The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 155

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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 155

 

The news that Cedric and Lawrence were appointed as ministers of internal affairs spread throughout the capital within a day.

 

This was very much according to the Emperor’s intentions.

 

If this news had been announced normally, unfavorable public opinion about Lawrence would have exploded.

 

How many days had it been since Milaire was sentenced to lifelong exile for her crimes, and already they were giving her son an important position?

 

However, all the newspapers in the capital wrote articles focusing intensively on Cedric, as if they had made a promise.

 

Even when he stabilized the western regions and held a triumph ceremony, they hadn’t praised him this loudly and boisterously. It was as if they were trying to create a hero.

 

And about Lawrence, they only wrote a small line or two afterward.

 

Sometimes small distorted articles would appear, making it seem like his appointment as minister of internal affairs and departure to the south was like going to serve in the military for pirate suppression.

 

Only in the anti-government illegal newspapers that circulated only in salons and coffee houses could one find a little criticism.

 

Freil said bitterly.

 

“If they make such a fuss like this, at best we won’t even break even.”

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

Even when Artizea said this, Freil grumbled.

 

“I was already angry when I thought they were just using our Highness as a supporting actor, but this isn’t just that level, is it? They praised him as the Empire’s Shield, but now they’re really treating him like an actual shield.”

 

“Isn’t it natural that those in prominent positions receive many attacks? You’ll be able to receive rewards accordingly.”

 

“I don’t think so. Internal affairs are originally something where at best you break even. Moreover, this task is difficult to succeed at. It’s not just a matter of ending with rescuing victims of this incident and protecting children, is it?”

 

Freil complained loudly.

 

“It was reckless. Didn’t Prime Minister Lin say the same thing?”

 

Artizea smiled.

 

Freil’s words were partially correct. She fully understood Prime Minister Lin’s concerns as well.

 

It was possible to eliminate organizations that trafficked slaves in the short term. However, it was impossible to root them out completely.

 

The reason slaves didn’t disappear even when prohibited by imperial law was because the mindset that regarded human life as worthless had taken root.

 

Lin had already warned Cedric in advance.

 

“Don’t think it’s easy. If it could be solved just by strict crackdowns, I would have already done it.”

 

“I’ll organize public safety and create measures for victim relief and child protection. I’ll think about what comes after that gradually.”

 

“That alone won’t solve the problem at all. This isn’t about eliminating criminal organizations.”

 

Prime Minister Lin had said this.

 

The imperial capital was always overflowing with drifters and displaced people. So when people disappeared somewhere, it was almost impossible for officials to grasp and search for them.

 

To root out human trafficking, three measures had to be implemented first.

 

First was rewriting the household registers of the entire nation.

 

Second was having officials work faithfully to protect the people by checking whether those household registers matched actual circumstances.

 

Finally, they had to grasp the flow of illicit money and bring it back within the framework of imperial law.

 

And to properly create and manage household registers, they had to strengthen the borders of the western and southern regions to eliminate displaced people.

 

To make officials work properly, they had to suppress local warlords and powerful families in each region, then extend administrative power to every corner.

 

For the flow of money to return to normal, the livelihoods of imperial citizens had to be stabilized.

 

How many more things had to be accomplished before that?

 

This would inevitably become a reform of the entire imperial government.

 

Because organizing public safety in some regions and mobilizing military force to eliminate criminal organizations would only provide short-term solutions.

 

Unless the shadows themselves were removed, no matter how much you cleaned, mold would eventually grow in the same places.

 

“You will definitely fail. That’s why I advised His Highness the Prince not to unnecessarily take on burdens and risks.”

 

Prime Minister Lin had said this.

 

“This is something that only becomes possible when His Majesty the Emperor makes the decision and all ministers above and below unite with one heart for the people.”

 

“Prime Minister Lin.”

 

“If His Highness the Prince intends to package this matter appropriately and wrap it up, that would be better. But you wouldn’t have such intentions, would you?”

 

“…”

 

“Then would you petition His Majesty to reform the empire? His Highness the Prince knows very well how dangerous that would be. Because it would be no different from pointing out that His Majesty’s rule up to now has been wrong.”

 

Even Cedric had been troubled by those words and couldn’t answer properly.

 

There was such a story behind his decision to tell Artizea that he would stop at bowing before the Emperor and examining the empire’s internal affairs in advance.

 

Artizea knew all these circumstances. But she wasn’t particularly worried.

 

As Freil said, attacks would continue.

 

While Lawrence safely achieved merit in the south, Cedric would be placed before critical public opinion in the capital.

 

However, Cedric would do well.

 

He wasn’t someone who would be greatly shaken or disturbed by minor criticism. Artizea believed that Cedric’s sincerity would eventually get through.

 

And once sincerity got through, rewards would return accordingly. That’s what public sentiment was like.

 

Regarding that part alone, it wasn’t something she could manipulate.

 

* * *

 

Amelie’s visit to the Evron Ducal Residence was two days later in the afternoon.

 

Artizea was sitting in a comfortable chair on the terrace overlooking the garden with an ordinary attitude.

 

Warm sunlight was shining down.

 

Amelie saw a bright-faced maid opening and reading letters beside Artizea and opening gift boxes.

 

Artizea was alternately eating french fries with sauce and sour chopped fruit. She looked tired, but not to the extent that her condition could be called truly bad.

 

Amelie approached her and greeted her.

 

“Thank you for allowing my visit, Your Highness.”

 

“I’m pleased that you came to visit, Count Harper. Please sit.”

 

Amelie pulled a chair close to Artizea and sat down. Then she held out the box she had brought as a gift.

 

Lisia received it from Amelie’s hands.

 

“Congratulations on your pregnancy.”

 

Artizea gestured toward Lisia.

 

Lisia slightly opened the box to look inside. What was inside were dried petals from large flowers that grew along the southern coast.

 

Just opening the lid halfway spread a brilliant fragrance.

 

“You can use it by putting it in bath water. I remember it helped with mood changes when I was pregnant, so I brought it. There’s no other meaning.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Artizea answered with an indifferent attitude.

 

Having the box opened on the spot wasn’t because she suspected Amelie or anything like that. It was to see if there might be some implication in the item.

 

Amelie also knew this, which is why she first said there was no other meaning.

 

Lisia put the box away and poured tea for Amelie.

 

Artizea pulled the fruit toward her again and took a spoonful with a spoon.

 

When her mouth felt hot and she ate cool fruit, she would crave something warm and strongly flavored and couldn’t stand it.

 

So when she ate warm food, this time she would crave something sour and cool and become restless.

 

Seeing her eat snacks continuously, Amelie smiled.

 

“It seems your morning sickness has lessened too, which is fortunate.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Artizea put down the spoon she was eating with. She suddenly thought it was impolite.

 

However, saliva was flowing in her mouth.

 

“Please eat more. I’m the one who disturbed your rest. More than anything else, this is when Your Highness needs to build up your strength.”

 

Artizea let out a small sigh.

 

“It’s not a good time.”

 

“Having a solid succession is a very important matter. Your Highness may think it’s still early since you’re young, but from the House of Evron’s standpoint, it can only be called a great blessing.”

 

“…”

 

“If a legitimate heir is born who inherits Your Highness’s wisdom, there would be nothing better. Though there’s never been a time when we realized the importance of legitimacy as keenly as now…”

 

Artizea wasn’t very positive about the birth of a child who resembled her.

 

However, she couldn’t disagree with the statement that legitimacy was important.

 

In fact, that was also the most troubling matter.

 

“Are all those gift boxes also sent to congratulate your pregnancy?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

“I heard Lord Lawrence also sent a gift.”

 

“I did send them. Though the butler probably chose what to send.”

 

“You don’t seem to care much about Lord Lawrence.”

 

Artizea gestured for Lisia to step back.

 

She had noticed that Lisia’s hands had stopped while organizing the already-read letters back into their envelopes.

 

Lisia flinched for a moment. However, she hurriedly swept up the letters onto the tray. Then she politely bowed to Artizea and withdrew.

 

Artizea looked at Amelie with a calm expression. She knew very well why she had come.

 

Contrary to public opinion, the most important topic among politicians was not that Cedric had become Minister of State Affairs. It was that the Emperor had begun doing various things for Lawrence.

 

Until now, Lawrence and Duke Loigar had been mentioned as the Emperor’s successors.

 

However, this was actually the first time the Emperor had properly indicated his intention to pass the throne to Lawrence.

 

It wasn’t that he had never hinted about succession before. But it had all been done indirectly.

 

He would tell his subjects that even though he had lost the Empress’s children, he still had a young and healthy brother remaining.

 

Or he would indirectly indicate by placing the imperial crown on young Lawrence’s head and letting him play with the imperial seal.

 

Sometimes in private settings, he would tell Lawrence that he would leave him his final legacy.

 

Each time this happened, everyone above and below would stir with excitement.

 

In short, the Emperor had been using the succession candidates as cards to strengthen imperial power and move his subjects.

 

He had avoided speaking directly so that he could always reverse his words.

 

But this time, he had directly declared that he would work behind the scenes for Lawrence.

 

All nobles interested in imperial succession, including Duke Loigar, were focusing on this matter.

 

Among them, the Emperor’s subjects were paying the most attention.

 

After everyone except Alphonse had withdrawn, leaving them essentially alone, Amelie spoke.

 

“Gayan will faithfully follow His Majesty’s orders. And he will succeed in pacifying the Southern Region.”

 

“Yes. He would. Count Gayan is capable, and His Majesty’s army is very strong. In fact, the Empire’s borders are troubled not because the Empire is weak, but because internal affairs are chaotic and we cannot focus our full strength outward.”

 

So if the Emperor provided proper support, it would not fail.

 

Moreover, the original purpose was not to root out pirates completely. It would be sufficient to achieve plausible results that could be called meritorious.

 

Such dramatic staging would not even be necessary.

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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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