The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 19

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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 19

Which is a more distant relationship: strangers or worse than strangers?

Whenever Artizea had the opportunity to converse with Lawrence, she found herself thinking such thoughts.

She and Milaire were worse than strangers. And she and Lawrence were like strangers.

From childhood, the relationship between the two had been built on Artizea’s one-sided admiration.

When Artizea began to perceive the world, Lawrence was the happiest child in the highest position in the world.

She didn’t yet understand issues like illegitimate children, inheritance, or succession rights, and those around her paid no mind to such matters either.

Back then, he would sit on the Emperor’s lap, trying on the Emperor’s crown and playing around.

So in Artizea’s eyes, Lawrence was the most enviable being in the world.

She didn’t yet understand how siblings were different from each other. So she regarded her brother being loved as the same as herself being loved.

And she loved Lawrence just as her mother did.

“If your brother does well, you’ll do well too.”

Back then, she truly believed those words.

Even after growing older, she made those words her life’s guiding principle.

She rationalized it to herself, thinking that becoming the Emperor’s sister would be beneficial, or that since they were bound by blood anyway, she had to make Lawrence Emperor to survive.

But when she was young, it was different. She simply believed those words purely. She thought the other person loved her as much as she loved them.

Lawrence had no interest in Artizea from beginning to end.

Thinking about it, it was only natural. Why would he have taken interest in Artizea?

It wasn’t as if Milaire’s love and attention were being divided, nor had anyone taught him how to be a big brother.

In childhood, Lawrence treated Artizea as if she didn’t exist. As they grew older, they occasionally shared meals or tea together, but only engaged in formal conversation.

He watched with indifferent eyes as Milaire hit Artizea.

Sometimes he would offer words of comfort to her when she cried. He would say that mother didn’t do it because she hated her.

What if they had been complete strangers instead?

Would she have regarded him as her lord without harboring such complicated feelings? And when betrayed, could she have harbored simpler hatred?

With such thoughts, Artizea faced Lawrence.

After Cedric left, she had been summoned before she could even finish changing her clothes.

Artizea came to Lawrence’s study with her hair still in a net, having put back on the dress she was trying to remove, wearing slippers.

Lawrence was impatient and couldn’t even wait.

“Come in, Tia.”

Lawrence greeted her with a cold face. Rather than being angry at Artizea, he seemed to be in a generally unpleasant mood.

Artizea politely greeted him and asked.

“Is something the matter?”

“I heard you went out with the Duke of Evron.”

“Ah, yes. You heard from the butler. We met at the Endar County and went for a brief walk together.”

If he were family who truly worried about an 18-year-old girl, he should have taken issue with her going out alone with a strange man without even informing anyone of her destination.

But Lawrence had no personal interest in Artizea.

And he wasn’t wary either. The current Lawrence didn’t know Artizea’s true nature.

Previously, the incident with Countess Yunis that had made him consider her useful had been undone.

Instead of being a tool for executing conspiracies, this time she had become useful as a tool for political marriage.

Even though she had thought this would happen and had planned for it to be so, Artizea found herself letting out a hollow laugh at Lawrence’s emotionless gaze upon her.

She swallowed that feeling only in her heart.

Previously, when 18-year-old Artizea received such a gaze from Lawrence, she had been overjoyed.

She thought she was being praised. She believed she had proven her usefulness.

But now her thoughts were different.

‘If you look at subordinates with such eyes, you won’t earn their loyalty.’

Unless someone was too dull to read expressions at all, who would be loyal to someone who appraised them in such a manner?

There are various means to make people follow you. Money, power, hope, human relationships, and many other things.

Lawrence possessed most of these.

The majority of those who followed him wanted to become retainers of the next Emperor and receive rewards.

If not that, then as enemies of Duke Loigar, they supported Lawrence to prevent him from becoming Emperor.

That too was, in some sense, demanding compensation.

There were also those who followed him without reward.

However, they were not Lawrence’s people. They were loyal retainers of Emperor Gregor who, understanding the Emperor’s heart, sought to care for his beloved son.

‘Even I.’

Artizea was no exception.

She too had wanted compensation. The compensation called familial love.

But wouldn’t more than that be needed to become a monarch?

At the very least, there should be a few loyal retainers who could sacrifice their lives without compensation.

Only then would there be those who could offer counsel and throw themselves in harm’s way at crucial moments.

Those who see people only as tools cannot earn such loyalty.

If sharing genuine feelings was difficult, they should at least know how to hide their contempt for others.

Lawrence could do neither. In that aspect, Loigar was better.

Artizea unconsciously smiled.

Lawrence, having no idea what she was thinking, said.

“It would have been nice if you had extended an invitation when he came.”

“I heard he’s currently at the military camp on the outskirts of the capital. It seems he had to return before sunset since it would be difficult to ride the forest paths after dark.”

“I see.”

Lawrence seemed to think for a moment.

“Do you plan to meet again?”

“…Would that not be acceptable?”

Artizea asked cautiously on purpose.

From Lawrence’s attitude, it seemed someone had already advised him about the benefits a political marriage between Cedric and his sister could bring.

Lawrence didn’t like Cedric. Yet his mention of an invitation was probably due to the benefits involved.

Lawrence shook his head.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. You’re 18 now.”

“Thank you, brother.”

“Next time, invite him to the house once. The Duke of Evron rarely stays in the capital, and even when he does, he hardly participates in social activities, so there haven’t been opportunities to build a friendship.”

“Yes, brother.”

When Artizea answered obediently, Lawrence nodded. Then he gestured for her to leave.

Artizea said carefully.

“Brother, there’s something I’d like to request.”

“Tell me.”

Lawrence said indifferently.

“I’d like to hire a few servants and maids. That is, to attend to my personal needs. Right now I only have one, so it’s somewhat inconvenient when going out and such.”

“One?”

“Yes.”

For the first time, Lawrence looked incredulous.

Artizea smiled.

It wouldn’t have been strange for him not to know. What concern would it be to Lawrence whether Artizea had a few maids attending her?

But the fact that his sister was getting by with just one maid and not even a single strong servant was also a matter of dignity.

Lawrence was sensitive to such matters of dignity.

“I’ll speak to mother about it.”

“Is there need to trouble mother with such matters? And brother, you… know how busy mother is.”

Though she said “busy,” Lawrence understood that wasn’t her real meaning. And he nodded.

“Right. You handle it yourself. If mother says anything about it, come talk to me.”

“Yes. Thank you, brother.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I should naturally do as your brother.”

Though the money for hiring people would come from the Rosan Marquess estate’s assets, Lawrence spoke shamelessly as if he were bestowing some favor.

Just then, Milaire’s voice could be heard screaming “Ahhh!” from far away.

Artizea reflexively flinched. Seeing this, Lawrence said coldly.

“She’s probably having hysterics. It’s not like this is new, so don’t mind her and just leave her be.”

“Yes.”

“It would be troublesome if the Duke of Evron saw any injuries on your face or elsewhere.”

“Yes….”

After saying that, Artizea withdrew.

And headed toward Milaire’s room.

Even then, Milaire was still unable to control her anger and was screaming. The sound of something breaking and a maid being beaten and wailing could also be heard.

Milaire would occasionally vent her anger like this, hitting people or destroying her room.

In the past, Artizea had tried hard to soothe Milaire whenever this happened.

Screaming and crying like that wasn’t good for her body or her heart. She had wanted to embrace Milaire.

She thought that if she did well, Milaire wouldn’t get angry. But the result always came back as beatings.

Artizea stood in front of that door for a moment.

The other maids held their breath and looked at Artizea.

When Artizea appeared, Milaire would target her and wouldn’t look at anyone else.

So the maids desperately prayed that Artizea would go in.

But Artizea simply turned around.

One maid grabbed her.

“Miss, aren’t you going in?”

“Do you think I should take the beating instead?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant….”

“Before things get too serious, go in there and bring out the girl who’s inside.”

“B-b-but Miss. If we do that….”

“There are several of you, aren’t there? If you share the burden, the injuries will be somewhat less. I’ll pay generously for medical expenses and compensation. I’ll let you rest from work until your bodies heal. And bring that child to me once her treatment is finished.”

The maids gulped. They realized that this time, Artizea would not become a sacrifice in their place.

Artizea suddenly remembered the last news she had heard.

「Milaire is dead. It seems she kept nagging Lawrence about his women problems.」

When she died, did Milaire resent Lawrence?

Did she suspect that he would kill her? And yet still love him?

Or did she turn away from reality until the end?

When she died, did she regret abandoning Artizea even a little?

Artizea had tried to protect her until the end. Did she feel any regret about losing that shield?

Or did she have no such regrets, or not even know?

It was irrelevant. It was over now.

Artizea turned her back and left that place.

In this world, there are relationships that cannot be helped, even between blood-related mother and daughter.

This wasn’t even about letting go of hands. Because Milaire had never once held her hand.

Artizea finally realized that she could truly abandon her now.

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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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