The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 15

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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 15

In fact, waltzing was quite a good method for having a private conversation between two people in a place with so many others present.

It was the same when sharing secrets rather than just dancing.

For that reason, she had waltzed with Cedric exactly once before. It was at the reception following Lawrence and Lisia’s wedding.

That wedding was also the moment that transformed Lawrence from a bastard who couldn’t even be called a prince into the crown prince.

No one had expected Cedric to attend. He was, after all, the former fiancé who had been rejected by the bride.

But he attended both the wedding and the reception.

And he asked Artizea to dance.

It was probably the most bizarre incident in high society around that time.

“I thought you couldn’t dance since I’d never seen you do it.”

“Weren’t you someone who didn’t dance either, Your Highness?”

At that, Cedric had looked down at her expressionlessly.

“Do you know why I wanted to dance with the marquess today?”

“I have no idea.”

“Are there things even the marquess cannot guess?”

“I’m neither a saint who receives divine prophecies about the future nor a sage who can see through the heavens, so how could I have nothing I cannot guess? I’m full of things I don’t know.”

That day too, they had held hands and spun around just like now.

However, he maintained a perfect distance as if he found even brushing against Artizea’s dress hem distasteful.

The tension was suffocating, and it felt as if every hair on her skin was standing on end.

Since Artizea lacked stamina, she had nearly collapsed as soon as that waltz ended.

The memory of desperately straightening her back and enduring it because she didn’t want to show such a state in front of Cedric was still vivid.

“I have a favor to ask of the marquess, but I don’t want others to overhear or misinterpret it. I wanted to speak while looking into your eyes, face to face, without any political meaning.”

“Please speak. I will not misinterpret Your Highness’s intentions.”

“You yourself might not.”

“If I intended to misinterpret, the same result would occur whether I spoke face to face with Your Highness or not.”

Cedric had laughed quietly.

That vibration rang in Artizea’s ears and pierced straight to her heart.

Though Artizea denied it, his words were correct.

Words spoken while looking straight into each other’s eyes were different from words spoken while hiding one’s face behind a fan or with subtle sidelong glances.

Artizea couldn’t bring herself to look directly at him and lowered her eyes, but soon found herself drawn to meet his gaze again.

She thought her own face reflected in his clear, dark pupils looked ugly.

“Right. That’s it. Truth and sincerity mean nothing to the marquess, and you’ve always obtained the results you wanted.”

“I apologize.”

“Please take care of Lisia. That’s what I wanted to say.”

Cedric had said that.

Artizea looked up at him in surprise.

Though she was better than others at reading people’s hearts, she had never imagined Cedric would say such words to her.

“Why are you telling me this? Please tell His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I cannot trust Lawrence.”

“Do you trust me?”

“I know that the marquess used every means to marry Lisia to Lawrence because of Lawrence’s legitimacy. Even manipulating oracles.”

“…”

“But whatever the reason, it was ultimately Lisia’s decision. In that case, I have nothing more I can say.”

Cedric had said.

“However, she’s like a sister to me, so I worry about her. Since the marquess sought to make a woman who received an oracle about becoming empress into an empress, I only hope you’ll protect both Lisia and the Empire for a long time.”

Artizea couldn’t bring herself to bow her head and only lowered her eyes even then.

“How could I ignore Your Highness’s words? I will do my utmost to protect her.”

But she had failed to keep that promise.

Yet now, dancing with Cedric like this, she couldn’t help but recall those thoughts.

Unlike then, Cedric wore a comfortable expression. The hand around her waist moved gently, allowing her to lean into him.

‘Because he knows nothing.’

Artizea thought this while steeling her resolve.

The ache deep in her chest was because she had failed to keep her promise.

That’s what she thought.

The consequences of the sins Artizea had committed had disappeared when she returned to the past.

But that didn’t mean the sins themselves had vanished.

This time she would keep her promise. She would protect Lisia and ensure she could become a proper empress.

While thinking such thoughts, her concentration wavered.

Artizea had never been athletic to begin with. Nor was she familiar enough with dancing to step without thinking.

Just as she made a misstep and was about to step on Cedric’s foot, he lightly wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up.

Then, as if it had been planned all along, he spun her half a turn and set her down. There was no wavering in his lead.

Artizea suddenly returned to reality. Her face turned bright red with shame.

Cedric smiled.

“My dancing skills are slightly better than yours, my lady.”

“Isn’t it too harsh to compare me to the movements of Your Highness, a renowned warrior?”

Artizea replied with a serious expression. At that, Cedric laughed softly aloud.

Since Artizea had never seen Cedric laugh like that up close before, she stared up at him in a daze.

The dance ended. Cedric escorted her outside.

The small carriage Artizea had arrived in was already waiting in front of the entrance.

Cedric helped Artizea into the carriage and climbed in himself. It was better that way if they were going to have a conversation.

The door closed, and soon the carriage began to move.

Only then could Artizea speak.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“For what?”

“For dancing with me.”

“I merely fulfilled a gentleman’s duty.”

“I know you saved my face in front of Countess Atiya.”

“It was nothing.”

Cedric shook his head. Artizea smiled slightly.

“Since you’ve shown me kindness, may I ask for one more favor?”

“Please speak.”

“Since I’m already out, I’d like to go somewhere. Could you accompany me?”

“I will. I don’t have any particular destination anyway.”

When Cedric answered, Artizea instructed the coachman to go to Lev Street.

Cedric asked with curiosity.

“What business do you have on Lev Street?”

Lev Street was a slum. Even sturdy men would hesitate to go there alone, and it wasn’t a place for a noble lady like Artizea.

“There’s someone I need to meet there. I was wondering what to do since I don’t have anyone who could safely escort me there. It’s quite far, but we have plenty to discuss, Prince, so it should be fine. You can come with me, can’t you?”

“I came to see you anyway. It doesn’t matter whether we have our conversation in the carriage or in a quiet tea house. If you’re comfortable with it.”

“Thank you.”

Artizea bowed her head. Cedric looked at her with an interested expression.

“But you seem to already know what I came to talk about.”

“You went to the Imperial Palace today, didn’t you?”

Cedric was silent for a moment. Then he spoke slowly.

“Couldn’t I have entered the capital secretly? It wouldn’t be too late to have an audience with His Majesty after finishing my conversation with you.”

“Because you mentioned Countess Unise.”

Artizea answered.

“Your Highness isn’t close enough to Countess Unise to meet her personally, so you probably encountered her by chance. And Countess Unise would have gone to have an audience with His Majesty today.”

Cedric recalled how Countess Unise had asked him to tell her that she was sorry and grateful for the advice.

“Did you advise Countess Unise to have an audience with His Majesty today?”

“I didn’t specifically say it had to be today. I simply told her that if she wanted to push my mother out of His Majesty’s heart, it would be more beneficial to receive affection as a daughter rather than competing by getting angry and criticizing His Majesty.”

Artizea said this.

Cedric looked once more at Artizea’s swollen cheek.

Artizea had her shoulders straight and wore a calm expression.

Cedric overlaid that face with an expression of despair, grief, and tears.

He couldn’t understand at all why he felt this way.

That dream came to mind—where he thought he shouldn’t wipe away her tears, yet simultaneously couldn’t bear wanting to do so.

Artizea spoke calmly, unaware that he was angry.

“So, how was it when you went to the Imperial Palace?”

“His Majesty knew that we met yesterday. Did you tell him, my lady?”

“I didn’t deliberately inform him. When I went home yesterday, His Majesty was there.”

“I received a report that you encountered Sir Kishower.”

“Yes. So I explained the situation. Sir Kishower is also very kind to me.”

Cedric smiled bitterly as he spoke.

“There’s no need to deceive with words like ‘coincidence’ or hide yourself, Lady of Marquess Rosan. His Majesty’s attitude has already changed. Just from encountering you and having you see him off.”

“Yes. That’s what I expected. His Majesty sees much further ahead than my mother or brother.”

“It’s been years since His Majesty called me family. He even said he couldn’t forget the Western Army’s achievements.”

Cedric continued.

“Though he’s given a time delay, it seems he’ll consider it positively. And my relationship with you, my lady, will influence that positive consideration.”

“Yes. I think he will.”

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to speak so openly and favorably. You seem like someone who can see the future.”

Artizea felt embarrassed.

“It’s probably also thanks to His Majesty being in a good mood because of Countess Unise.”

“Isn’t that also something you did?”

Cedric pointed to Artizea’s cheek again.

Artizea unconsciously touched the area around the wound.

“Something like this isn’t important.”

“Don’t you think you should at least explain what happened to someone who’s worried?”

“It wasn’t anything serious. Countess Unise swung her hand in anger, and I just happened to get hit by it.”

“How is that not serious?”

“Because I deliberately let myself get hit. She was very angry, and without letting her vent like that, she definitely wouldn’t have calmed down enough to listen to what I had to say.”

After answering this way, Artizea said.

“So, have you decided on your answer to my proposal?”

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Why do you want to divorce after two years?”

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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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