The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 222

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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 222

Countess Camellia spoke in a low voice.

“It was you who advised him and Luka to go to the Eastern Region.”

“Yes. Even if things go wrong, it’s not something Father or Luka should be held responsible for. I told Luka to prepare so he could disappear at any time while staying in the Eastern Region.”

“You did something foolish. You must have aroused His Majesty’s suspicion.”

“His Majesty would be suspicious of everything anyway. Mother thinks so too, which is why you didn’t say anything and told Father to do that.”

Skyla took a deep breath and said.

“Let’s say we endure and buy time. What happens next? Are you planning to assassinate His Majesty?”

Skyla lowered her voice so it wouldn’t be heard anywhere.

In the past, it would have been enough to just keep Lawrence in check and drive him out.

Duke of Evron had completely withdrawn from the succession competition. He was the one the Emperor kept at the greatest distance.

Duke of Evron himself didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of receiving the Emperor’s favor and staying in the capital.

So back then, they just needed to endure. The Emperor had no children, so there were no other options.

But now it was different.

Inheritance law doesn’t move according to public opinion. However, it’s about deciding the Emperor’s successor.

The people’s welcome and the temple’s support become justification. What more could be said about God bestowing His grace?

Now Duke Loigar couldn’t just endure. The Emperor had to die before the succession order was reversed by other justifications.

For that, the only remaining method was assassination.

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“It won’t be easy.”

Countess Camellia also answered in a whisper-like voice to Skyla’s words.

Neither mother nor daughter felt any aversion to the very mention of assassinating the Emperor. Anyone from Duke Loigar’s faction would have thought about it at least once.

The reason they hadn’t done it until now wasn’t because of loyalty or because it was wrong, but because it was difficult.

“When even Lady Leticia can’t do anything about the situation?”

“It doesn’t need to be right away. If His Majesty has Lady Leticia in mind as his successor, he won’t eliminate Prince Loigar. He needs to keep Duke of Evron in check.”

That was the Emperor’s nature.

Unless he could eliminate both at once, if that wasn’t possible, he wouldn’t eliminate either of them.

And both Duke Loigar and Countess Camellia were confident they had enough power not to be eliminated so easily.

“I don’t know what the King of Eimel will say.”

“That’s right. But whatever the King of Eimel says, His Majesty won’t immediately eliminate Prince Loigar.”

“Even so, he’ll cut off his hands and feet! Mother, by gathering people for the memorial service, Uncle directly challenged His Majesty.”

“Don’t worry too much. That would only be the case if it failed.”

Countess Camellia said this as she stood up from her seat.

Skyla panicked and tried to follow her.

And she cried out in shock.

“Mother. Mother!”

It was because Countess Camellia had closed the door in front of her.

“I understood your intentions well, Skyla. I also learned that you betrayed us.”

“Mother!”

Click.

The door was locked.

“I had hoped it wasn’t true.”

“Mother! Even if you eliminate the King of Eimel, nothing will change! It’s only a matter of time!”

“I understand what you’re worried about. I’m grateful for your thoughts, and I think you’ve already grown up so much.”

Countess Camellia said.

“But Her Highness will never divorce.”

She didn’t have an obligation to take care of her until the end. She had made a deal with Marquess Luden, but she didn’t think that deal was legitimate either.

She had been jealous. There were times when she felt it was unfair. There were times when she felt deprived.

If she had been born as Marquess Luden’s legitimate daughter, she was confident she could have become superior to the young marquess, to Gannett, and to any legitimate child he called his own.

From such a position, even if she couldn’t receive the same education as the young marquess, she couldn’t have had no feelings toward Gannett, who was Marquess Luden’s legitimate daughter.

When she was younger, she had thought several times about what it would have been like if she had been born in Gannett’s position.

But still, she had cared for her throughout her life. It wasn’t just duty and deals involved.

“As long as the Prince and Her Highness are alive, we can still fight. Legal inheritance rights are powerful.”

Before the Emperor established the succession structure, it could be overturned in a single stroke.

“Mother! No! The Duchess of Evron has finished all her preparations!”

Skyla shouted.

“Please let me out, Mother! I’m right now…!”

Skyla couldn’t finish speaking and gasped for breath.

“I’m sorry. I’ll send someone soon, so follow your father and Luka to the Eastern Region immediately. You’re smart, so you’ll be able to figure out when to disappear and when to return.”

Countess Camellia only said that and left. The sound of footsteps going down the stairs below the attic could be heard clicking.

Skyla gasped for breath and slumped down on the spot.

Her vision spun and she clutched her head with both hands.

She was going to do it anyway. She just wanted to ask one last time.

If her mother had any intention of turning back, she wanted to stop and discuss it together.

‘No. No. Unless Mother changes her mind, I have no choice but to do it anyway.’

Skyla thought while crouched down.

Countess Camellia didn’t go to the Southern Region. She could avoid being directly involved in this matter.

If it was just being caught by guilt by association, she could still cover her crimes with her family’s merits. The first to betray could escape.

Wasn’t that what she intended to do?

There was no need to suffer. Whether her mother intended to strike Marquess Luden or not was no longer important at this point.

If she had known much earlier, could something have been different then?

Probably not. In the end, it all depended on Gannett.

Skyla clutched her head again.

* * *

The welcome banquet for the King of Eimel was held three days later.

This was the first time Ian Camellia attended an official banquet held at the Imperial Palace.

Ian stood in front of the mirror and checked his appearance once. Then he said to Hazel.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

Even just putting on proper formal wear was no easy task for Ian.

Hazel had taken care of his appearance on Artizea’s orders.

“I only called a tailor for you. It suits you well.”

“Thank you.”

Ian saw that he had a pale complexion in the mirror. He also noticed that Hazel was observing him.

“I was surprised.”

“About deciding to go out?”

“No. About deciding to attend your first official banquet as a welcome party for a foreign king. Usually people choose occasions like New Year celebration parties. At diplomatic banquets or banquets with a guest of honor, you tend to be easily left out.”

“I don’t particularly want to receive attention.”

Ian said gloomily.

The banquets where he had received attention so far had been tainted with scandals and sinister affairs, so he didn’t have a very good impression of them.

Hazel tilted her head.

But Ian didn’t bother to reveal what business he was going for.

He didn’t want to attend the banquet.

However, his request to have an audience with the Emperor was rejected by Artizea.

「It would be difficult for someone of your status to have a private audience with His Majesty.」

「That’s why I’m asking you to write a letter of recommendation.」

「You seem to have forgotten that if you do that, the recommender becomes responsible for everything the person being recommended does.」

Ian really hadn’t thought of that part, so he bowed his head to Artizea.

“Hazel will be able to get you an invitation to the banquet.”

“Will Your Highness not be attending?”

“I’m not feeling well. A dinner might be one thing, but I’m not in a condition to attend a ball.”

Ean had no choice but to nod.

He gave his appearance a final check and stepped outside.

Hazel had offered to be his partner, but he declined. Ever since he heard Artizea mention the responsibility of a recommender, he had been thinking he should go alone.

While this was something he had decided on his own to repay a debt, there was no need for someone who had tried to show kindness to get dragged into it.

He took a carriage alone and arrived in front of the main gate of the Imperial Palace. He parted ways with his guard knight there as well.

After all, since he wasn’t even a member of the House of Evron, there was no way he could enter with an armed guard knight.

Lower nobles attending the banquet were lining up to enter, each adorned with jewels and splendid clothing.

Ean headed alone toward the entrance used by high-ranking nobles.

“Sir Ean of the Camellia Marquess Family has arrived!”

The announcer shouted loudly.

Hearing this rather inglorious title, Ean entered inside. People’s gazes pierced him painfully.

Among those who could be called high-ranking nobles, Ean seemed to be the only one who had arrived so far.

Ean slowly surveyed the area below from the lobby. Skyla was not there.

Thinking she might have come disguised as a lower noble, Ean mixed in among the crowd.

Thanks to his modest clothing and not knowing many faces, he could quickly be forgotten.

“Count and Countess Brennan and their eldest son have arrived!”

“Prime Minister Rin and his wife have arrived!”

“Count and Countess Eunice and their daughter have arrived!”

As time passed, high-ranking officials also arrived, and the announcer called out one after another.

However, Skyla never came. She was nowhere to be seen.

“If I fail to persuade Mother, I might not be able to come. I’ll probably be confined somewhere.”

Skyla had said.

“Still… no, if that’s the case, all the more reason not to hesitate and present this to His Majesty. Just don’t forget that it was I who brought this.”

The announcer shouted.

“His Majesty the King of Eimel has arrived.”

And then the last person came.

“The Pillar of Kratese, Emperor Gregor Aphanasy Nestor, who received the scepter and orb from the gods to become the sun on earth, has arrived!”

People each knelt down where they stood. As if the tide was receding, everything around became lower.

Ean drew in his breath. And suppressing the feeling of his neck stiffening, he moved forward.

Murmurs and puzzled gazes stabbed at Ean.

When he approached the steps where the Emperor and the King of Eimel stood side by side, the Imperial Guard blocked Ean’s path.

The King of Eimel frowned, and the Emperor said something. Ean was too distracted to hear it.

Instead, he knelt before them and recited the words he had prepared.

“I report a crime of treason.”

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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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