The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 180

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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 180

Lawrence sat in his study without even lighting a candle, glaring into empty space.

It had been three weeks since he was dragged here and confined to his residence.

Royal Guard soldiers kept watch inside and out without a single gap. Whatever orders they had received, they remained silent as statues even when Lawrence tried to speak to them.

He was free to move about within the house.

Meals were served as lavishly as before. He wasn’t interfered with wherever he went. He could even be alone in his bedroom.

The management of the manor was flawless, and in the mornings, servants came to help him change clothes.

However, going out to the garden was forbidden.

There were no visitors, and no one brought him news.

The butler was nowhere to be seen. Not just the butler, but most of the senior staff were the same.

They had probably been dragged away for questioning. Lawrence could roughly guess as much.

Even if they had no charges against them, they would never return. There was also the purpose of preventing him from communicating with the outside world.

Lawrence had never spoken much with maids or servants to begin with.

However, once the attendants and butler he would directly speak to disappeared, that fact became starkly apparent.

With the soldiers saying nothing and no one to talk to, he found himself not opening his mouth all day long.

“Sigh.”

After pouring himself a drink and idly flipping cards alone, Lawrence let out a sigh.

Among the soldiers, there was surely someone observing him and reporting to their superiors.

However, his requests to call a superior he could communicate with received no response.

Whether it was Gayan or Kishower, if he could meet with any of the guard knights, he might be able to do something, but such possibilities were completely blocked.

‘Does Father intend to let me wither away like this?’

That couldn’t be the case.

Lawrence snorted.

The Emperor had no other choice but him.

One of his two half-sisters had long ago fled to a distant provincial city, frightened by the capital’s political and social circles.

Countess Unise had her own ambitions, but once she regained favor from her father and obtained several exclusive privileges, she was satisfied with that.

Duke Loigar had been dominated by fear in childhood, and after growing up, harbored resentment at having his rightful privileges taken away. There was no way he could reconcile with the Emperor now.

Then would he elevate Sedric?

‘…’

That seemed like a possibility.

He remembered what the Emperor had said when the southern expedition was first mentioned.

“You lack the qualities. You’re inferior not only to Sedric, but even to Loigar.”

If those words were sincere, then it was true that the Emperor held Sedric in high regard.

Power comes from the sword’s edge. Sedric already held his own sword.

A headache came on. Lawrence stopped thinking.

In any case, without communication with the outside world, he couldn’t judge anything.

But he had severe headaches almost daily. Lawrence couldn’t tell if this was the same kind of migraine that Milaire often suffered from, or just due to stress.

That’s when it happened.

A servant quietly entered without permission, set down a plate of cheese, and left.

Lawrence pulled the plate toward him. There was a small note stuck under the plate.

“Southern expedition to attack Eimel. Commander-in-Chief General Boyden. Special envoy Duke Loigar.”

Lawrence crumpled the note.

That meant Sedric would remain in the capital.

Whatever happened in the south, one thing was certain: it would take a long time.

Just leading the army back and forth would take several months. Considering negotiations with foreign countries would take place, it could take at least half a year, or even over a year if it dragged on.

During that time, Sedric could sufficiently expand his influence in the capital.

‘If Father is aiming for that, then Duke Loigar has definitely misjudged the situation.’

Loyal followers are hard to gain, but those seeking profit are everywhere.

So it was obvious without thinking who could more easily steal the other’s sphere of influence.

And Sedric had already begun making compromises.

Lawrence thought this as he held the note to a candle flame and burned it.

Despite his headache, his judgment was quick and his way of thinking had changed.

It felt like ice had entered his head.

He wasn’t sure how he had become this way. Perhaps it was because he was truly cornered.

However, whether Duke Loigar had made mistakes or not, whether Sedric did something or not, having lost favor, he could no longer do anything.

According to law, he was still not recognized as being of Kratos bloodline.

Only after it became impossible to turn back did Lawrence realize this fact.

* * *

After finishing dinner, Artizea was relaxing comfortably in the drawing room.

Until something happened on Duke Loigar’s side, there was nothing for Artizea to do for the time being.

She planned to observe the situation and just confirm that nothing unexpected occurred.

Sedric was sitting with homework that Ansgard had brought, suffering from a headache.

First, he had to rewrite his will.

Since Artizea had no family of her own, besides a nanny, he needed to select several people who could serve as the child’s guardians and trustees in case of emergency.

He had to ask not only vassals of House Evron, but also trustworthy high nobles of the capital.

Since they would give birth in the capital, the child would need to stay in the capital until reaching a certain age.

“First, I’ll ask Prime Minister Lin.”

“That’s a good choice.”

“Count and Countess Marta as well.”

“Not bad. It’s less burdensome than speaking directly to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Next would be General Ain and Earl Clancy.”

“If Lord Sedric thinks they’re trustworthy, that’s fine.”

“Don’t you have any intention of thinking about this together?”

Sedric asked as if lamenting.

When he tried to choose, most of his selections were biased toward the military.

He wasn’t sure if this was truly the right choice for the child.

“I don’t have people I’ve formed relationships with through mutual trust like that. Even if I did, they would be connections I shouldn’t reveal to others.”

When Artizea said this, there was nothing else to say.

The guard force also had to be newly organized. Just because the child was young didn’t mean they could simply be added to Artizea’s guard.

Having multiple heads and limbs meant they could continue functioning even if one was cut off.

The vassals remaining in the territory would also want to see the face of their young new master, so arrangements had to be made for them to come to the capital in turns.

“I know you have Hailey in mind as the nanny, but wouldn’t it be better to formally entrust the role to someone older?”

“If we formally make someone else the nanny, Hailey won’t have decision-making power over important matters.”

Artizea let out a small sigh.

If nothing had happened, she would have naturally called Margaret to serve as nanny.

That would have been good, with Hailey handling various tasks.

But now that had become impossible.

Being in charge of raising the heir was a powerful position. If they separated the position and actual authority, disputes would arise if anything happened to Artizea herself.

“Let’s think about it a bit more. Hailey herself doesn’t seem enthusiastic about it either.”

“Yes. I’ve asked Ansgard to tell me if he has anyone to recommend. I’m also planning to increase my maids by a couple more.”

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“I’m thinking of recommending Princess Hazel of House Belmond since she’s clever. It would be fine to form a connection with Milaire as well, even if just formally.”

“You’re thinking of Count Kishower.”

“It might become a bit complicated, but thinking of the child, Count Kishower is too valuable to miss.”

While they were having this conversation, a maid knocked on the door.

“Lady Lisia has arrived, Your Highness.”

Artizea, who had been lying comfortably half-reclined on the sofa, sat up.

While doing so, she unconsciously looked at Cedric.

Now that she knew he had his memories, she couldn’t help but be more conscious of Lisia.

Cedric didn’t understand at first why she was looking at him. But he realized when Artizea casually turned her gaze away as if nothing had happened.

“Tia.”

“Tell her to come in.”

Artizea spoke first.

Soon the door opened.

Lisia was dressed in simple pants and a shirt with an evening shawl draped over them. Her face was filled with melancholy.

She had been like that often lately.

For a while, she seemed to have little appetite. She frequently went out alone to ride horses, avoiding people.

Hailey was worried enough about it. If it had been someone else, she would have been angry about their lack of dedication, but Lisia wasn’t someone who would act that way without reason.

Artizea was also concerned, but she just left her alone.

Artizea knew that Lisia had almost given her heart to Lawrence.

She couldn’t understand why such feelings had arisen.

They hadn’t talked about it in detail either. She was afraid of touching upon memories.

It might have been that her gaze was momentarily drawn to him because Lawrence was handsome. In fact, this was quite common among young ladies.

But perhaps the old times when she had tried to love him were unconsciously influencing her.

Artizea felt guilty about doing nothing herself.

She couldn’t distinguish whether she had judged it right not to interfere, or if she simply wanted to avoid it.

Lisia politely greeted Cedric and Artizea in turn.

“What’s the matter?”

Artizea asked carefully.

Lisia showed a gentle smile on her pale lips. Artizea looked at those lips with fresh eyes.

They had always been rosy, but they looked haggard after just a few weeks.

“There’s something I’d like to request, Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“I’m thinking of returning to the Western Regions.”

Artizea looked at Lisia, unable to hide her bewilderment.

“You entrusted me with matters regarding the Western Regions grain relief project. I came back on my own accord…”

“Lisia…”

“Since His Highness the Prince has returned, I think it would be fine for me to go. It’s almost time to start planning for the autumn harvest. I want to complete the task I was given.”

Artizea hesitated, unable to answer readily.

Her desire to have Lisia stay by her side, her nagging concerns, and her complicated feelings about whether this was because of Lawrence all mixed together.

Then Cedric spoke.

“Tell her to do that.”

Artizea looked at Cedric in surprise.

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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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