The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 232

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

Chapter 232

Cedric climbed into the carriage without surprise.

Artizea lifted her veil. A faint warmth spread across her expressionless face.

“You’ve gotten used to it.”

“I should have gotten used to your methods much earlier.”

Cedric said. This time, Artizea couldn’t smile.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be sharp. It just feels strange that you recognized it as if it were natural.”

Cedric said gently. Then he asked.

“Is it alright for you to come out like this? There should still be secret investigators wandering around the mansion.”

“The situation has become troublesome. I heard that Prince Loigar has committed suicide.”

“That’s correct. I’m on my way back from the mansion.”

“Was it really suicide?”

“…”

Cedric hesitated, unable to readily confirm. Not because it was something he couldn’t tell Artizea, but because emotions were stirring chaotically in his chest.

“It’s true that uncle pulled the trigger himself. It was suicide by pistol. There was even a suicide note.”

“What happened? His Majesty wouldn’t have let him die.”

“The gun… That pistol has almost no value as a weapon.”

Cedric said in a cracked voice.

Artizea looked at him with surprised eyes. It didn’t seem like Cedric was simply commenting on the weapon.

“Because loading it is extremely inconvenient, you can only fire one shot. It’s for dueling purposes. In reality, it’s only meaningful as a collector’s item.”

Even if you had more bullets, it was deliberately made so you couldn’t reload and shoot your opponent again.

“I gave that to uncle as a gift.”

It had been a threat.

He never thought the day would come when it would actually be used.

No matter what happened, there could never be a day when Duke Loigar would shoot that gun at him.

Because there was no chance of winning in a duel against him.

He hadn’t thought at the time that there would come a day when uncle would put it in his mouth and pull the trigger.

Even if such a situation arose, he thought uncle wasn’t the type of person who could do such a thing.

“All the bullets were removed, but they said there was one inside a candlestick with a secret compartment.”

Cedric even told Artizea the story that the investigators claimed they had removed all such candlesticks.

Artizea thought carefully and said.

“The investigators couldn’t have failed to find such items, so probably… it was brought in from outside.”

“Is that so?”

“It must be Countess Camellia. If someone has exactly the same items used in the Duke’s residence, it would be either the Marquess Luden family or the Marquess Camellia family. And Prince Loigar would have recognized it too.”

That bullet might have stirred up guilt.

Or it might have felt like a demand to die to secure the future.

Cedric remained silent with his head bowed for a moment.

It was difficult to tell Artizea what he had decided.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to save aunt and the children.”

“…You know how much risk that entails, don’t you?”

Artizea asked in a stiff voice.

“I know. If we make a mistake, we’ll also get caught up in treason, and even if it goes well, we’ll be leaving elements of civil war in the eastern region. Even if aunt has no such intention at all, just by surviving, it will turn out that way.”

Cedric said.

“If aunt had decided to minimize the situation through her own sacrifice, I was going to respect that intention. If uncle were still alive, negotiation with His Majesty about the children’s life and death would have been possible.”

“Yes.”

“But if uncle has committed suicide, the problem is different now. Moreover… I made a promise.”

Artizea silently demanded an answer. Cedric answered in a low voice.

“Even if we take the opponent’s life, let’s take care of their family.”

It wasn’t a mutual promise. It was just a message he had unilaterally thrown out.

But when Duke Loigar chose that gun and threw away his life, was it really unrelated to that message?

Perhaps it was because that was the only usable firearm.

But probably he was conscious of it, Cedric thought.

The face of the dead Duke Loigar didn’t look like he had given up on himself. He was facing his fear.

Cedric felt that he had committed suicide for a reason rather than fleeing through death.

It was probably a mistake. Death is just death. Whether someone who made a great resolution or someone who gave up on life, they become afraid at the moment of death.

Still, if he had committed suicide trusting him even a little, he had to respond to that trust.

Cedric said quietly.

“I believe you can help.”

Artizea let out a deep sigh. Then she leaned her head against the backrest.

“If you’re prepared to bear it even if a civil war breaks out.”

“Worldly affairs don’t always go according to calculations, do they? Conversely, aunt might help me in the future.”

“That will never happen. The Duchess Loigar has symbolic value because she’s the legitimate daughter of the oldest and most powerful family in the east. She can’t be of help in dismantling the eastern forces. Unless we use her for another scheme to sow discord.”

Cedric smiled awkwardly.

“But, well… There aren’t enough imperial family members. If we can secure her properly, it might be a good thing for the future.”

Artizea said. Then she sighed again.

“I’ll discuss the children’s matter with Countess Camellia. The upper two can never be officially kept alive, but since they’ve already fled, we should be able to hide them.”

“Yes.”

“If possible, do your best to reduce the Duchess Loigar’s punishment to exile. If that’s impossible… we’ll have no choice but to switch her in prison.”

Artizea continued.

“Fortunately, no one would find it strange if the duchess died unable to endure prison life…”

But the current imperial palace was completely different from the imperial palace under Lawrence’s rule. There was no way not to be caught.

Moreover, at that time, Benia could steal the keys as an insider. But this time, there was no one to play that role.

“If we fail to reduce it to exile, let’s think about it then. Anyway, now we have no choice but to directly confront His Majesty.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It would have come someday anyway.”

Artizea let out a long sigh. Cedric bowed his head.

“Unable to control my greed for precious items, I urged my wife to accept an unexpected gift. All responsibility lies with me.”

The blood-stained suicide note contained only that one sentence.

His hands must have trembled so much that the writing became illegible from the middle.

The Emperor crumpled the suicide note and threw it on the desk.

The investigator who brought the note and Gayan, who had been responsible for security the night before, braced themselves for the Emperor’s anger.

Henry Kishower, who had escorted Duke Loigar the day before, also couldn’t hide his tension.

However, instead of roaring in anger, the Emperor sighed and leaned back against his chair.

“This has become troublesome.”

Those words were more like talking to himself than meant to be heard.

Everyone in the office felt fear and knelt down.

The Emperor felt a headache and pressed his temples. Undeniable fatigue weighed down his body.

The existence of the suicide note couldn’t be hidden. Otherwise, rumors would spread that Duke Loigar had been murdered.

That would cause yet another new problem.

Should he forge the suicide note? But that too would leave room for problems.

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

‘Even though I said I’d spare him, the foolish man.’

If he had just endured and survived, he could have lived the rest of his life as an imperial uncle.

“Gayan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Find the missing princess and prince. If you end up killing them, bring me their corpses. I will confirm with my own eyes.”

“I will obey your command.”

Gayan saluted and left.

This time the Emperor spoke to the Chamberlain.

“Check if there’s anyone among the servants who brought in the bullets.”

“Yes.”

The Emperor hesitated for a moment toward the investigator. He wasn’t certain whether he could trust him or not.

However, in the end he had no choice but to order them to check the investigators who had entered and left the Duke’s residence.

Then he closed his eyes and fell into thought.

The future looked bleak. When was the last time he had to think so intensely?

There was even a time when he thought that simply wearing the Emperor’s crown would solve everything.

The Emperor twisted his lips.

“This is an imperial decree.”

The secretary took out a large sheet of paper and prepared to write it down.

“Loigar has revealed his treasonous heart by having his wife use the Empress’s belongings, which is unforgivable. Strip him of his ducal title and reduce him to commoner status, confiscate all his property. Behead him and display his head, but allow his body to be buried.”

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better to rest for a moment before making this decision?”

The Chamberlain spoke carefully.

The Emperor said with his eyes closed.

“What needs to be done must be done anyway.”

“I say this because you look very tired.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen you try to interfere in state affairs. Well, do you have something to request?”

The Emperor opened his eyes and looked at the Chamberlain with curiosity.

If it wasn’t something major, there was nothing he couldn’t grant. The Chamberlain had truly served him for a very long time without personal motives.

Were his relatives perhaps mixed up in Duke Loigar’s faction? He briefly had such a thought, but the Chamberlain shook his head.

“I’m worried that you might make an important decision while tired and regret it later.”

“Huh. I see.”

The Emperor didn’t think that would happen.

If Duke Loigar was the main culprit anyway, the punishment to be handed down was obvious.

However, since the Chamberlain showed such consideration, he decided to have a cup of tea for a moment.

It was true that he was tired enough for the back of his neck to feel stiff.

“Now the remaining problem is the Kingdom of Ients. I should call for the Prime Minister and foreign ministry officials.”

“Please just close your eyes and think of nothing for a moment.”

The Chamberlain served warm tea.

There was no sugar bowl on the tray. Before the Emperor could grumble, the Chamberlain spoke.

“You should listen well to the doctor’s recommendations.”

“Yes, I know.”

It was when he took his first sip.

A servant entered and announced that a visitor had come.

“Prince Evron is requesting an audience.”

The Emperor sighed once again.

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