The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 235

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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 235

The Emperor looked at Artizea’s expression and put on a deliberately gentle face.

“Do not try to deceive me. I already know that you are friends with Skyla Camellia.”

The Emperor also suspected that it was not a friendship in the true human sense.

Some people are inherently unable to make friends in equal relationships. The Emperor himself was such a person, so he knew this well.

It wasn’t simply a matter of status or bloodline. It was a temperamental issue of calculating interests.

And Artizea was certainly the same kind of person as himself.

“The idea of bringing in Ian Camellia was excellent. Even the sage who killed three people by throwing two peaches couldn’t overturn a country with just one person.”

“I apologize.”

Artizea did not bother to refute. Her expression remained calm as before.

“It’s true that I tried to sprout from the seeds of discord. How could I have known that the roots had already spread to the very bottom?”

“Are you saying that all you did was bring in Ian Camellia?”

“I also advised Skyla that recovering legitimacy would be better for eliminating future problems than relying on Marquess Luden.”

Artizea continued.

“The times are different now, and Skyla’s position is different from that of Countess Camellia. Skyla was always raised as the eldest daughter of a powerful family and doesn’t know the fear of being ostracized in social circles.”

“Even so, Lady Camellia couldn’t have been unaware that her family’s power ultimately came from the Luden Marquess family and Duchess Loigar, right? If she hadn’t betrayed them, today’s situation wouldn’t have occurred.”

“Yes. But if she thought she could escape from the shadow of the Luden Marquess family and build her own power, she would naturally want to do so. Marquess Luden hated Skyla, after all.”

Artizea spoke gently and lowered her eyes.

“And all of this comes from the seeds Your Majesty planted.”

“I never laid a hand on the Camellia Marquess family.”

“Didn’t you leave the Camellia Marquess family alone, expecting discord between Duchess Loigar and Marquess Luden, and furthermore, the division of the Luden Marquess family?”

“Do you think so?”

“The Camellia Marquess family had too many weaknesses.”

“It wasn’t as easy as you think. At that time, I was dealing with several other major issues, and the eastern nobles were tightly united. Even secretly placing people among them was no easy task.”

The Emperor smiled. This conversation felt like he was teaching Artizea.

“Moreover, titles were at stake. The exclusion of outsiders is on a different level from what you can see in the capital’s social circles.”

Even if not family, they were all relatives, entangled by marriage ties and regional connections.

That was how they had maintained their family wealth and formed bonds to rule the east.

“But now, Skyla was not afraid of that. Not just Skyla, but very many clever young people are like that.”

The Emperor blinked. As an older man, he couldn’t readily understand Artizea’s words.

“I became the Duchess of Evron, Your Majesty.”

Artizea spoke with her hands neatly clasped together.

“Lady Belmond helped with maid duties in the Empress’s palace on my recommendation. Lady Kishower, though her health is weak and those around her deliberately protect her, would otherwise be troubled by the attention shown by countless noble young men.”

Besides that, Artizea could cite numerous examples.

Gayan’s son was just a soldier, but he was now one of the most promising grooms in the marriage market. This was despite Gayan’s title not being hereditary.

Prime Minister Lin’s wife was one of the most respected noble ladies at parties. Their children, though not greatly successful, were still treated as members of social circles.

Though they might not be nobles of very high titles, nobles had come to marry commoners.

It was even more common for commoners to enter social circles and be respected as much as nobles.

“Now, more and more people believe they can gain power without relying on established families or being entangled in marriage ties. Skyla must have come to believe that once she recovered legitimacy, she could maintain the Camellia Marquess family with her own strength and wisdom.”

Sooner or later, Marquess Luden’s dominance would have faced Skyla’s challenge anyway.

And the world had changed this way because the Emperor had valued commoners highly for decades.

It wasn’t that the Emperor was unaware that the world was changing.

However, he didn’t know that this influence had reached even the successors of high nobles like Skyla, truly turning the world upside down.

“The world has changed, but I failed to notice.”

“It is all Your Majesty’s grace.”

Though Artizea said this, what the Emperor felt was that he had grown old.

The Emperor laughed hollowly.

“So I understand that merely encouraging Lady Camellia somewhat brought about the current result. Then what about this?”

When the Emperor extended his hand, a servant approached and offered a booklet he had brought in advance.

The Emperor placed it on the table.

Artizea looked at the Emperor while maintaining a painted smile.

“Do you know what this is?”

“I do not.”

“This is a treatise written by a student from the Kingdom of Ientz whom you sponsor. His brother falsely claimed he wrote it and submitted it to his superiors.”

Though the detailed process was different, that was roughly what happened.

“And as a result of this treatise, it seems the Kingdom of Ientz proposed an agreement to Loigar. There was also a scheme to win favor by enticing the Duchess rather than Loigar, who wanted practical benefits.”

“He seems to be a wise person. I’m glad the sponsorship money wasn’t wasted.”

Artizea spoke without opening the booklet.

“As you know, I’m involved in the silk farming business. I’m always interested in the Kingdom of Ientz’s trends. I sponsor several students with the intention of bestowing grace on excellent students and entrusting them with the family business, selecting the gems among them.”

The excuse was flawless.

The Emperor leaned back comfortably against his chair and looked at Artizea silently for a while.

There was no doubt that Artizea had desired the throne and tried to split Duke Loigar’s faction.

The Emperor wondered whether Artizea had started this work from the beginning aiming for the Empress’s position, or whether it was a trap she had begun laying for Lawrence.

It would be impossible to discover her true intentions from that time now. It might be possible if he threatened and interrogated her forcibly, but there would be no reason to go that far.

After all, Lawrence was already finished.

However, the Emperor was surprised.

Her involvement with the Kingdom of Ientz meant that her gaze had risen to higher places beyond simply the court and social circles.

That was remarkable.

Artizea hadn’t even received proper education as a minor marquess. Most of the education she received as a noble was learned by watching over Lawrence’s shoulder.

She had risen that far with just that. She was even still young.

‘It must be God’s will.’

The Emperor suddenly thought of the grace Leticia had received.

He didn’t believe in divinity. Even if he believed in God’s existence, he didn’t believe this world operated according to God’s will.

However, there was something like fortune that human power alone couldn’t resolve that often affected the throne.

The Emperor recalled the past that had now become history.

There had been times when such fortune had come to him too.

When the childless former Empress chose him among the former Emperor’s many illegitimate children and gave him a paper flower.

When rain miraculously fell just as he jumped into the western regions swept by monster waves with a gambling spirit, after a long, long drought.

When the eastern army commander secretly offered him a fragrant cup of wine.

And when the eldest daughter of the Duke Riagan family knocked on his bedroom door.

Now that fortune seemed to be heading toward Cedric.

“Your Majesty.”

Unable to guess what the Emperor was thinking, Artizea called him carefully.

The Emperor soon changed his expression to a gentle one.

He had summoned her in the first place to entrust her with tasks that Cedric couldn’t do. Not to threaten her.

Even if he couldn’t compromise with Cedric, he could with Artizea. She knew how to weigh interests and fears on a scale.

She would also know well that she needed to appropriately bend and coax her husband’s convictions.

“Cedric wants to save Duchess Loigar’s life.”

“…Yes.”

“You’re not surprised.”

“He’s the kind of person who would naturally do so.”

“You know well that it’s not a simple matter. Not just the Duchess, but if we let the Prince and Princess live, you and Leticia could be in danger in the future.”

“Yes.”

Artizea answered.

In fact, she had prepared to go out for this very matter.

“It’s easy to say that treason is an unforgivable crime. It’s also easy to say that we should solve the eastern problems while saving the pitiful.”

Artizea said.

“But Your Majesty is one who must rule the Empire. Nothing can take priority over reorganizing the salt business to ensure necessities reach the people properly, and holding the Kingdom of Eimel and Kingdom of Ientz accountable to protect the Empire’s name.”

The Emperor nodded. Though Artizea’s manner of speaking was flattery, the content was very correct.

“Then the answer is ultimately to continue inducing division until His Majesty can extend his hand to the Eastern Region. Though it’s a shallow thought, how about executing only half of those currently imprisoned with the Duchess Loigar?”

The Emperor leaned toward Artizea.

“Only half?”

“Your Majesty has planted people in positions that could be called key figures among the Eastern nobles, haven’t you?”

The Emperor examined Artizea with cautious eyes.

Artizea actually knew that Count Brennan was the Emperor’s man. However, she didn’t show that she knew this.

She simply looked at him with faith that he would have done so because he was the Emperor.

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

The Emperor answered with an interested expression.

Artizea felt relieved and continued speaking.

“Execute half, spare half, and among them, release a few without reason. Then freely use the information Your Majesty possesses to attack opponents and seize their interests.”

“Would those fools fall for it?”

“Most people in the world are far more foolish than Your Majesty, and if you plant even the tiniest seed of distrust in their hearts, they will water it themselves.”

Artizea answered. She didn’t doubt for a moment that the Emperor viewed the world with the same perspective as herself.

“They will believe there are traitors among them and fight endlessly. When that fighting reaches its peak, make them feel that saving the people and governing the world is imperial grace.”

This was a strategy she could never directly present to Cedric.

However, the Emperor was pleased enough to break into a broad smile.

“You’re right. Executing the Duchess and spreading rumors in the air would be far less effective than having the living fight each other for inducing long-term division.”

“I am honored.”

Artizea bowed her head and answered thus.

The Emperor smiled slightly.

“Prepare to move as quickly as possible.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll have the Imperial Prince’s Palace prepared.”

Artizea tensed her body. This was happening much faster than expected. She had thought there would be more back-and-forth negotiation.

Imperial children who haven’t reached adulthood stay at the Empress’s Palace.

When they marry or come of age, they receive the title of Prince and become independent outside.

Therefore, the Imperial Prince’s Palace was a palace opened for only one person.

The Crown Prince.

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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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