The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 150

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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 150

 

Hailey returned to the Evron Ducal Residence in a state like wilted salad.

 

When she said she wanted to meet Artizea at that hour, Alice’s eyes blazed with fury, but the situation was urgent and there was no choice.

 

Artizea was not yet asleep. The doctor and maids had urged her to rest quickly.

 

However, perhaps because she had slept for several days, sleep wouldn’t come. She was sitting on the bed, organizing and thinking about various things.

 

“Archbishop Akim is dead?”

 

“Yes. He was found clutching a poison bottle in his hand.”

 

Hailey answered thus.

 

“The Royal Guards seem to think it was suicide by poison.”

 

“Considering Archbishop Akim’s pride, it’s not impossible, is it?”

 

“But it’s strange.”

 

Hailey said.

 

“There was a half-eaten meal left behind. If he was going to commit suicide, he wouldn’t have eaten at all. He might have eaten and then committed suicide afterward, but even so, something feels off.”

 

“There must have been something in the meal.”

 

“But just in case, they said all water and food was thoroughly inspected before being brought in. I did ask them to inspect it again though.”

 

“It would be something like a paralytic drug, not poison. That way, even if there’s someone tasting for poison, they couldn’t detect it.”

 

Artizea spoke matter-of-factly.

 

“Archbishop Akim knew he was in danger. In such a situation, if his throat and tongue became paralyzed, what would he think?”

 

“You mean he thought it was poison and looked for medicine?”

 

“That’s the most likely possibility. They probably switched the medicine bottle well before this incident occurred. Emergency medicines are rarely touched normally, so it would be hard to notice.”

 

Artizea asked.

 

“What about the servant who brought the meal?”

 

“We’re currently searching for him.”

 

“He’s probably already missing.”

 

They were one step too late.

 

She knew Countess Camellia’s methods best. There would be no evidence or witnesses left.

 

That’s why she had tried to set a trap to catch them in the act.

 

Hailey bowed her head.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“No, it’s fine. It’s my fault for not waking up earlier. It was too much to expect you to stop it.”

 

“Your Highness…”

 

Artizea fell into thought for a moment.

 

Before she collapsed, she couldn’t have imagined that words like treason would come up.

 

It was originally a plan hastily made to fit the sudden situation. It was a luxury to hope it would succeed without any problems.

 

She did think she should have taken care of Archbishop Akim first upon waking. But it was already past, so there was nothing to be done.

 

Even carefully planned affairs often fall apart due to variables.

 

This was something beyond Artizea’s control.

 

“It can’t be helped. Let’s stop this matter here.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Hailey restlessly bowed her head.

 

“We just weren’t as lucky as we thought. It would be better not to dig any deeper. This isn’t the time to force a decisive move.”

 

The Emperor was probably making his own moves regarding Archbishop Akim. If they dug carelessly, they might touch upon that as well.

 

There was originally a separate plan to deal with Duke Loigar. It would be better to push forward with that.

 

Hailey didn’t look completely convinced. But she nodded.

 

“Understood, Your Highness. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

 

“What about Lord Sedric?”

 

Artizea asked without showing any emotion. It was not a personal question, but one to understand the situation.

 

“Did you inform him of this news?”

 

“Yes. Someone from the Evron Knight Order departed immediately to report. I had them prepare a separate memo with just the facts to deliver to him urgently.”

 

“I see. Wait there for a moment.”

 

Artizea had paper and pen brought to her and wrote a brief letter on the spot.

 

“If you continue the current hardline stance and no evidence emerges, it will return as a political burden. Most of the gains that could be obtained have been secured. Before His Majesty regrets giving Your Highness too much authority, now is the right time to end the situation.”

 

Artizea wrote only that concisely.

 

At the signature line, she pondered for a long time. But in the end, she couldn’t write anything.

 

She folded the letter in half, put it in an envelope, and gave it to Hailey.

 

“Deliver this letter to Lord Sedric. Make sure you hand it to him personally.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“After that, you don’t need to come report to me. You can rest. I should sleep now too.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Hailey bowed politely and withdrew.

 

Artizea stared blankly into space for a moment.

 

Her lower abdomen ached sharply. She crawled under the covers and tried to fall asleep.

 

Sedric remained at the Imperial Palace until that hour.

 

The Archbishop and temple representatives, along with judges appointed by the Emperor, were with him. Guard knights and elders from the House of Lords also observed.

 

Before them, the priests who had tried to kidnap Artizea were brought out.

 

Though this was their first official testimony, they had already been interrogated thoroughly by Evron knights and the Royal Guards.

 

The priests, terrified, swore in God’s name and testified that it was Archbishop Akim who had ordered it.

 

Though Archbishop Akim himself was not present, it was essentially a trial.

 

Treason charges don’t require a separate trial. Execution follows directly. Going through even this much procedure was only because the accused was an archbishop.

 

News of Archbishop Akim’s death arrived just as this procedure was concluding.

 

The knight who came to report to Sedric was the fastest. Information also came through various other routes.

 

The bishops’ faces turned pale. The judges and nobles also murmured among themselves.

 

“What’s happening with this? Was it a seizure?”

 

“There are suspicions of suicide by poison?”

 

Conversations held in low voices so others couldn’t hear, carefully exchanged with neighbors, combined into a general murmur.

 

Sedric rubbed his face with both hands. A headache was coming on.

 

Amelie spoke to him in a whispered voice.

 

“This has become troublesome, Your Highness. No suicide note was found, I assume?”

 

“According to the news that came, that’s correct.”

 

“Then the possibility of suicide is low.”

 

“But the poison bottle seems to have belonged to Archbishop Akim originally. He drank it himself.”

 

“Whether suicide or murder, this has become problematic. If only it had been sudden death from a seizure…”

 

Then Bishop Nicos, who had finished talking with the Archbishop, approached Sedric.

 

“The temple will cooperate thoroughly with any investigation. Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness.”

 

Bishop Nicos’s complexion was deathly pale.

 

“Do you think Archbishop Akim committed suicide, Bishop Nicos?”

 

“Akim was a man of great pride.”

 

Bishop Nicos lowered his eyes.

 

“I understand what you mean.”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“However, I cannot readily promise here and now that there are no more problems with the temple.”

 

It was during such conversation.

 

Hailey arrived.

 

Sedric was not surprised. He just felt a little sorry.

 

‘I told her to rest.’

 

But he also knew well that Artizea was not someone who could do that, and that he couldn’t stop her either.

 

This was what she had been doing all along. Just because she was pregnant didn’t mean he could suddenly exclude her from everything and tell her to quietly read fairy tales in a safe bedroom.

 

Realistically, he also needed Artizea’s advice.

 

Hailey quietly delivered Artizea’s letter to Cedric.

 

Cedric skimmed through it and said.

 

“I understand.”

 

“Should I convey any message to Her Highness?”

 

“…Tell her not to worry and to rest well. It seems I’ll be late tonight.”

 

Hailey bowed respectfully again and withdrew.

 

“What does it say?”

 

Amelie asked with a curious expression.

 

“It says now is the time to stop.”

 

“Her Highness is indeed wise. The idea that Archbishop Akim has someone behind him is merely speculation. As of now, there’s nothing that could even be called circumstantial evidence. The same goes for whether it was suicide or murder.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

If we drag this out much longer without results, we risk touching His Majesty’s nerves.

 

Cedric nodded. He too understood well what Artizea and Amelie were saying.

 

He folded Artizea’s letter four times and put it in his inner pocket. This too was a letter that needed to be burned.

 

When Cedric stood up, the murmuring grew louder.

 

“Let us adjourn for today.”

 

Cedric said. With Archbishop Akim dead, hearing the priests’ testimonies now would accomplish nothing.

 

He was the first to go outside. Then the nobles moved in a rush.

 

It would be a night when no one would sleep.

 

* * *

 

Countess Camellia’s salon also had its lights on until that hour.

 

The news of Archbishop Akim’s death had not yet been publicly announced. Only Duke Loigar and a few other major nobles had quickly received word.

 

Duke Loigar stepped away from the people’s conversations and personally poured cool sparkling wine into two glasses.

 

Then he approached Countess Camellia.

 

“The weather is getting warmer, so please have a drink, sister-in-law.”

 

A pleased smile hung on his lips.

 

“My heart feels very refreshed.”

 

Though the security must have been very tight and it wouldn’t have been easy, Countess Camellia had handled the matter lightly. She hadn’t even left evidence that could connect back to him.

 

Even if it were revealed that Archbishop Akim was poisoned, no one would know who did it.

 

All speculation is merely speculation. The treason charge ends with Archbishop Akim.

 

Now the only factual matter remaining for Duke Loigar was that he had claimed Milaire’s actions constituted treason.

 

And conversely, this was something Cedric couldn’t carelessly claim was wrong. Because he could be accused of protecting his relative.

 

There was no ammunition for mutual attacks. Since it was an unwinnable game, they had simply overturned the board.

 

Countess Camellia smiled.

 

“I’ll give you the details separately later.”

 

This wasn’t the place for such a conversation.

 

It was then.

 

“Prince Evron has arrived.”

 

A servant rushed into the salon with urgent steps and announced.

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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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