The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 173

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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 173

War was not what the Cratese Empire desired.

More than anything else, military supplies were the problem.

It was the House of Liagan that had taken responsibility for the expeditionary force’s supplies in the south.

Transporting large quantities of supplies from the central region to there was an extremely difficult task. Moreover, it was the south that had periodically requested pirate subjugation.

With the House of Liagan being suppressed by the Kingdom of Aemel’s army, they couldn’t move rashly.

The Southern Army was the same. If the system had been functioning properly, the Southern Army should have shown unified movement separate from the House of Liagan and moved to intercept the Kingdom of Aemel’s army.

However, the Southern Army commanders who were close to Duke Riagan did not move rashly.

To make matters worse, Cadriole attacked key points as if he knew where the Southern Army’s supply warehouses were located, disrupting the supply of materials.

In the end, they had to send down a general supervisor from the capital to sort out the entire situation.

“You must make a decision now.”

The ministers urged the Emperor to make a decision every day.

“We must make an example of the Kingdom of Aemel so they never again invade the Empire’s territory.”

“Is war such an easy matter? Economic sanctions against the Kingdom of Aemel are sufficient. Completely halt trade and issue an edict to the Kingdom of Ients and other small kingdoms in the south prohibiting all exchanges with the Kingdom of Aemel.”

“Which kingdom would recognize a country that had its territory invaded and the Empress’s family exterminated as a great power and follow its words? The Empire is an empire because it has the power to suppress all nations and more.”

“Let’s say we attack and defeat the Kingdom of Aemel. Even if we achieve victory after consuming massive resources, if the House of Liagan is exterminated, our dignity will be damaged just the same!”

The battle between the war faction and the peace faction was fierce.

The investigation into the truth surrounding Deary Ford was conducted separately from that.

Dealing with the Kingdom of Aemel was something that had to be done with the Empire’s dignity and justification at the center. The Empire would never acknowledge that the queen’s assassination was related to the Empire.

However, even if that was the case externally, they needed to know the facts.

Viscount Hoden and all others suspected of having contact with Deary Ford were detained and subjected to harsh interrogation.

Some of them were punished when other corruptions were revealed in the process.

In the capital, there were more people interested in this matter than in the conflict with foreign countries occurring in the southern regions.

After all, the Kingdom of Aemel was a small country. Most people thought that whatever happened there wouldn’t cause any trouble for the Empire.

So what the nobles paid attention to was the situation of the House of Liagan and the direction of the throne.

This was because Lawrence had been dismissed from his position as Minister of State Affairs and placed under house arrest due to this incident.

When it was revealed that Deary Ford harbored resentment against Countess Camellia, suspicions deepened even more.

However, the identity of the mastermind was ultimately not revealed. This was because all evidence was cut off in the Kingdom of Ients.

But there were rumors that the Emperor’s investigators knew but covered it up.

This was the basis for claims that it was something Lawrence had orchestrated.

Without the Emperor’s support, Lawrence had no legitimacy worth mentioning. The same went for his power base.

Therefore, if the Emperor’s favor could no longer cover his faults, he could no longer be the Emperor’s successor.

And the sparks from this incident flew to Duke Loigar. It was in an unexpected direction he had never imagined.

“Has Gannett still not come out of her room?”

Duke Loigar asked as he removed his outer garment and handed it to the butler.

The butler answered with an apologetic expression.

“Yes.”

“What about meals?”

“Lady Skyla brought them in, but she didn’t even touch them.”

“This is already the fourth day. What do you intend to do?”

At the reproachful words, the butler only bowed his head.

It was the fourth day that Duchess Loigar had been lying down and refusing food. Countess Camellia had tried to console her, and even Marquess Luden and his wife had visited, but it was no use.

She lay in bed, only conversing with her sister Countess Camellia and refusing to speak with anyone else.

“What about the children?”

“Madam won’t even see the young ladies. She’s probably doing so because she’s worried they might be concerned.”

Duke Loigar clicked his tongue.

“Bring some pomegranate juice. Chilled and cool.”

“Yes.”

She would probably get angry if he showed his face, but he couldn’t pretend not to know when his wife was lying ill.

Soon the butler brought a glass of pomegranate juice.

Duke Loigar personally took the glass and knocked on the Duchess’s bedroom door.

“Gannett. It’s me.”

No answer came from inside.

“I’m coming in.”

Even after saying this, Duke Loigar courteously waited for a moment.

Then the door opened slightly. Skyla poked her head out and spoke carefully.

“Please come in, Uncle. Aunt is in a very… bad mood right now.”

“It’s been four days. How is that person doing?”

“It doesn’t seem like something I can comment on.”

“Are you the only maid?”

“Yes.”

Duke Loigar gestured for Skyla to come outside.

“I need to go in and see her.”

Skyla didn’t particularly try to stop Duke Loigar. Four days was already plenty of patience on Duke Loigar’s part.

When Duke Loigar entered the bedroom, all the maids who had been waiting quietly here and there disappeared outside, muffling their footsteps.

“I’m here.”

Though she probably heard him coming long ago, Duchess Loigar remained turned away, pretending not to hear.

“I brought pomegranate juice. It’s your favorite. Just take a sip.”

Setting the juice down by her bedside and sitting beside her, Duke Loigar spoke in an affectionate voice.

Duchess Loigar opened her mouth.

“Leave me alone. I’m going to starve to death.”

“Darling. Don’t do this. Didn’t I tell you I have no connection to any of this?”

Duchess Loigar slapped away the Duke’s hand that was trying to stroke her cheek.

And she looked at Duke Loigar with a face full of indignation.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“Why would I tell you such lies?”

“You think I’m stupid, don’t you? So you think I’ve forgotten who that girl Lady Ford was talking about.”

“You know there was nothing between Lady Ford and me. Your sister even confirmed it for you, did you forget?”

“Do you think I have no ears? Then what money did that woman Deary Ford have to buy a title and properly act like a noble?”

Duchess Loigar tried to sit up abruptly but became dizzy.

Duke Loigar quickly supported her and had her sit leaning against the cushions. Then he brought the pomegranate juice to her lips.

“Gannett, don’t be stubborn. If you collapse like this, what are the children and I supposed to do?”

Duchess Loigar flinched.

However, she had been raised preciously from birth and had a temperament that couldn’t endure hardship well.

Having been stubborn for four days was already enduring as much as she could. She was very thirsty, and the pomegranate juice smelled too fragrant. It was also her favorite drink from the beginning.

Duchess Loigar finally took a sip of the juice.

Then she deliberately made her voice sound cold.

“Anyway, I don’t trust you. You used to like that woman’s sister.”

“Deary Ford and I have no relationship whatsoever. Really. Didn’t you hear people saying it was all Lawrence’s doing? To frame your sister.”

Duke Loigar said with a sigh.

For Duke Loigar, it was an idea he had never imagined.

He had wanted to keep it from reaching the Duchess’s ears if possible, worried she might misunderstand.

But as Lawrence was placed under house arrest and signs appeared that further measures would be taken, the social circles and salons were ablaze with that story.

The fact that the assassin of the Queen of Aemel, Countess Lexen, was a woman named Deary Ford also reached Duchess Loigar’s ears.

And Duchess Loigar remembered the name Lady Ford.

The incident of her husband showing interest in another woman remained as a rare painful memory in her otherwise smooth life.

“Don’t blame my sister. Everything my sister does is always for me.”

“That’s right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to deny that.”

Duke Loigar spoke in the gentlest voice he could manage.

Duchess Loigar said with eyes reddened from tears.

“So, you did it because you felt sorry about what my sister did, didn’t you?”

“Your sister didn’t do anything wrong. That woman’s sister committed suicide, they say. That woman was probably deceived by Lawrence too. Poor thing.”

“….”

“But why would I invest such a fortune to give that woman the southern trading company? His Majesty also said it was either Lawrence’s doing, or we fell for some scheme from the Kingdom of Ients. Don’t believe the words of those who babble without knowing anything.”

Duchess Loigar fell silent. Then tears streamed down her face.

“I’m upset.”

“Now, stop crying and drink more pomegranate juice. Your beautiful face will get all swollen.”

“You keep making things difficult for me.”

“Didn’t I tell you it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Finally, Duchess Loigar nodded her head.

“Then you’ll eat properly now?”

“….”

“Don’t make me too sad.”

Duchess Loigar didn’t answer this time either, but the atmosphere had softened considerably.

Duke Loigar stroked her hair once more and stood up.

He had been greatly shocked and flustered when the Deary Ford incident was revealed. He had only worried that his faction’s nobles might be implicated through Viscount Wieve’s estate.

He never thought Duchess Loigar would misunderstand in this way.

It was truly an unexpected consequence.

Coming outside, he spoke to Skyla who was waiting outside the door.

“Prepare some gentle soup or something for her. Now if you offer it several times, she’ll pretend she can’t refuse and eat it.”

“Will aunt be alright?”

“She’s just throwing a tantrum, so she’ll be fine. You comfort her well. Gannett likes you very much, doesn’t she.”

“Yes.”

Skyla obediently bowed her head.

Duke Loigar let out a big sigh and strode toward the study.

Originally, he could have played a major role in this matter. Either as a means of attacking Lawrence, or as a means of expanding influence in the Southern Region.

But now he couldn’t lift a finger. Whatever he tried to do, the Duchess who heard the news would surely misunderstand and cry.

‘Tsk.’

He loved his wife. But at times like this, he wondered if it would have been better to have a more comradely spouse rather than an innocent and lovely wife.

“A guest is waiting for you.”

The butler said he had them wait in the study.

There weren’t many guests who were received directly in the study rather than the drawing room. There was no one in particular expected to come tonight.

Duke Loigar looked at the butler questioningly. The butler informed him in a low voice.

“Someone from House of Liagan has come. Since they came straight here from the Empress’s Palace, I had them wait in the study.”

Duke Loigar clenched his fist.

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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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