The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 154

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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 154

 

The atmosphere was the same even now.

 

The Emperor had not called him to a personal space, but to his office. And Rin, the Prime Minister, and Gayan, the Palace Guard, had arrived before Lawrence.

 

Of course, Lawrence had often come and gone from the Emperor’s office. He had often met with other ministers here, or watched the Emperor give simple orders or consult with the Prime Minister.

 

But this was their first meeting in three weeks. And it was their first meeting since what happened to Milaire.

 

A more private, father-and-son time would not have been strange.

 

However, it was clearly not that kind of atmosphere now.

 

The Emperor did not tell the kneeling Lawrence that there was no need for such formality. Instead, he pressed his brow with his thumb and index finger.

 

Gayan asked.

 

“Are you feeling unwell? Shall I call a doctor?”

 

“No need. I’ll rest when work is finished.”

 

“Your health is suffering.”

 

“What’s the big deal about a little headache.”

 

Even until the Emperor answered like that, Lawrence could not get up.

 

The Emperor spoke in a stiff voice.

 

“Stand up, Lawrence.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lawrence stood up and politely stepped aside from directly in front of the Emperor.

 

He knew that he was hated.

 

Even so, during the past three weeks, there wasn’t much he could have done about the situation.

 

Cedric had intervened and taken control.

 

As Milaire’s son, Lawrence could not interfere in her trial. If he was going to interfere, he should have done so much earlier, when Artizea proposed her mediation plan.

 

At that time, he could have influenced the trial results through behind-the-scenes negotiations between the temple, the media that echoed Duke Loigar’s words, and the government that watched the Emperor’s mood.

 

However, from the moment Cedric intervened and took control, that became impossible. Because Cedric had knelt before the citizens and promised a fair trial.

 

The citizens watched whether that promise was kept or not, and would continue to watch for a considerable period in the future.

 

In the midst of this, exposing himself as Milaire’s son had no advantages no matter how he thought about it.

 

While Cedric’s recognition and reputation soared, he had been trapped in his manor like trash, which made him furious.

 

He was even more enraged that the bureaucrats and military personnel who had supported him had turned to Cedric as easily as flipping their palms.

 

However, he planned to keep his head down and stay quiet for the time being.

 

Because he knew the Emperor was feeling disappointed.

 

“What have you been doing all this time?”

 

The Emperor asked.

 

“I quietly reflected at home.”

 

“Did you meet your younger sister even once?”

 

“I only sent a letter of comfort and congratulatory gifts. The butler conveyed a refusal for visits. He said it wouldn’t be appropriate for a male sibling to inconveniently show his face during a time when she’s sick and sensitive.”

 

“If you had been an affectionate older brother normally, how could it be inconvenient?”

 

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

 

That the first conversation upon meeting was about Artizea was absurd to Lawrence.

 

Recently, the Emperor had favored Artizea a little. However, it was only from the standpoint of her being a useful noblewoman.

 

The Emperor couldn’t openly talk about Milaire, so he was criticizing through Artizea as a metaphor.

 

However, Lawrence didn’t realize this.

 

He couldn’t clearly distinguish between his family and himself. His mother and younger sister always existed only for his sake.

 

He did know that they also had separate lives and emotions.

 

But he only knew this when thinking rationally. During conversations like this, he couldn’t realize and apply it moment by moment.

 

So even now, the Emperor’s words made his heart boil with anger.

 

The Emperor surely knew that he and Cedric weren’t on very good terms.

 

Even though Artizea was pregnant, he felt no emotion. Rather, his stomach turned at the thought that Cedric would have an heir.

 

He couldn’t understand it himself.

 

However, the nameless hatred that had arisen since fighting with Cedric that day was eating away at his insides more and more each day.

 

It felt as if the reason they couldn’t get along since childhood lay there.

 

Lawrence swallowed it down and only bowed his head without giving any answer.

 

“Tsk.”

 

The Emperor clicked his tongue once more, audibly.

 

Gayan felt sorry for no reason.

 

“I’m thinking of appointing Cedric as Minister of State this time.”

 

“What?”

 

Lawrence looked up in surprise.

 

The Emperor looked at him with a displeased expression.

 

“I have to give him a reward anyway. Didn’t he disperse the protesters without conflict and also successfully conclude the problem caused by the temple?”

 

“Does that warrant a reward? He merely dispersed the protesters by making empty promises like flattery, rather than overwhelming them even while relying on Your Majesty’s authority.”

 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect your mother to the end.”

 

The Emperor said. His expression had softened considerably.

 

Lawrence bowed his head to hide his expression.

 

It wasn’t that he resented the Emperor or was hurt by Milaire’s matter.

 

He couldn’t understand it. Why did the Emperor show what seemed like yielding to mere protesters?

 

Even though it was through Cedric, in the end, the Emperor had been pushed back.

 

Cedric had even knelt before the protesters while going out in the Emperor’s stead.

 

Wasn’t this incompetence?

 

If it had been Lawrence himself, he would have released the Imperial Guard to deal with protesters who dared to violate the Emperor’s authority and gather even in front of the Prime Minister’s office.

 

If they had captured a few ringleaders and driven them like a rabbit hunt, they would have dispersed quickly.

 

The Emperor let out a short sigh.

 

“There’s something called flow in the world, Lawrence. The people are foolish and weak, but precisely because of that, changing that flow is not an easy thing.”

 

“….”

 

“That said, we can’t cause bloodshed over something like this, can we?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“It’s not that it can’t be done. But there are times when it should be done, and times when it shouldn’t. And it’s difficult to find a minister with the ability and will to bow his head and take responsibility instead.”

 

“Yes.”

 

While answering obediently, Lawrence inwardly rebelled.

 

The Emperor must know what kind of outrage Cedric had committed against him. And yet he was saying this.

 

They were already beyond reconciliation. They fundamentally couldn’t tolerate each other. Even if Artizea was between them, it was the same.

 

The Emperor spoke without knowing Lawrence’s feelings.

 

“This is also for your sake, Lawrence.”

 

“….”

 

“You lack qualifications. You’re inferior not only to Cedric, but even to Loigar.”

 

“….”

 

“Your Majesty….”

 

Gayan cautiously intervened. He was worried that the Emperor’s words might touch Lawrence’s temperament.

 

However, the Emperor spoke without restraint. He didn’t feel the need to wrap it in nice words just because he feared hurting his son’s feelings.

 

“But you are my son.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“You are the child I cherish most, and the son I’ve decided to leave the most important thing to.”

 

“Yes…. I know well, Father.”

 

“I’m going to appoint you as Minister of State at the same time as Cedric.”

 

“What?”

 

“Of course, Cedric comes first in order. Cedric will become First Minister of State, and you’ll become Second Minister of State.”

 

Lawrence looked up in surprise.

 

Whether this had already been discussed, Gayan and Rin stood quietly without changing their expressions.

 

In fact, giving the position of Minister of State to Lawrence, who had neither achievements nor position, was an awkward matter even for the Emperor.

 

That’s why he had appointed Cedric as First Minister of State.

 

There was certainly an aspect of rewarding Cedric and giving him a position to draw him into the central bureaucratic system.

 

But more than that, it was also for Lawrence’s sake.

 

If they were appointed simultaneously, the relative importance of the positions would diminish, and the fact that the two cousins were appointed side by side would become more significant.

 

“And I intend to send you as the Southern Plenipotentiary Ambassador.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lawrence took a deep breath.

 

The Emperor continued speaking.

 

“Gayan here will go with you. You will subjugate pirates and handle the chaotic smuggling problems in the south these days.”

 

The reason he said “you will handle” rather than commanding “do this” was because Lawrence would not be the one actually performing those tasks.

 

The Emperor did not believe Lawrence could achieve military accomplishments of that caliber.

 

That’s why he planned to send several capable retainers including Gayan along with him.

 

They would achieve the merits, and those would be packaged as Lawrence’s accomplishments.

 

Then, around the time Milaire’s incident was forgotten, he would return with a splendid triumph ceremony.

 

After giving Lawrence fame in this way, if the bureaucrats and Nobility Council nominated him as Crown Prince, they could supplement his incomplete legitimacy.

 

“Meanwhile, Cedric will be stuck with impossible tasks in the capital. Do you understand my intention?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lawrence looked at the Emperor with a moved expression.

 

The Emperor sighed once more and gestured for Lawrence to come closer.

 

Lawrence approached him. Then he respectfully knelt and kissed the hem of the Emperor’s robes.

 

The Emperor lightly stroked his head. Then he spoke in a gentle voice.

 

“You must do well. Only if you do well will your mother live.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“This is both the greatest opportunity I can give you and your last chance.”

 

The Emperor said. Lawrence replied, “I understand well.”

 

Watching this scene, Gayan and Rin exchanged glances.

 

Rin shook his head slightly. It was an attitude mixed with resignation.

 

Seeing this, Gayan sighed inwardly.

 

The most troublesome problem had now fallen to Gayan himself.

 

The chaos in the south was a deep-rooted problem. Even just handling that would be difficult, but now having to take care of Lawrence as well was giving him a headache.

 

Most of all, his mind was troubled by the question of whom to align himself with.

 

His heart leaned toward Cedric.

 

However, his position was different from Amelie’s.

 

The Emperor demanded higher loyalty from the Imperial Guards. They could get involved in succession disputes, but had to do so while reading the Emperor’s intentions.

 

This was the first time the Emperor had shown such strong intent to support Lawrence.

 

In that case, he should rightfully follow the Emperor.

 

The Emperor was still healthy and powerful.

 

Nevertheless, Gayan felt conflicted.

 

Even if he gave all the credit to Lawrence now, he didn’t think Lawrence would acknowledge that contribution after ascending to the throne in the future.

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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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