The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 166

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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 166

Alice helped Artizea down from the carriage.

“You must be tired?”

“A little.”

It didn’t seem like she had moved around much, but just being in the carriage for over an hour seemed to have affected her body.

Artizea walked slowly along the back path of the garden, feeling weary. The night breeze made her feel a little better.

Alice asked.

“Are you going to cast out Lady Camellia?”

“Did it seem that way?”

“Yes. Lady Camellia seemed to want to come under your wing, but you drew the line saying it would be a temporary alliance.”

“Regardless of Scayla’s true intentions, she knows well that her position makes it impossible.”

“But you’re the Prince’s Consort. Why can’t she become your subordinate?”

“Formal hierarchy based on titles and actual power relations are different things.”

It could be done like how Marquess Luden subjugated the Camellia family, or how the Emperor controlled House Liagan.

However, if Scayla were to come under Artizea, it would be no different from how the Luden family currently subordinates the Camellia family.

The reason Scayla first came to Artizea was because she wanted to escape that situation.

Apart from the anxiety she felt deep in her heart, she wouldn’t want to simply switch masters at this point.

Alice made a complicated expression.

“Why? Did you want me to take in Scayla?”

“No. I absolutely hate that. Thinking about how Countess Camellia tried to harm you, I can’t forgive the young lady either. But it doesn’t seem like you drew the line because of that.”

“Scayla is quite useful though.”

It’s not easy to get someone who can approach the inner circle of Duke Loigar’s house, especially close to the Prince’s Consort.

“Still, I have no intention of making the Camellia family into a meritorious house.”

Artizea had made an offer, and whether to accept it or not would be decided by Scayla calculating her own gains and losses.

That offer contained deception, not sincerity.

Artizea would take everything from Countess Camellia except her life.

That naturally included the Countess’s wish for ‘her child to fully inherit the Camellia family and become legitimate bloodline.’

So Scayla would never inherit the marquess title as a legitimate daughter.

Though tired, Artizea washed her hands and feet when she returned, then headed to the study instead of the bedroom.

“Bring Hailey.”

The head maid who received the order went out without delay.

Though it was late at night, Hailey wasn’t surprised. She already knew Artizea had gone out.

That meant there had been something serious. So she thought she was being called for some follow-up handling.

‘I couldn’t sleep anyway with work piling up.’

Hailey thought as she gently pressed her dark under-eyes with her fingertips.

Even though Lisia had returned to take over social circle matters, and Artizea was staying secluded due to pregnancy, her work hadn’t decreased.

She had to manage the manor’s domestic affairs in Artizea’s place. She also handled communication with the Evron Duchy in areas other than counterintelligence and military matters.

In the end, Freil had succeeded in dumping part of his work on her.

Artizea was sitting in an armchair wearing comfortable nightclothes.

She put down the documents she had been looking through on the desk and looked at Hailey.

“Sorry for the late hour, Hailey.”

“Not at all, Your Highness.”

Hailey knew what documents Artizea had put down. There was a document case wrapped in cloth embroidered with red silk thread and gold thread on the desk.

What was inside would be the marriage contract and marriage certificate.

Artizea offered Hailey a seat. Marcus soon brought out tea.

“It’s rather late now, but I called you because I think we need to decide on a nanny.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

Hailey nodded.

Noble ladies never raised children alone. Apart from wet nurses for feeding, they appointed nannies to be responsible for overall child-rearing.

In marriages with great strategic meaning, the husband’s family sometimes selected new maids to serve as nannies.

Though all the maids would care for the child together, someone still needed to take responsibility.

Usually, older sisters, aunts, or paternal aunts served as both maids and the child’s nanny, caring for them together.

This was even more so if the mother was physically weak like Artizea.

However, Artizea currently had no suitable maid to serve as a nanny.

Lisia was too young. Hailey was older than Artizea, but had never raised a child.

‘Still, I’ve seen my nephews and nieces, so I thought I’d be somewhat involved.’

Hailey looked at Artizea with this comfortable feeling.

“Do you know something about the marriage contract’s contents, Hailey?”

“I understand that the firstborn between you two will inherit the Evron Duchy, and the lastborn will inherit the Rosan Marquess house. If there are more children, other assets including property will be inherited according to custom.”

“Right. But probably… this child will be my first and last.”

Hailey looked at Artizea awkwardly.

The doctor, the elderly butlers, the head maid – everyone said it might not be so.

So they were all praying for at least this one to be born healthy.

But even though she knew, hearing Artizea herself say such things so calmly was very uncomfortable.

Artizea said.

“So… I plan to ask Lord Sedric to revise the marriage contract.”

“What?”

“To switch the order of firstborn and lastborn, so this child inherits the Rosan Marquess house, and if another child is born later, that child would inherit the Evron Duchy.”

“Is that meaningful? If Your Highness thinks the baby in your womb is your first and last, that baby would naturally inherit both the Evron Duchy and Rosan Marquess house as an only child…”

Stopping mid-sentence, Hailey looked at Artizea with a shocked expression.

“Are you preparing for when His Highness has children elsewhere?”

“Who knows, Hailey. I don’t think Lord Sedric is unfaithful, but anyway, even if the child is born safely, there’s no guarantee I’ll be safe.”

“You shouldn’t think such things in advance.”

“You know well that positive thinking isn’t everything.”

Artizea said calmly.

“Lord Sedric is still young. To speak coldly, even if something happens to me, he can’t leave the seat beside him empty. This isn’t a family matter but a political issue.”

“…Yes.”

Hailey had to acknowledge it. Rather, as a vassal of the ducal house, she should be grateful for such words.

But the inside of her tongue felt rough.

“Since Your Highness always wants to prepare countermeasures considering all possibilities, I’ll… accept it as meaning you want the baby to fully inherit everything that’s yours.”

If inheriting both the Evron Duchy and Rosan Marquess house together, the Rosan Marquess house would essentially be merged and disappear.

This marriage contract divided the heirs to prevent that. She thought it was what Artizea wanted to protect.

Artizea had no attachment to the Rosan Marquess house. But she decided to let it be understood that way.

There was no difference in that she intended to separate the Rosan Marquess house from the Evron Duchy.

“So I want to make a sorry request of you.”

“Yes.”

“This child will likely be raised as a child of the Rosan Marquess house rather than the Evron Duchy, but I’d like you to care for them.”

“What?”

Hailey asked back in shock.

Artizea was looking down. As was usually the case when she tried to hide her expression, Hailey couldn’t guess what Artizea was thinking at all.

“You don’t mean you want me as the nanny, do you?”

“Why not?”

“What about Sister Mel?”

No matter how she thought about it, that would be right.

Mel was honest, sincere, and of good character, having already given birth to and raised several children.

If choosing a nanny from House Jordin, choosing Mel would be correct.

If she simply wanted a nanny from the Evron Duchy, there were plenty of other candidates.

“Mel is Countess Jordin and the Prince’s Consort’s head maid. If this child were the heir it might be different, but otherwise, I can’t send them under Mel’s care.”

“I’m unmarried. I’ve never given birth to a child or raised a baby.”

It was not only unreasonable but also excessive.

A nanny should fill in the experience that a baby’s mother lacks. This was a precious child of a precious family. There wasn’t even the slightest reason to choose a caregiver without experience.

Artizea let out a small sigh.

“It’s because I trust you.”

“You should rather ask Lisia. Lisia is kind and good, and besides, Her Highness also likes Lisia’s character. She would really raise the child lovingly.”

“I don’t want that.”

Artizea said.

“I need someone who can scold without hesitation when the child goes astray, and who can correct their direction. That doesn’t mean I want an unconditionally strict and stern caregiver.”

“Your Highness.”

“Someone who knows the world well, has flexibility, and understands why when the child heads in the wrong direction…”

Artizea said with downcast eyes.

“And someone who has the insight not to be deceived even if the child tries to trick them, who can see one step ahead, and the firmness to dispose of them if necessary.”

Hailey realized that what she was talking about was when a child was born who inherited both the qualities that Artizea herself possessed and the temperament that her family had.

“Your Highness.”

“I know this is a shameless request, Hailey.”

Artizea raised her blue eyes and looked at her.

“But I can’t entrust the upbringing to Lord Sedric. He would trust the child.”

And even if she were alive, she still couldn’t raise the child. There was no way she could raise them properly.

“But if it were you… you could look objectively while having affection and make rational judgments. You wouldn’t forget what being righteous means either.”

“Your Highness…”

“I’m not forcing you. As I said, this child is more likely to become a child of the Rosan Marquess Estate rather than the Evron Duchy. I know well that you have no obligation to do that much for me.”

“…”

“Still, it’s Lord Sedric’s child, and eventually will have deep ties with the Evron Duchy too. They might even achieve a higher status. So I know it’s a difficult request, but I hope you would… take care of them so they don’t become a bad person.”

Hailey could only swallow and couldn’t answer.

“Think about it slowly.”

It was when Artizea said this.

A small commotion could be heard from outside the window. It was the sound of Sedric returning home.

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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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