Hailey herself should speak of. It could become testimony that Artizea had threatened the duchy’s heir.

 

Cedric said.

 

“Don’t I know her?”

 

“….”

 

“Whether she tried to gain justification by using her own body as hostage, or simply collapsed from overexertion, she would have prepared you for contingencies.”

 

Hailey didn’t answer. But Cedric spoke as if he had heard an answer.

 

“Execute it.”

 

“Does that mean we should exact payment because Her Highness and the unborn child were endangered?”

 

When Hailey said payment, she didn’t mean revenge.

 

From Cedric’s attitude, she sensed he would prioritize Artizea’s scheme over everything else.

 

That was neither like Cedric nor like Evron.

 

Because ultimately, it would be doing exactly what Artizea had intended—gaining justification at the cost of her and the fetus’s lives and receiving compensation as profit.

 

Cedric looked at Hailey quietly before speaking.

 

“You are Tia’s maid, so I mean you should do what Tia ordered. She went so far as to throw herself into danger, so it wouldn’t do for you to accomplish nothing because of me.”

 

“Your Highness….”

 

“I will also act according to my own will.”

 

Cedric said this and strode out of the drawing room.

 

Hailey slumped down as the tension left her. Somehow she felt a little relieved.

 

She had always thought Cedric was frustrating, but if he had really used this as an opportunity instead of seeking revenge, Hailey would have been disappointed.

 

Around sunset, the Evron Knights moved for the second time that day.

 

Cedric entrusted Alphonse with a total of 100 men—the 70 originally guarding the Duke’s residence plus 30 more knights from his escort. There were also several soldiers attached to them.

 

The numbers weren’t overwhelmingly large.

 

However, the very existence of an army in the capital that didn’t take orders from the Emperor was extremely dangerous.

 

Usually, even though the citizens of the capital knew of the Evron Knights’ existence, they had never felt greatly threatened.

 

The Evron Knights maintained strict military discipline, and normally their armament was limited to wearing a single sword.

 

Even on days when they moved as a group, like when escorting Artizea to the temple, they never conducted large-scale military operations by mobilizing soldiers.

 

In other words, the Evron Knights in the capital moving to escort the ducal couple was a customary practice from long ago.

 

It was closer to a ceremonial display of what kind of family the Evron Duchy was.

 

But that night was different.

 

The knights were fully armed, and soldiers followed carrying guns. That was sufficient scale to say they had formed an army rather than an escort.

 

When the army passed through the city gates, the Emperor’s central army became extremely tense. Though it was time to end the day, the capital instantly awakened.

 

Torches were lit on the city walls, watchtowers positioned throughout, and military barracks, making everything bright. Messengers ran in all directions.

 

The Evron Knights paid no attention to the gazes watching them.

 

Alphonse, having received full authority from Cedric, positioned the knights in the forest near the Grand Cathedral.

 

They didn’t have enough numbers to surround the entire temple.

 

However, Cedric had once stationed with the Western Army in that vicinity for several months. He knew the geography like the back of his hand.

 

They blocked key points so that ordinary people couldn’t escape without going through the Evron Knights.

 

Naturally, the temple strongly protested.

 

“We have no intention of oppressing the Grand Cathedral.”

 

Alphonse said with a calm face to the priests who came to protest.

 

“We’re just staying here.”

 

“Who would believe that!”

 

“We haven’t blocked the road. Please pass through.”

 

Alphonse said this to the priest.

 

They had only been ordered to stop Archbishop Akim and his close associates. It was to prevent them from fleeing.

 

It was also a threat to the temple. Knowing this, the temple couldn’t protest further.

 

A messenger sent by the Archbishop advised the priests that if they absolutely had to go out, they should pass quietly, and if not, they should return to the temple.

 

Even though it was close to the Grand Cathedral, the entire forest didn’t belong to the temple anyway.

 

The Grand Cathedral had no right to forcibly tell them to leave. Now was the time to bow their heads.

 

The news reached the Emperor at the moment torches were lit on the city walls.

 

At that time, the Emperor was lying half-asleep in his armchair.

 

He was in a very uncomfortable mood. He was tired but couldn’t fall asleep.

 

A skilled cellist was playing slow pieces late into the night to dispel the silence.

 

An elderly masseur was kneading his legs, but his mood wouldn’t improve.

 

Even the sleepless Imperial Palace was quiet during times like these.

 

Not only banquets but even small gatherings hadn’t been held for months. This was because the small meetings held by nobles favored by the Emperor or Milaire’s friends had disappeared.

 

At one time, Countess Unise would hold tea parties with the Emperor’s permission, but those had also vanished.

 

Salons were closed, and there were no officials or ministers gathering in small groups for discussions in the palace’s side rooms.

 

The messenger was prostrated flat on the floor as if afraid. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the messenger. Then he tiredly closed his eyes again.

 

“Is Gayan here?”

 

“All the guard knights and central army officers are waiting in the audience waiting room.”

 

The servant who had brought the messenger said respectfully.

 

“I should go out.”

 

The Emperor muttered this but showed no intention of moving. He didn’t even ask the messenger about the current situation again.

 

The servant silently withdrew outside. The messenger also rolled his eyes, saw the servant gesturing, and quickly backed away.

 

The Emperor asked with his eyes closed.

 

“What do you think?”

 

“How could someone lowly like me have thoughts?”

 

The masseur answered this way while single-mindedly massaging the Emperor’s knees and calves. The Emperor muttered.

 

“Enviable.”

 

“….”

 

“You came into the Imperial Palace with your skills, and you’re living your life simply by demonstrating your abilities.”

 

“It’s thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

 

“Whoever’s son you are, whoever you gave birth to, whoever you flatter and whoever you’re connected to, those skills are yours, aren’t they? Anywhere you went, you would have lived well demonstrating your abilities.”

 

“If Your Majesty hadn’t favored me, how could I be living in such wealth and honor now?”

 

“People should live like you. With their own skills, their own abilities.”

 

The Emperor spoke to himself as if he couldn’t hear the masseur’s response.

 

The masseur’s words were just formal responses anyway, meaningless words.

 

“I have many thoughts. Sometimes I want to quit, but I absolutely cannot stop.”

 

“It’s because you are wise.”

 

“If I had proper children, how could something like this have happened? I’m the one who received karma.”

 

It was when the Emperor was muttering this.

 

The chamberlain entered.

 

“Is Gayan urging me to issue an imperial command quickly?”

 

The Emperor spoke ambiguously, whether joking or serious. The chamberlain bowed his head deeply and expressed regret.

 

“Prince Evron has requested an audience.”

 

Even then, the Emperor, who had been burying himself in his chair without any thought of standing up, half-opened his eyes.

 

“Cedric?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Chamberlain couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

 

“He entered the capital this afternoon. The movement of the Evron Knight Order seems to be following Prince’s orders.”

 

“That would be right. Those stubborn fools wouldn’t have acted strategically all the way here on their own.”

 

The Emperor replied quietly.

 

Though the Chamberlain didn’t know, the Emperor already knew that the House of Evron’s ship had entered the port and that Cedric had come to the capital.

 

He also knew about the conflict that occurred at the temple today, and that Artizea had returned in the Archbishop’s carriage.

 

Not only the Emperor, but anyone with a flawless intelligence network would have known.

 

“Interesting.”

 

This was both late and early.

 

If it were the Cedric he knew, he would have come to see him first, surrendering himself to anger and a sense of justice. Or he would have committed all his acts first, then sought an audience to assert the righteousness of his actions.

 

But today was different. Cedric had moved simultaneously. He moved the knight order and sought an audience with him, so there were probably one or two other actions as well.

 

‘I heard Tia collapsed. Is she conscious?’

 

If so, perhaps these actions were being orchestrated by Artizea, not Cedric.

 

While the Emperor was thinking, the masseur stopped his kneading hands.

 

He wiped the Emperor’s legs with a hot towel. Then he lowered the rolled-up pants and put slippers on his feet.

 

“Would you like to change clothes?”

 

The Chamberlain asked. The Emperor shook his head.

 

“It’s late.”

 

He was thinking of dismissing the visitor, when the door opened.

 

The guard knights didn’t know what to do. However, they couldn’t stop Cedric from pushing his way in with his body.

 

Cedric was alone. He had also removed all his weapons. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to enter such an intimate place no matter what.

 

The Emperor snapped his fingers. Then the guard knights cleared the way.

 

Cedric strode into the Emperor’s bedchamber and knelt on one knee.

 

“I am ashamed for committing rudeness at such a late hour.”

 

“It’s fine. Old men don’t sleep much. What brings you here? I didn’t even hear news of your departure from the north. Did you leave the border empty and come all this way because you were worried about your wife’s affairs?”

 

“Yes. I came because I have something to request, Your Imperial Majesty. No, Uncle!”

 

Cedric corrected himself.

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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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