The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 205

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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 205

Artizea told Cedric exactly what the Empress had informed her.

She thought he might be displeased to hear that the Emperor wanted to adopt him. However, Cedric accepted it with a calm expression.

“I had been thinking it was a possibility.”

“It’s not an immediate matter. Her Majesty the Empress hasn’t given an answer yet.”

Even if the Emperor could do whatever he wanted with everything in the Empire, accepting an adopted child was the Empress’s prerogative.

Taking hostages and making threats wouldn’t be impossible either. But the Emperor had no reason to go that far.

“What I’m telling you now is so you can think ahead about how to respond. Even if you refuse, it shouldn’t be extreme.”

“If His Majesty truly makes such a proposal, I will accept it.”

Cedric answered without much hesitation.

Artizea looked at him in surprise.

Cedric answered calmly.

“Didn’t you say I needed to win His Majesty’s favor? I was prepared for this.”

“But this isn’t just a matter of that degree.”

“You’ve been underestimating the extent of my resolve from the beginning.”

Cedric reached toward Artizea and lightly touched her brow.

Artizea pulled her head back in confusion and rubbed her brow. She wondered if something had gotten on it.

Cedric chuckled softly.

“Just because.”

“Just because?”

“Yes, just because.”

Saying that, he lightly brushed Artizea’s forehead with his fingertip again.

Artizea awkwardly covered her forehead with her hand.

Cedric lowered his hand and picked up his teacup.

“You don’t need to think about it so seriously. Haven’t we already discussed the point about absorbing His Majesty’s administration?”

Emperor Gregor’s bureaucrats might be corrupt, but they weren’t incompetent.

The administration was a mess because they didn’t work for those below them and only flattered those in power.

There weren’t enough educated intellectuals who could become bureaucrats.

If they tried to remove all of them at once and fill their positions, they would inevitably be unable to shake off the influence of nobles and wealthy merchants who had already entered high society.

Graduating from university meant either having a wealthy family or wealthy patrons.

The rare exceptions were those who had studied with scholarships granted by the Emperor. They formed the backbone of the bureaucracy.

“The current government can’t be called clean, but it could be called ‘a force independent from the nobles’ that His Majesty has cultivated over 30 years.”

Artizea had said that. Cedric had agreed with her.

It would be better to fix things gradually rather than cutting out the diseased part all at once and suffering bleeding and contamination.

“My goal isn’t to overthrow His Majesty’s regime. I don’t think it matters whether legitimacy comes from my mother or from His Majesty.”

Artizea remained speechless for a moment, her mouth agape.

Of course, she agreed with that opinion too. But she was also certain that she could think that way because she herself wasn’t from Evron.

Cedric continued.

“Whatever happens in the process of establishing imperial authority… denying His Majesty’s legitimacy itself would leave room for controversy in future generations. It would mean I denied the law of succession out of personal revenge.”

“You mean it would set a bad precedent.”

“That’s right. Evaluating the Emperor’s actions as wrong is completely different from saying he was never Emperor.”

Artizea recalled Cedric saying he didn’t desire revenge.

That made her chest churn. It felt like the inside of her body was growing hot.

“I understand you mean to think of the future.”

“That’s right. No matter whose child I succeed as, what I have to do remains the same. The most important thing is to create good results while spilling less blood.”

“Evron won’t be able to accept it like you do, Lord Cedric.”

“It can’t be helped.”

Cedric said.

“I’m trying to become Emperor. I can’t think only as Evron’s lord.”

Artizea couldn’t answer for a moment, then bowed her head.

When she pressed her forehead against Cedric’s palm, Cedric looked at her questioningly.

“Why?”

“Just because.”

“Just because?”

Artizea thought she understood why Cedric had touched her forehead for no reason earlier.

She just wanted to do it. Her heart was pounding.

‘Just a little.’

Because now it was okay.

She had known it was okay for a while now. Even knowing that, she had thought she shouldn’t dare touch what wasn’t hers.

But now she could no longer contain what was overflowing inside her.

She couldn’t tell for certain whether it was psychological instability from the effects of childbirth, or if her will had weakened because she thought he would accept her.

“Tia.”

“Um, I…”

Artizea hesitated, then spoke.

She spoke as if spitting out the moisture that had been churning in her chest.

“Would it be okay to kiss you?”

Cedric’s lips curved like a blooming flower.

“You don’t need to ask about such things. Even if this were the Grand Hall of the Imperial Palace.”

“That would be… somewhat unpleasant for me.”

Even after saying it, Artizea hesitated a little more.

Cedric tilted his head and brought his face close to make it easy for Artizea to kiss him.

Artizea’s nervous breath tickled his face. Cedric laughed softly.

“Did I ever tell you that I feel like I’m truly alive when we’re like this?”

“No.”

Artizea answered as thin as a breath.

Since Cedric was waiting quietly, there was no escape. Artizea closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his.

Hazel was extremely tense.

Ian Camellia said.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I seem to be very nervous right now.”

“Yes? Oh, yes!”

It was Hazel who was too nervous. She answered in a startled, high-pitched voice.

“Some warm water, or tea…”

“Oh, I apologize.”

The teapot in front of Ian was already completely empty.

It was because Ian had been drinking continuously due to his nervousness. This wasn’t proper etiquette either.

However, Hazel didn’t even realize this and blamed herself for letting the guest’s teapot become empty.

She had hoped to do important work when she took on the role of Artizea’s maid.

But in less than a week, hadn’t she been given too tremendous a task?

It was that Ian Camellia.

Hazel couldn’t not know what humiliation the Marquess Camellia and Marquess Luden had to endure thanks to his appearance and lawsuit.

It was rare for a family that had already completed title succession, especially a marquess family, to be embroiled in an inheritance lawsuit again.

It wasn’t just the Marquess Camellia family, but various families that had disputes over title succession were watching this issue.

Then recently, Ian had suddenly disappeared.

There were stories that Marquess Luden’s patience had finally run out, and stories that he had hidden himself out of fear.

And the place where he had revealed himself was this Evron Ducal Residence.

‘This isn’t a task for me to handle.’

But both Hailey and Ansgard were absent. There was no one else to receive guests in their place.

Ian Camellia himself wasn’t such an important guest.

However, that inheritance lawsuit is still ongoing.

Since it was a political lawsuit that would conclude by reflecting the interests of the nobility, there was no way a judgment could be made quickly by determining right from wrong.

In short, it was a matter of how much to weaken the Camellia Marquess family and how much to diminish the prestige of the Luden Marquess family.

Soon, this was directly connected to the question of how close Duke Loigar had come to the throne.

‘I thought it would end in a vague compromise. This person has endured for a long time.’

Then, from the time Leticia was born, the situation became unpredictable again.

Right after that, Ian disappeared.

Hazel’s father said this.

“The reason Marquess Luden has endured until now was probably to find out Ian Camellia’s backing.”

“Looking at things lately, I’m starting to think there might not be any backing. Or maybe that backing was Lord Lawrence. If there really was backing, they wouldn’t have abandoned him like this.”

“Or perhaps they’ve already achieved their purpose.”

“You mean bringing down the honor of the Luden Marquess family and the Camellia Marquess family?”

Hazel thought that for just that purpose, wasn’t the risk too great?

It could be personal revenge. Scandals torment people.

But that wouldn’t bring down Marquess Luden or Countess Camellia.

Only the weak suffer decisive blows from moral scandals.

Those who hold real power aren’t greatly affected by such things. After all, the power and influence they wield isn’t backed by moral authority either.

High risk, low return. Hazel thought it wasn’t worth risking one’s life for.

Hazel’s father shook his head.

“The purposes I’m aware of are at least two. The first is to separate the right advisor from Duke and Duchess Loigar.”

Because of the lawsuit, Countess Camellia had to remain in the capital.

“Your thinking that Countess Camellia wouldn’t be damaged by this affair is wrong. Unlike Marquess Luden, Countess Camellia has no backing from bloodline.”

“Ah.”

“In reality, Countess Camellia’s greatest weakness is her humble birth. With her reputation fallen, she can’t stay by Duchess Loigar’s side. That was clearly the main purpose.”

Having gone to the southern region, it became impossible to meet secretly when needed or seek advice through letters.

“The second is to create division between the two families.”

When things are going well, everyone is united, but when falling, division occurs.

When old affairs one wants to forget keep being dredged up, anyone would feel stressed.

Countess Camellia’s stress would not have been small. Marquess Luden wouldn’t have shown her consideration in such a situation either.

“Ian’s backing achieved their purpose just by putting Ian forward, so they’ve already withdrawn. There’s no need for the lawsuit results to come out. Then Ian Camellia himself…”

“He likely didn’t know the purpose. That’s why he couldn’t escape at the right time. From his position, reaching a compromise at an appropriate level would be most advantageous. In fact, that was the only method available.”

“Yes. He failed to find that timing.”

“And if he thought he couldn’t find that backing, Marquess Luden no longer needs to hold back his anger.”

That conversation was meant to inform Hazel about the empire’s political situation since she was going to an important position like a maid to the Duchess of Evron.

Not because he thought she would actually become involved like this.

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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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