The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 233

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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 233

The Emperor moved to the drawing room.

After taking a moment to catch his breath and sipping some tea, he realized he had been overly excited.

The advice of the chamberlain who had served him for decades was rarely wrong.

But his headache didn’t subside. Cold sweat broke out on his back, so he lightly struck the armrest with his hand.

“Bring me honey water.”

Though he had been advised not to drink it, it was prepared nonetheless.

Soon honey water was brought in. Simple refreshments were prepared alongside it.

Cedric passed through the drawing room door after the Emperor had gulped down the honey water.

With the sweet liquid inside him, he felt much more alive.

“Minister of State Affairs Evron requests an audience with His Majesty.”

Cedric knelt on one knee.

The Emperor gestured to him.

“Rise and sit.”

“I am honored.”

“I was just about to have tea.”

The Emperor offered him a seat.

Cedric sat on the sofa without seeming too awkward.

Soon teacups were placed and fragrant tea was poured. A milk pitcher and sugar bowl were brought out.

The Emperor looked at them with a sense of novelty.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m envious. Of your youth. Now the attendants rarely give me the sugar bowl anymore.”

“If there was a physician’s recommendation, it can’t be helped, can it? You must take care of your health.”

Cedric spoke with an awkward feeling. Having such a conversation with the Emperor itself felt strange.

The Emperor sighed.

As sugar circulated through his body, his condition improved. The Emperor relaxed his body and said,

“Did you come because of that foolish thing Loigar did?”

“Yes.”

“I have nothing to hear. Finish that tea and go back to do your work.”

“Please reconsider my aunt’s execution.”

“Treason calls for the extermination of three generations. There are no exceptions. Moreover, the Prince’s Consort is one who falsely claimed to be Empress.”

“Don’t you know that what my aunt did was not from harboring treasonous intentions? Since my uncle took his own life, the Loigar Duchy has already ended.”

Cedric spoke while maintaining a gentle expression and tone.

“Wouldn’t it also be good to spare her life and widely proclaim Your Majesty’s mercy?”

“Cedric, you’re not at an age to be talking nonsense either.”

The Emperor said dismissively.

“Do you think I don’t know that the Prince’s Consort is innocent and pure-hearted, acting solely to save her husband and children? But the Prince’s Consort alone is not the problem.”

To spare Gannett, he would have to spare all those who followed her and dared to challenge imperial authority.

This was not a matter to be handled with mercy.

“Authority is like a city wall. You’ve governed Evron land, so you should know. If you spare those who should be killed out of cheap sympathy and authority crumbles, rebuilding it requires endless blood and time.”

“Even if you execute my aunt, you won’t be able to break the eastern nobles. From the beginning, they are people who will claim they remained dignified before Your Majesty until the end through death.”

The Emperor raised his body slightly from where he had been sunk into the sofa.

“In any case, my aunt is merely a symbol. Symbols can function more powerfully through death.”

Cedric spoke without hesitation.

“If my uncle were alive, you could spread rumors that he abandoned my aunt to die, causing those who support him and those who resent him to fight each other.”

The east sought to seize the Emperor’s crown through Duke Loigar.

As long as Duke Loigar lived, there would remain those who considered that goal valid. There were also those whom Duke Loigar himself could rally and organize under his command.

But all of that had been ruined.

The east had now lost the means to fight for the Emperor’s crown according to political rules.

Then they would resist in other ways.

“Whether my aunt is alive or dead, there’s no difference in that she becomes a medium for stirring up hostility toward Your Majesty.”

“She becomes a future threat.”

“My aunt lacks the ability to become a future threat. She won’t be able to voluntarily organize the east to resist.”

Cedric said.

“Using divisive tactics won’t actually help solve the eastern problem either.”

If Duke Loigar were alive, he might have been able to exercise influence indirectly.

But with his death, it was impossible. Both the Emperor and Cedric were outsiders.

And the eastern nobles, even if they were fighting among themselves, would immediately unite to confront any external force trying to extend its reach.

To restore eastern administration to normal, the large farms would have to be dismantled and the central government would have to seize control of the land and people.

That was something that couldn’t be solved through schemes.

Even if a pretext arose to confiscate family assets by involving them in treason like this time, substantial results couldn’t be achieved without projecting military force.

“Schemes and divisive tactics are merely auxiliary means at best. Rather, my thinking is the opposite.”

“Opposite?”

“There aren’t only nobles in the east, are there? What Your Majesty must govern are the people.”

“….”

“It’s a region where imperial authority has never reached until now. To stabilize public sentiment and gain the trust of lower officials, symbols are needed. Since my aunt has no desire for power, she wouldn’t be a bad choice for Your Majesty to use.”

“You speak quite far-sightedly. I thought you only cared about northern affairs, but it seems you’ve been pondering ways to govern the nation.”

At the Emperor’s words, Cedric tried not to show his tension.

The Emperor saw through even that.

“I won’t scold you. You worked hard to create reasons to save the Prince’s Consort.”

“Your Majesty….”

“But that’s not a reason to spare the wife and children of a traitor. How could exterminating the three generations of a traitor be simply a matter of political strategy? It carries the meaning of establishing the throne’s authority and warning the world.”

He spoke in a cold voice.

“This is not limited to this incident or my reign, but concerns the Empire’s unity and the imperial family’s future. If you want to persuade me, try a different story.”

“I beg of you.”

Cedric honestly bowed his head.

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

Cedric said.

“The pistol my uncle used to take his own life was a gift from me.”

“….”

“I said that if we ever had to attack each other, we should only target the parties involved and take care of each other’s families.”

That conversation had taken place in a public venue, the salon.

Whether the Emperor had heard about it or not, there was no need to hide it.

“Though my uncle’s death was because he couldn’t bear the consequences of his presumptuous actions and took his own life, when he used that pistol, he probably had expectations of me.”

“Hmm.”

“I know it’s foolish. But I was the one who made that promise first.”

Cedric interlaced his fingers on his lap.

“Since my uncle demanded through his death that I keep my promise, I believe it’s right for me to do my utmost.”

The Emperor looked at Cedric.

It was foolish loyalty that Cedric might keep. Even as blood relatives, there wouldn’t be enough justification to cross dangerous bridges for Duke Loigar.

But strangely, this softened the Emperor’s heart.

The Emperor picked up his teacup. And in a much more relaxed voice, he said,

“With Loigar gone, you’re the only legitimate heir I have left. Though there’s Leticia, she ultimately belongs to you.”

“…Yes.”

“When I gave Leticia her name, you must have had some idea.”

Cedric didn’t answer.

“Setting aside the Prince’s Consort, the princess and prince will eventually pose a threat to you and Leticia. Even so, will you protect those children?”

“It’s not right to kill children who should be protected in order to eliminate dangers that haven’t yet materialized.”

“Cedric.”

“This concerns treason. How could I possibly pay the price? I can only plead that you spare my life, or if that is not possible, at least release my youngest sibling from guilt by association and let them live.”

Cedric bowed his head again.

“Just as you spared me.”

The Emperor drank his tea again in silence.

Then he looked at Cedric’s teacup, which had grown cold and remained untouched, and said,

“Empty that teacup.”

“….”

Cedric looked at the Emperor once, then looked down at the teacup.

And he drained the cold tea in one gulp.

The tea was just tea. It had no bitter taste, nor was there any poison in it.

Though cold, it was very fragrant, with a floral scent lingering in the aftertaste.

The Emperor said,

“Withdraw. Such matters are not appropriate to discuss with you.”

Cedric took a deep breath.

He had thought it wouldn’t go well. He had been prepared for this.

Today was not the only day. The Emperor seemed to have had a slight change of heart, even if just a little.

Execution is not carried out in an instant. There would be other opportunities.

“I will come to see you again.”

He stood up, knelt on one knee to pay his respects, then withdrew.

The Emperor quietly watched him go, then gestured to the Chamberlain.

The Chamberlain brought fresh warm tea along with filling snacks.

Since he happened to be hungry, the Emperor reached for the plate. Then he said,

“Send someone to the Duchess of Evron and tell her to enter the palace quietly.”

“Yes.”

“Stop writing the imperial edict and tell everyone to rest and return later. I need to rest as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chamberlain withdrew and gave various instructions to others at the doorway.

It would take a couple of hours for Artizea to enter the palace.

The Emperor rose from his seat.

The cold sweat had stopped, but he was extremely tired and his eyes were closing. As the Chamberlain had said, he needed rest.

He planned to get some sleep in the resting room attached to the study until Artizea arrived.

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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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