The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 149

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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 149

 

Archbishop Akim was still at the temple.

 

Just because the word treason had been mentioned didn’t mean he was immediately dragged away. He was still in his own quarters at the temple.

 

Though he was confined. Evron knights and royal guards surrounded his room and monitored the corridor. Only a very few were permitted to visit him.

 

No matter what, they couldn’t immediately drag a bishop to the underground prison. They needed testimony or evidence.

 

In this case, the moment the priests who had tried to kidnap Artizea confessed would be the moment Archbishop Akim would properly be charged with treason.

 

Archbishop Akim naturally knew this well. And he also knew that the priests couldn’t possibly endure torture stubbornly.

 

They did trust Archbishop Akim and follow him blindly. However, not speaking under torture was something only those trained for it could do. Simple loyalty alone made it impossible.

 

“What on earth were you thinking?”

 

Bishop Nicos came with a dark expression and asked as if lamenting.

 

Archbishop Akim replied with a rigid face.

 

“Did you think I would have done that if I had guessed the Prince’s Consort was pregnant? I was deceived.”

 

“Deceived? Didn’t you know that the Duchess of Evron’s health wasn’t very good?”

 

“If she had told me she was pregnant, I wouldn’t have told her to repent.”

 

“Akim! This isn’t the time for you to be so stubborn. Don’t you know how serious this is?”

 

“So?”

 

Archbishop Akim asked back in a cold voice.

 

“Can’t you just protect yourself by not taking either side, as you’ve done until now?”

 

“Akim, why do you speak like that? Yes, as you say, I can just protect myself. But shouldn’t we try to calm the situation even a little? Are you really planning to receive the death penalty?”

 

“If you have something to say, say it.”

 

“It’s not too late even now. Apologize to the Duke and Duchess of Evron, and cooperate. You didn’t really intend to harm the imperial family, did you?”

 

“Is that Colton’s idea too?”

 

“Akim, Colton isn’t the problem.”

 

“Tell Colton not to endanger the temple by being deceived by the Prince’s Consort.”

 

As a result of being deceived, he had lost the numbers game.

 

He didn’t think for a moment that Artizea wouldn’t have known she was pregnant. She must have been deceiving even her own side while aiming for dramatic effect.

 

“A fall is a fall, whether you fall from a tower or from the 2nd floor.”

 

He muttered to himself.

 

In fact, there was a big difference. Someone who fell from the 2nd floor had hope of survival, but someone who fell from the top of a tower wouldn’t survive. Archbishop Akim knew this too.

 

Bishop Nicos finally stood up from his seat.

 

“Break that stubbornness and pride, and think again. If you just change your mind, Colton and I will somehow try to mediate.”

 

“Did Colton tell you to say that?”

 

“You’re too valuable a person to send away like this. You’ll have to give up your bishop position, but a life spent managing and studying scriptures at a monastery wouldn’t be bad either. Think about it carefully.”

 

Bishop Nicos left those words and went outside.

 

Archbishop Akim didn’t reply.

 

He had no intention of accepting such a life.

 

But if he didn’t accept it, was there a way to survive?

 

‘Escape is out of the question.’

 

With the Evron Knight Order guarding, escaping on his own was impossible.

 

Getting help from Duke Loigar was also dangerous.

 

Neither Archbishop Akim nor Countess Camellia were foolish enough to easily leave evidence.

 

All conversations had been conducted face to face. The money exchanged was also in the form of sponsorship for Archbishop Akim’s research activities.

 

It wasn’t that there was no evidence at all. But they all became meaningful only with Archbishop Akim’s testimony.

 

Conversely, Duke Loigar had no reason to keep him alive. Rather, killing him would be more reassuring.

 

So there were only two paths he could choose now.

 

One of them was to confess everything to Cedric in a way favorable to himself.

 

Then Duke Loigar would become the main culprit and he would become an accomplice.

 

After that, he would actively cooperate in catching Duke Loigar and receive a promise of reduced punishment.

 

The Archbishop and Father Colton would also mediate.

 

Then he could save his life. As Bishop Nicos said, he could end up as a mere monk living what was essentially exile in some remote monastery.

 

Cedric was someone who kept his promises. Once he could secure a promise, he wouldn’t have to worry about the rest of his life.

 

‘Just thinking about it is horrible.’

 

Nevertheless, Archbishop Akim didn’t want to choose that path.

 

He was aware it was foolish.

 

But if he compromised, he would inevitably have to bow his head to Artizea. It would also mean accepting Father Colton’s mediation.

 

He would be unable to hold his head up to Father Colton for the rest of his life.

 

His pride wouldn’t allow that, even if it meant death.

 

So until yesterday, he had planned to die with dignity.

 

Of course, he had no intention of dying alone. If he was going to die under false charges anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go out in a blaze of glory?

 

But last night, another option had appeared.

 

Archbishop Akim headed to his desk. And he took out a letter from a secret drawer.

 

The secretly delivered letter was from the Emperor.

 

Naturally, no name was written on it. Even if they traced the sender, it would have no connection to the Emperor.

 

But it guaranteed certain protection. It also promised to secretly change his identity. Though it would be far from the capital, he would live comfortably as a noble.

 

That also touched Archbishop Akim’s pride. The letter treated Archbishop Akim completely like a secular person.

 

As if he would gladly sell himself if he could live wealthy.

 

But it was better than bowing his head to Artizea and Father Colton.

 

It was also a reasonable proposal.

 

If the other party secured Archbishop Akim, they would gain justification to execute Duke Loigar for treason at any time.

 

So at least it wasn’t a relationship where he was unilaterally receiving forgiveness.

 

This was a transaction.

 

‘Falling into the Emperor’s grasp.’

 

It couldn’t possibly be an equal transaction.

 

The Emperor would quietly kill him whenever he was no longer needed.

 

Even so, to Archbishop Akim, that was a more acceptable future.

 

Knock knock.

 

Then he heard knocking at the door.

 

Archbishop Akim put the letter back and quickly stood up from his desk.

 

The door opened. A servant bringing food looked down with a frightened face.

 

It seemed to be dinner time already.

 

With the door open, the knights quickly scanned the inside.

 

Archbishop Akim was inwardly displeased but didn’t show it.

 

The servant entered with a cautious attitude and set the tray on the table. Then he hurried outside.

 

The door closed again.

 

Archbishop Akim sat in front of the tray with reluctance.

 

And while eating slowly, when he had eaten about half, he realized.

 

His tongue was gradually becoming numb and losing sensation.

 

“Kuk!”

 

He tried to shout, but his throat seemed closed and no proper sound came out.

 

There must have been poison in the food.

 

Akim jumped up in shock. And he frantically ran to his desk and opened the drawer with the medicine box.

 

Among the medicine bottles he took for his chronic illness, he frantically searched for an antidote and opened the cap. It was fortunate he had prepared it for emergencies.

 

It wasn’t a cure-all, so there was no guarantee it would definitely work, but it would buy him time.

 

But the moment it went down his throat, Archbishop Akim felt burning pain and clutched his throat.

 

“Guh, huk…!”

 

And he collapsed to the floor.

 

It was the fifth day since Artizea had collapsed.

 

* * *

 

It was late that evening when Hailey visited the Grand Cathedral.

 

She was extremely nervous. Hailey herself had been the one to create the overall plan for this matter.

 

Because time was pressing, she hadn’t been able to conduct sufficient review. In fact, Hailey had never intended to take such a leading role.

 

Let alone in such an important and urgent matter.

 

She had thought that once Artizea woke up, she would just need to listen to orders.

 

In any case, there was nothing she could do about the task she had already taken on.

 

Hailey tensed her body and stood in the corridor where Archbishop Akim’s room was located.

 

Could she really handle one-on-one negotiations with Archbishop Akim well? It didn’t seem likely at all.

 

But there was no choice.

 

Artizea had not tried to seek Archbishop Akim’s cooperation. She said it would be sufficient to use him as fishing bait.

 

“Lower the guard a little, and open a path so he can connect with the outside. It would be good to let him escape too. Duke Loigar will definitely react.”

 

Artizea had said in a cold voice.

 

“There will be an assassination attempt. We need to catch that in reverse.”

 

Hailey had opposed that opinion.

 

“I think it would be right to try negotiating with Archbishop Akim first.”

 

“Archbishop Akim will never cooperate with us. When men like him achieve great things and grow old, they develop unimaginable stubbornness. He’s even jealous of Father Colton.”

 

“Archbishop Akim now knows what kind of person Her Highness is, and he knows that Prince has gained momentum. And I think he probably won’t want to let Duke Loigar escape alone.”

 

“I think Archbishop Akim isn’t in a state where he can calculate gains and losses so rationally… but if you think so, then go ahead.”

 

Artizea had said that quite readily.

 

“You’re someone who knows how to think, so I won’t worry about it anymore.”

 

Hailey thought that the praise she had received wasn’t really praise after all.

 

This was definitely punishment for acting on her own when Artizea had collapsed.

 

Freil, who had known Artizea before Hailey, spoke with a resigned attitude.

 

“You’ve finally reached the crossroads of deciding whether to rest until death, or only rest after death.”

 

“Can’t I rest until death?”

 

Hailey had spoken sincerely.

 

The knights guarding the corridor were surprised to see Hailey.

 

“Princess Jordin, what brings you here at such a late hour?”

 

“I’ve come to meet Archbishop Akim on behalf of Her Highness. May I go in?”

 

“Of course. Only a knight and a royal guard will be present.”

 

“I’d prefer the conversation not be overheard.”

 

“Don’t worry. Since it’s Princess Jordin, that should be fine.”

 

Saying that, the knight opened the door.

 

And he jumped in with surprise. Following him, other knights and royal guards also rushed in.

 

Hailey also entered a step behind.

 

Archbishop Akim had collapsed on the floor, clutching a medicine bottle. Black vomited blood had pooled on the floor.

 

His body temperature was already cold.

 

“Oh no. Was it a seizure? We were keeping watch.”

 

The royal guard spoke with a worried expression. It would certainly become the responsibility of those who had been guarding him.

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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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