The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 196

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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 196

Cedric called Father Colton aside to meet with him before he departed.

“I apologize, but I don’t trust the temple very much. I believe in your character and sincerity, but that’s only believing in you as an individual person.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. You’ve experienced enough to justify that. Rather, I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Father Colton bowed his head in apology.

Cedric looked at him with bitter feelings.

Unlike what Father Colton was thinking, he wasn’t referring to Archbishop Akim’s attempt to implicate Artizea in treason.

That was personally very disappointing and infuriating. However, it wasn’t enough to make him lose faith in the temple as an entire organization.

Artizea was close to being a non-believer. Though she had built deep relationships with the temple, those relationships were built with bribes in the name of donations and sponsorship.

Since she was involved in politics both outside and inside the temple, she could be attacked by opposing factions.

But shouldn’t that not happen to a saint?

Cedric knew all too well how the temple treated saints. He vividly remembered how those who claimed to serve God treated oracles and saints.

Even if there were no safety concerns, even if Artizea’s holy power covered the heavens, Cedric would have asked her not to reveal herself.

“I don’t care how this incident happened. I’m not particularly interested in God’s will either. I don’t want to know what role has been assigned to my wife.”

“Your Highness, oracles cannot be defied.”

“It’s my wife who heard the oracle who decides that.”

Cedric spoke with a gentle but firm attitude.

“I hope the temple will have no interest in my wife whatsoever.”

“Your Highness.”

“If the oracle is an inescapable fate as you believe, Father, and if God protects my wife, then my wife will follow it of her own will.”

Father Colton couldn’t deny Cedric’s words.

“Until then, don’t think about exploiting the saint’s manifestation, and don’t think about interpreting the fate mentioned in the oracle favorably and bringing it to fruition in this land. I trust you’ll understand my intentions well, Father.”

Father Colton had no choice but to bow his head and promise to do so.

* * *

Though Cedric had said that if it was an inescapable fate, Artizea would follow it herself, in his heart he hoped she wouldn’t.

God does not protect saints.

If the oracle was the saint’s fate, wasn’t that too cruel?

Perhaps from God’s perspective, the life of a single human wasn’t important.

“What kind of oracle did you receive?”

Cedric asked.

Artizea, who had been sitting on the sofa reading overdue letters, looked at him.

And she was silent for a moment.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.”

“No. It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it, it’s just difficult to explain.”

Artizea silently gathered her thoughts again.

“If I had to say, it was something like ‘restore it’.”

“What, exactly?”

Cedric asked.

Artizea hesitated again before answering.

“I’m not sure.”

It definitely wasn’t about restoring the sins she had committed.

If that were the case, Artizea wouldn’t have been confused or surprised. She would have readily accepted that it was her destined fate.

But it also didn’t mean to restore the clock that had been wound backwards.

“If Father Colton is right, I’ll know when the time comes.”

Cedric continued slowly, lost in thought.

“If it was given after Lisia’s blessing returned, that means she can still use holy power. How is that possible? Can two saints appear in one era?”

“There’s no recorded precedent.”

Artizea answered definitively.

“But not everything is recorded. There’s no guarantee that divinity only flows from past to future.”

It was clear that the future hadn’t disappeared even after turning back time. The memories of ‘the returned one’ proved that.

Perhaps God had simply given oracles twice in an ordinary way.

“To Lisia…”

Cedric started to say but stopped.

At this point, Lisia would be closest to God. She would also know the most about oracles and saints.

Artizea guessed what Cedric had swallowed, but didn’t ask.

Seeking advice from Lisia would be too cruel.

“It’s not… an important matter right now.”

Artizea murmured.

She was curious. About the meaning of the oracle, and how divinity worked within the flow of time.

But it wasn’t threatening Artizea right now. It wasn’t directly related to the immediate reality either.

She didn’t want to make Lisia recall painful memories just to solve her curiosity.

She could seek advice when she really needed it. Until then, she hoped Lisia would forget everything and live freely and comfortably. Nothing was more important than that.

Cedric nodded. Then he asked.

“Come to think of it, you said you had no holy power, but what about Lady Kishower’s case?”

Artizea looked troubled. She hadn’t expected Cedric to remember that incident.

“I do have it. It’s just too weak and lacks direction, so it can’t exert any effect.”

“I know it doesn’t only manifest as healing power… Perhaps it’s the kind of thing you haven’t thought you needed yet.”

Artizea didn’t think so. But she didn’t bother to argue.

“Don’t worry. I know best what kind of place the temple is, and I have no intention of sacrificing myself for an oracle.”

If she were to sacrifice herself, it would be for Cedric, or for Lisia. Or even for Leticia.

But not for God.

Cedric kissed her forehead once.

Artizea reached for the pile of letters again.

“Is there any important news?”

“On the surface, they’re all congratulations.”

More secret stories were hidden between the lines.

Artizea decided to pretend not to know most of what she read. Leticia’s birth couldn’t be without political meaning. However, she didn’t want to use it as an opportunity to devise other schemes.

“If there’s nothing urgent, shall we go see Leticia for a moment?”

Cedric extended his hand.

Artizea took his hand and stood up.

“I’ll carry you if it’s too difficult.”

“Walking is better.”

Artizea walked slowly toward the baby’s room with his support.

“Let’s postpone showing Leticia to guests until after the naming ceremony.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Will the people coming from Evron be able to arrive before the naming ceremony?”

“I received a report that they arrived at the port the day before yesterday. They should be able to arrive just in time.”

“We could delay it by a few days.”

“Since various rumors are circulating, I want to finish it quickly.”

The naming ceremony was a ritual to announce the baby’s existence to the world and establish legal relationships.

And at this time, relatives and other adults would make various promises about the future.

Thanks to that, many people’s attention was focused on it.

Cedric intended not to create any exceptional events. He also didn’t plan to show ceremonies where the vassals of the House of Evron would gather to pledge loyalty.

He intended to make nothing special as much as possible, following the same procedures everyone else did.

“We can do the audience privately among ourselves at home.”

“Some people will be disappointed.”

Artizea also wasn’t particularly interested in grand and special ceremonies. It was best not to stand out.

But for the retainers who had long hoped for the stability of House Evron while carrying old wounds, it would have been disappointing.

Cedric smiled.

“Everyone will be happy just knowing that Leticia was born.”

“…Yes.”

Artizea lowered her head and answered.

How miraculous, special, and reassuring this was for Artizea—Cedric might guess, but he probably couldn’t truly understand.

Apart from political risks, so many people were purely rejoicing and blessing Leticia’s birth.

She had known this would be the case. But knowing and actually experiencing it were different.

As if she herself had been blessed, Artizea felt joy and gratitude.

When they quietly opened the baby’s room, the wet nurse stood up. Leticia was lying in the cradle.

Artizea peered into the cradle. Leticia had her dark eyes wide open. Her nose twitched.

Seeing her mouth moving as if suckling, Artizea murmured.

“Is she hungry?”

“She just fed a little while ago. She’s just doing that.”

The wet nurse said respectfully. Artizea nodded.

In the end, her milk barely came in.

Everyone advised her not to strain herself trying.

Since it wasn’t common for noblewomen to directly breastfeed and raise their babies anyway, Artizea didn’t particularly try to force it.

A healthy wet nurse would be better than an unhealthy mother.

“It must be difficult, but you’re really doing well.”

At Artizea’s words, the wet nurse smiled.

“She’s truly such a gentle baby. I have four children of my own and have cared for quite a few babies, but this is the first time I’ve seen one so gentle.”

“Once the naming ceremony is over, we’ll decide on a nanny. Your burden will lessen somewhat then.”

“Yes.”

“Hailey came to complain to me about it.”

Cedric asked.

Artizea groaned softly. She had no intention of assigning unwanted work, but it was also true that it was difficult to think of another suitable candidate.

Leticia opened her small mouth and yawned.

Artizea reached into the cradle and gently stroked the baby’s plump cheek with her finger.

Something must have been uncomfortable because Leticia frowned. She looked about to burst into tears, so Artizea looked around restlessly and anxiously.

Cedric picked up Leticia. Then the baby made grunting and fussing sounds.

The sight of the father holding his daughter who looked exactly like him was incredibly endearing.

When she was pregnant, her feelings had been too complicated, and when she had just given birth, it hadn’t felt real.

Only now could she finally understand that Leticia was her baby and Cedric’s daughter.

And also that she had been born amid Evron’s expectations and blessings, with nothing wrong anywhere.

That fact soaked into her heart like water.

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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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