The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 225

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 225

Many things had happened overnight.

However, the nobles of Duke Loigar’s faction had not completely given up.

They could not prevent the members of the special envoy from being dragged away.

However, if they had simply sent distant collateral relatives or employees to the special envoy, there was still the procedure of obtaining confessions first.

Of course, if they had been dragged away by the Emperor’s investigators, it was only a matter of time.

“What is this situation, skulking around like a rat when I should be walking proudly as a count in broad daylight?”

Count Lesden, who had entered wearing a gray hood, sighed.

Count Brennan, who had provided the venue, silently gestured for him to sit down.

He was the last to arrive at the meeting.

Count Lesden looked around the assembly and said,

“There are several who haven’t come.”

“If they weren’t dragged to the Imperial Palace, it’s either betrayal or flight, isn’t it?”

“I checked this morning just in case, and they say Count Luser was taken away.”

Count Brennan spoke with a face twisted as if he had chewed something bitter.

“Count Luser’s residence is in complete chaos. The investigators barged in with muddy feet and turned everything upside down, from the count’s study to his bedroom.”

“What about his family?”

“The young count and second daughter were taken together. The youngest son seems to have fled. The elderly dowager and countess have both been confined to guest rooms in their residence.”

The entire assembly fell silent as if shocked.

The House of Count Luser was not some minor noble family that had lost its authority. It was one of the most prestigious families among the eastern nobility.

“What kind of tyrant is this…”

“Has Prince Loigar returned?”

“He has not returned yet. His Majesty seems to be keeping him at the Imperial Palace, only saying he will grant an audience soon.”

Someone who had tried to make contact with him spoke.

“We cannot remain like this. His Majesty accused him of claiming to be emperor but has not presented any evidence.”

“The talk of foreign countries is also absurd. Prince merely brought back the results of negotiations as a special envoy in the form of an agreement, didn’t he?”

“When he originally went south as a special envoy, it was premised that he would conduct diplomacy with the small nations, and His Majesty himself said he had expectations!”

“The identity of the accuser is also unclear!”

The one who said this glared at Countess Camellia.

Considering the connection with Ian Camellia, Countess Camellia was suspicious.

“Even if Ian Camellia participated in this matter out of resentment toward me, is that important? He wouldn’t be the mastermind of the conspiracy.”

Countess Camellia said.

The assembly fell silent again. They were thinking about the mastermind of the conspiracy.

Countess Camellia was thinking other thoughts in one corner of her mind.

Ironically, Countess Camellia had relatively the lightest suspicion of treason among them.

She had not sent any of her people as officials to the special envoy. She had sent her daughter as a maid, but since that daughter was the accuser, she could not be a suspect.

Of course, those attending this meeting did not know that much yet.

Her mind was complicated about whether to hide this or not.

It was probably Skyla who had used Ian as the accuser.

If Skyla had decided to survive by surrendering to Artizea and betraying them, then it would also be Skyla who found evidence of treason and passed it to Ian.

That was what hurt Countess Camellia most of all.

Making Skyla a legitimate marquess whom no one could fault was Countess Camellia’s lifelong goal.

It was the greatest expression of love Countess Camellia could show her daughter, and also her way of fulfilling her own dreams through her daughter.

But for that daughter to join hands with Ian herself.

If she stayed with Ian, Skyla’s legitimacy would inevitably be damaged no matter what.

Even if she survived.

‘Once branded, the mark never disappears.’

Just as she could not erase the brand of being a maid’s child, Skyla would be branded as a maid who betrayed her master.

Countess Camellia was in agony as if her organs were being ground in a millstone. Bitter bile kept rising from within, and food would not go down easily.

She understood why Skyla had made such a choice. She suspected it was Skyla’s choice to protect her family, and furthermore, a decision made out of love for her.

But betrayal was betrayal. Skyla had made that choice knowing what she wanted most.

This betrayal had no price. Far from making her pay with revenge, she had to protect Skyla.

And that was not something given as a price corresponding to the other’s heart, like what Skyla had done, but merely something she did because she wanted to.

But no matter how much you love or are loved, you eventually realize that your child is not your alter ego but a separate human being.

At Count Brennan’s question, Countess Camellia tried to concentrate.

“How is Her Highness?”

“The investigators haven’t invaded the Duke’s Residence yet. But she’s anxious, so I’ll return there after the meeting.”

After that, silence fell again for a moment.

The moderate Marquess Hamelton spoke.

“For now, let’s all go together and protest to His Majesty. His Majesty probably doesn’t really plan to purge Prince Loigar.”

“Hmm…”

Groans erupted from various places. No one agreed.

“Even if His Majesty doesn’t purge Prince, there’s no guarantee he’ll leave us alone, is there?”

Count Lesden spoke, representing everyone’s feelings.

The Emperor would not miss this opportunity.

They were the great landowners of the east and its actual rulers.

The Emperor had long struggled with them over the issue of eastern dominance. With such justification arising, he would not simply let it pass.

Perhaps he had orchestrated the treason for this very purpose.

“But if we don’t do as I say, what else can we do? Are you really planning to gather troops and rebel?”

“It would be a restoration, not rebellion.”

The belligerent Count Brennan said.

Quite a few flinched. They had all thought about it at least once.

And one of them said,

“Let’s not speak in vain. Where’s the guarantee that there won’t be another traitor among us?”

Then the room fell silent again.

Rebellion was realistically unlikely.

If they had had military power, civil war would have broken out long ago.

However, the policy the Imperial House had most vigorously pursued for hundreds of years was abolishing noble private armies.

They still possessed enormous wealth and countless privileges.

Killing a person or two was not even considered a crime. As long as it wasn’t blasphemy against the Imperial House or treason, it was natural for titled nobles not to be punished.

But they could not have armies. Only the House of Evron, the Empire’s shield, could own the Northern Army as an exception. Even then, only a limited number of knight orders could operate in the mainland.

“But we can’t just stay like this, can we? Are we to go to the Imperial Palace and beg for mercy in groups like commoners?”

“What about the guard forces each family employs?”

“At most, it would be around fifty men. Even if we gathered all the guard forces of the families here, it wouldn’t reach five thousand.”

If they mobilized all servants and employees working in trading companies, and hired thugs, they could fill the numbers decently.

But there was nothing they could do about weapons. They could obtain swords and spears, but gunpowder weapons were limited to hunting rifles and pistols at best.

Procuring gunpowder in large quantities was completely impossible.

Even if that were possible, how could they resist the Emperor’s army with such a ragtag force?

They had not forgotten. How the House of Evron had been crushed overnight despite having an elite knight order.

Without having won over the army, rebellion was impossible.

Count Brennan said,

“Let’s not hide anything and put all our cards on the table. How far can we reach within the Imperial Palace, how many officials can engage in work slowdowns for us.”

“Hmm.”

“Depending on circumstances, retreating to the east might be a good choice.”

“That’s true too.”

Many agreed with the last statement.

Once they fled to the east, they could defend themselves.

The Eastern Army commander and other leaders were directly appointed by the Emperor. But from the officers below to the soldiers, there was no one unaffected by their influence.

If they gained control of the Eastern Army, they could resist. Separating and becoming independent would also be possible.

The Eastern Region was a land that could be self-sufficient.

While merchant guild leaders who centered their business on distribution would vehemently oppose it, true nobles like them could survive for decades with just their land.

The expanded market of the Central region and the Southern region, which was the center of trade, would suffer more if they lost the Eastern region, which was the source of raw materials.

“Well, how many decades would it take in the future…”

They could gather their strength and reignite the succession dispute after the Emperor’s death.

They were fully capable of doing so.

Even before the Empire existed, they were the great landowners and nobles of the Eastern region, and remained so after its establishment.

Compared to the years their families had endured, a decade or so was nothing.

“It is His Majesty who is pressed for time, not us.”

Marquess Hamelton said.

The Emperor’s achievements were accomplished by the Emperor alone, but the prosperity of noble families was achieved by the entire family enduring together.

“I will send my son to the Eastern Region.”

“Then do you intend to remain here, Marquess?”

“Fortunately, all my sons are old enough to have children of their own, so they will manage well on their own. I will stay here to assert His Majesty’s injustice and die. If this old body’s life can give our descendants justification in the future, wouldn’t that be worthwhile?”

Marquess Hamelton’s words caused a stir among those present.

Most of those whose children had reached adulthood nodded their heads.

Marquess Hamelton looked at Countess Camellia and said.

“Her Highness and the princes and Young Lady should also take refuge.”

“I will convey your words.”

“Such a hesitant resolve will not do, Countess. Even if something happens to the Prince, as long as the young prince survives, we can somehow plan for the future.”

Countess Camellia nodded her head.

It wasn’t because she agreed with Marquess Hamelton’s words. But she was preparing an escape for Gannett’s sake.

Perhaps that might be the last thing she could do.

After that, the meeting didn’t reach any significantly concrete conclusions. However, the participants parted ways with faces showing they had each made their own decisions.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————