The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 206

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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 206

Hazel didn’t call for a maid and personally brought hot water to prepare tea.

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust the people of the ducal residence, but to show Ean that she was maintaining good security.

Ean looked haggard. Though his clothes were luxurious, he had clearly suffered hardships.

“May I ask why you’ve come here?”

“Should I consider that a question from the Duchess of Evron?”

“No. I apologize.”

Hazel blamed her own loose tongue and fidgeted with her lips.

Both her mother and father had advised her that if she couldn’t learn to control that curiosity, she wouldn’t be able to participate in important matters.

Hazel apologized once more.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

Ean shook his head saying it was fine. He was so exhausted that his mind wasn’t sharp enough to work an abacus.

“If you feel sorry, may I ask you a question instead?”

“Please go ahead.”

“Is the rumor that Marquess Luden is dead true?”

Hazel didn’t hesitate much. Anyone who should know already knew that Marquess Luden was critically ill. Though not many knew the deeper details.

Since Ean was asking about it, he must be one of those who knew.

“I heard he hasn’t passed away yet. But it won’t be long.”

“I see.”

“He’s completely unconscious. The Marquess Luden household is probably in a volatile state right now. Marquess Luden was autocratic and barely shared any power even with his eldest son. The collateral branches who want to become independent at this opportunity or gain even a slightly larger share within the Marquess Luden household are stirring.”

The young marquess had a passive personality. Many believed that what he had secured now would be maintained for at least decades, until the current young Marquess Luden died.

‘No one thinks the Marquess Luden household will fall.’

The history of the Marquess Luden household was older than the empire itself.

Among the great nobles of the eastern region, there were several such families that had never lost their land’s productivity and faced no fierce competition.

For them, only power struggles among themselves posed a threat. And they seemed to think it would continue to be so.

‘Even though the world is changing now.’

Hazel, who was one of the proofs that the world had changed, found that belief ridiculous.

Ean realized that the additional information Hazel had provided was quite valuable.

So he also spoke honestly.

“I was told to seek out Her Highness the Duchess of Evron if I became unable to do anything.”

That was advice Skyla had given.

“Both grandfather and mother are a bit more cruel and ruthless than you can imagine. If grandfather captures you, you must comply with whatever he demands.”

“Unconditionally?”

“Yes. Because surviving is far more important.”

While saying this, Skyla had a slightly puzzled expression.

She wondered if Artizea hadn’t given such warnings in advance. But she couldn’t leave him be when there was such an obvious possibility.

“Just by being alive, you’re already dealing a certain amount of damage to both families. So prioritize surviving at all costs. If you think accepting demands will get you killed, then you should do the opposite.”

“If I comply with demands, won’t I lose all the rights I have? If you’re also thinking of using me, that wouldn’t work.”

“We can overturn it when Duke Loigar falls from power.”

“Do you think he will fall?”

“Yes.”

Skyla stated definitively.

Ean didn’t know the reason for Skyla’s confidence at the time. But if she, an insider, said so with such certainty, he couldn’t help but believe it.

So he signed all the documents Marquess Luden demanded. He also signed the engagement contract with Meidelin Ruden.

Then he was released with a guard attached. Ean immediately disappeared using the route Skyla had told him about.

Skyla had several secret transportation methods that even her mother didn’t know about. Anga was also recently prepared.

Since Ean hadn’t prepared anything himself, Marquess Luden couldn’t track him down.

Countess Camellia also didn’t think Skyla could have been involved.

Ean didn’t step out of Anga even once. He had money, but fearing leaving traces, he lived in hiding, buying only minimal necessities with small change.

Then he heard rumors that Marquess Luden had been caught in a fire, and only then could he come out and make his way here.

When Ean had finished his third cup of tea, Artizea came out to the drawing room.

Ean stood up abruptly.

“I heard you’ve been staying secluded, so thank you for meeting with me like this.”

“It’s difficult to refuse someone who comes through a friend’s introduction.”

Artizea spoke briefly and sat in the head seat. Then she gestured for Ean to sit as well.

Ean hesitated. He hadn’t mentioned that he came on Skyla’s advice.

Then was there some kind of prior agreement between Skyla and Artizea?

Suspicion suddenly surged.

Ean suppressed it. He now understood Kratos’s noble society a little better than before.

What mattered wasn’t the truth. It was who could give what to whom.

“My story is quite famous, so I assume Your Highness knows about it.”

Ean spoke directly.

“Please help me.”

“I don’t know what kind of help you’re seeking from me.”

Artizea slowly poured tea while lost in thought.

Ean had already served his purpose. Originally, she had thought it would be successful even if it only went as far as making the existing divisions visible.

But then, due to the acceleration of divisions caused by Leticia’s matter, the tremendous situation of Marquess Luden’s death occurred.

It was enough. There was no use in securing Ean any further.

If he could survive to the end on his own strength, she had planned to let him inherit the title after the Marquess Camellia household fell.

But that didn’t mean Ean could become any kind of symbol. As long as wealth and power came with titles and families, the undercurrent struggles over inheritance couldn’t stop.

However, eliminating too many great noble families at once wasn’t good. Though it was something that had to be done eventually, too sudden a change would unite the nobles in solid resistance.

They repeated countless alliances and divisions, fighting among themselves, but always united against external pressure.

‘Did Skyla send him knowing I was using Ean as a discarded card, or did she send him without knowing?’

Either way, it was true that she couldn’t ignore a friend’s introduction.

Ean had entered through the main gate of the Evron ducal residence. Thanks to this, she had gained justification to be publicly involved in this matter.

There was nothing to lose. The Marquess Luden household had become unable to even maintain the status quo. The Marquess Camellia household had to contribute strength to defending the Marquess Luden household.

Collecting incidental income wouldn’t be bad either.

Ean bowed his head.

“I want personal protection.”

“Are you planning to continue the lawsuit? If you’re willing to settle even now, I’ll mediate for you.”

“I don’t want to do that.”

Ean looked at Artizea. A gleam shone in his eyes, which had deepened from weight loss.

“You don’t want to?”

“Inheriting the Marquess Camellia household is my natural right. I have no intention of compromising with those who robbed me of it.”

Artizea unconsciously smiled as she looked at him.

“There’s no one in the world who helps without compensation, Lord Ean.”

“There are several documents I wrote under coercion from Marquess Luden.”

Ean presented a list he had prepared in advance. It contained several important items from the Marquess Camellia household’s assets.

Marquess Luden had made him write a contract saying he would give these as wedding gifts to his wife when he married.

“I will give everything on that list to Your Highness the Princess Consort.”

“You can’t give to robbers, but you can give to others yourself?”

“It may seem irrational, but at least this way, what remains will be mine.”

This was a transaction. Once a transaction was completed, there was nothing left to give or receive.

It was better than being coerced by threats or incurring debt in the name of favor.

“Well, with your power, it would be difficult to reclaim them anyway.”

At Ean’s words, Artizea muttered to herself while lost in thought.

At that moment, Ean suddenly realized. That the Duchess of Evron was that veiled woman.

“Ah.”

He groaned unconsciously.

Hazel looked at Ean with a strange expression. Ean swallowed the question that had risen to his throat.

He must not act like he knew. Even revealing that he knew something was a privilege of those in power.

Ean bowed his head. Artizea smiled.

“I understand you haven’t been in the capital long, but it seems you’ve gained quite a lot of worldly experience in that time.”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s write up a contract. Even if the documents that Marquess Luden possesses come to light, they’re just pieces of paper if the prerequisites aren’t met.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll ensure Count Ean’s safety is thoroughly protected until the lawsuit ends.”

Though this wasn’t part of the plan, there was nothing wrong with earning some side income.

Even if they maintained the Camellia Marquess family, there was no need to leave them in their former wealthy state.

‘Assets sufficient to maintain honor, tradition, and reasonable dignity would be enough.’

Artizea checked off about half the items on the list and returned it to Ean.

“If you inherit the title in the future, donate this to the country. For your own sake. It would also set a good example for other families.”

Ean understood her meaning.

He bowed his head and answered that he understood. He finally realized this was not a matter he could dare to involve himself in.

“Hazel.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Please escort Count Ean to a guest room in the annex. Count Alphonse, select an appropriate person to assign as Count Ean’s guard.”

“Understood.”

This time Artizea looked at Ean and spoke.

“You don’t seem hard of hearing, so you must know what situation the Duke’s residence is currently in.”

“Yes.”

“Receiving guests is prohibited. You may only go out when coordinated with your guard knight. Even so, it would be safer not to go out if possible.”

“Yes.”

“There’s a risk of poisoning, so don’t put anything in your mouth except what comes from the Duke’s residence kitchen, and handle objects the same way. If you need anything, ask through the butler or Hazel here.”

“Yes.”

Ean took a deep breath. He felt like he had overcome one hurdle.

Artizea gripped the armrest and slowly stood up. Then she asked.

“Do you trust Skyla?”

Ean looked at her with an ambiguous expression.

“I don’t really understand her intentions. But I clearly understand that we’re in the same boat.”

“…”

Artizea’s silence made Ean anxious.

“Skyla is clever, but she’s still someone who doesn’t really know what it means to be vile. Just like Count Ean.”

“I have learned that now.”

“You’ll need to learn much more.”

Artizea said this and left.

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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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