The Villainess Lives Twice - Chapter 238

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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 238

Duke Loigar’s suicide threw the Empire into turmoil.

Among those who had been part of the Duke’s faction, quite a few believed it wasn’t actually suicide.

However, regardless of what they thought privately, the imperial decree was tantamount to a trial, and its results were accepted as truth.

“Loigar revealed his treasonous heart by having his wife use the Empress’s belongings, which is unforgivable. His ducal title is stripped and he is expelled from nobility, with all assets confiscated. His head shall be severed and displayed, but burial of the body is permitted.

Loigar’s wife Gannett dared to impersonate the Empress, but she merely obeyed her husband’s will, and it is not believed she fully understood his intentions. Her title is stripped and she is expelled from nobility, with all assets confiscated. However, her life is spared and she shall be confined to a western monastery.

Loigar’s children are blood relatives of a traitor and cannot be forgiven. However, considering their young age, their lives are spared, and if they show no treasonous intent until adulthood, they shall be released as commoners.”

Thus began a lengthy decree that determined the fate of Duke Loigar’s house.

Countless other punishments were also decided.

Most of the household, including Duke Loigar and the Duchess’s close associates, were sentenced to execution or exile.

Key attendants involved in the agreement and their families were also branded as traitors.

Still, the punishments were handed down relatively moderately.

The Prime Minister’s office and the court petitioned that since Duke Loigar had deeply regretted his wrongdoings and committed suicide, others should have their crimes reduced within possible limits.

The Emperor accepted most of these petitions.

Those who had simply done what they were told as attendants were forgiven by serving five years in the western army as common soldiers.

For lower nobles, wealthy merchant associates, and elderly people, this was quite harsh. In five years, they would inevitably experience at least one monster wave.

However, it was a merciful judgment that their families and workplaces weren’t implicated.

Whatever their true feelings, they all offered thanks toward the imperial palace.

There was no forgiveness for high-ranking nobles who could directly advise Duke Loigar, the Marquess Ruden family and their relatives connected by marriage.

The conclusion was reached to execute key family members, along with stripping titles and confiscating assets.

Of course, this couldn’t take immediate effect.

There was no way to execute those who had fled to the east or those holed up in their family strongholds.

The Emperor didn’t immediately order the eastern army to arrest the rebels and confiscate their estates.

He couldn’t afford the cost of deployment. Moreover, the eastern army would certainly resist in various ways.

While they wouldn’t openly defy the Emperor immediately, they could resist by ignoring orders and dragging things out, or even making the situation worse by leaking information to the other side.

And that would damage the Emperor’s dignity.

The Emperor had already decided against this. So for now, even if his authority was somewhat damaged, he didn’t issue imperial commands regarding the east.

However, there were no exceptions for those caught attempting to flee to the east.

Among those who remained after sending their children to flee, about half were sentenced to execution.

Blood flowed like streams at the public execution ground.

The commoners didn’t miss the spectacular sight of noble heads falling. The streets were colored with crimson excitement.

Secretly deployed rumor-mongers spread tales at the execution ground, even making up stories about how presumptuous and thoughtless Duke Loigar was, and how greedy and foolish the Duchess was.

They also spread words praising the Emperor.

Many people hated the relatively nearby merchants and nobles more than the distant imperial palace.

Many had suffered direct, visible harm.

Therefore, it was easy to praise the Emperor who executed arrogant and cruel nobles and brought greedy merchant groups to their knees.

The fact that he couldn’t actually take action against the east was forgotten. The Emperor’s authority, which had briefly dimmed due to the adultery incident, stood tall once again.

“The matter of reorganizing the eastern army shall be considered later. Now is the time to handle the Kingdom of Ientz issue.”

The Emperor said this.

A foreign affairs official bowed his head apologetically and said,

“While the Kingdom of Ientz’s audacity in encouraging treason is hard to tolerate, the Crown Prince says he will come personally to apologize to Your Majesty. He conveyed that he gave the jewelry box as a gift to flatter the Duchess, but never intended to encourage treason, and is prepared to do anything to beg forgiveness.”

“Hmm. If the Crown Prince and his wife will come personally, their apology is worth hearing.”

“Yes.”

The foreign affairs official wiped his sweaty hands on his clothes.

What the Kingdom of Ientz had proposed was for the Crown Prince to come as an envoy.

Calling for the Crown Princess as well was a step further in hardline policy. It meant demanding two hostages.

“If we investigate the merchant forces involved in this matter, there will surely be many connected to Ientz Kingdom’s commercial circles.”

“Yes.”

“Bring them all over. If they show that level of sincerity, I will gladly hear their apology and warmly welcome the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.”

The foreign affairs official couldn’t say it would be difficult.

The Foreign Ministry had already displeased the Emperor with the Eimel and Ientz Kingdom issues. They couldn’t provoke further anger.

“What will you do about the Kingdom of Eimel?”

“Honestly, this fellow is quite presumptuous.”

The Emperor spat out while looking at Prince Cadriole’s state letter.

However, they already held the King of Eimel as hostage. Eimel Kingdom’s occupation of several southern ports and raiding of granaries served as their apology.

Since they had sent evidence of Duke Riagan’s adultery, it was almost a case for rewarding them instead.

It had to be said that Prince Cadriole gained the greatest advantage from the Empire’s internal troubles.

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

“But since they handed over the criminal King of Eimel, we cannot hold them further responsible. Let us forgive them with the king’s abdication and unconditional return of occupied territories.”

In the end, this was also favorable to Prince Cadriole. He would essentially ascend the throne by deposing his father at the Empire’s demand.

“And regarding the pirate suppression and deterrence parts of the agreement, let’s actually pursue them. No, rather than that, let’s invite Prince Cadriole once.”

“If the Ientz Crown Prince comes, that wouldn’t be bad either. Solving the southern sea pirate problem is impossible without Eimel Kingdom’s cooperation.”

Prime Minister Lin said. Cedric just frowned beside him.

Next, the Emperor decided on the list of rewards for those who had distinguished themselves in this treason incident.

Names of investigators and royal guards to be rewarded were listed in rows. At the bottom were written the names of nobles whose merits and faults canceled out, earning them forgiveness.

At the very top of the merit record were written the names of Ian Camellia and Skyla Camellia.

The door opened and servants filed in. Each carried gorgeous clothes and jewelry.

Skyla was seized by an agonizing feeling upon seeing this.

She had already been brought to the imperial palace in the early stages of this incident.

Countess Camellia had tried to send her far away. However, Skyla had escaped from the carriage heading east and returned to the capital.

And before she could properly gather information, she was caught by the royal guards.

Skyla was an informant, not a fugitive. She was allowed to stay in a guest room at the imperial palace rather than prison.

The treatment was good. The guest room was excellent, and the attending maids were capable. Though the wardrobe hadn’t made completely new clothes for her, they brought new garments and altered them to fit her body.

However, the only person she could meet was Ian. Even then, the extent of her freedom was limited to sharing meals under the servants’ surveillance.

With watchful eyes present, proper conversation with Ian was impossible.

She was anxious and worried. How were things progressing? Had her father and younger brother safely escaped? Had sending them east been a rash choice instead?

What was her mother doing? Surely she wasn’t planning to work as an advisor beside Duke Loigar until the very end?

If so, no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be able to clear her mother of guilt.

She had seen Gannett leading nobles into the imperial palace.

When she heard the rumor that Duke Loigar had committed suicide, she thought her heart would burst.

Skyla could barely eat.

Betraying Gannett was painful. But regarding Duke Loigar, she didn’t even think of it as betrayal.

Duke Loigar wasn’t a victim caught up in conspiracy. He himself was the conspirator and the one responsible.

Since he failed to earn her loyalty, he failed to prove his qualifications as a lord. That was all.

At least that’s what Skyla thought.

Yet her heart felt strange. She had never imagined he would end his life by suicide.

If he had been executed, would she have mourned him with peace of mind? Or would she have just forgotten him, thinking of him as a loser?

Even if it was only superficial, it was true that he had been a kind uncle-in-law.

The servant said,

“His Majesty has invited Lord Camellia and his wife to dinner.”

“….”

The words “Lady Camellia” pierced Skyla’s heart painfully.

It had been her decision. She herself had taken the marriage certificate to Ian, and it was Skyla’s own decision to choose an inconspicuous small temple to submit it.

However, the Emperor had decided to call her “wife.” Instead of calling Ian “husband.”

Just from that, she could tell whom he had decided to make the meritorious subject.

Well, that would be the case.

Skyla was the niece of the Duchess Loigar, and cousin to the wanted princess and prince.

Countess Camellia was also still on the run.

Naturally, as Emperor, he would want to center things around Ean rather than give her credit.

To avoid that, she would have had to become a more active betrayer.

She had to do so from now on. Nothing had been decided yet, and she could be more useful to the Emperor than Ean.

But Skyla knew she wouldn’t be able to do that.

The dress the servant had chosen was a pale purple that suited Skyla very well.

And a sapphire necklace and earrings custom-made to match the dress were bestowed as gifts. The jewels, close to works of art, sparkled brilliantly in the light.

Even that made Skyla look shabby.

Because that wasn’t what she had wanted.

Around the time she finished dressing up, Ean came to escort her.

“It suits you well, Skyla.”

“Do you really think so?”

Looking at herself in the mirror, Skyla asked back.

“….”

Ean couldn’t readily answer. The dress suited her well, and her figure was graceful.

But Skyla’s face was ashen. It was to the degree that even makeup couldn’t cover it.

“You look tired.”

In the end, Ean spoke honestly.

Skyla wiped off the rouge she had applied to her lips.

“It would be better to look pitiful instead.”

“…Skyla.”

Still, I should accomplish at least one goal.

Skyla swallowed those words.

And she took the hand Ean extended. Both of them were conscious of the attendants’ eyes following them from behind.

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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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