The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 178

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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 178

Duke Loigar wore an extremely troubled expression.

“If I go, I’ll definitely be busy and won’t have time to take care of you, so I’m worried you’ll feel hurt.”

“That’s a lie.”

Duchess Loigar said.

“You’re saying that because I’m not helpful, aren’t you?”

“Darling.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? If I were like sister… if I were smart, I’d be helpful, so you would have definitely asked me to come along.”

Stopping mid-sentence, Duchess Loigar felt a surge of bitter emotion. In truth, what she had meant to say wasn’t sister, but Lady Ford.

She knew that she hadn’t been born particularly intelligent.

She had cultivated refinement as a noblewoman. She enjoyed music and dance, and was well-versed in etiquette.

However, she simply couldn’t come to like studying. Even when she memorized history and literature, she couldn’t understand what relevance it had to reality.

Much less could she be like Countess Camellia, who could discern ten hidden matters from seeing and hearing just one or two things.

When sitting in places where political rhetoric was exchanged, even when she listened intently, she often couldn’t understand the meaning.

Duchess Loigar was accustomed to sitting with a bright smile on her face in places where conversations she couldn’t understand took place.

Then, when ordinary topics like food, drinks, or weather came up, she would join in.

Then her husband or sister would take care of delicious things for her, and she would draw words of blessing from people.

And she was allowed to do so.

From the age of six, her destiny had already been decided as Duke Loigar’s wife.

She was raised lovingly and beautifully. She was taught that her lifelong duties were to love and be loved by her husband, to rely on and receive help from her family, and to bear healthy children.

And not to rashly do anything else. If she ever wanted to do something, she was told to always consult with Countess Camellia.

She had never doubted the life she had lived and the life she would live.

That is, until she heard the name Lady Ford.

Duchess Loigar was accustomed to hearing social circle gossip in one ear and letting it out the other.

Countess Camellia was always concerned that unfavorable rumors might reach her ears.

Nevertheless, it eventually reached her.

That Duke Loigar was infatuated with the daughter of a humble noble.

Duchess Loigar didn’t believe those words at first.

Unlike other men of high status, Duke Loigar didn’t have even a single mistress.

Despite being engaged to her when she was young, he didn’t create a single illegitimate child from their engagement until they grew up and married.

So she thought such stories were definitely made up by jealous people trying to sow discord.

But it was true.

Duchess Loigar saw her husband handing flowers to Lady Ford. She also saw him dismissing his attendants and sending the carriage ahead to walk with her.

She learned that he had arranged a seat at an important gathering he was hosting for a noble without even a baron’s title, and not even a family head but just a young lady.

When she complained, Countess Camellia said with a calm face.

“Those are idle thoughts, Your Highness. Even if Prince enjoys conversing with Lady Ford, it’s merely that he values Lady Ford’s wit.”

“I see. So she’s a witty person. She must be smart, right? Isn’t that so, sister?”

“Well, if she’s a young lady who can attend Prince Loigar’s gatherings, she must be a talented individual.”

Countess Camellia answered without changing her expression.

But unfortunately, Duchess Loigar could tell her sister was lying.

She thought: Lady Ford must surely be someone who could converse well with her husband and advise him on the matters he considered most important.

“There are plenty of people as smart as Lady Ford.”

“But…”

“Prince hasn’t changed from before, has he?”

Duchess Loigar nodded.

She tried to convince herself. That since she was smart and charming, he might glance at her briefly.

Just as she occasionally whispered to her sister’s ear that a handsome man looked wonderful, her husband could do the same.

But it was different. Duchess Loigar couldn’t explain how it was different. But it was definitely different.

She too had dreamed of romance rather than political marriage during her girlhood.

But in reality, she had never thought of giving gifts to another man. She had never thought of wanting to stroll alone with someone after dismissing attendants.

She had never even thought of using power to arrange a position for someone.

Eventually, she had secretly gone to meet Lady Ford, keeping it secret even from Countess Camellia.

As soon as Lady Ford saw her, her complexion turned pale and she knelt on one knee.

“I am innocent, and so is Prince. I have never been near him in a place where dozens of eyes were not watching.”

Lady Ford was genuinely afraid.

There was no more certain answer than that.

All of it was her husband’s responsibility, not Lady Ford’s.

So Duchess Loigar returned home without saying anything.

“I’m anxious, sister. So anxious. Lady Ford was too excellent. I was so envious.”

She could never have conducted herself so flawlessly and excellently, nor could she have spoken so precisely about what needed to be said while overcoming such a difference in status.

Only to Countess Camellia did she complain while crying.

And she decided to forget. Because dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything.

Even when she heard the news that Lady Ford had died, she didn’t doubt it.

She felt guilty because she had harbored resentment. But at the same time, she was relieved that her husband’s love wouldn’t be stolen away.

Duchess Loigar only learned about Countess Camellia secretly handling the matter after Deary Ford’s incident broke out.

‘I didn’t intend for her to die. I didn’t intend for her to die.’

What other things might she not know about?

‘Because I’m not smart.’

So they don’t tell her anything. They say she doesn’t need to know anything.

Everything she knows is misunderstood by her unwise mind, and the truth lies elsewhere.

Sister will handle all the unpleasant matters, and her husband will discuss the future with people he can communicate with elsewhere.

When the lid that had been forcibly covered collapsed, the accumulated suspicions and broken self-esteem came boiling up.

Did her husband really love her? Hadn’t he actually wanted to marry someone like Lady Ford?

As sister said, her husband hadn’t changed from before. Didn’t that mean he didn’t love her then, and doesn’t love her now?

Was he only being kind because she was Marquess Luden’s daughter? Was she only his wife because she was the mother of his child?

Duchess Loigar finally let a teardrop fall.

Prince was startled and reached out to her.

“Gannett. Why are you crying? When did I ever say such a thing?”

Then Duchess Loigar burst into sorrowful tears.

“But it’s true, isn’t it? You think someone like me is completely useless for your work.”

“No. How could that be?”

Duke Loigar carefully embraced her back.

The maids didn’t know what to do and hurriedly bowed their heads. Countess Camellia gestured for the maids to leave.

And she came out last, closing the door behind her.

“Sigh.”

A long sigh escaped.

In the end, Duke Loigar would give in. Whether to go with his wife or not was a trivial matter to Duke Loigar.

There was nothing wrong with going together. The reason he had initially said no was because he was concerned the journey would be delayed.

But for Duchess Loigar, it was a matter her entire life depended on. Because her husband was all she had in her life.

On one side it was a trivial matter, and on the other side it was a matter of life and death, so it was obvious which side would win.

So Countess Camellia had no choice but to sigh.

‘The aftermath is always my responsibility.’

She would have to leave Skyla in the capital.

While thinking about how to pack for the journey, she came outside, and a close maid came running in a hurry.

“What’s all this commotion in front of Her Highness’s quarters?”

Countess Camellia scolded the maid. The maid held out a letter envelope with a pale face.

And said.

“Someone named Ian Camellia has filed an inheritance lawsuit against you, my lady.”

A headache came rushing in.

* * *

In the short time that Cedric had been away, something else had changed.

A nursery had been prepared.

“It’s not too early to prepare for the birth. There are so many things needed.”

Ansgard said this as he showed them the nursery.

A baby crib, a comfortable chair, and a table for adults to use were placed against the wall. Small items like diapers, swaddling clothes, and baby shirts were also being made.

A soft carpet was laid on the floor, and a tapestry embroidered with the crest of the House of Evron hung on the wall.

“Her Majesty the Empress sent this. It’s something that hung on the wall when Lord Ced was young…”

Naturally, Cedric couldn’t remember it.

“The late Empress Dowager hung it when she made Lord Ced’s room in the palace, and it seems the Empress’s Palace has been keeping it since it was removed.”

“How thoughtful of her.”

Cedric stroked his reddened cheeks. They were also installing a birthing room, but he still couldn’t quite grasp that it would be soon.

Artizea sat in the comfortable chair with a tired demeanor.

“Are you having difficulty?”

“I’m fine. Oh, but…”

Artizea hesitated a little.

The baby, who was so active that it surprised the doctor, moved again around the right side of her navel.

“…Would you like to feel it?”

Cedric’s face became even more flushed.

He knelt on one knee in front of Artizea and placed his hand on her belly.

His large, warm hand wrapped around the area near her navel. Artizea regulated her breathing to avoid being too tense.

Just then, the baby kicked. Artizea flinched.

“Ah.”

“Ah, I can feel it too. That was a kick just now, wasn’t it?”

Cedric looked up at Artizea with a face full of wonder.

Ansgard watched the two of them with a pleased expression.

“It would be good if you talk to the baby a lot from that close. They say the baby can hear everything even from inside the mother’s womb.”

However, this peaceful time didn’t last very long.

Cedric’s adjutant knocked on the door with a tense expression.

“I apologize for disturbing your rest, Your Highness. It’s not an urgent matter, but I thought it would be better to inform you quickly, so I interrupted.”

“What is it?”

“An inheritance lawsuit has been filed regarding the Marquess Camellia family. And a claim has emerged that Marquess Luden murdered the eldest daughter of the late Marquess Camellia.”

Cedric looked at Artizea.

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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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