The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 146

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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 146

 

21.

 

Artizea woke up again the next morning.

 

During that time, Cedric had stayed by her side through the night.

 

He was worried that when she opened her eyes, she might become mentally unstable again or have another seizure.

 

But when she quietly opened her eyes in the morning, Artizea had a calm expression on her face.

 

“Tia. Did you sleep well?”

 

Cedric deliberately spoke in a gentler voice. Though his feelings were complicated, he had resolved to show a composed appearance himself.

 

Artizea blinked her swollen eyes while buried under the blanket. Then she covered her eyes with her hands.

 

“My eyes sting.”

 

“You cried a lot. Does your throat hurt?”

 

“It hurts.”

 

Artizea answered in an almost hoarse voice.

 

Cedric said.

 

“I’ll call the doctor first. Let’s have another examination, wash your face, and get you something to eat.”

 

“Please go out.”

 

Cedric hesitated at Artizea’s words.

 

“You came all the way here from the north. The repercussions must not have been small, right?”

 

Artizea spoke in a cracked voice and then touched her throat with her hand.

 

“Don’t speak.”

 

Cedric said in a whisper. Then he spoke for Artizea.

 

“You’re right. With you collapsing and all, I ended up taking control of the situation.”

 

“The northern affairs…”

 

“Don’t worry about that either. I obtained sufficient understanding. We need to discuss that with you as well. There are letters to deliver too.”

 

Cedric said.

 

If it had been between humans, such easy negotiations wouldn’t have been possible.

 

However, Prince Apua of Karam, while knowing how to be suspicious, didn’t fully understand all the excuses humans made.

 

He purely accepted and understood Cedric’s words that there was a problem with his wife’s family.

 

“When one’s mate has worries, one cannot do anything else. Let us end this conversation here. This doesn’t mean I’m stopping the dialogue itself. After all, even if you stayed here for a few more months talking with me, we couldn’t suddenly tear down the Told Gate.”

 

“Thank you for understanding.”

 

“And isn’t your mate a woman who holds light? Since you barely got her back, you must cherish her.”

 

Cedric had smiled bitterly, not knowing where to begin explaining and correcting Apua’s words.

 

“Anyway, I’ll just say for now that I’ve seen possibilities for the future. There are many more urgent matters at hand.”

 

“Yes…”

 

Cedric pressed his lips to Artizea’s fingers.

 

“I’ll handle the rest. You just focus on resting and recovering your body right now. It’s not just about the child – your body being worn down is also a problem.”

 

Artizea nodded obediently. Then she said.

 

“Don’t worry about me and please go out. You must have work to do.”

 

“Tia.”

 

Cedric spoke in a reproachful voice.

 

Artizea’s words were correct. Originally, there was supposed to be a Department of Internal Affairs meeting this morning too.

 

But a day or so would be fine. He had already obtained understanding in advance. He had said he needed to stay by her side if there were changes in Artizea’s condition.

 

He wanted to stay by her side longer, properly.

 

But Artizea spoke in a cracked voice.

 

“I also need time to think alone.”

 

“We should think together.”

 

“Right now, I want to calm my heart alone, just a little.”

 

Cedric couldn’t be more stubborn about those words.

 

“Alright. I’ll handle just a few important and urgent matters and return soon, so you rest well.”

 

Artizea didn’t answer. Cedric didn’t press for an answer.

 

Instead, he brought his face closer. Artizea turned her head and disappeared under the blanket.

 

Cedric tried to gently pull her out from under the blanket. But Artizea was stubborn.

 

Instead of pulling her out by force, Cedric pressed his lips to her cheek over the blanket.

 

Because the summer blanket was thin, Artizea couldn’t help but feel the pressure against her cheek.

 

“…Please go out now.”

 

“Instead of ‘please go out,’ isn’t there another greeting?”

 

“…”

 

Artizea couldn’t readily speak and swallowed dry saliva with her mouth open.

 

Her throat hurt terribly and her torn lips also hurt. What would have been a sweet pain mixed with tickling and suffering in the past now felt as painful as her stinging eyes and throat.

 

A dam that had collapsed once couldn’t hold up well the second time either.

 

Artizea curled up under the blanket and held her breath. Everything was just too difficult.

 

In this quiet bedroom, with just a thin layer of blanket between them, there was no way to hide the sound of sobbing. But she couldn’t help doing so.

 

Cedric hugged her along with the blanket.

 

He had wanted to say he would go and come back. And he had planned to hear the greeting to come back.

 

With the meaning that he would return to her side no matter when.

 

But even that seemed too much for Artizea right now.

 

He stayed still until Artizea’s sobbing subsided.

 

Artizea got up after Cedric was eventually called by his adjutant and had no choice but to leave.

 

The first thing she did after her tears stopped was to wash her body.

 

The head maid and two of the most trustworthy maids hurriedly filled the bathtub with lukewarm water. Marcus and Ansgard personally inspected every item in the bathroom.

 

Alice and Sophie were to attend to her bath.

 

She usually didn’t use many attendants, but today she did so even though her body was very tired.

 

The two elderly butlers knew well how dangerous this period was.

 

Therefore, they decided not to let anyone near Artizea unless they were especially trusted.

 

Artizea usually preferred hotter water, but the doctor said it wasn’t good and personally adjusted the water temperature.

 

The doctor had Artizea drink thin soup made with medicinal herbs and meat while she was in the water.

 

Both fluid replenishment and nutritional intake couldn’t be delayed any longer.

 

“Since you haven’t eaten anything for three days, it would be better to soothe your stomach with warm food first. I plan to use medicinal herbs to strengthen your body depending on how you progress.”

 

“I’m just tired, there’s nowhere that particularly hurts.”

 

“You might not feel it because you’re in too weak a state.”

 

Artizea was now in no position to say she knew her own body well.

 

Sophie, who was washing her hair, agreed with the doctor’s words.

 

“The doctor will take good care of you. You’ve always had a weak body, so you always say even quite bad conditions are normal.”

 

“Mm…”

 

“Please take your medicine well too. I heard taking medicine during pregnancy isn’t good, but…”

 

“Getting balanced nutrition through food and maintaining health would be best. But right now you need to restore your energy first.”

 

The doctor said.

 

“That’s how you’ll be able to endure childbirth.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Artizea listened half-heartedly while drinking the soup.

 

She thought she wouldn’t be able to eat or drink anything, but unexpectedly it went down well. It was even delicious.

 

Once her stomach settled, she began to feel ravenously hungry.

 

Knowing that Artizea was making hungry sounds, Sophie looked at the doctor. The doctor nodded.

 

“It would be good to eat as much as you can, starting with light foods.”

 

“Yes, I’ll have them prepare something.”

 

Sophie hurried out of the bathroom.

 

Alice finished rinsing Artizea’s hair and dried it wrapped in a towel. While doing so, she grumbled.

 

“But our little one must be incredibly strong. I was wondering why Madam has been getting so thin despite eating well all this time, but it all went to the baby, didn’t it?”

 

“Isn’t it fortunate that the baby is healthy?”

 

“The baby will definitely take after the master and be a big eater.”

 

Still, Alice didn’t stop complaining.

 

It was both a complaint and comfort. That the child would resemble Cedric.

 

Artizea listened to such conversation in a daze.

 

Alice wrapped her hair up in a towel and then helped her stand up from the bathtub.

 

After washing, she finally felt like she had truly come to her senses.

 

The events of this morning felt as distant as a dream. Her eyes were still stinging and her face was swollen from crying, yet even having cried so much didn’t feel real.

 

Neither did the fact that Cedric was here.

 

Artizea bit her lower lip.

 

This was not part of her plan.

 

It would have been better if Cedric came around summer this year, or didn’t come to the capital at all this year and spent the year in the north.

 

If that had been the case, she could have at least completely finished off Lawrence and prepared the groundwork for Duke Loigar’s downfall.

 

It was better for Cedric not to get involved in such matters at all.

 

This was even more so because she was Milaire’s daughter.

 

If he punished Milaire severely, he would become someone who treated his mother-in-law harshly.

 

However, if he ended it moderately, he would become an unfair person who didn’t punish her because she was a relative.

 

So whether he treated her harshly or not, both would become flaws.

 

This should have been her responsibility. There was justification she could gain from being the biological daughter. And there were parts that could be avoided since it wasn’t something Cedric did directly.

 

All of that had fallen through.

 

But what was even more pathetic was that instead of lamenting the fact that he had come, she was receiving comfort and consolation.

 

“Madam.”

 

Sophie finished drying her hair and brought out light clothing.

 

Marcus arranged several small plates in front of Artizea.

 

Various types of fruit, turkey meat cut into bite-sized pieces and grilled with sauce, small meat pies she had often eaten as snacks, and so on – essentially a little bit of everything that could be eaten easily.

 

“Please let me know if there’s anything that bothers you. I’ll change the cooking method or not serve it next time.”

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

Perhaps because her stomach had warmed up first, her appetite returned.

 

Artizea reached for the plate at the very end. The terrine made from mashed trout meat crumbled savory in her mouth. The mushrooms inside gave off a fragrant smell.

 

Every dish had two pieces placed on each plate.

 

Artizea emptied several plates. Absurdly, it tasted even better than before.

 

This child really wants to live, Artizea thought.

 

‘In this kind of world, being born as this kind of mother’s child won’t bring any good things.’

 

But thanks to eating something, her stomach had settled considerably and she had energy. Artizea was able to not show her feelings outwardly.

 

Marcus asked with a relieved smile.

 

“What did you find most palatable? Shall I use the same ingredients for lunch?”

 

“Everything’s fine. Whatever’s prepared, anything will do.”

 

Artizea answered.

 

Knock knock.

 

There was a sound of knocking on the door. Alice went to see what it was about and came back.

 

And she said to Artizea with a somewhat cautious expression.

 

“Lady Lisia says she would like to see you.”

 

Artizea flinched.

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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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