The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 179

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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 179

Artizea did not answer Cedric. She had no intention of hiding it. However, it wasn’t something to discuss in front of the adjutant and Ansgard.

“Let’s move to another place.”

Cedric said this and extended his hand to Artizea.

Artizea took his hand and stood up.

As they left the nursery, Alice was waiting.

“Is something wrong?”

“News has come from Duke Loigar’s residence.”

Alice whispered in a lowered voice.

“Duchess Loigar has decided to accompany them to the Southern Region.”

“Who is making the preparations?”

“Baroness Wieve.”

Alice mentioned the name of another maid serving Duchess Loigar. Artizea nodded.

“I understand. Let me know if you hear any other news.”

“Yes.”

After Alice withdrew, Cedric asked.

“Is there any other important news?”

“It seems Duchess Loigar will follow the fact-finding mission.”

Cedric had a thoughtful expression for a moment.

It wasn’t surprising that Duchess Loigar would go along. Although it’s called a fact-finding mission, it’s essentially going for diplomatic negotiations.

Going as a married couple would be better for softening the atmosphere.

Cedric entered the study, closed the door, and seated Artizea on the sofa. Then he asked.

“Is that also your doing?”

“I was planning to, but good news came before that.”

To send Duchess Loigar to the Southern Region together, Artizea had been scheming in various ways.

Having Skyla instill confidence in Duchess Loigar that she would become empress was also related to that.

Duchess Loigar has an inferiority complex about her position.

While she cherishes and loves, the way she loves is not much different from treating a child.

Duke Loigar would sometimes joke at drinking parties, laughingly calling her “our eldest daughter.”

In fact, Artizea also thought that was efficient.

Duchess Loigar is an ordinary person. And she was thoroughly raised as a hothouse flower.

An alliance token is more trustworthy when it doesn’t have its own will.

Marquess Luden didn’t want his daughter to have her own will and join hands with her husband to betray her family.

Conversely, Duke Loigar didn’t want his wife to skillfully learn deception and act as a spy for her family.

Duchess Loigar grew up innocently as both men wished.

However, like an awl in a pocket that couldn’t be revealed, she was unfortunately smart enough to realize that the world turns regardless of her.

Artizea intended to touch that inferiority complex.

She planned to continuously remind her of her political role as future empress and her role as Duke Loigar’s companion.

Inferiority complex is a quite powerful motivator that drives people’s actions.

And the more she tried to engage in political activities, the more unmanageable variables would increase for Duke Loigar.

It would be even better if she could drive a wedge between Marquess Luden’s family and Duke Loigar.

‘I haven’t done much yet. Is it because of Dearie’s sister?’

It was an unexpected development.

Artizea knew about Duchess Loigar’s inferiority complex, but previously didn’t know what triggered that inferiority complex.

She just thought it was influenced by the environment surrounding her.

After meeting Dearie, she could guess that Lady Ford was quite involved in it.

Since Countess Camellia stepped forward to assassinate her, the psychological blow to Duchess Loigar must not have been small.

But it seems the wound was deeper than expected.

This created another debt to Dearie.

At Cedric’s words, Artizea emerged from those thoughts.

“You’re the one who made them file an inheritance lawsuit against Count Camellia, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I found the previous marquess’s eldest grandson and provided financial support.”

“Is the purpose to separate Countess Camellia from Duchess Loigar?”

“Yes.”

Cedric’s questions were purely for fact confirmation.

Inwardly, he sighed a little. It’s not that he particularly opposed what Artizea had done.

He just thought she would be troubled by work again. He wished she could rest at least until she gave birth and recovered her strength.

But some things cannot miss their timing. Cedric knew that point too.

“Tell me what agreement you made with Prince Cardriole.”

Artizea’s involvement in the Southern Region must have started from then.

Cedric could roughly guess.

Cardriole has his memories. Then he would have come to find Artizea immediately.

He had previously eliminated Duke Loigar together with Artizea in the past.

He knew Marquess Rosan. If he had no memories, he would have tried to obtain him through kidnapping, or tried to kill him to eliminate a threatening enemy.

But some negotiation had taken place.

Cedric thought back to the conversation between Artizea and Cardriole that dawn.

“I will keep my promise. If you don’t trust me, I’ll swear on Empress’s name.”

Artizea had said that.

The execution of that promise would be the current state.

Artizea let out a light sigh. It wasn’t that she was trying to hide it, but because she had much to say and needed to organize her thoughts.

“I agreed to assassinate Queen Eimel. The price was letting me go.”

“Phew.”

Cedric rubbed his forehead with his hand.

“Then you’re also behind Deary Ford.”

“Yes. She came to me wanting revenge against Duke Loigar and Countess Camellia.”

Artizea briefly explained the assassination process.

She bribed a servant working in Eimel’s royal palace to bring in poison, and Dearie used it to poison the queen.

Since there was no intention to hide the assassin’s identity from the beginning, the plan was simple.

“So Prince Cardriole decided to use that as justification to attack House of Liagan.”

“Was it calculated that Uncle Loigar would show interest since Southern Sea salt was involved?”

“Yes.”

Queen Eimel was connected to House of Liagan and the Southern Sea salt smuggling organization.

There are burdens for House of Liagan to directly distribute smuggled salt.

Therefore, the organization under Queen Eimel was receiving large quantities of smuggled salt and transporting it to ports in the Eastern Region.

And from there, they supply it to salt smugglers who spread out individually.

With the profits from that, Queen Eimel was operating the royal guard.

“That guard was essentially to keep Prince Cardriole in check.”

“Did King of Aemel also know what the queen was doing?”

“King of Aemel is a petty person who doesn’t even reach mediocre level. His grown son is burdensome, but he doesn’t have the confidence to face him directly. He vaguely knows what the source of the funds the queen brings is, but won’t know the details. He wouldn’t want to do anything he’d have to take responsibility for.”

In the end, he pushed the job of confronting his eldest son onto the queen.

Since Queen Eimel also married the king for power, it wasn’t a bad combination.

Cedric was lost in thought for a moment.

“I was wondering why Uncle Loigar stepped forward at this point. If he just made sure to bring down Lawrence, the succession would naturally fall into his hands.”

“Yes. But House of Liagan made a request.”

“Since Southern Sea salt is involved, he can’t help but get involved.”

Of course, Duke Loigar doesn’t yet know that the reason Queen Eimel and House of Liagan joined hands was because of salt smuggling.

Salt smuggling is a poisoned chalice.

He gains enormous financial benefits and House of Liagan’s cooperation. However, the fact that Queen Eimel was involved in salt smuggling must be covered up to easily pin the assassination charge on Prince Cardriole.

If that fact is revealed, it inevitably becomes impossible not to question the crimes of House of Liagan and Queen Eimel.

Then this would become a matter related to the Empire’s internal politics. Soon, Lawrence would be dragged out again.

This was a zugzwang. To avoid being caught, they should not have gone to the Southern Region at all.

If the salt smuggling organization was exposed, it would go against the Emperor’s intention to gloss over Lawrence’s crimes.

Lawrence himself wasn’t the problem. The problem was incurring the Emperor’s displeasure.

However, if they tried to hide and claim the salt smuggling organization, they would bear great risks.

Sedric looked at Artizea with a complicated expression.

Duke Loigar would probably choose the latter.

Artizea would have a plan prepared for that time as well.

“Now Lord Sedric must protect His Majesty.”

Artizea waited for Sedric’s thoughts to end before speaking. There was no emotion whatsoever on her face.

Sedric looked at her silently. Then he nodded.

When Duke Loigar became dangerous, he would definitely consider assassination as a last resort.

“Gain his trust. Even if you find it mentally disagreeable, you must endure it. You don’t need to go as far as flattery, but you must consistently show loyalty to the extent that His Majesty feels you are worthy of being entrusted with succession.”

“Setting aside preventing assassination, that seems like an impossible task.”

“It will become possible now. When brother Lawrence falls from grace, His Majesty will need to elevate someone to rival Duke Loigar.”

Sedric flinched.

“Are you certain that Lawrence will fall from grace?”

“Yes.”

Lawrence was still under house arrest at his residence.

There had been no attempts at visitation from outside. The Emperor had probably blocked them in advance.

“His Majesty is greatly disappointed in my brother. If he can’t even trust the bureaucrats, he can’t push through the succession issue according to his will any longer.”

“I see.”

“He’ll probably quietly send him somewhere when he’s confident that talk about my brother will no longer come up.”

He probably had land prepared somewhere in the Eastern Region. After sending Lawrence there, he would quietly smuggle Milaire away to him as well.

“There are hardly any people with the status to stand against Duke Loigar. There’s no one more suitable than Lord Sedric. It would be even better for His Majesty if he’s confident that opponent won’t use underhanded methods or betray him.”

“Betrayal…”

Sedric smiled bitterly.

He had already turned a blind eye to underhanded methods. And he was planning betrayal.

He couldn’t help but think it strange that he would fail to gain trust when trying earnestly to obtain it, but would likely gain it now.

Sedric closed his eyes briefly and let out a long sigh. Then he said.

“Even if we don’t reveal the names of the dead immediately, let’s go to the temple soon to light candles.”

“Lord Sedric…”

“It’s the right thing to do, to at least remember them.”

Artizea hesitated. But she answered in a small voice.

“…Yes…”

Even if called hypocrisy, Sedric had no words of excuse.

However, remembering their names and restoring their honor later was all he could do.

So he closed his eyes briefly and observed a moment of silence for the dead.

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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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