The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 21

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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 21

Bill was flustered.

If Milaire had been there, she would have prevented these gifts from entering the house.

Then she would have punished Artizea for receiving gifts from a man without permission.

But now Milaire was absent, and he was just a butler.

Until now, he had thoroughly oppressed and ignored Artizea, but all of that had been Milaire’s will.

This didn’t mean Bill hadn’t derived pleasure from the process.

He had thoroughly enjoyed the twisted sense of superiority from being able to crush the heir of a marquess house and the pleasure that came from abusing a young girl.

But strictly speaking, the instigator of all those incidents was Milaire.

Bill had an exceptional talent for reading Milaire’s mind and moving like a tongue in her mouth.

However, he lacked the ability to handle situations wisely when his master was absent.

While he hesitated over whether to block them or not, Emily boldly entered the lobby. Workers followed behind her carrying fabrics and mannequins.

Only then did Bill try to stop Emily, but when he saw the last man entering, he flinched and shut his mouth.

That man was clearly a knight at first glance. He had a very large build and developed muscles that couldn’t be hidden even by clothes.

The clothes he wore were plain and without a single decoration. However, his bearing was disciplined and dignified. He carried a sword and pistol at his waist.

The four attendants following him were all armed as well.

Bill was from the lower class. He didn’t dare confront armed people, especially knights.

He was more afraid of knights who had seen much of cutting down commoners than nobles who groveled before Milaire.

“Welcome!”

Alice ran out with delight to greet Emily.

The head maid shouted upon seeing Alice step forward, ignoring both the butler and herself as head maid.

“Alice!”

But the shout that should have followed couldn’t even get its first word out.

Artizea had come out on the stairs and was looking down.

Emily smiled brightly, spread her skirt, and politely greeted her.

“Hello, Young Lady of House Rosan.”

“Welcome, Madam Emily. I don’t recall summoning you, so what brings you to this house?”

“Prince Evron sent me.”

“…”

Artizea was silent for a moment before answering.

“Sophie, escort the madam to my toilette room.”

“Yes, miss!”

Sophie, who had been standing behind Artizea, excitedly ran down the stairs.

Sophie affectionately took Emily’s arm and guided her to the second floor as if escorting an aunt she hadn’t seen in 30 years. The workers also followed behind them in a crowd.

The maids whispered among themselves as they watched the scene.

Artizea now turned her gaze to the knight standing awkwardly in the lobby.

The knight politely placed his fist on his chest and bowed his head.

Artizea went down to the lobby and stood before him. Then the knight knelt on one knee and offered his greeting.

“I am Knight Alphonse Ruyen. I received the title of knight in the Evron Duchy and have been serving in Prince’s guard until now. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Artizea Rosan. Please stand.”

When she extended her hand, Alphonse respectfully kissed the back of her hand and stood up.

“By Prince’s command, I’m here to guard Young Marquess from today. Would you permit this?”

“I’m grateful for this. I hope you can stay comfortably within House of Rosan.”

Artizea said this calmly.

However, her heart was not so calm.

Alphonse was the most skilled and trustworthy among the knights of the Evron Duchy.

He was sincere, faithful, and devoted his loyalty without question. He embodied the robust spirit of the Evron Duchy in his person.

At first glance, he seemed blindly devoted to his lord. But since his lord was first Sedric and later Lisia, it was also proven that he had good judgment.

That Sedric had assigned such a person as her guard made Artizea feel uncomfortable.

If Knight Freil or another staff-level knight had come, she wouldn’t have felt this way.

Because they would guard her while also observing and evaluating whether this marriage was truly useful or not.

And that would be a necessary thing as well.

But Alphonse was different.

Sending him meant that Sedric had no thoughts other than truly protecting Artizea. That’s why she felt strange.

In the past, Sedric had assigned Alphonse the role of protecting Lisia. Alphonse fulfilled that duty to the end.

Which meant he died at Lawrence’s hands.

This wasn’t something to think about now. Artizea shook her head once to scatter the memory.

And she carefully looked at the people standing behind Alphonse.

Among them, a familiar face was bowing her head behind the attendants, dressed in maid’s clothes.

It was Lise Hanson. Marcus’s granddaughter.

“Sir Alphonse, are there no words Prince told you to convey?”

“He said that though I was Prince’s sword until now, I should become Young Lady’s shield from now on.”

Alphonse said slowly.

A shield defends the inside from the outside, but at the same time, it’s a weapon that attacks from inside to outside. It’s not only for attack assistance but can also be used as a proper offensive weapon within a limited range.

Also, a weapon doesn’t think for itself. Alphonse would follow her commands.

Artizea fully understood that meaning. Sedric would have it in mind as well.

That Lise Hanson had come meant Marcus’s mind was also decided. Then there was no need to hesitate.

She called Bill, who was glancing this way.

“Bill.”

Bill hastily bowed his head. Artizea said to him.

“Prepare a room for Sir Alphonse. The same corridor as mine would be fine… For the attendants, two per room would be good, arranged in the annex. The maid can be left to Alice.”

“Just a small space to lay our bodies is sufficient. These fellows can sleep well even in the stable.”

Alphonse said this. Artizea smiled.

“Don’t worry. We have rooms to spare. It may not be for long, but I hope you can stay comfortably in this unfamiliar house.”

Bill didn’t seem to think so. He smiled awkwardly with a troubled face and said.

“But miss, it’s difficult to arrange new rooms without permission from madam or young master…”

“Bill.”

She knew he would say that. That’s why she said it in front of people.

Artizea deliberately made her voice more coldly stern.

Bill was startled to see Alphonse’s face harden more than hers and looked up.

The seamstress workshop employees were also looking this way with stiff faces. Emily had also turned around from entering the corridor and was peering over.

An ice-cold atmosphere circulated in the lobby. Artizea asked in a deliberately gentle voice.

“Bill, would you tell me who I am?”

“Well, miss…”

Bill made a troubled sound.

The servants and maids of this manor were under his control. But without Milaire’s instructions, he couldn’t use physical force against the master’s daughter.

This was even more true in front of a knight of Duke of Evron and the well-connected Madam Emily.

“Please don’t do this, let’s go inside and talk. Isn’t this a family matter?”

Bill said as if trying to appease her and tried to grab and pull Artizea’s arm.

But the moment he reached out his hand, Alphonse’s scabbard struck his elbow.

Bill couldn’t even see how he had moved.

“Ugh!”

Bill screamed at the pain as if his arm was breaking and staggered backward.

When the knight moved, two attendants followed and grabbed Bill’s arms, twisting them.

“Make him kneel!”

Alice shouted venomously.

As he was forced to kneel on the floor, Bill looked up with shocked eyes.

Artizea bent one knee in an even graceful motion to meet Bill’s gaze.

“This is the second time, Bill. That House of Rosan has been shamed before Prince Evron because of an incompetent butler.”

“Miss….”

“Once is fine. That can happen. If you’re a bit lazy with work, you might not be able to keep track of your master’s whereabouts. Twice becomes a disgrace to the family. Sir Alphonse is also the eyes of His Grace the Prince, and to show such a sight before him.”

Bill rolled his eyes. Cold sweat poured down his back.

Artizea asked again.

“Tell me who I am, Bill.”

“Miss.”

Smack!

Alice struck his cheek hard.

“Miss! If, if Madam finds out about this, ugh!”

Alice slapped his cheek again.

His vision turned red from shock more than pain.

Though he had always pretended not to notice, it wasn’t as if Bill had never been conscious of it.

No matter how much he looked down on her, that was ridiculous from Milaire’s perspective. The other party was the future Marquess Rosan, while Bill himself was nothing more than a commoner.

Moreover, neither Milaire nor Lawrence was present here. They wouldn’t be returning for a while.

Bill realized that Artizea had enough time to bury someone like him.

Alice struck his cheek once more.

“What if Madam finds out? Are you worried she might beat our Miss like this?”

Depending on her mood, Milaire would do that and more.

But Lawrence was different.

Being someone who valued appearances, regardless of whatever punishment Artizea might receive from Milaire, he would not forgive showing such disgraceful behavior before a knight of the Duke of Evron.

And just because Milaire might get angry at Artizea later didn’t mean he was safe right now.

In the end, he answered trembling.

“Young, Young Marquess….”

Artizea smiled. That smile looked completely different from before.

The servants released Bill’s arms.

“Bill, go prepare Alphonse’s Room and the Servants’ Quarters. When that’s finished, bring the keys and ledgers to my room.”

“K, keys?”

“Didn’t you understand? I’m telling you to bring the vault keys. Jacob.”

Artizea called to Butler Jacob, who was cowering dejectedly in one corner.

“You follow Bill and help him.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Did you properly understand what Miss means?”

Alice said sharply.

Jacob was pale as earth, but obediently nodded his head.

Then when he turned around, his shoulders were raised high. If he took the keys from Bill, then as the butler, he would be the one to manage them next. He seemed to realize this could be an opportunity.

Artizea said to Alice.

“Alice, you go help that young maid.”

“I want to see Miss’s dress too….”

“Who else can I trust besides you?”

Alice stuck out her tongue and laughed “That’s right” cheerfully.

Artizea turned around first. The head maid and other employees hurriedly scattered as if they hadn’t been watching.

Alphonse silently followed behind her.

Stopping in front of the door to the ornate Toilette Room, Artizea spoke with a completely different calm face than before.

“I apologize. You had to witness such an ugly sight as soon as you arrived.”

“Not at all.”

Alphonse answered in a respectful voice.

“You need not concern yourself with showing any kind of behavior before me, my lady. His Grace the Prince told me that you are in a very difficult position within your family, and even if you seem to act in ways that cannot be understood right now, there are reasons for everything, so I should not doubt you.”

“His Grace the Prince….”

Artizea spoke with a strange feeling.

Even Lawrence, who had been loyal his entire life, had never trusted her in such a way.

More than the dress, he had sent trust and power.

She had gained force. With this, she could take one step forward.

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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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